All I Want For Christmas – Chapter 10
Playing charades, Nathan decided, was something you either loved or hated and, as much as it surprised him to think this, he wished that Rosemary was here just this one time and on his team. As was to be expected both Allie and Elizabeth were good at the game but they were the opposition, whereas any artistic talent had definitely missed Viola whilst the only hope for his team, Julie, seemed to have something else on her mind.
Beside him young Arthur had stayed silent and detached through most of their attempts, his only acknowledgement of the game coming when he would lean forward with his elbows on his knees and watch whenever Allie was miming a charade. Nathan could almost hear the beating of young love as the boy's eyes were fixed on her, bright and round with adoration. It had certainly hit him hard.
The Railway Children had been her last choice and Nathan was impressed by how effortlessly Allie managed to mime the title so that Elizabeth, Lionel and Felicity all shouted it out at once. Arthur leant back against the sofa with a sigh of almost deep longing as Allie took her seat on the other side of the fireplace, unaware of the effect she was having on him.
When the door opened and Wilson appeared with a tray of drinks it seemed a natural time to end the game and Nathan was about to stand when a voice beside him made him stop.
"Constable Grant, I wonder if I could have a word with you." Arthur had sat up on the sofa, his back straight, his face serious. "It is a personal matter."
Thinking that it must be something that the boy didn't wish to discuss in front of anyone else Nathan turned sideways, blocking him from view of the others who had now all moved to stand by the fire.
"Of course, Arthur. What can I help you with?"
The next words out of the boy's mouth were not what Nathan was expecting and he was glad when the clunk of ice being swirled in a glass gave him an excuse to immediately turn his face away as if looking to see what had made the noise.
"I would like your permission to court Allie, Sir".
Struggling not to let the laugh that was bubbling inside him escape Nathan gave a nod to indicate he had heard and then after a moment turned back with a serious expression to face Arthur.
"Well, I appreciate you affording me the courtesy of asking. That shows that you respect not only me but Allie as well, for which I am grateful. But do you not think it would be difficult considering you live so far from each other. In different countries in fact. You will both be going your separate ways in a few days."
Arthur looked unperturbed by this problem, clearly not considering it to be an impediment to their love.
"Well sir, if you will promise not to say a word to anyone else I will tell you something that changes that."
Nathan waited, wondering what the boy had figured out to make his wish possible. One thing he did know was that even if Lionel was a member of the British aristocracy there was no way he was letting Allie go back to live with them and be so far away.
"We are not going to be living in England for very much longer." Arthur voice was full of a confidence that Nathan had not seen in him before now. "My parents informed us today that they wish us to be brought up in Hamilton. It seems my father has many connections in banking here and he is confident that he can acquire a position suitable for a man with his experience and standing".
Nathan was struggling to work out exactly how he should respond to the boy when Arthur continued.
"Of course they will then have to get me into a good school, although I believe Grandfather is on the board of Hillcrest so I imagine that should carry some weight. I'm not sure that is where I would want to go though as it would be strange to not have all that history around me. I understand the old buildings burnt down a few years ago so it is all new."
Nathan knew he had to stop this conversation before Arthur got his hopes up but wasn't sure how to let him down gently, in a way that would not cause his confidence or pride to be dented too much.
"Well now", he began. "I think that Allie will be very flattered to know that you feel strongly enough about her to come and ask me this. Clearly you have put a lot of thought into how to make it work. But I must admit the age difference is something that might make things difficult for you both."
Arthur scrunched up his face in thought for a moment before answering, "You are right but when you feel as strongly about someone as I do about Allie then surely age doesn't matter. I love her Constable Grant."
Nathan was struggling to keep his reaction to what Arthur was saying in check, still trying to find the right words to let him down gently.
"I understand that Arthur, and maybe in a few years the age gap won't seem so great but you are each at different stages in your lives right now and I think it would be better perhaps if you were to wait a while longer before getting quite as involved as this."
Arthur remained silent and Nathan began to think that he had upset the boy but finally he began to nod.
"I think you may be right. Yes, yes, I am sure you are. I shall wait until we are settled here in Hamilton, until I know what my future prospects are before tying Allie down like that." Nathan felt the relief flood through him at his words but then Arthur added, "In fact it would probably be better to wait until after my birthday. I will turn 10 in July so that would be a good time to ask her."
The moment Elizabeth closed the door behind them when they went up to change Nathan burst out laughing. It had been agony for him to keep his conversation with Arthur to himself but there was no way he was going to do anything to embarrass the boy. He would have a private word with Lionel and they would work out a plan for how to deal with it.
"What do you mean he asked to court her?" Elizabeth asked. "Perhaps it is an English thing that means something different."
Nathan shook his head. "Oh no, he meant it in exactly the way I thought. What got me was how serious and grown up he was about it. Very proper and well spoken. It was a more grown up conversation than I have had with many an adult. If a young man comes calling for Allie in that way in a few years then I would be very happy."
Elizabeth laughed at him, knowing that any young man who wished to court Allie would go through a fully Mountie interrogation no matter how well spoken he was.
"The big question, I guess, is whether you tell Allie about it or not."
Nathan bit on his bottom lip for a moment as he thought before finally answering, "I think perhaps we'll wait until we get home. It would only make it awkward for the rest of the stay if she knew".
"That seems sensible", Elizabeth agreed. "And talking about getting home. Are you still certain we are making the right decision? If you are then we need to tell everyone that we are leaving on the 27th."
Christmas Dinner began as a rather boisterous affair, nothing like what this dining room nor the staff were accustomed to. The children were so excited, each knowing that there were going to be things happening that they had not experienced before.
Before the christmas crackers could be pulled Lionel went into great detail about the history of them, telling everyone how their name was originally Cosaque, the French word for Cossack, but was then changed to something that sounded better. Onomatopoeic was the word he used to explain why they chose the name cracker but before he could go on Viola spoke up, her voice full of laughter.
"Oh Lionel, no-one is interested in listening to all that, never mind knowing what onomato-whatever means. Come on, you need to pull this cracker with me".
Little Jack was grinning with excitement. "Tristan told me that there are jokes in them, funny jokes. Do we all have to read them out? Who will go first? Not me, I won't be able to read it." The words came gushing out of him but then he paused and looked across to his sister, "Can you help me do mine Allie? Pleeeaase?"
With arms crossed and holding a cracker in each hand they all waited for Lionel to shout go. There was some scrambling to find pieces that fell onto the floor and the start of an argument between Felicity and Tristan as they each claimed to have the bigger part of the cracker they had pulled together until a stern look from their mother stopped them both.
Finally all was sorted and once the paper hats were placed on heads Lionel indicated to Grace to begin. "Perhaps grandma could lead the way."
Grace started, not sure whether she was meant to add some comedy to the way she posed her question but in the end she just read it out in her normal voice.
"Why is a Christmas pudding like the Atlantic Ocean?"
Allie and Little Jack both looked at each other and then their parents, as they had no idea what it meant. "I don't even know what that is?" Allie asked, an look of confusion on her face.
Lionel was quick to answer, delighted to be explaining something that was part of his country's history.
"It is delicious and a traditional part of the Christmas meal in Britain, a big dark fruit pudding served with brandy butter".
He saw Viola's eyebrows raise and quickly added, "but children have custard with it".
Realising that everyone was listening intently he continued. "The pudding is made on the last Sunday before Advent and they say that a long time ago there were always thirteen ingredients, meant to represent Christ and the twelve apostles. Everyone in the family had to stir the bowl in turn from east to west to honour the Magi and their journey in that direction. which is supposed to bring good luck. It is a bit different now, like a rich cake with lots of fruit and spices, but we did all have a stir when our cook was making it and then it was steamed in muslin and packed for us to bring over here. Mrs Bailey will heat it before it is set alight and it will be brought in flaming to the table".
Tristan was bouncing up and down on his chair, pushing his hand up in the air trying to attract his father's attention, clearly desperate to say something. As soon as Lionel stopped he shouted out "The flames are so high it is scary! And there is always a sixpence in it. The person who gets that in their pudding has the best luck of all".
Allie and Little Jack were trying to work out how they were supposed to eat it if there were flames all over the pudding but before they could ask any more Grace spoke up, realising it was time to get things moving if they were going to be ready for the first course to be served.
"Now that we all know what it is, does anyone have an answer for me?"
Puzzled faces all looked at each other but no-one had any clue until finally she answered her own question, "Because it is full of currants."
There were groans around the table and the tone was set for lots of laughter as one after another they each took their turn. Then it was Little Jack's go and he looked at the paper in front of him, not having any idea what it said. Suddenly Allie was by his side and after looking at it she whispered the words in his ear.
"Why was the snowman looking through the carrots?", he asked.
Nathan looked across Little Jack's head at Allie and she gave him an stern look, aware that he knew the answer as it was one of the dad jokes he had told her every Christmas for as long as she could remember. He gave her a nod and stayed silent, letting Little Jack have his moment.
When nobody answered Allie nudged him and said, "Come on then, put us all out of our misery."
"He was picking his nose!", he shouted out, his infectious giggle making everyone at the table laugh.
For a moment Allie pretended to be horrified by it. "Ew, that is disgusting", she said, before she began tickling him in his side until he nearly fell of his chair.
As the meal progressed the atmosphere around the table stayed bright and cheery. Sometimes there was silence as everyone was concentrating on eating, at other times voices were talking over each other.
It was a joy to be part of this, Elizabeth thought, their family all together. And yet one thing she noticed was that Julie and Tom were both more quiet than normal. They spoke with those around them and joined in the general conversation but very little passed between the two of them. It was as though they were strangers and Elizabeth feared that whatever was said during their walk in the garden earlier, the outcome had not been good.