Chapter 13 Meet the Bouchard's
"Elizabeth, this is my father, Jonathan Bouchard."
He took her hand and placed a gentle kiss on it. "It is lovely to see you again Elizabeth! You are as beautiful today as you were when you were younger. It is wonderful to see you all again as he nodded to each of them. William it has been a long time. Let me introduce my diplomatic security officers."
"This is Alex Hutchison he is also from Hamilton."
"This is Tom Crawford from Ontario."
The men shook everyone's hands and exchanged greetings. Julie was swooning over Alex. He was about her age and from Hamilton as well. He was very cute!
"They do twelve hour shifts." He told them.
"Elizabeth it is so wonderful to see you again! You look wonderful and Jack you have gotten so big." Helen said as she hugged her. "Your book sales are going to be through the roof! It's a wonderful story Elizabeth! I can't wait for your next one." She hugged Grace and shook William's hand.
"You will be staying with me!" Lucas told them. He had just enough rooms in his six bedroom masterpiece to house their guest.
"Lucas I go to your house?" Jack said excitedly as he reached for Lucas.
"Yes Jack, you can come with me if it is okay with your mother?"
"It is fine!" Elizabeth replied with a sweet smile for her adoring Lucas.
"Elizabeth let me take your parents home then I will meet you back at your house. There are some plans I would like to discuss with you!" Lucas said as he wrapped his arm around her waist and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek.
He took William and Grace back to his home. His parents followed in their car. They arrived and everyone exited the cars, William took Jack and carried him inside.
"Lucas this is absolutely breathtaking!" Helen said.
"Thanks mother! I had it built with Elizabeth and Jack in mind four months ago."
"She will absolutely love it!" Helen assured him.
Lucas showed everyone to their rooms and asked William and Grace to fill his parents in all the details of the coming week. It was going to be an exciting one. Lucas was hoping for snow or else the sleigh ride was going to be a carriage ride instead. He headed back to Elizabeth's. He knocked on the door and Elizabeth answered.
"Can we go to the library?" He asked with a charming dimpled smile he knew Elizabeth couldn't resist.
"Are you sure you don't want to stay here?" She questioned.
"I want to be completely alone. I have some important things to discuss with you!" He smiled mysteriously.
He helped her with her coat and they took the short walk to the library enjoying holding hands and just being a couple in love. He opened the door, escorted her inside and locked the door.
"Let me take your coat?" he said as he slid it off of her shoulders. Then he hung it up on the rack. He proceeded to take off his own coat and hang it up as well.
"Lucas what's this about?"
He wrapped his arms around her from behind and softly kissed her neck, then her ear. "Thanksgiving!" He whispered in her ear. Then he slowly turned her in his arms and gently ran his left hand up her side to her neck. Then pulling her close he leaned down and kissed her deeply. She soon returned the passion. Both of them trembling and hearts racing! Lucas pulled back, still holding her close. "I'm out of patience Elizabeth! I had to get you alone if only for a little while."
"Please sit!" He said softly in that voice that always sent shivers down her spine. "Thanksgiving is less than a week away and I was thinking we should have a Thanksgiving ball at the saloon on Tuesday evening. We could have a Thanksgiving feast, invite the town, get all dressed up? What are your thoughts?"
"Lucas it sounds wonderful! Are you okay with closing the saloon for a private party?" She asked with an inquiring look?
"Absolutely! I was thinking around 6:00 p.m."
"I am so excited! I will need a new dress!" She said with an excited voice.
"Actually I already have Rosemary making you a dress because of the short notice! All you will need to do is be ready to go when I arrive at 5:45 p.m." He stated with a sly smile.
"Oh, I can't wait!" She said turning to kiss him. "I love you so much Lucas!"
"I love you too! As much as I do not want to take you home or part from you, I think we will both be safer if I take you home now!" He flashed a dimpled grin.
"Why Mr. Bouchard what do you mean?" She grabbed his lapels and pulled him in for a deep and passionate kiss.
"You are such a tease Mrs. Thornton! You have no idea what you are doing to me." He said.
"Oh, I think I know!" She whispered in his ear.
Her breath sent shivers down his spine. That was almost his undoing. He jumped up, "We should go! Soon I promise we will be together." He helped her with her coat and put on his own. He walked her back home, gave her a lingering goodnight kiss at the door and headed home.
Helen and Grace were in Jack's room playing with Jack. Jack had a whole collection of wooden trains, animals, cars, trucks which he loved. He also had a whole book case full of children's books.
"Jack it's getting late." Grace said. "You should take a bath and get ready for bed."
"Can daddy Lucas give me a bath?" Jack said.
"Daddy Lucas, Jack?" Grace questioned.
"Do I not have two daddies?" He asked.
"Yes Jack! You do!" Grace responded. Both women tearing up at Jack's questioning.
The door closed downstairs and Lucas waved at the men and made his way up the stairs to check on Jack. Lucas peeked his head in the door. "What's going on in here?"
"Lucas!" Jack ran to him. Lucas picked him up and kissed him on the forehead.
"Lucas is you my daddy?" Do I have two daddies?" Jack asked as he squeezed Lucas cheeks together to make a fish face.
He carried Jack over to the painting on the wall and pointed to Constable Thornton. Jack this is your daddy in heaven Constable Jack Thornton. "I'll be honored to be your daddy on earth!"
"Can I call you daddy Lucas?" Jack asked.
"You most certainly can!" He said with a tear in his eye.
Jack smiled and hugged him. Lucas wrapped his arms around him tighter while rubbing his back. Helen and Grace were both in tears at the sight. "You are going to be a wonderful father son!"
"Jack let's get your toys picked up and go take a bath. Then I will read you a bedtime story." Lucas told him.
Lucas finished up with Jack and said goodnight to his mother and Grace. He went downstairs where William, Jonathan, and Alex were sitting around the card table deep in conversation. He made himself a cup of tea and grabbed a deck of cards.
"Shall we play some poker?" Lucas asked.
The men agreed and spent the evening playing poker and talking.
"Lucas my son, your home is stunning. I am sure Elizabeth will love it. William tells me you sold some investments to pay for it?"
"I did!" Lucas replied.
"Well I am proud of you! We have learned of your plans with Elizabeth. We are so happy to be here to share in this special moment with you." Jonathan said.
"Do you want to talk about the railroad?" Jonathan asked.
"Father, I don't really want to think about Wyman Walden or the railroad until after Thanksgiving."
"You look like you have something else on your mind son."
"It's just Elizabeth. She consumes my every thought. I hate being away from her. I can't wait to spend every night with her."
"The time will come son. Where is that patience I taught you to have?" Jonathan chuckled.
Lucas laughed, "It has run out father!"
The men spent several hours' playing cards and laughing. They finally turned in around midnight. The next morning the artist arrived to paint the mural over the fireplace of their Union City photograph in the main room. The rest of the family started decorating for Christmas. Julie had been distracting Elizabeth. She had calmed down since Grace had filled her in on everything. Lucas and Jack got in the car and headed for Elizabeth's.
They entered. "Momma!" He ran and jumped into her arms. "Momma we live with Daddy Lucas?"
"Oh! She was shocked at Jack's words. They had caught her off guard.
"Jack go upstairs, I'll be up in a moment." She told him.
"Lucas?"
"About that, he just called me that and it caught me off guard the same way it did you. I told him about Jack his daddy in heaven and then told him I would be happy to be his daddy on earth. I hope I didn't overstep. I didn't want to say anything, he seemed so excited."
"As long as he knows about Jack that is perfectly fine." She kissed him and gave him a sweet loving smile.
"Elizabeth I have some planning to do at the saloon, I will see you this evening." Lucas kissed her one more time and headed off to the saloon.