Chapter 28

"I just can't believe the generosity of so many people", Elizabeth said to Abigail as they looked down on the happy faces of the children, all now fully absorbed in playing with or showing each other what they had received in their Christmas stockings. "And Lillian and Grace are amazing in how they have managed to include everyone. I already had the dinosaur that Florence made for Little Jack in my suitcase, her kindness in getting the sewing circle ladies to make one for him as well ending up being providential, so that part was easy. And we know there were extra barrettes so having one for Allie wasn't a problem. But to then not only share out the other gifts donated so that he and Allie both had their own stockings but be able to rush back from church and put together two more for these dear little girls was simply wonderful!"

Abigail agreed that it was extraordinary how so many people working together had created the scene in front of them. The smell of roasting turkey wafted in from the kitchen and when Abigail's stomach gave a little gurgle she suddenly remembered that there had been no time for breakfast before they went out. "Oh dear, I'd better go in a minute to see if there is anything I can do so that we can eat soon or my stomach will be drowning out the sound of all this happiness."

They had set the tables when they returned from church, with extras that Lucas had somehow managed to put together from old pieces of wood he had noticed in the barn. Grace had praised him for it as he headed outside to organise the sleds that he had also unearthed, wanting to use them that afternoon with the children. He admitted that it was Nathan who came up with the idea and oversaw his workmanship. Large linen sheets had been laid on them as tablecloths and chairs taken from all the bedrooms squeezed around them. The arrival of three more had thrown them for a moment until Lillian reminded them that the console in the hallway fitted across the end of the large dining table as an extension.

The children had been sent straight upstairs to wash and change, a few boys in particular needing it after they had decided that a snowball fight amongst the gravestones in the cemetery across from the church would be fun. The sight of a red serge suddenly looming over them on the other side of the wall quickly put a stop to that, especially after a few words from Bill about respecting the dead were delivered in his most serious judge's voice.

The two men had then headed off in another direction out of town, the heavy snow from two nights previously making the usual route Gabe took impassable at a few points and neither of them was going to risk getting stuck by trying to find a different way. Despite the extra distance and time spent coming back in and out of town it did give them the opportunity to pick up more bags from Joe's store, the reactions of all the people to whom they had already given some having humbled both men. Small things from their larders, precious because they had so little, were offered as a gift in return and it took all their diplomacy to say no, Gabe suggesting that perhaps in the summer when there was more of an abundance in the garden he could see scraped out of the hard earth around them they would be grateful for a donation of one or two vegetables for the orphanage.

On the sleigh ride home the children had once more burst into song, with renditions of The First Nowell and Good King Wenceslas bringing smiles to those they passed on their way through the town, all heading home to the warmth of their own fireside and the smell of Christmas dinner in the oven. They had passed through the small woodland in silence, with drips of melting snow falling on them before they emerged to the white blanket of fields stretching out in front of the orphanage, so bright in the sunlight that it dazzled their eyes. It was truly a winter wonderland.

Immediately Abigail began singing from the second sleigh, her voice so clear in the first line before others joined in as the words of See, Amid The Winter's Snow echoed out across the vast landscape.

See, amid the winter's snow,
Born for us on Earth below,
See, the tender Lamb appears,
Promised from eternal years.

Hail, thou ever blessed morn,
Hail redemption's happy dawn,
Sing through all Jerusalem,
Christ is born in Bethlehem….

Now to look at these children and see no sad faces gave Elizabeth a feeling of warmth. The magic of Christmas. And of love, she thought, with a glance across to where Nathan was sitting the chair by the fire with Little Jack on his lap as he helped him with the wooden puzzle that Father Christmas had brought.

"Isn't that a wonderful sight", Bill whispered in her ear as he came to stand beside Abigail, the coldness from his face enough to make both women shiver.

"You need to join Nathan by the fire to warm yourself up", she told him. "I think he could do with a break from what seems to have been incessant chatter from my son. What he has been talking about I have no idea but it hasn't stopped. That wonderful man has the patience of a saint!"

Abigail and Bill burst out laughing at her words and suddenly realising how much more meaning there was to what she had said Elizabeth joined them before adding, "and aren't I glad of that!"

Bill gave Abigail a sneaky kiss on the cheek before beginning the job of navigating his way across the room, careful not to tread on toys or, more importantly, little fingers as they made a sudden grab for something. I'd better get used to this, he thought, because life is never going to be the same again.

By the windows the younger girls were happily playing with the dolls house that one of the older Brookfield residents had remembered was in her loft, complete with all its furniture. A clean of the interior and fresh coat of paint on the outside had it looking like new and when one of the ladies in town added some pretty curtains for the windows and coverlets for the little beds it was perfect. Now all that was needed was a family to live in it and plans were already in hand for them to be made tomorrow when a quieter day would be spent after all the chaos had passed. The unexpected happenings of Christmas Eve had meant the girls had to wait but from the serious rearranging of furniture that was going it was clear they were not bothered.

Wooden cars were being propelled by little boys' hands in all directions, the occasional crashing together then being accompanied by the throwing backwards of the owners' bodies onto the floor with great drama. When one of them landed on Bill's foot he glared down with a look on his face that said "Really?", before the giggling boy squirmed his way to the side and answered that with the cheekiest of grins. It was Charlie, now finally feeling happy enough to let his impish personality shine out, and Bill had a feeling that there were going to be some interesting moments for them in the future.

In the corner Mary Watson had taken a seat by the cots, finding it strange be here having nothing to do. Everyone had insisted that she should relax and just enjoy herself but being unaccustomed to that she wasn't sure how to go about it. When she heard the babbling of little Bessie, the child propped up sitting as she played with her new wooden rattle, Mary immediately knew what she could do to help. Now she was happily settled there with baby Simon on her lap and Bessie sitting in the cot beside her, reading the names of the brightly coloured animals she was pointing to in the book held in her hand. The added sound of animal noises she was making was eliciting squeals of delight from the two babies of the group.

It was a scene so different from just one day ago and Nathan was aware that he was a very lucky man to be here to appreciate it. When Bill and Gabe came in from rounds he watched the way they joked with each other, their ease together showing how the bond between was deepening. These two men had seen him through some of the darkest times in his life and he would be forever grateful for their friendship and love. Now there was another man who needed to share that same experience and he hoped that their interaction earlier was just the first step towards that. He had learnt a long time ago that one way to show kindness to people who felt undeserving of it was to make them feel needed. Letting them see your own vulnerability and allowing them to help you took away their sense of worthlessness and made them feel valued.

As much as he loved being here with Little Jack, Nathan's body was telling him that it was time to have a little break so with a flourish he held his small hand steady as the last piece of the puzzle slotted into place. He hid the pain that surged through him as the boy bounced up and down on his knee with delight before flinging his arms around his neck. A muffled cry of "We did it!" was accompanied by a big squeeze from his small arms as he then shouted out loud enough for the whole room to hear, "I love you Mountie Nathan! Are you going to marry my mommy now? Allie said I am her little brother so that must mean we are a family!"

Surprised by both Little Jack's outburst and his reasoning Nathan held him out at arm's length, his eyebrows drawn down and a pondering look on his face making the boy giggle. The room had gone silent and he knew that he had to be careful how he responded. "Well that is just as well because I love you Little Jack." He lifted his eyes to Elizabeth and back again before adding, "And I love your mommy too!"

Little Jack's face broke out into a big grin but then it vanished just as quickly as he gave Nathan a serious look. "And Allie! You have to love Allie too. If you don't, why did you doppert her?"

Nathan looked across at his daughter who he could tell was struggling not to spoil the moment by laughing and with an earnest tone to his voice he answered the question, "Oh I most certainly do love my Allie-girl, Jack. She means the world to me and that is why I dopperted her."

Satisfied that he had the answer he needed Little Jack snuggled back into Nathan's chest, the excitement of the moment suddenly overwhelming him. Silent tears were running down Elizabeth's face as her heart threatened to burst with so much love. This, she thought, is the best Christmas gift I could ever receive.

A clang and shout from the kitchen made everyone look that way and Abigail went racing through the door to see what had happened. Mrs Winters, Lillian and Grace were all doubled over with laughter and in front of them stood Lucas, gravy splattered down the front of his coat and a look of horror on his face. When she eventually managed to stop laughing enough to speak Grace asked him, "Did you not listen when we told you that Mrs Winters doesn't like people to touch anything when she is cooking?"

The sight of a big dollop of brown dripping from the end of his nose set them all off again and this time Lucas himself joined in. "Yes I did but I forgot". He wiped his hand across his nose and put his best sorry little boy expression on his face, turning to Mrs Winters and taking her hand as though begging for forgiveness. "I am so used to Gustav allowing me to taste the food as we decide on recipes together that it was just a natural thing for me to do". Then with a twinkle in his eyes he added, "Tell me what I can do to make amends. Anything."

Mrs Winters was still trying to stop herself from laughing, small guffaws escaping her lips as she straightened up. She made a performance of thinking, making Lucas wish he hadn't asked. It seemed that everyone here was taking great delight in seeing punishment metered out to him and funnily enough he found that he didn't mind it at all. If being part of this group of loving people meant being the butt of a joke every so often then he was more than happy to oblige. Finally Mrs Winters spoke, the deadpan expression on her face threatening to give way to a smile as the corners of her mouth were twitching. "I have a feeling that part of that hoity toity education you had growing up would have included learning how to dance properly, for all those fancy balls you probably attended. So after lunch when the music is playing on the Victrola I want you to dance with every lady here." He nodded, thinking that wasn't too bad a penalty to have to pay, but then she added, "Starting with me!"

Suddenly, before she knew what was happening, he grabbed hold of her and began waltzing them both around the kitchen, much to the delight of everyone who had crowded in the doorways to watch. "Why Mrs Winters, I thought you would never ask!" he laughingly replied, giving her a wink as he spun her round once more.

Mary Watson had come across to see what they were all amused by, still holding Simon and thinking how wonderful it was to be in a house full of joy and laughter after living with misery for so long. She knew it wasn't easy on her girls, so to see how readily they had been welcomed by everyone had really lifted her spirits. The difficult bit would be leaving this behind later when they had to go home. She worked as hard as she could, kept the house and her girls clean and made sure they did their homework so that they could make something better of their lives than how she had ended up. But it was never enough. It hadn't always been like this for her but one never knows when a single incident will change everything and from the moment her father had been killed life seemed to have been one struggle after another for her. Not that she would change some of it. She had loved Peter and it almost broke her when he was killed. Now their two girls were her whole world. But she had to admit there were times when she missed the beauty of what she had known before and she would lie in bed at night picturing the big house and the fancy clothes she wore and she would cry knowing that that life was long gone.

Now she could only hear the commotion that was going on in the kitchen with too many heads bobbing in front of her to have a view. Then they all seemed to move together and a gap opened up in the middle and there spinning around the kitchen she saw a face from her past. Lucas Bouchard.