Chapter 78: Dinner at Abigail's Cafe
Later that Tuesday afternoon, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Jack, and the Coulters made their way over to Abigail's café after their trip to the cemetery. They had left a little earlier in hopes of seeing if Abigail had been able to make the stagecoach for the late afternoon arrival into Hope Valley. Just as they had reached the outskirts of town, the stagecoach was pulling around the other corner onto the main street. The seven of them reached the depot and were just filing out of the car as the stagecoach had come to a stop, and the driver was just getting down and opening the stagecoach door. He held his hand out to the rider, and Elizabeth's face lit up as she called out excitedly, "Abigail! You made it!" Elizabeth picked up Jack, placed him on her hip, and quickly moved to greet her old friend with a warm hug.
After the two friends parted from their embrace, Abigail was greeted by the rest of the group. Elizabeth turned to them and asked, "Would you mind too much waiting for the others here while I help get Abigail situated at the inn?" The group gestured for her to go on, and she handed Jack over to Charlotte as she turned to Abigail.
Right as Charlotte and Elizabeth were walking towards the inn, the Averys came driving up the main street and parked next to the Coulter's car. Bill went around and opened the door for Mollie as he grabbed Rena from her lap. Molly went over and hugged everyone standing at the depot as Bill walked over and said hello. Seeing the twins in the Coulter's arms, Rena's face instantly lit up, and she enthusiastically waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "Hi babies!" Evie and Ian giggled, kicking their legs and clapping their hands in response. The adults chuckled at the younger three's reactions to one another. Looking up at the adults laughing and the babies' reactions, Jack started making some of the silly faces that he had picked up from Nathan over the years to gain some of the attention of the crowd in attendance. The younger children squealed with delight, and the adults simply laughed even harder, making even Jack giggle at his own antics.
Bill looked around the group and said, "So, where are the guests of honor? Actually, it looks like we are still missing quite a handful of people." Charlotte explained how Abigail had just come into town as they arrived and that Elizabeth had taken her over to the inn to get settled. Bill nodded and replied, "Where is Nathan, though?" Walking up quietly behind Bill, the Grants had just arrived into town, where Nathan had just heard his name mentioned, and he gave a quiet signal to the others. "Right behind you, Bill. Where else would I be?" Nathan said as Bill turned to see the Grants standing behind him. The crowd laughed, and Nathan slapped Bill lovingly on the shoulder. He then introduced his parents to the group.
Jack went over and held up his bear for Allie and Nathan. "See what Gamma Chawie made me! It's from my Mountie Daddy's cwose. I wuv it!" Allie and Nathan both smiled down at Jack in response. Allie crouched down to his level, put her arm around her brother, and replied, "That's a really special gift, Jack! I wish I had something like that for my mom. Can you introduce me to your Grandma Charlie? I'd love to meet her!" Jack's face lit up with Allie's question, and he nodded excitedly as he grabbed her hand and took her over to Charlotte.
"Gamma. Gamma. This is my sister, Awie. Awie, this is my Gamma Chawie. Gamma, Awie wants a bear too from her mama's things. Can you make one?" Jack said it with childlike confidence. Allie blushed, patted Jack's shoulder, and said, "Jack, your Grandma Charlie doesn't really know me. I can't expect her to make me a bear. I just said that to you."
Charlotte stepped over next to Allie, put her arm around the teen, and said, "Allie, it is so good to finally meet you! Elizabeth has been telling me a lot about you over the last several years. You know, if your Grandma Grant still has some old clothes of your Mama's that she's willing to share, I could do what I did for Jack. And Jack didn't share this, but when I made his bear, I made myself one too. That way, Jack Sr. would always be with Jack and me. If I made one for you, of course, I could make one for you too, Nellie."
Nellie touched her heart, smiled, and answered, "Thank you, Charlotte, for that kind offer! Let me check when I go back to Rock Creek. I think that is a lovely memory for both Allie and myself!" With her free hand, Nellie reached out and grabbed hold of Charlotte's free hand and gave it a squeeze. Allie looked between her grandmother and Charlotte, smiled, and stepped back.
"That would be very nice! Thank you, Grandma, for checking, and thank you, Mrs. Thornton, for the sweet offer! I would love to have a memory bear like Jack from my mom if it works out." Allie said to the two women.
Charlotte grinned, casually let go of Nellie's hand, and turned and faced Allie. She put her hands on Allie's shoulders and said, "Allie, I know I'm really of no relation to you and that you already have a grandmother. In actuality, you're gaining another one this weekend too. But Allie, Elizabeth and Jack are my family, and their family is mine too. You would be welcome to call me Grandma Charlie like Jack does or whatever you like."
Allie looked up at Charlotte, smiling and with tears in her hazel eyes. "I could never have imagined that when Dad and Mom (the other Mrs. Thornton) finally got together that not only would I gain a new mom and brother but so many other family members too. I would love to call you Grandma Charlie, like Jack. Thank you!" Allie said as she tightly embraced Charlotte.
As the two broke apart, the group saw that Elizabeth, Abigail, William, and Grace were crossing the street from the inn. When they were over at the inn, Elizabeth and Abigail ran into William and Grace just stepping out of their own hotel room. The couple joined them since they were all heading in the same direction.
Immediately, Elizabeth went to Nathan's side and gave him a quick kiss. "Well, it appears that everyone has been introduced, I see. Should we go inside now?" she said, smiling. Nathan looked around the group and answered, "Where's your sister Julie?" Elizabeth glanced around the group and was about to respond when, all of a sudden, around the corner came Julie and Tom. Julie started waving her hand as she said, "Here we are! Sorry we are a little late; we got a little lost while walking, but we are here now."
Elizabeth introduced the pair to the others, and then they all walked towards the cafe. Since the cafe had closed early for their private party, when they got to the door, Elizabeth knocked softly on the door. She was greeted by Joseph's smiling face, who said, "Come on in, family! The ladies are just finishing things up. I'm excited for this opportunity to feast and fellowship with all of you this evening!"
As they walked in, Nathan introduced Anna, Minnie, and Joseph to the Thorntons, Thatchers, and Grants. The adults stood talking to one another as Allie pulled Rosemary and Elizabeth aside and asked, "I know you all will want to visit. Would you like it if me, Angela, and Cooper helped out with the little ones at the side tables? That way, you're all still here to help if it's needed, and you can all visit freely at the same time." Elizabeth glanced over at Rosemary to see what she thought as she stroked her daughter's hair. "Allie, that is very sweet of you to offer that! Why don't you confirm that Angela and Cooper are even willing to help out too and see if your Aunt Molly would be alright with the idea too? If everyone is good with the idea, I'm all for it too!" Rosemary responded with a cheerful smile and a side hug for Allie. Allie smiled back and excused herself to go speak to Angela, Cooper, and Molly.
Shortly afterwards, she returned with Angela and Cooper by her side and Rena holding onto Angela's hand. Anna and Minnie appeared with three of the high chairs that the cafe had on hand for visiting families. Allie sat on the end with Ian in a high chair on one side of her and Evie in a high chair on the other. Angela sat on the opposite end of Allie, with Rena in the last highchair next to her on one side and Jack in a regular chair on the other. Cooper was between Ian and Jack.
Minnie looked over and saw Angela sitting there with the younger children around her, and a concerned look came over her. She was about to stand and go over her, but then Joseph put his hand gently upon her arm, leaned in closely, and whispered, "She's okay, dear; let her be. Angela has helped in the preschool before, so Rena and Jack know her well enough to listen. She's in familiar territory here at the café. If there are any problems, Abigail, Julie, Tom, or myself can step in at a moment's notice. She is blind; she's not helpless." Minnie nodded her head as she continued to watch her daughter at the next table interact with Jack and Rena. "I know Joseph, but as her mother, I think I'll always worry. You do make some good points, and she does seem to be doing alright." Joseph took hold of his wife's hand, squeezed it, and kissed it as Minnie smiled in response.
At the adult table, Joseph took the end closest to the door, with Minnie next to him. Molly sat next to Minnie, with Bill next to her, and Lee on the other side of Bill, with Rosemary to his left. Charlotte sat with Rosemary and Elizabeth. Nathan took the other end closest to the kitchen, next to Elizabeth. Nellie and Archie sat on Nathan's left, and William and Grace took their place next to them. Julie sat with her mother to her right and Tom on her left side. Abigail took her place last between Joseph and Tom. After all of the families were situated in their spots, Joseph led them in a prayer for the meal as well as the week's events. The room was filled with much conversation and laughter as the families ate and shared with one another.
Since the Canfields were joining the meal, the family had told Anna to invite some friends to help serve, and that way she could visit with them after the meal was done. So, Anna, Maggie, Ruby, and Laura served the families until the meal was done, and then they excused themselves to the sitting room behind the curtain while the families talked amongst themselves.
Elizabeth looked around at one point, taking in all of the friends and family that surrounded them and thoughtfully smiling to herself. As she glanced over at Nathan, who at the time was chatting with both his father and hers, she remembered something that made her chuckle a bit. Catching the chuckle, Nathan leaned over after he wrapped up the conversation with the two fathers and whispered, "What's tickled your funny bone, Lizbeth?" Elizabeth smiled mischievously as she responded, "You realize that there are over 20 people here at this dinner party, Nathan?" I do believe that you're getting used to being surrounded by loved ones." Nathan gazed into Elizabeth's sparkling blue eyes and then glanced around the room at his family and friends. "You know, I hadn't even noticed, really. I think that you're right about me getting used to it. I love being here with you and all of our family and friends. There's no other place that I'd rather be tonight or in life." Elizabeth smiled, touched his cheek, and quickly kissed him.
Joseph stood and said to the group, "It has been such a blessing to spend time with all of you this evening! In just a few short days, we will gather again for our Good Friday service, and then after that, the nuptials of our beloved Mountie and teacher of Hope Valley, Nathan, and Elizabeth. I want to thank you all for including my family in tonight's meal. This union of these two families has created a community in itself. May God bless each of you richly from this night forward."