Chapter Sixteen: Dinner with the Bradfords - Part I

"Dinners are formal if I remember correctly?"

Nathan came down the stairs trying to tie his bow tie, but without much success.

"Yes, Love! Afraid they are. My, you look so handsome in your tux! Here, let me take care of that!"

"Wow! Look at you!"

He took her hand and spun her around before she could grab his tie, which brought shrills of laughter from both!

"You look ravishing!" he gasped. "Positively ravishing!"

And she did.

There was no other word!

"First the tie!" she insisted. "Oh, my! I think we're going to have to start over, Darling!"

She pulled his tie from around his neck and pulled it taut to straighten it, then placed it back, perfectly round his collar, bringing the left-hand side across his neck, pulling it till it was a little longer.

She then brought it up from behind, forming a loose knot, and folded the other side back against itself, directly between his collar points, draping the piece from behind over the front, looping it behind, halfway pulling it through the loop to form the back of the bow.

Carefully studying each and every move to make sure she was getting it just right…as Nathan lovingly watched her.

"Here's the trickiest part of all, fingers crossed!"

She began to expertly tighten the knot, pulling on the opposite sides at the same time, then pulling the front left and back right sections to tighten, and the front right and back left sections to loosen till she got it right!

"There you go! All done and more handsome than imaginable!"

"Should I be jealous?" he asked taking her into his arms. "How many men have you had to practice on to gain this amazing level of expertise?"

She laughed.

"Let me think…I've actually done millions of ties! But alas, only on two men!"

"Yes…?"

"Let's see… sorry to disappoint, but there's only Richard and William. Oh, and Father once!"

"Your brothers and father? Are you sure?" he asked skeptically.

"My big brother and my little brother, and as I said, my father once, maybe twice, come to think of it! I'm positive, although most of the credit goes to Richard. That man still can't tie a tie! Poor Margaret! I think she has more trouble dressing him than she does the children!"

"Then remind me to thank my buddy, Richard! But back to you! My, oh my!"

Millicent was a vision in black, a color he had rarely seen her in.

As if the black lace and velvet gown hadn't been dramatic enough, there were glimpses of red peeking out in the most unexpected places, that somehow made her green eyes pop even more!

First, as an edging from under the low off-shoulder neckline that snuck out across the right shoulder to form her sleeveless strap, then again, as a straight red skirt, barely showing across the front, under the very fitted black lace skirt that flared out over it and into the back to form a train of black velvet covered with black lace, around and behind her!

"This dress just might be lethal. I know it certainly is for me!"

She giggled against his chest.

"I suppose it does make a statement, although I'm not exactly sure what that statement is! Whatever it is - it's all for you, Darling!"

"As I said, positively lethal," added Nathan breathlessly.

Yes, he was certainly going to have to up his fashion game.

She was stunning in whatever she put on, but this…she was drop-dead gorgeous.

Unexpectedly, his lips met hers with an urgency he had never felt before. Oh, how he desired her, needed her, right now, at this very moment. How had he survived all this time without her?

She drew him to her, feeling his urgency, and responding in kind.

This was everything.

They were everything together.

All the good things coming from their past, shaping their new present and new future together.

What a foundation for a lifetime of love!

Their kiss was forceful and memorable, binding them together forever, with neither wanting them to ever end.

They sighed together, then parted just enough to roughly gasp for a breath of air, still in each other's arms.

Millicent smiled at him and in that smile was his everything, somehow now, gently reminding him to call his daughter, before they started this most important evening with her parents.

She led him into her desk in her living room.

As he sat down in her desk chair, she bent to lightly kiss his neck.

"I'll leave you to speak with Allie alone," she whispered, patting his shoulder.

But he grabbed her hand.

"Please don't leave me!"

His eyes were pleading with her, and she couldn't have left him for anything, so instead she scooted an ottoman over and sat next to him, laying her arm over on him, so he could feel her touch.

"Call our girl!" she smiled.

He smiled back and picked up the earpiece.

"Oh, I love the sound of that! 'Our girl!'" he smiled back, then continued with his task at hand.

"Operator, please place a call to Hope Valley and only announce the call to Miss Allie Grant from her Father, without our location."

It took a few moments for the call to go through and for Mrs. Weiss to locate Allie!

"Dad! I made a hundred on my math test!"

Allie was so excited to share her news, salutations weren't deemed necessary.

"Sweetheart, that's the best news! Congratulations! I knew you could do it! How are you doing, Baby Girl? I miss you!"

"I miss you, too, Dad! Are you okay?"

"I'm great, Allie! Better than I've ever been, except for missing you! How did the welcome for your new teacher go at the Cafe?"

"It was great, Dad! I really like her. She's funny! And she tells the best stories!"

"That's great, Allie. It's always good to meet new people! I look forward to meeting her and her family! How did your art project go?"

"Dad, it was the best! I made something really nice for us to use at home. But it's a big surprise! So, I can't tell you what! But there are four of them!"

"Wow! Four of them? Can't wait, Allie. A surprise is even better, but as long as you enjoyed it, I'm happy! Do you have any more tests this week?"

"Oh, Dad, please don't remind me," and she sighed heavily.

"Tests are not going to go away, Allie. You just have to prepare for each one as they come, and get it behind you."

"I know, Dad. Yes, I have a test in geography on Thursday!" she begrudgingly admitted.

"Well, I know it's not your favorite subject, but just use the map to guess where I am! And study hard, Allie. You can do this!"

"That's a great idea! I know, I'll pretend like I'm tracking your trip! Maybe, that will make it a little more fun! Dad, do you think we could go to Union City when you get back?"

"Of course, but why Union City? Remember, we lived there for a bit! I mean, you've seen just about everything to be seen there!"

"I know. I just thought I might look for a new dress. And maybe some new shoes. I really need some dressier ones."

"Allie, are you trying to tell me something?"

"Well, there's going to be a Christmas Dance at school, and I don't really have anything to wear, because I already wore my pretty new teal dress Auntie Millicent got me. Robert's already seen it. Besides, all the girls are getting something new! So, I thought…"

"My, we can't have you wearing a brand new, but worn only once party dress!"

Millicent tugged his arm and gave him a warning look he quickly interpreted.

"A trip to Union City it is, Allie!"

"I knew you'd understand, Dad! I can't wait. We'll make it a big day and maybe grab a really nice lunch together at your favorite restaurant!"

"Sounds great, Allie! But you study for that geography test! I tell you what, you make a hundred on that test, we'll figure out a very special treat in Union City to celebrate, okay?"

"Deal, Dad! It's almost time for supper, so I'd better go, but love you to the moon, Dad!"

"Love you to the moon, Allie! And Princess, sweet dreams for your tuck in!"

Nathan hung up his earpiece, and set down the phone, still shaking his head.

"What just happened? Why do I get the feeling I've just been had. Did she just become the parent?"

"I think so, Darling! But she did it with such panache!" chuckled Millicent with a gleam in her eye!

"Oh no, it's going to be two against one, isn't it?"

"Never. I'm always with you! Although, we women do tend to stick together from time to time!" she laughed.

"Exactly. I'm absolute toast! Burnt toast!"

Millicent laughed again, and hugged his neck, tugging at his beautifully tied bow tie, which needed just the slightest straightening.

"There you go! Am I at least allowed to be the slightest bit proud of her? I mean, that was her Mother, pure and simple, coming through loud and clear!"

"Oh, my goodness! It was, wasn't it? Millicent, I'm not sure I'm going to survive the next few years! I mean she's about to enter those dreaded teen years! And I haven't a clue where to start…and this Robert thing, I just don't know."

His face was one of pure dismay.

She touched his cheek.

"You're not only going to survive, Darling, you're going to thrive! And so will Allie! It's going to be a win-win! I will personally see to it!"

"Is that a promise? How can you be so confident?"

"I'm a woman, Love!"

"In that gown, it would be pretty much impossible to overlook that fact, my Dear Millicent!"

"Then, I've most certainly done my job well," she teased.

"Oh, you can say that again! In fact, you've done it quite well!"

And just like that, the befuddled and overwhelmed Father gave in to the beautiful Lady standing in front of him, sighing deeply, choosing to focus on her while trying to forget his current paternal concerns and worries.

At least for the time being, catching a glimmer of hope, for the first time ever, that with Millicent as part of their family, the Grants, just might have a fighting chance to make it through those ominous teen years, that were perilously close…


As Albert approached the Bradford Estate, Millicent's parents' home, Nathan noticed that their two-car Security Team slowed down and parked just outside the Gates.

He knew the Bradford's own detailed Security would take over just as they passed through the Entrance, and were on their Estate Grounds.

As a Guard opened the Gates of the Bradford's Montreal Mansion, and Albert easily pulled through, it hit Nathan all over again how very different the Bradford's world was from his own.

He knew this was only one of many Bradford homes, all Mansions, peppered throughout Canada.

But he also knew, they considered Montreal to be their true home, their home base, the place where they came together as a family to celebrate Holidays.

This was the Bradford's favorite of all their many homes, most of which were strategically placed to coincide with all their businesses, and a couple for family enjoyment.

As Millicent tightened her grip on his hand, giving a reassuring smile, he smiled back and somehow knew everything was going to be okay.

Although the Bradford's were the wealthiest family in all of Canada, they were down-to-earth people, with strong morals and values, and a devoutly religious background as strong Protestants in a country that was predominantly Catholic.

Thankfully, Nathan and his own family had known them since he and Colleen had been ten years of age when the Bradford Family had first started spending winters just outside of Swan Hills on the Athabasca River.

And yes, the two families, although from very different social spheres, had truly become, and were still now, one big happy extended family.

But as he looked over at Millicent, he realized the Bradford's would now truly be his family.

No longer just extended.

He squeezed Millicent's hand tighter gaining even more confidence from her own confident smile.

After all, it wasn't every day you asked a man for his daughter's hand in marriage, to say nothing of asking a man as powerful and wealthy as Mr. Bradford!

No pressure there.

Nathan hadn't been at all nervous, although maybe he should have been.

He certainly knew anyone else in the same position would be!

But he also knew the Bradfords loved him and couldn't have been more supportive of Millicent and him as a couple.

'This is just a process,' he reminded himself. 'The proper thing to do, bringing us one step closer together.'

Inside the gates, the long drive up to the Mansion was lined with beautiful matching Norway Maples on either side, all of massive and uniform height, a feat that had taken many gardeners many seasons of work to accomplish.

The wide marble steps leading up to the portico were lined on both sides, with huge clay pots, filled with matching boxwood topiaries, that drew your eyes up to the massive entrance of two doors that looked like they belonged in a museum.

Yet another elegant entrance feature that had required much gardening skill.

The massive doors were flanked by the most striking clear stained-glass patterns on either side and above the entire entrance creating a wall of beveled glass.

The huge chandeliers from the Grand Entry Hall, sent prisms of light through the elegant leaded glass, causing the most beautiful colors to dance out onto the Entry Portico in the most inviting and welcoming of ways.

'Yes,' thought Nathan, as he helped Millicent out of the Limo, 'if a mansion can be homey, this one surprisingly is!'

Edward and Victoria met them in person, rushing past Geoffrey, their esteemed and very formal Butler, who tonight could not help but have a smile on his usually somber face!

He was thrilled for his Miss Millicent!

Edward ran to kiss his daughter and Victoria ran straight to welcome Nathan, wrapping her arms around him, first giving him a kiss on each cheek, ending with just giving him a good old-fashioned family kiss, just like his own mother would have done!

"It's just so wonderful to see you, Nathan, and with the best possible news ever! Have you acclimated to Montreal? Or has my daughter kept you too busy, showing you off?"

Nathan chuckled, "Only to the office, Ma'am! I might add, Millicent has done a magnificent job with the renovations. It's impossible to tell where the new begins and the old stops!"

"It is quite beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes, but not nearly as beautiful or as exquisite as you and Millicent. Definitely like Mother, like Daughter!"

Nathan was right.

Her mother was every bit as beautiful and stylish as Millicent, but in a very different way physically.

Victoria had thick dark, straight, almost black hair, with strong reddish highlights when the sun glistened through it just right, and very striking dark eyes.

She was tall and thin like her daughter, and their facial bone structure was very similar as well, with the same very high pronounced cheekbones.

But whereas, Millicent was fair-skinned, Victoria was much darker with a beautiful olive-toned complexion, due to her Cree heritage.

For Victoria was a full-blooded Cree Indian.

Her father was Chief Starblanket, the second Leader of all the Cree tribes.

Although powerful, he, too, was destitute, living off the land, refusing to take more than his people.

But, even Victoria's own family and her poverty-stricken people had been devastated by the Bradford union, as she had been promised to the eldest son of Chief Poundmaker, the first Leader of all the Cree tribes.

The marriage had been arranged out of family loyalty, but also because she was the most beautiful of all the Cree maidens, worthy of the man who would be their next Chief and Top Leader.

But Victoria didn't love Chief Poundmaker's son, no matter how much she had tried.

And she had tried with all her might because it had been expected of her.

Instead, in a happenstance meeting with Edward Bradford, right in the middle of a Montreal street, both had fallen instantly, and completely and hopelessly in love, knowing their backgrounds would be an impossible obstacle to overcome.

But neither could get the other out of their minds and ultimately, they found a way to be together, despite everyone being against them, and even if it meant giving up everything they knew and loved.

Her marriage to Edward was fated to happen, and happen it did.

it was a true love match, that had held them strong through thirty-six years of adventurous commitment and love.

It had also caused quite the family and social stir on the Bradford side as well, which had created an uphill battle for them as a couple, as well as individually for Victoria.

Edward's upper-crust family flat out rejected her, and therefore, society rejected her.

But Edward had stood firm.

Finally, years later, after much struggle and perseverance, she was now the Doyenne of Canada's High Society, loved and respected by all, even the Cree Indians who had originally thought she had forsaken them.

But she had had to fight for everyone's respect and her spot, on both sides, while never forgetting her roots, or allowing her children to do so.

Instead, she raised them along with all the same Cree customs she had been accustomed to, along, of course, with those customs of her husband and his family…

And they were better, kinder people because of it.

Throughout her marriage, she had remained a strong advocate and humanitarian for Cree rights, as well as those of the Six First Nations, and Nathan admired her deeply for that, as it was a most unpopular stance to take, but a much-needed one.

The two of them had always had a special bond, and she had taught him much of the Cree language he knew, as a child.

He had also been the one who had always been fascinated with her stories about the Cree heritage.

Based on those two things, they had built a very special bond over the years.

Unknown to most, he had even written Victoria's many stories down, hoping to do something with them someday, so they wouldn't be lost to history.

But tonight, they had all come together to joyously celebrate a new union, that of Nathan and Millicent.

Victoria laughed, "A comment like that is going to get you points, Nathan. Although, you hardly need them with me!"

Nathan chuckled.

At that moment they switched and Edward first held out his hand, as men do, then instead, just pulled Nathan toward him in a full embrace.

"Welcome, Son! I can't believe we're all here. Has Millicent taken good care of you?"

"Very good care, Sir! Including lunch at Delro's today! Thank you for coming to meet with us. Millicent and I really appreciate you changing your busy schedule. We know that's not easy."

"We wouldn't have missed this for anything! Why don't we retire to the Library for drinks before dinner? This family has something very special to celebrate tonight!"

Geoffrey, after breaking his formality to hug his Millicent and be introduced to Nathan also congratulated them both heartily, then led the family to their Library, opening the double doors open wide.

"Geoffrey, please bring our best Champagne!"

"Yes, Sir! Right away!"

"Please have a seat, Nathan. And make yourself at home. I thought we'd all enjoy some time together first, and then have dinner. After that, you and I will retire separately from the Ladies," winked Edward.

Nathan gratefully nodded as Millicent led him to a long plush tufted leather sofa in a deep rich brown, that fit in perfectly amidst the room's colorful rows and rows of leather-bound books.

Edward and Victoria smiled and took the tufted leather wing back chairs sitting in front of the fireplace and across from Nathan and Millicent.

The warmth of the fire made everything feel cozy, and there were bouquets of beautiful flowers spread throughout the room.

"We're so anxious to hear how all this came about! Do tell us how you two finally became aware of what your parents and Edward and I've known all along!" suggested Victoria, excitedly.

Nathan looked at Millicent, who was letting him know he could speak freely.

"As you know, Millicent came to visit me in Hope valley at my request."

Nathan held on to Millicent's hand tightly and was determined to be completely direct and honest with her parents.

"I had thought I might have something special, perhaps even a life, with a widowed lady in Hope Valley, who had a son. In fact, she was Allie's teacher. We never dated, except for one attempt with the four of us trying to go to dinner. But even that was thwarted. Looking back, I suppose we were actually only friends, although there always seemed to be more…"

Millicent could see he was struggling and stepped in.

"There was another man involved, and sadly somewhat of a triangle was formed, with the two not treating Nathan nor Allie very well. I went to Hope Valley to just help my best friend and his daughter through a difficult time, and in the process earnestly tried to help Elizabeth, the lady, as well."

"Your daughter is very wise. While there, she asked me to answer three questions about the lady: was my life better with her in it, or not? was she the mother of my children, or not? did she still make my heart soar, or not?"

"We do have a very wise daughter, Edward. Those are the questions that most definitely get to the heart of a relationship. But, Nathan, very painful ones to think through, I would imagine, given the circumstances!"

"Yes, Ma'am, they were, indeed. But as I went over and over the questions, remembering every single detail I could, mostly pain, regrettably, the answer was clearly no to all of them as they related to the lady, and together, we mutually ended what never really was. But, at the same time, the answers became abundantly clear as they related to Millicent. I can't even imagine my life without her in it; she makes my life worth living and infinitely better, and always has. She is the only person in the world who could possibly be the mother of my children. And as I told your daughter, in these very words, she makes my heart soar higher than the strongest majestic Eagle over the Mountains of Swan Hills, along the beautiful Athabasca River!"

Both Millicent and Victoria were now crying, with Nathan and Edward doing their best to console them both.

As the two managed their tears, Nathan finally continued on…

"I am more certain of this than anything in my entire life. I am deeply, hopelessly, and madly in love with your beautiful, magnificent daughter! Truthfully, I think I always have been. And, by some miraculous, gift from God, she is in love with me. We dearly hope you will give us your blessing, as it means the world to us!"

"My Dearest Children, you have made us as happy as we could possibly be. There is an old Cree saying "Look into my eyes and you will find me; but look into my heart and you will find you." It doesn't take a mother or a father to know my Darling Daughter, that Nathan is your heart, or to know my Dear Son, that Millicent is your heart. This was written in the stars many moons ago, and we are richly blessed on this night by that ancient writing."

Victoria paused and looked at her husband, who nodded for her to continue, as was the Cree custom which delegated this task to the family's matriarch.

"It is with great honor, we give you our deepest and sincerest blessing, our children, Nathan and Millicent."

Edward and Victoria rose together, as did Nathan and Millicent.

First Victoria kissed each of them, followed by Edward.

Nathan knew it to be an old Cree Rite, and now they were officially Family, no longer just extended.

He and Millicent then each embraced Victoria first, and Edward second, formally accepting their new bonds as an official couple and family.

As joyful emotions were rampant, filling the Library with joy, Geoffrey entered and formally made his announcement.

"Your Champagne, Sir!"

Geoffrey opened the bottle with a loud pop and quickly began pouring the bubbly nectar into four Champagne Flutes.

He filled the glasses, then served one to each of the Family, and stood back as Edward raised his glass…

"To my beautiful daughter and handsome son! As a couple, may you nourish your love completely and wholly, and live a blessed life of fulfillment only the truest of loves can bring!"

"Hear, hear!"

They all raised their glasses to the toast and sipped their Champagne.

Geoffrey then retrieved a large Silver Tray of elegant appetizers from a server standing just inside the door and placed it on the low table between them.

"A hearty Congratulations, again, Miss, Sir!" he offered with a jubilant smile on his face.

"Thank you, Geoffrey," offered Nathan on behalf of both of them.

He smiled and bowed his head in acknowledgment and turned to give the family privacy together.

The four sat back down to happily chat with each other about the couple's news, drinking their Champagne and eating from the large tray of finger food, excitedly sharing these most special moments together as a family!

Geoffrey reappeared as soon as they finished their drinks and appetizers, and made the announcement they were all waiting for.

"Madame, Dinner is served!"

Victoria took Nathan's arm and led the way down the elegant Hallway to their magnificent and massive Dining Room, followed by Edward escorting his daughter.

Nathan was amazed all over again, as they entered this room he had been in many times before.

The room was striking.

The Walls consisted of hand-painted murals by one of Canada's most distinguished and loved artists, who featured a palette of the most exquisite Teal shades, highlighted with Metallic Gold.

Wide Mahogany baseboards and trim outlined the room elegantly, grounding the huge space to the exquisite floor.

Plush Teal Oriental Rugs also edged in Gold, lined the shiny wide-planks of the Mahogany floor, giving a sumptuous contrast to the beautiful wood.

Multiple Crystal Chandeliers hung from the twenty-foot ceiling, causing the many candelabra's flickering candlelight to dance across the huge room, making everything come alive!

At one end a smaller round table with comfortable wingback chairs had been set exquisitely with the best of Herend's China, Baccarat's Stemware, and Lunt's Sterling Flatware, elegant enough for visiting Royalty, but set tonight only for family.

Nathan had learned long ago to not focus on any of the extraneous when at the Bradford's, but instead to hone in and only focus on the people he loved and was sharing his time with, along with the conversation at hand.

For their relationships were all that was truly important…