Chapter 28 Honeymoon Part 2

Lucas showed Jack and Julie to their suite which was adjoining to theirs. They were all really excited to see the balcony suites that had French doors leading to the balcony overlooking the ocean. It was a gorgeous view.

There were several restaurants on board the ship spread throughout the deck levels of the ship containing all different varieties of food. Lucas had a plan to eat at each one of them before they got off the ship. They had eight days at sea before docking in Bora, Bora. Then they would spend ten days there enjoying the beautiful waters and scenery. Then eight days more to travel back home. Putting them back home on January 22, 1919. Just in time for their two month anniversary.

The ship had finally left port and Jack could hear the sound of the ocean as it splashed against the boat. The first evening was spent touring the ship. Jack was so excited. Ever since the Titanic in 1912 there was a pool on almost all cruise ships, and Lucas was planning to teach Jack how to swim. He knew he was up for the challenge. Elizabeth was rather excited to see it as well. The ship also had a library, an art gallery, what they called a card room this is where people would get together to play cards. There was a children's daycare on board as well, that had a toddler playground. The ship had different entertainers on board and a different act every evening at 7:00 p.m.

Lucas escorted the ladies back to their suites for the afternoon, planning to rest until about 5:00 then dress for dinner and the show. Jack was in desperate need of a nap. Lucas and Elizabeth kissed Jack so Julie could put him down and then they went and lay down as well. Lucas wrapped his arms around his beautiful wife pulling her close and turning her to face him. "I'm sorry!" was all he said.

"I know it's not your fault you are incredibly handsome! You don't have to apologize for it." She responded with a kiss.

"Even so, I should have dismissed those women sooner than I did. I lingered letting them dote on Jack and that was not right. Yes, I do have to apologize and make it up to you." He said in his low husky voice while running his fingers through her hair and placing soft kisses on her neck and up to her ear.

"You are impossible Mr. Bouchard! Even if I wanted to be mad at you I couldn't!" How did you learn how to kiss like that?" She asked.

"I don't understand what you are asking?" He grinned.

"You have a way of kissing me that makes it impossible to turn away from you. I can only assume that you have had lots of practice, because you have never mentioned your past relationships to me and I am curious." Her eyebrows rose as she waited for the response.

"Seriously, you want to discuss this now on our honeymoon?" He questioned with a puzzled look on his face.

"I'm not sure why we haven't discussed this already." She said a little ruffled at his hesitance. "I want to know you and everything about you and if that is learning how you got to be such a great kisser then I want to know that. You know about Jack, but I don't know anything about your past relationships."

Lucas was annoyed at this conversation, not because he was avoiding it, just because he didn't want to talk about it on their honeymoon. He knew once he opened up she would be upset with him and he didn't want it to change things. He knew that she couldn't hold his past relationships against him, but once he put it in her head, he was sure she would.

"Why is that relevant Elizabeth?" He asked her. "Why is it so important to know about my past relationships, it does not change who I am now or how I feel about you?"

"You said you would always be nothing but honest with me and we haven't even discussed this." Elizabeth looked sternly making him feel extremely guilty. "You always listen to me and ask about my life, but I want to know you! I don't want any surprises."

"Alright, but just know you were my first time! I did not lie when I said I would know the perfect woman for me when I met her. I knew as soon as I met you that you were the one. I used every opportunity I could to form that lasting bond. I have kissed some women. They were all women that I thought I might be able to build something with. Things never worked out as I got to know them and I realized that what we had wasn't lasting." He said.

"How many women, Lucas? She asked. "Why are you being so evasive about this?"

"I don't want there to be friction in our relationship, especially on this trip. I don't understand why it matters, because you are the only woman that I have fallen in love with! I don't care to know how many men you have kissed, nor would I want that implanted into my brain, so I don't understand your desire to know."

"It was one, other than you and that was Jack." She said affirmatively.

"Five." He said sheepishly.

"Five? Were you close to marrying any of them?" She asked with a look of surprise and determination.

Lucas was feeling extremely uncomfortable with the way this conversation was going. "I don't know. Not really. I knew it wasn't love but I was hoping to build something and in the end I just never found that immediate lasting connection with anyone but you."

"So that is why you moved around so much. You were running from love?" She said questioningly.

"I was not running from love Elizabeth, I was in search of it. When I moved to Hope Valley and met you I knew my search was finally over and I have never been happier!" He slowly placed his hand behind her neck and pulled her in for a deep passionate kiss with that look that said let's stop talking about this. He pulled back just enough. "I love you and Jack more than life Elizabeth and what we have is forever. Please don't forget that."

"I know you do!" She reassured him. "I love you too!"

Lucas thanked God and was relieved that they had hopefully moved past that conversation.

"Were they beautiful? She asked out loud totally killing his joy, asking pointed questions, he was doomed.

"Elizabeth every woman is beautiful in her own way! All of them had some beauty about them, but you my love are all consumingly beautiful. Everything about you makes me love you more and more with every breath I take." He said while passionately kissing her again.

"I know what you are doing?" She said with a tone of annoyance.

Lucas was feeling defeated at the moment. He had come to a fork in the road and chosen the wrong path and could not find his way back.

"Exactly what is that?" He asked now turning over on his back to discuss whatever it was she was preparing to talk about, knowing it was not going to end until she got the answer she was looking for.

"Every time you want to avoid a topic, you try to seduce me into forgetting the conversation which normally works in your favor and I melt and go along, but not this time." She said.

"I don't know what else you want me to say? I guess tell me the answer you are looking for so we can move past this uncomfortable situation." He said his voice now raised a little in annoyance and killing any hope of making love to his wife.

Just then there was a knock on their door. "Daddy, momma. I am hungry!" Jack said.

Lucas got out of bed and opened the door thankful this would save him for now. He got Jack dressed for dinner and the show while Elizabeth and Julie got themselves ready. Then he handed Elizabeth and Julie some money and handed Jack to Julie and sent them to the Japanese restaurant telling them he would join them shortly.

He proceeded to put on his blue suit and perfect his hair and just taking a moment to process what had just happened. It was as if someone had crawled between them while they were lying there trying to be intimate and kept pulling them in a different direction. It wasn't that he minded talking about the subject; it was just that no matter what answer he gave, he knew it would never suffice with Elizabeth.

Julie and Elizabeth took Jack down to the Taenada Restaurant down below where Lucas said he would meet them. They went in and got a table and ordered their drinks. Julie could see there was something on Elizabeth's mind?

"Alright, Beth spill it." Julie said.

"Did you know that Lucas has kissed five women?" Elizabeth said with a frown on her face.

Julie laughed. "And you are surprised by this? Elizabeth the man is 33 years old. You can not possibly have thought he had never kissed a woman before you. I am surprised it was only five to be honest."

Elizabeth was displeased with her sister's comment. "I just don't know what to think about it."

Julie spoke annoyed, "You did not do what I think you did!"

"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked curiously.

"Did you ask him about his past relationships on your honeymoon?" Julie demanded.

"I might have." Elizabeth said hesitantly.

"Elizabeth that is romantic suicide! This was not the time to have that conversation. Is that why he has not joined us yet?" Julie said irritated with her sister.

"I don't know he seemed to pull away when I started asking about his past." Elizabeth told her.

"Of course he pulled away! He probably wants to avoid you and any conversation you maybe wanting to have now." Julie told her candidly.

Lucas came down and entered the restaurant, spotting Jack, Elizabeth, and Julie he walked to the table placed a swift kiss on his wife's cheek and took his seat.

Elizabeth could feel the difference in this kiss. It wasn't heartfelt like they usually are. It felt cold and numb to her. Now she couldn't help but wonder if she had made the worst possible mistake by pushing him to open up right now about his past. She tried to break the ice, "I missed you!"

"I missed you too. Did you order or would you like me too?" He asked rather coolly.

"You go ahead." She told him.

Lucas placed their order and sat there quietly hoping he could put their conversation out of his head, but he couldn't. It just kept coming back. He just tried to put on a happy face and mask the awkwardness.

They sat there in awkward silence while they ate their dinner. Then Lucas tipped the waiter. "You two go to the show, have a good time. He handed his wife some money."

"Where are you going?" She asked now certain she had messed up badly.

"I will go take Jack swimming and see you back in the room later." He said solemnly.

"Okay! She said attempting a passionate kiss which came across un-reciprocated.

Elizabeth and Julie went to the show, while Lucas took Jack swimming and being the first time in the water he loved it. You would have thought he was a fish for how much fun he had. Lucas knew it would be hard to keep him out of the water now knowing he had created a monster. They spent two hours in the pool and then Lucas dried him off and took him back to the room. He got him all cleaned up put on his pajamas and read him a story until he fell asleep. Then Lucas got himself ready for bed and sat there reading a book until the door opened and Elizabeth came through.

"Where's Jack?" She asked.

"He is asleep he had so much fun in the pool. He must have been born a fish." Lucas told her.

She went into the other room gave him a soft kiss and whispered,"Good night." Then locking the door behind her she put on her nightclothes and joined her husband in their bed. Trying to be intimate, she pulled the book away, and started kissing his neck and his ear. Knowing she had to offer an apology. Lucas let out a soft moan when he felt her warm breath in his ear. He knew he would not be able to resist her temptation so he gave in, turning to face her and whispering, "Is this your idea of an apology?"

"Yes!" Was her only word echoing his apology from the Walden incident a month earlier.

Their hands and lips began to wonder and clothes began to disappear as they made up for the incredibly awkward day they had. They spent the next several hours making love to each other and reassuring each other that theirs is a love that knows no bounds. It is eternal and will weather any storm.