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Chapter One Hundred Sixty-two
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Another Family Night
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Hoping she would find Joseph available in his Hope Valley office, Elizabeth rang the Mercantile switchboard, "Hello Florence! This is Elizabeth Thornton. May I please speak to Joseph? We have some wedding details to finalize."
"Oh, Elizabeth! It is so good to hear your voice! We are all so excited about our excursion to Regina for your wedding! How are the plans? How is that handsome Mountie of yours? We sure miss you both! And sweet Allie? She was such a bright spot in our days when she was working here! And Little Jack, how is he? Adjusting to living in the big city?"
Florence had ignored her husband's "Ahem," but finally had to take a breath.
Laughing, Elizabeth interjected and tried to answer all the questions posed to her, "We are excited to see all of you too. Nathan is as wonderful as ever, and as handsome too!" Her voice was smiling as she spoke, "Allie is loving her new school and thriving! Jack is growing and by now city life is old hat! What else did you ask? Oh, the wedding plans are almost complete, but there is something I need to address with Joseph. Will you please connect me to him?"
"Of course. He is not in his office this morning, but I think you might find him at the Café. Let me ring you through." Florence made the connection, "Hello, Minnie, Is Joseph there with you? I have a call from Elizabeth, something regarding wedding plans she said."
Trying not to laugh, Minnie answered, "Joseph is right here. Tell Elizabeth hello!"
"Hello, Pastor Joseph here," He nodded to Minnie to keep stirring while he stepped to the side.
"Joseph! Elizabeth speaking! I'm so glad I caught you this morning," Elizabeth proceeded to explain her idea for the foot-washing ceremony the night prior to the wedding.
"It is a lovely idea and both symbolic, as you say, and significant to you and Nathan. I have to consider the technical aspects though. Would you let me get back to you later today?"
"Yes, please. I'll be at this number until five this evening, so call anytime. Thank you, Joseph. This is so important to me to do this for Nathan."
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Lifting the receiver in her apartment, Elizabeth responded to the ringing telephone, "Hello? Elizabeth Thornton. How may I help you?"
"Sweet Elizabeth! I am calling to find out how my fiancée is. How has your day been so far?" Nathan loved her surprised gasp.
"Oh! My dear man, I am well. I called Joseph and am awaiting his return call. I though you might be him!"
"Sorry to disappoint..." Nathan chuckled, "Seriously though, what did he think of the idea?"
"He used the word lovely, but wanted to consider the 'how-to' before agreeing." She continued, "I made the cake and it smells heavenly. I also worked on punching the postcards for Allie's project while it baked and, after the mail was delivered, I added some names to our guest list! How are things at Depot?"
"That's great. Everything here is fine. I checked on Sergeant and Newton and both are doing well. We'll have to see about who will be assigned to care for them when Zach leaves and until we return from our trip. We have plenty of potential helpers here though! Oh, wait..." Nathan looked up at Wes and waved, "Wes just brought our lunch, so I better hang up. I'll meet you at the Hotel?" Quickly figuring Wes was probably ending his telephone calls with Ardis in the same manner, Nathan added, "I love you!"
"And I love you, Honey. See you in a few hours."
Not long after Elizabeth ended the call with Nathan, another call rang through. "Oh Minnie! Hello. Is everything alright? I was expecting a call from Joseph..."
"Everything and everyone is fine, Elizabeth. Joseph asked me to call you after he talked with me about the foot-washing ceremony. We agree it will be a beautiful promise for you to make to each other, but Joseph had some concerns about the details and the modesty. Have you considered how to accomplish this? Will you remove Nathan's shoes and socks? What about for you? It is very intimate to do this before the wedding night."
"I hadn't thought through all those details. Oh dear, I so wanted to do this..." Disappointed, Elizabeth's voice trailed off.
"Don't be discouraged, Elizabeth. It is not impossible. I believe we have two options. What if you leave your silk stockings on and he washes your feet with them on? It is only water, but he would need to thoroughly dry your feet and you might need to help him if the water creeps up your leg. Then you could excuse yourself soon after to change your stockings. The other option is for you to leave the room shortly before the ceremony and remove your stockings. You would only have to remove your shoes to have bare feet for the washing, but we could drape a towel over your knees while you are seated, so they are covered from the guests. Then, afterwards you could excuse yourself to change back into your stockings. What do you think of these scenarios?"
"Oh, Minnie. God bless you! Thank you for coming up with these solutions. I hadn't really thought about it, but I would prefer to have bare feet. Is Joseph okay with either of these?"
"He is fine with either. He just wanted a woman's perspective! If we angle the chair, Nathan will be the only one seeing anyway. If he agrees, we are all set. You'll arrange for the pitcher, bowl, and towel?"
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After changing into street clothes at the office, Nathan met Allie, Elizabeth, and Jack at the side entrance of Le Chateaux Qu'Appelle. He opened the car door, reaching down to give Elizabeth a soft kiss after placing her basket behind her seat. "Ready for our evening out?"
Excitedly both children agreed, although not for the same reason. Jack was squirming, happy to spend time with his Daddy wherever he was.
Allie, on the other hand, was making a valiant effort to remain calm and composed and not let on that she had thought of little else all day. Tonight she would spend time with Jared Blake!
Closing the driver's side door after getting into the vehicle, Nathan inhaled deeply, "Do I smell lemony goodness?"
Chuckling, Elizabeth answered, "You do. Our efforts this morning were successful and the cake is Hudson-taste-tested and approved. I also baked enough to leave a plate for Mother, Father, and Huds."
"Good. It's awful to be surrounded by the fragrance of baked goods you cannot enjoy!"
"And you know that because?"
"Because I could hardly finish my meals at the Café with the sweet fragrances making me anticipate the freshly baked desserts!"
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"Hello friends! Come in! Let me take that basket, Nathan. Welcome to all of you!" Josiah Blake pushed the door closed and turning, handed the basket to Blake. "Would you please set this in the kitchen, Son?"
"Sure, Dad. Hi, everyone. Hi Allie!" Jared's cheeks flushed and he was glad for a brief escape to still his nerves. Upon returning to the entryway, he helped hang the last of the coats and followed the family into the living room.
"Hi Allie!" Ellie exclaimed, giving her friend a hug. "I like your dress. I got home late after working on the Crimson and White, so I have to change. You want to come with me?"
"Sure, lead the way." Allie glanced around as she followed her friend up a set of stairs, noting, "When the youth group ate here after the concert I didn't get to see this part of the house."
"You're right, you didn't! After you see my room, I'll invite Jared up to show you his room if he is willing."
Downstairs, Johanna greeted the guests and invited them to follow her for a brief tour if the downstairs. "The stew is simmering and I just placed the biscuits into the oven. Please come with me?"
As Elizabeth and Nathan toured the lower floor, Jack had attached himself to Blake and wanted to see everything too.
Upstairs, Ellie hung her uniform after slipping into a skirt and sweater while Allie perused the room, noting the painting she had given Ellen and seeing a music stand and a silver instrument. "You play the flute, Ellie?"
"I do, but I would rather sing. Dad and Mom have promised to help me purchase a guitar so I can play and sing, but right now I am borrowing Jare's guitar when he doesn't need it. Mom and Dad want me to finish this school year with my flute lessons since my grandparents gave them to me."
"I've learned some guitar from Dad, but once you hear him play it is intimidating. He's that good."
"I heard him at church and I know he sure can sing! Do you play any other instrument, Allie?"
"I've been learning the piano. It's hard to practice with all the construction going on, but that will be done in a couple weeks and then Dad and I will move in! I can't wait!"
"You have so much happening in your life, Allie! I can't imagine it all, but I can see it makes you happy."
"It does. It has been just Dad and me for so long that having a bigger family is a dream come true. Actually, it's a prayer come true." Allie noticed a Blake family photo from some years ago, then glanced at a perfume bottle on Ellie's dresser, pointing, "That's really pretty."
"Isn't it? I got that for Christmas from Mom. Do you want to put some on?" Ellie proceeded to lift out the glass stopper and roll it along Allie's wrist. "Do you like that?"
"Oh! I do. I don't have perfume, but Miss Bess does and she let me use it before she moved into the Hotel. It will be so nice to have her with us after the wedding."
"Let me show you what I'm wearing to the wedding. Mom and I went shopping as soon as the spring styles came out," Ellie retrieved a lovely rose dress with white lace edging on the collar. "Isn't this pretty?"
"Oh, I love it, especially with your blonde hair!"
Through the closed door, the girls could hear the adults continuing their house tour and being led upstairs by Blake, so they quickly opened Ellie's bedroom door.
"Well, hello, ladies," Elizabeth said as she approached the doorway. "Something, or is it someone smells lovely in here!"
"Yes, Mrs. Thornton, I let Allie try on my perfume." Ellen stood aside, "Please come in and see my room."
"Your room is lovely, Sweetheart. Let me guess, is pink your favorite color?"
"It is." Ellie admitted, "but I have other favorites too!"
"I think you and Allie are alike in that, right, Honey?"
Allie giggled, "I know Dad says he likes 'food' so I guess I can say I like 'colors!'"
"Of course, Allie, because you are an artist," Jared interjected as he stood in the doorway.
Whipping her head around to see Jared, Allie immediately blushed.
It was Nathan that saved his daughter from further embarrassment, asking, "May we see your room, Jared?" As the young man nodded, Nathan addressed Jack, "Son, remember to look with your eyes, not with your hands, right?"
Still holding tightly to Jared's hand, Jack looked up at his Dad and responded, "Okay."
Following Jared and Jack into the teenager's room, Nathan had held back so Allie could be in front, yet he spoke over her shoulder, "Wow, Jared! You are competing with me with all your books!" Nathan chuckled, "I'm impressed!"
"I guess so. Now you see why my parents wanted me to cut my hours at the Bookstore and work at the Library instead!" Shrugging his shoulders, Jared added, "I'm not sure it helped though as my collection continues to grow!"
Allie moved to the stack of books beside Jared's bed, commenting, "Your storage method matches ours, Jared, stacks of books on the floor!"
"I noticed that! I'm talking to my Dad about a wall of shelves, but…"
Josiah chuckled as he interjected from the hallway, "But his Dad thinks that will only escalate the problem!"
Observing the walls, Elizabeth pointed to a painting of books, "Is that your work, Allie? Looks like you hit the nail on the head!"
"Yes, Mrs. Thornton, Allie gave that to me for Christmas. You didn't even know, did you, Allie?"
Laughing, Allie explained, "I'm a good listener so I thought it was a strong possibility!"
"What's that?" Jack's little voice inquired as he pointed to a long, cylindrical object on a tripod near the window.
"That's a telescope. Jack. Have you ever looked through one?" Jared pulled the little boy towards the tripod. "It's not really dark enough yet, but let me give you a chance to look." Jared moved his desk chair and lifted Jack onto the seat, holding him around the waist. "Actually, Allie, could you hold Jack so I can adjust the telescope?"
"Sure. I'd like to look after Jack does," Allie held Jack who leaned against her, but watched with great interest.
While Jared made some adjustments, he asked Nathan to turn off the wall sconce, then gently glided Jack to the eyepiece, saying, "There you go, Jack, put your eye here and tell me what you see!"
"Something round? What is it?"
"Good job, my friend! That's the moon! It looks really big and close doesn't it?"
"Yeah," nodding, Jack, moved to the side, "Look, Allie. Do you see it too?"
Scooping Jack into his arms to make room for Allie, Jared, inquired, "Can you see it, Allie?"
"I can and that is amazing. Miss Bess, Dad, do you want to look?"
"I do. Thank you," Elizabeth peered into the telescope, before moving so Nathan could look.
"That's great," Nathan commented as he stared at the image. "Is it strong enough to see the constellations on a clear night?"
"If you know where to look, yes. Sometimes it is easier to see the arrangement of the stars with the naked eye, because you get the big picture of how every star is related to each other. But with this you can focus on a star or planet and it is amazing."
"So that's why you have a celestial map on the ceiling? To figure out where everything is from here?" Allie inquired, tilting her head.
"Exactly," Jared responded, laughingly adding, "Plus on the ceiling leaves more space for book shelves!"
As everyone joined the laughter, they heard Johanna call from the first floor, "Dinner is ready, folks. Please wash up and come to the table?"
"Lisbeth? I'll take care of Jack up here and meet you downstairs," Nathan took Jack's hand leading him to the bathroom.
"Thanks! I'll have to apologize I got distracted!" Hurrying down the steps, Elizabeth quickly entered the kitchen and headed to wash her hands. "I am so sorry, Johanna! We all got to gaze out the telescope and I lost track of time!"
Laughing Johanna explained, "In this house there is always some distraction, a book, music practice, stargazing, just-one-more-embroidery stitch, late from football practice, needing to hurry out the door to youth group… between my two teenagers and their interests, I am used to calling for them five minutes before I am ready to serve!"
"How may I help?" Elizabeth asked.
"Pop the biscuits into the basket, please? Thanks. Josiah will carry the stewpot because it will be easier to serve at the table."
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"Thank you, Johanna. This looks and smells delicious." Elizabeth observed, "I look forward to tasting it!"
"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Blake. It's fun to eat at your house and the meal you brought after Dad was injured was really good. I haven't made that cake yet, but it's on my list," Allie passed the basket to Jared who was seated at the foot of the table with Jack next to him, across from Allie.
"We have had a hectic schedule, that's for certain," Nathan buttered a biscuit for Jack. "Did I mention that Bill Avery, our Judge friend, arrived on Monday? He is settling in to the apartment that Adeline Foster vacated when she moved to Ottawa and he is acclimating to his new responsibilities."
"You didn't mention that. I heard from Johanna that your other friends are relocating to Regina though? Will there be anyone left in Hope Valley?" Josiah questioned as he grinned, "You began an Exodus!"
"We can blame it on the RCMP by enticing Nathan with his new position! But to answer your question, Hope Valley is growing, so there are new people replacing us," Elizabeth explained. "You will get to meet quite a few of our old friends at the wedding though so that is exciting to us all."
"Did you know that my Grant grandparents are moving to Regina?" Allie asked.
"No! My goodness! The population of Regina is the one expanding. How has that come about, Nathan?"
The discussion progressed from the new furniture store to the Grant's relocation to the house renovations, to Zachary's graduation, to the relocation of Headquarters to Ottawa, to the article Ellie was writing for the school newspaper, and to the status of wedding preparations. Over dessert the families talked about favorite recipes, the Northern Lights, and Jared's interest in the ministry and his meeting with Reverend Huntley, before Allie was asked to explain her plans to welcome her friends for the wedding.
"We have so much on which we need to catch up, maybe we should meet more frequently after you return from your honeymoon!" Josiah suggested.
"We will consider that and the main house is suitable for gatherings, so let's talk later in March, okay?" Nathan grinned, adding, "Right now we all have a wedding on our minds!" He nudged Elizabeth's shoulder and they momentarily got lost in each other's blue eyes, one rich sapphire and the other a clear, crystal blue.
Each of the Blake's looked to one other, smiling gratefully, while Allie and Jack stared at each other.
"You know Allie is going to be my big sister, right?"
"Yes, Jack, I am! In just a few weeks!"
Hoping that Jared might join them in the kitchen, Allie began to move away from the table, "May I help you with the dishes, Ellie?" She was not disappointed.
"Why don't we young people do the washing-up and you parents can decide what games to play?" Jared offered as he, his sister, and Allie began to clear the table. "Jack you can come too and dry the silverware for us, okay?"
Allie Grant sighed. She was truly loving these family nights!
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