All I Want For Christmas – Chapter 8
Nathan could feel a freshness in the air when he opened the bedroom window on Christmas morning. The sky was a clear blue without even a wisp of cloud to be seen, just the type of day that made him long to be outside, wrapped up warm, just enjoying being. He had hoped they would at least manage a quick walk around the garden at some time during the day but from the way his mother-in-law had spoken last night he imagined that this was going to be a Christmas Day full of surprises. Traditions, he thought, you'd better watch out because Grace Thatcher is after you!
Still, he told himself, as much as he would love to be back in Hope Valley taking Little Jack fishing with him and Allie, then home to a quiet meal with the people he loved most, he knew that this was precisely where they were meant to be this year. The gift they had all been given was more precious than a few hours of peace for him and he knew that there were plenty of years like that ahead of them.
He and Elizabeth had spoken for a while before going to sleep last night. It had been an emotional evening for her, for everyone, and he knew she needed to take some to process everything in her mind.
"Poor Mother", she had begun, stepping out of her dress and laying it on the chair. "To have loved someone so deeply and be unable to do anything about it. Then to find another love and believe that you couldn't show your true feelings. I wonder if she would have been happy with that man had my grandfather not interfered? That he would have stayed honest?"
Nathan stayed silent for a moment, hoping it was a rhetorical question and that she would continue speaking but she turned to him, a quizzical look on her face. "What do you think?"
Taking a deep breath he paused to put the cufflinks that he had just taken off on top of the chest of drawings before answering.
"Lisbeth, there is something else I found out but chose not to disclose to everyone. He had done it before. Only once and it had been classed as a misunderstanding. There was no money involved that time but I believe that was when he decided this could possibly be a lucrative venture for him."
Shocked by his words she struggling to think what it would do to her mother to know that she had been targeted, that every part of it had been a lie. That there had been no great love. She was glad he had chosen not to tell her.
"You are quite a soft old soul Nathan Grant. Better for my mother to believe that he had just been a weak man who took the easy way but still loved her than a calculating one who planned it all along."
He shrugged his shoulders and smiled, happy to be considered soft if it meant he saved those he loved from suffering pain and hurt. And he knew anything that hurt her mother also hurt Elizabeth and he would do anything to prevent that.
Elizabeth's expression had grown more serious and he began to worry that something else was troubling her now but he stayed where he was, giving her time to sort out what she wanted to say.
"When my mother first spoke to you did you think that there was something of a parallel between my parents story and our own?"
Nathan had an idea where this was going and he had to think fast to find a way to stop Elizabeth focusing on the feelings of guilt she often voiced about how she had treated him. He pulled her closer, nestling her head into his shoulder and whispered in her ear, "You mean the unbreakable love you Thatcher woman seem to have condemned us to? I don't think you will find either your father or me complaining about that."
Then as she went to reply he had silenced her with kisses, moving her slowly across and onto the bed until any other thoughts she may have had were quickly forgotten.
Now it was Christmas Day and he was hopeful that everyone's optimism from the previous evening would carry forward. He would go and wake the children in a moment and once Little Jack's excitement had settled the first thing they needed to do was officially tell them about the baby. He didn't know what miracle Allie had performed last night to stop her brother from shouting it out to everyone but he doubted even his incredible daughter would be able to keep him quiet this morning.
Then their first gift to the wider family would be this incredible news. The rest could wait till later.
After that he had no idea how the day would go. Certainly not in the manner that Elizabeth had described to all of them on the train journey here, for one thing he already knew was that it was starting with a strange request and from the way Grace and William had spoken at dinner last night he had a feeling that they had been listening to what everyone had to say.
"It must be one of the new Thatcher traditions", Elizabeth had whispered to him when Grace announced the change from their normal start to the day. She had elaborated on the drive to the cathedral, explaining how Lionel had disclosed to her that there was only one happy memory he carried from the Christmas's of his childhood, that small part of the day first thing in the morning when they could just be themselves before, along with their clothing, they all donned the characters they were expected to be by others.
That was all Grace needed to hear, so determined was she to put an end to what she described as unnecessary strictures in their life. She announced that on Christmas Morning the whole family would meet in the drawing room, still in their robes, for the opening of their stockings. What her friends would think of that if they ever found out she didn't care, for she and William didn't wish to wait until the usual opening of presents later in the day. They wanted to watch every moment of their grandchildren's delight, of their whole family together.
The staff were a little surprised to see them all trooping down the stairs after Julie had taken it upon herself to act as the family alarm clock. She ran along the hallway knocking on doors, shouting out ho ho ho at the top of her voice to ensure that no-one had any chance of sleeping through it.
Bleary eyes opened some doors but from the brightness of the faces of most of the children it was clear they had been awake for some time. Viola's three even looked as though they had washed their faces and brushed their hair. Little Jack, on the other hand, was his usual early morning tousled self, whilst Allie was still wiping the sleep from her eyes. That girl will never be an early riser, Nathan thought.
Elizabeth convinced Julie that a little time was needed for everyone to be able to face each other, albeit still in their night attire, so that she and Nathan could have a few minutes with their children. Little Jack was happy to know that he didn't have to keep this news to himself any longer, exclaiming that he was afraid that his stomach would burst if he couldn't tell anyone. Then he confidently added that he was sure it was going to be a brother. Allie just smiled, nodding in the way she always did as if to say that everything was perfect, before wrapping her arms around both of them. The tears in her eyes were happy ones.
All too soon they heard movement in the hallway and with a sigh knew that they had to go and join the others heading downstairs. Once in the drawing room Nathan asked if he could say something before they began and so for a short while there was an anticipatory silence until the staff had finished serving them beverages. Once the door closed Elizabeth rose from the sofa and moved to stand beside him, squeezing his hand to let him know to begin.
"We were going to keep this news for a little while longer as we didn't want it to distract from everything else that goes on at Christmas but our little spy here figured it out and we knew there was no way we could keep it a secret any longer. We are expecting a baby!"
There were squeals of joy as everyone jumped up to surround them, all except Grace. She stayed seated in her chair, her hands having flown up to her face, her eyes closed. Elizabeth noticed her mother's stillness and leaving Nathan to answer everyone's questions she moved over and took the seat beside her.
"Mother? Is something wrong?"
Grace shook her head and turned to her daughter. "Wrong? Oh no my dear, it couldn't be better. This is all so wonderful. I am just scared that it is all too perfect for I don't feel I deserve to be so happy."
Wrapping her mother in her arms Elizabeth felt all the pain and anguish of the past finally leave her. Not one of them in this room could hold their hand up and claim to be without fault and yet here they were, loving each other in a way that was their family's own. Every wart was on display and yet it didn't matter. Every problem they had became easier when shared. Every dream was something to be embraced by all. This was the family she had always wanted her children to be a part of and she felt truly blessed to be here with them now.
"Nobody deserves it more Mother. We all love you so much."
William stepped over then, bending to take his wife's hand and draw her up to her feet. "We've done a pretty good job to get to where we are Grace. It may not all have been smooth sailing but it just shows what love can do. You don't always have to see it to know it is there."
As the chatter began to die away the serious business of the Christmas stockings began. There was lots of excitement as first the practical gifts of soap, socks or stockings were pulled out, each having to be held up for the others to see. Then came the chocolates and for once Elizabeth was grateful for Viola's stern voice as she quickly informed the children that only one could be eaten now, the rest would have to wait until after lunch had been served. Behind her William smiled across at Allie, the two of them knowing that there may well be a change to that rule once they all knew the morning's activity.
The sound of children's voices filled the drawing room as the two youngest boys ran around the room. Little Jack and Tristan darted from chair to chair, the latter hesitant for a while until he realised that neither of his parents were concerned by what they were doing. They fired imaginary guns at each other and fell to the ground in turn as tea and coffee cups were grasped tight for fear they would go crashing down with them.
Felicity sat with an excited smile on her face, busily cutting out clothes and paper dolls from her book as she exclaimed enthusiastically to Allie that each new outfit was the prettiest of them all. Nathan was proud of his daughter for the patience she was showing towards her younger cousin as he knew she would much rather have her nose stuck in the book he had seen sticking out of the top of her stocking. Then again this was the family she always wanted, so clearly it was a sacrifice she was happy to make.
Arthur was standing by his father's chair, his eyes quickly darting down as he felt Nathan looking in his direction. The dutiful first born not wanting to put a foot wrong. It was going to take time for the boy to let himself feel part of this but it would come.
As they began to show signs of moving upstairs to get ready for the day William stood first, his hand held up to signal that he wanted to speak.
"I have had some extra clothing laid out for you all and I only hope that we have managed to get it right." He looked at Allie with a conspiratorial grin before going on. "I think it will be clear when you see them that the plan for the rest of the morning involves being outside. So please make sure everything else you wear is warm. Lots of layers will be needed as it is cold out there."
The confused looks that met his words made him decide that perhaps he shouldn't wait any longer to explain.
"I have been thinking a lot about you all, about what each one of you needs and how easy it is for some to be overlooked because they are the ones from whom we accept so much without realising. Our family is growing and as it does I think it is important for all of us to embrace the traditions of those whom we are lucky to have welcomed into it. It is not fair that we should expect everything to stay the same. We have the chance to learn from each other, to experience new things and to understand that traditions are not set in stone, they are and always will be what we choose them to be".
When he paused to look around at them all Viola took the opportunity to speak. Gone was the scathing voice that in the past would have dismissed what he had said as being inappropriate for the day, stating that they had standards to live up to.
"I think that all sounds absolutely wonderful Father. We will make new traditions together and then our children will do the same. It is how it should be. So tell us, what is it we are embracing that requires special items of clothing."
William looked at Nathan as he answered, hoping he would get the response that he wanted. That he had read things right.
"We are all going fishing!"