Chapter Twenty-eight
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The Faculty Tea
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Directed by a couple of students stationed at the door, as well as where the hallway turned to the stairwell, Nathan approached the Library where he was welcomed at the door by Headmistress Hills and Mrs. Evans who introduced herself as Allie's Home Economics teacher.

"So pleased to meet you, Sergeant Grant. Your daughter is a delight and I am looking forward to our classes together. I would like to speak to you at some point, but for now you will find Allie in the reference section. She is replenishing the platters there and I have requested that she and her friend try not to circulate or eavesdrop so you are free to discuss her with any of the faculty! She'll probably want to see you now though." Mrs. Evans smiled, pointed to the Reference section and turned to greet a set of parents following Nathan.

Nathan saw Allie standing towards the back of the book stacks with excited, twinkling eyes as she saw him.

"Dad! Isn't this wonderful? I get to stay, even though I'll be in the background, I can peek out once in a while! Have you meet anyone yet?" Releasing her father from her hug, Allie smiled up at him. He was just letting go. Then, catching sight of her friend a few steps away, she turned and motioned her to come forward.

"Dad? Let me introduce my friend, Sarah Samuels. Sally? This is my father, Staff Sergeant Major Nathan Grant."

"Sarah Samuels, it is lovely to meet you." Nathan extended his hand to the girl. "You have a beautiful name." Nathan chuckled. "Although I understand you are usually called Sally?"

Responding shyly, Sally spoke softly. "Nice to meet you too, Sir. Either name is fine."

"Oh? Then I would chose Sarah because it was my grandmother's name and a beautiful one to me. It fits you."

Sally blushed but stared starry-eyed at her friend's father. All she could think of was 'Wow!'

Nathan continued. "I have already met your father and I understand we will all be sharing Sunday dinner together. I look forward to getting to know you better at that time, but right now I need to circulate and collect a few of those beautiful creations on the food table." Nathan winked at Allie. "I've been told they are extremely delicious, and pretty!" Nathan patted Allie's shoulder. "See you later, Allie-girl." As he started to walk away he turned back and whispered. "Oh and everything looks beautiful!"

As Nathan walked down the row and chuckled as he overheard Sally exclaim. "Your dad is handsome, Allie! Wow." Giggling she added, "He's really nice too!"

Having charmed at least one person in attendance, Nathan made his way to the food tables and filled a small china plate with some beautiful sandwiches. He tried to memorize the decorations and garnishes so he could talk about them with Allie later, but a hand on his arm drew his attention away from the food.

"Nathan?" Whispered Claire Collins. When he turned around she used his formal title. "Sergeant? Welcome! I see you have found some delectable treats? I haven't tried any yet, but I hope they are as delicious as they look! Allie was extremely excited to be decorating the food and platters today. She and a couple girlfriends were discussing their part in Homeroom this morning!"

"Claire! Ahh, sorry, Miss Collins. Lovely to see you again. I hope Allie wasn't talking out of turn?"

"Mercy no, Sergeant. Allie follows the rules, but when the occasion arises her exuberance overflows! She is a bubbly joy and a pleasure to have in class." Claire turned towards a fellow faculty member at her elbow. "Oh! Sergeant, let me introduce my friend, Miss Meaghan Dugan. Meaghan, please meet Staff Sergeant Major Nathan Grant, Allie's father."

"Hello, Miss Dugan. Nice to meet you."

Miss Meaghan Dugan caught her breath as Nathan smiled. "And you, Sergeant. I have Allie in Latin but we have only just begun. So many students are at different levels I am still sorting that out. Allie seems lovely, although I will have to work to get her engaged in class."

"Allie has endured a lot of moves so may be slow to warm up to you or the subject. It was four years ago when she last had Latin. She may be a beginner once again!"

"That's what I am working with for everyone, but Allie is beyond a beginner, and if I can get her to put in the work she will excel." Something about this teacher's turn of phrase bothered Nathan, but he wanted to keep his mind open.

"Well. Let me know if I can help. Thank you." Nathan responded quietly.

"Excuse me for interrupting, but Sergeant have you met some of the other faculty?" Claire lightly touched Nathan's forearm and nodded towards a group of people watching them. "Let me introduce you?"

Nathan nodded at the Latin teacher and followed Claire. "Thank you, Miss Collins."

Miss Collins nodded. "Sergeant Grant, please meet Mr. John Kelley, our Advanced Math teacher and Mr. Josiah Walsh, our Geography and History teacher. John? Josiah? Meet Staff Sergeant Major Nathan Grant."

"Gentlemen, it's a pleasure. Is my daughter, Allie Grant, in both of your classes?" Nathan shook their hands.

The older man, Mr. Kelley, responded first. "Yes, Miss Grant is wonderful! After only a couple days I can tell she is gifted and bright! Is that a family trait?"

"I confess if it is a family trait, it skipped a generation! I am not particularly interested in math but my father, Allie's grandfather, is excellent in math!"

Mr. Kelley laughed. "I caught your choice of words, Sir! Maybe your lack of interest affects your aptitude?"

Nathan chuckled. "No doubt about it, but I don't see me changing! Everyone has their gifts, right?" He faced Mr. Walsh. "And you, Mr. Walsh? Geography and History? I confess I have more interest in them!"

"Ahhh. Well, I find both fascinating so I hope to motivate my classes with interesting stories to help them remember the facts. I can't expect them to be as fascinated as I am, but I plan to try! Your daughter seems quite knowledgeable in geography though."

"Yes? Well we often bring out the atlas when we discuss world events or new people we meet!"

"That's not common practice, but I commend you for supplementing school learning. Good for you. Have you travelled much, Sergeant Grant?"

"Within Canada, yes. Relocated many times! Other than my training though, I am not familiar with this area. Allie and I have been exploring just once so far, but I hope we can ride together more often."

Mr. Kelley inquired. "Where in Canada have you served, Sir?"

Nathan noticed a woman listening from behind Mr. Walsh but answered. "From British Columbia to Prince Edward Island! Allie and I have looked at it as a disadvantage to move so much, but recently we are realizing that we have seen far more of Canada than many and it has enriched our lives."

"Good perspective. Has your wife traveled with you as well?" Mr. Walsh broke in again.

"I am not married, Sir. It's just been Allie and I since she was four and I became her guardian." Nathan was aware that others were listening in so decided to explain succinctly. "I became Allie's guardian when my sister passed and her father walked away. So my niece became my daughter when I officially adopted her two years ago."

"You've been a single parent for ten years, Sergeant?" A beautiful black-haired woman exclaimed, then blushed. "Pardon me! I couldn't help overhearing." With cheeks tinted pink, the woman reached her hand to Nathan. "My name is Miss Rachel Bell. I teach music and chorus." She giggled. "I know. Miss Bell teaches music!" Smiling she added. "But it's easy to remember, right?"

Nathan was mesmerized by her violet blue eyes even as he wondered if she was flirting. He cleared his throat though and answered. "It is that, Miss Bell." Taking her delicate hand in his own, he offered. "Sergeant Nathan Grant, Miss. The pleasure is mine."

"I have your daughter in chorus and she has a lovely voice. Does it run in the family?"

Now Nathan was certain this beauty was flirting with him. He chuckled. "There are many musicians in our family, yes."

"So you sing, Sir?"

Before Nathan could answer another woman joined the gathering and answered for him. "Yes, he sings and writes." At Nathan's shocked look, the woman explained. "Sergeant Grant? We met when you brought your daughter to collect her uniforms. I am Mrs. Ashley, the school secretery."

"Yes, of course. Nice to see you again, Ma'am. But my surprise is wondering how do you know that I sing?"

Mrs. Ashley laughed. "Well, I sat in front of you in Chapel on Sunday, but I also read the article posted in the Main Office. You have written a couple of volumes and it says you sing! Multi-talented!" Mrs. Ashley boldly patted his arm.

With a slight blush coloring his cheeks, Nathan was beginning to be uncomfortable. He asked quietly. "There is an article about me? Here at the school?"

"Oh yes. It is posted on the bulletin board next to where we collect our mail. It is a wonderful summary of your time in Hope Valley." Mrs. Ashley explained as she nodded to the other women who suddenly surrounded Nathan Grant. "Impressive."

Nathan gulped as he tried to grasp this information. 'Who sent that here?' Even as the thought occurred to him, the answer followed. 'Rosemary!'

Desperately uncomfortable and wanting to escape, Nathan's eyes caught the smiling face of Jon Samuels across the room. "Excuse me ladies, but I see a friend I should speak too. It was lovely to meet you all." Nathan bowed slightly and backed out of the circle before speedily heading to Jon. "What a relief to see someone I know! Hello Jon!"

Jon grinned knowingly. "A brood of hens, eh? You seem to be a major attraction this afternoon, Nathan! Pun intended, Major!" Jon winked as Nathan blushed.

"You're no better than they are!" Chuckling in spite of himself, Nathan remembered meeting Sarah. "I met your daughter! Sarah is lovely, Jon, and she and Allie are thick as thieves with their special assignment. Did you see her?"

"Just winked as she collected platters and returned with new ones. Is Allie here?"

"Hidden at a table in the Reference section. Would you like to meet her?"

"I would, but first, please let me introduce you to someone. Nathan? Please meet Miss Ardis Ross. Miss Ross is our art teacher. Ardis? Please meet Staff Sergeant Major Nathan Grant. Nathan serves with me at Depot and his daughter is Allie Grant."

"Lovely to meet you, Miss Ross. I noticed you from across the room. So you are Allie's art teacher!" Nathan was totally unaware that he was now flirting.

"Miss Ross smiled sweetly. I am and lovely to meet you too, Sergeant."

By way of explanation, Jon commented. "Miss Ross attends Knox Presbyterian, Nathan, thus we are on a first name basis!"

"Of course. In that case, when you can, please call me Nathan? I am not as formal as my new title conveys." Nathan whispered as he smiled into her blue gray eyes. He took in her blonde curls, thinking of how much she reminded him of his good friend, Faith Carter from Hope Valley.

"Ardis then, please!" Her pink cheeks, along with her eyes and hair made Nathan think of a pastel color palette and he immediately thought her a perfect art teacher. "I don't know if you are aware yet, but Allie is a budding artist. She gets that from her mother, my sister, who was an accomplished painter."

Seeing his friend's slight confusion, Jon interjected. "Allie's mother, Nathan's sister died and when Allie was four, Nathan became her guardian when her father deserted her. So his niece became his daughter when he adopted her and he is raising her himself."

"Oh, Sir! How tragic, but how absolutely wonderful at the same time. Allie is lovely and I will make sure to get to know her better knowing her history and her talent." Empathy and compassion were written all over Ardis Ross's face as she gazed at Nathan.

"Ardis? Would you like to join us? Nathan was just taking me to meet Allie. She's hiding behind the scenes."

Just as they turned to make their way to the Reference section Nathan caught a glance of Allie's retreating form. 'So, she has been spying!' He thought as he motioned for Miss Ross to proceed ahead of them.

Unaware and with his eyes now focused on Ardis Ross, Nathan was turning heads of other faculty and parents as they headed towards Allie.

"Allie-girl? There is someone I would like you to meet."

As Allie and Sally turned, Sally squealed, "Daddy! You came!" She engulfed her father in a hug.

"Of course. Mom isn't here yet because she had to take Josh to his trumpet lesson, but she'll be along soon." He glanced at the work in progress on the table. "What are you working on?"

"If I may interrupt, Jon? Please meet my daughter, Allison Grant. Allie to us! Allie, Sweetheart, this is my fellow instructor at Depot, Sergeant Samuels. Evidently Sarah's father!"

Allie wiped her hands on a dishtowel then extended her hand to Jon Samuels. "So nice to meet you, Sir. Sally and I have become best friends." She giggled as she looked at Sally. "Bosom buddies really!"

Jon laughed. "I know that term. You both are Anne fans, eh? My pleasure to meet another kindred spirit, Allie!" Jon winked at her wide grin. "I must compliment you ladies on delicious and beautiful sandwiches. You have an artistic flair, Allie!"

"She does!" Ardis Ross agreed. "Hello, Allie. The food is delicious and beautiful. Art is rarely confined to just one interest or talent and I am happy to see you blossoming right here!"

"Thank you, Miss Ross." Allie looked from her art teacher to her father and back again. "Which is your favorite?"

Miss Ross, giggled. "If you don't tell anyone how many different sandwiches I have tried I will tell you!" She winked at Allie. "Watercress!"

"Oh those are my favorites too. How about you, Dad?"

"You know me, I like them all! But for flavor, you can make the watercress anytime. For beauty I like all the different garnishes on the creamy cheese ones, although some are too pretty to eat!"

Jon and Ardis watched as Allie basked in her father's praise. Independently they were concluding the same thing. This man was doing a masterful job at raising his daughter!

"We should let you get back to work though. May I carry out a tray for you?" Nathan offered.

"I don't want you to get in trouble, Dad. So maybe not."

"Nonsense! A gentleman always helps a lady, right?" Nathan caught Jon's eye and nodded at one tray while he lifted the other. "You girls tell us where to place these okay?"

Allie and Sally nodded, secretly proud to have their dads seen helping them. And they were seen!

Heads turned and smiles formed as guests noticed these two uniformed fathers and daughters.

Miss Ardis Ross stepped to the side, but not before nodding her approval when she caught the smiling faces of her friends, Claire Collins and Rachel Bell from across the room.

When a man, dressed immaculately in a white uniform, and woman stepped to the table, Nathan wondered if this was the couple from Barbados. He approached them and introduced himself. "We haven't met, but have you moved here from Barbados, Sir?"

The couple glanced at each other, but the man smiled and answered. "Sergeant. We are. This is my wife, Esther Best and I am Station Sergeant Isaac Best. May I inquire as to how you know we're from Barbados?"

"Hello. I am Sergeant Grant and your daughter and mine are friends. When she told me about… Naomi, right? When she told me she had made a new friend, we got out the Atlas and I showed her your home on a map. My daughter is Allie Grant? They met in the Home Economics class earlier in the week!"

Esther and Isaac's faces lit up and they smiled with the brightest of smiles! "Oh! She told us about Allie! We can't thank your daughter enough for befriending our Naomi! Allie has made all the difference between reluctance, bordering on rebellion, and excitement to attend the Academy this week."

It was Nathan's turn to grin. "I am so pleased to hear that. You see Allie understands the struggle of entering a new school and meeting new students and being afraid she won't make friends. It makes my heart glad that she reached out to Naomi! Thank you for telling me that." Nathan's eyes were glistening and the Best's noticed, immediately feeling a connection with this Mountie.

"Please tell me about your transfer here to Depot?" Nathan motioned his hand to some chairs beside one of the dessert tables. "Here, let's have a seat. Please."

Nathan held the chair for Esther Best, then seated himself beside her when her husband took the other side. "Please tell me?"

"I am on a one year assignment to the Academy to study training techniques to take home to the Island. I serve with the Mounted Corps of the Police Force of Barbados. The reputation of the RCMP reaches far and wide, so I have come to learn." Sergeant Best was grateful that this information did not seem to demote him in Sergeant Grant's eyes. "How long have you served here at Depot, Sir?"

"Would you please call me by my given name, Nathan, when not in a formal situation or at Depot? I confess my last posting was very informal and I appreciated the friendships that developed when we disregarded the titles!"

Surprised, but pleased, Station Sergeant Best agreed. "Isaac it is! Esther?

"Yes, please, Nathan. Esther to you." Esther spoke quietly. "Thank you."

"Thank you! Now, to answer your question. I have only been at Depot since this semester began! Allie and I moved here from Hope Valley, a small frontier town out west where we lived for four years. We relocated due to my promotion so we are all very new here at Depot and I am just finding my way. If there is anything I can do to assist you please seek me out? My office is with the Academy offices and open to you any time."

"Thank you, Nathan. I appreciate that. May I be honest with you?"

"Of course. Honesty, always."

"Well I wouldn't be dishonest, I just might not be open to share some things. Do you understand?"

"More than you know." Nathan spoke somberly, thereby indicating he held his own secrets. "What is on your mind?"

"When we visited in the United States previously we met with some…" Isaac paused to find the correct and kindest word. "We were met with some unkindness. Some withdrawal. Discrimination. We had been expecting and prepared for the same here in Regina. You don't seem to see the difference in our skin color though and that is refreshing."

"Oh! I am so sorry you have suffered that. Canada is not without its own prejudices, but individually I hope you meet many of us who hold each human being as being equal in God's creation. Allie and I see people's colors, whatever shade we all are, but it doesn't affect our actions or opinions. In Hope Valley, in spite of being on the frontier, we saw everyone as equal. Our pastor and his wife share your skin color and we have even assimilated some Asian peoples. Narrowmindedness exists, but for Allie and me, we appreciate each individual person." Nathan smiled but at their surprise added, "Sermon over, but it is a passion of mine and I will not tolerate bias when I can do something about it."

With tears swimming in her dark brown eyes, Esther Best reached out her hand and placed it on Nathan's forearm. "Oh Nathan. Thank you. You are a breath of fresh air for us. Really."

"Good." Nathan patted Esther's hand. "Welcome to Regina. Once we meet our obligations and settle-in to a more dependable schedule, you must join Allie and me for dinner in a couple weeks' time. Okay? I am not certain you will recognize the food choices as I have never visited the Caribbean, but Allie is a pretty good cook and, as her sous chef, I promise it will be edible." Nathan laughed.

Esther responded. "We would love to. Thank you."

"Nathan, may I ask where you attend church?" Isaac inquired.

"So far we have only visited the Chapel at Depot. But we have been invited to worship at Knox Presbyterian this week. Would you also like to attend?"

"I am sorry to say this, but sometimes the churches are where the separation is the most felt. Could you just tell me next week if you see any others in attendance who are like us?"

"I will gladly make note and I understand your hesitation. I don't know if there are any churches in which you might feel more comfortable, but there is always the Chapel in the meantime." Nathan looked at Isaac and Esther with sorrow in his eyes. "I am so sorry it is like this for you."

"Thank you, Nathan, but you and Allie have already given us hope."


Allie was full of stories when Nathan and she shared dinner with Peter and Carol Collins. "It was so lovely! You should have seen how many people surrounded Dad! Lots of pretty ladies too!"

"Allie? Enough of that." Nathan gave his daughter a warning glance. "I was only meeting your teachers and some fellow parents."

"Well yes, but…" She thought better of teasing her dad in front of the Collins couple. Taking a deep breath she redirected her enthusiasm. "You should have been there. It was such fun! I will have to make High Tea for you sometime. Could I Dad? We'd have to find some of the ingredients and I couldn't make all the different kinds of sandwiches, but at least a couple."

"If we can find watercress, you have a deal, Allie-girl!"

"Sounds delicious to me." Peter exclaimed. "Although also delicious, our receptions at Depot are less refined. Plus I think the sandwiches are larger too!" Peter and Nathan laughed, knowing that truth. "Did you have scones and clotted cream and jam?"

Allie nodded. "Another class made those, but Mrs. Evans let us fill a plate towards the end and the scones were delicious. We have those all the time though, so they're not that special. The tiny cookies and petit fours were yummy though. Did you try those, Dad?"

Nathan grinned. "I tried everything! The tiny cookies were frustrating they were so small, but the petit fours are like candy, so they were good." Patting his stomach, Nathan laughed. "Carol, I am afraid I don't need any dessert tonight after indulging in all those sweets!"

"Nonsense, Nathan." Carol motioned her hand to dismiss his comment. "I will pack up a dessert for you to enjoy tomorrow. It's chocolate cake, okay?"

"I will not say no to that!" Nathan laughed. "But you are spoiling us! Right Allie?"

"Yes. But it's really nice to be spoiled, Gramma Carol and Grampa Pete. I love it!"

Neither Nathan nor Allie caught the meaningful glance that passed between husband and wife, but they didn't need to. Peter and Carol were just happy and very, very thankful.