Hope For Tomorrow
Chapter 14
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Being Friday, Dee and Elizabeth were so glad when the school day was over. Flo asked Allie to fill in for her after school with the switchboard. Rosemary left the newspaper office early to go home and Rosaleen closed the library a bit earlier. Maggie and Sam had a day off since Billees was closed for the night, and Dottie stayed late Thursday night to finish up the altering of the dresses for last minute purchases, giving her time to close earlier on Friday.
Some of the women were taking turns at Nichols and Dimes getting their hair done for the bridal shower, and others made reservations for their hairdos for the wedding the following Saturday. A few did each other's hair or nails, so no matter how, everyone was quite busy getting all gussied up. Dottie had the new dresses that were just bought, altered, and ready to go. It was a big event for the ladies of Hope Valley and they all were all excited with anticipation for the ladies' night out!
Meanwhile, the men just worked the day as usual and came home expecting a nice dinner before they got cleaned and dressed up. Dee was glad she came home before Nathan so she could take her time.
Emily was working 3 days at Minnie's Cafe in the morning, and was home in the afternoon, after the breakfast crowd. Archie seemed to be all right for a short time, especially since he slept in late. Emily would leave a place setting for him on the table and his oatmeal would be still warm in the oven with coffee ready to pour. Archie often had a nice note left on the table telling him where everyone was and when they'd be home.
Emily wasn't joining Dee as she offered to stay with Archie at home. "You young women, go have a good time!"
"Oh Ma, I'm so sorry you won't be joining us," Dee looked compassionately at Emily.
"You deserve a night out before the little angel joins us, ya?" Emily blew her a kiss as Dee headed for the bathroom and a leisurely warm bath. When she was soaking she felt so relaxed she could've fallen asleep but she made herself get up and get going.
Emily had dinner ready and when Nathan came home, he headed straight for the kitchen sink. "Mom, I can smell your cooking a mile away!" he complimented her as he washed his hands.
When he saw Dee, he whistled. "Oh girl, you sure do look like an angel! I thought you were going to Molly's bridal shower?" he asked smiling.
"I am, what about you Sargent Grant? Aren't you headed for Bill's bachelor party?"
"Yes, in fact I welcomed some retired Mounties in for it. Do you remember Constables Christopher Herrmann and John Michaels who were helping with the wounded soldiers?" Nathan asked.
"Yes, I most certainly do. They were always joking with Bill talking about stories of the times they worked together," Dee nodded.
"They're here and so are the Constables that helped with the Harvey Toliver arrest. So, Lee and I are expecting a big group!" Nathan affirmed.
"That'll be tight for you all at Billees!" Dee wondered out loud.
"Uh-huh, that's why were going somewhere else. Lee has the reservations and made the arrangements. I'll be surprised as anyone."
"Same here, we're going out some place new too. I'm actually excited. It should be fun!" Dee declared.
Dee ate a little dinner, knowing she'd be eating again later. Allie came by for a quick bite and had to return to the Mercantile to work the switchboard until they closed. "Ma, you look absolutely lovely! Dad, you clean up well too!" she teased.
Nathan told her to come straight home after she was done working, to join her Oma and Grandfather. "We don't want them to have to worry about you, so if you'd like Karen can come by for a visit, but no boys."
Allie was not too happy about this but she knew why and understood, "Have fun you two. Be home before the clock strikes midnight," she teased.
Rosemary picked up Dee in the Coulter automobile as they were the closest neighbors, then stopped by and added Clara. The ladies were off to an earlier start than the men. They were all meeting at Minnie's Cafe and would drive together as a caravan of women! They were laughing all the way to Clearwater.
Nathan offered to pick up Lee, and Jesse, as soon as Anna came to babysit Michael. The Constables were having so much fun together exchanging stories that it was a great start to Bill's party. Gunther wished they would stay as he was enthralled listening to them, but he had to stay back to mind the town. All the men were meeting at Billees and would take off from there to Clearwater. Once everyone was gathered, they left shortly after the ladies.
"Look over there," Rosemary grinned, "we have young men, valets, who will park our automobiles. If you have any coins, please leave them a tip, but don't worry as it's not expected." As the ladies stepped out of their automobiles they could hear the music coming from the nightclub which brought huge smiles to their faces!
"Oh, this sounds like the new jazz music," Rosaleen said excitedly as she practically ran to the entrance with Katie right next to her. Peering inside as the doorman opened the door, she shouted back, "Hurry up Mom, this is going to be so thrilling!"
That's all it took as the ladies rushed up and stopped to look inside too. "Oh my goodness!" Flo was shocked.
"Oh my," Elizabeth stammered.
"I don't know if I should go in," Minnie hesitated her eyes round as saucers.
Dee laughed and put her arm through Minnies. "You can sit with me, we can enjoy this together, for Molly's sake!
"Let's go!" Jane encouraged the Chickadees, "this is going to be the bees knees!"
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The ladies and Chickadees were greatly excited hearing the lively jazz music and could hardly walk lady-like into the Club House with their feet ready to jump into action. They all gathered in a corner and eagerly discussed where to go. Rosemary assured them that they had reservations under her name and she would go to the host and inform him that they arrived and awaited seating. While she did just that, the rest of the ladies were giggling and watching the people coming in.
"Check out that dress," Teresa pointed to a lady with her hem mid-calf length.
Ann followed her gaze and spotted the lady wearing the sparkling blue gown. "Isn't that the teacher from Brookfield?"
"Oh, that couldn't be, I mean, a teacher dressed like that? Good heavens!" Christine shook her head.
Rosemary called for everyone's attention, "Ladies, please let's all follow the host inside."
There were four tables ready and waiting for them. Of course all the Chickadees tried to sit at one table together, but there being so many of them, they had to divide up. Rosemary, Molly, Flo, Dee, Elizabeth, Fiona, Rosaleen, Clara, Faith, Katie, Minnie, and Dottie also sat at the other two tables. Molly couldn't believe how many friends had shown up for her bridal party! "Fantastic, just great!"
The host and three waiters helped pulling out their chairs for them one by one as they took their seats. "Thank you," they all gushed enjoying being treated like princesses.
"Can I get you something to drink ladies?" the Maitre'D asked.
Giggling, most of them nodded. "Perhaps, you'd like to see the wine menu?" he suggested.
They had several wine menus passed around and soon they each chose what wine they preferred. Dee knew she couldn't indulge, so she asked for a fruity fun drink.
As the waiters returned with their glasses of wine, they left the bottles on the tables for the ladies to help themselves. The music was loud and lively, but the singers were not with the band right then, so it was a perfect time to place their order for their dinner entrees. As they waited for the entrees to come, they had a large selection of appetizers to choose from. The waiters brought a deviled eggs platter, meatballs and olive appetizers, and shrimp cocktails.
Looking around the huge room they were tickled pink to watch people dancing, while making comments when they saw the way the women were kicking up their heels and the men were letting loose right too along with them.
Marijane was intensely watching one couple and nudged Ann to notice them. "They're really cutting the rug, aren't they?"
Mary agreed, "And having so much fun. I hope I can dance like that after dinner!"
"It'll take you a few more glasses of wine!" Catherine teased.
Jane's feet were going in the rhythm of the music under the table, almost shaking the contents to the floor. "Just go out there Jane, you know you want to!" Kathy encouraged her.
That's all it took, and Jane grabbed Cheryl's hand and pulled her out on the dance floor. "Let it go Cheryl, just move with the music! Watch me!" she laughed.
It looked like so much fun that soon a few more brave souls joined them out on the floor and were kicking up a storm. "Whew," Nancy said as she sat back down and fanned herself.
It wasn't long when their dinners came. The meat was tender, the vegetables were hot and crisp, the hot rolls melted the butter instantly, and the twice baked potatoes were scrumptious. "I don't think I could eat another bite!" Faith sat back in her chair.
"Me neither," Flo agreed.
As the ladies were sitting back and letting their tummy's settle, some of the band members came and relieved some of the jazz members. This time the music was much more soft and melodious.
Minnie nudged Elizabeth asking, "Is that Mr. Landis, the previous Superintendent playing the piano?"
Elizabeth looked closer and was surprised, with her eyes opened wide, she gulped and answered, "Yes Minnie, I believe it is!"
Dottie saw them gaping at the piano player and as she looked, she too was incredulous, "Wow, such beautiful music he is playing!"
Minnie remarked, "He gave up being a superintendent so he could go back to teaching music. I wonder if he performs here on weekends?"
"I really am enjoying his style! His notes flow from one to the other so smoothly," Dee remarked appreciating his talent. The crowd burst into applause when the song ended.
"Too bad they stopped," Clara pouted.
"Wait, they didn't stop, there's a singer coming on to join them," Dee nodded looking back at the band.
"Wait, wait, is that who I think it is?" Fiona stared in disbelief.
Everyone stopped to see who she was talking about. There at the front of the stage was Dr. James Scholl, the dentist! Mr. McDreamy was singing and his voice was rich and charismatic. The ladies were fixated on him.
"Don't talk, just listen," Rosaleen chided Katie. "He's so charming!"
You could hear a pin drop, as the crowd listened to his captivating voice. Then all of a sudden, the ladies heard a familiar voice coming from the entrance. As they looked over, there was Lee telling the host he had reservations for two tables.
Rosemary blurted, "Oh no! I hope they didn't follow us!"
"Don't look at them!" Molly commanded, "maybe they won't see us," as they all shrunk down in their seats.
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"Yikes!" Kathy said a little too loudly.
"Shh," Darlene cautioned, "we don't want them to see us!"
Rosemary and Molly watched carefully as their men and guests were escorted to their tables. Luckily, they were sitting on the opposite side of the room. All the ladies sat frozen in their seats and let out a sigh of relief when they weren't discovered.
"What are they doing here?" Linda asked.
"Same thing as we are, I suppose," Connie shrugged.
"Now our fun is spoiled, darn!" Maryann complained.
Molly got the ladies attention, "It is our party too. Don't let the men being here, spoil our fun! If you want to laugh, laugh. If you want to dance, dance. If you want another glass of wine, drink."
"Yes indeed, eat, drink, and be merry!" Rosemary nodded in approval.
"Now, everyone grab your glass and let's salute our Molly!" Dottie cheered.
As the glasses clinked, the men were busy ordering their drinks, so they didn't notice a thing. The band was playing and keeping people on the floor dancing, so the ladies got 'brave' and decided to join the crowd. It was too much fun not to.
"I love these new dances!" Kathie said happily, "who wants to join me?"
"Oh, I'd love to, why thank you," Margaret laughed as the two of them cascaded in time to the music and onto the dance floor. The ladies enjoyed themselves immensely but stayed on their side.
Soon, James Scholl got back on stage and sang "Keep on Smiling". As he sang he watched the audience and noticed the ladies from Hope Valley, realizing he had been found out. He didn't mind, and a few times his eyes twinkled with mischief. The ladies found themselves enchanted with his debonair looks and his voice smooth as velvet. The audience clapped as he bowed.
Loretta and Joyce were fanning themselves. Barbara reassured the others that no, it wasn't a hot flash, but they were absolutely hot.
Soon, the men's drinks arrived, but they had no appetizers. The liquid diet seemed to satisfy them just fine along with a couple of cigars. There was raucous laughter coming from their tables as the Mounties were sharing their stories with the rest of the men. The cheers to Bill as he was being roasted provided boisterous outbursts that were quite noticiable. No one really cared, but the ladies were disapproving as they were trying to listen to James Scholl.
"Isn't that chap the dentist?" Ned asked.
"What guy?" Mike asked. "Oh, on stage? Well, it could be, but he's a dentist, not a singer."
"A man can have secrets," Henry remarked in barely a whisper.
"Well, we just blew his cover," Lee laughed.
Soon their entrees were delivered to them and as expected, they opted for big steaks and baked potatoes. While they were busy eating, the ladies thought that was a good time to dance some more. Jane was out on the dance floor showing them the dance moves. So pretty soon, they just about forgot about the men. A few men from other groups asked the younger ladies, to dance which had Katie and Rosaleen giggling when they went back to their tables.
"He is so charming," Katie told Rosaleen. "I hope he asks me to dance again."
"Not mine, he stepped all over my toes!" Rosaleen complained as she rubbed her feet.
A singer, Dianna Star, came on the stage next and joined James as together they sang "I'm always chasing rainbows." Dianna was quite attractive an had an angelic voice. Molly noticed that Bill had stopped eating and was watching her intently. The crowd clapped as Dianna curtsied.
Dottie grabbed her arm and warned her good friend to sit still and not make a scene. "Don't you dare go over to him. He's a man who's just looking, but nothing else."
Molly bit her lip and nodded, "You're right of course. I'm just a bit anxious."
Dianna sang another song,"I Might be Your Once-In-A-While," this time by herself while looking fondly at James sitting on a stool. They finished by singing a duet, "Let Me Call You Sweetheart."
Dee looked over at Nathan and he must've felt her gaze as he turned her way, but was blocked by a waiter bringing her another fruity drink.
As the two singers left the stage, the band leader announced the next singer, Flamin' Mamie! When she came on stage the ladies eyes opened wide and they gasped. The men broke into huge smiles and stared...