Chapter Eighty
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Seaside Summer Holiday
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With the end of their private honeymoon week, Nathan and Elizabeth joined the family for dinner before the band concert. Excited cries of "Daddy!" "Mom!" "Mommy!" "Dad!" accompanied the children sliding from their chairs and welcoming their parents with warm hugs.
"We missed you. Did you miss us? Did you remember us?" Jack leaned back in his mother's arms, hands on either side of her face. "Did you and Daddy remember us?"
"Oh, Sweet boy! Of course we remembered you and Allie. We talked about you and prayed for you and loved you, just from a distance. But we are here now and I understand that this is a special night? Eh?" Elizabeth hugged Jack again, then she nodded at their parents.
Allie still had her arms encircling her Dad as Nathan spoke. "Thank you so much, Mom, Dad, Mother, Father, Blakeson! We had such a wonderful week together. I can't thank you enough! I hope the children were well-behaved?"
"Model children, with one minor bit of petulance from an over-tired little boy." William laughed.
The other grandparents joined the laughter. "We cured that by limiting the late-day excitement the following day and thereafter!" Eileen reported.
"Let's be seated everyone as dinner is about to be served." Anne encouraged. "We have plenty of time to catch up on all our happenings, right Dears?"
"Wait until you hear all we did!" Allie bounced in her seat. "We had great fun." She smiled shyly, "Did you?"
Seeing Nathan's coloring intensify, Elizabeth replied quickly. "Did we ever! We saw lighthouses and lobster boats, and red sand beaches. Did you see any of those things?"
"No, but can we, Dad?" Allie enthused. "I want to see the lighthouses!"
"I'm sure we can arrange an excursion and maybe even a picnic! Sound like fun?" Nathan responded having recovered quickly.
Not to be outdone, Jack piped up. "We played…What's it called, Grandpa? You know, with the wooden balls and the sticks."
"Oh! Croquet, Jack! Yes, we learned a new game and have had a lot of fun even though it is not always 'played by the rules!'" Archie grinned as he wiggled his eyebrows. "We'll have to show you two and maybe we can even have a tournament!"
"Maybe after some practice, please, Dad?" Nathan grinned, knowing his father's competitive nature.
"I'll give you that!"
"Shall we pray?" William asked and the family took hands around the table. "Thank you God, for food so good. Help us do the things we should. And thank you for a special week for Elizabeth and Nathan as well as for us with the young ones. Bless this food, this night and each one of our special family. Amen."
"Amen."
While Allie washed her face and brushed her teeth, Nathan helped Jack into his pajamas. After his time at the bathroom sink, Nathan wrapped Jack in a sweater and replaced his shoes. Elizabeth brushed Allie's hair and after collecting a sweater for Allie, the Grants went downstairs to meet the grandparents.
"Honey, Here is an extra sweater for you, to save you having to walk back to the cottage." Eileen handed one of her warm hand–knit sweaters to Elizabeth. "And here is one for you, Son."
Elizabeth admired the pattern. "Is this new, Mom? I don't recall seeing it before. I love the color!"
"Oh? Well, good then. It is yours! A little memory from our time on the Island."
"Oh really? Goodness! I need to be careful what I compliment, Mom!" Elizabeth laughed.
Eileen laughed along. "It was intended for you, Dear. I'm just happy you like it!"
"You look extremely cuddly in that sweater, my Love." Nathan whispered into his wife's ear thinking no one would hear.
He was mistaken because Anne and William exchanged knowing looks before they all headed outside.
Earlier Mr. Burns and Blakeson had pulled a few chairs into a semicircle facing the gazebo and saved the seats for their guests with piles of blankets. They also spread a blanket in front of the chairs for the concert.
Settled in the chairs and with Blakeson and the children on the blanket, they people-watched as they listened to the band tune their instruments. Elizabeth adjusted her position and commented to Nathan. "I think I will need a derrick to help me out of this chair later."
"Well, I am sure that between Father, Dad and I we can heft the two of you up!" Nathan chuckled as he squeezed Elizabeth's hand.
She raised an eyebrow. "Heft? Is that the best choice of word, my poetic husband?"
Nathan just chuckled and winked at his wife, motioning to the rose and coral-colored sky in the west.
As the music began, Nathan pulled his wife out of the chair to stand for "God Save the King," then gently eased her down after collecting a blanket to set under her.
"Thank you, Dear-heart. That is much better!" Elizabeth patted her husband's hand and he turned it to hold hers. "Now, enjoy!"
Jack was fidgety, so Nathan reached down and tapped him on his shoulder, motioning that he could sit on his father's lap. Jack gladly climbed up and snuggled against Nathan.
When Allie saw that, she moved to lean back against the chair between Nathan's knees. He patted her shoulder, squeezing his knees together.
Nathan grinned at Elizabeth and leaned towards her. "Now, don't be jealous, Mama! You get to go home with me later." Wiggling his eyebrows, he reached for her hand again.
"Nathan Grant! We are in public!" She gave him her stern. Teacher-face, whispering. "You are too much!"
Not going to miss another chance to tease her, Nathan replied quietly. "And you, Mrs. Nathan Grant, love every minute!"
The band began a drumroll that morphed into a march and although most conversations ceased, Elizabeth and Nathan continued wordless communication through squeezing each other's hands, smiles and the occasional wiggled eyebrow.
As the final notes faded onto the breeze. Archie took a sleeping Jack from Nathan so Nathan could help Elizabeth rise, then he lifted a very sleepy Allie into his arms. William took Elizabeth's arm and the mothers took one another's, while Blakeson gathered the blankets. After the children were in bed and quiet prayers offered, whispered good nights were shared and the couple returned to the cottage for another honeymoon night.
After attending the Presbyterian Church in Cavendish, the family piled into the two automobiles and enjoyed a leisurely Sunday drive along the north shore as they returned to the estate.
At dinner Allie had an interesting fact to share. "You know the lady we met after church, Mr. Burn's daughter? She knows Lucy Maud Montgomery! Isn't that amazing?"
"For those of us from so far away, it is amazing, Allie-girl." Nathan loved his daughter's enthusiasm for reading. "But, I imagine many people around here know her. Mrs. Montgomery grew up in this area and that's why she based her stories in this beautiful place."
"You know, Allie? Maybe you could write a paper or an article about all you've seen here and how you recall scenes from the Anne stories as you tour around. Maybe it would be useful when you return to school in the autumn? Or be worthy of publication in the Valley Voice?" Ever the teacher, her mother made the suggestion. "I think this place would substitute for the White Sands Hotel, don't you? Are you writing memories in your journal, Honey?"
Nodding Allie responded. "I am. I feel a connection to Anne when I sit at the little writing desk in my room and look down on the garden. Isn't that weird? To feel a connection to a fictional character?"
"Not at all, Allie!" William responded. "When a character is well-written you are drawn to feel as if you know them, understand their thoughts and actions and recognize who they love. We empathize with that character. Do you know that word?"
Allie nodded her head, blushing. "To put yourself in another person's place." Allie paused thoughtfully. "Do you think that is why Anne is my favorite character? Because she was an orphan and I can understand that?" She glanced at her dad. "I mean I had you, Dad, so I wasn't technically an orphan, but you know. I still understand."
"That may be a part of it Allie, but I understand Anne too and I wasn't an orphan." Elizabeth offered. "So, maybe it's more that we have all suffered in some way and we feel like kindred spirits when we know of other's trials."
"Allie? I agree with Mom, but I think you have a good point. Do you remember talking to your reflection and calling it your friend? That was even before we read the Anne books, but you had an imaginary friend before you had any real friends. Before you even heard of Anne, you understood her loneliness." Nathan swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, Sweetheart, that we moved so much you missed out on friends in your early years."
"Oh Dad… I didn't know I was missing anything. You were enough." Allie watched as her father's eyes filled with tears.
"That's one of the sweetest things you've ever told me, Allie." Nathan whispered. "Thank you."
As Allie rose from her chair and found her way into her father's arms, everyone at the dining table wiped their eyes and a few cleared their throats, knowing they were privileged to witness this beautiful affirmation.
"Can I be your 'mage'ry friend Allie?" Jack didn't want to see his Allie sad.
Pulling away from her father's embrace, Allie giggled and faced Jack. "You are even better, Jack. You are my brother! My real brother!" As she returned to her seat, she patted Jack on the head.
His response was a wide grin and a giggle. "Yup!"
As the family was finishing their blueberry duff with lemon sauce, Mr. Burns approached their table, followed by his daughter, Lydia Burns. "Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. Please let me introduce my daughter? She has something to show you." Mr. Burns bowed slightly and motioned for Lydia to come further into the room.
"I have a few photographs to give to you." Noting everyone's surprise. "You see, I was waiting for just the right clouds and waving grasses and tides to capture photographs when I heard children's laughter. The sight before me was inspirational and I took some photos. I then saw you two gentlemen kicking up the water with the children and you two ladies observing and laughing. I hope you don't feel I was intruding, but I took what I consider to be some of the most beautiful photos in my career." Lydia held up the photos she had named, describing the titles.
There were many appreciative gasps and oohhs and ahhhs around the table.
Lydia continued. "And you, Mr. and Mrs. Grant? I especially hope you understand. I had to capture your love, although it wasn't until the band concert that I realized you were all related. This I entitled 'Treasure.'" Lydia held out the photo of Nathan offering the seashell to Elizabeth.
"Oh!" Elizabeth instinctively reached for Nathan's hand as she exclaimed. "Oh! That is beautiful." Tears overflowed and as she turned to Nathan she caught his glistening eyes.
Letting them absorb the image for a while, Lydia then spoke up. "There are more." Lydia shared the photo of them walking the beach, standing and looking out over the waters and bending to study a tidal pool. She had enlarged an image of their clasped hands, Nathan's wedding band glinting in the sun, and an accompanying photo of Elizabeth's hands around Nathan's neck, her diamond sparkling. Their faces were not recognizable, but their love shown forth from their profiles or positions. "I brought these to you as a thank you, but also as a request." Lydia glanced at her father and took a deep breath before continuing.
"I am asking if I can include these photographs in a gallery show I am preparing. I will not identify any of you by name, but will include titles to further direct the viewer's imaginations. I hope to show this in Charlottetown, then go further into larger cities in eastern Canada. I have studies of weather and waves along the shore, seashells and grasses, beach plums and shadows in the sand. But I believe those photos, although beautiful in their own way, are static compared to these. Your family is not just beautiful, but inspirational. You make a viewer smile and love and weep." She looked around at the faces of her listeners. "I cannot rightfully show or sell these without your permission, so I am hoping you will allow me the privilege of sharing your family love and joy with the world?"
Nathan looked at Elizabeth with a question, then turned to Lydia. "Miss Burns? These are stunning and on behalf of us all, I thank you for your beautiful gift of precious memories. But, may I request some days to think about this and discuss it as a family? I am leaning towards saying yes, but it isn't my decision alone."
"Oh, of course. Of course, Sir. I am grateful for your consideration. The ones I titled are yours to keep this afternoon. The others are samples on which I make notes for exposures, etc. so I cannot leave all of them with you at this time. But by the end of the week, I should be better prepared to share the ones you especially like." Lydia nervously looked from one silent person to another. "Have I offended you?"
William cleared his throat and leaned forward. "On the contrary, Miss Burns. I think we are all stunned speechless! Your photography is beautiful. Tell me? Have you previously put on gallery shows? What kind of exposure have you had?"
"Sadly, Sir, no. In the same way female authors have had to publish under male pseudonyms, women photographers are not held in high regard. I have tried. But these?" Lydia waved her hand over her collection. "These are different and I believe these images will be recognized for the emotions they inspire, in spite of a woman behind the lens."
"Miss Burns?" William held her gaze. "Would you ever consider publishing these photographs in a book?"
"Oh!" Lydia placed her hand over her heart. "That would be a dream I never dared to dream, Sir. But that would involve a significant investment which I am not prepared to make."
"And, what if the investment was made apart from you? At no cost to you?" William was thinking aloud, but needed to ascertain Lydia's interest before pursuing his idea further.
"Again, Sir. That would be beyond anything I could dream."
"Let me think about this and, as my son-in-law has mentioned, discuss some things with my family." William caught Nathan's gaze and nodded. "On behalf of us all, thank you for these photographs you have gifted. May I request additional copies? We represent homes in three different cities and I know I for one, want a copy of each of these four at the very least! I will pay you, of course, for your supplies and time."
"I would be happy to do that, Sir. Thank you." Lydia began to collect the samples and moved the series of four matted photographs to display across the mantle.
"Excuse me? May we address you as Lydia? I am William Thatcher, my wife, Anne. These are our friends and parents to my son-in-law, Archie and Eileen Grant. My daughter Elizabeth, her husband, Inspector Nathan Grant with the RCMP and their children, Allie and Jack. Please address us by our familiar names? We are on vacation and even if we do business together, we will still be friends!" William laughed heartily.
"Of course. Thank you all."
Seated on the porch while Jack napped upstairs, William pulled his chair closer to Nathan. "Son? My idea to publish Lydia's beautiful photographs includes more than bookplates. What if you included some of your poetry, writings, musings that would be interspersed throughout? Each piece of writing doesn't have to exactly match the photo, but still evoke the feeling of family, love, the sea, the beauty of creation. Similar but not the same as your other volumes. What do you think?"
"I would like to explore this, William. I already have some poems that would fit with her images, and with all this inspiration around me I should be able to write more!" Nathan looked out over the lawn to the sea. "Maybe we should visit her studio and see what she has? I have a few poems in my journal that I could bring, but would have to wait to look through my other volumes back at home."
"I have one of your books with me, Nathan. I can also call my assistant tomorrow and have him acquire copies and post them to us here. Actually, I'll do that." William rubbed his hands together. "This project brings me great joy, Nathan. Something to which I can contribute that may bless others! I am excited!"
Nathan and William headed out to the lawn to join the croquet game the ladies and Archie were playing. "May we join?" William asked, squinting against the sun.
Lilting laughter greeted the question. "Let's finish this game. Maybe we should split into two teams?"
Unbeknownst to the Thatchers and most of the Grants, Lydia Burns circled the perimeter of the lawn, camera in hand. The only one aware of her presence was Nathan as, even on vacation, he could not help observing his surroundings. He was determined to ignore her though as he wanted her photos to be truly candid and looked forward to what the results of this afternoon might bring!
After dinner, the family gathered around the piano in the parlor. At the far end of the room, the three other guest couples worked on a puzzle, quietly conversing and laughing intermittently.
Nathan walked to them and excused himself. "Pardon my interruption, but would you mind if my family gathers for some music and singing?" As the couples exclaimed their welcome to the family to play, Nathan added an invitation along with his thanks. "You are welcome to join us if you wish."
He nodded to Anne who, already seated at the piano, began to play a classical piano solo. Anne invited Elizabeth to join her and they sang 'O Danny boy," as a duet together. After a few familiar hymns in which the other guests joined, Anne moved from the piano stool, offering her arm to steady Elizabeth as she was seated.
Elizabeth played a quick scale then paused. Familiar notes began and Elizabeth played pieces from Robert Schumann's 'Scenes From Childhood.' She began with 'An Important Event' then announced the next piece, 'Of Foreign Lands and Peoples' followed by 'A Curious Story.' She explained, "This piece is entitled 'Pleading Child!' Listen to hear the child's request?" Again she explained, "That was a favorite entitled 'At the Fireside' and now 'The Poet Speaks.'" She gave Nathan a loving look and then announced 'Child Falling Asleep.' "Finally, this is the most familiar of the pieces, "Traumerei, or Dreaming."
Applause filled the room and Elizabeth blushed. She stood to give a small curtsey but held up her hand. "I only hope I have done these justice. You see, I knew this entire collection in my youth, but lack of practice caused me to have to start over and relearn. I confess memorization now is not as easy as it once was, but I hope you've enjoyed a sampling of the thirteen pieces."
Nathan stood to join her, helping her be seated again. "Will you play 'How Can I Keep From Singing?' Allie can join us on the melody and I'll sing harmony."
For the following song, Elizabeth asked if Nathan could sing the solo song from their wedding. Together they remembered all the words and then Allie asked for her Dad to sing her song to them all.
"You join me Allie-girl." Elizabeth leaned back against Nathan and with one hand on Elizabeth's shoulder, and the other around Allie's shoulders, they blessed the assembled listeners with their trio.
Jack soon found his place beside his mother, looking up to her and asking, "Sing Twinkle, twinkle little star?"
Elizabeth tweaked his nose. "As a solo, my sweet boy, or do you and your sister want to sing it together?"
"Oh Allie!" He reached for his sister's hand and joyously announced. "We'll sing together."
After a few more requests that either Anne or Elizabeth played, the final piece was the familiar evening hymn.
'All Praise to Thee, My God, this Night for all the blessings of the light,
Keep me, oh, keep me, King of kings, beneath thine own almighty wings.
Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear son, the ill that I this day have done;
that with the world, myself, and thee, I ere I sleep, at peace may be.
Oh, may my soul in thee repose, and may sweet sleep mine eyelids close.
Sleep that shall me more vig'rous make to serve my God when I awake.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him all creatures here below;
praise him above, ye heav'nly host; praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.' (*49)
Each one present went to bed with a prayer in their mind and a song on their heart.
(*49) "An Evening Hymn" by Thomas Ken, 1709, verses 1,2,4,5. Music by Thomas Tallis, 1561. Public Domain