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Chapter 155

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A Christmas Mishap

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After a day apart, Allie, Nathan, and Millicent were finally together again, in the limousine, with Albert driving them, on their way to visit Sarah and Scotty.

"I had invited the Hayes to our house for dinner, but Sarah was afraid their new pup might not get along so well with Persia and her kittens," explained Millicent. "That's why we're stopping by there for biscuits and tea!"

"That's fine, but don't you get any ideas about getting a puppy, Allie," warned her Dad. "We've got our hands quite full with our menagerie of kittens!"

"I know, Dad! I'll be good, but it's going to be so hard! Because I know Scotty's pup is going to be so cute!"

"Allie, on another topic, you really do look beautiful just like your mother," complimented her Dad.

"And Momma, too?"

"And your Momma, too!" grinned Nathan.

"Thanks, Dad, and thank you for letting me have my ears pierced! I got a little scared just before we did it, but Momma talked to me, and she and Gramma held my hands, so it wasn't too bad at all!"

Nathan squeezed Millicent's hand.

"I knew you were in the best of hands, Allie! Did you like Dr. Haversham? He'll be your Montreal doctor, you know!"

"I loved him, Dad. He was super nice! And so was Nurse Le…"

"Nurse Leandré," reminded Millicent.

"Good, I'm glad you liked them both," smiled her Dad. "Introducing you to them is one less thing we'll have to do this coming spring!"

"But I suppose that's to be expected, loving them I mean, since we've bonded now that they've performed surgery on me!" explained Allie in her most grown-up voice.

"Oh, yes! Of course," noted her Dad, trying his best not to laugh till Allie turned back around and began telling Albert about her day all over again.

"Well, Darling, it was 'surgery' to her!" whispered Millicent.

"So glad I wasn't there!" admitted Nathan. "Surgery or not!"

"Chicken!" giggled Millicent, under her breath.

"Bawk bawk! Absolutely where my daughter and soon-to-be wife are concerned," he insisted.

"Soon-to-be wife! I like the sound of that! Come here, you protector, you!"

The two took advantage of this simple private moment to make a new memory, laughing together, softly grazing their lips with each other's over their clasped hands, but the innocent dance that ensued rapidly escalated to flames and had to be swiftly curtailed, with both sitting back in their seat at the same time, barely able to breathe.

They glanced side-eyed at one another, and without a word both placed their heads back on the seat, breathing a heavy sigh.

Then slowly, Nathan made a promise in the lowest of voices.

"To be continued, Darling, the first moment we are together alone on New Year's Eve. I love you so!"

"Definitely to be continued, Love. I love you so, too, Nathan Grant!"

Still both breathless, still gripping hands, they kissed each other's hand and sat still, both helplessly dreaming of that moment that would soon come, where they would truly be alone, just the two of them.

Without realizing it, they naturally gravitated closer toward each other.

"Are you excited," she whispered.

"So very excited! Maybe a tad nervous too? But the truth is, the rest of this week is all about you and me, Darling, not everyone nor anyone else. Our Wedding, our Honeymoon, and our life to follow will all happen exactly as they are supposed to."

He cupped her chin, lifting it with his finger.

"In the end, you know, it really will be just you and me, Love! There's nothing we can't conquer together," he reiterated.

"Nothing," she smiled broadly, then snuggled into his shoulder, placing her ear on his heart to listen to his steady heartbeat, knowing that as long as they were together, their future was bright and nothing they faced would be insurmountable.

Together, they would figure out anything and everything on this journey called life.

"Remarkably well, too," she muttered."

"Hmm?"

"We'll figure it all out remarkably well!" she whispered again, clarifying.

Nathan's handsome face broke into his broad crooked grin, which was pretty much her undoing.

"That's my girl! Yes, we'll figure anything and everything out together, most remarkably well…"


At the Hayes' door, as soon as it was cracked open, there was a push-pull.

Sarah pulled toward the inside, causing Nathan to help hold it shut from the outside, realizing she and Scotty were doing their best to control one excited pup.

"Okay, I've got him. Scotty, open the door for our guests, quickly, please!"

"Hello Miss Bradford, Chief Inspector, and Allie," greeted Scotty followed by a torrent of excited words. "Look at my dog! Santa brought him to me and he's just like Choco was. His name is Choco, too. Mama said it would be okay to name him after my first dog, and that he would be honored. So, now I have two dogs named Choco!'

"Scotty, at least let our guests come in from the hallway!"

"It's fine! Oh, I'm sure your Choco is honored, Scotty!" smiled Millicent.

"What a gorgeous pup, Scot! He's a real beauty!" admired Nathan kneeling to pat the dog's head and nuzzle his ears.

"And a chewing little thing too!" laughed Sarah. "He's cutting his teeth, so don't dare take off your shoes. I can pretty much guarantee they won't survive! But do come on in and find a seat. I've got both coffee and tea which I need to go get! There's ice-cold ginger ale too in case anyone prefers that."

"I'll help, Sarah," offered Millicent brightly as she looked back and smiled at her fiancé who was being bombarded by both boy and dog.

"Let me show you what Santa brought me besides Choco! He even brought Choco presents and lots of them. Everything he needs, including a ball," exclaimed Scotty, pulling on Nathan's sleeve, anxious to show both Allie and her Dad his entire Christmas. "I'll show you Choco's presents too..."


Looking into the living room, watching her son's enthusiasm, Sarah was nothing if not serene and sublimely happy.

"Oh, Millicent, Christmas was more than either Scotty or I could have hoped for in our wildest dreams! He and that pup are inseparable. It's been so healing for him as I don't think he ever got over losing his first dog. Also for me, the sewing machine, the mannequins for sizing, the tailor sheers, and the fabrics! You gave me so much, but all of it will help me get my business up and running in no time! I can't tell you how grateful I am. I will never be able to thank you enough!"

"I'm so glad it will all be useful, Sarah. Just enjoy everything. That's all the thanks needed!"

As Millicent expected, she immediately noticed Sarah wasn't wearing her pearls.

Her eyes moved to the hutch, where she saw the jewelry boxes in a neat stack ready to be returned.

As Sarah reached for them to hand back to her friend, she hesitated, not wanting at all to hurt this kind lady who had done so much for them.

"I don't know how to say this. But I'll start here. These are the most beautiful pieces of jewelry I have ever seen, but I can't possibly accept them."

"I'm glad you like them, but why can't you accept them, Sarah?"

Sarah could see that Millicent wasn't going to make this easy on her.

"Because…because it's too much!"

"Too fancy? Too expensive?" asked Millicent, ever so kindly. "Sarah, could it be because they're not at first glance needed for the business? That these special gifts are just for you, to celebrate you?"

Sarah swallowed.

"Millicent, I've never had anything this nice before. The fact is, I don't deserve them."

Millicent took Sarah's hands.

"Don't you see, Sarah? That's simply not true! You do deserve all these beautiful pieces and so much more! I know that with all my being, but you have to believe it too. If it helps, these pieces will help you in your business, as you will be receiving fashionable clientele and they will want to see, need to see, that their seamstress also looks fashionable so they can be confident in her fashion sense and abilities."

"I hadn't thought of that. But Millicent, I can't go from having no food to eat, living in a dirt shack, unable to care for my son, to wearing something as precious as this."

"Sarah, you did care for your son. No matter how bad things got, you cared for Scotty the very best you could. You didn't even eat, Sarah, so that your growing boy could have more. You know that's true."

"It is, but Millicent you saw our living conditions. They were horrible!"

"They were horrible. I understand that, but I also want you to understand something. Now, you have plenty of food to eat and now, you have a beautiful home surrounding you. You even have your family back together again. Sarah, no one should have to live through what you and Scotty lived through. No one, but by the grace of God you did. He helped you survive and now He wants to pour out his many blessings on you, and He's surrounded you with friends who want to do the same. The truth is, feeling worthy, feeling pretty, is one of those blessings. These pieces were selected from my own private jeweler, Sarah, and yes, he's the best in all of Montreal, and these pieces are precious. But, Nathan and I specifically want you to have these because we want you to see your future while you put your past behind you. We want you to feel whole again, Sarah. Please see these as a symbol of that beautiful future ahead of you with Caleb and Scotty!"

Millicent took the simplest pearl pendant and fastened it at Sarah's neck, then handed her the plain pearl studs to place in her ears.

She did so, though hesitantly at first.

"There, you look so beautiful! Just start with these, Sarah. The fancier pieces will come in time, as you adapt."

Sarah ran her fingers over the pendant, then a hand went to each ear, as a gentle smile came over her.

"How can something so simple make a plain woman feel so pretty?"

"Because you are the furthest thing from being a plain woman, Sarah. I see a beautiful woman standing there, a beautiful woman of such strength! I always have, even on that first day, I met you! Especially on that day. These pearls only add to the beauty that's already there. I admit it's a mind shift. A big one. Though it's a necessary one, Sarah! Not just for your job, but for you to truly move forward in your life. Please ease into these pieces at your own comfort level, and whichever you choose to wear on any given day, just remember that they represent your beautiful future."

Sarah started to cry.

"How do you know just the words I need to hear?"

"I know you've been broken but are now whole again on the outside. It's that inside you and I have to work on. It's funny, but my Grandmother, the one who is a little snooty, well, a lot snooty, if I'm being honest, used to say there is nothing pearls can't fix! In this case, I think she just might be right!"

Both Millicent and Sarah started giggling.

"I'm serious. You'll meet her at the Wedding, though imperious comes to mind. The Empress of Japan has nothing on her!"

The two laughed some more.

"One grandmother thinks she's an empress, while the other grandmother is the real-life wife of an Indian Chief."

Here neither laughed, as Millicent had just stated a fact, an incongruous fact, yet a fact.

It was her unique life, her unique heritage.

"No wonder you're so special," responded Sarah softly. "You are truly something else."

"Laughter, knowing when to laugh and when to not, that's what true friends are for, Sarah! Thank you for that! Are you ready to serve the biscuits and drinks?"

Sarah wiped her eyes, looking once more in the mirror.

"I am! Thank you, Millicent. I will treasure these always, but most of all I will treasure their giver and our ridiculously unlikely friendship!"

"Unlikely perhaps, but never ridiculous! I need you perhaps more than you need me, Sarah!"

"I doubt that. But back to the pearls, I'll wear them on one condition," added Sarah. "You've given me your empress grandmother's pearls, now you have to give me a strand of your other grandmother's Indian beads."

Millicent burst out laughing.

"It's a deal! Though they are quite beautiful too, in their own way!"

Then she hugged Sarah, feeling her friend breathe out part of the past burdens she had carried for so long.

The funny thing though, Millicent felt lighter too.

"I'm starved!" admitted Millicent. "But you look so beautiful, Sarah! Just wait till Caleb sees you all confident with your future in the palm of your hand!"

"Will you keep telling me that?"

"Every time you need to hear it!"

"Here, you take the tray of biscuits. I'll take the coffee, tea, and ginger ale!" directed Sarah.

Which was the exact moment there was a loud booming noise from the living room…


With their trays, Millicent and Sarah rushed into the living room to see what had happened.

"What's the commo…?" asked Sarah but stopped mid-sentence.

Both she and Millicent immediately saw the issue, plopping down their trays, rushing to help relieve Nathan, who had all 6ft 3in of his body stretched as tall as possible, literally holding up the massive tree.

"Choco," he whispered.

Sarah just rolled her eyes.

Branches with tinsel precariously swayed ever so gently, sweeping back and forth.

"That dog is going to be the death of me!" admitted Sarah.

Thankfully, Allie and Scotty had the mischievous pup corralled, figuring it was best to stay out of the way and let the adults handle this catastrophe in the making.

By now, ornaments were perilously swinging to and fro, though not at all so gently, while the star at the top had fallen from its elevated position and caught on Nathan's head, now securely entangled in his lustrous hair, which was hysterically funny, though both women were trying their best not to laugh.

A piece of the garland had also worked its way loose, but instead of the tree, it was rewinding itself around the Chief Inspector's neck and long torso despite what must have set off an allergic reaction of profound sneezing from the tree's sole support, which at this point happened to be human!

Each time Nathan sneezed, the living trunk shook more and more violently, making it look like the Mountie was fighting a losing battle, but with the women as reinforcements, the offending garland was quickly removed from his neck, so that the sneezing ceased, or at least lessened, in both frequency and magnitude!

Millicent quickly and bravely dove under the perilous tree to scoot presents that had jostled out of position and into the slanted trunk's way as well as Nathan's, so that she could re-secure the tree trunk in its now tilted stand.

"To the right about six inches," she directed in a loud voice. "Hold tight, Love! I'm doing my best to support it by replacing the bricks."

"Hurry, Mil. I can't last much longer!"

"Here, Nathan, I've got the backside. Let go of some of the weight," directed Sarah.

With the shift in positioning, a few ornaments slid from the tree's branches, but thankfully they fell on the rug beneath the tree and were kept from shattering.

"I've got it, Love. I think it's secure now!" noted Millicent from below.

"Good, I think I'm being electrocuted!" announced the tree's support as lights began to flicker on and off around him.

Millicent made one final adjustment to the right, praying the lights would stop flickering around the love of her life, because there was no way she could reach the cord to unplug it from where she was.

Miraculously, now that the tree was perfectly straight and secured in its stand, the lights ceased to flicker, staying on just as they were supposed to.

Nathan then gingerly lightened his grip, till he was sure the tree was completely upright on its own, as Sarah began to do the same.

Millicent slowly crawled out from under it, covered in tinsel and spruce needles, immediately starting to corral the rolling ornaments.

Sarah continued to slowly release her lighter grip from behind, then bent to help Millicent with gathering the wayward glass balls.

Nathan was still fighting the offensive garland while gasping for a non-allergic breath, till Allie took pity on him.

"Here, Scotty, you hold Choco, while I help Dad!"

At last, the Mountie was surrounded by three females, and taking reinforcements wherever he could get them, while still sneezing, said Mountie managed a heavy sigh of relief in between said sneezes, then eeked out his two-syllable order.

"Waa…ter…"


Once things were settled, and Nathan felt human again, Scotty was still going a mile a minute playing with Choco, but also telling Nathan and Allie about all his other gifts.

"Oh, and I'm getting Hockey lessons starting next month. I can't wait! That nice man, Mr. Hendrix is going to take me and show me how."

"Uncle Hendrix is the best," promised Allie. "You'll have so much fun. I wish I was going to be here so I could take the lessons too!"

"Do they allow girls?" asked Scotty surprised.

"No, but I could tie up my hair and you and Uncle Hendrix could slip me in!"

"Allie, that would be deceitful!" warned her Dad.

"But Dad, it's so wrong. I don't understand why girls can't play hockey too, at least if they want to!"

"I agree, Allie. As your Momma and personal Barrister, we need to check into that!" promised her Momma.

"Really, Momma?"

"Really, Daughter! It's now on our to-do list!"

"That's pretty cool!"

"Very cool," agreed a shocked Scotty.

Nathan wasn't quite sure just how he felt about his daughter playing hockey, especially with boys, but as he looked at his two girls elated over their new-found cause, he realized 'his' daughter was now 'their' daughter and how many girls had a barrister for a Momma, much less one who was willing to fight their battles?

Nathan winked at his girls, realizing just how priceless they truly were, and even more so together!

No, he couldn't possibly think about ever holding either one of them back in the slightest.

Even in things he might not understand.

They were smart, they were resourceful, and they were strong, even formidable.

And he couldn't be prouder of them.

He would tell them so tonight but in private.

Now, instead, he turned his attention to their hostess.

"Despite our earlier commotion, you look lovely, Sarah!" complimented Nathan. "The pearls suit you."

"Thank you, Nathan! I think I finally feel lovely. I can't thank you and Millicent enough for your wonderful gifts!"

"Our pleasure, Sarah! Did you need me to move any of your heavier equipment back in your sewing room?"

"I might take you up on that a bit later, but right now, what would you like to drink with your biscuits?"

"After my workout, do I see an ice-cold ginger ale?"

"Ginger ale it is!"

"A toast, Love" begged Millicent.

"Can we toast with our ginger ales, too?" asked Allie.

"Yes, you may!" winked her Dad.

"To a Happy New Year for both our families! May it be extraordinary beyond our imagination!"

"Happy New Year!" chorused all.

"That's beautiful!" smiled Millicent.

"I can almost feel it," beamed Sarah. "This has been the most extraordinary Christmas of our lives, mishap included, hasn't it, Scotty?"

"Yes, Ma'am! I love it all, but Choco is the best Christmas gift ever! Can I feed him a cookie, Mama?"

"Little pieces, just not too much sugar and no chocolate! Also, Son, make sure that pup knows his treat is NOT for knocking down the tree!"

"Yes, Ma'Am!" laughed Scotty. "He really didn't mean to, Mama!"

"No, Sweetheart, he never does!" sighed Sarah.

The next hour was spent mostly with the kids excitedly reliving their Christmases in vivid detail, with the parents thoroughly enjoying seeing everything through their young eyes.

"Are you two ready for this big Wedding," asked Sarah.

"So ready," smiled Nathan gazing at Millicent so lovingly. "You and Scotty will be there, right?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world!"

"Wait till you hear what my Great Grandpa does. He's an Indian Chief!" explained Allie.

Millicent and Sarah exchanged knowing glances.

"Sarah, while Allie tells this story, what can I move for you?" asked Nathan.

"If you could just help me scoot the new sewing machine under the window, so the lighting will be best, the room would be perfect."

"Let's go. Sewing machines, I can manage. It's just those wayward Christmas trees that give me pause…"