Chapter 105: Allie Meets Her Cousins

As their limo reached the massive portico bordered by its tall row of thick columns, Allie was literally spluttering with delight.

Huge matching terra cotta urns lined the portico on both sides, holding uniformly-manicured boxwood topiaries as they had earlier in the year, although they were now ghostly white, draped completely in snow.

But all Allie saw was her handsome Uncle Richard and older cousins Jackson and Maggie, anxiously waiting to greet her!

The three were all bundled up, enthusiastically waving, and waiting on the outside stone portico that had been cleared of snow, expressly for the purpose of safely greeting their already treasured Allie.

Thrilled and about to erupt with love, Allie waved back enthusiastically, along with her Momma and Dad.

But as soon as Albert came to a stop and Nathan opened their back door, his daughter deftly scrambled out over him, running as fast as she could to greet her Uncle Richard and new cousins, whom she already knew from photos.

As excited as she had ever been, while still remembering her manners, Allie politely greeted her Uncle Richard, the adult first, as her Dad had always taught her to do.

Nathan, chuckling at his daughter's excitement, quickly helped a white fur-clad Millicent out of the car, hugging her close as they both proudly watched Allie's Uncle Richard grab her up and swing her around and around to copious giggles!

Richard stopped only to hug Allie even more tightly while deftly plopping kisses on both her cheeks.

"Welcome home, Miss Allison Rose Grant! I'm your Uncle Richard, jokester extraordinaire, so watch out, you've been warned. But you get this first day off. No pranks till tomorrow! We're thrilled that you're here with us. These are your oldest cousins. First, Jackson, who's a mini version of me, and second, Margaret, who looks just like your Auntie Margaret who's waiting inside with the baby. Although to be perfectly honest, we call your cousin Margaret, here, our little boss, Maggie. She's the one who actually keeps us all straight!"

Allie laughed.

"Like I keep Dad straight! Thrilled to meet you, Uncle Richard! I've heard a lot about you!"

"Your debonair, handsome, brilliant, intelligent Uncle Richard? I'm sure you have! And all superlative, I'm certain!"

Richard struck an exaggerated model's pose, which caused Allie to laugh, and feel less nervous.

He then broke his pose to playfully tweak Allie's nose which brought even more giggles.

Nathan and Millicent watched Richard's antics, and were elated as both excited cousins literally engulfed their daughter in hugs and kisses, along with excited hellos and Merry Christmases!

Allie was finally at home with her cousins!

The two took both of Allie's hands, positioning her solidly between them, and with great big smiles on their faces, proudly and quickly turning to lead her into the Grand Entry to meet the rest of the family…


Still outside, Richard first hugged his sister.

"She's beautiful, Em! Just beautiful!"

Then he embraced his brother from childhood.

"Allie's gorgeous just like our Colleen, but fairer coloring like you, Em! She's part of us already, Nate!"

"Great to see you, Richard! Thanks for giving her such a warm welcome," nodded Nathan as he gave Richard a brotherly embrace. "This means so much to Allie. The only thing she's ever wanted is a Momma and a large family. She's so excited now that she's getting both. Frankly, I'm not sure we'll ever get her back down to earth after today!"

"My two eldest are exactly the same! Even the little ones are excited although they're not quite sure why! The four couldn't wait till we arrived here. Jackson and Maggie even insisted on sitting up front with our driver from the Railway Depot, as though that would get them here sooner! If Jackson begged for the poor man to drive faster one more time, I was going to have to tie a scarf around my ears, or either take drastic action!"

Nathan chuckled, along with Richard.

"Their first words in unison when we arrived home: 'Is Allie here, yet?'"

"The logic of children, not to be deterred," mused Nathan. "Sometimes I still wish we had that magic!"

"Ah, but we had it in spades, once upon a time, Bro! Now, didn't we?"

"That, we most certainly did," affirmed Nathan with his signature crooked grin.

Smiling, arm-in-arm with Millicent ensconced in the middle, the three moved on from the chilling cold into the beautifully decorated and thankfully, very warm Grand Entry...


Just a single glance around the vast Grand Entry screamed to all that the Spirit of Christmas was elegantly ablaze, beautifully running rampant in the most magical way!

One could not only see the Christmas Spirit, but each person could also enchantingly feel it!

The piece de resistance was a stunning series of tall Christmas Trees magnificently lining both sides of the Grand Entry and Hall as far as one could see, lit with millions of twinkling white lights, all trimmed in a rich red and shiny gold, along with matching red velvet bows and garland, laden full of golden ornaments.

They were simply stunning!

Additionally, elegant boughs of greenery were hung everywhere, tied with the same huge red velvet bows coordinating perfectly with the two massive wreaths, one on each front door, also trimmed with the same brilliant gold ornaments.

As though that wasn't enough, what really took everything over the top, making everything unique, was that all the greenery, including the trees, had been flocked to look like they were all covered in real glistening snow, as though the white had been brought inside along with the family.

To say everything was ethereal didn't at all do the space justice!

The chandeliers above caused the twinkling lights to literally dance off the ceilings, floors, and walls, further enlivening the space with Holiday cheer.

The extensive and quite beautiful décor was not only there for the family to enjoy, but also for the many guests who would enter the home attending all the Holiday events which would be held over the next two weeks, not the least of which included Nathan and Millicent's Engagement Party, scheduled for this weekend.

But for today the place was simply home as the entire family had excitedly gathered just inside the doors of the Grand Entry to greet and welcome Nathan, Millicent, and most of all, Allie!

Well, that is, all but Auntie Luciana who was planning to hold court in the Main Dual Living Room. She was not so patiently waiting but preferred to greet her newest family member after all the commotion died down when she could garner her full attention.

And with all the family there, she had been wise in doing so, as the entry scene was quite the boisterous and loving commotion!

The entire family was shouting their welcoming greetings as well as their Merry Christmases and grabbing quick hugs and kisses from each one of them, with a delighted and gracious Allie at the center of all the attention.

"Allie, let's see. You've met everyone except your new Auntie. This is your beautiful Auntie Margaret!" introduced her Grandmama.

"So lovely to finally get to meet my niece! You're just beautiful Allie, exactly like your pictures which are spread all over our home in Toronto! Only I do believe you're even more gorgeous in person! Welcome to the family, Sweetheart!"

Margaret hugged Allie close while still holding a curious little Margie in her arms, whose little hands Allie took in her own.

Overwhelmed, Allie immediately loved this kind, beautiful young woman so much, that she couldn't help but cry.

"Here, here," and Margaret quickly passed off Margie to Sophia, so she could stoop down to Allie's level and wrap the child in her loving arms.

"We've been counting the moments to see you, Dearest One. Now that you're here, our family is complete, and we can truly celebrate Christmas altogether! You know you're the very first cousin my children have ever had! And that's a pretty important role to fill! I just know the four of you are going to be fast friends, yet extra special ones to each other, just like brothers and sisters, as cousins should be!"

Margaret kissed Allie, running her fingers through her hair just like she would have her own daughters, and Allie relaxed with so much love around her.

"It's just that I'm so very happy! You see, I've always wanted a Momma and a big family, Auntie Margaret, and now I finally have the most beautiful and wonderful Momma in the whole world, and this great big huge family too! It's everything I've ever dreamed of and more!"

Margaret gently wiped Allie's tears.

"It most certainly is! You have a beautiful and wonderful Momma who adores you and an entire new family who adores you too, Sweet Child. But we are the ones who are blessed to have you, Allie! And don't you ever forget that!"

Allie nodded, still finding it hard to believe, even while feeling so much love from everyone, struggling to control her tears.

"Mon Petite Choux, we have someone very important for you to meet," smiled her Grandpapa, as he deposited a kiss on the top of Allie's head. "Why don't we all move into the Living Room to meet your Auntie Luciana?"

As the others moved into the Living Room with Edward, Millicent exchanged a flashed look of concern with Nathan, pulling his hand behind her, so they could quickly surround their daughter.

"We are not letting her do this alone, Darling," whispered Millicent. "You know how unpredictable Auntie Luciana can be!"

Then she knelt and wiped the last of Allie's tears.

"Allie, Auntie Luciana is just a bit different, a bit flamboyant, if you will. I'm afraid she sometimes comes across as perhaps a bit overbearing, but her bark is a lot worse than her bite! Deep down, she has a heart of gold, so don't let her intimidate you, Sweetheart. You just be polite and be yourself, okay?"

Allie nodded and hugged her Momma.

"Your father and I will be right here with you the whole time! So don't be nervous. Just be yourself and she will love you just like we do. I promise!"

Nathan and Millicent each took Allie's hand and moved into the Main Living Room with her.

The massive room, which actually held two living rooms in one gigantic space, was beautifully decorated in muted yellows, and blues with touches of teal and gold.

Two huge fireplaces were busily crackling and popping at each end, warming the entire area, miraculously making the large area feel cozy and homey instead of overpowering.

Not surprisingly, just like the Grand Entry the entire space was fully decorated for Christmas with the biggest Christmas Tree Allie had ever seen!

But unlike the trees in the Grand Hall, this tree had the family's magnificent star on top.

The Family Christmas Tree was also trimmed in red and gold much like those in the entry, but it additionally held all the Bradford family's handmade ornaments of every size, shape, and color on it, made and collected from year to year since the beginning of the family.

The gorgeous and heavily decorated tree sat in front of the bowed floor-ceiling, mullioned and beveled glass windows at the very center of the room on the side facing the front of the Estate, surrounded with wreaths in each window and garlands along their edges, along with mounds of red Poinsettias everywhere you looked.

In an identical mullioned and beveled glass windowed alcove directly across the room from the Christmas Tree, an esteemed place of honor at the Bradfords, stood an Italian life-sized Nativity Scene, hand-carved of olive wood from the Holy Land, and painted in the most beautiful muted colors and meticulous detail in Italy, by a well-known Italian artist.

The entire Nativity was literally breathtaking in both beauty and detail, truly awe-inspiring.

And because of its presence, the Christmas story and spirit of Christmas instantly filled each person's heart!

A quartet of smaller, but still immense, staggered Christmas Trees flanked each fireplace, two on each side, while huge matching wreaths hung floating over the enormous mirrors that sat above each mammoth mantel.

Large stockings for each family member were hung at both mantels, one stocking each for the person whose name was on the front at one mantel, as well as a second stocking with the same name on the front at the second mantel which contained identical items to be gifted to people they knew who could use and would love them.

Tradition had found the second giftable stocking to be just as much fun as the one each family member received, if not more, as the entire family spent a good hour or two going through the items to gift, deciding that very Christmas day on who would receive them!

Overall, the Christmas decor was elegant, personalized, traditional, and even whimsical, yet so homey, making the true spirit of Christmas come alive throughout the home!

Even with as much Holiday decor as there was, everything was actually needed, given the enormity of the room.

Allie couldn't know yet that there were identical decorations in the mirrored room across the Grand Hall, in what was an exact copy of this room, except for the colors, décor, and furniture filling it.

However, Nathan knew that thousands more Poinsettias and hundreds more Nativity Scenes, and Christmas Trees, along with decorations, had already been donated throughout Montreal and far beyond, to places and people who couldn't afford them, as the Bradfords did so each year.

What Nathan didn't know was that most all of the public Nativities that were so awe-inspiring throughout the city and churches of Montreal had also been privately gifted by the Bradfords.

The Bradfords always gave doing their utmost to keep their gifts private, with the exception of the family's gifting the hospitals, orphanages, and various Foundation recipients at Christmas and on the various Holidays. It was at these times each family member was expected to give not only of their money, but of their time, and truly of themselves, just as they did behind the scenes with their various foundations throughout the year. Although the family never publicized these plans, the establishments often informed the news as did many of the recipients they helped, which regrettably couldn't be avoided.

Christmas was a time of giving for all, and to the Bradfords that meant giving to strangers in need, just as importantly as their own beloved family, which included all those who worked under their employee.

It was the Bradford way, a scriptural way, passed down to the children and grandchildren.

A beautiful way that forced each family member to truly grow into all they could be as the humanitarians God and their earthly patriarch expected them to be, teaching them to serve while holding the spirit of Christmas dear to their hearts during the entire year.

For the Bradfords, life itself was about their devotion to others, shifting the focus from self, outward, always to others.

It was Edward Bradford's mantra and it was his family's mantra; which formulated their purpose, their combined mission.

"For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more." (*99)

Giving was their way to praise their Lord, and give back to humanity...

*99. Luke 12:48B, The Holy Bible, King James Version, Public Domain