.
A HOPE VALLEY CHRISTMAS
Chapter VIII
"Adoption Party & Aftermath"
Part I
"And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me."
Matthew 18:5*
. . .
All day Tuesday was full of surprises for each of the Grants.
Nathan got his 'by now routine coffee, breakfast, and lunch,' and Newton got his 'routine water and treats, with an extra rubdown thrown in!'
But today, Nathan surprisingly got a package practically everywhere he went.
The first red box was actually a tin, given to him at the Café after a meeting with a Mountie from Buxton. It was full of his favorite ginger cookies with chunky pieces of ginger in them.
He loved them so and got them so rarely that he hid them in his desk drawer for the time being while the two Mounties finished their paperwork, saving them for later.
The second green box was given to him when he picked up Allie's presents for tonight's Surprise Party at the Mercantile. Inside the box, he was amazed to find a very hard-to-find woodworking tool that he desperately needed.
Later, a third silver box was given to him when he unexpectedly had to go to The Queen of Hearts to stop a fight. After calming the men involved, one of the townsmen handed Nathan the package, along with a chuckle. Inside was a black leather journal, engraved with his initials, which was even more of a puzzle, as he couldn't remember ever telling anyone his middle name. But then, of course, there was Allie!
Since he could feel a scowling Lucas observing the exchange from a distance, he quickly thanked the man, while offering the two offenders one last warning, and slipped out into the street to complete his work day...
As for his daughter, Allie first received a small red and green patterned box at breakfast that held a beautiful set of tortoise hair combs, which she absolutely loved.
"Look, Dad! They make me look so grown-up!"
Nathan tried his best to hide his moan because Allie was right.
At lunchtime, a medium-sized package was left at their door that contained a series of three small books, perfect for her age.
When she went to the Mercantile for her work, a larger silver-wrapped package awaited her, full of oil paints.
Allie had been so elated she had called her Dad at his office.
"Dad, I just got oil paints, with all the colors I need to mix! Now, I can really paint!"
"That's wonderful, Allie. A truly lovely gift for our budding Artist!"
Then when she finished, and moved on to the Infirmary to spend her hour helping Faith.
There, waiting for her, was a purple-wrapped box that held every color of hair ribbons imaginable, which she opened and showed to Faith, who patiently oohed and aahed over each one!
But the time was drawing close, and Nathan was having some difficulty getting his daughter away from the Infirmary, as she was loving her work there so much.
Ultimately, Faith, who was in on the Surprise Party, acted like she was closing early, to get Allie to go with her Dad!
With his daughter finally outside, Nathan tried his best to hurry her along.
"Allie, we need to go get dressed! Remember, we have an important engagement tonight!"
"But you didn't tell me what, Dad!"
"I didn't? Can't I enjoy a fancy night out with my Daughter as my date? A real Father-Daughter date night?"
"Really? That does sound very, very nice! I actually love that idea, Dad! Are we going to Buxton? Or Union City?"
"Well, 'Big Spender,' there's hardly time for that tonight, but definitely something we can plan for later. Don't look so puzzled. I promise this is going to be fun!"
"Good!" Allie wrinkled up her nose with a smile. "But, Dad, why are we walking so fast?"
"Well, I sort of made reservations!"
"Oh, okay! I'll speed it up, then..."
At their rowhouse, Nathan was dressed in his blue Sunday Suit with a blue silk paisley tie. Waiting downstairs for his daughter, he added the matching silk handkerchief, hoping to make Allie feel extra special.
He slicked his hair back one last time, trying his best to tame that stubborn curl.
"Dad, how do I look?"
Allie paused at the top of the stairs for his approval.
"You look beautiful, Sweetheart, but come on down so I can see you more closely."
Allie slowly walked down the stairs with the biggest smile on her face.
"Stunning is the word, Allie. Simply stunning! You look just like your Momma in that beautiful blue dress!"
The taffeta dress covered in lace was long-waisted and had long cuffed sleeves in white. Tiny little pearl buttons ran down the entire front of the dress, falling between the white Peter Pan collar that encircled Allie's neck. The slightly gathered skirt fell midway to the floor, showing Allie's white leotards and her dainty white kidskin dress boots.
Nathan had given Allie her mother's pearl necklace to wear for the evening, as it seemed right for her mother to be with her daughter on this special night in as physical a way as possible.
Allie had first cried, then became so happy that she was entrusted to wear the most special thing she had from her own mother.
"Dad, I know Mama's always with me, but tonight everyone can see that she is. I love that so much!"
"I do too, Sweetheart!"
"Will you please hook my necklace, Dad?"
"It is my honor, Allie," and although Nathan's hands shook touching this precious piece of his sister's, he too could feel that she was there with them.
"You look really handsome, Dad! I love the silk handkerchief."
"I did that for you, Allie, but I have something else for you too."
Her eyes got big as Nathan took her left wrist, and wrapped a corsage of her favorite daisies around it.
"I get flowers?"
"You most certainly, do, Princess. I hope this is a night you'll remember for a very long time," and Nathan kissed her hand, then her cheek.
"Dad, is this a dance we're going to?"
"You never know," he winked. "Let's get your coat on!"
After helping Allie with her coat, hat, scarf, and gloves, Nathan grabbed his own navy dress coat and leather gloves.
"What do you say? Let's make this a special night, Allie."
With a proud smile, Nathan offered his daughter his arm…
"But Dad, where are we going? It looks like the Café is closed, and I don't really what to go to Mr. Bouchard's place."
"Hmm, it does look quiet. Let's try the door!"
"Happy Adoption Surprise Party!" rang out loud and clear as Nathan hung back and allowed Allie to enter first.
Most of the town was scrunched up into the Café, blowing whistles and throwing confetti at the celebration's star!
"For me?"
"Yes, Sweetheart! This is the party we meant to have on your real adoption day," explained her Father.
Allie hugged her Dad as tightly as she could, with tears in her eyes.
"This is the best Father-Daughter Date ever because I have the best Father ever!"
Nathan knelt down in front of his precious Allie, taking both her hands.
"Allison Rose, if that is true, it's only because I have the best daughter ever! And if I haven't told you lately, I'm so very proud of you!"
They hugged once more, with everyone clapping and crying.
"Now, go enjoy your party!"
Suddenly Allie was surrounded by all her friends, dressed in their best Sunday clothes, all looking beautiful and handsome!
A few of the women, led by Rosemary, it seemed, began serving a Christmas Fruit Punch, along with finger foods.
Unknown to Nathan, Allie's Uncle Bill had arranged for a three-piece band to come from Union City to play.
The music was delightful and full of youthful vigor, setting a happy tone for the entire party!
Bill had also cleared the furniture out of his back sitting area, so the kids could dance, adults too if they wanted.
But as the band prepared to play the first dance tune, Allie came up to her Dad.
"Dad, will you dance the first dance with me?"
Nathan was radiant.
"It would be my honor and distinct privilege, Miss Allison Rose Grant!"
He then held his hand out for Allie to take.
In the shadows, Elizabeth gasped, as she watched the man of her dreams be so gallant with his daughter, leading her to the dance floor for a waltz. But more than that, she was ashamed, because she had simply assumed Nathan didn't dance.
Had she thought him to be socially inept? Surely not.
However, none of that mattered, now.
Because what she and the others around her saw was a man who was not only a great dancer, he was in control of the dance floor! He moved with grace, sweeping Allie around the floor so elegantly, making the waltz look like they were truly floating together.
Incredibly, Nathan Grant made the waltz look like the easiest thing to do in the world, while in reality, the steps he was demonstrating with such ease were the most difficult advanced ones.
How Elizabeth longed to be in his arms!
After Nathan and Allie's first Father-Daughter Dance was finished, the other fathers and daughters joined in with them for the second waltz of the night.
But after that waltz was completed, the boys started asking the fathers if they could cut in, quickly taking over their daughter partners, as well as the dance floor.
The fathers chuckled at their smooth and very quick removal.
"Enjoy that, Nathan. The first dance of each dance is likely the only one you'll ever get with that girl," chided Bill.
"As long as I get the first and the last, Allie and I will be good, Bill!"
"Yep, and as I said, enjoy! Because you won't be gettin' that last one at her Weddin'," snickered Bill.
"Bill, she's twelve. I think there are a few years left before we're ready for that," rebutted Nathan firmly.
"So, you think!"
Nathan just rolled his eyes and covered his handsome face with his hands.
"Seriously, Bill, this is wonderful what you and the others have done. Allie is having the time of her life!"
"Everyone in town loves you and that girl, Nathan! Look at that pile of presents over there. Never have seen anything like that!"
Nathan looked toward where Bill was pointing.
His eyes widened, and he raised his eyebrows, finding it hard to believe the mass of presents he was seeing.
"My goodness. I might have to buy your land and build a house after all! I've never seen so many gifts in one place. We'll need a bigger house just to hold all of them!"
"Nathan, have some punch," offered Rosemary as she handed him a cup.
"This is really good! Thank you, Rosemary, for the punch and for all of this!"
"I only wish I could take the credit, but I'm afraid this time it wasn't me. I'm just a helper tonight!"
Rosemary grinned and kissed Nathan's cheek when she saw his puzzled face.
"We all love her, Nathan! And you!"
Touched, Nathan, took Rosemary's hand and kissed it.
"We love you, too, Rosemary! You are so kind and so wonderful to everyone. That doesn't go unnoticed."
Rosemary placed her hand on his arm, deeply touched, especially with those kind words coming from Nathan…
After a round of dancing, the band took a break, and Bill took center stage.
"Will our Guest of Honor please come to stand with me?"
Allie made her way through the crowd.
"And will her father come to stand with me too?"
Nathan cleared his throat and found his way to Allie and Bill.
"One of the biggest pleasures of my career was getting to make this father and this daughter official. Because, make no mistake, they were already father and daughter. They were already a family together. I just made it all legal. I'll never forget that day, and my only regret is that all of you weren't there with us physically to share those special moments, although all of you were there in our hearts. I took it very personally, because whether you know it or not, Allison Rose Grant is my granddaughter, but since I'm too young to be a grandpa, I make her call me Uncle Bill!"
Everyone laughed, except for Elizabeth, who was standing, still hidden in a corner. She knew that it was because of her that everyone else had not been there on that most important day, and she was truly devastated that, in her selfishness, she had ruined the most special day for these two people she loved so very much.
'How I could have ever done that, I will never understand,' she painfully mused. 'I love that dear man and that precious young girl, more than I can even say.'
She listened as Bill asked Allie to talk about that day.
"It was a really important day, Uncle Bill! I already knew that Dad loved me with all his heart and would fight for me if someone tried to come and take me from him, but that day meant he no longer had to fight if that happened. I am his, and he is mine, and nobody anywhere can change that now. That's what made that day important. Dad asked me what I wanted him to say, and I told him I just wanted him to tell me he'd never leave me, and that's exactly what he told me. That's what he vowed, and I know with all my heart, he never will ever leave me, and that means more than anything in this whole wide world to me. I love you so much, Dad!"
Nathan was wiping tears from his eyes, and it took a moment for him to speak.
"Allison Rose, the day you were born and came into my life, I was completely mesmerized and just so totally in love. I had never experienced anything like that first moment I saw you and held you. I knew instantly I would do anything for you. I would lift you up and protect you at all costs, no matter what, even if that meant giving my life for you."
Nathan paused for a moment, then quietly continued in this crowded room so full of love, that you could literally hear a pin drop.
"But when your mother, my sister, went to Heaven and you put your little arms around my neck that night, I knew that very moment you were completely mine, and there was no question that we would somehow be a family and make a life together. I didn't know how. The truth is, I had no clue what I was doing, but you taught me. You, Allie, have made me into the father, the man I am today. You, Allie, are the best thing that has ever happened to me. And if someday I'm fortunate enough to marry and have other children, you still will be my number one, my first child, my first daughter, always. You are the person who taught me to love unconditionally. I couldn't possibly love you more, Allie. You make my life matter."
In tears, Allie placed her arms around her Dad as he embraced his daughter, and there wasn't a dry eye in the room.
With crocodile tears, Bill made his announcement.
"And that's why we love them, folks!"
"Bill, Allie, and I would like to say one more thing."
"Please, address everyone, Nathan. The floor is yours!"
"Allie and I would like to thank whoever put this party together tonight and all of you who have worked so hard to make it possible. Together, you all have pulled off a dream party, one we could never have imagined. We are so very grateful to each and every single one of you, but we don't know who to thank individually. So, until we do, please know that you have touched our hearts in such a special way. Just know, too, that both Allie and I will never ever forget the love that is being shown to us here tonight. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and may God bless you in a most special way!"
Hearing Nathan's kind and loving words, Rosemary's heart caught as she stood by her sobbing friend in the shadows. She pulled a shaking Elizabeth into her arms and did the best a best friend could do to calm her. But in that embrace, there was not one, but truly two breaking hearts, as Rosemary gently led her friend to privacy.
Bill took center stage once more.
"Now, Allie, you've got a celebratory cake to cut! Time to eat cake and ice cream, everyone…"
Finally, at home, Allie was opening some more of her presents, overwhelmed at the sheer number.
Each one she had opened had been thoughtfully chosen, and given with love.
"Dad, this was the best night of my life! I love the pearl pendant you gave me, and I'm going to wear it all the time. It's really my best present ever, Dad, because I can't wear Mama's necklace every day, but I can wear yours, which is like a piece of hers, too!"
"I'm glad you love it. This has been the best night of my life, too, Allie!"
"Even more than your graduation from the Mounties?"
"Much more than my graduation from the Mounties, Sweetheart!"
"Dad, everybody told me they had the best time at my party and didn't want to leave!"
"I know, I kept hearing the same. I'm glad they got Miss Fiona to take pictures for us."
"I know! I can't wait to see them, Dad!"
Allie paused a moment as if there was more she wanted to say.
"Dad?"
"Yes, Allie?"
"Thanks for making me feel so special tonight!"
"You are special, Allie, so very special. Always remember that!"
"Dad, I'm so sleepy."
Nathan chuckled, then picked Allie up, who was already in her nightgown and robe, and carried her to bed, where he prayed their goodnight prayer, and tucked her in.
But his precious, exhausted, deliriously happy, daughter was already sound asleep in dreamland…
. . .
*23. Matthew 18:5, The Holy Bible, King James Version, Public Domain.