Chapter 97 Family Lunch & Plans, Part II
"The five of us most certainly do make a great team, Miss," agreed Hendrix.
Sitting next to him, Essie's broad smile was more than enough of an agreement.
"This is the best soup I've ever had!" declared Allie.
"Actually, Love, it's called a Bisque," explained Essie.
"Why?"
"Because it's a soup that has cream in it!"
"Oh, that's why it's so good! Bisque…hmm, I love it!"
"This Shepherd's Pie hits the spot, too, Essie," complimented Nathan.
"Delicious," nodded Millicent in agreement.
"Perfect, Miss Estella," agreed Hendrix.
"I'm glad you all like your lunch! That Shepherd's Pie is my Mother's recipe and her Mother's before her. We Hartmann women are always tweaking our dishes, but this one's hard to beat if I do say so myself!"
"Don't change a single thing! I don't believe it could possibly be better," suggested Nathan.
"Momma, may I ask you a question?"
"Anything, anytime, Sweetheart!"
"What else do we need to do for Scott and his Mama?"
"That's an important question, Allie," noted her Dad proudly.
"Quite a lot, actually. After we meet your Grandmothers and we have our dress fittings for the Wedding and find you're party dress, we'll all go shopping for them."
Then it dawned on Millicent, that Allie would be expecting 'shopping' to be like everyone else shopped and like the two of them had done in Union City, but sadly it wouldn't be like that here in Montreal.
"Although 'shopping' might look a bit different here in Montreal than you're used to, Allie."
"What do you mean, Momma?"
"Well, we'll be limited to just a couple of stores, and we'll have to enter via the back doors and stay in a private area, I'm afraid, to do our shopping privately from there."
"Why?"
Nathan glanced up at Millicent, ready to step in if need be.
"Well, for now, everyone is excited about our Wedding, Sweetheart, and they'll all come up and talk with us, and we won't get anything done," explained Millicent, which was all true.
What she didn't add was that Security made them shop this way during normal business hours, which was why most of the Bradford's shopping was done by appointment after hours or by staff during hours when needed.
It was just a lot for a little girl all at once.
That would come in time.
'"Oh, I guess that's okay as long as you and my Grandmas are with me. But I don't understand, how will we ever see anything?"
"We'll tell the managers what we need, and they'll bring several items for us to see so we can make our selections."
"I suppose that works," agreed the ever-pragmatic Allie. "But what do we need to get Scott and his Mama?"
"First of all, your Uncle Hendrix and Uncle Albert will be getting them groceries while we are at our dress-fitting. And if it's not too much trouble, Hendrix, I'd love it if you and Albert could find a Christmas tree for Scott, about six to nine feet tall, as I think their ceilings could handle that."
"Consider it done, Miss! Shall we get decorations too?"
"No, but thank you, Hendrix, for offering. I think that's a good job for Allie. What do you think, Allie?"
"Pick out their Christmas decorations? I'd love that, Momma!" answered Allie excitedly.
Millicent smiled at her daughter, then continued speaking with Hendrix.
"But Hendrix, if you don't mind, pick up a large wreath with a big red bow and lots of pinecones, with extra for Scott to hang on the tree, along with enough lights for whatever tree you get. Allie will be in charge of everything else!"
"Of course, Miss. My pleasure," nodded Hendrix.
"Essie, everything is delicious! Loved the Grilled Cheese Croutons in the Bisque," complimented Nathan. "The Waldorf Salad is delicious too, and a favorite!"
"Thank you, Son! Those Croutons are Miss Millicent's favorite. And if I remember correctly, you always did like my Waldorf Salad. So, I thought I'd surprise you!"
"Love it, Essie! I'll never turn your Waldorf Salad down. Thanks for remembering!"
"These Grilled Cheese Bites, are my favorite, too, Auntie Essie! I love them so much."
"I'm glad you do, Miss! We aim to please at the Bradford home! Well, I'll be, it's the Grant home now!"
"It most certainly is, Essie," smiled Millicent, looking up at her fiancé tenderly.
He kissed her hand, lovingly, amazed at how at home and comfortable he and Allie felt.
Then Nathan reached to also sweetly kiss his fiancee's cheek, letting her know how very much her words meant to him.
Allie giggled, feeling all the love her new family had to offer, but as usual, she had a most important question.
"But Momma, does it make you sad not to say it's your home, the Bradford Home?"
"Allie, not one bit. In fact, to say it's our home, the Grant Home makes me happier than you can imagine! Because that's what this place is now. It's no longer just my home and Essie's and Hendrix's home, but yours too, and your Father's as well. Nothing in the world could make me happier to call it by our family name, at least what will be my family name soon," winked her Momma.
Allie reached to kiss her Momma on the cheek.
"Welcome home, Allison Rose Grant, as your Auntie Essie would say!" smiled Millicent.
Allie giggled and grinned at her Auntie Essie.
"It already is home, Momma. I love it here with you and Dad and Auntie Essie and Uncle Hendrix."
"I'm thrilled, Sweetheart! That makes us all so very happy."
"Momma, I have another question. What else will we get Scott and Mrs. Hayes?
"Allie, let your Momma eat," suggested Nathan with a wink.
"But Dad, I need to know."
"It's alright, Darling!" smiled Millicent.
"You've barely eaten your Bisque, Mil!"
Nathan, worried, also noticed she had only taken two or three bites of her Shepherd's Pie and only a few bites of her Waldorf Salad.
"I promise to finish the Bisque, Love," and she reached to cover his hand with hers as gentle reassurance, then it was back to Allie's question.
"Here, let me go get a hot bowl for you, Miss!" interjected Essie as she took Millicent's bowl and made her way to the kitchen before she could say anything to object.
"Thank you, Essie," called Millicent, then turned to answer her daughter. "Well, Allie, we'll start with clothes and shoes, as I happen to have gotten their sizes when we toured the bedrooms. We'll save some of the best as Christmas presents, and I'll set up a couple of accounts so they can go shopping in a few days and select their own choices for clothing, but they need a few basics right now so they'll be able to do that. We need to find a couple of everyday outfits for each, a sleeping gown for Mrs. Hayes, some pajamas for Scott; robes, and slippers for both. They both need a pair of serviceable shoes and boots, too. Oh, and definitely coats. And some fabric for Miss Sarah to start sewing some samples for her new business. Then they need toiletries, soap, and toothpaste, things like that. Oh, and Hendrix, can you add cleaning supplies to your list?"
"Already added, Miss. And Albert and I will pick up the toiletries too."
"Add combs and brushes too, please, as theirs are so worn."
"Of course, Miss."
"Thank you and Albert so much! You're the best, Hendrix!"
"But what else, Momma?"
"Well, since it's so close to Christmas, we need to find a few Christmas presents they'll enjoy too! But we'll surprise them with those later, probably on Christmas Eve! Scott is fairly easy as he needs typical little boy things which you can help with, Allie, but Sarah is a bit harder."
"Babe, she desperately needs a new sewing machine. The one Matt and I carried was well cared for, but it was very old and looked like it was on its last leg," suggested Nathan. "I don't see how she stitches anything with it!"
"Oh, that's a great idea, Love! We'll get one today and save it for her Christmas. I want to get her a set of pearl drop earrings and possibly a necklace too, so she'll feel better about herself and look nice for her clients with her new dresses, but I doubt we'll have time to run by Helmsley's Jewelers!"
"I'll be in that area. I can do that if you trust me to select them," offered Nathan, not letting on that was exactly where his errand was taking him anyway.
"Of course, I trust you, Darling! Something really nice but not so elaborate she'll feel uncomfortable in them. That's a huge help. Thank you," and Millicent further thanked him with another quick kiss on the cheek.
"The pearls are a lovely thought, Miss," agreed Estella, who had returned with a fresh bowl of hot bisque from her pot on the stove for Millicent. "What woman doesn't feel better with pearls?"
"But Momma, what about Scott's dog?"
"His dog?" asked Millicent, puzzled as there had been no dog present.
"He just wants a dog, any dog. I offered to share the kittens, but he said he's more of a dog guy. I know he said his family had a chocolate lab from before he was born. His name was Choco, but the dog died when Scott was ten because he was older, so Scott's still grieving him."
"Any idea where we can find a Chocolate Lab, Hendrix?" asked Nathan.
"Yes, Sir! I know the very best spots to go. There are quite a few shelters in town and we'll swing by them before we shop for groceries and put a hold on one if you'd like. Lots of Labs in Montreal, so we shouldn't have a problem finding a chocolate one."
"That's wonderful. Ask if we can pick it up Christmas Eve day," suggested Millicent. "Oh, and a puppy is probably best so they can bond and grow together."
"But Christmas Eve is when your family works all day, Miss. Why don't you allow Albert and me to worry about delivering the dog here to the house, and then you can drop it off with the other packages just before our own Christmas Eve?"
"Perfect, Hendrix."
"What do we do Christmas Eve Day, Love?" asked a curious Nathan.
"You two better rest up," warned Essie with a chuckle.
"I'm afraid Essie's right. We start early in the morning delivering presents to all the hospital patients. There are two large hospitals to cover, as well as three smaller ones. Next, we do the same at all the orphanages, although they are converting to Foster Care Centers. Let's see there are currently six centers spread out over the town. Then when we finish, everyone meets and the whole family eats together somewhere downtown, and splits up after lunch again to spend the rest of the day taking gifts to the people living in Montreal who are being helped by the various Foundations. It's a very busy day and you both really do need to rest up the day before to get through it! But you and Allie will get to see how everything works firsthand by being a part of it all."
"Do my cousins take part?"
"Only the two eldest, the little ones are much too young, Sweetheart."
"Can we include Richard in that group," asked Nathan drolly, which brought a huge chuckle from Hendrix.
Millicent teasingly tapped Nathan's hand, who responded with raised eyebrows and his lop-sided grin.
"But, Momma, when do we get to have our Family Christmas here?"
"When we get home from all the gift-giving, it will be Christmas Eve, and the five of us will spend it here for our Family Christmas, then on Christmas morning, we go to Grandpapa's and Grandmama's to have Christmas with them and Gramma, and Grappa!"
"We get both families at once, Allie," grinned her Dad. "It's going to be massive!"
"I'm so excited! It's going to be the best Christmas ever, Momma!"
"Yes, Allie, it really is. And we have your Momma to thank for getting Gramma and Grappa to come here to spend Christmas in Montreal with us," explained Nathan.
"Thank you, Momma, you're the best! I bet Grappa couldn't say no to you!"
Millicent just smiled, as Nathan gazed at her lovingly.
"I'll have you know, none of us Grant men can say no to your Momma, Allie!"
Millicent blushed, then giggled along with Essie and her daughter.
"What should we expect on Christmas Day, Love," asked Nathan, curiously.
"Father and Mother along with the family give gifts to the House Staff early on Christmas Morning at a special Christmas breakfast for them that we all attend. They have it catered so that none of the staff have to do any of the work, and then the rest of the day is family time! After that, the Family goes to the main living room where Father reads the Christmas Story and we all say our Christmas Prayers together. Then we all open presents and spend the rest of the morning there. At Lunchtime, we have a Christmas Lunch Buffet in the Conservatory, also with the Staff, most of whom leave after to have their own Family Christmases. During the afternoon, we go skating on our pond, then we go back to the house to relax and enjoy each other's company. Later that evening, we have an early Family Christmas Dinner at 6 P.M. That's the only thing formal all day, so we do have to take a change of clothing, but really, it's just family fun, dressy, but nothing stuffy! The Staff who doesn't have family to visit have their own Dinner celebration in the smaller Dining Room just after ours. After we eat, we all retire to the Sitting Room for the evening and sing Christmas Carols while the little ones play!"
"Mrs. Bradford makes sure everything runs like clockwork to see that everyone has a perfect Christmas, Staff included! It's all very wonderful," assured Estella.
"Nothing better than a Bradford Christmas, Sir," interjected Hendrix. "You're in for quite the treat, Miss Allie!"
"Victoria's always paid attention to making sure everyone else is taken care of. Sounds like the perfect family Christmas," smiled Nathan. "Right, Allie?"
"Sounds like so much fun, Dad! It sounds like the Christmas I always wanted with family spilling over everywhere!"
"Without a doubt, this is going to be our best Christmas yet, Allie Girl!"
"It already is, Dad! I love it here in Montreal…"
Nathan kissed Millicent goodbye for the afternoon at the back door.
"Do you realize how terribly you're going to be missed, Miss Bradford?"
"No more than you will be missed, Chief Inspector!"
Their lips naturally gravitated to the others, sending a sizzling sweet sensation throughout both.
"Good luck with your shopping, Darling. See you at Dinner?"
"Yes, Love, we should be able to get our fittings and shopping done before then. If we're running late, I'll call the house to let you know!"
He kissed her quickly once more, hating to leave her, but also anxious to take care of his business. Then with one last crooked grin, he hopped into the car with Albert and Hendrix, waving as he left.
Although Millicent had no idea what his plans had been all along, Albert and Hendrix were dropping him off at Helmsley's Jewelers on their way into town.
Just like clockwork, just after the men pulled out, Lloyd drove up with Victoria and Sophia.
"Allie, your Grandmothers are here," called Millicent.
"Bye, Auntie Essie! Are you sure you don't want to go with us?"
"I have so much to do, Love! In fact, I have help coming, because there's lots of baking to do this afternoon. You enjoy your time with your Momma and Grandmas. I'll be here waiting for you with lots of Christmas goodies to eat!"
"Yes, Ma'am! But will you be able to watch the kittens for me, please?"
"Won't let them out of my sight, Child!"
"Thanks, Auntie Essie. You're the best!"
"Goodbye, Essie, try to relax some too. There's plenty of time for you to skip one kind of cookie and take a nice long break," insisted Millicent.
"Now you know I can't do that! Oh, Miss, your Wedding Assistant is coming to organize the newest gifts, too."
"Thanks for calling her. Do you need anything, Essie?"
"Not a thing! But thanks for asking Sweet Child."
Yes, Essie still called Millicent 'Sweet Child' on occasion, which made Miss Allison Rose smile.
"Bye Auntie Essie!"
"Bye my new Sweet Child!" and Essie kissed the top of Allie's head just like her Dad often did...
Outside, Lloyd held the limo door open for the Ladies.
"There's our girl," exclaimed Victoria with a kiss for her new granddaughter.
"Did you find a tree, Pumpkin?" asked Sophia, stretching to give Allie a second kiss.
"Did we ever Gramma! It's a whopper and a Blue Spruce too, just like Dad and Mom always got!"
"Blue Spruce is a Grant tradition, Child!"
"I just learned that today, but Gramma, the tree's not all we found. We found a mother cat with a whole box of kittens. Dad named her Persia. And we found a boy named Scott and his mother, Mrs. Hayes, and they needed a lot of help. So, we helped them and the kittens. Oh, and I got to see two kittens being born, too!"
Allie was so excited, she was literally tripping over her words.
"My, you have had quite the busy morning! No wonder you wanted to move our appointment up by an hour, Millicent, which worked out with no problem, I might add. In fact, by moving it up, Andre will be there to help us, which is a very good thing!"
"Oh, Mother, that's wonderful. He knows everything about the Wedding, so that's a huge help. Did you ask him to find some party dresses for Allie to look at as well?"
"Yes, Darling, he said he's gathering them from the top dress shops, and he promises he'll have several for you both to choose from! It shouldn't take us long at all, and he thinks Allie's Wedding Dress will be pretty accurate to her size since you brought him one of her dresses to go by!"
"Good, that way we can shop for the Hayes after if you don't mind that is?"
"Spending time with our daughter and granddaughter? Sophia and I can't think of anything better! We've missed our girl terribly. And her grandfathers are chomping at the bit, waiting to see her tomorrow! The two of us are yours for the day, Millicent, for as long as it takes us to see that the Hayes have every single thing they need…"
