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Chapter One-hundred and Twenty-eight
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The Gift of Family
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After the children collected the contents of their stockings, and Nathan and Elizabeth cleared away the food items and turned of the tree lights, everyone donned their outerwear for the short walk to the main house. Leaving the stockings behind for now, Nathan carried a large basket containing the ham that had been stored in his icebox, red currant jelly and a jar of cloves, plus a special pot along with his tote and its precious contents hidden beneath a couple of dish towels. He held open the door for the family to enter. "Merry Christmas, everyone! Ho ho ho!" Nathan said in a deep voice. "Let the festivities begin!"
The adults were enjoying their coffee around the dining table and immediately hurried to hug the young family! When Jack came around the corner he stopped short when he saw the piles of gifts around the Christmas tree, causing Nathan to almost trip over him! Amidst lots of laughter they recovered and found places around the living room. Dining chairs supplemented the seating and some menfolk opted to sit on the floor near their ladies. Nathan leaned against Elizabeth's chair with his arm draped over her knees, while she absentmindedly played with his dark brown waves.
"So, are all of you going to open your stockings first? We did ours! Thanks everyone, on behalf of all of us, for your special treats and thoughtful little items. Let us watch you now!" Nathan glanced at Allie and Zach. "Maybe you two could distribute the goods? Zach that dark green stocking is yours, by the way!"
"I have a stocking? I... uh… I never expected a stocking! Thank you." Ready to ask to whom his thanks were owed, he looked at his step-mother and knew. "You made this for me didn't you, Mom?" As Ruth nodded, Zach, went to her and bent to hug her. "Thank you so much. I am so grateful for you, and Dad, and well…the entire family…but this is great!"
Once Allie and Zach distributed the stockings, the adults made short work of discovering their gifts. Jack leaned back on Nathan's chest and observed. Finally when Uncle Zach pulled out the bookmark, Jack sat up straight. "That's from me! I made that for you, Uncle Zach. Aunt Julie showed me how to draw a… what is it Mommy?"
"A 'Z' for Zachary, Honey. You did a wonderful job on all the bookmarks." Looking at Julie, Elizabeth mouthed the words, 'Thank you!'
Everyone admired Jack's bookmarks and the sachets and Pomander balls that Allie had included, so the room buzzed with multiple conversations and laughter.
Reaching for his camera, Nathan stood and took a couple photos of the tree and piles of gifts then, ringing the train bell hanging from the tree, Nathan took charge. "How do you propose we do this? Allie and I usually alternate opening our gifts, but if we open one at a time, we will be here until New Year's! Maybe we just distribute everyone's gifts and each one opens one gift simultaneously with everyone else? That way we can all see what others have received and given. Does that sound good?" Nathan knelt where he had been seated, searching for Elizabeth's approval, only to see her with a mischievous grin and twinkling eyes.
"You may have a difficult time corralling this family, Nathan, but it is a good idea anyway!" She chuckled lightly.
As the family laughed and commented, Nathan began to hand gifts to Jack and tell him to whom he should take them. Allie and Zach stood to assist in the distribution and soon the space below the tree was emptied, but you could hardly see the carpet with all the packages laid around the family members!
Settled back against the chair, Nathan spoke up again. "Okay! Everyone choose one gift and open it! Then you can hold it up so we all can see the gifts."
"This is the first time I have seen a Mountie direct the opening of Christmas gifts!" Bill laughed as he eyed Nathan, then Peter, William and Archie. "Now you see why our boy here is a take-charge leader!"
Nathan blushed, but as he couldn't conceive of another way for the family to get through this massive stack of packages, he just shrugged his shoulders and teasingly commented. "You are in charge of clean-up, Bill. That fits your Judge experiences, eh?"
Laughter ensued and sounds of paper ripping, admiration and glee filled the room.
A thrilled Jack first opened another carved Mountie toy from Nathan which was close to the scale of his electric train set, plus a tree ornament of a horse painted to resemble Newton.
Allie unwrapped a flower press from Jack and a beautiful purple fountain pen from her teacher and excitedly picked her way across the packages to give a thank-you-hug. "This is so pretty!" Allie enthused. "I feel so grown-up! Thank you, Miss Bess."
"You were the best student I ever taught, Honey, and I hope this will encourage your writing endeavors from now on. The press is identical to the one we used in school back in Hope Valley." Elizabeth lifted a picture frame from the wrappings in her lap and exclaimed. "Oh! What a beautiful photo! Is this from you and your Dad?"
As Allie explained, Elizabeth turned the frame so everyone could admire the photograph of Nathan, Allie and Bill taken by Jon Samuels.
"Oh! I hope there is a copy of that for me?" Bill questioned as he looked from Allie to Nathan.
"I'm afraid there are many gifts of photographs today, so if anyone wants one that someone else has, let me know after all the gifts are opened and I'll make a note for you. I'm pretty sure you have that one as well, Bill." Nathan explained.
William, Peter and Hudson opened neckties and tie clasps, while Ruth gasped as she lifted the cover of a small box. It wasn't the exact pin, but Archie had found a stunning ruby brooch that Ruth adored. They chose not to share the significance with the greater family, but Archie, Ruth, and Nathan knew the story and meaning behind the jewelry.
Opening a tie box himself, Nathan uncovered a tie and matching handkerchief in shades of blue given to him by Jack and a tie clasp with the initial G. "Jack! This is perfect and I will always think of you when I wear it! Thank you, Buddy."
Grace unwrapped a fountain pen from Elizabeth while Julie opened a long, stylish beaded necklace. Elizabeth pointed to two gold boxes tied together and asked Allie to open them next.
"Oh! A gold necklace just like you lent to me for my concert! And, these Celtic knot earrings are beautiful. Wow! Thank you. Look, Dad!" Allie held her treasures for her father to see, then showed them so all could see.
"Dad? Can you wait a minute? I have to get something for you." Allie disappeared, returning quickly with her hands behind her back. She made her way to her father and revealed a coat-hanger with an item tied with a bright red ribbon. When Nathan pulled the ribbon the blue and green plaid silk waistcoat and necktie were unfurled. "Allie! This is stunning, where did you…wait! Did you sew this for me?" Nathan began to inspect the workmanship. "Allie this is stunning!" Nathan beamed with admiration, pride and appreciation as he reached up to hug a blushing Allie who quickly knelt beside him.
"You like it?" Allie whispered low.
"Oh, Honey. I love it!" Nathan handed the hanger to Allie while he quickly unbuttoned his gray waistcoat and let it slide off behind him as Elizabeth caught it and folded it in her lap. He then retrieved the new waistcoat and donned it. "This fits perfectly! How in the world did you create this?"
"I took one of your waistcoats in to class and Mrs. Evans helped me cut a pattern to fit you. It looks really good."
Nathan stood and modeled for Elizabeth and the rest of the family as 'ohhs' and 'ahhs' circulated the room.
"Honey, would you please come closer?" Ruth requested. "The workmanship is incredible!"
Much admired, Allie's workmanship was declared the gift of the morning. At least for now…
Zach sat and watched all the joy and love surrounding him, but still hadn't opened the gifts in his pile and Archie noticed. "Zach? You open one of yours there and I'll open one of mine, okay?" Archie lifted a long box and pointed to a similarly wrapped gift beside Zach.
Both men extracted a silk tie stitched from fabric matching Nathan's waistcoat and tie set. "Oh, Allie! Did you sew this for me as well?" Zach exclaimed as Archie inquired the same.
"I hope you don't mind that you all match? I had extra fabric and wanted to make something, so it was just enough for both of you." Allie admitted shyly.
"Allie? No one has ever sewn anything for me so this is the most special gift you could give me! Thank you, sweet niece!" Zach stood and motioned for Allie to come to him for a strong hug.
"I'm next in line, Sweetheart!" Archie opened his arms wide. "This rivals any ties available in my store! Thank you so much."
Elizabeth next opened a canvas that Allie had painted with a shiny, red apple. She had used an Impressionist style and the rendition was best observed from a slight distance to capture the perfect highlights. "Allie! This is stunning and I will treasure this always. It would be a great painting to hang in a kitchen wouldn't it?"
As the family observed, many of them began to search for a gift of the same size and shape. Bill found one and revealed a painting of a gavel while Peter found he had received a Mountie Campaign hat. Carol was thrilled to find that Allie had painted a blue bowl with perfectly formed eggs within, and as in some classical paintings, an egg rolled up to the outside and reflected in the shiny bowl. "Oh, Honey! This is delightful and reminds me of our many afternoons baking together. Thank you, Allie."
A small voice piped up from amidst a pile of crumpled wrapping paper. "Do I get one too, Awlie?"
Ready to answer Jack's question. "Here, Jack. Open this!"
"A locomotive! Oh! Look everybody! It's the front of the train. I love it, Awlie! Thank you so much." Jack hugged his painting to his chest. "Mommy can we hang it in my bedroom?" Getting thoughtful, he suddenly realized he didn't have a bedroom anymore. "Oh no! Where can I hang it, Mommy?"
"Sweet boy, we will hang it wherever you sleep until you have a special bedroom all by yourself." Elizabeth motioned Jack to come to her. "May I see the painting, please?"
Allie had painted a view of the engine as if you were standing in front of it and had included many accurate details so when William opened his gift he was excited to have a twin painting to Jack's. Unable to speak, William coughed to clear the emotion from his voice until he could whisper, "Oh, Allie! Thank you! You have no idea how much this means to me!"
For Mrs. Thatcher, Allie had painted some spools of thread along with embroidery floss and sewing needles, while she created a rendition of a mug holding a couple of paint brushes for Julie.
Apologetically, Allie explained to Uncle Hudson that she didn't really know what to paint for him, so she hoped the pile of books was okay?
"Allie, these are perfect. No one sees me, but when I retire to my room at night I read voraciously! I've gone through many books in Mr. Thatcher's library!" Hudson chuckled. "Thank you, Miss Allie. I will treasure this."
"Good!" Allie was relieved, then pointed her Uncle Zach to a rolled present as yet unopened. "Please open that, Uncle Zach? Yours is different because it has to be transportable. I made pictures like this for my friends in Hope Valley because Uncle Bill had to bring them back on the train." Allie watched as her uncle unrolled a scroll containing an illustration of piano keys,
"I don't know how you figured out everything for all of us, Allie! You are amazing and you haven't even heard me play yet!" Zach grinned. "Thank you for your thoughtfulness to be certain I can take this with me wherever I go! I will."
Elizabeth nudged Nathan who was busy observing the reception of all of his daughter's gifts. He was so proud of her, but looked up at Elizabeth as she spoke. "There are a few things you still must open, Honey."
Grinning, Nathan agreed. "Oh yeah! But you have a few things as well." He placed a small square package and a larger square box on her lap and then reached for two matching boxes at her feet.
Together Nathan and Elizabeth opened gifts from each other. Elizabeth unwrapped a golden Cardinal charm and Nathan a tie-holder with a dangling key. Immediately their eyes misted and they could only gaze at each other, speaking their appreciation and understanding without words.
Observing and knowing about the key in the Cottage kitchen, Grace quietly asked. "Can you share the significance of these gifts, my dears?"
"Uh…" Elizabeth paused to speak clearly. "Nathan told me I held the key to his heart, plus the key to the town of Hope Valley reminds us of where we met. Oh, and he told me a key symbolized that he trusted me since he gave me the key to the Cottage." Her eyes filling with tears, Elizabeth bent to meet Nathan's upturned lips.
After their brief kiss, Nathan explained. "A Cardinal is very special to us too and the first time we decorated a Christmas tree together we hung a Cardinal ornament that is now on our tree at the Cottage. Honey, open this gift next." Nathan watched as Elizabeth pulled out a female version of a Cardinal ornament and gasped.
"Oh, Nathan. It matches! You carved this didn't you? It's beautiful." Elizabeth caressed Nathan's hair, then held it up for all to see. Nathan had lightly painted the ornament with Allie's translucent watercolors so that the wood grain showed through and the hints of color perfectly matched the subtle shading of a female bird.
"This is a little something you mentioned you might like, Lisbeth." Nathan handed Elizabeth a round hat box, tied with dark green ribbon and a large bow. "Open it!"
"Oh!" Elizabeth lifted a silvery-grey fur hat, exclaiming, "This is beautiful, Nathan! I don't remember mentioning it, but won't it be perfect in the cold winds?"
"It will and you commented on your desire for one when you saw my Mountie fur hat!"
"Oops! I did, didn't I? I'll have to be more careful so you don't buy everything I say I like or want!" Elizabeth stood and went to the hall mirror. Returning wearing the cuddly hat, she smiled. "Thank you, Honey. It is beautiful and toasty too!"
On the other side of the living room, Archie opened the box containing his gift from his sons, a leather-bound American Standard Version of the Bible. "Oh! We've talked about this, Nathan. This is wonderful!"
Nathan spoke up. 'I know we are all familiar with the King James Version, but I have found that this version helps me understand the Scriptures even better. Or at least it adds to the old English of the King James! Zachary and I decided it would be good to give it to you together, Dad, from both your sons. There is an inscription you can read later too."
Eyes filling, Archie just nodded and stood to welcome Zach's hug and then Nathan's. There were no dry eyes in the room as all the family rejoiced at the picture before them.
As Allie began to stack her gifts of art supplies from Aunt Julie, a bracket and her own Plasticine from the Thatcher's and a set of pearl earrings from the Collins's, she discovered an unopened present from Uncle Zach. "Oh! What a beautiful journal, Uncle Zach! I can always use that, and it has the word 'Hope' embossed on it. That is so sweet. Thank you!"
"You are very welcome, Allie." Zach winked. "I want to encourage your story-telling and writing skills!"
"I think you missed a couple other gifts, Sweetheart." Ruth pointed to a box behind Allie. "The green one is from us."
"A cloche hat! Oh, thank you Grandma and Grandpa. These are all the most popular style and the silver color will look so fashionable with my new coat. Oh, and gray leather gloves too! Wow!" Allie jumped up to give more hugs. "Thank you!"
"Your Grandma and I decided you have had your share of homemade gifts in years past, as beautiful as your Grandma's workmanship is, so we chose these from my store. Have to keep our favorite young lady up-to-date, eh?"
Julie interjected her approval. "Allie, you will match the ladies in Hamilton, Montreal, New York and Paris with that hat. Stunning!"
"And how!" Uncle Bill spoke out, grinning. "I've been waiting since I got here to use that term! Cooper Canfield taught me that!"
The room erupted in laughter as the modern phrase did not fit Judge Avery's vocabulary and a giggling Allie engulfed him in a hug. "You're the best Uncle Bill I have!"
Gruffly, Bill added. "I'm the only Uncle Bill you have, so I sure hope so!" He pointed to another box. "That is from me."
Allie opened a desk set, with a covered box filled with writing paper, a pencil cup and a matching letter holder. "Uncle Bill! This is really a stylish set. I guess you want me to write more often, right?" She giggled as she blew a kiss to Bill.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth had patted Nathan on his shoulder and pointed to the unopened box in his lap.
"Elizabeth! This a smashing pen!" Nathan looked up with a crooked grin, then glanced at his daughter. "See? Even your old Dad can update his vocabulary!" Nathan held the beautiful sapphire blue fountain pen for all to see. "And a new journal too! I think we both want each other to keep writing, eh, Honey? Thank you." Nathan reached back and pulled Elizabeth to him for another kiss. "Wait! Allie? I think you are missing my gifts. They are wrapped in gold paper. Do you…"
"Oh! These, Dad? I am overwhelmed this morning!" Allie opened a music book of International Christmas Carols. "Dad! This is perfect! I wonder if it has some of the ones we sang at my concert? And now I can learn to play them on the piano too. Thanks, Dad!" Seeing her father lean forward and point to the other box, Allie slowly unwrapped it, wondering why her father's eyes glistened. "Ah…" Allie gasped as she lifted the velvet lid to uncover a beautiful pearl necklace.
The ladies in the room gasped and teared up right along with Allie as they knew how meaningful a girl's first pearl necklace would be when gifted by her father.
Allie could only cry, "Daddy…" As she hurried to collapse into her father's lap.
Tearing his eyes from his niece and brother, Zachary opened a box from Archie and Ruth. "A watch! Oh my goodness, Dad…Mom… this is so special!" He turned the watch over to reveal an engraving which read, "To Zachary, our Son. Christmas 1920."
Everyone grew teary again, until Bill blew his nose and commented, "We are going to need a shipment of handkerchiefs if this keeps up!"
As chuckles released the emotion in the room, Hudson spoke up. "If we are almost finished, I have something here, for Nathan and Allie." He reached behind the armchair in which he was seated and produced a very familiar-looking pine tree with a gold star at the top. "This is from your back yard in Hope Valley." He handed the potted tree to Nathan. "Rosemary told me the significance of the saplings and I dug up three for you, of which this is the largest. I thought you might appreciate planting them on this property as a reminder of your tradition and your former home!"
"Oh Hudson! This is perfect and so meaningful, eh, Allie-girl? We will certainly plant the trees! Thank you, Sir." Nathan looked at Allie, who was smiling excitedly. "Honey? I didn't forget." Nathan stood and went into the hallway to lift a pot of dirt from his basket. Handing it to Allie, he then reached into his pocket and handed her some seeds to plant.
"What's that, Awlie? Dirt?" Jack inquired as he came alongside, squatting to peer into the pot.
Explaining, Allie showed Jack the seeds. "You see we plant the seeds from our Christmas tree and then in the springtime we plant the tiny tree in our back garden to watch it grow big. That way we remember how long we have lived in our house. Grandpa and Grandma used to do this with my mother and Daddy Nathan when they were little."
Sitting back on his heels, Jack looked into Allie's face, asking thoughtfully. "So that tree from Uncle Hudson was from one of your Christmas trees?"
"Exactly. It was probably from the first one we planted that your mother helped us find."
"Was I there?" Jack wanted to be included in all the family happenings.
"You were a little baby, Jack. Either Miss Laura or Aunt Rosemary was taking care of you and you were probably taking a nap!"
"That's why I don't want naps anymore!" Jack declared with determination. "I don't want to miss things!"
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