Chapter 57 Who's Been in My Office?

Lucas awoke Elizabeth with a kiss. "It's time to get up my love. I have several important calls to make today to get all the construction going on the new builds and remodels. I will have a full day and then tonight we need to decide on a private care doctor or midwife."

"How about you squeeze teaching into that busy day of yours?" She laughed. "I am so tired."

"What can I do for you?" He asked concern in his voice.

"I just need to get up and get motivated. My energy level is quickly diminishing." She said exhaustion in her voice.

They both finished getting ready for the day and then kissed Jack and said goodbye to Julie. They wished them a good day and headed into town. Lucas parked outside the Queen of Hearts and escorted Elizabeth to school. He could tell she was exhausted and he was unsure if she was going to be able to handle teaching for much longer. It also had plagued his mind that their passionate evenings were going to cease soon for awhile anyway. He didn't know how he would make it and was going to be disappointed to say the least.

He stoked up the fire and cleared the walk like he always did for her and made sure she had everything ready to go for the day. "Are you going to be okay my love?" He asked pulling her in for a deep kiss and then wrapping his arms around her.

"I just feel kind of nauseous today." She said a little out of breath.

"I will be by as soon as I can to check on you." He said gently rubbing her back.

He gave her one last kiss and headed back to the Queen of Hearts. When he arrived he noticed his office door was cracked and his plans were missing from his desk. He strictly remembered locking the door after he and Elizabeth left yesterday. He found Gustave." Gustave did you see someone in my office? My proposals have all disappeared."

"No sir, but I thought it odd that the door was open when I arrived." Gustave replied.

Lucas went back inside and closed the door, when he felt someone stick a pistol in his back. This moment seemed all too familiar. He had the keen since of déjà vu. "Who are you and what do you want?" Lucas asked firmly.

"I am the man that has your proposals and I will return them to you for ten thousand dollars." He said nervously.

"I can tell you have never done this before from the nervousness in your voice. I am going to ask you straight up, do you really want to go down this dark road your headed. Wouldn't it make more since just to ask for the money rather than try to black mail me for it? Look, I don't know you. Why don't we have a seat and you can tell me why you feel this is the only course of action you have?"

"Don't turn around." He said.

They took a seat and the man began to talk,"I was fired from my job and have not been able to get work. My wife is about to leave me because she says I can not provide for her. I don't have any money left."

"That is an unfortunate situation, but not one that warrants black mailing me. I am willing to spot you one thousand dollars and offer you a job here at the Queen of Hearts and never speak of this to anyone except my wife. It is her money too. She has a right to know what I am doing with it. The catch is this, you are not to harm anyone in this town and you will come to work everyday following the dress code and after two months if you have proven yourself to earn my trust I will spot you the rest of the money." Lucas offered.

"Why would you do that for me?" The man asked curiously.

"I know what it is like to be judged by people and I always try to help people when I am able. It is called giving back. The people in this town support me by dining in this restaurant; in return I would give the shirt off of my back for any of them. There is one more catch though. If you do indeed earn the ten thousand dollars you are to take twenty five percent of it and pass it on to someone in a similar situation as yourself. Money can't buy your happiness, but there is nothing more rewarding than putting your best foot forward to help someone and the gratification it brings to your heart and soul. This is the best wisdom I can pass on to you."

The door flew open and Elizabeth walked in, "Lucas I am sorry." Then she saw the gun.

Lucas jumped up grabbing the pistol pointing it towards the floor. "Elizabeth get out of here, wait for me outside!" He grabbed the man by the wrist and twisted to get him to drop it and then with a clap of his hand and a snap of his fingers the pistol was gone.

"How did you do that?" The man asked now afraid.

"Tell me your name." Lucas said adamantly.

"My name is Wesley Parkes."

"Wesley here is one thousand dollars." Lucas pulled it out of his jacket pocket and handed it to him. "I will give you a room for the night. The first room on the right." He handed him the key. "I will have a meal sent up to you, but if you try to harm anyone in this town or my family, know that it will not end well for you. I hope you do not disappoint me. Meet me in the dining room at eight o clock in the morning and be ready to work." They shook hands and Lucas took his proposals back. He would take them home and make the calls from his home office. They walked out the door and Lucas gave Gustave instructions to deliver food to Wesley and to let him know if he caused any trouble. Wesley took the key and headed up the stairs to his room.

"Lucas what was all that about?" Elizabeth said concerned.

"Just a man that was down on his luck that needed a little bit of encouragement. I spotted him one thousand dollars and offered him a job." He said.

"Lucas he had a gun pointed at you? You still offered him a job and gave him money. How do you know you will be able to trust him?" She asked curiously.

"Elizabeth everyone deserves a second chance. I remember my first year in Hope Valley. Everyone judged me and Nathan even tried to run me out of town after teaching Allie the card trick. I still remember it, like it was yesterday; he told me I was not a good fit here. Maybe he was right, but there is no other place I would rather be." He said solemnly.

"Lucas I never knew Nathan tried to run you out of Hope Valley. Why didn't you ever tell me that?" She asked with a hint of sadness.

"Elizabeth, you and I weren't even really friends at that point. It seemed like everything I did or said came out wrong or was misunderstood. I knew from the time I met you on the street that you were going to be someone special to me. Why are you here anyway and who is watching your class?" He asked her while walking her to the door to escort her back to school.

"Allie is watching the class. I felt sick and wanted to see if you could come help me get through class today?" She explained.

"Sure, why don't I take you home and then I will go finish your class for you, but we should start preparing for another teacher. I don't think it is wise for you to teach right now in your condition and I am certain it is only going to get worse." He told her reassuringly while rubbing her back. He ushered her into the car and headed home to drop her off. He helped her inside and went back to finish the day teaching her class.

After class let out he stopped by the library to check in the books and put them away then got dinner from Abigail's to bring home. He still had all his work from the day to bring home with him. It was going to be a long evening.

Lucas walked in the door with dinner, kissed Jack and got him some food, then took a plate to Elizabeth who was in their room asleep. He kissed her on the forehead and told her he would be in his home office making phone calls and scheduling appointments. He asked Julie to watch Jack for the evening and he closed the door behind him to give all the go ahead plans for construction. Lucas had spent several hours on the phone and was exhausted from all the drama of the day. It was about ten when he finally went up to bed. All he wanted to do was lay his head on the pillow and hold his wife. He crawled up next to Elizabeth wrapping his strong arms around her and gently stroked her soft hair giving her a gentle kiss. "I love you Elizabeth."

"I love you too darling." She leaned over gently brushing her hands over his chest and they both comfortably fell asleep.