Chapter Twenty: To Propose or Not to Propose – Part II

"The waterfront is always bustling, my Darling, even in the dead of winter! So, since we're just starting winter, it's still pretty crowded."

Millicent had looped her arm in his, as they strolled down the busy boulevard, enjoying the sunlight and brisk air.

Nathan was now glad Millicent had insisted he bring Hendrix's dress hat, for he would have surely frozen in the chilly cold air.

He had never had anyone to fuss over him like that since his Mother and Colleen.

And just that she had thought about him needing the hat, made him feel loved in a way he couldn't even explain.

But his mind was wandering, always back to their love as of late, yet he needed to be in the present with Millicent, taking full advantage of every single moment.

"This entire area is the primary interface between Montreal and all the markets of the world, isn't it?" he asked. "Which is quite amazing when you think of it!"

She nodded.

"And for that reason alone, the waterfront is always a hubbub of activity. I could stand and watch all the comings and goings all day long, without ever being bored! I don't know, there's just something so exciting about the flurry of boats!"

"Look at those huge ships coming into port, delivering their goods from ports unknown…" pointed out Nathan.

"Now I've got you imagining," laughed Millicent.

"I think you have Mil," and he looked lovingly down at her, wrapping his own hand around hers laying on his arm.

For she was opening things up in him that had been dead for so very long…

"You know, the port was completely transformed to a modern port district just a few years ago, back in 1914. It had pretty much been mandated, due to the massive increases in water traffic, both in the number and size of the ships coming to port. So, changes had to be made and made quickly!"

She continued.

"All the connected components of the city's circulatory system were re-dimensioned to accommodate the new load. And that includes the major arteries, such as the St. Lawrence Rivership Channel, as well as the smaller capillaries that were like individual finger piers."

"Look at you, knowing all your city's history. I'm impressed!" and he meant it.

Although chilly, the day was sunny and glorious, with the sunlight dancing on the water in tones of gold, as though it was putting on a show just for them.

"This is such a beautiful site to see! Watching so many ships come clamoring into port, finding their berth."

"Just like we're finding our way!" smiled Millicent.

"Exactly like that," agreed Nathan. "And just like those ships, I think we're doing pretty spectacularly!"

"So, do I. Couldn't be better!" she beamed.

'And that face, the face that loves me,' thought Nathan, 'could literally launch a thousand ships!'

Off to the side, Nathan noticed a huge structure he hadn't remembered seeing before.

"Oh, that's been there a while. You've probably seen it, but ships generally obstruct its view, so it's not noticed as much. It was built back in 1910. It's a fifteen-story high grain elevator that has a capacity of 2.7 million bushels. It expels grain at a rate of 150,000 bushels per hour, making the grain trade even more important than the industrial era. Which is huge from a business perspective. Because of that particular structure, alone, Montreal is well on its way to surpassing New York City as the number one grain port of the world!"

"That's quite impressive. How do you know all that?"

She looked sheepish as she had left out the part that her Father had built it!

"Just one of the many companies, Father owns. He taught me all of that. And yes, he had it built. A lot of people were angry that it would obstruct the view, but it was necessary to manage the grain. We humans do have to eat, you know!"

He squeezed her hand.

"So, you're a grain heiress too?" he teased.

"Apparently so!" she laughed.

"Oh, there's the restaurant your Mother took me to!"

"Want to warm up with some Coffee?"

"Let's do it!"


Millicent might not have been there before, but either the Establishment recognized her as a Bradford, or Nathan as having eaten there with Mrs. Edward Bradford just yesterday.

Either way, they were treated royally, even in this little dive.

They sat at the large back window, the best spot in the house, looking out at the ships coming and leaving port, oblivious of their Security Agents close by.

"Oh, this Coffee tastes so good!"

"Millicent, we needed to warm you up. You were shivering out there!"

"Just a little! You know, I could sit here with you and just watch the ships come into port and go out to sea all day long, and be as happy as a clam!"

Nathan laughed.

"Me too! And what an adorable little clam you'd make! But you mentioned something about a Leather Shoppe. If they have heat, I'm all in!"

She laughed, "Oh, they have heat alright, and lots of other treasures. I ordered a special saddle for Serena from them. Your Mother sent me her dimensions and they're making it as a custom fit. I'm not sure if that will make a difference or not, but they say it will!"

"Oh, it will definitely make a difference. The better the fit for the horse, the better the ride for its rider! All our Mountie saddles are custom-made for that very reason!"

"Really? Now I'm excited to try it. But I don't know when I'm ever going to get to see Serena again. I miss her so. I haven't even gotten a chance to see her foal! I've checked out some stables in town, but they're better off at your parents' Ranch, with all that land. You know Nathan, there's a farm just a bit north of Montreal in some of the prettiest country I've ever seen. The couple is retiring, but they don't want to sell their beloved farm to just anyone. It's not even officially on the market, yet, but the house is heavenly, though. Just a huge old farmhouse, French-styled, mostly in stone. You would absolutely love the stables! They're as beautiful as the house! And it's a ton of acreage!"

Nathan could see Millicent was wistful even talking about it.

"You fell in love with it, didn't you?"

"I truly did. Just like you, I couldn't help myself!" she smiled, radiantly.

"Why don't we take a day and go look at it together?" he winked.

"Really? You'd do that? I'd so love to show it to you!"

"Anything you love that much, Darling, I have to see!"

She reached and kissed him.

"I finally have a partner in crime!"

"You have a partner in everything! But that crime part might be a bit of an issue for a Mountie and a Barrister of the Law," he laughed. "Although somehow, I feel like that's just going to be a given with you!"

"Oh, it's definitely a given with me, Darling! It seems I cause lots of trouble, but I promise to always be worth it!"

"Why do I feel like I'm in a sinkhole of Love?"

She laughed that lyrical laugh of hers.

"Because you are, Love. You most definitely are…"


"Millicent, you didn't tell me the little French Shoppe was Hermès! They're only responsible for the best saddles, bridles, and harnesses ever made!"

"Oops, you know me and my names! I don't really care who made it, as long as it's made well. But smell this luscious leather!"

"This, my Darling, is an equestrian's heaven! You're never going to get me out of here," declared Nathan.

He reached for her hand and directed her to a back corner, where a man was actually making a saddle!

"Look at this! It's such an art form! Watch how he curves the leather at the cantle and pommel. It's just amazing!"

Nathan was mesmerized watching the elderly man at work, and it wasn't long till the two had struck up a mutual conversation about the art of saddle making.

"Darling, if you two will excuse me, I'll gather my purchases while you two Gentlemen confer, in order to save time!"

He smiled in agreement, kissed her quickly on the cheek, and regrettably let go of her hand, then went back to concentrating on the craftsman and his tedious work.

Millicent started back toward the front of the Shoppe where she greeted the Sales Manager, who was coming to attend her.

"Could my items please be gathered, so Albert can take them to the car!"

"Oui, Mademoiselle, but no need to inconvenience le Monsieur! Nos Liveurs will take them to him, maintenant!"

"Thank you. Albert will appreciate that. Do you have anything new in the Gentleman's Leather Goods Department?"

"Mais oui, Mademoiselle! This way s'il vous plait."

She took Millicent to a rather large area that took up the left front end of the store, specifically for Gentlemen.

The right end was for Ladies, but it also consisted only of equestrian gear.

Nathan was right, this Shoppe was a Horse Lover's delight.

Millicent immediately eyed a deep caramel leather ranch-style hat that she knew Nathan had wanted and been unable to find even in Union City.

"Let's see! I definitely need the hat! Would you have anything else to match?"

"Oui, Mademoiselle Bradford. We have the jacket and matching vest, belt, and boots."

"I'll take those as well. Here are the sizes for everything," and she hurriedly scribbled Nathan's sizes down that she knew by heart. "Oh, and do you have the chaps?"

"Oui, Mademoiselle, all this we have here."

"Wonderful! Please add those, too."

"I'll gather them for you! Do you wish them to be engraved? Most Gentlemen prefer their items to have their names engraved inside so they aren't ever confused with similar items of others. Would you like our engraver to do that for you, in our personal gold Hermès font, and then, of course, we'll wrap them and have them delivered to you?"

"Yes, please. They're for Christmas and I don't want the Constable to see them! So that's perfect! Here is his full name for you to adjust as needed."

Millicent carefully printed Nathan's entire name, so there could be no mistake.

She had folded the note not a minute too soon, as Nathan was suddenly standing behind her!

The sales clerk discreetly took the note, and smiling, walked away, relieved they had not been caught.

"You've got to be starved, Darling. How about Italian for lunch?" she asked, trying her best to cover any flustered reactions.

"As long as it's Luigi's, I'm in!"

She took his arm, laughing.

"Well, of course, it's Luigi's! Is there any other?"

He had taken her there often when he had been stationed in Montreal.

'Why in the world had neither of them thought of those dinners as dates?

Because looking back, that's exactly what they had been.

'And very good dates, at that,' both were thinking.

Just no fringe benefits. Why they hadn't even held hands! Much less kiss!

'Nathan Grant, you were a total idiot…' he mused.


"I know you've been to Luigi's, but to give you an overview of the area, you are now in Piccola Italia or Little Italy! This area's been here in the Notre-dame-de-la-Defense parish since about 1910. The entire Italian neighborhood is nestled into this tiny little borough!"

"I remember it's gloriously everything Italian! In the middle of summer, most of the homes and even some of the professional buildings had herb and vegetable gardens, either out back or on their roofs. I loved that about the area, their earthy scents filling the air. I know we always get stuck at Luigi's, even with all the other cafes and restaurants, too! But I have it on good authority through the Mounties, and those men know how to eat, that there is none better! I can't tell you how many times I've craved their Fettucini with Shrimp and their Creamy Spinach Mushroom Tortellini!"

Luigi, himself, met them arm in arm at the door as soon as Nathan could open it!

He had seen them through the large front window and rushed to greet them.

Of course, Security was following them everywhere, but Luigi was used to that, given their past patronage.

And to give them their due, Security was trying their best to be discreet, which Nathan appreciated very much.

"Finalmente, my favorite Couple is back! I prepare you a feast! Have a seat now and Sal will bring you the wine!"

Sal actually made it to their far corner table with the red wine before they did!

"Sal, you remembered our favorite booth!"

"It is your spot! Enjoy it and the wine! But I better make sure we include what you want in Luigi's feast. Sometimes he goes off the beaten path, and Maria and I have to stand over him and rein him back in!"

Nathan laughed.

"As long as we get my Shrimp Fettuccine and Creamy Spinach Mushroom Tortellini in, I'm happy! Millicent?"

"Same for me, plus my Risotto with Rock Shrimp!"

"I will personally see to it! Mamma Mia! Luigi's 'feasts' are going to be the death of me!"

Nathan and Millicent laughed as Sal stormed off to the kitchen, theatrically waving his hands!

"Could this day be any better, Love?"

"I don't know, Darling," Nathan answered coyly. "We'll have to wait and see!"

He pulled her closer to him, in the old dilapidated booth they called home, smiling with his chin on the top of her head, fully aware of and anxiously anticipating at least one very special thing this day was going to bring.

He reached to kiss her.

She had been watching Sal, so his kiss took her by surprise, and she couldn't help but giggle!

"Hey, I have to make up for lost time! How did we ever come to this restaurant so very many times, and never once kissed?"

"Not even when you took me home! Talk about loss of confidence - I was beginning to wonder if I looked like Attila the Hun!"

"My poor Millicent! I did that to you?"

"Yes, you did! There were more than a few nights I laid awake wondering why you weren't attracted to me in that way! Cried endlessly, too! I mean for a young girl, that can get quite traumatic! Especially after so many non-date dates!"

"Will you forgive me for being such a dunce? I think I just always thought I was never quite good enough for you!"

"But you're more than good enough for me. I thought I wasn't good enough for you!"

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"No, I'm not. I thought you needed a girl who could cook for you and clean for you and do all the things that most women do!"

"I don't need a girl who does all the things that most women do. I need a girl who loves me to love me, and that girl happens to be you," as he cupped her chin in his hand, grinning. "Besides you cook!"

"I think I learned how for you! But Law School sort of cut in on learning the cleaning part!"

"I think Law School supersedes learning to clean house any day of the week!"

She laughed.

"You say that now. Just wait till I'm the only woman in town who hasn't a clue how to do laundry!"

He laughed.

"I'm sure we'll manage! Maybe we won't need that many clothes…" he grinned.

"Nathan Grant, you'd better not let Essie hear you say that! That would get you three whacks for sure!"

He laughed, but he also knew it was true!

"That was bad, wasn't it? It's just so hard to be really good when you're sitting right here by me," he admitted with sparkling eyes.

Truth be known, he loved nothing better than to tease her.

Always had!

"You are pretty impossible to resist, with all that Grant charm and all! You do know you reek of it!"

"That's just because you bring it out in me!"

They kissed again, and looked up to find Luigi and Sal towering over them, looking like two caught teenagers in love!

"Finalmente, we see the love we always knew was there!" belted out Luigi in his deep voice that was heard by the entire restaurant and resulted in everyone clapping for the new Couple!

It was hard to tell who was more embarrassed, Millicent or Nathan!

Or who had the reddest face!

In fact, both faces were purple-red…but very happy!

"Love is good! No shame in love! It makes life worth living! You'll see! Here we start my feast of all feasts! Enjoy!"

"Luigi, we're going to need a million boxes! This is supposed to be lunch," gasped Millicent.

"The meal that feeds the soul! Enjoy my dear Friends, eat well, and love well!"

First came the biggest platter of Antipasto they had ever seen, with Grilled Veggies, every kind of imaginable savory Italian Cured Meat that existed, including Prosciutto and several kinds of Salami, Olive Spread, and rich Cheeses with an assortment of Italian Bread.

As if that weren't enough, next came a platter of Arancini made of leftover Risotto and Mozzarella Cheese, coated in Bread Crumbs and fried - a most filling and delicious appetizer.

Next came Luigi's famous Meat Sauce with Orecchiette and his even more famous Meatballs that were positively divine and as he said, throwing a kiss from his mouth, "Food for the gods!"

This was followed by Sal's bold and rustic Chicken Cacciatore or Hunter's Stew. It was a top seller for the restaurant, that Sal always served over wide homemade noodles he made himself.

Next came a huge Italian Caesar Salad with Polenta Croutons and Anchovies, which was the best in all of Montreal.

And true to his word, Sal had seen that all of Nathan's and Millicent's favorites had been thrown in too!

"Delectable, Sal, these are every bit as good as I remembered! I don't know which is better: the Shrimp Fettucini or the Mushroom Tortellini? Tell Luigi he hasn't lost his magic touch, nor have you!"

"The Rock Shrimp Risotto is perfect, too!" chimed in Millicent, as she fed Nathan a bite.

Dessert was, of course, Luigi's Tiramisu with his homemade Ladyfingers, his own secret brewed Expresso, and his wife's homemade Sweet Mascarpone Cheese, topped with Shards of the best Italian Chocolate known to man.

And since Luigi's Tiramisu was as authentic as it got, it was also doused with a healthy serving of Marsala Wine and Italian Rum!

Nathan was in heaven eating all the things he had so often craved and just tasting everything else, as there was so very much food to sample!

Much too much food!

Hendrix and Essie were going to eat very well indeed…

When they finally were ready to taste their dessert, they happily fed it to each other, as was becoming their custom.

"This might be the most delicious thing I've ever tasted!" claimed Nathan.

"It's simply heavenly!"

"I'm going to take all this back in the kitchen to box up for you! I'll also throw in a few extras of your favorites," winked Sal. "And I know it won't be the same, but because you live away, I'm tucking our recipes in, too! You're just sworn to never share - a very bad Italian curse if you do, of course!"

All three laughed.

"We promise not to share, Sal! You may have just saved my life! At least my cravings! Luigi's comes to Hope Valley! Seriously, scrumptious as always. Thank you immensely, Sal!"

"So very delicious! Just so very much! We'll be eating for days! Be sure to thank Luigi and everyone else," thanked Millicent, graciously!

But as they finally got up to leave, Luigi appeared, and both Luigi and Sal walked them to the Restaurant's front door.

They both kissed Millicent and an embarrassed Nathan, as Italian men often do.

"You eat, you dance! Our Park awaits!"

"But Luigi, it's so cold! I don't see any dancers out," interjected Sal, trying to protect the two from a cold fate.

"You eat, you dance, you love! That is life, whether it's cold or warm!" insisted Luigi.


After Nathan and Millicent got outside the restaurant, Millicent tried to explain.

"Saint Viateur Park, otherwise known as Tango Park, has become Montreal's Tango Center since you've been gone. The dance floor is makeshift and in the summer, there's a pond you can see the dancers' reflections in. It's really quite beautiful."

"Is that the makeshift dance floor?" asked Nathan with a gleam in his eye, as he pointed to a gazebo-like building with open arches and a man-made pool surrounding it.

She nodded.

"What do you say? Want to show them how it's done and make my Mother proud?"

She beamed, "Let's do it!"

Sophia had taught all the children to dance, even tango when they had gotten older.

She was a tango purist insisting they perform only Argentine style, head snaps and all!

But back then, they had been at that age where they had all mostly thought the tango was just too theatrical, too silly.

Sophia had just laughed.

"You just wait. Some day you will fall in love and you will be very happy I taught you the tango! With the tango, you can dance love!"

Nathan unbuttoned his long topcoat, and set Hendrix's hat aside, while Millicent unhooked her fur coat.

So, in their coats and gloves, Nathan led Millicent to the center of the Gazebo where the Brazilian music was playing, with Luigi and Sal watching from the front of their restaurant, across the street.

Although it was going to be difficult, the coats had to stay on as it was simply too cold to go without them, even while dancing.

Since tango is danced in a closed position, Nathan's left hand held Millicent's right hand, as he formally placed his right hand on her back, along the bottom of her rib cage. Millicent placed her left hand on Nathan's right shoulder, and both bent their knees, ready to tango!

Nathan led with his left foot, while Millicent started with her right.

But as Sophia had so diligently taught them, they moved their body centers first, then moved their feet to reach and support themselves, which made for beautiful, almost gliding movements!

And gliding was a dance move Nathan and Millicent excelled at with any dance, making all their movements look effortless when they danced together.

They started slowly walking as mirror images, as yes, the tango is a walking dance, then they curved gradually to the left in a perfect gliding arc.

Their overall rhythm was 5 steps to every 8 counts of music, and their rhythm began as slow, slow, quick, quick, slow, in the quick, sharp, and decisive movements of the tango.

But one of the beauties of tango, or at least Nathan and Millicent had thought when younger, was that their gliding motion could vary widely in timing, speed, and even character, allowing them to follow no single specific rhythm from step to step, and allowing them to dance moment to moment, simply matching their steps to the music and their own mood.

That was the one thing, and truthfully the only thing, they had liked about the tango as students.

But today, they loved the very concept, as lovers would.

Today, that premise alone allowed them to dance their innermost feelings, and that's exactly what they did.

"Move like a cat and just love me," whispered Nathan.

"That, I can do," whispered Millicent back.

Their movements together instantly became catlike and sensually loving, as the dance required, which made this dance different from all other tangos they had danced together, so long ago.

They both flawlessly executed sharp, staccato movements with opposite head snaps on the 8th count, alternating with identical head left and then head right head snaps, then repeating the pattern.

Their fancy sharp footwork started coming back to them more clearly as they danced.

Nathan turned Millicent sharply and they danced with Millicent's back to Nathan's front never breaking the closed hold, just varying it.

The difficult move was one Sophia had demanded they all be able to perform flawlessly, and these two still did, even after all the years of not dancing the tango.

But it was all coming back!

And then they switched back to normal closed hold.

The next step was extremely difficult.

They transitioned to a most difficult, slightly varied closed hold, stretching out to dance side by side, facing opposite directions, maintaining the same difficult steps and rhythm, causing Nathan's topcoat and Millicent's fur coat to beautifully float out behind them, in opposite directions.

And then they did the same thing but in switched positions!

It was a beautiful movement, showing more of their fancy legwork.

And then Nathan lowered Millicent almost to the dance floor, never once faltering, but bringing her back up to him sharply with their heads turned in opposite directions.

When suddenly in one staccato move, he allowed his head to fall on her neck as Millicent's right leg stretched back and Nathan's left leg stretched back oppositely, never breaking their upper closed positions, as though they were frozen in time.

Their tango could have been completed there, but instead still in rhythm to the music, Nathan snapped his head up and back, cupped Millicent's chin, and then bent to kiss her intimately, as they continued their fancy legwork of the tango.

It was art in motion, manifesting pure love, but unknown to the Couple, they now had an audience.

Luigi and Sal had been so entranced with the perfect steps they initially recognized from the Couple, that they had

led their restaurant patrons across the street in their coats, and all of them had been silently watching the entire time!

But now, they were exploding, clapping and cheering in appreciation for the beauty they had just seen!

The Couple hadn't even noticed there had been an audience watching them, at all.

They had just been expressing their own new love intimately, naturally through dance, by dancing the tango.

They only had seen each other, with the deepest of love and an overpowering intensity.

They only had heard the music in the distance, responding to it from their souls, moving as one together.

They only recognized the scents of each other; the leather and woods of him, the jasmine, white lilies, and violets of hers, all permeating the space around them.

They only had felt each other's touch, hers soft and feminine, his rugged and masculine.

And in their kiss, they had only tasted the essence of each other.

All their senses had been and were only for each other…

In this, their Dance of Love!

"This has been the most perfect day I've ever had, Love," smiled Millicent, reaching up to kiss him.

He wrapped her in his arms, thinking he must be the most blessed man in the world.

As special as today had been to both of them, he knew without a doubt tonight was going to be even more so…

And that thought filled his heart with joy.

His eyes sparkled just thinking about it.

He drew her closer to him in the most loving embrace, knowing that along with Allie, he was holding his world.

"My Darling, our special day is just beginning," he whispered.

And she shivered with pure delight and excitement in his arms…