Chapter Thirty-Eight: All About Allie

"Bill, thanks for your help tonight!"

"Aw, Nathan it was the only decision that made any sense! Sounds like you're gonna need some privacy when Allie gets here. I'll go next door for a while and have a cup of coffee with Lee and Rosemary."

"Don't be silly. You're our guest, and you're family too!" insisted Millicent.

"I agree, Bill. Looks like you're outvoted!"

"Appreciate that! But if you want my honest opinion, I think you all might just be frettin' about nothin'!"

"What makes you say that, Bill?" asked Nathan.

"I just don't think this is gonna be as big a deal as you two think it is. That girl of ours has been raised in the home of a Mountie. She understands there are good guys and bad guys better than any child out there. Good grief, with the two of us, and her Uncle Gabe, what's adding four more to the mix gonna do? I can tell you what it's gonna do. Not much! Why the way that gal likes to talk, it'll just give her four new friends! Who will probably end up Uncles before they've had a chance to know what hit em! Happened to me! Believe me, I know!"

Nathan laughed, remembering Allie's interrogation of Bill in his office that first day in Hope Valley!

"Yep! You do have a point there! When you put it that way, Bill, you just might be right," agreed Nathan.

"But, you two, we're talking about her whole life," interjected Millicent. "It's irrevocably changed. And it's all because of me!"

"Maybe, maybe not! Never say never," smiled Bill encouragingly. "Besides, if it is changed, who's to say it's not overall for the better? Life always has the bitter with the sweet, whoever you are. I think you just have to let life happen, be as smart as you can about it, but trust the process too! There you have it. My words of wisdom!"

Millicent sighed.

"You can't possibly know how much I hope you are right!"

"I am right! You'll see," assured Bill, as he walked to the front window.

"Either way, we're about to find out. Opal's Dad is just now helpin' her out of their wagon! She's carryin' something. Looks pretty big from here!"

"Oh, that's probably her painting," explained Nathan.

"Yep! Sure could be a canvas..."


After saying her goodbyes, within two minutes, Allie came barreling through the Front Door.

Nathan and Millicent were there to greet her.

They both gave her a quick kiss, then Nathan took her canvas, admiring her art, while Millicent helped her out of her coat, cap, gloves, and scarf!

"Allie, is this the only thing you painted? Is this your very first try?" asked her confused Dad.

"Yes, Sir. I only bought two canvases. One for me and one for Opal. I mean, I sketched it out on paper first in pencil, but I only painted on the canvas. You said to be careful, so I didn't want to waste our paints."

Nathan held the canvas out so both Millicent and Bill could see, and both were stunned.

"Allie this is…fantastic!" exclaimed her Dad. "I don't know how you did it, but somehow you've gotten the green shimmer on the water, just like your Mom used to do!"

Allie had painted their favorite fishing hole, and she had the water almost perfect, which was the most difficult thing to do!

Her trees looked a little unusual and disproportional, almost mystical, but to Millicent, that's what gave the piece its personality, drawing you in to focus only on the water!

"Sweetie, this is really extraordinary, especially for a first try! Why it looks almost professional!" complimented Millicent.

"Now that's a painting! I might just have to commission you to do one for my office! Pretty it up some for me, Allie!" bragged Bill.

"Allie, this shouldn't surprise me at all. I should have told you all this a long time ago. And I'm truly sorry I didn't, but I was just hurting too much, and I didn't want you to hurt anymore. I know you knew she painted some, but your mother did a lot more than that. It wasn't just a hobby. She was a really, really good artist, Allie, just like your Gramma is. She even painted professionally and sold lots of paintings. The thing that's just so hard to believe is, this even looks like her work, Allie, like something she would paint. She would be so very proud of you, just as we are," explained her Dad.

"But why haven't I seen any of Mom's paintings, then?"

"They're packed away, Sweetie. And I'm truly sorry about that! But, you know what? Your Momma has a gorgeous painting done by your Mom over her fireplace. As I looked at that painting, I realized we need to get all your Mom's paintings out, here, too. And instead of being sad, we need to hang them throughout the house, and celebrate her, along with her art, and be happy every time we look at them! That's what she would want, Allie. That's why she painted them. To make people happy!"

"Can I see them soon, Dad?"

"Well, Young Lady, we have a trip to Union City tomorrow, but we can unpack everything the day after! And we can do it early in the afternoon if you like, as soon as I get home from work!"

"We can?"

"Yes, we can! Your Momma and I talked with Mrs. Nelson today, and she says if you'll keep up your homework every day, by working a couple of hours or so, you can spend the rest of the time Millicent is here with the two of us, as new family time!"

"Really? That's fantastic! Even double fantastic! Now we can do all sorts of fun things! But do we have anything to eat? I'm really starved!"

"We saved a slice of each kind of pie, so you could have your choice. There's Cherry, Chocolate Meringue, and Coconut Meringue. Which do you prefer?"

"Can I have a little sliver of each?" asked Allie shyly.

Millicent laughed, "Yes, you may!"

"Oops!"

It was Nathan's turn to laugh, "Got to watch those cans and mays, Allie! But you're doing better!"

"If you don't mind, I think I'll have another piece of that Cherry Pie! It was scrumptidy delicious!" proclaimed Bill. "And yes, we will be serving it at the Café!"

"I'm honored, Bill! Darling, what about you?"

"Maybe a tiny sliver of the Coconut…they all looked good, but that has to be my favorite!"

"We'll see about that after you get a taste of each one, Love!" she teased. "Do you all want to eat in the living room or the kitchen?"

"Let's make it the kitchen!" suggested Nathan. "I'll make the coffee if there's none left from our guests."

Bill and Allie sat down at the kitchen table chatting about this and that, but mostly Allie's new horse.

There was still plenty of coffee hot on the stove, so Nathan poured Allie a glass of milk and helped Millicent serve, then held her chair for her.

"Allie, would you like to say grace?" asked Millicent.

"Yes, Ma'am!"

"Dear God, You heard my prayers and You gave Dad the perfect wife and me the perfect Momma. The one we asked for, or the one I asked for! I just want to thank You for that, because it's made me happier than I know how to be. So, thank You for Dad being home, and for Momma, and for Cookie, and for Serena, and my whole new family of Grandparents, Aunties, and Uncles, and Cousins! Help Dad and Momma and me to be a really great family. And Uncle Bill, too! PS I think we already are! Oh, and thank You for the pies, Momma made! Amen!"

The 'Amens' that followed each came with lots of grins and smiles.

"How was your day at school, Allie?" asked Nathan, as he had worked late with the Security Team and hadn't yet gotten to see her.

"It was great, Dad! The kids voted that Momma was the most beautiful woman they've ever seen! And it was unanimous, too!"

"Well, I concur. She absolutely is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, too!" and with sparkling eyes, he shot his lopsided grin Millicent's way, who had to literally sharply take in her breath and bite her lip to recover!

"Thank you both, but that's quite enough flattery!" blushed Millicent.

"Well, afraid I have to agree! It's just a fact, Millicent, I'm afraid you'll have to live with!" chimed in Bill. "But I'm findin' out you're just as beautiful inside, and to my way of thinkin', that's even better!"

"Today at school, Momma said we girls were the pretty ones and now the girls are really happy, too! Especially Angela, because no one had ever told her she has pretty eyes before! So, she didn't even know! But now she does!"

"It's just the truth, Allie, but I'm so glad all your friends are happy!"

"I don't think their mothers complement them much, so it made them feel special, and they already love you, Momma. They want to have a sleepover here with Momma there! Anna even wants to come, and usually, she's too busy."

Millicent looked at Nathan, who smiled.

"I think we just might be able to arrange that!"

"I told them all about being an important Bridesmaid, and I told them all about my new family. But they wanted to know what Grandpapa did, and I didn't even know. What exactly does he do?"

Bill coughed, and Nathan looked up surprised, but Millicent handled it with aplomb.

"Allie, your Father and I have been wanting to talk with you about that. In fact, I think we need to have a family discussion about that very thing!"

"Is it okay if Uncle Bill is here, too?"

"Yes, he's family, too," answered Nathan. "But, Allie what we're going to talk about has to stay here within our family. No talking about it to anyone, not even your friends. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Sir! This is a family conference just like you and I have, Dad, but it's our first one with Momma and Uncle Bill!"

"Exactly right!" agreed her Dad.

Millicent said a quick silent prayer asking God to give her the right words, as did Nathan and Bill, and took a deep breath.

"Allie, to answer your question, you're Grandpapa Bradford is a very important man. He's very well-known throughout Canada. But the most important thing for you to know is he's a good Christian man who totally adores his family. He loves you already, Allie as part of his family. But he's important because he owns a lot of businesses and companies. Which means a lot of people rely on him for their livelihood. And that means a lot of people know him."

"If he owns a lot of companies, does that mean he's rich?" asked Allie with wide eyes.

"As a matter of fact, that's exactly what it means, Allie. But that's something we never say outside the family. Because sometimes people wish they could be rich too, and it makes them feel bad that they aren't. See, they think being rich will solve all their problems, but it doesn't, it just creates new ones that they wouldn't begin to understand."

She paused to make sure Allie was following, and to make eye contact with her for this most important part, coming next…

"So, we just don't talk about our money to people. But we do try our very best to help people when they need it, most of the time without them ever knowing it was us. That's what the Bible tells us to do Allie, to have a humble spirit and help those who are less fortunate than us, without boasting about it, and that's exactly what we try our very best to do. Do you have any questions?" asked Millicent.

"Do Grandpapa and Grandmama live in a big house?"

"They do, and truthfully, because his companies are spread all over Canada, he has to travel from one to the other, so Father and Mother have several big beautiful homes across Canada. Now, they could be happy in a little apartment. I even think that's Mother's dream, but they do a lot of entertaining for the Businesses and for the Charities, wherever they are. And that brings in an awful lot of money to help fund the Charities, so their homes have to be big enough to handle all those people. You'll get to see their main home first because that's where we're going to have our Family Christmas in Montreal!"

"Do they have servants, like butlers and maids and cooks to do everything?"

"Yes, they do, and I have help, too, because I'm seldom home. But we don't call them servants. They're more like our family, Allie. We treat them with the utmost respect and the same love and kindness as we treat each other. Because they work hard and do those things for us, so we can work really hard on our Businesses and Charities, and in turn, give help to the people who need it. Do you understand what a Charity is?"

"I'm not sure. But it has to be a good thing if it helps people…"

"You're right. A Charity is just like a Business, but instead of trying to make money as a Business does, a Charity works really hard to give money away. Each of my family members has lots of Charities that are grouped together under bigger factions called Foundations. The Foundations just direct and oversee the Charities. All of my Charities are about helping children because that's what I'm passionate about. Your Grandmama's Charities are in large part about the Cree Indian Population, as well as other Indian Cultures who have been so poverty-stricken. She also works with Hospitals and various Diseases. Uncle Richard oversees Charities that help fund failing businesses, and his wife, Auntie Margaret works really hard with Education, helping people to go to College who would otherwise have no money to do so."

"What Charities does Grandpapa do?"

"Just like Uncle Richard secures the money for failing businesses, your Grandpapa helps in their restructuring, so they can gain a solid footing and grow because that's what he does best. But truthfully, Allie he does so much more, working with the government in all the various branches, and all the churches too, to help fill their needs as they arise."

"Will Dad and me have a Charity, too?"

"Oh, Allie, nothing would make me happier! In fact, your Dad and I have already discussed this. So, the answer is a definite yes! You're Dad's already thinking about what he wants to do, so you can do that, too!"

"I already know," she said simply. "But can I do two?"

"It might be a bit much to start out two together, but I see no reason that can't be our goal. What are you thinking, Sweetheart?"

"I want to help blind people, like Angela, but I want to help animals, too! Especially horses!"

"Allie, those are wonderful ideas! The first honors your friend, and the second honors your Gramma and Grappa!" exclaimed Millicent, who was truly humbled that her daughter would know her path so clearly, and answer so directly and so quickly. "Both are areas that don't currently have a lot of support, so both are very much needed! I'll help you set everything up for whichever one you decide to do first, then after we have that going well, we'll start the second."

"When can we start Momma?"

"After our Wedding and our Honeymoon! How does that sound?"

"Really exciting! I want to do my part, too!"

"Spoken like a true Bradford-Grant! And those are wonderful ideas," smiled Nathan, proudly. "But, Allie, just to be clear, what are you thinking about what your Momma just told you?"

"Well, I think if Grandpapa's rich, we're probably rich, too, but we don't talk about it. We just work hard to help people and now animals, too! I think I can do this, Dad. But, I want to start with Angela, is that okay?"

"That's perfect, Allie, and I think you've understood everything! I'm really proud of you! But Allie, you also need to know that having money or being rich is not always a good thing, nor an easy thing."

"What do you mean, Dad? I think it's pretty great to be able to help people!"

"It is, Sweetheart. It's always a wonderful blessing to be able to be a blessing to others. But Allie, it means Millicent's and her Family's lifestyle is different than ours."

"Why?"

"Because a lot of people look at them and get really jealous and decide they want some of their money, thinking they deserve it, too. Now if that's a good person, they might just be jealous and maybe say hurtful things, or even keep their thoughts to themselves. But if it's a bad person, like some of the criminals your Uncle Bill and I deal with, they might decide to threaten them, even to try and hurt them, in an effort to take their money away."

"That's awful, Dad! But we know how criminals are, don't we?"

"Yes, we do, Allie. And that means your Momma gets lots of threats from bad people. So many threats, that she has to have Security to protect her."

"But can't you do that now, Dad? You and Uncle Bill?"

"We will do that, Allie…" answered Nathan.

"But, Allie, Pumpkin, that's just not enough. You're Dad and I won't always be here, so even in Hope Valley, your Momma will still have to have her Security Team, too," explained Bill.

"Sweetheart, what we're all trying to say, is this. If I come live with you, it also puts your Dad, and even you, at risk for receiving the same threats I do. Now, your Dad can take care of himself, because he's trained to do that, but you and I would need somebody to be there for us, in case we needed them to help us. Would you be okay with that?"

"Have you always had people protecting you?" asked Allie, matter-of-factly.

"Yes, sadly always! But they have kept me safe, and our family safe, so as angry as I get sometimes that I don't have a lot of privacy because they're always with me, I have to also be very grateful that they've kept me from harm. And they've kept my family safe, too."

"If you have to have Security, then I think that's okay for us, because I don't want anybody to ever hurt you!" Allie looked like she was going to cry.

Millicent went over to her and hugged her, and with tears in her own eyes, "Don't you see? That's exactly the way we feel about you, Angel. Exactly the same. We just want to protect you every single way we can! And if you and I share Security, then we know we're protected from the bad people, as much as is humanly possible. But, Allie, as I said, the Agents have always kept us safe. So, just put any thought of anyone being hurt right out of your mind, okay? But will you be alright to have the Agents in your life? It's a lot, Allie. It means someone's always with you or around you, following you."

"Well, I already have Dad and Uncle Bill, and they protect me all the time! I guess it would be nice to have somebody to protect us when they can't. But, do I get to meet them?"

"Of course, you get to meet them first thing in the morning, when we board the train to Union City," explained Millicent.

"Allie, they will do their best to try and stay out of your way as much as they can, but do you understand they will be with you all the time?" asked Nathan, wanting to make sure his daughter understood what they were asking.

"Yes, Sir! It's okay, Dad. I just hope they're nice, so I can make friends with them. Hey, do you think they might want to be my Uncles, too?"

Bill cleared his throat.

Millicent and Nathan couldn't help but stare at him.

"Told you so," mumbled Bill, throwing up his hands.

"They're very nice people, and I think they just might be happy to get to know you and be uncles, too! We'll find out in the morning!" smiled Millicent.

"Boy, my new family just keeps growing and growing. I love it! But before they can become my uncles, I'll have to interview them and see if they are as good as my Dad and my Uncle Bill and Uncle Gabe."

"Allie, these are highly trained professionals. I'm sure they are more than qualified. We wouldn't have them here if they had not been highly trained and credentialed."

"But Dad, did they go to Mountie School?"

"Well, no, but…"

"Then I'll just have to interview them and find out for sure. Don't worry, Dad, it will just be a few questions."

And that's when Bill busted a gasket, spitting coffee clear across the room!

Nathan slumped back in his chair too, covering his face to keep Allie from seeing.

This was one of those moments, he really was not sure who the adults were in the room!

And the very thought of Allie interrogating Millicent's Security Team was beginning to give him a headache!

Millicent saved the day with a distraction and serious question to diffuse the situation…

"But, Allie, there will be times you won't like having them there at all. I know so, because that's often the case for me. It takes a lot of your privacy away. And I'm worried that as you get older, it will become more and more of a burden. Will you still be okay with this, when it gets rough, and I mean really rough?"

"Momma, if you've always had to do this, I can do this, too. After all, I'm pretty tough. Just like Dad says, I can tackle anything! Besides, I want us together all the time, no matter what that takes! I want to start my Charity to start helping Angela, really soon, too!"

"Without a doubt, you are my daughter, Angel! I love you so very much," Millicent hugged Allie again. "I promise, when we come back from our Honeymoon, we will start your Charity! And it will be your Charity, not mine. Just like I have to work hard for my children, you'll have to work hard for Angela and other people who are blind, in order to really help them. Understood?"

"I understand, Momma! Gramma says you have to work hard to get anything done!"

"And she's exactly right, Allie! Proud of you, Daughter!" beamed her Dad.

"So proud of you, Allie! That's my girl!" bragged Bill. "Told you so!"

Bill's last remark was pointedly directed to Nathan and Millicent.

"Momma, can I have some more Cherry Pie?"

"It's 'may,' Allie," reminded her Dad.

"One piece of Cherry Pie coming up for my Daughter!"

Allie and Bill had their second piece of Cherry Pie, well, Bill's fourth for the evening, but no one was counting!

Nathan, seeing theirs, gave in and had a sliver of a piece too.

Allie chatted incessantly with the three adults taking turns, fielding her onslaught of questions.

The Cherry Pie was completely demolished, as they finally finished with Allie's hundred questions!

Although to be fair, she had a lot of opinions thrown in there, too!

"Come on, Allie, what do you say? Our moon's awaitin'!" called Bill.

"You two hurry back! It's cold out there, plus we have our big trip to Union City tomorrow," reminded Millicent. "And I believe, you still have books to open!"

"Yes, we all need to get to bed and get some sleep! We have to leave here no later than six to meet our Train. Thankfully, Lee's offered to drive us," explained Nathan.

"Uncle Bill, we have to hurry! I forgot all about my books!"

Millicent closed the door behind them, and Nathan turned her toward him, took both of her hands, and kissed her sweetly, almost reverently.

"From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Mil. I don't know how we did it, but that was better than I could hope for. As it turns out, Bill was right! What did you think?"

"I think this parenting thing's tough, and yes, I still don't like the whole situation of putting her through this, but I am so thankful she's willing to try! I love that she's excited about the Charities, too."

Nathan playfully pulled her toward his settee, where they snuggled up together.

He grabbed the afghan off the settee's arm and spread it over their laps.

Then he bent his head to lean against hers on his shoulder, and both were still as could be, the only movement being that of their intertwined fingers playfully caressing each other…

"Mil, I don't want you to think this is because of Elizabeth, because it's not. She has more than she could ever want. But most widows don't. And it's them I want to help. I want my charity to be Mountie-based, and I want to help families, who have lost the Mountie they love in service, and even by natural death, all the way through retirement. Is that doable?"

"That's more than doable, Darling! I'm so pleased."

"Will it be hard to establish?"

"No, in fact, simpler than most to establish, because we've got a definitively defined recipient, who can very easily be identified. Also, there won't be as many recipients as the other charities, which will make designating funds much easier. I love that idea, Nathan, you will make such a wonderful difference in their lives, eliminating any financial worry, especially after they've already lost their provider. In many cases, this will make the difference in whether they get to keep their homes or not or send their children to college. And to not have to worry financially about raising their children alone, putting food on the table, buying school clothes. This will take such a weight off these women's minds! You'll be giving them an opportunity to live again. And by taking care of the people they love, you will be taking care of your Mountie brothers, Darling!"

"You were so right about me needing to do this. It somehow takes away the guilt or the sting of all that money, to know I can somehow use it to make a difference. Honestly, I can't wait to get started. I wanted to make sure it was alright with you, as I need to run it by the Commissioner tomorrow. But, I just couldn't get it off my mind from the moment we talked about it, this was what I saw as the place I could make the most difference."

"Anything you want to do is alright by me, Darling! But this is such a wonderful thing to do! The money's already yours as far as I'm concerned, and it will all be official on New Year's Eve. You do know also that whatever you want for yourself, it's yours too, without ever having to run it by me. I'm not the ruler of the money. Don't ever think that's the case. It's ours together."

"Why, Millicent Bradford, are you telling me, if I want to buy a motorcycle, you're all right with that?" teased Nathan.

"Aren't those things dangerous?" she squinted her eyes, looking at him dubiously.

"Not the way I ride, Darling!"

"Why do I somehow feel very skeptical of that?"

Nathan chuckled and tucked her in closer.

"I only want you, Darling. Only you!"

He bent his head lower, and barely touched his lips to hers, but both wanted more, both needed more, and their kiss deepened, beautifully fulfilling both their wants and needs.

"I guess you get your motorcycle, BUT…only if you promise me, you'll stay safe while riding it! I don't like the thought of nursing broken limbs! Especially not yours!"

He chuckled again, a deep low chuckle, that caused her heart to turn a somersault.

"Is that all it takes to get what I want?" he teased.

"For now…" she smiled. "That's not saying, later on, you might not have to work for it a bit harder! Let's see, I'll have to start thinking about that for sure!"

"I love you, Millicent Bradford! You shine brighter than the moon and the stars, and I pray every day I can be the man you deserve," he whispered.

"You're already that Man, my Darling Nathan Grant!"

"Where shall we go on our Honeymoon?"

"Our Honeymoon? I love the sound of that!"

"Our Honeymoon!" he whispered again as if there were leprechauns in the room who might overhear, or he may have just been in a very romantic mood!

Millicent smiled, ever so slightly, feeling the warmth of his breath against her neck, his love filling her.

"I'd say our place in Prince Edward Island if it were going to be in the summer. But anywhere with you, Love, will be absolutely perfect!"

"I thought you'd say that, Love! That's why we're going straight to Prince Edward Island as soon as Allie gets out of school, for a whole month! I've already talked to your Dad. You and I are taking the cottage, and Richard and Margaret are bringing the kids and they're going to keep Allie with them in the main house. Your parents are trying to arrange to come too so they can enjoy their grandchildren. And if they can work that out, they're inviting my parents!"

Millicent flung her arms around her Fiance, and in the process knocked the afghan to the floor!

"You've arranged all that for me?"

Her eyes were dancing like the emerald on her hand, along with the many diamonds surrounding it!

"For us, Darling. It will be a perfect Spring Honeymoon!"

"I can't wait! It's going to be heavenly. You do know, that's my favorite spot in the world! And that cottage is the best part of the whole estate! So isolated, and better than the main house any day! Nathan, it has its own beach!"

"I do know that it's your favorite spot! But, you might have to wait a bit for that beach, because for our New Year's Honeymoon, how does Niagara Falls sound?"

"Are you serious?"

"Totally serious!"

She smothered his face with kisses!

"I've always wanted to see the Falls!"

"I've rented us a place right on the Niagara River, so it will be just you and me, Love! It looks absolutely charming, and I know it is because Margaret is the one who told me about it!"

"Remind me to hug my Sister-in-Law! Oh, Nate, she has exquisite taste, so if she suggested it, I know it will be perfect! But truly, anywhere with you will be perfect!"

"I feel exactly the same. It's all becoming very real Darling! Are you ready for all these changes?"

"You have no idea. I'm so ready to be your wife, Darling! The very thought is pure heaven!"

He lightly placed an adoring kiss on her neck, and groaned, as there was Bill's loud knock on their door.

"Why is there never enough time?"

"You, my Love, need to just be thankful for what little time we got," she chided.

As he got up to open the door, she added to that.

"This was more than enough, my Love, more than enough!"

He turned with a broad smile, and winked in agreement, at this gorgeous, loving, wise woman he adored…