Chapter 12 The Thatcher's

Lucas escorted Elizabeth and Jack up to the door. He took a deep breath. Elizabeth opened it and her parents immediately rose and walked over to greet them.

"Mother, father what are you doing here?"

"Well, we received your letter and after you told us about Lucas, I called Helen and she told me they were coming for a visit next week and we all decided to get together."

"Wait you know the Bouchard's?" Elizabeth said with a confused look on her face.

Grace hugged Lucas, "It has been a long time my boy since we have seen you! You have grown into a very handsome man!"

Lucas leaned in for her hug a little stiffly completely confused. "How exactly do you know my parents?"

"Obviously, you don't remember biting me on the ankle as a young boy!" William Thatcher chuckled.

"Oh my goodness! That was you? I am so sorry about that Mr. Thatcher. I had no idea." Lucas apologized.

"Please call me William. There is no need to apologize. You were so young.

"We go way back with your parents Lucas! We often attended all the same garden parties. I am surprised you children do not remember each other. You were inseparable for a long time as children. This must be destiny. We used to wonder about you two at one point. We almost arranged for you two to be wed to each other when you were older. Your father would not have it though Lucas!" Grace explained.

Lucas and Elizabeth just looked at each other so confused. Lucas and William carried in packages from their trip. "I don't remember much from back then. I would have to agree about this being my destiny. I want nothing more than to marry Elizabeth! She and Jack belong with me. They are my whole world! Mr. Thatcher, I would love nothing more than to make Elizabeth my wife! May I have your blessing?

"Well you have my blessing!"

We can not wait until your parents arrive and we get to catch up." Mr. Thatcher told him as he patted him on the shoulder.

Elizabeth and Julie just froze. They had know idea what was happening. This was all front page news to them. "I don't know what to say! I guess this will make things easier!" Elizabeth stated still trying to process all of this information.

"Is this my handsome grandson?" Grace asked as she reached for Jack. He was being a little shy and clung to Lucas.

"It's okay Jack, go ahead." Lucas told him. Jack hesitantly went to Grace.

"How long are you staying here in Hope Valley?" Lucas asked them.

"As long as your parents do I suppose!" Grace responded. "I can not wait to catch up with your mother Lucas!"

"Well I have plenty of room at my house, you can stay with me." Lucas said. In his mind things just kept getting more and more complicated. He had a bad feeling that Elizabeth was going to find out about his surprise.

"Well maybe I will go stay with mother and father!" Julie grinned.

"Julie, you most certainly will not!" Elizabeth said in a forceful tone. She knew exactly what Julie was up to.

"I want to go with Lucas!" Jack blurted out.

"It is fine if he wants to come for the evening." Lucas said.

"Okay Jack! Just for tonight you can go with Lucas."

Jack started jumping up and down excitedly. "Yay!"

They sat down and Elizabeth told them all about their Union City trip. Julie just swooned. "He is so thoughtful, handsome, and romantic."

"I am still in the room Julie!" Lucas said with a smile as he flashed his dimples at Elizabeth.

Everyone started laughing. Elizabeth continued to catch up with her parents and fill them in on everything that had been happening. They visited until after dinner. (Lucas offered to have them follow him home.)

Elizabeth walked Lucas to the door while William and Grace were gathering some things for the evening for Jack. They stepped outside, wrapping his arms around her, he gave her a gentle kiss, she responded by deepening the kiss.

She pulled back. "Lucas I don't want you to leave anymore! I am ready to be a family. I don't want to waste any more time. I know how this is supposed to end. What are we waiting for?"

'Elizabeth, what do you want? I just want you to be my wife. At the end of the day, that is all that matters to me." He said softly as he gently kissed her forehead.

"I don't have your patience Lucas. I don't want to wait. I want to get married! " Elizabeth responded by kissing him.

"You have no idea what you are doing to me!" He leaned in and gently kissed her neck. "Elizabeth, give me a few days to figure this out! I had a big proposal planned."

"I don't need a big proposal! Lucas I just need you everyday!"

He leaned down and kissed her passionately. He slowly began moving his hands up her sides.

The door opened and they pulled apart. "I love you Elizabeth! See you tomorrow!"

"I love you too! Good night!"

Lucas put Jack in his car with him and William and Grace followed them. After a few minutes driving, they turned on a brick road that looked very new.

"This is a beautiful part of town!" Grace told William.

They passed in between the tree line opening to a stunning home. The beautiful brick driveway ended in a roundabout and at the center was a large Fraser fir. The landscaping was very well maintained and the home was gorgeous. Lucas exited his car with Jack. William and Grace did as well.

"Lucas this is gorgeous!" Grace told him.

"Since the Industrial revolution and the end of the war it has become easier to get materials other than lumber. Limestone has become more readily available. I did have to sell my first born though." He laughed. "I had this house built for Elizabeth and Jack about four months ago. I have not told her about it. I was hoping to keep it a surprise until I proposed to her on Christmas Eve. I hope you will help me to keep it a surprise."

"We will do our best!" Grace replied.

"Shall I take your bags inside?" Lucas offered as he opened the front door.

"That would be lovely!" Grace stepped inside and her mouth dropped at the beautiful artistry! "Lucas this is amazing! How did you pull this off?"

"I had a lot of help. I had some friends as well who owed me some favors. It did not come without cost though. I sold two of my previous investments to pay for it." He told them.

"She is going to love it. I imagine it is nice to have all the conveniences that you used to have in Montreal." Grace smiled.

"It is! It is also nice to be secluded and close to town." He replied. "Feel free to help yourselves to anything you need. Let me show you to your room and feel free to look around. I will put you in the last room on the right."

"It's gorgeous Lucas!" Grace smiled. "This is a huge home something out of the ordinary for Hope Valley. You must want children to have built such a large residence.

"I have always dreamed of having a large family. I would love nothing more than to have more children with Elizabeth siblings for Jack to grow up with. Nothing could make me happier!" He stated.

Grace spent the rest of the evening checking out the home and playing with Jack.

"Come see my room grandma!" Jack ran excitedly to his room to show Grace the horsey and all his wooden toys. Grace was enjoying getting to know her grandson. William and Lucas sat down at the card table and had drinks, while discussing business and politics. Lucas told William about the proposal for the railroad. They agreed to table the discussion until after Lucas's father arrived next week.

"Elizabeth wants to get married now!" Lucas told William conflicted.

"So what's the problem?" William asked.

"I had a Christmas eve proposal planned followed by a dance here at the house inviting our closest friends." Lucas responded.

"Lights, decorations, ornaments, sleigh ride, the whole works. I wanted it to be special!"

"Why can't she still have that? William asked.

"It's only Thanksgiving!" Lucas responded.

"What if we helped get this place decorated? Just because it's not Christmas doesn't mean Elizabeth can't have a Christmas proposal?"

"You're right! I can propose after my parents arrive and we can all share in our joy!" I wonder what she will think about getting married here on Thanksgiving Day! It is too cold to use the bridge, which was what I had originally been thinking!"

"Let's make it happen!" Lucas said with a huge smile on his face.

Elizabeth and Julie remained downstairs talking and drinking tea. There was a knock on the door and Rosemary entered.

"Elizabeth was that your father I saw, following Lucas out of here in his car?"

"Yes Rosemary!"

'This is wonderful both sets of parents will be here for Thanksgiving! Is there something special we should know about?" Rosemary asked with a slight chuckle.

"I don't know! Lucas hasn't really said anything. Apparently our parents know each other though! They read my letter and called Helen and then decided to come surprise us. They are staying with Lucas!" Elizabeth told her.

"At Lucas's house?" She grinned. "We should go visit them tomorrow. Don't you find it odd Elizabeth, that Lucas has never invited you out to his home?"

"I am sure they will come into town in the morning and you can visit with them. No, I don't. Lucas told me it was a surprise, because he knows how I love a good surprise! He is waiting to tell me about it in his own time. He assured me it would not be too much longer. I think it has something to do with Christmas! So if both of you would just back off, he might spend more time around here. He feels like you are putting to much pressure on him!" Elizabeth said.

"Fine Elizabeth! I will really try; now tell me about your Union City trip."

Elizabeth spent the rest of the evening drinking tea and talking with Julie and Rosemary. They talked about Thanksgiving plans, their families, their trip and Lucas. Julie had a mad crush on her hopefully soon to be brother in law. Elizabeth found it quite disconcerting and not sure what to do about it. They talked until 10:30 and then they parted and went to bed.

The next week they settled in a comfortable routine. Lucas would bring William and Grace into town with him when he came in the morning and they would spend the day with Julie and Jack while Elizabeth was teaching. Lucas was going to need the whole town on board if he was going to pull this off. Grace and William made sure as to invite everyone and solicit their help in decorating. They had sworn everyone to secrecy. Lucas had talked to Rosemary about making Elizabeth a gown for the dance. He was going to be wearing a white coat with tails and wanted her to have a blue gown knowing how it would bring out her beautiful blue eyes. They would walk around town and just visit with the townsfolk, getting to know them until Lucas finished for the day and then they would all have dinner at the saloon before returning to their homes. Friday evening as they were all walking out of the saloon for the evening a beautiful 1918 Daimler pulled up and stopped and four people got out!

"Father! Mother!" Lucas announced as he hugged them both.