All I Want For Christmas - Chapter 9
"Well, I have to admit I never thought I would see either of my sisters fishing never mind my mother. Although at least she did give it a try and then was honest enough to admit that perhaps it wasn't her forte so retreated back to the warmth of the house".
Elizabeth laughed as she stood beside Nathan, watching as he threaded another worm onto a hook. It may not have been the peaceful experience her father had thought they would be giving him, his time mostly spent handling the bait that everyone except Allie and Tom was too squeamish to touch, or teaching them all what to do.
"And look at Tom, could a man be more attentive than he is being towards Julie. It didn't surprise me that he could fish, Jack was good at it too."
There was an ease in the way they spoke about Jack Snr, as though it was natural for him to be a part of their conversations, of their life. He would always be Little Jack's father and it was important in Nathan's mind that his memory was kept alive for the boy. But he knew there was a fine line between remembering the man and elevating him to a position that would leave his son with an impossible standard to which he would feel he had to measure up.
"I thought you told me Jack was hopeless at fishing. That you nearly starved on your trip to Fort Clay because he couldn't catch anything."
Elizabeth gave him a sheepish look and nodded. "I was doing it again, wasn't I? It is so easy for Little Jack to see how wonderful you are, you show him that every day with all that you do for us and Hope Valley. So sometimes I feel as though I need to build Jack up for him. Then Rosemary and Bill do it too. And others. Does it bother you?"
Nathan shook his head but before he could reassure her that he was fine with it a loud squeal rang out, then a splash which made them both turn around quickly. There followed another splash as legs and arms seemed to be thrashing around everywhere in the water.
By the time they reached the bank a very bedraggled Viola was pulling mud out of her hair as she tried to stand up, her dress tangling under her feet making her fall over once again each time she reached a certain point. Next to her Julie was sitting, legs stretched in front of her as tears of laughter were falling down her face.
As if in explanation Viola shouted out, "I caught a fish!", pointing to her rod stuck into the river bed where a small trout could be seen wriggling on the hook on the end of the line.
Nathan pushed his arm out in front of Elizabeth as she made as though to rush in to help her sisters. "Whoa, you don't need to be in there too. That water is freezing. I'll get them out."
Before he could do anything Arthur and Lionel rushed into the water to where Viola now lay sprawled, both bending over at the same time to help her but too close to each other to avoid bumping heads which sent them flying backwards with a loud splash and some muttered cursing on Lionel's part.
"Lionellllll….! " A strangled cry escaped his wife as she then tried to wriggle out from underneath her husband who had landed squarely on top of her. "Get off me!"
Lionel twisted sideways, shuffling himself around in an attempt to get to his knees. Then as he brought one leg behind him to push up he caught the end of Viola's fishing rod, pushing it down further into the murky bottom and flicking the other end up. When the fish swung around and caught her on the side of the face Viola let out another scream.
But just as suddenly she stopped.
Everyone went quiet, waiting for her next reaction, then let out their breath as she fell backwards in the water, her laughter surprising them all.
"This is the funniest thing to happen to me in a long time", she declared and then, pushing herself up on to her elbows, she looked across to where her youngest two children were standing, mouths agape, watching their mother as they had never seen her before.
"But don't you two even think of doing this, do you hear me!"
She held her hand up to her husband and son who this time managed to take hold of her on either side and get her to her feet and onto the bank. Clumps of grass were tangled in her hair and smudges of mud were streaked across her cheeks and yet she didn't care.
Elizabeth looked at Nathan in confusion, before quietly asking, "What has happened to my older sister? This is not like her at all."
"I think she has decided to finally start to live, that's what's happened", he replied.
They made their way back to the house, the bedraggled and wet amongst them all wrapped in big blankets as the icy air had finally hit their soaking clothes causing them to start trembling. When Tom placed his arm around her shoulder Julie momentarily felt embarrassed but as she looked around she realised that no-one was actually paying them any attention. It was as though this was quite normal to all of them.
There was a pensive look on Tom's face as they reached the entrance hall to the house and as they were about to part ways he said, "Once we have all had something to eat would you be willing to come out for a walk in the garden with me? I'd very much like to have a talk with you in private."
Julie stopped and looked at him. "Actually, there is something I need to speak to you about as well so I think that would be good."
By the time everyone had returned downstairs a light lunch of soup and sandwiches had been set out in the dining room. The time out in the bracing air with its associated shenanigans had given them all good appetites and the conversation flowed freely around the table as everyone had their own bit to add to the story.
Grace was saying how much she now regretted leaving them and wanted to know what the funniest moment of the whole episode had been. It was Allie who answered first.
"Oh Mrs Thatcher, it was all too funny to really choose, just like the slapstick movies at the cinema. But if I had to pick a favourite bit it was definitely the fish slapping Aunt Viola's face. She took it like a trooper I will add."
A slight frown crossed Grace's face but was gone again before most would have noticed. Then she looked at Allie with an almost uncertain smile before asking, "Do you think you could call me Grandma Grace?"
Before Allie could reply Little Jack mumbled something, the bit of cheese sandwich he had just squashed into his mouth threatening to shoot out onto the table. Lifting her napkin to wipe the boy's chin where a small bit of bread had stuck Elizabeth reminded him, "You mustn't speak while eating Jack, you know that."
The boy nodded but didn't quite heed his mother's words as another scrap of cheese escaped the side of his mouth.
"But she already has a name for you Grandma!"
Allie felt her cheeks go red as everyone at the table turned to look at her. Grace gave an amused smile, looking along to the other end of the table where William was struggling to stifle a laugh as he knew that whatever was to come would be good.
"And what would that name be, I wonder?" Grace asked.
Immediately Allie spoke up before Little Jack had a chance to get her into more trouble.
"I call you Glam-ma, because you look way too glamorous to be a grandma". Glowering at Little Jack who was busy munching on his sandwich she began to apologise, "I'm sorry if I've been rude, I didn't mean to be. It's just that I heard…."
She was stopped when Grace and William began laughing then the whole table followed suit. A huge feeling of relief washed over her and she looked at her father sheepishly, still not sure what to do. It was only when he gave her a wink that she felt herself relax.
Grace rose from her seat and walked down to where Allie sat. Reaching out her hand to the girl she hesitantly said. "Do you think this Glam-ma could have a hug from her granddaughter? You and I have a lot of getting to know each other to do. There is so much I need to learn and I think you are going to be a good teacher."
Nathan noticed Arthur watching with a frown on his face from where he sat on the other side of the table, taking in every word being said. The boy was always quiet, barely having spoken a sentence to any of them since they had arrived but he had a feeling it was more than just simple shyness. He hoped there were no feelings of jealousy involved as he knew that Allie would never consciously push herself in front of the children who were related by blood. But this was all new to her and she was having to learn how to behave in a strange environment. He made a mental note to try to engage with the boy, to find out if there was some interest he had that they could talk about or that he could possibly help him with.
But when Grace moved back to her seat he noticed that Arthur's gaze remained on Allie and then it hit him. The boy wasn't jealous, he had a crush on Allie. Now that he thought about the past few days he realised that every time they were all together Arthur would somehow find his way to be close to her. And there was his daughter just being herself, going about her business totally oblivious to the attention of a young man who would one day be a baronet.
The table was cleared and Elizabeth suggested that it may be time for an afternoon nap for the little ones before present opening and their traditional game of charades before dinner. Grace was pleased that this tradition was not changing as it was a particular favourite of William's. Whilst she was fully in favour of them doing new things, she was after all the one who was instigating change, it was still nice to keep some of the old. A bit like the comfy shoes that always stayed in the bottom of your closet because they fitted you so well.
Julie caught Tom's eye and indicated towards the outside, one eyebrow raised questioningly. His nod back gave her the answer so rising from the table she announced that they were toing to take a stroll around the gardens. There was something about the tone of her voice that made it clear that they wanted no other company, although no offer would have been forthcoming anyway as everyone had been watching them together and had high hopes that something was brewing there.
Nathan and Elizabeth decided to have some quiet time in the nursery with their children. Little Jack would eventually fall asleep on the cot in there but first they wanted to just enjoy a short while together as a family.
"Thank you for everything you have done Nathan", Elizabeth whispered as arm in arm they following Allie and Little Jack up the stairs. "I am so glad I had the good sense to marry you when I did for I doubt I could have stood hearing my mother extolling your virtues and plotting to get you and father together for a talk had you just come here as my beau".
Nathan tucked her arm closer into his elbow and bent his head to answer. "I don't think your mother would have been the one to worry about. Allie and I probably wouldn't have been invited by the old Grace if you and I weren't already wed but as we were she couldn't say no. Your father on the other hand is a different kettle of fish."
He gave her a cheeky grin before finishing with, "If only you knew what he offered me when I asked for his blessing to marry you!"
Elizabeth turned to face him. "You came here to see my father? Why didn't you tell me?" Her voice was incredulous at this news. "I thought you had never been to this house before. Did you lie to me Nathan Grant?"
There was humour in the way she said that so Nathan knew that she wasn't upset that he was only telling her about this now. In fact, for a moment he wasn't sure why it had never come up before but then he remembered but it was too late to backtrack.
"I didn't come here. We met in Cape Fullerton. I had a court case to attend and he was planning a trip there on business so arranged it for the same time."
Elizabeth remembered when that was and how she had sensed Nathan was more nervous than usual about testifying. "And what exactly did he offer you? Was it a dowry to take me off his hands or was he emulating my grandfather and paying you to go away?" She kept her voice light to reassure him that this was all still being said as banter.
"Actually, he asked me if I would consider leaving the Mounties and come to work for him"
Nathan could see Elizabeth begin to tense up so quickly added. "He could see my answer by the look on my face. To give him his due he did then apologise but said he felt he had to try. Then he told me he had made that same offer to Jack but he also turned him down. It seems you marry stubborn men Elizabeth."
Allie's voice interrupted them, the two children standing at the top of the stairs looking down. "Are you two coming or are you going to stand there all day making eyes at each other?"
Elizabeth took hold of Nathan's hand, rubbing her fingers across his palm to let him know that all was good. Then she softly said so that no-one else could hear. "I think he had a similar conversation with Tom last night. If we were birds in the trees we could probably hear Julie's reaction to being told that right about now. I'm sure it would be interesting!"