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Chapter One-hundred and Thirty

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Glad Tidings!

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"Nathan? Elizabeth?"

Responding to a nod from his wife, Peter spoke up. "This is your special day. You have planned and helped prepare foods for the past couple days, so you are released from clean-up duties! There are plenty of willing hands. Why don't you go to the Cottage and maybe make some plans?" Grinning, Peter insisted. "No pressure, but we want you to have the opportunity to talk for a bit. We'll be fine with the children, the trains, the modeling clay and games! Come join us when you are ready!"

"Really?" Nathan glanced around the table to find a consensus, so he stood behind Elizabeth's chair. "Shall we go for a walk, Honey?" Nathan adjusted her chair as she stood. "Maybe I can see the new fur hat, eh?"

"Of course, Nathan. Let me go and get my warm coat and muff!" Elizabeth bent over Jack. "Be good for all your grandparents, please? We'll be back later." Turning to the family, she added, "Thank you so much for a delicious meal and for excusing us from washing up!"

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Bundled against the cold, Elizabeth came to the living room wearing her new cuddly fur hat, silver wool coat, a woolen shawl draped around her shoulders, gloves and a charcoal colored muff. "I'm ready, Nathan."

Nathan's departing words to the family were, "We know all of you are excited, but please don't plan our wedding for us, okay?"

Nathan and Elizabeth were no sooner out the door when a blushing Ruth met the glance of a blushing Grace and a smiling Carol! They burst out laughing as they all knew that planning was on the agenda for the afternoon, in spite of Nathan's request!

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As Nathan and Elizabeth stepped onto the path, Nathan asked, "May we stop at the cottage for a couple moments? I want to wear my Mountie fur too."

As they stepped inside and closed the door, Nathan spun Elizabeth into his arms for a passionate, uninterrupted and unchaperoned kiss.

As their lips parted, Nathan leaned his forehead against hers. "I do not want to wait long to marry, Lisbeth. Not if that kiss is any indication of what awaits us!" He chuckled. "Let's look at the calendar right now, eh?"

Giggling like a schoolgirl, Elizabeth agreed. "I already have a date in mind! Do you?"

"You can be sure I do!" Nathan took the calendar from the kitchen wall and returned to set it on his desk. "Shall we both put our fingers on the month first?"

"Oh! That sounds like fun. One, two, three…"

Both of them placed a finger on March! "Ah ha…maybe we both have the same date in mind? Let's do that again for the date in March?"

Both Elizabeth and Nathan went to tap Saturday, March fifth, then dissolved into laughter.

"Perfection! We are agreed, March fifth it is!" Nathan declared jubilantly.

Elizabeth was suddenly worried though. "Oh, Nathan! When does Zach graduate?"

"On February twenty-ninth, which is a Tuesday. So, Mom and Dad can come that weekend and be here for festivities and family time the rest of the week. God-willing, Zach can take that week and participate too! If Allie and I are in the main house, Zach can stay with us and so can Bill. If Gabe and Lillian could come, they could stay in the main house as well and Mom and Dad will be in the apartment."

Elizabeth grinned. "I should have realized you have it all figured out! Shall we take our walk and plan more details?"

"Yes, lets!" Nathan removed his fur hat from the shelf above the coat-rack and they were out the door and on their way. "How does it work with you holding the muff? Does it mean I cannot hold my fiancée's hand? Today of all days?"

"Let's loop arms, Honey. Is that okay?"

"With you by my side, it is!" Nathan motioned to turn left as they came to the end of the driveway. "Have you thought about who you want for attendants?"

Giggling, Elizabeth confessed. "Rosemary was sworn to secrecy, but I asked her in faith before I departed Hope Valley! It was something I wanted to do in person."

"And exactly who is doing the advance planning, eh?" Nathan chuckled and winked when she glanced at him. "Anyone else?"

"Yes, Julie and Allie. She will be my junior bridesmaid. Actually, I'm not sure who should be what yet, but she will be with me. How about you?"

"I have a problem. Zach of course, Bill and Gabe? And Jack can carry our rings, but, is that too many?" Nathan took a deep breath before continuing. "I also want Wes and Jon! But I do not want that large of a wedding, so I thought that maybe they could be ushers?"

"Of course, Honey. That's a wonderful idea. Do you want to marry at Knox?"

This time Nathan gulped. "Ah, we don't have to do this if you don't want to, but I was wondering…" Nathan hesitated. "Could we marry at the Chapel at Depot? Would you be willing to have a formal Mountie wedding? It would mean we would walk out under an arch of lances held by to rows of Mounties!"

"Oh my goodness, Nathan. Really? I never dreamed we could have such an elegant affair." She pulled Nathan to a stop. "You have seemed such an uncomplicated, simple man… Are you really okay with this formality?"

"I may be simple in many ways, but I respect the Mounties and now that I am at Depot, I would love to marry in the Chapel. We can make the service as meaningful as we want, incorporate our Scriptures and hymns and make it our own. But the recessional will have to be joyful and have a certain rhythm. Would this be okay, Honey?"

"I adore this idea, Nathan. It will be unlike any other wedding our families or Hope Valley have seen!"

"There is one thing I must discuss with Peter or Tim. Since Bill is retired, I don't know if he can wear a dress uniform for the occasion. If he cannot, I would have Wes up front and Bill could be an usher. We could incorporate him as a reader too."

"Okay. Do you want Reverend Huntley to officiate? I would like Joseph if he could come so far, although he wouldn't know anything about Mountie protocol."

"Let's think on this and we can ask Peter for his input some day this week, okay? I'm sure he knows what's allowed and works best." Nathan shivered, but not from cold. "I can't believe we are really discussing this!"

"Nathan? Stop for a moment?"

Pulling her hand from her muff, Elizabeth reached to touch Nathan's cheek as she tilted her head.

Learning the signs of when to kiss, Nathan leaned down and gently met her lips with his.

"Does that help you believe it, my Love?" She asked quietly.

Wiggling his eyebrows and with an endearing half-smile, he responded. "Hmmm… Maybe another one of those might really convince me…"

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Unable to contain their excitement, Nathan and Elizabeth entered the living room later to find everyone busy. Zach, Archie, William and Jack were operating the electric train with new buildings, animals, vehicles and figurines now populating the new town.

Bill and Hudson were engrossed in a game of chess, with Peter observing closely. It appeared he would be playing the winner and he was preparing his strategy! Julie and Allie were each drawing in their sketchbooks as they discussed shading and highlights, perspectives and focal points.

With a chair pulled close to the sofa, Ruth, Grace and Carol had their heads together and a notebook and pen in hand. When the engaged couple entered, the notebook was quickly closed and discretely tucked under Grace's leg. The women looked up, the picture of innocence, but Nathan knew what had transpired.

"Ahem! We have an announcement!" Nathan bellowed, startling everyone. "Attention, please?"

Peter laughed and commented. "And now you all know why the soft-spoken Sergeant Grant is introducing funeral exercises at Depot!"

"Oh, I remember. Even as a young boy, Nathan could get his point across in spite of the neighing of many horses!" Archie chuckled. "Do you remember, Ruthie?"

"I sure do! Everyone was surprised at the volume that little boy could produce if he chose to do so!" Ruth looked adoringly at her son. "Singing, too!"

"What's the announcement, Son?" William inquired hopefully.

"We have a wedding date!" Making it more dramatic, Nathan paused and looked at the family whose full attention he held. "Elizabeth?"

"We are getting married on…" She paused as a few people groaned at the delay. "March fifth! That is if we can work it out!"

"Yay! Oh, Dad! Miss Bess! This is too wonderful." Imploringly Allie looked from her father to her mom-to-be. "Tell us everything!"

Laughing, Nathan and Elizabeth made their way to the sofa and shared.

"Mom and Dad? Since Zach's graduation is February twenty-ninth, maybe you can come one weekend and stay through the following one? You can stay in the apartment. I am hoping we can get permission for you to take a week off before you begin your assignment, Zach, and you can stay here with Allie and me. You too, Bill, if you need accommodation."

"And this is also exciting!" Elizabeth smiled up at her fiancé. "Nathan wants us to marry in the Chapel at Depot, with the Mountie processional and salute. You know, with the arched lances over us?"

"What's a lance Mommy?"

As Nathan was explaining, the back doorbell rang.

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"Merry Christmas! Come in, come in." Peter pointed to the basket handed to him. "Thank you for this." He set it inside the kitchen door as Claire and Dan hung their coats. "Everyone is in the living room, discussing some special news. Go right through." Peter directed. At the living room door, he announced, "Surprise!"

"Oh! Claire! Dan!" Carol was at their side immediately. "Everyone? This is my niece Claire Collins and her fiancé, Dan Richards. Claire, Dan, let me introduce you to everyone. Of course you know Nathan and Elizabeth…"

Nathan and Elizabeth stood and hugged the visitors as Nathan said "Merry Christmas! You are just in time for our news!"

The room was quiet as Elizabeth spoke through sudden tears. "We are engaged!" She held up her left hand and ring.

Claire squealed and wrapped Elizabeth in a strong hug, rocking from side-to-side. "Oh! God be praised! What joyous news!"

"Nathan, my man, congratulations!" Dan pumped Nathan's hand. "It looks as though our fiancées are happy!"

"We are ALL happy!" Allie came over to hug her teacher. Whispering in her ear, Allie asked, "May I call you Miss Claire when we aren't in school?"

"I like that, Allie! Merry Christmas to you! Isn't this just the best news?" Claire inquired, fairly certain that Allie Grant approved.

"The absolute best!" Allie agreed then tugged at Claire's hand making sure to let everyone know that this was her teacher at St. Anne's!

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As each of the family members returned to the living room after taking turns changing into their special Christmas outfits, Carol waved Ruth and Grace into the kitchen to make final preparations. Handing them freshly pressed linen aprons edged with lace details, Carol commented. "Isn't this exciting?"

Grace suddenly stopped tying her apron, exclaiming, "My stars, Carol! We need to add more places at the table! Do you have…"

Carol held up her hand. "We are all set. I arranged for sixteen places knowing they hoped to join us after they celebrated with Dan's family immediately after church." Whispering to Ruth and Grace, Carol confessed. "There will be two more couples for dessert, so we will have to make room then. Our handyman and housekeeper, Jake and Irma, will join us because they adore Allie and Jack. And we are surprising Nathan because we invited his officemate, Wes, and his lady-friend, Ardis, who is also Nathan's fellow choir-member and Allie's art teacher. She'll get on famously with Julie too! Just don't say anything yet!"

With wide smiles, Ruth and Grace joined Carol, the conspirator, but kept the secret. "Are extra plates and silverware counted here on the kitchen table ready for dessert?" Ruth inquired.

Nodding 'yes,' Carol suggested. "Shall we get Peter, Bill and Hudson? Bill offered to make his famous turkey gravy and I'll let Peter and Hudson decide who slices the turkey and who takes care of the ham!"

"Nathan? Zach? Would you lads please collect the items from the Cottage and apartment ovens and icebox? There are dishes of pickles and cranberry-raisin sauces, plus two butter dishes in the apartment's icebox. The ham and roasted Brussel sprouts are in that oven. The Virginia sweet potato casserole and dishes of rutabagas and extra sage dressing are in the Cottage oven. Am I forgetting anything, Nathan?"

Grinning, Nathan suggested, "Dessert?"

As everyone laughed, the younger men headed to the apartment and Carol turned. "Archie? Would you please mash the potatoes? Use plenty of butter. It's a holiday!"

"Oh, Grace? Please make a couple pots of tea using the teapot on the shelf as well as the silver one? Ruth, could you get the coffee percolating and maybe measure out for another pot? We'll keep it warm in the silver coffee pot!"

As Carol stirred the ginger glaze over the carrots, she chuckled. "We are using all these formal items I rarely have occasion to use! I feel like a girl again, playing house!"

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In the living room, Dan joined William on the floor keeping Jack occupied with the train set. William controlled the speed of the train, marveling at how his grandson seemed engrossed in made-up stories as the train went around the tree. Jack set up scenes with Mounties, soldiers and imagined characters conversing as they awaited the train's arrival at the station.

Together on the sofa, Elizabeth and Julie conversed with Claire and Allie. Having whispered a short explanation of the fate of her torn journal pages to Julie, Elizabeth explained how she knew Claire and they marveled at how wonderfully God had worked a miracle for the newest engaged couple. When Elizabeth confessed the proposed date of their wedding, she asked about Claire's plans and suddenly it was time for Christmas Dinner.

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As the family held hands around the dining table, Peter requested, "Archie, will you please lead us in a prayer of thanksgiving for our Christmas Feast?"

Nodding, Archie took in a deep breath.

"Dear Lord, Thank you is not enough to say to you today. We rejoice in your birth. We give You thanks for this expanding family gathered around this table. Oh, how you have blessed all of us! We praise you for answering so many prayers and giving Nathan and Elizabeth to each other and to us all.

We are grateful for this table laden with such beautiful food, which I am sure is delicious! Thank you for our talented chefs and helpers.

Finally, we ask for your continued protection, provisions and blessings. I pray all this, and so much more I can't even express in this moment, in Your wonderful Name, Emmanuel. Amen."

"Amen!" The word of agreement rose from around the table as Archie raised his hand.

"Can we sing the Doxology? That has often been a Grant family tradition." Archie saw the nods of agreement and began to sing.

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen." (*82)

"We sound like a well-rehearsed choir, so we must sing together this evening!" Peter exclaimed. "Please be seated and pass the food? Bill and Hudson have offered to assist us with the heavier platters. Thank you, gentlemen!"

Many conversations filled the dining room as the family enjoyed the sumptuous feast. Finally, as the plates began to empty, Nathan stood. "Excuse me dear ones? First our compliments to every chef, cook and helper. This meal has been incredible. Secondly, I want to thank Peter and Carol for generously opening their home to us this Christmas. This is our first Christmas together and I hope there will be many more to come, seated around this table."

"Finally let's give an extra round of applause to Carol who has tirelessly planned, cooked and overseen all these delicious meals throughout these holidays. Carol? You are a wonderful hostess. We love you and we thank God for you!" Nathan led the applause as the doorbell rang and Peter asked if he could answer since Nathan was on that side of the table.

After quickly kissing Carol's cheek Nathan headed to the door. The dining room was silent as they listened to Nathan exclaim. "Wow! Come in, please. What a surprise!"

"Merry Christmas, Nathan! Carol invited us for dessert as a surprise for you." Wes handed a basket to Nathan and helped Ardis with her coat then hung it along with his own on top of the now hidden clothes tree.

"Nathan! You seem to be speechless, so I guess you were not expecting us?" Ardis reached up and kissed Nathan's cheek. "Merry Christmas!"

With a wide grin, Wes opened his arms to hug his friend. "We have some news!" Unable to wait another moment, Wes burst out. "We are officially courting!"

"What? Congratulations. I am thrilled for you both! Now I won't be the only one with news to share each day in the office!" Nathan laughed and patted his officemate's shoulder. "Come in and meet everyone!"

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A knock on the back door drew Nathan's attention before they had left the hallway, and in walked Jake and Irma Cook!

"Merry Christmas, Nathan! Surprise!"

"Merry Christmas to you two as well. Let me guess Carol invited you for dessert?" Nathan grinned. "This is an incredible day!"

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(*82) Doxology, Thomas Ken, 1674, Public Domain

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