Author's Note: Thank you all for your patience in waiting for this chapter. Special thanks to Robin Sobieralski, Sindie, HopeValleyOwl, Karen Pearson, Ljd21690, Joan Jones, Kate, nole, metacaroliner, wcthlcr2014, Roxanne, Rockchelle99, Lillian Hazaz & Guests - also, Jacqueline, NsNash and eatanygoodbookslately who have reviewed earlier chapters. Your encouragement is appreciated tremendously. We're now running between 475 to almost 600 readers on this story in at least 34 countries and I couldn't be more pleased. Thank you for sticking with the story during the hard times and I hope the payoff in this chapter will please you. Also, for those hoping for an M rating in this story, that's not something you'll see as I prefer to leave a little mystery in my fiction. I think you'll like it, nevertheless. And now, on to our story.
The Hope Valley church house was a place that would be forever special to Elizabeth Thornton. It was built for her and the community by her first husband, Jack, and in it they said their vows. It had been her church home and the place where she had taught school since 1911. Her son was christened there, and many of her closest friends were married there. And, it was in that church, Jack's funeral sermon was preached before the procession to his grave. Such bittersweet memories, though mostly sweet, in such a meaningful location – and so much that reminded her of Jack.
But it was another location that Elizabeth chose to commemorate her marriage to Lucas Bouchard– namely, their bridge. What was to become known as "Bouchard's Bridge," due to the many times the couple was spotted communing with one another in the area, the structure was the site of some of the happiest moments of their courtship. Serene in its location, the bridge was where they shared their first kiss and was the destination of many a horseback ride or walk through the months after they began courting, all the way up to their wedding. There they would talk and laugh, kiss (oh, how they would kiss), and share their deepest thoughts and dreams. In many ways, it was a symbol of their love – strong, supportive and beautiful. But it also signified Elizabeth's own passage from the season of her life in which she knew and cherished her first love to the time when she would embrace her last with all of her being.
The morning of the wedding, Clara Flynn, Faith Carter, and Minnie Canfield oversaw the school children as they decorated the bridge with pink and crème-colored roses and organza streamers that stretched from one end of the structure to the other. At the same time, Robert, Jesse, and Robert's father tucked white wooden chairs in openings along the landscape and in view of the cypress knees that protruded from the water, as there wasn't a large enough plateau for more formal seating. Molly and Florence set down and secured the runner which would lead from the road the bride would arrive on to the bridge, which was covered with thousands of pink and crème colored petals matching both Elizabeth's gown and her bouquet. Meanwhile, Elizabeth got ready in the church and Lucas at the café, neither seeing the other until the bride arrived. For something with such a quick turnaround time, thus far, it was beautifully planned and executed.
At precisely eleven-fifteen, Henry Gowen's automobile stopped on the northern road adjacent to the bridge. Henry opened his car door, but for nearly a minute, Lucas didn't move.
"You ready to get this thing over with?" Henry finally asked, tapping him once on the sleeve.
Lucas lowered his head, tracing his right thumb over the top of his left ring finger. "Have you ever dreamed of something for so long that you began to wonder whether or not it was ever going to happen, and then, it does?"
Gowen smiled but said nothing. Lucas turned toward him.
"This is really happening, isn't it? I'm not just dreaming?"
"You're not dreaming, Lucas. You and Elizabeth are about to become husband and wife. How are you feeling?"
"Like my heart is about to beat out of my chest," he replied.
Henry's chuckled. "Hey, you're going to do great. Do you love her?"
"More than life," Lucas responded unreservedly.
"And she loves you?" Henry asked, already knowing the answer.
Lucas took a deep breath. "She does. Although, I'm fairly uncertain as to why," he replied.
Gowen laughed. "We're not asked to understand it; just accept it. Come on. You're wasting time. The sooner you leave the car, the sooner you can get this thing over, the sooner you can move on to the rest of your life."
Lucas took a deep breath and then exhaled, nodding his head. "I'm ready. Let's go."
"You're lookin' awfully handsome today, constable." Emily Reardon said as she took a seat next to the Mountie at an opening in the greenery about twenty feet from the bridge.
It seemed the whole town had assembled. Workers from the Queen and the petroleum company joined the students with their families and filled every open spot - some even taking standing room positions on the roads where the bride and groom would descend. But for those closest to the couple, which included Nathan and Emily, prime viewing areas were reserved.
"Thank you," Grant said, moving his chair over a little to the left, giving Emily a better view.
"Will Allie be joining us?" she asked.
Nathan rolled his eyes and shook his head. "No. She's going to sit with Robert. It seems like they're on again."
Emily laughed. "Well, he seems like a good boy."
"Yeah," Nathan replied, unconvinced.
"Very industrious. She could certainly do worse."
"She's only fifteen!" Nathan replied. "She shouldn't be dating anyone for at least…five more years."
"Oh, is that when you started dating?" Emily chortled.
Nathan suddenly appeared a bit uncomfortable. "There wasn't a lot of time for…dating. I was busy working to take care of mom and Colleen."
"That's understandable," Emily said. "But surely, in Nathan Grant's past, there's been a girl or two who stole your heart?"
Nathan looked at Emily. "None like you."
Emily smiled bashfully and took Nathan's hand in hers.
"Where's little Jack? Has anyone seen Jack?" Rosemary Coulter frantically asked as she ducked her face into each little alcove in the forested locale.
Nathan and Emily both turned toward the matron of honor. "No, we haven't seen him at all."
"Oh, dear! Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" she stated, moving away and going to the next section over.
"Do you want us to help look?" Nathan offered.
"If you don't mind," Rosemary replied. "Elizabeth is going to be here any second now, and I'd picked Jack up from Abigail's to run through what he's going to do one more time. Fiona asked me a question, and I turned my head for only a second, and he was gone."
"Who's gone?" Joseph asked as he walked toward the bridge.
"The ringbearer," Emily replied.
"Jack? That ain't good." Joseph said. "Where was he when you last saw him?"
"Over there," Rosemary said, pointing to where Clara and Molly were engaging Ned and Florence in the search. "I just turned my head a second, and…Jack! Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" she called out as she continued to walk.
Soon all guests were up out of their seats, participating in the search. Lucas and Henry rounded the bend on foot and observed the crowd, crawling the countryside, some literally, looking for Elizabeth's son.
"What's going on?" Henry asked. Lucas was about to shrug when he heard Fiona call out, "Jack Thornton, where did you go?" He looked toward Henry with concern.
"The water!"
Immediately, the groom left Henry's side and, regardless of the unevenness of the terrain, began walking the edge of the water, looking for any sign of the four-year-old.
"Jack?! Where are you?!" Lucas cried out, his patent leather brogued wingtip dress shoes and the hem of his trousers becoming sullied by dirt.
Elizabeth's parent's limousine arrived on the bride's side of the road with the beaming bride in its back seat. Abigail was the first to rush up to the vehicle and open the door, but instead of the happy welcome that she was expecting to hear, Elizabeth heard the worried proclamation. "We can't find Jack."
Immediately, the bride exited the vehicle and began searching for her son. "Jack! Jack!"
"Elizabeth! It would be best if you stayed back." Rosemary said.
"Don't tell me that!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "If this were Jonathan, would you stay back?"
Rosemary took a deep breath and shook her head. "Alright, let's go this direction, and stay away from the water. All we need is for your beautiful ivory gown to get all covered in sludge."
An hour had passed, and before he knew it, Lucas had traveled nearly a quarter-mile along the banks of the water, searching and praying for Jack every step that he took.
"Jack! Please, if you're hiding, please, come on out, now. Everyone is worried about you. You're scaring your mother and Lucas."
Just then, he heard a rustling along the ground and the sound of whispering. He took a deep breath and walked over to the area, and moved aside some bush branches with his arm. Hidden inside was the toe-headed little boy with bright blue eyes, who was holding something in his hand. He looked up at Lucas and smiled, holding the object out for him to see.
"Baby bunny."
Lucas exhaled and closed his eyes, thankful that Jack had been found, but now came the test. How would he handle the situation? Elizabeth had always told him that if Jack was misbehaving, he was free to discipline him however he felt was necessary, but Lucas had never taken her up on that, and in fact, never had to. Jack and he had always had an excellent relationship, and Lucas certainly didn't want to put a damper on that, on the day they were to become a family.
"He's sweet," Lucas said, reaching his hand out and petting the bunny's head. "Where did it come from?" he asked gently.
Jack pointed back in the general direction of the bridge. "Over there. He was eating grass."
"Over by the bridge?" he asked.
"Mm-hmm." Jack shook his head affirmatively.
"I see," Lucas said. "Well, don't you think maybe we should let him go so he can find his way back to his mommy and daddy? I'm sure they are very worried."
"They be okay. Bunny like Jack," the little boy said. "Gonna wiv by self, wiffout a mommy or daddy."
Lucas tilted his head, then took a seat on the ground next to his future son. "Jack, you still have your mommy."
"But, I won't. She going to wiv wif you. You take her from me, and I be all alone then, 'cept for Ammabelle." Jack responded, recalling that Lucas had told him that Annabelle was going to live with him.
Lucas opened his mouth. Clearly, something had been missed in how they had communicated what was happening to Elizabeth's son. He reached out and put his hand on Jack's tiny shoulder. "Jack, I'm not taking your mommy from you. We're going to be a family. You and your mommy are moving in with Annabelle and me."
"Really?" Jack asked, wide-eyed.
"Really. And, while I know that your daddy Jack is in heaven and I'm not a replacement for him, if you're okay with it, I'd like to adopt you."
"'dopt? Like Jonafam?"
"Very much like Jonathan, then I can be your daddy here on earth."
"Daddy Lucas?" Jack asked.
Lucas smiled. "If that's what you want to call me, yes," he replied, looking earnestly toward the child.
Jack immediately set down the bunny on the ground then walked over to Lucas, wrapping his arms around Lucas's neck and hugging him tightly. "I like that," he said.
Lucas returned the embrace, then kissed the side of Jack's head, fighting back emotion. After a few moments, he set the little boy to the side. "As soon as we get back from our honeymoon, we will see to it that it happens. Now, are you ready to go back to the wedding?"
Jack's eyes turned downward, but he shook his head yes. Lucas squinted his eyes. "Is something still bothering you?"
"Guess so. You and mommy go way on honeymoom, and I going to stay wif auntie Rosemary and uncle Lee while you're gone."
Lucas furrowed his brow, not being able to imagine why the little boy sounded downcast about staying with the Coulters. "I thought you liked uncle Lee and auntie Rosemary and Jonathan. Do you not?"
Jack shook his head. "Yes. I love them. But, I wanna stay wif my mommy."
Lucas lowered his chin, looking wistfully towards the boy, who, while growing up so fast, was still such an innocent.
"I understand. I don't like it when I'm not with your mommy either." He leaned toward him. "Can you keep a secret?"
The crowd of people continued to search with even more tenacity, especially after Jesse Flynn mentioned the possibility that Jack could have fallen into the water. William and Agatha Thatcher attended to Grace, who had to sit down due to the anxiety, but Peter and Helen Bouchard were busy with the rest of them, scanning the countryside in their fine apparel - neither caring in the least that they were getting dirty. Julie walked near Nathan and Emily, and her non-stop chattering gave Nathan another reason to be glad that he and Elizabeth didn't get together. Meanwhile, Jack's mother tried to maintain her composure since her son had done this before. But the longer he stayed gone, the more worried she became.
"What if Jesse's right?" Elizabeth asked Bill Avery. "What if he fell in? Bill? What if…"
"Now, Elizabeth. When's the last time Jesse's been right? There's nothing to indicate he fell in the water." Bill shook his head reassuringly. "I'm sure he's just wandered off. We'll find him." Internally, however, the former Mountie couldn't help but worry about his godson. He was considering calling together a group to search the nearby woods when they all heard a commotion.
"Elizabeth! Elizabeth!" a breathless Mike Hickham said as he was rushing across the grass to get to her. Fiona quickly caught up to him, and everyone gathered to hear what he would say.
Elizabeth turned, her eyes wide with trepidation. "Is it Jack? Have you found him? Is he safe?"
Mike smiled. "Yes! Lucas found him a little way north of here, hiding in some brush. He's fine."
"Oh, thank God!" Grace Thatcher exclaimed.
"Thank God, indeed." Minnie Canfield agreed.
Elizabeth almost collapsed with relief. "Where are they now? Are they coming this way?"
Mike nodded. "Lucas and Jack were in Henry's car heading a little way up the road. They both got a little dirty, and Lucas wanted to try to get them cleaned up a little before the wedding began. So he asked me to get everyone seated and said he'd be back in about fifteen minutes."
Elizabeth blew a stream of air through her lips. "Well, that was some excitement we didn't need today," she said. "Oh, look at me. I'm a filthy mess!"
Rosemary looked at the bottom of Elizabeth's dress which had a little dirt in a few places about five inches from the hem but was barely noticeable. "Follow me. I have a clothing brush in my purse. I'll bet we can get that out." Rosemary responded.
Angela Canfield smiled sweetly as she sat at the piano that Hope Valley's men had carefully transported from the church to the wedding site. She was performing a medley of songs selected by the bride and groom, which she had learned by ear in just a couple of days. Next to her, Mike Hickham led a muted brass quartet. They were playing "Adagio Cantabile" from Beethoven's Sonata Pathétique, a selection Lucas had picked out for his and Elizabeth's first official date, under a canopy of stars in her back yard. It was the perfect selection the reset everyone's mood after all of the excitement over Jack, and it was what was playing when the groom, ring bearer, and best man arrived.
Stepping out of the car, one could scarcely tell that just ten minutes prior, both the groom and ring bearer looked as if they'd been making mud pies on the banks of the Mississippi, but the clues were there if one took a closer look. For example, in place of the well-tamed coiffure that he tried to maintain, Lucas's bangs flopped to the side in a manner that even his favorite pomade couldn't tame. In addition to this, while the dark color of his and Jack's suits somewhat camouflaged the remnants of a quick cleaning job, the sloshing sound Jack's shoes made when he walked, and a shiny sheen on the side of Lucas's trouser legs revealed that from the waist down, both of them were sopping wet. Thankfully, it was a warm day, and the groom seemed to be taking it all in stride. The sun would help them dry. He was just happy to be there and to be getting married to Elizabeth in just a matter of minutes.
Lucas took Jack by the hand and, together with Henry, walked to the bridge's entrance. Once they were in place, Mayor Lee Coulter came to them and swooped little Jack up into his arms, readying him for the role he was to play.
Bouchard kept his hands crossed in front of him and was trying to portray a sense of calm, but his continual rocking back and forth and checking his watch betrayed the fact he was anything but. At first, Gowen smirked when he recognized the case of nerves in his friend, but when Lucas's fidgeting started to become distracting, a gentle shove in the small of his back and a "stop it" was all that it took for him to cease.
The song ended, and soon another Beethoven piece, Ode to Joy, began to play. This signaled the beginning of the procession. Cooper Canfield and Opal Weise picked up both ends of the runner and began to roll it down the aisle, or more accurately, down the dirt path from the road to the bridge.
The attendees all had smiles on their faces, and Lucas couldn't help but reflect on how just a few years ago, most of them were strangers; now, they'd become family. Next, he looked toward his father, whose smiling face and wink were all the support he required to hold his emotions in check. Then finally, he turned back toward the bridge where Rosemary had rounded the bend and was heading toward the entrance at the other side. Soon, he'd see his bride.
Lee tapped little Jack on the shoulder, and together, he and the child moved forward, the latter carrying a cream-colored satin pillow, upon which the rings were attached with ribbon. William and Grace Thatcher smiled as they watched their grandson, feeling a sense of pride at how seriously the little boy was carrying out his task. He seemed so very grown-up. Much of that was due to Lee, who, as mayor, was there officially to legalize the marriage and had a unique role in the actual ceremony thanks to how good he was with Jack. He was the couple's trusted friend in charge of leading Elizabeth's son.
Once the matron of honor, Lee, Jack, and Joseph, were in place at the center of the bridge, the music dramatically came to a stop. At that moment, the only sound was that of the shoes of the bridegroom and his friend as they walked across the bridge. They came to a stop, and immediately, the Bridal Chorus began.
At the first sniffle, Henry placed a steadying hand on the groom's back, but when Elizabeth appeared at the end of the bridge in her satin and chiffon gown, Lucas inhaled sharply, and his expression turned to one of awe. Elizabeth's gown was unlike any that Hope Valley had ever seen. Accented by delicate beadwork and the tiniest of pink silk roses, the bottom of the dress was tapered in keeping with the latest couture and showed a bit of daring in that the bride's ankles were clearly visible below the hemline. She wore her hair in a loose updo with her long bangs curled into a spiral on one side and secured it all with a comb – foregoing the capped veil, which was all the rage. She was "a vision of elegance and beauty," or so her husband would always say. And, in truth, she was breathtaking.
Joining Lucas at the middle of the bridge, Elizabeth's eyes sparkled as she gazed at her handsome groom, and but for the brief moment in which her father affirmed that he and her mother were giving her away, they never left Lucas's face until Joseph began his sermon. Having received the father's blessing and noting that there was nobody present who could raise any objections to their marriage, Pastor Canfield asked them to join hands in front of him, and the outdoor congregation took their seats.
"Dear Friends, we are gathered here today to witness and to celebrate the union of Lucas Bouchard and Elizabeth Thornton, a couple whose love has already survived trials that most would never face in a lifetime. Now, my family and I have only been here a short time, and I've been your pastor for even less. But, since we've been here, we have all gotten to know Lucas and Elizabeth quite well, and I can genuinely say that I've never met a more kind, caring, loving, and generous couple of individuals in all my life.
So, when they asked me to marry them, I couldn't have been happier to say yes. Why you may ask? Because I know a little secret in what the good book has to say. In the book of Ecclesiastes, it tells us that Two are better than one. For if they fall, the one will lift the other up. And when this old cold world wears one down and makes you want to give up, when you come home to the warmth and comfort of your loving spouse, it can give you strength to carry on. I know that's happened between Minnie and myself many times, and I know it will be true of the two of you as well.
But as strong as you are together, there is one other secret – really, not so much of a secret as it is a truth that I'd like to share. If you'll take advantage of it, it's something that will make your marriage nearly impenetrable by anything this world wants to throw at it. And that's found in the same portion of Scripture that I've been speaking of.
It says, "And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him," and I know that if either one of you is under assault, the other, you'll both be there by each other's side, to see that you're not overcome.
But you know, as strong as you are together – and you are stronger together – there are going to be times where both of you are hurting so much, or that weight and burden on your lives just seems to be too much to bear that you're going to have to lean on One who is stronger than even your love. The Bible calls it a 'three-fold cord.' and it also says that this three-fold cord 'is not quickly broken.'"
Joseph pulled some lengths of clothesline out of his pocket and held one up. He looked down to little Jack, who was paying rapt attention.
"Now, I know most of you recognize what I hold in my hand, but I'm going to ask this young man here if he knows what it is."
Jack looked at him and smiled. "It's a rope."
The preacher smiled. "Indeed. It's a rope, and more specifically, it is the kind of rope that Minnie uses when she hangs out our clothes to dry. It's pretty strong. It holds up all of my clothes and hers as well as Cooper's and Angela's.
Now, Elizabeth, I know how much more you women tend to worry about things than we men."
Elizabeth smirked, "You don't know Lucas as well as you think, then."
"Guilty." Lucas grinned, and the three chuckled.
"Perhaps," Joseph continued. "But say I took this thin piece of clothesline, and I tied it around Jack's waist and held him over the railing…"
"Mommy?" Jack immediately moved closer to his mother, and Joseph quickly reassured the child that he was only using this as an illustration. Jack's eyes looked to Lucas, who leaned down and whispered something into Jack's ear. It seemed to soothe him. The little boy moved back into position and seemed fine after that.
"Now, as I said, I'm not going to do that, but if I did or if it were you or Lucas, how comfortable would you feel?"
Elizabeth looked at the clothesline and then at her son, "Not very comfortable."
"Indeed. You all are worth far too much to risk hanging you out with just this thin piece of cord." He then took another piece of rope and began to twist it with the first piece. "What if I brought in another piece of rope and combined them." He pulled on the rope between his hands. "That's much stronger, see? It'd be tough to break. I'll ask Lucas. How comfortable would you feel with that?"
Lucas tilted his head. "Not very."
"And why is that?" Joseph asked.
"Because the two pieces can still come unraveled," Lucas replied.
"Exactly. They are strong as long as they stay together. But let one get pulled away from the other by some dispute, or the other get tugged the other way by some concern -" Joseph pulled the two pieces of rope apart. "You're back where you've started."
"But, there is an answer to this problem, and that's God." Joseph took a third section of rope out and combined it with the others, braiding it in the center with a single braid. He then handed the bride and groom both an end. "Would you two mind starting at the center and braiding the two ends until you get to the end?"
The couple smiled as they braided the rope together, and Canfield explained. "When God is at the center of your marriage and your lives, His strength is there when yours as an individual and yours as a couple is not. He'll get you through the tough times when you're ready to give up. And He will bring you peace when the world says you shouldn't have it. And, unlike us humans who sometimes have difficulty understanding the opposite sex, He's the One who made us and knows our needs before we ask.
For instance, he knows that it's not good for man to be alone and made a helpmeet for him in his wife. Elizabeth, your gifts, encouragement, support, respect, and love mean more to Lucas than you can possibly imagine. Will you be his helpmeet?
And, Lucas, a woman's heart needs to feel the love and support of her husband because she has a hard job, and frankly, it ain't easy living with us sometimes. So, for you, He commands you to love her as you love yourself – but even more than that, love as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. Now, I know you. You'd gladly die for her if it meant keeping her or Jack from harm – but will you live for her? Will you be there when she comes home from the schoolhouse and just needs you to hold her and listen to her when she's feeling overwhelmed?
As I consider you both, I believe I know the answer to all of those questions is an unqualified yes. You will. And it will probably be easier than you expect it to be because it's just a continuation of who you already are today. You've already been through so much together. Just remember what brought you through and you'll be okay.
With that said, as we open up this next portion of the ceremony, it's my understanding that both of you have chosen to write your own vows to one another. Is that correct?"
Elizabeth and Lucas nodded.
"And, it is my understanding that you would like to do things a little differently by having Elizabeth go first?"
"That's correct," Lucas responded.
"Very well, Elizabeth? Would you like to take Lucas's hands and begin?"
The preacher took a step back and Elizabeth handed her bouquet to Rosemary, and the couple joined hands. Lucas's eyes glistened with adoration as she spoke.
"Lucas Bouchard, my darling, my joy. You are my love, my best friend, and my second chance. God knew what He was doing when He sent you to me at a time when I didn't even know I needed you. And, He gifted you with all of the patience and gentleness that He knew I would need to help me move forward into our future. You have helped me to dream again, and you've made my longest-held dreams come true. You've given me my smile back, and I know that you and you alone are the one God has shaped me for. Today, I give you my heart, my devotion, my respect, and my lifetime. I love you, Lucas Bouchard, and pledge myself to you and you alone from this day."
Lucas squeezed Elizabeth's hands and smiled, a single tear rolling down his cheek as she finished.
"Lucas, do you have something you'd like to say?" Joseph said tenderly.
Lucas sniffled and then looked beamingly at his bride.
"Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton, you are the one that I've waited for all of my life, the answer to my prayers - my true love, my best friend, my soulmate, and the fulfillment of every dream that this hopeful romantic has ever dared to dream concerning the woman I would marry. When I arrived in Hope Valley, I came with the thought that, perhaps, this could be the place where I could settle down and start a family. I had no idea that I would meet the one with whom I would start it on my first day in town. I have loved you from the beginning, with a love that is boundless and eternal. And my heart and all that I am or have is forever yours."
He then turned to the little boy by their side. "Jack, I would like to thank you for sharing your mother with me. I promise you that I will do everything within my power to take care of her and you. And while I am no substitute for your father, Constable Thornton, I love you already and will endeavor to be the father to you that he would have wanted to be had he lived. You will be my son, just as if you were born to me. Please know, I am here for you – to care for you and give you guidance you as my father did for me - raising you to be a man of honor just as your father was."
Joseph looked at the couple and smiled, as it was now Elizabeth whose eyes glimmered with tears. "May we have the rings?"
Lee tapped Jack on the shoulder, and the little boy solemnly walked forward to Rosemary, who untied the ribbon. She and Henry picked up the rings and held them until needed.
"Lucas, will you take Elizabeth's ring and place it on her left hand?" Joseph asked.
The groom did as instructed. "Elizabeth, I give you this ring as a symbol of my commitment to you. I will love you, honor you, protect you, support you, serve you and cherish you and you alone from this day forward, as long as we both shall live."
Joseph looked at Elizabeth and asked her to place Lucas's ring on his finger.
"Lucas, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love. I will love you, honor you, comfort you, support you, serve you and cherish you and you alone from this day forward, as long as we both shall live."
"Let us pray," Joseph said, and everyone bowed their heads. "Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of love and for bringing Lucas and Elizabeth together. We thank you for bringing beauty from ashes, for giving joy in the place of mourning and praise in the place of heaviness. And, we ask this day that you would be with them as they begin their journey together as husband and wife and as parents. Let their home be filled with joy and happiness and all of the good gifts you as a good Father bring to your children. But also, Lord, give them the strength to persevere through the hard times as they surely will come. And provide them with the courage and wisdom to face every obstacle together – with You at the center of their family. Let their love be a testimony to your own, now and for always. It's in the name of Christ Jesus my Lord that I pray these things, Amen.
Now, Lucas and Elizabeth, in as much as you've agreed to pledge yourself to one another before God and these witnesses, it is my distinct pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife. Lucas, you may kiss your bride."
Lucas immediately pulled Elizabeth to him, kissing her passionately before the joyous crowd. Both bride and groom laughed and cried for the joy they felt at finally being united in marriage. Then, Joseph presented them as Lucas and Elizabeth Bouchard for the first time. The happy couple walked down the bridge hand-in-hand to Elizabeth's father's Rolls Royce limousine, waiting to transport them to the Queen of the Valley.
There was a slight delay in the couple showing up to their own party, for, at Peter Bouchard's insistence, a photographer was there to take a multitude of pictures to commemorate the day. And, when they finally did arrive, they found themselves nearly overwhelmed with the happiness of well-wishers to the point that for a time, they scarcely had time for anything else. But when the initial excitement began to die down, the two rejoined each other at the head table, where they toasted to one another and enjoyed one of Gustave's most delectable feasts.
"So, are you enjoying yourself, Mrs. Bouchard?" Lucas asked as he brought his beverage to his lips.
"Immensely so, Mr. Bouchard. And, yourself?"
"I always enjoy myself when I'm with you," he replied.
All was quiet for a few seconds more as the couple looked out on a crowd that looked happy and relaxed, then Lucas smirked.
"Bet I know who's going next," he stated.
Elizabeth looked to where his eyes were directed and returned the smirk. "Do you think he'll move that fast? I mean, clearly, that's the direction they're heading. But Nathan's always been a bit shy about expressing what it is he wants."
Lucas nodded affirmatively. "I have faith our dear Mr. Grant will get the job done, and he'll get it done soon."
"I hope you're right. He deserves to be happy and to have someone there to support him as he's raising Allie. Which- speaking of support, Florence walked up to me and told me that our 'secret is safe with her.' Any idea what that's about?"
Lucas, who was taking another sip of his drink, nearly spit it out.
Recovering, he said, "I believe that Mrs. Yost has things a little confused. We can talk about it later."
"Later? You mean on the way to wherever you're taking me?" she smiled.
Lucas nodded. "Sure. We can do that."
Elizabeth looked at her husband and raised an eyebrow. "And you're still not going to tell me? You know we're married now, and we're not supposed to keep secrets."
"I'm going to tell you," he replied. "Just a little later on."
"Not even a little hint?" she asked, fluttering her eyes at him and placing her hand on his knee under the table.
He laughed. "Alright, temptress. I'll tell you this much. Tonight we'll be staying at the Union City Hotel."
She raised both eyebrows, not surprised that they wouldn't be staying in town but curious as to why everything was such a secret. "So, we're honeymooning around Alberta?"
"No," he replied. "I said that's where we're staying tonight. You find out the rest tomorrow."
"Well, that's just mean," she pouted.
He chuckled, then took her hand and kissed it. "Patience, my dear wife. I promise, when you find out, you won't be disappointed."
"If you say so," she said, trying to maintain the pout but being unable to keep from smiling when he flashed his dimples toward her.
"You'd better stop that," she said.
"Stop what?" he responded.
She rolled her eyes. "You know what you're doing. You know when you smile at me you can pretty much get anything you want."
Lucas lowered his chin and grinned. "Is that a fact? Good to know."
She mock-shoved him. "Lucas!"
Then, he looked at her matter-of-factly. "Well, something has to even the playing field."
An hour passed, and the Bouchards shared their first dance in front of their friends. Elizabeth threw the bouquet, which was caught by Emily and Nathan caught the garter leaving Mike somewhat disappointed. But when Fiona asked him to dance, everything seemed alright with him again. And so it went.
The celebration was still underway when Lucas's father-in-law pulled him to the side.
"I heard about the change in plans you had to make in transporting you and my daughter to your honeymoon. Is everything handled now? If not, I'd like to help."
Lucas shook his head. "Everything is taken care of, William, thanks to some help from a friend. But thank you. I appreciate the offer."
"Any time," William replied. "How are you, you know, feeling?"
Lucas stopped for a moment, having successfully fended off any anxiety all afternoon. "I feel happy. Relieved that we got through the ceremony. When Jack disappeared, I wasn't sure what was going to happen. That's the most scared I think I've been in a long time."
"Yes. It was quite frightening," William said. "But you did well with him. You're going to be a wonderful father to my grandson."
"Thank you," Lucas replied, genuinely appreciative.
"It's been an altogether lovely time. And it's good you're not anxious." William continued. "I can't tell you how terrified I was when I married Elizabeth's mother."
"Really?"
"Yes. Her parents were real sticklers for details, and everything had to be perfect, which it was. And, then, of course, there was the wedding night."
Lucas swallowed, not wanting to have another discussion with a member of Elizabeth's family over that. But, William was discrete. "Just wanted to tell you, I was once in the same sort of situation as you are now; and, if you're feeling a little jittery, I have a little prescriptive remedy up in my room that you're more than happy to take with you."
Lucas looked down and smiled; then he looked at his father-in-law. "As much as a part of me wishes to take you up on your offer, I believe my bride would prefer to have me sober as I drive us to Union City."
"What about when you get to the hotel?"
"Everything's taken care of," Lucas responded.
"Very well," William replied, patting him on the back. "And, don't worry about a thing. You'll be fine. Like riding a bike. Once you figure it out, it'll go smoothly from there on out."
Lucas couldn't help but blush. It appeared Aunt Agatha and Julie weren't the only members of Elizabeth's family with a penchant for talking about what wasn't generally discussed in polite society.
He thanked William for the advice and returned to his wife's side. A few minutes later and it was time to go.
They hugged their families goodbye, and Elizabeth spent a few extra minutes with Jack, hugging and kissing him and telling him to be a good boy for Auntie Rosemary and Uncle Lee until they returned. She gave him one last hug, and then they left.
At nine o'clock that evening, the couple arrived, arm-in-am, at the Union City Hotel. A familiar clerk greeted them.
"Good evening," Lucas said. "Reservations for Bouchard."
The man looked up and recognized the couple from when they were there a few years before. "Ah, yes. I remember you both from before."
"Really?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes. I never forget a face or a name. I will find them right now." He sifted through his papers and suddenly appeared confused.
"Is something wrong?" Lucas asked.
The man paused a moment, then looked up. "I'm sorry, Mr. Bouchard. It appears we have a little mix-up. I have the young woman, Mrs. Thornton's, suite, but it appears they forgot to book a standard room for you. Please give me a moment, and I'll see to it that it's corrected."
Lucas reached out his hand where a gleaming gold band now adorned his finger. "No, no. It's not necessary," he replied, clearing his throat. "Mrs. Bouchard and I will only be needing the suite this time around."
The clerk looked at Lucas and then Elizabeth, who held up her hand, and he smiled. "My apologies, and congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Bouchard. I'll get your key right away."
Lucas put his hand on Elizabeth's lower back. "Honest mistake," he winked. She laughed.
The suite Lucas booked for their first night together was unsurprisingly the best in the house. Decorated with dozens and dozens of bouquets of roses at his request, it was breathtaking and inviting and just the sort of thing Elizabeth would have expected from her loving husband for their wedding night. But there were other little touches around the room, which showed the thought and planning that had gone into making the atmosphere just so. A Victrola in the corner played romantic music for them as he carried her over the threshold. A plate of chocolate-dipped strawberries and real champagne in crystal flutes were waiting on the table. An empty leather journal sat next to the champagne, with a note from Lucas expressing how grateful he was to be written into her next volume. It was all so perfect and so sweet. But in truth, it was just icing.
Elizabeth didn't need any accessories or decorative enhancements to make the day complete. They now had each other, today and for the rest of their lives. Her joy was overflowing. Nevertheless, as they entered the honeymoon suite and got settled in, Lucas treated her like a queen, as he always did. They took time to relax and talk about the day, and she settled into his arms in sweet contentment.
Later on, when the time arrived for their physical union to begin and patience met its end, it exceeded both of their expectations. Oh, they were both nervous for a time and yet, paradoxically, so comfortable with one another that everything seemed to happen naturally. And in the afterglow, while she rested in his arms with her head on his chest, she felt his face contract against her head.
"Are you smiling?" she asked.
He chuckled then kissed the top of her head. "Yes, I am. Thanks to you."
"Lucas Bouchard!"
He laughed. "I didn't mean it like that – though now that you mention it."
"You're bad!" she said, shoving him again. "Exactly how did you mean it?"
He hugged her closely. "I was just thinking about how, in my life, I have had several people along the way that would tell me what this night would be like – or at least how it was for them. Friends, acquaintances who just wanted to talk and had no idea they were speaking to one without any experience."
"And?" she asked. "What did they say that made you smile?"
"Nothing. They didn't even begin to capture it." He replied.
"What do you mean?" she said, rolling over to look at him.
He took his fingers and ran them through her hair, then looked at her with the most awestruck look she'd ever seen. "Coming together with you as my wife, it's the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced. We really are one. And we are beautiful."
Late the next morning, room service knocked on the door. Elizabeth was the first to sit up, and she nudged her sleeping husband awake while she looked for her robe. Lucas sat up and stretched, yawned, then rubbed his sleepy eyes with the back of his hand. It was nearly ten-thirty, but he felt so exhausted from the day before and the night that he didn't want to get out of bed. Finally, he opened his eyes only to see his wife standing in front of him with her lips pinched together and her eyes wide, repeatedly traveling from his face to the top of his head.
"What's wrong?" he asked, confused as to her expression.
She paused for a moment, then ducked her head. "Nothing," she said, quickly covering her mouth to suppress a giggle.
Lucas sat there for a moment, at first feeling worried over the fact that the first thing his new bride appeared to want to do after their wedding night was laugh at him and hide what she was laughing over. That can't be good. He thought to himself.
Then, he looked in the mirror. He sighed. He knew.
"I see you've met the untamable beast. My apologies for the rude introduction. I should have warned you." He said, looking at his hair which appeared to have a mind of its own and was sticking out in every direction. He got up from the bed to look for a hairbrush.
Elizabeth retrieved the food tray from the hallway and returned to the room.
"What are you doing?" she asked as she watched Lucas standing at the vanity table with the sheets wrapped around his waist, combing through his hair.
"I'm taking care of this mess," he replied. Immediately, he felt the brush being snatched from his hand. "What are you –? "
"Don't you dare!" she said, tossing the hairbrush to the side then using both her hands to mess his hair up again.
"Elizabeth!"
"Leave it alone! I love your hair. I think it's glorious."
Lucas laughed. "I've heard it called a lot of things, but glorious is not one of them," he said, pulling her over to him for a kiss.
"Well, it is. And, so are you," she replied, kissing him back. "And I just want to spend the rest of the day in here showing you just how glorious I think you are," she said.
"You do?" he smiled. "How?"
Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her husband and kissed him. Soon, breakfast was forgotten.
At one o'clock in the afternoon, they both finally arose and got dressed and, at Lucas's insistence, took the elevator to the main floor to 'have some tea.' Elizabeth suggested that they have room service deliver the tea to the room, but he would have none of it. They had to have it downstairs.
The two took a seat in a secluded area of the hotel restaurant where they held hands, talked, laughed, and made eyes at one another like any madly in love couple would do. As one-thirty approached, she noticed him looking at his watch. She looked at him curiously.
"Are we on a schedule or something?" she asked.
"Huh? No. Not right now. Why?" he replied.
"You keep looking at your pocket watch," she said.
He raised his eyebrows and nodded, looking at it one more time. "That's because it's time for you to find out where I'm taking you on our honeymoon."
"Really?" she said excitedly, clasping her hands in front of her. "You've made it such a secret. I can't wait to hear."
He nodded again. "Very well, but as a matter of full disclosure, I originally planned this out and was going to pay for it out of the funds your father advanced toward my salary for running NorthWest. But, my parents have stepped in and have insisted that they pay for our trip."
"Oh? That's very sweet of them."
"Yes, it is. However, I'm not letting them pay for it all. The main transportation and our housing will be on them, but everything else, any souvenirs, dining, side trips that you wish to make, will be covered from our funds – and we only get one shot at this, so I'm telling you not to hold back."
"Okay," she replied, enjoying how readily he referred to his bank account as 'our funds.' He truly was one of the most generous men she had ever met. "Where are you taking me?"
He took a deep breath. "We will be leaving in the morning and going to Seattle. There's a derailment along the way, but Nathan has arranged for us to be able to get around it."
"Nathan did? Well, that was nice!"
"Yes, it was. And, thanks to him, we should arrive in plenty of time for our cruise."
Elizabeth smiled. "We're going on a cruise?"
Lucas smiled. "Yes. South along the American coast and then cutting across the Panama Canal where we will sail across the Atlantic and arrive in Lisbon on August 5th."
"We're going to Portugal?" she said.
"Correct. That's where we'll be arriving. From there, we will hop on the rail to Barcelona and then to Paris, where we'll join the Orient Express. It will transport us to Strasbourg, then Salzburg and Budapest, then up to Munich and Berlin, back down to Nuremberg, and then to Brussels. Then…."
"Wait…then?"
"Yes, then we will go across the English channel and spend some time in London as well as journey up into Scotland as well as Ireland before taking another ship home. A full tour of the places I visited in Europe before I left home, minus Russia of course, since the Bolsheviks have made traveling there by rail a bit of a mess. How does that sound?"
Elizabeth twisted her mouth to one side as she considered it. "Very busy. How are we going to have time to see anything?"
Lucas smiled. "We'll have time. We're going to be gone for three months."
Elizabeth's mouth dropped open. "We're…three months?!"
"Yes. And, don't worry about school. The province is going to send a substitute teacher to sit in for you until we return. And Henry and Mike will handle our other businesses while we're gone, so we don't have to worry about work." He said with a smile.
She didn't know what to say. Lucas was clearly excited, but there was one factor he had apparently not thought of, which left her disappointed. She lowered her head.
"What's wrong? Are you not pleased?" he asked softly.
She looked up at him with sadness in her eyes. "Oh, Lucas…It's not that I don't want to go. I'd love to spend time traveling across Europe with you, but…"
"But you're worried about Jack," he stated understandingly.
She sighed, happy that he saw the issue. "Yes! I was worried about being gone from him for a couple of weeks – but three months! I mean, Rosemary and Lee are…."
"Late!" the fast-talking woman with an effervescent personality said as she and Lee Coulter walked into the dining room with Jack following close behind.
"Rosemary!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"We planned on being here fifteen minutes earlier, but Lee had some town business to attend to that ran a little late - so here we are!" she said.
"Did Fiona agree to take care of Annabelle?" Lucas asked.
"Yes," Lee responded. "And, Mike's took care of that vendor bill, so that's all taken care of. Aside from that, Jack's trunk is in your room and-"
"Wait! Jack's trunk?" Elizabeth interjected. "I don't understand."
"Jack's trunk," Rosemary said. "You know, the storage unit that holds his clothing."
"I know what a trunk is, Rosemary!" Elizabeth said, throwing her an irritated look. "Why is Jack's trunk in our room?"
"Well, you can't expect our son to travel through Europe without any clothes on, now can you?" Lucas said.
Elizabeth's mouth dropped open; then, she started to cry. "Lucas!" She threw her arms around him and buried her face against his neck, kissing him over and over again.
Lee rolled his eyes at the public display of affection, and Rosemary elbowed him and told him to behave.
"Is mommy sad?" Jack asked Rosemary sincerely.
Elizabeth raised up and brushed her hand over her son's head. "No, Jack. Mommy is very, very happy because we are all going to be going on a trip to see all of the places that Lucas visited growing up."
Jack nodded. "I know'd that. Daddy Lucas told me at the wedding I could come."
She furrowed her brow. "He did? And you kept that a secret?"
"Mm-hmm." He said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
Elizabeth looked at the Coulters. "And you too?"
"Lucas didn't tell us what he was doing," Lee explained. "He just said to pack up all of Jack's clothes and bring them and him with us to Union City at one-thirty today. So, here we are."
"And we're so happy for you!" Rosemary said, hugging her friend.
"All I can say is I'm stunned," Elizabeth said. "Mr. Bouchard has left me speechless."
Lucas smiled. "Well, it's as I always say, Mrs. Bouchard. Life is more fun with surprises."
Elizabeth's eyes crinkled, and she kissed his lips. "And, you Mr. Bouchard are the most wonderful surprise of them all."