Chapter 70 Mammy and Pappy Bouchard
There came a knock on the door. Lucas yelled up to the others. "I'll get it."
He held Adelaide in his arms and was just done feeding her. He opened the door in surprise. "Mother, Father! You are early."
"Son, I must say you look very rundown. Your hair is going all directions, your shirt is unbuttoned half way down and un-tucked and it is clearly evident to me you have not been pressing your trousers." Helen said with a mock tone. "This must be one of my grandbabies." She reached for her. "She has your eyes and dimples Lucas!"
"Yes mother I am sorry, I did not realize you would be here so early or I would have taken the time to make myself presentable. Sleep is hard to come by these days so I spend every moment of free time I have napping." He replied honestly.
"Have you thought about hiring a nanny son?" Jonathan asked.
"Yes father it is on the list of things to do only I have not even been able to leave the house since the babies arrived. My to do list is so long and I am getting nothing done." Lucas replied while running his hands through his disheveled hair.
"I think you are going to need two nannies and a bigger house son." Jonathan laughed while patting his son on the shoulder. Why don't we leave your mother here with Julie and Elizabeth and we head into town?"
"Father I would not feel right if I left Elizabeth here with all the responsibility. Come upstairs and meet your grandchildren."
They followed Lucas upstairs to the nursery where Elizabeth had just finished feeding them.
"There they are! Elizabeth they are beautiful!" She said excitedly.
"Thank You Helen. It is really nice to see you again. I'm sorry I did not dress for the occasion. We were not expecting you until later."
"It's fine dear. It is more than obvious you have your hands full." Helen said sitting down in the rocker with Adelaide."
"You two have a beautiful family." Jonathan said now picking up Caleb who was looking around with wide open eyes. Amelia was asleep in her bassinet.
"Thank you Jonathan that means a lot. We are glad you guys are here." Elizabeth said wholeheartedly.
"Why don't we keep an eye on the babies while you two go get some sleep and then Lucas and I are going to start hitting that to do list pretty hard."Jonathan suggested.
Lucas showed them where everything was and showed them how to prepare the bottles the way they liked them and then him and Elizabeth went to get a nap. Unfortunately they were so over run with exhaustion that there was no energy for passion. Elizabeth just laid her head on Lucas's chest and he stroked her hair until they both fell fast asleep.
It was not long before Jack came running in to the nursery. "Mammy, Pappy Bouchard!" Jack called out excitedly while wrapping himself around his pappy's leg.
"There's my boy Jack, you look so grown up." Jonathan told him while tousling his hair.
"I am grown up pappy. I help take care of my brother and sisters." Jack said standing tall making Jonathan giggle.
"Well you certainly have done a good job." Jonathan said. "Why don't we go get some pancakes Jack?"
"I love pancakes pappy. Will you make them like daddy does?"
"I'll do my best my boy." He laid Caleb back down in the bassinet and headed down the stairs with Jack to get breakfast.
Breakfast turned into lunch and lunch into dinner. Lucas and Elizabeth had been asleep all day and it was now dinnertime. Lucas began to stir first. "Elizabeth we need to get up. We've been asleep all day."
"Lucas, how did that happen?" She said groggily.
"We haven't been getting enough rest. If we don't figure something out soon love we are not going to be any good to anyone."
"I know I'm so tired." She said now kissing him.
"I love your kisses and will never tire of them. I wish we could stay here all night." He was now returning her affection. "Elizabeth we are going to have to stop and relieve my parents. They did us a huge favor."
"I know but I miss this. Just a few more minutes." Their kisses were deepening, their breathing was heavy.
"Elizabeth I don't want to stop, but it is still too soon. We need to go and take care of our children." He said now pulling her out of bed.
They made their way to the nursery where the babies were all sleeping peacefully. Then they made their way downstairs where Jonathan, Helen, Julie, and Gladys were all sitting in the family room playing with Jack and his tinker toys.
"Well, it was nice of you two to finally join us." Helen said with a grin.
"I see everyone has officially met." Lucas acknowledged with a head nod.
"Son, get dressed and hand me that to do list we are going to town." Jonathan said firmly.
"Alright father. Elizabeth, will you be okay?" Lucas asked sincerely while wrapping his arms around his wife and pulling her close.
Lucas and his father went into town for the first time since the babies had been born. Lucas was grateful for the time out of the house. He made sure they checked in with everyone including The Coulter's, Ned, Gustave, Joseph, and Bill. He put some signs up in the mercantile and outside the hotel and Queen of Hearts for some nannies. He knew if he did not find some fast his whole world was going to come crashing down around him.
"Father my house is not large enough. I thought I would have time to expand over time but I guess that was not in the cards for me." He said with a smirk.
"Well, let's stop in and see a contractor and talk about the additions of some more rooms." His father suggested.
"I would also like to add a greenhouse." Lucas thought about growing his own vegetables.
"Son, how many nannies are you going to need?" Jonathan asked.
"I think if we get Laura to come during the day, then two full time would be sufficient. That would include cooking, cleaning and helping take care of the children. That would at least give Elizabeth and me time to rest. Besides it's only until they get out of diapers and start eating real food, unless Elizabeth decides to go back to teaching. She is undecided, but we know she has until next year to make up her mind." He said unsure what was best for her and their family.
"What about you son?" Jonathan asked.
"Well father, I have some very trustworthy employees and so far business has been doing great. The managers I have hired are performing very well and I have been able to be at home with very little worry. The railroad has been running itself. I think I have put myself in a good position to be at home at least for the first year and then we will see. I do want to look in on the school tomorrow and see how everyone likes the new school. Maybe bring Elizabeth into town, the two of us and get lunch. Do you think that you and mother would be able to keep an eye on the kids again?" He asked.
"Lucas, son you know you never have to ask. We are happy to get to spend this time with our grandchildren." He replied with a smile.
"What about you father any talk of getting out of politics and retiring so you and mother can finally settle down?" He asked.
"Actually son if you didn't notice I did not have Alex and Tom with me. It is because I have finally resigned my position as Canadian Ambassador and have been spending more of my time with your mother doing the things she enjoys."
"Father, that is wonderful." Lucas said excitedly.
"Yes it is! Lucas you should have a card game Friday. You will need a break." Jonathan suggested.
"Let me see if I can get a nanny hired by then. We will have to wait on game nights, besides Lee and Rosemary are equally as busy and the babies are still too little to get out."
"I understand."
They finished up with a contractor and Lucas showed his father all the changes he had made and the new school. Then they got dinner and took it home to everyone. Then Lucas proceeded to do the laundry, change diapers, and get Jack to bed reading him a bedtime story, while Elizabeth did the feedings. As they were lying in their bed, knowing they would be up off and on all night, Lucas told Elizabeth about the expansion and the plans. She was more than excited.
"Our house just keeps getting bigger and bigger and fuller and fuller." He winked.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Elizabeth said with a smile. "Now, why don't you wrap me in your arms Mr. Bouchard and let me gets lost there for a bit."
"I would be happy to oblige you Mrs. Bouchard." He said now kissing her and caressing her body with his gentle touch.