Chapter 8

The Queen of Hearts was bustling, they didn't have many customers yet, but the staff was anticipating a busy night ahead of them. So they scurried about tidying, while the kitchen staff prepared the special for that night. Lucas was there overseeing that everything was being taken care of when he saw Nathan enter. He was still wearing his red serge, and he wore a serious expression on his face. Lucas was pretty sure he was here an account of Miss Benson...or rather his wife. It was hard for Lucas to come to terms with Amelia being here in Hope Valley, and in fact married to Nathan. They already had enough conflict between them on account of Elizabeth. Lucas truly was in love with Elizabeth, but he struggled with the aspect of being a father before he was truly ready. But he sensed that Elizabeth still held back from him, and he knew that was because of Nathan. Now Amelia Grant was in town, and it brought up some very painful memories for Lucas. The main one being Charolette Ward.

Lucas and Charlotte had a whirlwind romance and he had been on the verge of proposing to her. The problem had been Amelia's father. The longer he remained in Ottawa, the more entrenched he became in Mr Benson's businesses. When he told Mr Benson, he wanted out, he was threatened and beaten for he knew things that could put Mr Benson and several others behind bars. He regretted ever investing with Mr Benson, and as far as he could see he needed to leave Ottawa. So he went to Charolette, and asked her to run away with him. She had refused...she wanted him to stay for a while, see if things would calm down with Mr Benson. If they didn't she had promised she would go with him. But Lucas couldn't wait...and he was afraid if he went to the police that he would go to prison as well, even though he never did anything illegal. That had been the last time he had seen Charolette.

At this point Nathan had made his way over to Lucas. "Bouchard, we need to talk."

"I figured as much, let's go into my office." Lucas offered and led the way. He offered Nathan a seat and calmly stared, "I take it this has to do with your wife."

Nathan nodded his head, then he said with authority "Amelia told me about knowing you back in Ottawa. She also told me you had been in business with her father. But Lucas, I am warning you...You had better not inform him of her whereabouts."

"I have no desire to contact that man for anything." Lucas stated.

Nathan frowned in confusion, this was not what he had expected to hear, although he was pleased he could rest easier about Amelia. "Explain yourself." He demanded. Nathan's Mountie training was kicking in, and he suspected Lucas knew something.

Lucas took a deep breath, and he told Nathan everything, including about Charolette. He told of the beating he received because he had insight into their smuggling operations as well as their moonshine rings around the country. Nathan would have to investigate into this information further especially after Lucas pulled some paperwork out of his safe. They were signed letters by Mr Benson and they addressed many of his illegal business dealings. Lucas admitted to having stole them before he ran away.

"The most scary information though was just something I overheard. I had a meeting with Mr Benson and was instructed to wait outside his office. After a little while I heard an argument, they were talking about Ottawa's city mayor a Mr Poplar who had been murdered. Mr Benson was refusing to pay the man he was talking to, he had said "you couldn't get rid of him, so I had to hire someone else. Now leave before the same outcome befalls you..." And that is all I know." Lucas finished.

Nathan now took a deep breath, he figured he should inform Bill. Ottawa was out of Nathan's jurisdiction, so he would need Bill's help to address this case. He kept the papers as evidence. Nathan had one other concern to speak with Lucas about before heading home. "So if you were in love with this Charolette, what happened with her later on? And what about Elizabeth?" Even though Nathan didn't love Elizabeth anymore he still didn't want anyone to hurt her like she had hurt him.

"Charolette married about four months after I left, a friend sent me a letter informing me. But I do love Elizabeth. I just think she still has feelings for you." Lucas explained sadly.

"I think there is still a chance there for you two. But she will need time."

"I thought I was giving her time, although to be honest I have some things to work through as well."

"What things?" Nathan asked.

"I don't know if I am ready to be a father, and if Elizabeth would ever consider marrying me, I would be one instantly. The other thing, I want her to love me, and I don't think she does."

Nathan felt Lucas' pain, for just earlier in the day he saw love in Elizabeth's eyes looking directly at him. However, if Lucas truly loved her...he might be able to help her grow to love him if he took an interest in her son. "You know, I didn't feel ready to be a father either. When Colleen died and Allie came to live with me, I was clueless on what to do. I just kept trying to be what she needed me to be. Took an interest in things she liked, and with time our relationship grew stronger. With someone Jacks age, just playing with him and his toys, giving him a treat or something like that could be a start. If you did tried that I guarantee Elizabeth would notice."

Lucas looked uncomfortable with the turn in conversation, it had struck him and he felt embarrassed he didn't think of trying those ideas on his own. But he thank Nathan sincerely. Then he said, "Just so you know Nathan, Amelia's father likes to control everything. He will come and find her, so be prepared for him. And if need be, know that I have your back." Nathan thanked Lucas and took his leave while still holding the paper evidence against his wife's father.

Amelia was a nervous wreck when Nathan got home after his talk with Lucas. Nathan smiled at her a took her in his arms soothing her nerves somewhat.

"He said he wouldn't tell your father you are here." He whispered in her ear.

Amelia pulled back looking in Nathan's eyes, "Should we believe him Nathan, is he trust worthy? After all he did break my friend Charolette's heart."

"Yes, he told me all about his dealings with your father and your friend Charolette, he seemed genuinely sad about what happened with her. Plus he promised to help if your father did find you."

"Oh...that was nice of him." Amelia commented. Nathan pulled her back somewhat so he could see her better and asked her how much she knew about her father's businesses. She replied that she knew her father was not always honorable, but that since she was a women her father wouldn't discuss business in her presence. He thought women should keep out of the men's business as he so called it.

Nathan chose not to tell her everything Lucas told him, he thought it would only scare her all the more if she knew her father may have been involved in murder. He also wondered a little bit about Amelia's mother's life...how difficult had her life been married to a man like that. From what Amelia had said when her father married her mother, he already had two sons from his first wife who had died. Then Amelia's mother had another son for him before Amelia was born. Amelia had said her father took little interest in her and primarily left her mother to raise her. The boys on the other hand, he pushed to excel in school and as they got older they joined in with his businesses. So when Amelia's mother died it was extremely devastating to her and she had felt all alone even though her father and brothers were around. Her friends and charity work at a local orphanage had been her only comfort.

Amelia started to calm down by this point and pulled completely out of Nathan's arms to pull their dinner out of the oven. Nathan had noticed the delicious smells when he got home, but now his mouth started watering as the smells intensified. That's also when Allie came bouncing in through the doorway.

"Oh wow, that smells really good Aunty Amelia. Uncle Nathan never made anything that smelled that good." Nathan tried to look affronted by his nieces statement, but Amelia just laughed. Allie joined in on the laughter until Nathan couldn't keep up his persona of being offended any longer and they all had a good healthy laugh together.

Once everyone had settled down they sat down to eat they dinner, where Nathan said a prayer before they all dug in.

"This is amazing, you should have found her sooner Uncle Nathan." Allie exclaimed while she took another bite. Nathan agreed while her looked over and winked at his wife, she started blushing almost instantly. Throughout dinner Amelia and Allie got to know one another better, with Nathan chiming in once in a while to add his dad jokes in. Amelia laughed at all of them and Allie concluded that her new Aunt Amelia was perfect for her Uncle, because his jokes seriously were not that funny.

At last Amelia brought over her cake and served a piece for each of them, although Nathan ended up eating two in the end. It was her grandmothers secret recipe and when the bakery was around it was obviously one of their best sellers. People would request it way in advance for weddings or other get togethers they had planned. Nathan and Allie had never had anything like it before, the cafe had good baked good but nothing that competed with this.

The evening wore on and after dinner was done and everything cleaned up, Nathan told stories of his experiences raising a young girl on his own. Some of those stories much to Allie's dismay were rather embarrassing for her. So Amelia shared some of her own embarrassing stories as well, for she wanted her new niece/daughter to feel comfortable. Eventually the time came for Allie's bedtime, so she would be refreshed for school the next day. So she said goodnight and headed upstairs.

Amelia blushed as soon as Allie was out of sight, she was very comfortable around Nathan. But this would be their first time sharing a room together. Nathan suggested she head upstairs and get ready, he was trying to make things less awkward for them both. So that is what she did, what she didn't expect was to fall into a deep sleep the second her head hit the pillow. The stress from her in counter with Lucas had caught up with her and so there she was fast asleep.

That is what Nathan saw when he entered their room, she was in a restful deep sleep. Her face also wore a peaceful expression, which he was glad for. He didn't want her worrying over her father, that was his job as her protector. When he was ready he climbed in bed next to her and since she was asleep he pulled her close and just held her. He didn't get much sleep that night, he kept thinking of how best to protect her and he felt an even deeper affection for her than he thought would have been possible.