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Chapter One hundred-forty
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The First of Many Moving Days
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"Ooaf!" Nathan lifted the largest of Elizabeth's suitcases, winking at Jack. "Is this all of your things, Buddy? Trains are heavy!"
Giggling, Jack responded. "Nuh uh. My trains are still in the living room. Those are my clothes!"
"Your clothes, eh? I never knew clothing could be this heavy!" Nathan motioned his finger for Jack to come. "You try lifting it!"
"Daddy… that's light! I can lift it up." Jack used two hands and was tilting backwards because of the size of the case, yet easily lifted it off of the floor.
"You can lift that? You must be strong, but I don't get it… Let's look inside, eh?"
"Daddy! It's empty!"
Chuckling, Nathan tweaked Jack's nose. "Oh! Well, so it is. I'll call you back to help when Mommy gets it all filled! We men need to help each other."
Nathan lifted the luggage onto the bed so Elizabeth could fill it.
"Jack and I are heading to the living room to pack his train set. Let me know when you need me, Lisbeth." Nathan bent to kiss Elizabeth's temple.
Laughing lightly, Elizabeth confessed, "I need you all the time, my Love…"
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Nathan and William, with Jack's 'help' carefully packed the train set in a trunk that William had brought over for that purpose.
"Granddaddy? Where can I play with my train now?"
"I'll have to negotiate that with your Mommy, but either in your living room or ours. I'm hoping it can be stored safely with Grandmommy and me and that means you'll be over a lot to play with your train… and me!" William Thatcher laughed at his own comment, knowing the truth.
Soon empty boxes for Christmas ornaments and tree decorations, ribbons and tinsel, were strewn around the living room. Grace and Allie patiently lifted off strands of shiny, silvery tinsel and draped it in boxes that were meant to keep it tangle-free for use the following year. Tinsel removal was an art that required copious amounts of patience and many family members deftly avoided that responsibility. Yet Allie and her Grandmom enjoyed both the process and the company.
Taking the time to admire and appreciate each statue, Julie sat on the sofa carefully wrapping each piece of the imported Nativity set and gingerly placing it in its dedicated carton.
Holding the figure of a shepherd out to Nathan, Julie pointed out the intricacy, saying, "Nathan, you should examine these closely. They are masterful carvings and maybe you could get some new ideas."
"Aunt Julie? You probably haven't seen the pieces of our Nativity set that Dad has already carved. We only have an angel, Mary, Joseph, the manger of hay, the baby Jesus, a star, a shepherd and a lamb, a sheep and a donkey so far, but it is beautiful. Dad carves one piece each year and sets it on the mantel at the beginning of Advent. We were so busy that we were late displaying it this year, but you should come to the Cottage to see it."
"You made that, Nathan? I admired that while I was on the telephone with Brad and, Allie is right, it is beautiful!" enthused Julie. "You should take orders!"
Having seen many of Nathan's carvings, William requested, "Maybe later you could show it to us all, Nathan?"
Shrugging off the compliment as he found a safe spot for the final piece of the train set, Nathan responded, "Of course, anytime."
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Hudson, Peter and Jake Cook were in the stable, preparing space for a lumber delivery due Tuesday morning. The construction crew had agreed to do most of their sawing and sanding in this area to keep the wood shavings and sawdust out of the house as much as possible. They relocated the Collins's stored crates and cartons onto the enclosed back porch, having piled the wicker furniture to the side. This would be the temporary storage space used while awaiting their move.
Irma Cook washed bedlinens and cleaned the apartment to ready it for the Collins's as Carol would stay there during the construction. Irma would be busy for a few days catching up with laundering and ironing table linens and dishtowels from the holiday and party as well.
After the electric train was safely packed, the trunk and Elizabeth's luggage began to pile up in the hallway while Nathan joined the men clearing out the stable. A couple crates of his and Allie's belongings were relocated from the stable into the attic of the main house, clearly labeled and kept in a separate corner for the Grants.
It felt as if the entire house was a beehive of activity, inside and out!
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While others cleaned up after a lunch of leftovers, Nathan pulled Carol and Peter into a private conversation with Elizabeth and him in a bedroom.
"We've been waiting to talk to you after all the holiday and party activities," Nathan began. "We would like to know what is happening with the Cooks. Are they relocating with you? Do they have other obligations or arrangements they have made for employment? What can you tell us?"
Looking relieved, Peter responded. "They have family in Regina and won't be relocating with us, but if there is any way you could use them I am sure they would welcome the work and we know they adore all of you. You see, they have a granddaughter who is handicapped and they contribute towards her care as much as they can, so we gladly hired them to help around here as it is a sizable property. Might you be interested in hiring them as well?"
Looking at Elizabeth, Nathan continued, "We've wondered about that. We could envision some part-time assistance and some seasonal work as well. Jake could maintain the horses, lawns, gardens and snow removal as well as assisting me with repairs. I can handle many household repairs, but would rather spend evenings and weekends with my family as much as possible. Elizabeth, please share what you could see Irma helping with?"
"When I moved west, I left behind the idea of household staff, much as I loved each of them. Yet the size of this place would consume so much of the time I hope to devote to Nathan, Jack and Allie as well as my writing projects, I'm getting used to the idea of hiring someone." Elizabeth explained. "Maybe help cleaning? Doing some laundry? Assisting when we entertain? Irma is so sweet and knows this place so well, I am wondering if we could hire her. Also, in the warmer weather, I would like to learn more about gardening and herbs and flowers. I only learned how to appreciate the fruit of other's labors when I was young, and my mini-garden in Hope Valley was a beginner's attempt to fit in. I mostly purchased goods others had canned or preserved!"
"Would you be willing to divulge how much you pay them? Then Elizabeth and I could decide on an offer to keep them on in some capacity."
After explaining the salary and parameters the Collins's had worked out with the Cooks over the years, Nathan concluded. "Thank you both. We'll talk about it and make an offer soon. Now I guess more work awaits us all!"
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Elizabeth, Nathan, Hudson, Allie and Bill loaded the Thatcher and Grant vehicles with Elizabeth's, Jack's, and Bill's luggage as well as a few crates of Christmas gifts. Elizabeth had prepared a basket of toys and games for Jack to play with whenever they were in the Cottage over the coming weeks, and after leaving the basket with Julie and Jack for today, the group was ready to move into the Hotel downtown.
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Gladly, Allie stayed behind with Elizabeth at the Hotel to unpack her clothing and belongings while they chatted about all of the exciting events that had transpired over the past few weeks and the much anticipated events to come. Hudson unpacked and settled Jack's bedroom and would bring the ladies back later in the afternoon.
Bill planned to stay in the third bedroom in Elizabeth's apartment for a few days until returning to Hope Valley. While baking a cake for the family's dessert, Bill had received an expected telephone call with welcome news and would now be able to have some conversations with Adeli as he unveiled his future plan, hopes and dreams.
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After kissing his girls goodbye, Nathan departed with Bill to drop him off at Adeli's flat for dinner and the evening. On the way, Bill spoke up.
"I got that call, Nathan, about the judgeship here in Regina. I've been invited to accept the appointment by the first of February!" Bill's wide smile made his eyes twinkle. "Isn't that wonderful?"
"Oh, Bill! That is incredible news! I guess that is just enough time to finish your cases in Hope Valley, or transfer them to Benson Hills, and move here. Are you going to discuss your future with Adeli now?" Nathan inquired, knowing Bill had some reservations about that conversation.
"I must. From what she has said, she wants to relocate to Headquarters in Ottawa, but I don't know how my news may affect that desire. I'm nervous to ask…"
"I can understand that," Nathan commiserated with his friend and continued "Yet, Adeli's desire to move may be because she hasn't been offered any other options here and she knows she couldn't return to Hope Valley. I wonder if you might be surprised that she would jump at the chance to stay in Regina if there was a promise of a future with you."
"I sure hope so. I am asking her to stay, but still not ready to ask her to marry me. It is just too soon, but I can offer her hope." Bill sighed, "Do you think that is enough?"
"Only she can answer that question, Bill, but I will pray for you and Adeli to have profitable conversations in these next few days. Meanwhile, have you given any thought to where you will live once you return?" Nathan offered, "You can borrow my car tomorrow if you want to search for a flat."
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Julie had offered to watch Jack and they settled at the kitchen table to sculpt with Plasticine, although Jack was frequently hopping up to investigate the progress of all the other activities of immense interest around the house.
As the afternoon progressed, Grace helped Carol make decisions on the clothing she and Peter would keep either in Regina or Ottawa, and what should be given away. They settled Peter and Carol's personal things in the apartment at the main house and stripped the bedroom from all but the furniture.
Meanwhile, Nathan and Bill had joined the menfolk relocating as much of the furniture as possible into the living room and the study as neither of these rooms would be losing walls or having walls relocated, leaving a path from the dining room to the piano so that Allie could practice. They had separated what would be relocated to Ottawa with the Collins's, leaving the remaining items for Nathan and Elizabeth to use if they so desired.
Curtains, drapes and rods were removed, paintings separated and packed to store or move and all the closets emptied. The final project was clearing out the bathroom and front hall closet, but once those were accomplished Peter intended to give the 'go-ahead' to the construction crew. Renovations were ready to begin!
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Hudson picked-up the dinner that William had ordered in advance from the Hotel kitchen and drove Elizabeth and Allie back to the main house for their meal.
At dinner, Grace promised to join Elizabeth and Carol to sort the kitchenware, planning to move some items to the Cottage kitchen after the Grants relocated into the main house. Carol decided to leave some serving pieces behind for Elizabeth to use for entertaining as Carol didn't intend to host Mountie gatherings in Ottawa on the scale that she had in the past. Ottawa would be a temporary home for the remaining years until Peter retired, so Carol figured she would be less invested in friendships unless it was with fellow Mountie wives she had previously known at Headquarters' events in Regina.
Carol was frequently reminded that she was leaving her heart behind in Regina with the Grants and, for a portion of the year, with the Thatchers. An unspoken prayer was that Ruth and Archie would be able to relocate here and that would be a joy for the entire Grant family, but it would still be a heartache for Carol. She felt torn, but the assistance of Grace and Elizabeth allowed the women to further cement their friendships and deepen their appreciation for each other. That, Carol counted as a blessing.
Allie spent Tuesday afternoon with her friends at the Samuels' home before returning to classes at St. Anne's on Wednesday. The girls had a lot to discuss!
True to his word, William Thatcher provided evening meals at the Hotel apartments, with the exception of a few nights when Nathan and Elizabeth needed time alone with their children at the Cottage.
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Bill and Adeli navigated difficult discussions when Bill revealed his plan to relocate to Regina and accept the judgeship. Although thrilled with Bill's new position in Regina, Adeli wasn't certain she could express her hesitancy about their relationship.
On Wednesday evening she finally mustered the courage to explain. "Bill? I don't think you understand my position here. My job is relocating to Ottawa. If I leave that position I must find another and that is not easy for someone like me. My past arrest and imprisonment, no matter the lack of severity of my infraction, remains on my record. While working for the RCMP I have proved my value and they willingly hired me for my accounting skills. I was monitored closely during my early months here, but eventually won the trust of my superiors and have been treated with respect and appreciation ever since. If I relocate, my job is guaranteed. If I remain behind what do I have?"
Responding quietly, Bill tried to reassure her. "I do understand your position, Adeli, I just believe there are other options for you here now that you have worked for the RCMP. Their employ is an impressive reference on your record and future employers may not even look further into your past when they see you come so highly recommended."
Exasperated, Adeli had to explain her true dilemma. "It is more than just the job, Bill. It is us."
"I love you, Bill, but is there a future for us? It is embarrassing to have to say this, but I have loved you for so many years and learned to be okay with that as a great love in my past that allowed me to feel satisfied that at least I was loved once. Now with you back in my life? While you could return to Hope Valley, I never could do that, so I was planning on moving to Ottawa and seeing where our relationship went while corresponding, hoping that you could follow me there. If I remain here now, for what, for whom am I staying? There is no security for me to make such a sacrifice without a future for us." Adeli blushed as she knew she was putting Bill in an awkward position. She just hoped he understood that he was doing the same to her.
Bill became quiet, pondering what Adeli said, and more importantly what she didn't say. She needed a commitment from him. Was he ready to make that promise?
"You are telling me, in couched terms, that if you knew we would marry, you might have a reason to stay?"
Her head bent and gripping her hands tightly, Adeli nodded. "That is what I need…"
Suddenly allowing silent tears to fall, Adeli whispered. "It is unfair of me to require that, Bill. I know it, but it is unfair of you to expect me to remain with only a slender hope, if that, of you wanting a continuing relationship with me…"
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