Chapter 3 The Flu

It was early and Lucas had managed to get enough sleep. He got up and took his time to per-fect his appearance as he always did. If he was going to walk Elizabeth to school, he had to be up early. He double checked himself in the mirror and then headed downstairs, grabbing a bite of breakfast, and then taking some muffins for Elizabeth. He began his leisurely stroll through town to Elizabeth's stopping only for the red rose he was going to deliver. He walked up and knocked on the door.

Elizabeth opened the door and Lucas eyebrows rose. She was still in her nightwear and she looked very pale.

"Elizabeth! Are you feeling unwell?"

"Yes! I did not sleep last night and run a fever most of the night."

"Here let me help you back to bed and I will go get Faith!"

He sat the rose on the table and picked her up and carried her back upstairs and set her down gently on her bed as if she was a porcelain doll and he didn't want to break her. He pulled the covers up over her and kissed her hand.

"I will be right back."

Lucas went into town and told Faith what was going on. "We spent a whole day yesterday delivering homework to sick children, she must have caught it." Lucas said.

Faith grabbed her medical supplies already having an idea that Elizabeth had the flu, since it was going around. She and Lucas headed back to Elizabeth's. They walked upstairs to find her fast asleep. Faith gently shook her arm to wake her.

"Elizabeth, Can you wake up?" Faith asked.

"Oh, hi Faith."

"I am going to examine you and give you some medicine."

"Okay!"

After checking her sinuses, her vitals, and her temperature she confirmed it was indeed the flu.

"What does that mean exactly?" Lucas asked.

"She will need to stay in bed for at least a week, drink lots of tea with cinnamon, chicken soup and try to limit interaction with as many people as possible. I have given her some aspirin for the fever." Faith told them.

"What about Jack?" Lucas asked.

"It would probably be better if Jack stayed somewhere else until Elizabeth is better. He is so young. Limited exposure is better." Faith replied.

"Lucas, Can you take Jack over to Lee and Rosemary?" Elizabeth asked.

"That won't work!"Faith said, "Rosemary has it too!"

"I guess he is going to stay with me." Lucas said. "I will have Laura come to my house for the next week to baby-sit and I will pay her extra for the change in plans."

"Lucas, Are you sure about this?" Elizabeth asked.

"Am I sure Jack can stay with me? Of course I am!" He said adamantly. "Now whether we both make it or not with our sanity will be the test." He laughed.

Elizabeth chuckled and proceeded to give Lucas all the instructions he needed to take care of Jack. She made sure he knew when bedtime was, where his clothes were, what foods he liked. She also told him about potty training. She let him know that Jack was almost potty trained.

"Thank Goodness for that." Lucas thought.

"Lucas?" Elizabeth said adoringly.

"Yes!" he responded.

"There is one more thing I need you to do for me." Elizabeth looked at him with the most pathetic look.

"What's that?"

"I need you to teach for me for the next week?"

"Excuse me come again? Did you just ask me to teach school to the town's children? He said sarcastically. What would you like me to teach them Elizabeth; magic tricks and business principles of gambling?" He chuckled.

"Ha Ha, Very funny! She gave him the less than amused look. "Just teach them French the first half of the class and literature the second half of the class she instructed him."

"You must have a lot more faith in me than I have in myself Elizabeth." He grinned. "This is going to be an interesting week."

Faith was still standing there and was feeling very amused by their conversation. She was trying to picture Lucas taking on all of this and the idea was very funny.

Lucas walked Faith out and then made Elizabeth some hot tea with cinnamon. He also put some crackers on a tray. He took them up to her.

"Here this is for you love!"

"Lucas, I'm sorry and thank you for doing all this!"

"Elizabeth as much as I tease you, you know I would move mountains for you! It is always my pleasure."

He kissed her forehead, and heard a knock on the door.

"That is probably Laura. I will get her to help me with Jack's things and then take her to my house before checking in on Gustav and heading to school. I love you Elizabeth and I will check on you everyday. I will bring you a big pot of chicken soup when I come back this evening."

Laura and Lucas packed up Jacks clothes and some of his toys and they all left together. Lucas took Laura and Jack to his house and showed them around.

When Jack saw his room he immediately giggled,"Horsey!"

"This is where you live?!" She said surprised.

"Yes! But Laura I'd like you to keep this place a secret. I had this place built a couple months ago with Elizabeth and Little Jack in mind. His room is all set up upstairs next to mine. I guess you could say I gambled on love and hopefully there is only one way this love story will end! If it hadn't worked out I was just going to sell it. I want to surprise Elizabeth with this place when we get married, hopefully sooner than later.

"That is so sweet Mr. Bouchard! I will do my best, but wow! She is going to be so happy and Jack's room is amazing!"

"Okay, well make yourself at home with anything you need, and after I get done this evening with school, the library, the oil company, the saloon, and Elizabeth I will be here to take you home.

Lucas still had one hour before school was supposed to start so he began his adventure for the week. He thought to himself,"If I get through this week, I must be superman! How in the world am I going to keep up with all of this?" He rubbed his hands over his head and headed for town.