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Chapter Fifty-five
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More Firsts
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Sitting at her desk, Elizabeth leaned her chin in her hands, following the trail in her thoughts. She had been thinking day and night about Allie Grant since God had showed her the truth of her actions with the young girl. She remembered Bill had mentioned that Allie called her new friend a bosom-friend and that led Elizabeth to remember how Allie had loved the Anne of Green Gables books and they had shared that interest in common. As Elizabeth considered how those books had met a need in the lives of young girls and adults alike, an idea began to form. Opening her journal she began to write…
'Ten-year-old twin girls lost a brother they are too young to remember, but who was adored. As a baby he had died of whooping cough and his loss still affects their family many years later. Their father is a Mountie and is frequently on long assignments away from their home. Their mother refuses to leave the city where her son was buried and that has caused a rift between their parents. The girls live with their mother during the school year and their father in the summer.'
'The story would compare how each girl's differing personality handles two separate lives, in two homes and the friendships they develop. The mother would eventually deal with her grief and their father would negotiate an assignment closer to their home city. The ending would be healing and joy-filled, but Elizabeth realized she could explore grief, distance, friendships and community while sharing the differences between city and small-town life…'
The morning had flown by as Elizabeth worked on her idea, refining and adjusting while formulating the story in her journal. Her pages were filled with ideas crossed out, asterisks and arrows to show how the story should continue. When she got back to her desk after lunch her focus had completely changed yet new ideas flowed and it was only Jack awakening from his nap and chattering to her as he descended the steps that Elizabeth stopped writing.
When Jack had laid down for a nap, he had innocently asked her to tell him a story. He wasn't taking naps every day, but after the Union City adventure he seemed tired so, while Laura took care of the dishes, Elizabeth gladly sat beside Jack's bed and imagined a story for him. 'The Adventures of Jack and His Doggy. Jack was going to the big city, so he helped his mommy pack a suitcase. When she wasn't looking Jack tucked his favorite toy underneath the clothes, hoping he wouldn't be discovered...' As Elizabeth shared the story, she'd had Jack help her. He named his doggy, 'Douggy,' and decided they would take the trip by train, not by car. Eventually Jack's eyes closed and Elizabeth made her way downstairs.
While Laura studied at the dining room table, Elizabeth wrote this new story idea in her journal until, nap over, Jack arrived at the bottom step, and dropped his Mountie toy because his arms were filled with his stuffed bear, horse, bunny and doggy. Dropping all his other toys, he bent down to lift his Mountie and hug it to his chest as he stroked the wooden toy saying, "You are okay. I'm here to fix it where it hurts. Do you need me to kiss your knee and make it all better?"
Unaware of his audience, Laura and Elizabeth exchanged loving glances between each other and the sweet little boy. When there was a knock at the door and the Thatchers entered, all concerns for a wounded toy, Laura's homework and Elizabeth's stories disappeared.
"Hello dear ones!" William enthused. "We have come to take you for a ride and maybe a treat in town! Anyone interested?"
A knock sounded on the door just as Nathan re-entered the front room. "Let me get that."
Opening the door, Nathan saw Jake Cook standing on the porch, holding a couple baskets full of groceries. "Oh, Jake! Thank you so much for getting these items." Nathan reached for the baskets and turned to place them inside the door. "How much do I owe you?"
"The receipt is in one of the baskets and we can handle that after the weekend, Nathan." Jake chuckled and whispered, "I know where you live!"
"Okay then. Thank you. Are you still getting Allie later?" Nathan questioned. "I have a meeting back at Depot and I'm hoping you'll still meet her at school?"
"That girl is a special one, Nathan. I wouldn't miss a chance to hear her excited explanations of her day! Irma and I get a real kick out of her and it is a highlight of my day to be her 'chauffer' as she calls me!"
"Oh? I hadn't heard that! Are you sure it's okay?"
"One hundred percent sure, Nathan. It's a privilege. You enjoy your family now. I'll be getting Allie in about half an hour."
"Thank you, Jake. Greetings to your wife, please."
Nathan carried the baskets into the kitchen and while he washed the dishes, Ruth unpacked the groceries and laid out what she needed for tonight's chicken pot pie, placing the pot roast along with other items in the icebox for tomorrow.
"We have a half hour before Dad and I have to leave for Depot again. Shall I chop some carrots for you?" Nathan offered.
"Sure. But first, will you please bring that stool to the stove before we forget? That way I have a chair at the table and the stool at the stove." Ruth explained. "Thank you, Honey. I'll be fine now."
After placing items within reach for his mother, and chopping the vegetables, Nathan called to his father. "Dad? Are you ready to go soon?" Looking up as his father entered from the hallway, Nathan whistled. "Well, don't you look the part of a well-dressed businessman! Looking good, Dad!" Nathan chuckled as his father grinned and straightened his shoulders.
"Remember first impressions are important, Son!" He straightened his tie. "The only thing is that, no matter how nice the suit, I still am not a fan of neckties!"
Nathan went to his father and reached to lift his tie. "My secret is leaving the top button unbuttoned and hidden behind the knot." Seeing the uppermost button was indeed open, Nathan laughed.
Archie joined his laughter. "You think you invented that trick, eh? Been doing that most of my life. Well, at least when I could get away with it. Your mother knows to peek before we leave for church! It must be a Grant family idiosyncrasy."
"Yeah, I agree. We don't like things touching our necks!" Nathan added as he headed into the kitchen. "The serge is a real challenge sometimes. No tie to hide an open collar!" He checked with his mother, squeezing her shoulders. "Anything else you need, Mom? You'll be okay? Allie should be home to help soon."
"You go on now. I'll be fine. Go meet your brother and keep an eye on your Dad. I don't want him to faint when he sees his two sons together." She held up her cheek as Nathan bent to kiss her. "I love you, Nathan."
"Love you too, Mom."
Archie stood in the doorway chuckling. "Land of Goshen! (**) I hope I don't embarrass myself like that!" He entered the kitchen, placed his hand on her shoulder and bent down for a kiss. "See you later, Ruthie."
"Love you, Arch."
After getting his father settled in his office, Nathan headed over to meet Zachary at his barracks.
He found his brother pacing in front of the steps, hands in his overcoat pockets. "Hey, Zach!"
"Oh hey, Nathan!" Zachary broke into a wide grin. "You caught me. I'm a little nervous!" He offered his brother his hand.
Nathan took his hand, but moved into a quick hug. "Don't be, Zach. After the first minute, you'll be fine. Dad is really looking forward to meeting you, you know."
"I'm relieved to hear that. Sometimes I still can't believe this is happening and think I will wake up and find it wasn't real!"
"Oh, it's real, Brother. Very real." Nathan patted Zach's back as they walked towards the office building. "I drilled into Allie that you should always stand tall, look him in the eye and extend your hand." Nathan laughed. "Sorry, I instructed her to do that when she meets someone. Not with Dad!"
Zachary chuckled thinking about how he first met Allie. "Well, you failed, Nathan. She never did that with me! Allie just enveloped me in a hug and that was that! How is she? I can't wait to see her tomorrow." They climbed the front steps.
"She is the delight of my life and I am learning she is that to a lot of other people as well!" Nathan opened the front door and motioned for his brother to enter. "My office is down the hallway on the right."
Zachary removed his Stetson and they walked silently until reaching a door with two brass nameplates beside it. Zachary read the sign. "Staff Sergeant Major Nathan T. Grant. Impressive Nathan." Zach commented nervously.
"Ready?" As Zachary nodded, Nathan opened the door.
Ruth had been right. Archie stood looking at his two lookalike sons, stunned speechless.
"Dad? This is Zachary Archer. Zach? This is your…" Nathan hadn't finished his sentence before Archie recovered and stepped over to embrace his younger son.
"Zachary, my Son." Archie was fighting tears and didn't want to let go of this handsome young man.
Zachary responded to his father's hug, but could only whisper, "Hello, Sir…"
Archie leaned back and looked into his son's face. "Sir? I am your father and you may call me Dad. Would you do that for me?"
"Dad? Really?" It was Zach's turn to fight the tears, but he managed to hold them in and respond. "I would love to, ahhh, Dad."
"I told you Dad would ask you to do that, Zach." Nathan grinned at his brother, chuckling. "Here. Let me take your coat and you can sit in that chair."
Once the men were seated, Archie spoke first. "Zachary. I am amazed. You and Nathan look so much alike! Wait until Ruth sees you…" Archie laughed. "She was afraid I would faint!"
"Well, that was why my drill sergeant asked if we were brothers." Zach grinned. "Nathan said 'no' until he looked at me. I said 'I don't know' and then I looked at him!"
"Remarkable…" Archie shook his head. "You look handsome in your red serge too. I finally got used to seeing Nathan in his Mountie uniform and now I have two sons who are Mounties."
Suddenly Archie's countenance fell. "Uh, Zachary? Nathan has told you about my past?" When Zachary nodded, Archie continued. "My opinion of Mounties hasn't always been the best since I was on the other side of the law. I am sorry your father was not an honorable or trustworthy man for many, many years. You were blessed that you didn't know me then. I've had a lot of things for which I've had to ask forgiveness, from God, from Nathan's mother and from Nathan."
Archie faced Zachary. "Now, my son, I need to ask you to forgive me for my misdeeds of the past. I can only offer an explanation, not an excuse. Zachary. I sinned against your mother. I should never have accompanied her home, nor entered her bed. I am ashamed that I was unfaithful to my wife, even though we were not together at that time. I am responsible for behavior I don't condone and I ask your forgiveness since I cannot ask for your mother's. All I can say is I am sorry, yet now that is only partly true. God has forgiven me and has given me an unexpected gift. A good gift. You, Zachary. A younger son." Archie wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. "Will you forgive me? Please?"
Zachary nodded. "I don't know that I need to, but I guess for my mother's sake I can tell you I forgive you. I hold nothing against you for you gave me life."
"Yes. I did. And now? I am so thankful for you, Zachary." Archie searched the blue depths looking back at him. "Do you know the meaning of your name? It is 'The Lord Has Remembered.' God has known you and remembered you since you were born. You were never forgotten and now He has 'remembered' you, at this time, in this place to bring you to me, to us, to your family. I thank God for you, Zachary."
"You do? I am not an embarrassment to you? A reminder of a night of weakness? You really are willing to own me as your son?" Zachary needed reassurance.
"I want you as my son. I can't explain it, but in spite of the past circumstances, I already love you. You are my own, my younger son and I am proud of both of my boys. You and Nathan. I will tell you this until you believe it, Zachary, and even after that too!"
"Zach, are there things you want to ask Dad or things you, Dad, want to ask Zach when Mom and Allie are not around?" Nathan suggested. "I can leave the office if you want privacy."
"No need to leave Nathan." He turned back to watch Zachary carefully. "I know this may be difficult and I am sorry for your loss, Zachary, but please tell me how your mother died? And how were you were raised? And what did your mother explain about me? These are things I don't want to ask in front of my wife."
"Thank you for your condolences. Mother died just over a year ago in the same house where I was brought up, where she cared for my great-aunt. Mother had influenza and developed complications. I was working as a library clerk at the time and cut back on my hours to take care of her for about two months before she passed." Zachary was quiet as he remembered.
"Mother raised me with great love. She taught me well and provided all she could by teaching piano lessons and with the help of my Mountie grandfather, someone who sent regular contributions to our family. I graduated school three years ago and went to work at the library. I was raised in the church where Mother sang in the choir and I sang in the children's choir and learned Catechism in Sunday school. Mother was devout and raised me with good morals, confessing her one-time indiscretion only when I was in my late teens."
Zachary looked down at his hands as he collected his thoughts to answer the final question. He lifted his eyes and met his father's gaze once again. "I'm sorry. Mother didn't speak often of you. I don't think she knew that much about you, but when she told me about that prayer meeting and bringing you home with her, she wanted me to know not to blame you. She owned her responsibility and her choice that night. She didn't want me to think poorly of you, so I never have. She described your looks, and your charm, but never what you did for a living or where you were from… She told me she gave me your name as my middle name in hopes we might meet one day. She would not be able to believe what has transpired over these last couple weeks! Yet, I think she would be happy we have found each other now."
"Thank you for answering my questions. You are welcome to share anything you want to, Zachary, I just didn't want to be the one to ask these questions in front of my wife. She has forgiven me and is looking forward to meeting you and welcoming you into our family, which is now yours." Archie sought to reassure his son. "Please don't hesitate to let her mother you. Ruth is warmhearted and sweet, but she is also strong and prays and lives her faith on a daily basis. I hope you grow to love her."
"Already I am feeling a part of the family with Nathan and Allie. I observed how they incorporated Bill and his lady friend into their family and hope it will be the same for me with you and Mrs. Grant." Zach confessed. "God knew the timing would be right because I now feel ready to have a second mother-figure."
"Oh, not a mother-figure, Zach, a mother. It is hard to resist her love!"
"I'm sorry to point out the time, but I don't want you to miss your dinner, Zach. I'm glad we could get together briefly today and look forward for another day together tomorrow." Nathan stood and watched Archie put his arm around Zachary's shoulders.
Zachary smiled at his father, then looked at his Nathan. "Thank you for arranging everything, Nathan." Zach addressed his brother as Nathan held his coat for him. "We'll meet at the same place as last time? At noon?"
"Sounds good. Now have a good night's sleep. The first meeting was the most difficult time, so tomorrow will be relaxed! Bring your appetite though as Mom and Allie have plans." Nathan winked at Zachary.
"I like 'plans!'" Zachary chuckled. "Good night, Dad. Tomorrow it is!" Grabbing his hat Zach walked into the hallway and waited as Nathan and Archie donned their overcoats and turned off the light. The three Grant men walked out of the office building quietly before their final farewells.
Allie hurried to greet her Dad and Grandpa when they returned to the Cottage. "Hi! Did everything go alright?"
Nathan noted Allie was anxious and sought to reassure her. "Yes, Honey. It went very, very well." When Allie sighed and relaxed, Nathan continued. "Allie? You need not worry about all of this. Grandpa was prepared and Zachary was fine. He is looking forward to seeing you and meeting Grandmom tomorrow. Please don't worry…" Nathan kissed the top of Allie's hair.
Over a delicious meal of chicken pot pie, a family favorite, the Grants questioned Allie about her day, shared and laughed together. Allie was amazed at how jovial her grandfather was and how incredibly happy her Dad seemed. She watched him at times and decided to ask him before bed.
"So, Allie-girl are you ready to go shopping tomorrow morning? Mrs. Samuels will come for you at half-past nine." Nathan sat on the edge of Allie's bed after she had kissed and hugged her grandparents. "Any idea what color coat you want to get?"
"I've been thinking I would like dark blue, black or gray because that means I can still use the teal scarf, hat and mittens that Grandmom made me last year. Plus I have the rosy pink things that Aunt Rosemary gave me and new black gloves I didn't even wear last year."
"Sounds like a good plan. Just make sure the coat is very warm and you like the style for a young lady. Are both Sally and Rachel going along?"
"Yes, Rachel also needs a new coat and, of course, Sally is coming even if she doesn't know what she needs! Sally is not very concerned about clothing."
"I guess that is a good attribute to have as so many women get far too concerned about appearances. They forget the inner person is more important!" Nathan chuckled. "Even to us men!"
Allie examined her father's face as he spoke. "Are you okay, Dad? Did something really good happen today? Did you get special mail? You seem different… elated!"
"Do I?' Nathan smiled and took hold of Allie's hand, wrapped around her knees. "No mail, Honey. Grandmom and Grandpa and I prayed together this afternoon and it was special. Maybe that is why I look happy? I really am."
"What did you pray about?"
"Grandpa prayed for me, for Zach, for this weekend… For you, too. It was how he prayed for me that made the difference though, Allie. Grandpa never was the leader, the Godly father in my home. He is that now and it means the world to me."
"He didn't pray with you or talk about things from the Bible?"
"No, he didn't. He does now though."
"What changed?"
"Why don't you ask Grandpa tomorrow? Maybe he will tell us what happened to him the last time he was in prison. I have a feeling it would be a wonderful story to hear." Nathan squeezed Allie's hand. "How about I pray now?"
Nodding Allie placed her other hand over her fathers, very grateful that he had done for her what his father had never done for him.
(**) 'Land of Goshen': An old-fashioned term, used as a mild exclamation of surprise or alarm (especially by those who do not curse or swear.)
Goshen was the region in ancient Egypt that was given to the Hebrews by the Pharoah under whom Joseph served. (Genisis 45:10) How the idiom developed is a mystery to me, but it was used in my family by the elders who would have been alive at the time of this story.
Fun fact: Having heard it all my life, I always thought everyone was saying 'Atlantic Ocean' (My family is from the east coast of the USA.) I was in my forties when, after an extended family event we were reminiscing about old family phrases and I learned the truth. :) No reason to include this except I thought it would be fun for Archie to use the term!
