Natasha's Legacy

by Heather Greenis

  “Unbelievable,” Sarah murmured. “The Venderkemp blood.”

  “You are mistaken, Sarah. It is the Donovan blood. Have you not reached the section in the diary when Papa Stewart kissed Nana Natasha while in the presence of university classmates?”

  “I have, but I must dedicate more time to the diary. Recently, my time has been consumed preparing for a party.”

  “I love you, Sarah.” Placing his hands on her cheeks, he looked into her eyes and then opened his mouth and gave her a passionate kiss, a kiss that normally occurred in the privacy of their room.

  “Alex,” Rose protested.

  Sarah pulled away from the embrace.

  “Alex,” his momma lectured. “You have witnessed innocent kisses between your poppa and me, yet our intimate kisses occur in private.”

  Sarah’s face turned scarlet red as did his poppa’s. Both covered their faces with their hands.

  “Ho-ope,” Adam groaned.

  “Rose and Hope are outspoken and blunt. It is apparent Alex, like his Papa Stewart, has forgotten intimacy is to occur in private,” Izabella told Sarah and then winked at her.

  “My grandson did not learn a lesson after the first kiss he shared with you.”

  “Apparently not,” Sarah agreed.

  Alex’s attention shifted between Sarah, his father and grandfather. “I have no regrets. I enjoy kissing Sarah and always have.” The gramophone was turned off and the three couples retreated to the second floor.

  Once in the privacy of their room, Alex watched Sarah brush her hair.

  “I thought my family had forgotten my birthday. It was difficult walking into the building to be greeted by so many people, but I enjoyed the evening. I’m still … well … rejuvenated. Are you tired?”

  “I should be, but no.”

  “Good. I plan to thank you for my birthday celebration.” He crawled out of bed, and took her into his arms. “Did I tell you how beautiful you look this evening?”

  The evening had been perfect. The celebration with family and friends and then quality time with Sarah. The timing was perfect to propose marriage. She had stopped him earlier in the evening, but now, they would not be interrupted. There were many times he wanted to propose, but something always marred it. Something always made the timing inappropriate.

  When Rose announced her pregnancy, he was thrilled for Rose and Richard but wanted his sister involved in the wedding. Then Mr. Tymlin had his accident. Renovating Sarah’s parents’ home took far more time than he expected. Papa had warned it would not be completed quickly, but months?

  He placed his hand on Sarah’s head as it rested on his chest. “I love you, Sarah. Years ago, I said I needed to ensure you were happy living here. Are you happy?”

  “Very happy.”

  “Perhaps the time has come to make our relationship official.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Sarah Venderkemp.”

  “It sounds beautiful when coming from your voice.”

  A warm sensation filled Alex’s heart. His family would be thrilled when they announced their engagement in the morning. His poppa had stated the difficulty in proposing to Momma, yet he accomplished that with ease. With assistance from family, Sarah would plan their wedding. He would place a ring on her finger when they exchanged vows.

  “We shall inform my family during breakfast,” he boasted.

  “That would not be wise.”

  Alex chuckled. Sarah wants to hear a formal proposal. I will grant you that. “I’m in love with you, Sarah. Will you do me the honour of becoming my—”

  Her finger went over his lips. She stopped me, actually stopped me from proposing marriage.

  “Perhaps, someday,” she responded very casually.

  Stunned by her response, Alex stared at her. Izabella had stopped his papa in the same fashion. A finger over his lips.

  All these years together and they never married. Both his momma and Rose wanted him and Sarah married. He wanted to marry her. “Are you declining—”

  “No,” she reassured him, “but I am not accepting at this time.”

  Placing his finger under her chin, he tilted her head to see a slight smile on her face. “At this time? You are not pleased with the proposal?”

  “You are correct. I am not. I have displayed patience, waiting for this moment. I love you, Alex. Months ago I would have been ecstatic to hear you propose, having fallen asleep with tears in my eyes on many occasions. I know you love me. Everything changed after Poppa’s accident. I felt and experienced your family’s love. I’m content being in your life.”

  A warm sensation consumed his body. He wiped the tear from her cheek. “I want to marry you. I know you want to be married. What would please you?”

  Sarah rolled onto her back and looked at the crackling flame from the wood stove by the foot of the bed.

  “A romantic setting.”

  “Romantic? “You are laying in our bed with the glow of the fire. The setting is very romantic.”

  Sarah did not move her head but shifted her eyes toward him.

  “You’re serious! A romantic setting,” he repeated in confirmation. “Do you have other requests?”

  “I’d like the proposal to be unique.”

  Why did I procrastinate? I should have trusted my heart. I should have asked Sarah to be my bride instead of requesting she join me in my home. “Sarah.”

  “I am a patient woman, Alex.”

  “If I had proposed the day I asked you to join me in my home—”

  “I would have accepted before you completed the statement. I wanted to be your wife.” Sarah rolled onto her side and looked at him. “I’m content sharing your life. My intention is not to jeopardize our relationship, but I’d like to be romanced. I want to recall the day for the remainder of my life. Something to talk about.”

  Alex regretted his lack of confidence on the evening of her concert. He should have been more persistent the day they played with the children.

  “Do you recall playing tug-of-war with the children? The teams were not evenly matched and I attempted to have you on my team.”

  “The girls were ecstatic with their win over the boys, especially with you playing.” Her smile grew.

  “I had intended to propose that day. With my arms around you, I had planned to whisper in your ear.”

  “Alex. That was shortly after I moved here.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “You wanted to speak with me, but the children asked us to join them.”

  “I originally intended to lead you to the back of the orphanage and propose, but my plan changed because of the game. With distractions and dilemmas, the proposal was not meant to occur that day.”

  “Ugh,” she groaned. “If I was aware of your intention, I would have spoken with the girls and we would have celebrated our engagement. Poppa would have walked me down the aisle.”

  Alex’s heart sank. It had taken so long to gain confidence in their relationship. So much had happened in their lives making the timing inappropriate, delaying him.

  “My apologies, Sarah.”

  “The proposal would have been unique,” she admitted. “I would be speaking of it to this day.”

  “Is it possible you will agree if I repeat the question?”

  “No. I refuse to lie about the proposal. In the same breath, I refuse to tell Momma, Poppa, and Ingrid, or anybody else you proposed in bed.”

  “God is not kind to me.” Alex inhaled. “To continue reminiscing, do you remember dining the week before you were offered the travel contact with the conservatory?”

  “My apologies, but no. I recall practicing a great deal. My nerves have never bothered me as they did that week.”

  “You were exhausted, more than I realized. I had sat in my room every evening, practicing a speech. After dining, we returned to your apartment and during our ‘quality talk’ I told you I loved you. I asked you to join me in my home with an assurance a proposal would occur once I was certain of
your happiness.”

  “You said you loved me? I don’t remember that.”

  “Yes. I took my time to open the discussion, attempting to settle my nerves. Once the words were out of my mouth, I waited for your response only to discover you were sleeping. In our time together, I do not believe there was another evening we did not talk and become intimate again.”

  “Unable to open my eyes I assumed I was dreaming. You didn’t discuss your plans the following day or the following week.”

  “The following weekend, my heart was shattered with the idea of losing you. I was convinced once you had considered the offer, you would accept the contract and become a professional musician. To this day, I’m amazed you remained with me.”

  “I have never questioned my decision to decline the offer. There were nights I regretted moving into this home. I cried myself to sleep many nights,” she admitted.

  “My body, heart, and soul belong to you.” Alex thought of the evening of their first kiss, the inappropriate moment. “I must ask. Have I been forgiven for our first kiss?”

  “Perhaps.”

  “Perhaps? That is not acceptable. I pray we are able to celebrate the joyous event while I am still relatively young and able, if the day comes you forgive me,” he added. “You have me thinking it will never happen.”

  Sarah leaned over and kissed him.

  Exhausted when they parted, Sarah rolled onto her side and Alex snuggled in beside her. She kissed his hand and drifted off to sleep. Unable to settle, Alex’s mind was on their conversation.

  A week after the celebration, Adam and Hope went to Rose and Richard’s to care for the twins allowing the young parents an evening out. After dining, Papa Stewart and Izabella returned to their room allowing the two couples time to visit. Richard began speaking to Sarah about the piano. He followed her to the music room to be taught a basic song.

  Keeping his voice lowered, Alex spoke with Rose of his attempted proposal and Sarah’s response.

  “Richard would not be in my life and the father of my children if he attempted such a proposal.”

  “You are not helping my grieving heart. I’m not looking for a lecture. I require assistance. I spend my days associating with children, or speaking about children.”

  Rose shifted her body closer to his and placed her arm around his shoulder. The sofa became confining.

  “Sarah loves you, Alex. Sarah is hoping for a proposal from your heart. I will speak with Momma and Izabella. We’ll collaborate and think of something special. Our family will be so pleased, her family too.”

  “Only if she accepts. This will be my third attempt. There will not be another.”

  Rose was smiling as she walked out of the room in search of her husband.

  Falling asleep with his arm around Sarah that night, Alex dreamed he proposed. The ambiance was romantic, perfect in his mind. Rising the next morning, with his dream fresh in his mind, he wanted his mother’s and Rose’s opinions.

  “I must do a quick errand. I will return soon,” he whispered to Sarah.

  Sarah made a vocal sound but never opened her eyes. He walked out of their room.

  * * *

  Hope was in a light sleep when a tap on the door just after dawn woke her.

  “Momma, are you awake?”

  “I am now.”

  Rose opened the door, bubbling with excitement.

  “I couldn’t sleep last night. I had the most delightful conversation with Alex. He plans to propose to Sarah.”

  Having given up on a marriage between Alex and Sarah, Hope thought she misunderstood her daughter’s words. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Adam pulled the covers over his shoulders.

  “It’s true, Momma. He plans to ask Sarah to be his wife but requires help and suggestions for a romantic proposal.”

  “That is wonderful news, Rose,” Adam remarked. “We will discuss this once we are downstairs.”

  Rose closed the door and within a few minutes, Adam’s breathing indicated he was sleeping. Far too excited, Hope couldn’t sleep. Alex would propose to Sarah. They would be married. She wanted to speak with Alex and congratulate him. Exhausted from playing with their grandchildren, Adam never stirred as she crawled out of bed. A half hour later, Adam shuffled down the steps and walked into the parlour. Hope poured him a cup of coffee.

  “Where is Rose?”

  She is tending to the twins.”

  The telephone rang.

  “Momma. Would you answer that?”

  Hope rushed into the kitchen. “Alex is coming for a visit,” she announced to anyone listening.

  Their son arrived within a half hour. With both his niece and nephew on his lap, Alex sat at the dining table and spoke of his plan.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Six weeks later, Stewart and Izabella were enjoying their morning coffee when Sarah entered the dining area with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders covering her dressing gown.

  “Alex asked me to give this to you.” Stewart handed a note to Sarah, something both he and Izabella had read.

  I hope you slept well. Relax and enjoy a hot bath.

  Your presence is required shortly after lunch for a trip into the city.

  I love you, Sarah.

  Alex

  Izabella walked into the kitchen, returning with a cup of coffee for Sarah. They ate their breakfast and then Sarah excused herself to change.

  Stewart and Izabella were sitting on the porch chatting, when the door opened.

  “Pardon the intrusion. Have you seen Alex?”

  “Sorry Sarah. We have not,” he informed her.

  A few minutes later, they heard the angelic sound Sarah was capable of creating on the piano.

  Izabella next saw her preparing bathwater and later reading Natasha’s diary.

  Stewart tapped on the opened bedroom door. “Lunch is ready.”

  “Have you seen Alex?” she asked, the diary in her hand. “I expected to see him by now.”

  “I have not. Come join Izabella and me for lunch.”

  With the meal over, Sarah returned to her room to change. A half hour later, Stewart looked into their room. Dressed for town, Sarah was sitting on the chair, reading the diary again.

  “A carriage has arrived for you.”

  “But I haven’t seen Alex.”

  “The gentleman cannot wait, Sarah. You are to leave within five minutes.”

  She grabbed her clutch purse and walked down the main staircase with Stewart following behind. Izabella stood at the door to the addition with a professional-looking gentleman in his mid-forties, holding a top hat. Stewart nodded to acknowledge his presence and watched as the gentleman extended his arm to Sarah. He and Izabella followed them out to the carriage.

  “We must wait for Alex,” Sarah reminded the gentleman.

  “My orders are to leave these premises by one o’clock, Madame. I was not told you would be accompanied by a gentleman.”

  “But the note stated….” She stopped speaking.

  “Allow me to assist you into the carriage”

  “We did our job,” Stewart told Izabella, He touched her hand as it rested on his shoulder. “I’ll telephone Hope and let them know Sarah is on the way.”

  “Then you must write of this in the journal. Alex requested you describe Sarah’s day. You don’t write as often as you once did.”

  “No. The younger generation is writing. I enjoy reading Hope’s entries. My heart is consumed with love and pride. I couldn’t love Sarah or Richard more if they shared my blood. Rose and Richard are content with their own family and now, Sarah and Alex will be even more content. My heart is warm when thinking of my family.”

  * * *

  Hope ended the phone call with her poppa.

  “Rose, Sarah is on the way.”

  “Thanks Momma. I’ll get changed.”

  Hope followed her daughter up the stairs. Dressed for their outing, Hope stepped out of the spare room, walked down the hallway and looke
d into the nursery.

  “Alexander,” she scolded, seeing him looking out the window. “The carriage is due to arrive.”

  “I’m aware of that,” he replied, without a care in the world.

  She gave her head a shake. If Sarah saw him, his entire plan would be ruined. “Did you speak with Sarah’s parents?”

  Alex stepped back from the window and looked at her. “Yes. We had a good visit although I was nervous. Her poppa was shocked when I asked for his blessing.”

  “Shocked, but pleased?”

  “Very pleased. They think of me as their second son. Every time I see them, they still thank me profusely for the work done on their home.”

  “Yes. They feel indebted. Have you forgotten anything?”

  Alex pointed to the small box on his sister’s bed. “My list has been completed. I will bathe and dress and be gone when you return.”

  “We will be back within three hours. I love you, Alex.” She kissed his cheek.

  “I love you, Momma. Enjoy your day.”

  Hope was on the porch with Rose when the driver stopped in front of the house. Richard and Adam stepped outside with the twins in their arms.

  “I love shopping,” Rose announced. She took her place beside Sarah. “Poppa and Richard will remain with the twins.”

  “Where is Alex?” Sarah asked as she looked toward the house.

  “He wouldn’t appreciate a day of shopping,” Rose blurted.

  Hope took her seat beside her daughter and the chatter continued. The carriage stopped in front of Valentine’s.

  “I appreciate the connection to the family, but I lack occasions for more clothing from this store. I treat myself to a few gowns for my performances at the concert hall and, of course, we bought ourselves new gowns for Alex’s party, but—”

  “Izabella has raved about the latest fashions,” Rose announced. “It is a perfect day to model some new gowns.”

  Sarah stepped from behind the barrier in a dark top and coordinating skirt. The black lace top wrapped around her breasts and waist, forming a V-neck at the front and tied at the back, draping to the floor. The lace sleeves puffed softly from her shoulder to her elbow then fit firmly down to her wrist. The black silk skirt flowed softly to the floor. Sarah was positively glowing.