by Ruth Hay
“Mom is doing very well, these days,” she told Mavis and Hilary. “She loves being with her grandkids and great-nephews and we love knowing she is nearby. Braden and I want to visit you with our partners and the children one day soon. We are currently searching for work/home exchanges in Ontario or the northern United States.”
Desmond Dempster waited patiently, for once, to get to talk to his mother. He was beginning to get a sense, at long last, of how this co-housing project his mother embarked on against his wishes, had created an interwoven network of true friendship and love.
To Honor’s amazement, Mason Jeffries and his wife and children were also waiting their turn. The tall young man in horn-rimmed spectacles, turned out to be a mature-looking Melvin Jeffries who headed at once for Faith to bring her up to date with his recent academic successes.
It was with some difficulty that Mavis was able to announce above the hubbub of chatter and laughter, that it was a glorious day and snacks and drinks were on the back patio as well as in the kitchen upstairs.
“Be sure to check out the view from our brand new balcony and use the stairs to go down to the garden from there. Welcome friends, family and children, to our grand Tenth Year Celebration.
Enjoy!”
Mavis’s advice was taken literally. As groups moved in and out of the house, eating and talking, remembering and visiting, there was no limit to what to see, hear and share.
The men had to be introduced around in a formal way, and it was while she was doing this that Vilma realized Grant and Stuart were missing. She took Jamison aside for a moment and asked him if Stuart was unable get away from hospital work to join them for an hour or so on this special day.
“I don’t know about that, Vilma, but I’m sure he would be here if he could.”
* * *
The mystery of Stuart’s and Grant’s absences was not solved until almost an hour later.
Vilma was heading to where Shania, Faith and Mandy were in a huddle together near the fruit tree avenue, when she was blocked by Honor rushing up to her.
“Leave them for now, Vilma. They need to talk together. I have Faith’s permission to tell you her news.
She is pregnant…. with twins!’
“Oh, my goodness! Really? When? Who? I did not expect to hear this.”
“Neither did she, by all accounts! The father is a bright young man called Robert with good prospects who she met through Melvin. He is one of Melvin’s teachers. They are engaged, and planning to be married when the babies arrive. And, she is a modern woman who intends to continue her work after a maternity leave while her Roberts works from home.
Vilma, Faith told me these babies will know their father from the very first minutes. I almost cried.
She also said their Aunt Honor will be foremost in their lives, as well as everyone here at Harmony House.
Can you imagine it? Me, a great aunt! Twins! I am so excited, but Faith does not want to take attention away from today’s celebration, so keep the news to yourself, for now.”
Honor was beyond thrilled to share the wonderful news. There was so much to look forward to. Suddenly she wondered if there might be a double wedding in the future, Honor and Jared, Faith and her Robert. It was too much even to begin contemplating. She put it aside for now.
Vilma nodded in agreement with Honor’s excitement but her head was reeling.
A new generation. She saw a brief vision of Faith and the twin babies installed in her suite, with Honor and Jared watching over them. It was a vision that could easily come true. She felt, very strongly, that this was a chance for Honor and Faith to undo all the damage of their respective childhoods and make a success of this new start. She knew without asking that Harmony House would shelter them all.
* * *
Vilma was still attempting to absorb this news when a strange sound emerged from the house.
It had to be the never-to-be-forgotten sound of bagpipes. But why?
She made her way back to the front doors and found a spot beside Jamison on the stairs. The hall table was now in the rear hallway, clearing a large space in the entrance. The compelling sound of bagpipes came from a disc player set on top of the table.
As the unusual sound drew everyone from the kitchen to the top hall, and others from the garden onto the stairs beside Vilma and Jamison, Stuart emerged from the dining room in tartan kilt, white shirt with sleeves rolled to above his elbows, and bearing upright in his hands, two large, shining swords.
Jamison muttered in amazement. “He must be about to do a Highland sword dance for us!”
The crowd of people hushed. The children were sitting on the doorstep, transfixed by the sight of this young man with a very serious expression on his face and dangerous weapons in his hands. The children’s eyes followed every move he made.
As the stirring call of the bagpipes changed into a new phase, Stuart bent forward and carefully placed the swords over each other on the floor, forming a cross. Then he stood very still, with his arms bent above his head and fingers in dancer’s mode curved inward for balance.
As if by intention a stream of sunlight lanced through the skylight on the roof and placed him in a spotlight. The audience gasped.
Stuart began to dance with only a pair of thin leather shoes on his feet between him and the blades of the swords. The pipes swirled and Stuart’s feet followed the pace. His feet flashed from one stance to another, always skirting the blades and prescribing an ancient pattern that belonged in its origin to somewhere far away in the fortress mountains of the Highlands, performed as a demonstration of courage and skill among fighting men.
The performance was mesmerising. The watching children gasped again when the bagpipe music picked up speed and Stuart’s feet followed suit, with toes dancing and tartan swirling. His eyes never left the floor.
One mistake could cause serious injury. Vilma could see that, although she fervently hoped these swords were blunted at the tips and on the long blades. She had no chance to ask Jamison.
As if there was no way to resist the pull of the music and the daring of the performer, the crowd began to clap hands in time to the crescendo of sound that signified the end. There was no possible way any human being could move his feet any faster than Stuart was doing.
The pipes finally droned away. Stuart stood erect again beside the swords, sweat beading his brow, and panting with his exertions. To furious applause he picked the swords up, bowed in front, and behind, to his audience, and turned with immense dignity, and still heaving chest, and walked away down the hall toward the elevator.
The spectators went crazy.
“Jamison, did you know about this?”
She caught him in the act of wiping tears from his cheeks.
“I confess to my shame, Vilma, I did not know my son had taken the lessons, far less found swords for today. We must ask Mavis and Hilary about this.”
They found the two women who had retreated into the dining room after Stuart finished.
“Wasn’t that magnificent!” they exclaimed in unison.
“I thought my heart would break with pride,” said Jamison. “How did this happen?”
“Well, we asked the young doctors to attend today’s celebration, naturally, but Grant insisted only one of them could get permission because of the pressure of work. They came up with the plan to entertain our guests and we agreed immediately, of course.”
“Grant said the sound of the pipes would be overwhelming inside a small space, so they devised an idea to practise in an atrium in the cancer clinic at the hospital. Apparently, their practise sessions were a big hit with patients as well as doctors, and there was a lot of cheering. Grant played and recorded the music, so that they could reduce the volume to a suitable level for indoors here.
It’s the first time we heard it, and I must say it was a superb surprise to add to today’s events”
Hilary’s account answered most of her questions but Vilma wanted more information.
“Where did they get those amazing swords?”
“There are many Scottish associations in London and Ontario, in general. Grant said they kept asking until they found a group willing to lend them.”
“I thank you, ladies, from my heart. It has been the thrill of a lifetime for me to see my son respect his heritage in this way. I will find him and tell him so. He has started me thinking of Scotland again after a very long time.”
“You will find your son in his room upstairs. I imagine he is recovering.”
Jamison headed for the elevator and Vilma let him go to spend some private moments with his son.
* * *
The air of excitement was still palpable through the open doors of the dining room where Vilma sat with the two women whose vision was responsible for everything today’s celebration had accomplished.
“I think you two have managed to do a great deal more than you realize today. Not least of which is this chance for a real reunion between Jamison and Stuart.
Do you know, Mavis and Hilary, you are very special women?”
They grasped hands and looked at each other, eyes to eyes to eyes, in faces that glowed with delight in the new and future memories they were creating.
“Do you know, Vilma, that today Harmony House has worked its magic on all of us, once again?
This time it has helped us to create memories that will last forever.
Now, shall we join our guests and continue to enjoy this celebration? It is already a memorable occasion and who knows what more will be shared among us today in this amazing home of ours?”
__________
Ruth Hay wishes to thank all the readers who have enjoyed this series. It was your enthusiasm for her four Home Sweet Home books, that drove her to write the fifth book to conclude the stories of the women of Harmony House.
She knows that in her mind, and yours, these beloved characters will always continue to live on.
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Visit www.ruthhay.com for links to all of Ruth’s stories!
Afterword
Ruth Hay’s fourth series, Home Sweet Home, follows the ups and downs of six women attempting to live together for mutual support and safety.
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Read Ruth’s other series, Prime Time, Seafarers, Seven Days and Journey of a Lifetime on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and iBooks.
Also read Borderlines a stand-alone thriller.
www.ruthhay.com
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Also by Ruth Hay
Prime Time Series
Auld Acquaintance
Time Out of Mind
Now or Never
Sand in the Wind
With This Ring
The Seas Between Us
Return to Oban: Anna’s Next Chapter
Fiona of Glenmorie
* * *
Seafarers Series
Sea Changes
Sea Tides
Gwen’s Gentleman
Gwen’s Choice
* * *
Seven Days Series
Seven Days There
Seven Days Back
Seven Days Beyond
Seven Days Away
Seven Days Horizons
Seven Days Destinations
Borderlines (Standalone)
Borderlines
Home Sweet Home Series
Harmony House
Fantasy House
Remedy House
Affinity House
Remedy House
Journey of a Lifetime Series
Auralie
Nadine
Mariette
Nadine