Chapter 41 The Santa Marina
The Bouchard's and Julie spent the morning packing everything up and getting ready for the eight days at sea. Lucas packed up Jack's things as well as his own, while Elizabeth and Julie packed their own. Lucas being very thorough, double and triple checked everything to make sure they did not leave anything behind. Lucas had placed a call to his father from the travel center when he was in town yesterday, letting him know they were taking an earlier cruise and the date they were expected to arrive home mentioning nothing else.
Lucas paid some attendants to haul their entire luggage to the port for them, making sure everything was properly marked for travel. They sat down and ate lunch before heading to port to wait on their boarding time aboard the Santa Marina cruise ship. Elizabeth was feeling ready for a nap. She was having a hard time believing how much her energy level had been depleted just from packing up her luggage and walking to town. She could already tell that the next seven months were going to be challenging.
As always Lucas could tell she was feeling less than energetic and brought her some Ginger tea. "Here my love." He said handing her the tea.
"You always know exactly what I need." Elizabeth responded with a gentle kiss.
"As I told you when we first met, I can read people." He said teasingly reminding her of their first meeting. "That was truly the best day of my life." He wrapped his arms around his wife and gently rubbed her stomach with both hands while giving her a soft kiss on the neck.
"Lucas, I am sad to tell Rosemary about the pregnancy. I know how much her heart desires to have a baby and I don't want to upset her with our wonderful news. Do you think we should wait to tell everyone?"
"Elizabeth, Rosemary is your best friend, she will be happy for us. It is unfortunate that The Coulter's have not been blessed with a child of their own as of yet, but I have faith that when the time is right for them they will get their heart's desire. Our parents will be traveling back home and I would really like to celebrate with them while they are here. Perhaps they can come back to Hope Valley in the fall around the time of your due date to enjoy time with their new grandchildren and stay until the New Year. Then we would also be able to enjoy the Holidays with them and our one year wedding anniversary. However, if you prefer to say nothing, I will abide by your wishes."
"Perhaps you're right. I just don't want to hurt Rosemary." She said thoughtfully.
"I know love." He reassured her by rubbing her arms gently.
They announced the boarding. Lucas handed the attendants their tickets and the four of them boarded the vessel headed for home. They walked through the middle deck until they found their suites which were by far smaller than the ones they had previously enjoyed but Elizabeth and Julie understood the capacity issue and the change in cruise ships was last minute.
"Would you guys like to take a walk and explore the ship?" Lucas asked.
"Honey, I think I am going to take a nap. Take Jack and have fun. I love you!" Elizabeth responded.
"I will stay with Elizabeth." Julie said concerned for her well being.
"Okay, I love you too!" He gave Elizabeth a quick kiss. "Just you and I buddy." He put Jack on his shoulders and walked out the door.
"Okay Beth let's use this moment to talk. How are you feeling about all of this?" Julie asked her, after sitting down on the bed next to her.
"Honestly, I am a filled with all sorts of emotions right now. I'm thrilled but at the same time scared to death of carrying three babies at one time. I am also afraid of the changes that are going to happen to my body. What if Lucas doesn't want me anymore? He hasn't had to experience this before, so I don't know if he truly understands how different I am going to look."
"Beth, don't be insane. Of course he is going to want you. When that man looks at you there is nothing but love and desire in his eyes. He would swim the ocean to be with you, that I have no doubt." Julie reassured her.
"I'm also afraid that I will have to give up teaching which is what I came to Hope Valley to do. I love teaching. Then there is my writing and my book tour coming up. Lucas has three businesses." She said starting to work herself up into a frenzy.
"Have you talked to Lucas about all of this?" Julie asked.
"I don't want him to have to worry about all that. He is already overwhelmed." Elizabeth said.
"I'm pretty sure Lucas is going to offload some businesses or at least offload responsibilities, he is too selfless to let you do this alone. I have no doubt he will want to be there everyday to help you through this Beth."
"You're right Jules, but should I really ask that of him?" Beth asked her.
"Most definitely you should, Beth. He is the father of your children. You should expect nothing less from him."
"Julie, do you realize we will have four children under the age of five?" Elizabeth asked.
"You will do great! I should go and let you rest." Julie hugged her sister and headed to her room.
"Jack we have seen the whole ship, what would you like to do?" Lucas asked.
"Daddy I'm tired can you read me a story and I sleep with you and momma." Jack asked while rubbing his eyes.
"I will definitely read you a story but we will have to check with momma on the other part." Lucas said while rubbing his back.
"Lets take some sandwiches back to the room and then we will talk to momma. You have to eat dinner before I will read you a story. I love you son!"
"Okay, I love you daddy." Jack said kissing his cheek.
The door to the suite opened and Lucas and Jack walked in quietly. Elizabeth was lying down, but her eyes were open.
"Momma!" Jack ran to her wrapping his arms around her and kissing her and her him. "I sleep with you, daddy say so!"
"Jack, that is not what I said. I said, we would ask momma if it was okay to sleep with us." Lucas said sternly correcting Jack on the spot.
"Sorry daddy. Daddy not love me anymore." Jack said sniffling.
"Jack what are you talking about? I am always going to love you. You are my little buddy. We have so much fun together. Why do you think I wouldn't love you?" Lucas asked sitting beside him.
"Daddy mad at me." Jack sniffed.
"Daddy is mad at me Jack. It is said not say." Elizabeth chimed in.
"Jack I am not mad at you, but as you grow up you need to understand to do the right thing in all situations. Lying to your mother about what I told you, was not an honorable thing to do Jack. You have to always tell the truth no matter what the outcome may be." Lucas explained while rubbing his back. "Look me in the eye and tell me you understand what I just said to you." Lucas said sternly.
"I understand daddy, I love you!" Jack said while looking him in the eye and making Lucas do the fish face.
"Okay good." Lucas said while tickling Jack with his beard. "Elizabeth is it okay for Jack to sleep here this evening?"
"Yes, you are so good with him. You are going to be an excellent father." She said looking deep into his eyes.
"Well it helps that you have raised a wonderful child." He praised her.
"Momma where are the babies." Jack asked curiously.
"Jack the babies are in momma's tummy growing." Elizabeth explained.
"Will they stay there forever? He asked curiously.
Lucas loved Jack's curiosity. He knew this game would go on and on, he would have a question for everything.
"No, Jack in seven more months they will come home with us." She said.
"How will they get there?" Jack asked.
"Okay Jack, eat your sandwich and then I will read you a story." Lucas picked him up and put him at the little table in their suite.
"Thank you, love!" Elizabeth said adoringly.
"You're welcome. I could see where that was headed." Lucas laughed.
Lucas read Jack his story and then they retired to sleep. This cruise ship was much smaller and far less things to do to entertain them. They spent most of their time in the room just reading. Lucas and Jack would also do puzzles, they got from the library. They had been two days at sea and were ready to be home. That placed them somewhere just south of the Hawaiian Islands. It had been raining since they boarded the vessel, which made Lucas appreciate having a suite on the middle deck. It did not rain much in the tropical region, which concerned Lucas greatly. They lay down that second night and fell asleep.
Three hours later they were awakened by the worst feeling.
"Lucas, why is the ship shifting back and forth like that?" Elizabeth asked.
"Dear God in heaven, NO! Lucas said to himself as the lights in the ship went out.