The Rolls Royce Silver Ghost was a superb vehicle that began construction in Manchester, England, in 1908. It had earned the moniker "best car in the world" by Autocar magazine due to its reliability and beauty. As a limousine package, it also afforded the Thatcher family all of the roominess and comfort they would need as they made the trip from Hamilton to Hope Valley. It was, however, no match for the power and smoothness of the 1921 Duesenberg Model A. Straight off the assembly line and not yet available to the general public, the Model A was also known as the "Straight Eight" and was the first of its kind in America to boast of hydraulic brakes and a straight-eight cylinder engine mounted along the crankcase. It was the perfect car for Peter and Helen Bouchard as they made the hasty cross-country road trip to arrive in their son's hometown at nearly the same time as the Thatchers. For those who lived a much simpler life in this quaint little town, seeing the two vehicles pull up was an exciting prelude to the wedding planned for the following day. But for the Thatchers and the Bouchards, it was simply a family gathering to joyfully celebrate their children's love and marriage.
The families had received calls from the couple informing them of their plans less than a week before the event was to take place. And, through much effort and a bit of inconvenience, they had cleared their calendars to be there. But neither the Bouchards nor the Thatchers would have missed this event for the world.
Due to the quick turnaround, there would be no bachelor or bachelorette party for Lucas or Elizabeth. Instead, they would combine those parties with the wedding reception, to be held the following evening at the Queen. Lucas had suggested handling it this way since the two parties inevitably wound up combining themselves anyway, and because it would make it easier on their guests to only have to attend one party. Secretly, he was also anxious to get the wedding ceremony over so that he and Elizabeth could begin the rest of their lives together as husband and wife.
Standing with his arm around his fiancée, Bouchard stepped forward to make the introductions once everyone had arrived.
"Father, mother, I would like for you to meet the Thatchers. Elizabeth's father William, mother Grace, sister Julie and William's sister, Aunt Agatha. Thatcher family, these are my parents, Peter and Helen Bouchard."
William Thatcher stepped forward. "Peter! We meet again!"
"Nice to see you again, William. It's been a long time." Bouchard shook his hand. "I believe the last time we saw each other was the London Business Expedition of 1889. You arrived late because your lovely wife had just given birth to a daughter."
William looked at him with surprise. "That's right. That would have been our Julie."
Grace tilted her head with amazement. "You remember that?"
"My father has an eidetic memory when it comes to business," Lucas responded.
"I see," Thatcher responded.
"Very impressive," Grace added.
"Especially since William here can't seem to remember his own sister's birthday," Agatha quipped.
William cleared his throat. "I already apologized for that, Agatha dear, and explained that I had my dates wrong on the calendar, so let's not belabor the point - particularly since we are here to celebrate such blessed circumstances."
"Indeed," Peter said, looking at Lucas and Elizabeth.
"Far better circumstances than the last time we were in Hope Valley," Helen added.
"As a mother, I couldn't imagine," Grace replied. "How on earth were you able to get through it?"
Helen's face immediately registered guilt, and Lucas took her hand, answering for her. "She handled it the best she that she could – and we all made it through; that's the important thing."
"Here, here," William responded.
Peter patted Lucas on the shoulder. "And now things are returning to normal. I must say you're looking well, son."
"Thank you, father." Lucas smiled.
"And, this is your new hotel?" William asked.
Lucas nodded. "Yes. The good people of Hope Valley built it with their own hands and paid for it."
"And, then they gave it to you?" Grace mused.
"Yes, mother, they gave it to him to replace the saloon which burned down. Lucas is very much loved in Hope Valley," Elizabeth replied, squeezing his arm.
Lucas smiled. "It's the company I keep."
"Well then, I think you should keep her." Lucas's father joked.
"That is my plan - If she'll have me."
"I believe I've already settled that question," she replied with a nudge.
"We'll know for certain tomorrow," Agatha said cryptically.
"Yes, we will," Julie said, looking between Lucas and Elizabeth.
Lucas tilted his head and looked between the Thatcher women, who seemed to be hinting at a family secret. "I sense there's a story here."
Julie came forward with the answer. "Historically speaking, there have been several Thatcher women who changed their mind shortly before getting married. Our grandmother, her sister, my father's other sister…."
"Oh, I see." Lucas's smile became slightly stilted as he wasn't sure if the women were offering information, ribbing him, or providing Elizabeth with a suggestion.
Elizabeth put all doubts to rest when she wrapped her arms around Lucas's waist and hugged him tightly. "Now, that's one family tradition that I can guarantee I will not be continuing." She kissed Lucas boldly on the lips right in front of them all.
When they pulled apart, Lucas was so lost in her presence, standing there with a starry expression in his eyes that he forgot they had company. The two couples exchanged amused looks. Finally, Lucas's father spoke up.
"Shall we go inside?" Peter winked. "Or were your plans that we should camp outside tonight while we watch you and Elizabeth osculate for our entertainment?"
Helen smacked him. "Peter Bouchard! Behave yourself!"
"And just why should I begin now?" Peter asked Helen with a grin. She pinched him in the side.
Lucas flushed and tried to regain composure. "I apologize for…." He looked at Elizabeth. "That is, I'm sorry for…." He looked at her lips and considered that he'd be kissing them as her husband in around twenty-four hours. "I…What I mean to say is…."
"What are you trying to say, Lucas?" Helen teased.
Bouchard looked at his bride-to-be and took a deep breath. "I guess what I'm trying to say is I'm sorry for nothing, and if you don't like it, you can just turn your head," he said, grabbing Elizabeth around the waist and planting a kiss of his own on her mouth. When he pulled away, it was Elizabeth's turn to be gobsmacked.
Lucas smiled a self-satisfied smile and took his fiancée by the arm. He then invited the others to come inside.
The Thatchers and Bouchards made their way to their suites, all choosing to freshen up or rest after a long day's journey – all, that is, except for Peter Bouchard. Lucas had requested he come and see him once Peter and Helen got settled, and so, some fifteen minutes after they parted company, Bouchard's father knocked on Lucas's office door.
"Come in," Lucas said while seated at his desk reading a newspaper article on the rapid increase in road construction across North America, wondering what that would mean for Northwest Trucking.
"Am I interrupting?" Peter asked.
Lucas folded the paper and stood, motioning with his hand for his father to take a seat. Lucas pushed his office chair to the side and was beginning to join his father when the telephone rang. He sighed and motioned to his father, letting him know he'd be right there.
"Hello?" Lucas said, sitting on the edge of his desk and holding the candlestick phone up to his ear. "Hi, Mike. What's wrong?"
While Lucas spoke to the manager of the oil operation, Peter looked around his son's office, noting immediately how it was decorated in an eclectic style that was distinctly Lucas. Posters and souvenirs from his son's travels adorned olive and taupe damask wallpaper, accented by dark walnut moldings and bookshelves. A copy of his college degree was now perched upon one shelf next to a model zeppelin similar to the one they toured the last time they were in Berlin together when Lucas was fifteen. Peter recalled seeing both items at Lucas's house when they were staying here months before and figured he'd finally begun to unpack the rest of his boxes to replace items lost in the fire.
But amongst all of the trinkets and mementos from his many trips, Peter noticed something lacking - family photos. Peter knew why. Throughout all of Lucas's growing-up years, his parents had always been too busy – the father frequently away on business and Helen tending to her editing work. And, once they began traveling together, they scarcely had time to eat dinner together, much less pose for pictures. So, other than a few pictures at formal state events that stayed at their home in Montreal, he was sure Lucas didn't have much to display that showed the whole family together. And, while he did make an effort as Lucas got older to grow closer to his son, Peter couldn't help but lament all the time they'd lost while he was doing the very thing that Lucas was doing right then – tending to business. It was part of what drove Peter and Helen apart, and it was a trap that he didn't wish to see his son step into.
Lucas hung up the phone and took a seat next to his father. "I apologize for the interruption," Lucas said. "We've been negotiating a deal with a refinery in Vancouver that is processing some of our crude, and it seems the owner of the establishment forgot what we'd agreed to. Mike just wanted my permission to pull rank and let the man know that his competitor has offered us the same deal for fifteen percent less and has a larger capacity."
"Fifteen percent? That's a pretty good deal. So, what's the catch?" Peter asked.
"We've worked the man before, and he inevitably finds ways to drive up that price after the ink has dried. Plus, he rarely delivers on time. So, it'll end up costing considerably less if we just go with Farnham, to begin with."
Peter nodded his head. "Well, it sounds like you made the right decision. But, I'm sure my son hasn't called me down to his office to discuss business on the day before he is to be wed."
Lucas smiled softly and lowered his chin. "No. That's not why I called you to my office. I wanted to-"
The phone rang again, and Lucas looked over toward his desk, considering whether or not to let it go. Finally, he shook his head. "My apologies."
Peter watched patiently as Lucas took another call, this time from one of the restaurant's vendors, arguing briefly, then gently accepting a substitute that was being offered. Seven minutes later, he hung up the call, then began to return to his place. The phone rang again, and this time Lucas clenched his jaw.
"Just let it ring," Peter said with an understanding smile.
Lucas tilted his head.
"If it's important, they'll call back." The father concluded. "Please. Come sit by your father and let's talk."
Lucas looked at the phone for a moment, and it stopped ringing. He held up a finger and walked back over to it, taking it off the hook. He then rejoined his father.
"So, you must be excited." Peter smiled. "Tomorrow's a momentous day."
"I'm over the moon," Lucas replied with a youthful smile that washed months of turmoil away from his face.
"Nervous?"
Lucas laughed. "A little. But mostly, I'm happy. Happier than I've ever been." He turned toward a nearby end table and reached into a drawer, pulling out a small leather box. "Which is why I felt it appropriate to commemorate the occasion with this." He handed the box to his father, who looked at it curiously.
"A gift for me?" Peter Bouchard asked. "Shouldn't that be the other way around?"
"No," Lucas replied. "You already gave me your gift. Please, open it."
Inside the package, Peter found a 21 jeweled pocket watch made of the finest gold and accented by rubies at the quarter-hour points and in the center. The watch clearly cost the younger Bouchard quite a bit of money, though Peter knew that it was purchased with the father's discriminating tastes in mind, not for monetary value.
"It's beautiful," Peter responded.
Lucas smiled. "Look inside."
Peter opened the hinged lid and inside the cover was an inscription.
To my father, the wisest man I know,
on the occasion of my wedding.
You taught me love, patience,
and hopefulness; and I can say
now, she was worth the wait.
With love & gratitude always,
From your son, Lucas
Peter lowered his head and smiled, then reached out and patted Lucas on the shoulder.
"Well, thank you, son. I don't know what to say."
"It's all true," Lucas replied. "If the inscription would have allowed for it, I could have said so much more. You've been my hero for as long as I can remember and the man whom I've most wanted to pattern my life after."
"Lucas, that's very kind," Peter turned a wistful gaze toward his son. "But I'm afraid you're only remembering the good. There was so much time where I wasn't there. Your mother did all of the work in raising you."
"That's not true," Lucas replied. "Mother was with me, and I know that she loved me in ways that she often found it difficult to express. I understood that and have grown to appreciate the love she gives. But you were always there when it counted the most. You never turned your back on me, never turned me away when I had questions. You never judged me. And while I know you were away much of the time, you weren't really because your influence carried on, even when you were not physically present. If I grow to be half the man…."
Peter held up a hand and laughed. "I'm going to stop you right there. You are already as fine of a man as I've ever met, and I can't tell you how proud I am of who you've become, and how happy I am that you've found your true love. I knew you would.
And, you didn't have to get me a present to thank me for being your father. Everything I have done is because I love you, and my reward is the man I see before me – though I appreciate your effort and will treasure this watch. But you know what you can do to make an old man happy?"
Lucas looked at him inquisitively. "What's that?"
"Be happy, yourself. Love your new wife the way you love her today even after you've been married for five years, ten years, fifty. Don't allow business affairs to rob you of all of those precious moments that you could spend with her. And recognize that this…all of this…it's just money. It comes, it goes, it comes again, and you take none of it with you. The things that are really worthwhile that you should focus the most on are your relationship with God, with Elizabeth, and with your children, if God so blesses."
Lucas nodded. "I will remember that."
Peter paused. "Oh, and take lots of pictures! We didn't get many of us together, and I wish today that we had." He then looked down. "Oh, my dear Lucas - there's so much that I wish we could have done together and done for you. You just grew up too quickly."
Lucas touched his father's forearm. "We can always start today."
Peter smiled. "I'd like that – starting with, how about I pay for your honeymoon?"
"Father! No. That's completely unnecessary. With the advance I'm making at Northwest, I can more than cover the cost."
"No, you need to save that. Setting up a home with a wife and child can be quite expensive."
"I know, but..."
"I insist." He responded.
"But you don't even know where I'm taking her," Lucas replied, with a twinkle in his eye. "You may change your mind when you find out."
Peter grinned. "I think I might have a pretty good idea."
"Really?" Lucas asked curiously.
"Really. After all, you're not the only one who reads people well."
Lucas lowered his eyes. "But still, it's my responsibility as the groom to…."
"Enjoy your bride," Peter replied. "That's all your mother, and I want you to do is enjoy this time with Elizabeth. You only get it once, and you both have certainly earned it. I'm sure she'll love it."
Lucas sighed. "I really wish you'd let me do it."
"I know, but on this occasion, I'm afraid you're overruled. Consider it done."
"Thank you, father," Lucas said, giving Peter a hug. "Thank you for everything."
The wedding rehearsal dinner at the Queen of the Valley was set up in a private room behind the main restaurant, and was planned as an affair to remember. In addition to the two families, the Gowens, Canfields, and Mike Hickham were featured guests. In having such a variety of personalities at their dinner, Lucas and Elizabeth knew the evening would likely prove to be quite interesting. Still, they set any worries about such things aside, choosing instead to enjoy their evening, come what may, with some of those they loved the most.
Gustave relished in being given the latitude to create the scrumptious spread and produced a five-course meal the likes the town had never seen. Beginning with the 'Amuse-bouche' to prepare the palate, the French chef served smoked salmon with a horseradish crème sauce topped with capers for a savory delight. When the small bite was first brought out, Hickham leaned over to Joseph and asked if this was considered a salad or a main dish. Joseph shrugged and gave him a word of advice that came from working in so many situations as a pastor. "If you don't know, just go with the flow."
By the time the first course, Potage Parmentier (potato and leek soup), was served, the guests had become more comfortable with one another, and dinner conversation began to flow. Peter and William were discussing business operations with Mike and Henry while Lucas listened, and the Canfields were happy sharing some of their past history with Abigail, Elizabeth, and Grace Thatcher. But it was at the other end of the table that they were having the most titillating conversation of all.
"So, Elizabeth tells me you are an editor," Julie said to Lucas's mother.
"That's correct," Helen replied.
"What kind of books do you edit?" she asked, taking a slice of warm French bread and stuffing it into her mouth.
Helen looked confused. "By what kind of books, do you mean which genre?" Helen asked.
"Yes. Which genre?" Julie responded.
"Whatever my publisher sends me. I've edited children's stories and mystery novels as well as historical fiction and…."
"Romance?" the youngest Thatcher said, leaning forward in her chair.
Helen pursed her lips and adjusted the napkin in her lap. "I have, on occasion, edited romantic literature."
Aunt Agatha tilted her head. "Interesting. What are your thoughts on D.H. Lawrence?"
Elizabeth's ears perked up.
"I'm afraid I don't subscribe to his particular brand of writing."
Agatha smirked. "Perhaps, you should!"
Helen's eyes grew wide.
"Excuse me. Can I have everyone's attention?" Elizabeth said immediately, causing all conversation to cease around the table. Lucas looked at his fiancée with a curious grin since her spontaneous outburst hadn't been discussed. "Lucas and I just really want to thank all of you for coming this evening and thank some of you for coming from the other side of the country to share with us on our special day. Each of you has a special place in our hearts, and, as I know tomorrow is likely going to be very hectic and full of activity, we didn't want to miss this opportunity to tell you how much we love you and are thankful to have you in our lives. So, I raise a toast with this lovely, um…sparkling grape juice, to all of you."
Lucas raised his glass, "Here, here!" And, the wedding party toasted and went on to other topics.
Later, Lucas leaned over toward his bride. "Why do I get the feeling we averted some major disaster?" he asked.
She smiled and took a sip from her wine glass, not answering. Finally, when it was clear he wasn't going to give up, she leaned toward him and whispered, "Look at the seating arrangement."
Lucas glanced around the table and saw his mother seated next to Agatha and Julie. He tilted his head backward with understanding. "Thank you," he whispered, taking her hand in his and then kissing it, then lowering it between them.
When dinner was over, Joseph had completed a brief run-through of what would occur the next day, and the attendees began to disperse. Lucas and Elizabeth were smiling, and saying goodbye to those not staying at the hotel, keeping one arm around the other most of the time. Finally, they went to say goodnight to their parents, Helen asked Elizabeth to follow her to the powder room for a moment.
Once inside, Mrs. Bouchard reached into her clutch, pulling out a silver heart-shaped locket.
"I would like for you to have this," she said. "Call it your 'something old,' though, in all honesty, it just seems like yesterday that I received it from my husband."
Elizabeth took the locket in her hand and examined it, admiring the beautiful filigree work that was a feature of fine jewelry in the 1880s.
"It's lovely," she said. "But…are you sure? It was a gift to you."
"Open it, please. There's a reason that I'm giving this to you."
Elizabeth looked again at the piece and slid her fingernail into a slight indentation, opening the lid. Inside, she saw a photograph of a serious little boy with thick dark hair and brown eyes, not older than the age of two. She smiled. "Lucas as a baby?"
"Yes. He was eighteen months old."
"He was a beautiful child," Elizabeth said, running her finger over the photograph.
"He was, and he is." Helen continued, sitting on a small couch in the room. She patted the seat next to her for her future daughter-in-law to sit. "Elizabeth, it may not always have seemed so, but that little boy in that locket, and the fine man he has grown up to be, is my heart. I watched him grow into a man that any parent would be proud of and was so worried when I was forced to release him to the world. I called on God with the prayer that Lucas's life would be full of love and joy and the sense of connection that he so often sought – and now, he's found it - in you. And tomorrow, as you join him before the pastor, I feel that I will be releasing my heart to you. I couldn't be more thrilled to do so." She smiled. "You have stopped my son from wandering and looking for a love that, in all truth, I wasn't sure was out there. And you have made him happier than I've ever seen him. And so, as a symbol of what is to transpire, I am giving you this locket to let you know how very pleased my husband and I are to be gaining you as a daughter."
Elizabeth teared up, reached over, and hugged Helen, who, for once, didn't stiffen. "Oh, Helen. That means so much. And please know, I love your son with all of my being, and I will do everything I can to fill his life with love and joy and happiness, just as you prayed - for the rest of our lives. So, you needn't ever worry."
"I'm a mother. I will always worry. It's what we do." Helen replied, then she smiled. "But thanks to you, Elizabeth, I will worry less."
Happy is the man who finds a true friend, and far happier is he who finds that true friend in his wife. – Franz Schubert.
The morning sun broke through the drapery in Lucas Bouchard's bedroom, signaling the beginning of the day, but, for Lucas, it had begun some two hours earlier as the anticipation of the day's events overcame his need for physical rest. In five hours, he would stand before their God, families, and select friends and repeat his vows to Elizabeth- vows that he already felt so strongly that it wouldn't require a ceremony in front of friends for him to abide by them forever. She was his beloved, and he was hers, and nothing that came their way would ever change that. He had found his soulmate.
Warm steam lingered near the ceiling in the bathroom where Lucas had taken a shower moments before. Now he stood – or rather, leaned against the sink with his crutches to the side, running a comb through his thick mane getting ready to trim a mustache that was still a little too full for his liking, despite Fiona's efforts the day before. He had just picked up the shears when he heard the telephone ring on his bedroom nightstand.
Sighing, he grabbed the crutches and made quick work of moving to the bed, careful not to trample on Annabelle, who lay sleeping on a pillow at the side of his bed.
"H-hello?" Bouchard said, coming down on the bed with a bounce then pulling the phone closer to him so he could talk. "Yes, Florence. Please, put him through."
While he was waiting for the connection, Lucas picked up Annabelle and set her on the blanket next to him, feeling bad that she had been relegated to the floor as he made his home ready for his bride-to-be. "Sweetheart, just lay right there on the blanket next to me while I take this call, and..." He began to laugh. "Yes, I love you, too and your kisses but you need to stop now. I need to talk to Henry."
Suddenly, Florence's shaken voice broke through on the other end of the receiver.
"Um…Lucas?" she cleared her throat. "G-go ahead…Henry is on the line."
Lucas squinted at the phone, curious as to her change in tone. "Thank you?"
"Sure."
"Florence, before you hang up, are you okay?"
Florence's nervous smile could practically be seen through the receiver. "I-I'm fine, Lucas. Just looking forward to the wedding later today." She replied, then he heard her say, under her breath, "couldn't come a moment too soon, apparently." She hung up the phone.
Lucas closed his eyes as it dawned on him what she had heard. He shook his head and sighed, "Well, there goes our reputations with the community – Henry! How can I help you? Please tell me you still have the rings."
Henry Gowen rolled his eyes since Bouchard had made a point of asking him about the rings at least half a dozen times since he and Lucas had gone to Union City to get outfitted for the wedding.
"They are still in my jacket pocket where they were last time you asked me. Forget about that; you have other problems."
"Problems? Today's my wedding day. There are no problems." Lucas said.
"Wish life was that simple."
Lucas laid back against his pillow. "Alright, what's wrong? Elizabeth and I are to be married in…," he looked at the clock on the mantle. "…in four and a half hours, so whatever it is, we need to fix quickly. I'm leaving for my honeymoon in seven hours."
"That's just it. Your honeymoon just got delayed." Henry said.
"What do you mean…wait. Is this a wedding day prank?" Lucas said with a slight smile.
"No prank. I came into the office first thing this morning to check on those shipments from Portland, and found out there's a big derailment on the railroad between Union City and Seattle, where you were to take off. The track's been heavily damaged, delaying all traffic for at least a week."
"A week!" Lucas raised his hand to his forehead. "No, Henry! That's not going to work. Our ship leaves in four days. With an overnight tonight in Union City and a three-day train trip, we were going to arrive just in time as it was. What are we going to do? Is there another route we can take? Perhaps another train?"
"Well, as your best man, I already checked Canadian Pacific, and there's nothing open for two days. Too late for what you are trying to accomplish. Do you want me to check with Canadian National, or maybe see if I can find you a later cruise? Say, a week later?" Henry asked.
Lucas laid his head back and closed his eyes. "This can't be happening. Alright…call Canadian National. I'm not sure if that will help since they probably use the same rail, but perhaps they have an alternate route."
"I'll see what I can do, Lucas," Henry replied.
"Thank you, Henry. I'm going to continue getting ready and try not to think about it."
"You do that."
Grace Thatcher sat looking out the window from her comfortable suite at the Queen of the Valley overlooking the town that her daughter had called home for a decade. She had often wondered what had drawn Elizabeth away from the luxuries of Hamilton in exchange for a life in which there were few amenities. But as she gazed at the street below and beheld the town below, she knew. There was a beautiful simplicity in Hope Valley that was absent in the cosmopolitan life that Grace had lived for forty years; a simplicity she hadn't seen since she was a teenager spending summers vacationing on Prince Edward Island; a simplicity that she hadn't realized, until now, that she missed.
While her mind drifted back to yesteryear, a knock came on the door.
"Come in," Grace stated, assuming that it was the hotel maid whom she'd requested extra pillows from to relieve her from William's snoring. That wasn't who it was at all.
"Good morning, mother!" Elizabeth said, carrying a basket in her arms as she entered.
"Elizabeth!" Grace exclaimed, rising to greet her. "This is a pleasant surprise. I wasn't expecting to see you for another hour and a half?"
"I know. I just couldn't sleep. Too excited." She smiled. "So, I decided to bake instead. Would you care for a muffin?"
Grace looked with curiosity at the offering her daughter unveiled and tried to remember when the last time was that she herself had baked anything. It had to have been before she was married. She reached out and took a muffin.
"You made these yourself?" she asked.
"Yes. They're from a recipe I got from Henry Gowen's wife, Abigail." Elizabeth said.
"I remember Abigail. How is she doing?"
"Very well," Elizabeth said. "I dropped Jack off at their house before coming over here. They have the little suit he will be wearing, but Lucas won't allow me to see it. He said it's only sporting. If he can't see me before the wedding, then I can't get a hint of what they're wearing."
"How will you know that the ensemble matches?"
"Lucas knows my dress is crème colored – around the color of vanilla ice cream, is what I told him. Oh, dear. What if it's the wrong shade? Maybe I should have told him ivory. It really is closer to ivory."
Grace grinned and patted her hand. "I'm sure it will look lovely, dear. I'm just so happy that I can be here this time to witness it. You have no idea how sorry I felt that I had to miss your wedding to your darling Jack."
"Well, we missed having you here – but Viola needed you. Jack understood." She said. "I'm just happy you are here with me now. It has been a hard road getting here, but everything is turning out to be just perfect."
Grace studied her daughter for a moment, then smiled sweetly.
"What?" Elizabeth said.
"I was just thinking about the amazing young woman who stands before me today and how proud I am to be your mother."
"Awe. That's so sweet. I owe it all to you and father."
"That's where you're wrong, Elizabeth. I wish I could take credit for who you've become, but it's all been you. You always knew what you wanted and weren't afraid to pursue it – even sometimes, despite our wishes for you. I'm so happy you didn't listen to us, and I'm delighted that you've found your Lucas. He is such a wonderful addition to the family. I do hope after all of this is over that you, he and Jack will visit Hamilton now and then?"
Elizabeth patted her mother on the shoulder. "Actually, that was something else I wanted to talk to you about."
"Oh?"
"Yes. After we return from our honeymoon, I know that Lucas will be spending a lot of time getting the new business set up, and we may not get to see each other as I would like."
"That's where you should put your foot down. Do not let this business do to your marriage what it did to your father and mine."
"Oh?" Elizabeth asked curiously. "I thought you and father always had an understanding."
"We do. And, it's not that we've been unhappy. It's just, looking back on our lives, I regret that we didn't spend more time together. Making money is no substitute for being with the one you love. Just remember that," she said as Elizabeth listened. "Oh, but I interrupted. What did you want to talk to me about?"
"A party. A Christmas party, to be precise." Elizabeth said. "Like the ones we used to have when we were growing up – with the estate all decorated in beautiful greenery and the outside grounds all lit up by lights. It's Lucas's favorite holiday, and he once shared with me some of what he'd experienced growing up; I'd like to share with him as well."
"Of course. That sounds like a marvelous idea. We can start planning it when you get back. How long will you be gone?"
Elizabeth twisted her mouth to the side. "He won't say. He won't even tell me where we're going – he said it's a surprise."
"Intriguing. I wonder what kind of surprise he has in store?"
"I told her it was a surprise! Great surprise! Gee, honey, where I'm taking you for our honeymoon is - nowhere!"
"Lucas, calm down," Henry said as the groom paced the floor at Abigail's an hour before his wedding. "It's just a delay. Nothing's been canceled."
"Henry. You don't understand! Getting to the cruise liner is just the first step of our trip. There are other stops for which tickets have already been procured. It's a fine tuned schedule and now, it's all ruined."
Abigail stepped into the room to retrieve Jack's tie. "What if you drove?"
"From here to Seattle?" Lucas asked.
"Yes. I hear some of the newer roads are quite nice."
Lucas sat down on a stool and ran his hand down his face. He felt he wanted to cry. "I wish I could, but not even Elizabeth's father's limousine will be able to handle our luggage. I was going to have it loaded on the stagecoach and then onto the train and…."
"How long were you going to be gone that you needed that much luggage?" Abigail asked.
Lucas looked at Henry, the only other person around who knew his secret, and then at Abigail. "A while. I was going to leave Mike in charge of the hotel, and of course, Henry can run the oil business."
"How long is a while?" Abigail asked. "Because if it's more than a week, you know she has a child."
"Yes, Mrs. Gowen…I was aware that Mrs. Thornton has a child." Lucas said sarcastically.
"Well, no need to get short with me; I'm just trying to help," Abigail replied. Lucas shook his head.
The bell to the front door at Abigail's rang, which typically signaled that she had a customer.
"Didn't you put out the closed sign?" Henry asked.
Abigail sighed. "I did. I wonder who it could…oh, hello Nathan."
"Hey, how's everybody doing?" Grant said as he walked into the back room.
Three unhappy faces staring his way was his only answer.
"Okay, then," Nathan responded. "I just stopped by because Gustave asked to borrow some eggs."
Lucas furrowed his brow. "Wait. We're a restaurant, and we're out of eggs?"
Nathan smirked. "Yeah, well apparently, he used them up on the 'Egg en Cocotte' he is using as your appetizer and forgot he needs them for the Crème Brulee."
"Well, that's just great!" Lucas closed his eyes and moaned. "No Crème Brulee, no honeymoon, no happy life. I'm doomed."
Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like you're having a bad day."
Lucas buried his face in his hands so Nathan looked at Henry, who rolled his eyes, and Abigail shook her head.
"What's he mean, no honeymoon?" he asked. "Elizabeth's been looking forward to this. She's been telling Emily that Lucas has some sort of surprise."
"Honeymoon is canceled." Lucas replied without looking up, then he did. "Surprise!"
Nathan laughed incredulously. "What do you mean, canceled?"
Lucas looked defeated and slouched in his chair. "Train derailed. We can't get through. All of my plans…."
"Wait a minute. Are you talking about the train derailment at South Surrey? Just before you cross the border?"
"That's the one," Henry said. "Railroad says all trips going south are delayed for at least a week due to the damage done on the tracks. Only necessary personnel are allowed."
Nathan's mouth turned into a lopsided grin, and he began to chuckle.
Lucas looked up at him, unamused. "Why are you laughing? This is not funny."
"I'm laughing because God has a sense of humor. I mean, here you are on what should be the happiest day of your life, about to marry the woman I used to be interested in; and here I am about to help you get to your honeymoon with her on time." He laughed again.
Lucas sat up straight. "What? What do you mean you're going to help me? How can you help? Henry said only necessary personnel are allowed."
"That's true. And, what is also true is that I happen to be good friends with the guy who determines who is necessary personnel. We went to, as you called it, 'Mountie School' together. So, if you can take the train as far as Winchester, they can put your stuff on one of the wagons they are using to transport supplies to the derailment site and transport you and Elizabeth to the next available stop for Seattle."
Lucas's eyes grew wide and he lit up with excitement. "You mean…your friend can get us to Seattle on time? And we can go on our honeymoon on time?"
"Probably a little early since there's no other traffic going that way due to the derailment." Nathan smiled.
Lucas leaped up from his seat and threw his arms around Nathan then gave him a small peck on the cheek."
"Whoa, Lucas." Grant said, and both men immediately stiffened.
Lucas cleared his throat and looked down, backing away. "I didn't do that."
"No. That didn't just happen." Nathan replied, taking a step back himself. "I'll, um, just take the eggs to Gustave and you, uh…you better go get ready. You only have about forty-five minutes before showtime and, I still need to call my friend."
Lucas took a deep breath and nodded. "Thank you, Nathan. This means more than you know."
Nathan grinned. "I'm happy to do it."
Lucas turned toward Henry and Abigail and threw his arms out in relief. "Henry!" he exclaimed.
Gowen looked at him with a scowl. "You're not going to kiss me, are you?"
Abigail elbowed her husband. "Henry!" But, a happy Lucas laughed. "No, I'm not going to kiss you."
"See to it that you don't."
Abigail shook her head. "I'll get those eggs for you, Nathan. And, you, Lucas, better get ready. Take Jack's tie back to him and Laura in the back bedroom while you're at it."
Lucas's eyes twinkled. "My pleasure." he said, taking a few more steps toward the back, then he turned. "Hey everyone, I'm getting married!"
"So we've heard." Nathan laughed. Lucas turned and joined his future son.