Hello! :-) Here is my latest chapter which I hope you will enjoy. My continuous thanks to those of you who are reading and reviewing and checking out this story and making it a fave or a follow. I appreciate all of you very much. :-)

Chapter 21

This week I am excited for three things: Rosemary and Lee are arriving home tomorrow, and Lucas and I cannot wait to hear how things went with Lillian and Grace and what they thought of Naomi and Noah. We are so excited and hopeful for them. I am also excited because this is the last week of school, and today I am taking Jack to the classroom to show him around and to watch him interact with the other students. I have thought about this day for a while now when my son would be a student in my classroom. Of course, my heart is a little heavy that his father Jack won't be the one to walk him to school with me on that first day, as I had always imagined when Jack and I were together, especially to the school named after him, but I know Lucas is as thrilled as I am about our son starting school in the fall and can't wait to be there with him when he officially becomes my student.

Later this week, we will have our graduation ceremony. Robert is graduating, and I am so happy for him. I think he is still undecided about becoming a mountie, so I believe he will remain in Hope Valley for the time being. I couldn't be more pleased or prouder of him. He is a fine young man, and I know he will succeed at whatever he decides to pursue. Cody and Anna will be graduating next year. It's so hard for me to believe that some of my very first students are moving into the next phase of their lives. Time is marching on. No doubt about it.

Lucas and Jack coming into her view signaled Elizabeth to put down her pen and close her journal, but she knew she had much more to say when time allowed.

"Are you ready, Jack?" Elizabeth asked as she bent down to look at what he was wearing.

She approved of his light brown pants and white shirt.

"Daddy chose a nice outfit for you, didn't he?" she asked. "You look so handsome."

Jack nodded. "I like."

"I can walk both of you to school," Lucas offered once more.

He and Elizabeth had discussed the subject the previous night, but Elizabeth told Lucas they would be fine.

"Thank you," she said, giving him a warm smile. "But I want you to have that honor on our son's first day of school. This is just for him to see where he and I will soon be spending our days and for him to interact with the other children in a classroom environment."

"I understand."

As Elizabeth rose, Lucas knelt in front of Jack.

"You have fun today, okay, but listen to your mother and do whatever she tells you, all right? I want this to be a good experience for you."

Jack nodded once again. "I will, Daddy."

Lucas hugged him. "I love you. I can't believe you will be going to school soon, but we know you are ready."

"I tell you all about it," Jack promised.

Lucas looked at him and smiled. "You'd better."

Elizabeth walked Lucas to the door where they said their goodbyes and shared a kiss.

"I'll call you later," she said, "to let you know how it went."

"I'd like that," he told her and smiled. "I'm going to be busy, but I look forward to hearing from you, especially since I may be home later than usual tonight."

"Then I will definitely call because I'll miss you."

Lucas gave her a searing look. "I already miss you, but I'd better go."

Elizabeth chuckled as she gently pushed him out the door. He smiled and said good morning to Clara who returned his greeting as she passed him on the street, ready to take Amelia to the Coulters to begin her day of caregiving.

Jesse looked up from the paperwork on his desk when he heard the office door open and saw Hickam stepping inside.

"Good morning," Hickam said, striding closer to Jesse's desk.

"'Mornin'. What brings you here so early?"

"Do you have a minute to talk?"

"Sure. Pull up a chair."

Jesse tossed his pen onto the papers on his desk and slouched back in his chair as Mike pulled up a guest chair from Lee's desk.

"How's it been with Lee gone?"

Jesse nodded. "It's been okay, but I'm glad he and Rosemary are coming home tomorrow."

"Fiona is, too. I think a few more days would have been too much."

"I feel the same way, but it's good to know I can handle most of the work while he's gone. I hope they come home with good news."

"You haven't heard from him?"

"Not a word. How about Fiona?"

"Same. Hopefully, they've been too busy taking care of things and enjoying their mini vacation to think about contacting us."

"That's what I'm hoping, too, and I'm sure that's it."

"Fiona and I had a nice time the other night with you and Clara. We should do that more often."

Jesse grinned. "We said the same thing. Yes. Let's plan to spend more evenings together."

"Speaking of Clara and Fiona, I do have a question for you."

"Shoot."

Hickam rubbed is hands together as he thought about how he wanted to approach this particular subject. His nervous movements were not lost on Jesse.

"How did you know…I mean, how were you sure…"

He stopped and sighed and told himself to just ask the question.

"I guess what I want to ask is…how did you know when it was the right time to propose to Clara?"

A knowing grin spread across Jesse's handsome features as he sat up straighter in his chair.

"That is awesome, man. You're thinking of proposing to Fiona, aren't you?"

Hickam looked down for a moment to avoid Jesse's excited expression and then looked up to see his friend smiling at him, seemingly sincere and interested.

"I bought the ring, and I've been thinking about it, but I just…I don't know if the time is right. How did you know?"

Jesse shrugged. "Clara and I had known each other a long time. I knew Clara was the only woman I wanted to spend my life with, and when she stood by me and helped me through my troubles, I knew we could build a life together. I wanted to do right by her, though, so I know what you're saying about timing. Lee helped me a lot. Maybe he can help you, too."

"Maybe," Hickam said, not sounding confident.

Jesse snapped his fingers. "You know who you should talk to about this?"

"Who?" Mike asked.

"Lucas. You guys are friends, and you know what he went through, trying to figure out if he and Elizabeth were meant to be. He could give you advice on what steps to take to find out if Fiona seems ready to take the next step."

Mike took Jesse's words under advisement. "He has seen us together. He practically brought us together. I had no idea Fiona had any interest in me until she talked to Lucas about it. Maybe you're right. Maybe Lucas can help me. Thanks, Jesse. I'll talk to him."

"Sure. No problem. Good luck, Mike. I think Fiona would be foolish not to accept your proposal, but I know you want to be as sure as you can be before you ask. Let me know if Clara and I can help. Don't forget. Clara and Fiona are close. Maybe Clara can help, too."

"Thanks, Jesse. I'll keep all of that in mind. Well, I'd better get to the office before Henry sends out a search party for me."

Jesse laughed.

Mike returned the chair to the front of Lee's desk and saw the open catalog advertising swings. He smiled and turned to look at Jesse.

"Looks like Lee is thinking ahead. Is he going to order a swing set for the children?"

Jesse nodded and rose from his chair to stand next to Mike. He, too, looked at the catalog.

"He was talking about it before they left. He didn't have time to make a decision. He and Lucas are going in on one together for the kids. What a fun idea."

Mike looked at Jesse. "I could build this for them. They don't need to order one. I would love to do it, and maybe we can all work on it together. That would give me an opportunity to talk to Lucas and Lee about my situation in a more casual environment. What do you think?"

"If you can do it and have the time, I think it's great. I'll definitely help. We have the lumber and can get the supplies, so that's not a problem."

Mike picked up the catalog to take a closer look at the picture.

"I can definitely do this with some help, and I would like to. Lee's been a good friend to me and so has Lucas, not to mention they've both been my employers. I'll definitely talk to them."

Jesse clapped Mike on the back. "I like the way you think. Count me in."

As the students played outside for their last recess of the day, Opal and Allie assured Elizabeth they would watch out for Jack, so she felt comfortable letting him enjoy the company of the other children. While writing their last homework assignments for the school year on the chalkboard, Elizabeth reflected on how well the day had gone. Jack had behaved properly and was interested in his surroundings and what the students were working on. He listened intently when his mother stood at the front of the classroom to teach history and math. He squirmed only a few times when she could tell he was getting restless. He remained seated until she dismissed the class for recesses and for lunch. She knew Lucas would be so proud of him and happy for him and her that the day had gone so well. She smiled as she heard the children's chatter and laughter outside.

"Are you excited to be starting school soon, Jack?" Opal asked, as the children gathered around to hear his answer.

"Yes," he said, looking at them. "Mama teach me."

"That's right," Anna said. "But your mother is Mrs. Bouchard to us."

Jack giggled.

"I think it's neat," Robert said, "that I will be leaving and you will be coming to the school that was named after your father, and you will have your mother as your teacher. How awesome is that? I wonder how many kids can say that about the school they attend."

"Huh?" Jack asked. "School not my daddy."

"Sure it is," Cody said. "It's the Jack Thornton School."

"That's not my daddy," Jack said, shaking his head, clearly confused.

"Well, he was your father," Emily said. "That's why the school is named after him and so are you."

"We loved Mountie Jack," Opal said, her voice a mix of wistfulness and sadness.

"He's not my daddy!" Jack cried, wanting them to stop saying that.

He knew who his father was and it was not this Jack Thornton person they kept talking about.

"But we like Mr. Bouchard, too," she quickly added when she saw the young boy's face turning red.

Allie noticed Jack becoming more distressed and asked the others to please stop talking about Constable Thornton.

"It's okay, Jack," she said. "We didn't mean to upset you."

"I gonna go see Mama," Jack said, turning and racing up the stairs as fast as his little legs could carry him.

"What did we do?" Robert asked, confused. "I thought he would know about the school being named after his father. It's a good thing."

"Obviously, he didn't," Allie said, shaking her head. "C'mon, Opal. Let's go tell Mrs. Bouchard what happened."

Still smiling, Elizabeth turned from the chalkboard when she heard small footsteps stomping into her classroom. She saw her son, red-faced and with tears in his eyes running towards her.

"Jack, slow down," she said. "I don't want you to run in the classroom. You might fall and hurt yourself. What is wrong?"

"They say I have a different daddy!" Jack cried, pointing to the students outside.

As the piece of chalk she held in her hand broke in two, Elizabeth's heart sank, her stomach churned and her throat closed. This could not be happening.

"Who is Mountie Jack? They say I have the same name and that he's my daddy but he's not," Jack said, his voice trembling. "I know who my daddy is. I told them I know my daddy."

Elizabeth tried to compose herself so she could talk to Jack without becoming emotional even as one of her worst fears began to materialize right before her eyes. Her son looked so lost and confused and sad. Her heart broke for him and for her and Lucas. This was not the way this important conversation was supposed to go nor was this the setting where she wanted to have this particular discussion.

"Jack, sweetie, come here," she said, her voice soothing even if a bit shaky. "It's okay, son. It's all right."

With a heavy heart, she sat down in her desk chair and pulled him onto her lap, ready to try to calm him down when Opal and Allie entered the classroom.

"We're so sorry, Mrs. Bouchard," Opal said, as she and Allie stood in the middle of the room. "We didn't know. We thought Jack knew. None of us meant to upset him."

"It's okay," Elizabeth said, holding up her hand so they would stop talking. "I know this is not anybody's fault. Mr. Bouchard and I will handle the situation from here. I ask that you go outside to let the others know you have been granted an extra long recess. Please close the doors on your way out. I will come get all of you when I am ready."

Opal and Allie, looking miserable and contrite, nodded and apologized once more to Elizabeth and to Jack. Elizabeth thanked them as politely as she could and watched until they had closed the doors behind them. Only then did she turn her full attention to her son.

"I wanna see Daddy," Jack said, his lower lip quivering. "My daddy. Please, Mama?"

"Okay, Jack. We will. I will take you to see your father, but first, I have to finish my work here. Daddy and I will talk to you about this. We will explain this to you so you will understand. Everything is going to be okay, Jack. I'm sorry the children upset you, but they didn't mean to. You can forgive them, right?"

"Guess so, but I wanna see Daddy, Mama. Please?"

The innocent plea in his voice and the sadness in his blue eyes to see the only father he'd known was almost her undoing.

"I know, son," she said, hugging him close. "You will see your father. Soon. I promise."

She held him until he had calmed down and then she let him choose where he wanted to sit as she walked with him to let her students know recess was over. He chose the middle of the room on the right-hand side where he had noticed no one had been sitting.

"Are you sure that's where you want to be?"

He nodded and sniffled.

"Okay," she said, brushing the hair away from his face. "I'll be right back. I just need to give out the homework assignments, dismiss the class, and then we'll leave."

He nodded again, looking forlorn, but didn't speak. He rubbed his eyes. Elizabeth's heart broke once more as she sat down next to him, letting the children remain outside for a few minutes longer.

"Daddy and I are going to explain this to you, Jack, and it's going to be all right. We love you so much."

He nodded again. She kissed the top of his head and then went outside to call the children back in. The sooner she told them what their last homework assignments were and dismissed them the sooner she and Jack could head to the Queen of Hearts to see Lucas for what she knew was going to be a heart-wrenching scene.

"Thank you for coming for an afternoon visit," Ernie said to Molly, as the two of them sat at a table at the Queen of Hearts.

Molly smiled. "Thank you for the invitation. You know I always enjoy spending time with you."

"And I, you," Ernie said, reaching for her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"You said you had something you wanted to ask me."

"I do. Please don't feel as though you have to give me an answer right away, but I wanted to let you know I received my invitation to Julie and Alexander's wedding in August in Hamilton. I wanted to ask if you would do me the honor of attending as my guest."

Molly looked thrilled. "Oh my. That is a lovely invitation. I can only imagine how beautiful that wedding will be."

"We would need to travel and stay at least overnight. I will make all the arrangements once I have your answer. I hope you will at least consider saying yes."

Before Molly could respond, a frantic Elizabeth and Jack entered the saloon and made a beeline for Ernie.

"Hello," she said to Ernie and Molly. "Do you know where Lucas is?"

She didn't see him behind the bar or mingling with the guests when they'd first entered.

"He's in his office," Ernie said. "Is everything okay? You and Jack look upset."

"We're okay," she said. "Thank you. We just need to see Lucas."

As Ernie and Molly exchanged questioning glances, Elizabeth and Jack hurried towards Lucas's office. They found the door closed. When Jack would have entered without knocking, Elizabeth stopped him.

"He could be with someone, Jack, or be talking on the phone. We can't barge in."

Sitting behind his desk checking a food supply inventory list Gustave had given him, Lucas heard the loud rap on his door.

"Come in," he said.

The door opened and to his immense surprise he saw his wife and son standing there, looking bereft.

"Daddy!" Jack cried, racing towards him and quickly climbing onto his lap, clinging to him.

"Whoa, Jack, what's wrong?" he asked, looking from the trembling little boy he now held in his arms to Elizabeth who looked ashen.

"We need to talk," she said, her voice shaking.

"Okay," Lucas said, clearly confused. "What happened? What is going on?"

While Jack clung to his father and wouldn't let him go, Lucas felt his forehead and his cheeks. His face was red and he was crying, but he didn't feel warm.

"Are you sick?" he asked, concerned. "Do you not feel well?"

"I not sick," Jack said and sniffled, burying his face in his father's chest. "I'm sad."

"Why are you sad?" he asked in a comforting voice as he held him closer and rubbed his back to try to calm him down. "Talk to me, son. Tell me what happened."

"They said you're not my daddy," Jack said, now looking at Lucas, his eyelashes wet from his tears, "but you are, right? You are my daddy, right?"

"Who said I'm not your father?" Lucas asked, looking to his wife for answers.

"The kids at school," she said and emitted a weary sigh, trying to keep her tears of sadness and frustration at bay. "Jack, honey, I know you want to be with your daddy and now you know he's right here and he's not going anywhere, but he and I need to talk. Alone. We saw Uncle Ernie. I bet he has ice cream or a cookie for you. Let me take you to him. We'll come get you soon."

Jack shook his head. "Don't want any. Wanna stay with Daddy."

"Uncle Ernie would love to spend some time with you," Lucas coaxed, smiling at the young boy who was still visibly upset. "You know you two always have fun. Gustave would like to see you, too. He's always asking me about you. Uncle Ernie will take you to the kitchen. Gustave will let you have anything you want. Anything at all."

"You promise to be here?" Jack asked, looking at Lucas through his tears. "You won't leave?"

"Son, I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. Your mother and I just want to talk about this, so I can better understand what happened. We want to help you. That's all. We don't want you to be sad. We want you to be happy and smiling, not crying."

The little boy nodded. "Okay," he said reluctantly, slowly climbing off of his father's lap.

After wiping Jack's eyes and face, Elizabeth held out her hand for him to take. They began to walk towards the door when Jack stopped to look at his father once more.

"I'm here, Jack," he said, his heart aching for the little boy who now looked so lost. "I'm right here."

Jack nodded and let his mother lead him to where Ernie and Molly still sat.

"I'm so sorry to intrude," Elizabeth said, "but can Jack stay with you for a few minutes? Lucas and I need to discuss something in private. Maybe Gustave has some ice cream or a cookie for Jack?"

"Hmm," Ernie said, seeing the young boy's frown and wanting to help him feel better. "Why don't we go see?"

Molly saw the sadness in the little boy's eyes and face and wanted to help. "Maybe Gustave has both."

Jack's eyes grew wide at those words; Elizabeth smiled.

"Thank you, Molly, but I think one or the other will be fine."

Ernie nodded. "Let's see what we can find. Molly, maybe there's a treat for you, too. Let's go see what Gustave has prepared."

Elizabeth waited until she was sure Jack would be okay with Ernie and Molly and then she returned to Lucas's office. He stood at the door waiting for her, escorted her in and then locked the door so they would not be disturbed.

"It happened, Lucas," she said without preamble, as soon as she knew it was safe to talk. "What we feared might happen did. Why didn't we talk to him sooner? What was I thinking taking him to school today? Of course, the other students would mention Jack. They attend his school."

"Sweetheart," Lucas said, standing in front of her and rubbing his palms along her upper arms to try to calm her down, "it's okay. What happened is not anybody's fault. We knew this was a possibility, but I still maintain we were right in waiting to tell him. Now, we just have to figure out how much to explain to him that he can understand."

"He's confused, Lucas. Of course, he is. If we had told him a little bit about Jack, maybe this would be easier. Now…"

"Now," Lucas said, placing a gentle finger underneath her chin so she would look at him, "we get to decide what to tell him and when. We ease his confusion. We listen to his concerns. We assure and reassure him as many times as he needs. We knew this day was coming, sweetheart, and now it's here, but it's going to be all right."

Elizabeth nodded as tears rolled unchecked down her cheeks.

"He loves you so much, Lucas. I saw it again today. He was devastated when he thought you might not be his father. He wants you to be the only father he has, and you are, but I want him to understand about Jack. You understand that, right?"

"Of course, I do. You know I want our son to know everything he can about his father. I want, as much as you do, to keep his memory alive for you and for our son. We will talk to him, but we need to decide how much to tell him now. I don't want to overwhelm him with the truth."

Elizabeth nodded. "I know. I don't either. We need him to understand that while Jack is his biological father, he is not here with us and that you are his father in every sense of the word."

"We can do that," Lucas said, gathering his wife into the security of his strong arms and holding her close, trying to ease the hurt he knew she was experiencing and reliving through all of this. "And we will. Together. As a family. Just like we always have and always will."