The Dreams We Share
Chapter 8 An Evening at the Symphony

Allie was filled with anticipation as she dressed for their evening out. It was a beautiful starlit night and the Petersons were going to pick them up in a horse-drawn carriage. It would be the perfect start to their outing. She grabbed a warm dressy shawl that Rosie had loaned her. The evening was not yet cool but she knew that she would need it for the ride home later. She practically skipped down the stairs, if that was possible, and met Lucas at the bottom.

"You look excited," he said. "I am glad that Marcus suggested this. He will be joining us too. And there he is now," he said as Marcus arrived just as there was a knock on the door.

"James!" Lucas greeted his friend as Marcus let him in. "I'd like you to meet my friend Allie Grant. Allie this is Mr. James Peterson, Minister of Agriculture."

"It is a pleasure to meet you young lady," the older man told her.

"The pleasure is mine," she replied. "Lucas has told me a little about your joint project. I am sure it will benefit Hope Valley like so many other communities."

"Yes, that is our hope. I met with the mayor of your town while I was in Robb; Lee Coulter, is a very affable man. And I met some of the farmers. You may know a Mr. Campbell."

"Yes, he is the father of one of the former students of the Jack Thornton School where I attended. She is away now at a school for aspiring teachers," she told him.

"We should go James, the ladies are waiting for us in the carriage," Lucas said.

"Yes, they are, and I am anxious to introduce them to Miss Grant," James told them.

They found their box and took their seats. The young ladies sat in the front with Allie between them. Allie could barely keep still with excitement. Lucas took the right-side seat in the back that afforded more space for his legs should he want to stretch them in the aisle. James' wife Mary sat next to him, and her husband sat on her other side. Marcus took the aisle seat next to him.
They could hear the string instruments as the musicians warmed up and there was a murmur of chatter throughout the hall as people continued to enter and take their seats. Soon the lights dimmed, and the stage lit to reveal the orchestra. The conductor took center stage and announced the first piece, Beethoven: Symphony No.3, 'Eroica'. Written in 1803, it was dedicated to Napolean and considered by most critiques to be the finest symphony ever composed. They were all soon lulled into a trance by the music.

During the intermission, the lights were brought back in the hall and the group stretched their legs and chatted about the wonderful performance. Just before the lights dimmed again, Lucas happened to glance at the box next to them. He saw a woman with red hair cascading down her back. Her shoulders were bare in the evening gown she wore. He felt butterflies of excitement. She was sitting next to an elderly gentleman that Lucas recognized as the Minister of Education. He turned to speak to Mary.
"Mary, do you see the woman seated next to Daniel Hastings in the box to my left; do you know her?" Lucas asked.

"Yes, that is his niece. I know her quite well. She is a member of the woman's group that I chair. She is quite active in the group; she volunteers on Saturdays taking in donations at the St. Juachim's Catholic Church and serving meals to the poor. She also is a volunteer server a couple of nights a week after work. She is a delightful young lady. Would you like an introduction? She has focused on her profession and volunteer work and has remained quite unattached," Mary told him.

"I may have met her briefly. Is she a professor at the University?" he asked.

"Why yes. Her name is Arawyn MacKenna. She has been in Edmonton just a year now after securing her position at the University. And as I said, she is the niece of the minister. How did you make her acquaintance?"

"I met her when I collected Allie after her interview. It was very brief as she was on her way to an appointment. She seemed very pleasant," he said.

"And very beautiful," replied Mary knowingly.

Lucas felt himself blush but fortunately the lights were just dimming for the next musical piece.

"Perhaps Marcus could deliver a note to the minister and ask them to wait for us so that we can pay our respects after the performance," she whispered. She took out a notecard from her bag and a pen and handed it to Lucas. He exited the box and quickly wrote a note and then returned to his seat. He handed it to Mary who passed it down to Marcus via her husband. She whispered instructions to her husband to relay to Marcus. Lucas saw Marcus nod. He would slip over to the adjacent box just as the performance ended and deliver the note to the Minister.

Lucas was filled with anticipation at seeing her again. He had thought it might take weeks before he could find out about her status and perhaps contact her if she was unattached. Now, luck was with him as here she was just a few feet away. He endeavored to contain his excitement and lose himself in the music as he had before the intermission.

After the performance the lights were again lit, and Lucas looked over at the next box where he saw Marcus deliver the note. The minister read it and looked over at Lucas with a wave to come on over. This caught Arawyn's attention and she looked over to see who her uncle was greeting. She was surprised to see him, but quickly recovered and smiled slightly. He dipped his head in a slight bow in response.

His companions gathered their things, and they made their way to the reception area outside the boxes where they found the other party. Mr. Hastings shook hands with Lucas, James and Marcus and then acknowledged Mary and her daughters.

"Daniel, I'd like to introduce you to a friend, Miss Allie Grant who is visiting as a candidate at the University. We know each other from my time in Hope Valley. Allie, this is Daniel Hastings who is the Minister of Education," Lucas said.

"A pleasure young lady, perhaps you have met my niece who is a professor at the University," he put his arm around his niece to present her.

"Professor MacKenna," Allie exclaimed. "I can't believe you are here too. Lucas, look who is here!"

Lucas knew very well who was here. He looked at her and she stepped forward and held out her hand, "it is so nice to see you again Mr. Bouchard." He didn't shake it but instead took it and bowed.

"Yes, I am so glad that we noticed your party," he told her while releasing her gloved hand. She was wearing long white gloves that he found very flattering contrasted with all that bare skin on her arms and shoulders. "Pull yourself together Bouchard," he told himself. "Did you enjoy the concert?" He asked her.

"Very much," she replied. "Have you met my aunt?" she asked.
"Auntie, come say hello to everyone."

Daniel's wife stepped toward them and said hello, she knew everyone of course, except for Allie who Arawyn introduced.

Lucas had met Daniel's wife at several functions and approached her to exchange greetings and a bit of small talk.

Mary joined their conversation, "Martha, are you looking forward to the Premier's Ball next Saturday? It is always quite the gala."

"Yes, I am. Will Emelia and Constance be attending? They are old enough now to enjoy such a function. Our niece is coming. She is older than they are of course. but she will be delighted to spend time with them. I understand Constance may be attending the University in the Fall," Martha said.

"Yes, she is. She is quite excited and now she has made an acquaintance with Miss Grant so they will have at least each other. There are not many women at the University, yet anyway," Mary told her.

Lucas was quiet as he listened. So, she would be at the Premier's ball. He looked toward her and saw that she was speaking to Allie and Constance. He liked the fact that she was generous with her attention to the younger girls.

He excused himself and moved over to join the men who were talking about work of course. Daniel was an old friend of the Premier's. "You have made quite an impression in your short tenure with us my dear man," he said patting Lucas on the back. "We are so fortunate to have you in the cabinet."

"Thank you. It is a challenge that I constantly look forward to," Lucas told him. "So, I guess you could call it an opportunity."

"Right you are. Well, I am going to collect my wife and niece and head home. These old bones get mighty tired," Daniel told them.

Lucas replied, "you still have some spring in your step from my observation. But you are right, it is getting late, and I should be getting my guest home."

He gathered his companions and they wished everyone a good night. He stopped as he passed Arawyn. "I hope we will see each other again soon."

"And so do I," she answered softly. He gave her a bow of his head as he turned to join the others as they left the concert hall. He had gone just a few steps when he turned to look back at her. She was watching him walk away. He wanted to capture how she looked in the lilac-colored silk gown. He thought he had even caught the fragrance of lilacs surrounding her. Just a hint.