Chapter 109- Brooches and Bells

Archie and Nathan had planned a family lunch at a small bistro down by the river and decided to take one of the city's streetcars to get there, much to Allie's delight. Charlotte's requested chinooks had moved in that Saturday morning and by mid-day all the snow from the evening before had seemingly disappeared and it was shaping up to be a glorious winter afternoon with the sun supplying plenty of light and warmth.

They had a lovely lunch together with Allie providing much of the discussion and entertainment in retelling about her evening with Nathan the night before. As their meal began to wrap up, Nathan could tell the nerves were getting to Archie and he suggested they take a walk along the river down to a park he knew was close by.

As they stood from their table and put on their coats, Nathan laid a strong hand on Archie's shoulder and leaned close. "Allie, Charlotte, and I will give you and Mom some space to talk. We'll walk ahead and meet you at the edge of the park next to the old fort."

Archie nodded his head in agreement as Nathan ushered his girls out the door ahead of him and his parents. Allie skipped down the path in front of Charlotte and Nathan, commenting on the beauty of the ice along the river and the fort in the distance. Happy to be experiencing the city around them.

Nathan tried to discreetly peek over his shoulder, looking back to see if he could catch a glimpse of his parents and how their important conversation was going. Charlotte, noticing his actions, entwined their gloved hands together and leaned close into Nathan's side. Resting her head on his shoulder. "She'll say yes. Stop fretting." She comforted, running a reassuring hand up and down Nathan's forearm.

"How do you know?" Nathan's voice wavered.

She gave him a sweet smile. "Maise is still in love with Archie. I don't think she's ever stopped. They just needed to be in the right place as individuals and then be brave enough to admit how they feel about one another. Love's always worth fighting for, remember?"

"Love is one thing, but can she overcome all of his wrongs in the past?"

Charlotte slowed their steps and turned towards Nathan. "You have… Right?"

"I have."

Charlotte looked at him intensely, needing to confirm the words he told her, were in fact how he was feeling about the situation. When she was satisfied, she leaned up to place a kiss on his cheek, before looping her arm through his and continuing down the path behind their daughter. "Did I ever tell you what Archie said about you on our wedding day?"

"I don't believe so," Nathan leaned closer to his wife, resting his head gently against hers.

Charlotte tightened her grip in his hand. "Archie said you are the finest man he has ever met. You make him want to be a better father. A better husband. A better man. I hope, Nathan, you understand the impact you have on everyone you meet. Family, friends, comrades, even strangers. You make this world a better place by just being in it. I'm so thankful I get to share it with you."

"I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else," Nathan smiled. "Actually, you are what made me realize this is what I wanted for my parents."

"How is that?"

"All your stories about how wonderful your childhood was. It reminded me that mine wasn't all bad. We were happy on the farm and then when we moved to town, Colleen and I had Nan and Pop. I want that for our kids, Charlotte. I want them to know their grandparents. The ones that are here both physically and in spirit."

"I want that too," she smiled in return. "I love you very much, Nathan Grant. And I love this life we are creating together."

There was a glisten of tears in Nathan's eyes as he leaned forward to kiss her with a deep purpose. His breath was soft and warm on her cheek as he pulled her tighter to him. "This is just the beginning, Charlotte," he murmured in almost a whisper against her hair. "We have created such beautiful memories already together, but the possibilities all of our tomorrows hold, the anticipation is almost more than I can bear. I've never been happier. Thank you for giving me this family."

Nathan fussed with his uniform. His hands trembled slightly as he tried to keep them occupied with different tasks. He reached into his pocket, his fingers clasping around the edges of the paper he had written his speech on. He sent up a silent prayer that it would still be legible when he had to read it later, as he was certain all his fretting had caused it to become a crumpled mess.

"Shouldn't I be the nervous one," Gabe's voice came from behind him. His friend's presence seemed to ease Nathan's tension. "We both have to make speeches tonight, but at least you already have the girl."

"It's not like you're asking her tonight," Nathan replied. He and Gabe had spent most of the late afternoon together as the women had taken over his and Charlotte's suite to get ready for the evening. He and his friend spent the time catching up and discussing Kinslow's plans and intentions with Ms. Walsh.

"I'm glad you and Charlotte talked me out of that. As much as an extravagant proposal in Calgary sounded like what any woman would want, it wouldn't have been right for us. The children and Brookfield are such a big part of both of our lives, they need to be a part of this as well."

"You still have the ring with you, right? Just in case the opportunity presents itself?" He winked.

"After how much this thing cost and on a Mountie's pay… I wouldn't let it out of my sight." Gabe answered, patting a hand against his chest where he obviously had the ring stored in the breast pocket of his serge.

"I'll never understand what takes women so long to get ready," Tremblay disgruntledly rose from the settee he had been sitting on beside Lee and Fred to come closer to where Nathan and Gabe stood. "Shouldn't they be here by now? I mean why can't they just wash up, throw on a clean dress and call it good."

The rest of the men in their group laughed.

"What's so funny?" Tremblay questioned, searching their faces for an answer.

"Son," Lee rose and placed a hand on Warren's shoulder. "You have a lot to learn about women for a man claiming to be ready to settle down and marry."

"What does he mean by that?" Warren turned slightly to face Bill and Archie.

"Don't look at me Tremblay," Bill answered. "I'm probably the last of these men you want to be asking relationship advice of."

"Grant!"

Nathan turned to see Superintendent O'Reilly and another Mountie approaching them from down the hall. He extended his hand in greeting, "Sir."

"Constable Nathan Grant, I'd like to introduce you to my son, Patrick O'Reilly, Jr. After getting an education back east, he has decided to follow in his old man's footsteps and become a Mountie."

"Congratulations, Cadet." Nathan shook the younger O'Reilly's hand. "Where are you going for your training?"

"Fort Clay, sir." Patrick replied. "I leave tomorrow morning."

"Fort Clay!" Warren interjected. "That's where I trained under Constable Grant. I couldn't have asked for a better instructor in my time there. I'm Constable Warren Tremblay, by the way. I leave tomorrow, as well, for my posting up North."

The younger Mounties exchanged handshakes.

"What I wouldn't do for you to still be instructing at Fort Clay, Grant," Superintendent O'Reilly commented. "I think PJ here would do well learning from you, as did many of our recruits. I was also disappointed to hear that you had turned down that promotion to inspector in Union City a few years back. Although, being as you are one of this year's Order of Merit recipients, obviously it has all worked out."

"That it has, sir."

"I'm happy to hear that." A small smile crept along O'Reilly's face about the same time Allie came to Nathan's side and wrapped her arms around his waist. "And I think I can tell why it has worked out." O'Reilly's gaze moved from Allie beside them to a scene developing over Nathan's left shoulder.

Silence seemed to settle across the hotel's lobby, starting at the back of the room towards the staircase and slowly rolling forward like a wave on the ocean. Turning the festive comradery into hushed whispers and stares as people stopped their cheery chatter and handshakes.

Nathan followed everyone else's gaze and turned to see Maise, Rosemary, Grace, and Lillian coming towards them. His mother looked positively glowing. Pinned to her dress was her ruby brooch. Once pawned to pay for her husband's gambling debt, years later it had been found in a Calgary jewelry store and returned to her with a renewed promise that she had happily accepted earlier this afternoon.

As beautiful as they all were, trailing a few steps behind the rest of the Brookfield and Hope Valley women, was the center of everyone's attention.

"Who's that?" Nathan heard Cadet O'Reilly whisper in question to his father.

"That," the superintendent began, glancing over at Nathan's face to confirm his suspicions. "I believe… Is Mrs. Grant."

"She… is Constable Grant's wife?!" The boy's jaw dropped in shock.

"Isn't she stunning?" Allie added, her gaze flitting back and forth between her father and mother.

"I'd say so!" Cadet O'Reilly exclaimed.

"Easy there, son," his father chided. "Seems this lady is already quite taken."

Nathan heard the prattle around him, but it all seemed like a distant drone. In a room filled with Mounties, prestigious businessmen, and fanciful high-class ladies, nothing else existed other than the vision of his bride at the other end of the hall.

He realized then, other than Rosemary and Clara, no one else had ever seen Charlotte dressed up in that midnight blue gown. Prior to tonight, she had only worn the dress for him on the evenings of their two Christmas Balls. While part of him relished in the fact that he was the only one to see her indescribable beauty at those personal events, another part of him puffed up with pride at the sight of Charlotte, simply being Charlotte, drawing this amount of admiration.

One side of Charlotte's silky brown waves was pulled back gently from her face with a simple twist and was held in place by the pearl and beaded silver comb from his family she had worn on their wedding day. Her mother's pearl drop earrings completed her accessories.

Realizing the eddy of unabashed attention she had created, Nathan noted the bright flush that transcended across Charlotte's exposed collarbone and shoulders on the way up her neck to her freckled cheeks. Her hands wrung nervously together as mumbled murmurs started to circulate the room.

Nathan began weaving his way through the statuesque crowd that separated him from his wife. In her nervous scan of her surroundings, Charlotte's gaze finally found him, and he could offer her a reassuring smile as he neared. She took a few steps forward then, coming to meet him at the base of the stairs.

"I'm so thankful I saw you coming," Charlotte whispered under her breath. "I almost retreated right back up those steps. Why on earth did everyone suddenly stop talking?" Charlotte discreetly surveyed to their side. "And why are they all looking over here?" Then her face paled before her gaze swept down to her bodice. "Oh God, I don't have anything… misplaced… Do I?"

Nathan worked to suppress a chuckle from escaping at his wife's wardrobe concern. Instead, he reached forward, his left-hand skimming down her arm to entwine their fingers together, while his right hand tipped her chin up, so she had no choice but to look into his eyes again. "You are certainly not misplaced, Mrs. Grant. You are simply, as I had predicted, the 'Bell of the Ball'. And a breathtaking one at that."

Charlotte's cheeks heated again at Nathan's compliment, and she took a moment to take him in. He smelled of masculine soap, his strong jawline, freshly shaved, and his hair was combed into order. She of course had seen him numerous times in the red serge, but tonight it was different. He was devastatingly handsome. The uniform was pressed to perfection, his boots coated with an extra shine, and his chest had a few more decorations than she had seen before. The material hugged his hewed muscles, but his strength was more than physical. There was a strong strength of character and purpose about him that made the red tunic look deserving of the man.

"You are quite striking yourself Mr. Grant. Are you certain it's me that has them captivated? Because currently, I'm only seeing you."

Her eyes sparkled with humorous flirtation, and it made Charlotte even more captivating to him. "What do you say we give them something to remember and talk about?" Electric energy hummed between them as Nathan's eyes dropped to Charlotte's lips for a moment, before darting back to catch her gaze. Charlotte gave a small smile, urging Nathan to act on what they both so clearly wanted. Even in a room full of witnesses.

A look of softness came over Nathan's features as his thumb rubbed gently along her jaw, tilting her chin so he could capture her lips with his. The kiss was tender and sweet, befitting the very public space. Even with the lack of intensity, Charlotte found her heart beating wildly against her chest, as her body naturally listed into her husband's.

As the room again filled with lively chatter, Nathan and Charlotte pulled apart slightly, their uneven breaths warm against each other's cheek.

"I'd say you were successful," she quipped.

"Huh?" Nathan replied, still caught up in the moment.

"That kiss," her voice was light and jovial. "I'm pretty sure it gave them something to talk about and if I wasn't still so utterly captivated by it, I think I'd be a little self-conscious with that rather public display of affection."

"Worth it," he grinned with a hearty measure of male pride. The action caused his eyes to crinkle in the corners. "I have absolutely no regrets."

"Honestly?" Charlotte chuckled, analyzing her own feelings. "Neither do I."

"What do you say we go to a Mountie Ball, Mrs. Grant?" Nathan asked, turning to offer her his arm.

"I'd love to, Mr. Grant," she answered, taking hold of her husband.

Nathan curled his free hand over hers where it now rested in the crook of his arm. His action, quieting her trembles as he gave her one more reassuring smile. "Remember, walk tall. Look 'em straight in the eye and shake hands."