Chapter 117

The Grant Engagement Party Continues

. . .

While romantically dancing the night away at their celebratory Engagement Party, Nathan Grant, contentedly holding Millicent Bradford in his arms, was silently in deep reflection, counting his many blessings, listing them inwardly, one by one.

In three short months, Millicent's love had redefined him into the man he was always meant to be.

All his self-doubt had been replaced with certainty and purpose.

Though he had always been a man of nature, with Millicent, his life was filled with the brightest of colors, bursting forth from a substrate of the deepest, richest, jeweled tones, allowing him a fuller appreciation of God's majestic handiwork, perhaps for the first time ever!

In addition to the confidence she instilled in him, along with the many wonders of the immense love she gave him, with her, he had found a deep settled peace, knowing assuredly and blissfully that she was his life partner, his soul mate, the mother of the children he hoped to be blessed with someday.

With her, for the first time in his often-lonely life, a life he had lived solely in service to others, he was experiencing personal happiness and true joy beyond his wildest dreams.

Sure, there had been moments of happiness before, and he was happily parenting Allie, but nothing had come close to this.

He had never had someone beside him to share his day, the issues he was concerned about and needed to talk over, or even the good things that had warmed his heart, at least from an adult perspective.

Endless possibilities now excitedly lay ahead, and even more importantly, all those many possibilities would now be beautifully shared.

His heart was truly full to overflowing, practically bursting with love.

How could one man be so magnanimously blessed?

He had never in his wildest dreams believed love could feel as miraculous as this, be as miraculous as this.

He hadn't even known feelings as glorious as this existed, not really, though he had hoped with all his heart they did.

Now, he could happily vouch for their existence and understand their magnitude and power, as they were his very own feelings as well.

What delighted him even more, was that those initial, spectacular, giddy, over-the-moon feelings of falling in love he had jubilantly and robustly experienced at the very beginning of declaring his love to Millicent had persistently remained within him.

They hadn't left him for one single moment, not since he had confessed his love to her.

Not even during the time they had been apart.

If anything, his feelings had grown and grown in spontaneous leaps and bounds, as his love was only becoming deeper and richer with time.

And the miracle of miracles was Millicent felt precisely the same.

When suddenly, while dancing cheek to cheek, at least as much as was possible due to their height difference, an old poem from childhood came to Nathan's mind, which he couldn't resist sharing with his fiancée in his low, sultry voice:

. . .

"When good-nights have been prattled, and prayers have been said,
And the last little sunbeam is tucked up in bed,
Then, skirting the trees on a carpet of snow,
The elves and the fairies come out in a row.
With a preening of wings
They are forming in rings;
Pirouetting and setting they cross and advance
In a ripple of laughter, and pair for a dance.

And it's oh for the boom of the fairy bassoon,
And the oboes and horns as they strike up a tune,
And the twang of the harps and the sigh of the lutes,
And the clash of the cymbals, the purl of the flutes;
And the fiddles sail in
To the musical din,
While the chief all on fire, with a flame for a hand,
Rattles on the gay measure and stirs up his band.

With a pointing of toes and a lifting of wrists
They are off through the whirls and the twirls and the twists;
Thread the mazes of marvellous figures, and chime
With a bow to a curtsey, and always keep time:
All the gallant and girls
In their diamonds and pearls,
And their gauze and their sparkles, designed for a dance
By the leaders of fairy-land fashion in France.

But the old lady fairies sit out by the trees,
And the old beaux attend them as pert as you please.
They quiz the young dancers and scorn their display,
And deny any grace to the dance of to-day;
"In Oberon's reign,"
So they're heard to complain,
"When we went out at night we could temper our fun
With some manners in dancing, but now there are none."

But at last, though the music goes gallantly on,
And the dancers are none of them weary or gone,
When the gauze is in rags and the hair is awry,
Comes a light in the East and a sudden cock-cry.
With a scurry of fear
Then they all disappear,
Leaving never a trace of their gay little selves
Or the winter-night dance of the fairies and elves." *116

. . .

He bent to kiss Millicent's forehead, proud to be sharing a piece of gold with her from his childhood.

"That's so beautiful! Wherever did you learn that poem, my Love?"

"My Grandmother Grant taught it to Colleen and me when we were very young!"

"Before we knew each other?"

"Afraid so! I think Colleen and I were about eight. Grandma said if you kept poetry in your heart, it would somehow ease the burdens of life," he admitted with sparkling eyes. "I never forgot that!"

"Grandma Grant!"

"The one and only!"

"I know she is lovely just from talking to her on the phone."

"You spoke to her, Mil?"

"I did! I called to ask what her favorite white flower was so we could use it in our wedding decorations, as a way to honor her. Besides being as sweet as can be, I only know that her favorite white flower is the Gerbera Daisy. Given what you just told me about her, you aren't going to believe what I learned about her favorite flower. The Celts thought Gerbera Daisies lessened the sorrows and stresses of everyday life, which is exactly what you just told me in describing her!"

"Seriously? That's my grandmother in a nutshell!"

"Did you know that the flower also means innocence and purity, as well as cheerfulness and loyal love?" *117

"You just described her! Well, minus the innocence and purity part," chuckled Nathan. "Like Dad, she's quite the card!"

He thought a moment as to how to describe her further.

"She's as cheerful as they come yet loves fiercely. I can't wait for you to meet her at our Wedding. She wouldn't miss it for the world, though Dad will have to travel to Toronto to get her and bring her back again, as she really shouldn't be traveling alone. And yes, you're right, she is lovely, but certainly one of a kind! Imagine, if you can, Dad's mother. In many ways, they are very much alike, one as gregarious as the other, both complete dreamers. But she was our family's rock through all our rough spots, reassuring us that there would be brighter days and making sure we knew we were loved. I'm afraid with her wisdom and vivid imagination, which are both quite extraordinary, she sets the standard for grandmothers everywhere," he laughed. "At least in our corner of the world."

She smiled, thoroughly thankful that not all of Nathan's family memories had been painful.

Yet instinctively, at the same time, Millicent could feel her fiancé's peace, his inner thoughts of gratitude for all the good things their love had brought them, and as he tightened his hold on her, it was a feeling that warmed her very soul.

"This is the only place in the whole wide world I've ever belonged, Nathan Alexander Grant. Here, in your arms, I'm home," she smiled, leaning her beautiful face against his strong shoulder. "I've never known such contentment in my entire life."

She paused, then solemnly vowed.

"'Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.' Wherever you are, my Darling Nathan, I will be there as well, and most happily so." *118

As she looked up at him so vulnerably, his face filled with adoration taking in the import of her touching words, her vow to him alone. His eyes explored the depths of her being, the depths of her goodness, the depths of her love. And he was consumed with an all-encompassing love for her.

He swallowed hard, finding it difficult to speak while still needing to get the words out.

"I…I love you more than you can ever know, my Darling. So much more! I was just saying a word of thanks for that very thing. Thanking God for the endless blessings that are you. How did I ever survive those years without you by my side?"

With twinkling eyes, she chuckled lowly.

"I confess I've asked that same question myself a time or two. Especially after all those years of a certain gentleman imprisoning me firmly in the friend zone! At least we were able to remain best friends through it all. And I thank God for that! Though, I can't tell you how happy I am to finally be free," she scrunched up her face teasingly. "I am pretty indispensable, you know!"

"Don't remind me, Counselor," he moaned. "I have zero defense for that abominable and grievous infraction!"

Then he chuckled right along with her, bending down to kiss the top of her head, his lips lightly grazing her silken blonde tresses, knowing that with her, there would always be loads of laughter, as well as a deep love and understanding between them like no other, that could only continue to deepen with time.

"That you are, Millicent Bradford. So very indispensable! And, quite irreplaceable too, my Darling! And then there's beautiful, breathtaking, brilliant, caring, charming, giving, talented…I could go on and on!"

She smiled up at him flirtatiously, his temporary lapse of judgment long ago forgiven, as he glanced around the magnificent space they were in.

Try as he might, he couldn't begin to fathom the immense dimensions of this grand, rather imposing Ballroom that surrounded them, even though he had always been quite proficient at estimating measurements accurately.

A thought suddenly struck him, as his mind had contentedly been elsewhere, somewhere lost in that most beautiful realm known as true love.

"Mil, do you realize we are surrounded by utter luxury?"

"Hmm?"

"We're dancing on a pearl-tinted marble floor, centrally ensconced by what can only be definitively described as a palatial marvel of architecture."

"Well, my Darling, we are in a Ballroom," she noted matter-of-factly.

"Yes, we are, but it's much more than that, Mil! There's something exceptional about this space. It might have been found as some lost, enigmatic, crumbling treasure, hidden as an ancient ruin somewhere in Europe's deepest and darkest recesses. Then later, luckily for us, it was magically transported forward to a new life during these more modern times right here in Canada."

She giggled.

"So, we are standing in a time-traveling Ballroom? You, my Love, have quite the imagination! And such a poetic way of expressing it. Are you collecting notes to write a book?" she teased.

"Not a bad idea," he deadpanned half-seriously with raised eyebrows, his interest piqued.

History buff that Nathan was, he knew from his studies that this arena's oval-shaped style was classically formal in design, eclipsed only by the vast oval walls which towered upward the entire expanse of the first floor into an upper mezzanine, or second floor, that one could easily misconstrue as balconies.

Both stories, each twenty-four feet high, stacked one on top of the other, were beyond dramatic.

Not to mention the entire room was seemingly drenched in ivory and gold.

But the pièce de resistance was that everywhere the eyes could wander, those soaring walls contained a myriad of grand, almost imposing, symmetrical arches covering the entire perimeter on both massive levels, almost as though time had stood still throughout the ages, yet like the room itself, was serenely captured in this very spot.

The duplicate rows of those magnificent arches were somehow awe-inspiring, evoking a certain humility, as though their perfect order and stalwart symmetry couldn't help but mock us mere humans, all so flawed standing against their imposing, though resolute perfection.

"You know, Love, amazingly, this entire room could have credibly been built in the very early Roman days of Ceasar Augustus, or even before that, via the Greek era of Alexander the Great, and still felt right at home." *119 *120

"That's intriguing!"

"It really is, Millie. From what I've seen in encyclopedias along with various books and magazines, I daresay this timeless room could no doubt rival the Ballroom of any Palace found around the world."

"Hmm, never thought of it that way, but I don't doubt you're right. Although since I have yet to visit a single Palace, I'm no expert. But this is quite something, isn't it?"

"Yes, this entire setting is 'quite something' to behold! One would truly be hard-pressed not to appreciate its beauty. Though I'll admit, the space can simultaneously be a bit intimidating, especially to a simple guy like me," confessed Nathan.

Though struggling, he knew to the Bradfords and his soon-to-be wife that this grand space was simply home.

Even Allie had adapted so beautifully, never once questioning the grandeur around her; instead, she simply dove in, thrilled to be getting to know her new family.

Perhaps, eventually, he could accept all this in the same way as through the eyes of a child. Maybe, the opulence of these surroundings stood out more to him because he already knew and loved the Bradfords, feeling comfortable with them. Instead, it was simply this house's grandeur testing his comfort level.

For an instant, Millicent thought she could sense the struggle going on within her fiancé.

'This world of luxury he's thrown into is because of me,' she thought. 'It pains me that he has to adapt to something so foreign. How can he not be struggling a bit?'

But happily, she could also sense that same struggle within was dancing along in tandem with their intricate footwork directly toward a healthy resolution.

'Or is that wishful thinking,' she mused to herself, wishing more than anything for her fiancé to relax, whatever his circumstances, no matter his surroundings.

'No, he definitely has something on his mind,' she decided, simply remaining quiet while giving him the space he needed.

A few more moments passed as they continued their waltz before either spoke.

"You know, Millicent, I must be a real dunce."

"You, Love? Never!"

"Well, it's certainly taken me long enough, but I suddenly get it! It really doesn't matter where we are dancing, a waltz here in palatial surroundings or a tango in a cold winter park," he grinned that lop-sided grin remembering Saint Viateur Park, otherwise known as 'Tango Park,' recalling their romantic time there together dancing the tango like no other, before continuing. *121

"It doesn't matter whether we're dressed formally in a tux and gown or informally in our regular day clothes. It doesn't even matter who is dancing around us, Montreal's elite or Hope Valley's finest. It only matters that we are dancing together," he whispered into her ear lovingly.

She smiled radiantly as he twirled her around, rapidly bringing her back to him with a brilliant smile of his own, as though he couldn't bear them being parted for seconds.

Once she was back in his arms, he thoughtfully continued.

"Whether we're here in Montreal, at the Mountie Ball in Union City, or even at a Hope Valley Weekend Jamboree, it matters not, my Love. It only matters that we're together."

"That's a profound realization, Love, and one I completely concur with. Even if it's dancing in the street during the first spring rain!" she teased, flashing a brilliant smile while focusing on nature and the simple things they both loved.

His face lit up!

"Ah! You have a date, Miss Bradford! In fact, several. And you can pencil them in your calendar every year from now until eternity: first spring rain, first winter snow. I could go on and on," he teased, imagining the many joys of their coming life together.

He had no doubt the two of them could choose to do the simplest thing as a couple, and it would turn into something extraordinary!

"Inclement weather, I can do, even thunder. But, Nathan Grant, just so you know, I do draw the line at lightning!" she teased.

He chuckled.

"I would never put you in such imminent danger, soon-to-be Millicent Grant!" he winked. "Never in a million years!"

She narrowed her eyes playfully.

"I'll hold you to that!"

Then she contemplatively added more.

"You know, the truth of the matter is your arms are the same to me no matter where we are, and as long as they're close by to hold me when needed, that's truly all that matters, my Darling…"


As their waltz came to an end, the couple clapped enthusiastically along with all the other many couples on the vast dance floor.

Nathan quickly placed his hand firmly at Millicent's waist, attempting to guide her to the perimeter for a break between dances.

However, they were stopped by several guests along the way, desiring to chat with the guests of honor, just as they had been all evening.

Nathan and Millicent spent a few moments with the couples, amiably chatting with the Hendersons, the Bailiffs, and the Saunders, till Millicent, always the hostess, charmingly suggested their guests help themselves to finger foods and drinks as a well-deserved break before the dancing began again.

She smiled graciously and pointed them in the right direction to the closest food and beverage stations.

As they turned to walk away, Nathan scanned the crowd to see if they might have a chance to make it off the dance floor before being stopped again.

"Thanks for reiterating the names of everyone for me, Love. That helps me so much. But that last move, offering refreshments, was sheer genius, Mil. I thought we were never getting away," whispered Nathan to Millicent's copious giggles…


The Senior Bradfords and Grants, along with Luciana, met at one of the more private relaxation areas along the perimeter of the dance floor that was tucked in a corner, pleased to take a few moments of respite from tending to their many guests to spend a few moments alone with just family.

Edward and Archie helped seat the ladies, though it took both men to assist Auntie Luciana.

Once everyone settled in, a Butler instantly appeared with food and drink trays for all.

"What a remarkable group of attendees, Victoria," noted Luciana, looking out over the crowd with her tiny opera glasses. "Why, even Prime Minister Borden and his wife, Laura, are here! I can't think of a single missing person." *122

"I think the Prime Minister knew he'd have a built-in audience to charm," mused Victoria aloud. "Or should I say sway their opinion? He's currently tunneling through several battles over all the many war issues."

"That he is, Victoria. I don't know how the man handles all the political pressure, but somehow, he does so quite admirably," noted Edward.

"The poor man never gets a moment alone!" clucked Luciana. "Though, Laura must be an absolute saint, and the most patient woman I've ever met, as she is the one who ultimately has to put up with it all!"

"It's a difficult life, for sure. However, you're right about no one missing, Luciana! I believe this is the first party I've thrown where I didn't receive a single regret! Everyone was so excited to be attending! And several more guests are coming as Millicent has a special surprise for Nathan, which should happen very soon."

"I just can't believe we are finally celebrating our children's long-awaited Engagement," smiled Sophia. "It feels so wonderful and so right!"

"Long-awaited from our perspective," admitted Edward. "As we've always known, our children are meant for each other. Though, I do believe the five of us expected their union to come much sooner."

"Agreed. At least my boy gets credit once he worked through his insecurities over all the vast social and financial differences," explained Archie. "He finally sorted out what love really is and realized what we parents have always known. It's been Millicent all along, who has always been his true soulmate and the woman he can't live without. It just took him a bit of time to sort through it all."

"Though, when that realization hit him squarely in the face, as well as his heart, he very quickly made his intentions known," agreed Victoria. "And that, you have to admire! As soon as he arrived in Montreal, you could clearly see that their desire and need for each other was immediate. And now we have a most romantic love story that's rapidly progressed into this thrilling Engagement for them, as well as for us!"

"Thinking about it retrospectively, I think it's better that they waited. They both have lived their beginning adult lives apart and now can truly appreciate the joys each brings to their new life together," surmised Edward.

"I suppose so. Everything happens in God's time, always for a good reason, although we humans tend to become impatient. The truth is you no longer can think of one without the other," admitted Victoria. "And that's as it should be. Though Sophia and I will admit, we are looking forward to lots and lots of grandchildren, and hopefully soon! Our patience is wearing rather thin since we've waited so long!"

"My Dears, I'm sure right now, our son and daughter are focusing on their huge Wedding coming up as opposed to counting their future children," chuckled Edward. "I'm afraid it's going to take a lot more patience for that, but all in due time…"

. . .

116. The Dance, Rudolph Chambers "R.C." Lehmann, January 3, 1856 – January 22, 1929; an English Writer, Poet, and Liberal Party Politician in the House of Commons from 1906-1910. Major contributor to "Punch," and founding editor of "Granta Magazine," Public Domain

117. Gerbera Daisy Meanings: The Egyptians thought they were a symbol of being close to nature as well as a devotion to the sun; the Celts believed they lessened sorrows and the daily stresses of life; Generally, they symbolize innocence, purity, cheerfulness, and loyal love. Public Domain Information

118. Ruth 1:16, The Holy Bible, King James Version, Public Domain

119. Caesar Augustus, First Roman Emperor, Reigned from 27 BC until his death in 14 AD; he is considered to be one of the most successful human leaders in all of world history. Lived from September 23, 63 BC to August 19, 14 AD. Public Domain

120. Alexander the Great, Alexander III, King of Macedonia 336-323 BC, Hegemon of the Hellenic League 336-323 BC, Pharoah of Egypt 332-323 BC, King of Persia 330-323 BC; his military achievements and unprecedented lasting battle successes made him the measure which many later military leaders compete and compare themselves; his tactics remain a prominent and essential subject of study in military academies throughout the world even today. Lived from July 20 or 21, 356 BC to June 10 or 11, 323 BC. Public Domain

121. Saint Viateur Park, otherwise known as 'Tango Park,' a lovely park in Montreal with a circular pond surrounding it which becomes a skating rink in winter. Public Domain

122. The Right Honourable Sir Robert Borden, GCMG, PC, KC, Prime Minister of Canada, and Wife Laura Borden, First Lady of Canada (though unofficial); Prime Minister October 10, 1911- July 10, 1920; Leader of the Conservative Party February 6, 1901 – July 10, 1920; Public Domain