In the hours following the swimming session, the Bouchards, Charles and Beatrice spent the afternoon together talking while the children played. Lucas learned more about Elizabeth's childhood as Charles enthusiastically told story after story about his and Elizabeth's exploits growing up together, mentioning more than once about how they were almost inseparable in their teen years. Elizabeth enjoyed much of the trip down memory lane but couldn't help but be a bit nervous the more he talked. Lucas knew some of the history between her and Kensington and about how he'd caused trouble between her and Jack before they got married. So, given the uncharacteristic 'protectiveness' that her new husband had displayed before he knew who Charles was, she was making every effort to keep an eye on the situation to make sure he didn't feel ill at ease. This was a task easier said than done.
Sitting across from Kensington, Lucas wore his best poker face. Seemingly relaxed, he smiled and interacted with Charles as if they were old friends and was ever the gentleman and a picture of confidence. In reality, his mind churned as he spent a good bit of the afternoon evaluating the man as a person and determining whether or not he posed any sort of a threat toward his marriage. It wasn't that Lucas had an ounce of distrust toward Elizabeth. He didn't. Rather, he sensed an ulterior motive in Charles that he couldn't quite ascertain and was staying at the ready in case their marriage needed defending.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, the couples departed with their children to give the boys time to rest up before they would have to dress for a more formal dinner in the ship's dining room. Elizabeth welcomed the break, partly because Jack was becoming cranky but mostly because Lucas had done such an excellent job masking his feelings that she wasn't sure where he stood. Time alone would help her to determine the truth because she knew he could never quite bring himself to lie to her.
Quickly putting Jack down in his room, she changed into some lounging clothes while Lucas sat by the window reading a copy of the New York Times delivered as a courtesy to the ship's patrons in the more high-end suites.
"So, Beatrice seems nice," Elizabeth stated as she removed a pin from her hair, letting her locks flow freely over her shoulders.
Lucas nodded. "Mm-hmm. She and Charles seem well suited for one another."
"Yes, they do," she affirmed. "Though I will say, I never really pictured Charles as a father figure. He's always so busy at work or some social function. So, what did you think of him?"
Lucas didn't look up at her. "He's well-spoken. Educated. Presents himself well."
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow noting his evasiveness. Walking over toward him, she sat on the edge of the bed next to where he sat. "I didn't ask for you to describe him. I asked you what you thought of him," she responded, taking her fingertips and lowering his newspaper.
Lucas looked at her through the tops of his eyes. "What I think of him is irrelevant. He is your lifetime friend, and as long as he treats you well and doesn't try to overstep his bounds concerning you or Jack, I have no problem with whatever friendship you have with him."
"It's not irrelevant," she said. "You are my husband. If you at all feel uncomfortable, I…."
"Elizabeth, I said, I'm fine," he replied, pulling her over onto his lap. "If you can handle Daphne, I can certainly handle Charles," he said, kissing her on the shoulder, neck, just under her jaw, and finally on the mouth – successfully erasing from her mind any thoughts of Charles Kensington or concern that he was upset. For the space of a half-hour, the couple spent time wrapped in each other's arms, kissing like the newlyweds they were, ignoring the world around them. However, knowing that they couldn't afford to get too carried away given the time they had, Lucas eventually pulled away and suggested a short nap before they had to change. Elizabeth cuddled up next to her husband, and together they spooned the rest of the afternoon.
Lucas and Elizabeth had been sound asleep for quite a while when a depression on the end of their bed caused them to stir, and a rough hug around Lucas's waist awakened them completely. Lucas rolled over gently with one eye open and saw Jack's self-satisfied smile about four inches from his. He laughed. "Are you up so soon?" Lucas asked, pulling Jack up into the place on his stomach so that Elizabeth could see him also.
"It's five o'clock," Jack replied. "Time to wakey uppy!"
Lucas and Elizabeth smiled softly, knowing Jack was just now learning to tell time and couldn't be correct. But one look at Lucas's pocket watch informed them otherwise, and the family sprang into action, quickly dressing and exiting their suite just in the nick of time.
The ship had made special provisions for younger children to meet separately from their parents in a supervised playroom where they would be fed a child-friendly meal while being entertained and then have the opportunity to mingle with other children. Jack was so very excited by the prospect and immediately ran to join Dougie when his parents dropped him off. The Bouchards only stayed for a moment, but seeing the smile on Jack's face was all they needed to relax. Having reconnected for that little bit seemed to energize both Lucas and Elizabeth, who walked joyfully, hand in hand, into the formal dining room to join the other couple.
"Good evening," Charles said, standing as Elizabeth walked up to the table with Lucas in tow. "You look lovely tonight."
"Thank you, Charles," Elizabeth stated while handing Lucas her wrap as the waiter pulled out her chair.
"Elizabeth always looks lovely," Lucas said, not at all in a jealous manner but because he meant it. He gently placed the wrap on an empty chair beside himself and took his seat next to her.
After that, the conversation seemed to flow smoothly. With worries of Lucas feeling uncomfortable around Charles pushed to the side, Elizabeth showed Lucas a side of her that he had rarely seen. There was laughter and camaraderie that some might have viewed as flirtatious, but Lucas handled it well, knowing for Elizabeth that it was just friendly banter. His trust in her was total, and it was only when the four were standing on deck, looking out over the ocean and enjoying an after-dinner cocktail, did his comfort begin to wane. There, he spotted Charles placing his hand on the small of Elizabeth's back, causing him to spring into action. At the time, Elizabeth had been so caught up in conversation with Beatrice that she wasn't sure why she was being moved to the side. Still, when she noticed Lucas, who was already two inches taller than Charles, standing so straight that he appeared to be even taller, she knew that something had gone on. Dutifully, she looped her arm through Lucas's and hugged him close. He placed his hand over hers and squeezed it, and all was well again.
A little later, the couples walked to the library room to continue the conversation. Beatrice and Elizabeth were in deep conversation about a relative of Monteith's that Elizabeth had known in Hamilton. And Charles had quietened down considerably, Lucas adjudging a result of Kensington's fourth cocktail of the evening. Therefore, feeling things were relatively safe and knowing that it was close to Jack's bedtime, he let Elizabeth know that he was going to get their son and would be back.
Arriving at the playroom, Lucas smiled when he heard children's laughter coming from the other side of the door. This was exactly what he'd hoped for, a time for Jack to get to know other children and to enjoy himself with people his own age. But when Jack's Papa opened the door, he encountered a scene that was significantly different than he expected. On one side of the room was little Dougie and several others laughing and squealing and tossing a soft rubber ball at one another as they played a game of dodge ball. Smiling at first at how freely the children played and how happy they were, Lucas's smile faded when he didn't see Jack among them.
Lucas stepped into the room. The adult attendant seemed otherwise engaged in some paperwork and didn't so much as look up when Lucas entered the area. Moving forward, he was about to ask her where Jack was, assuming that perhaps another attendant had taken him to the facilities when out of the corner of his eye, he saw him. Sitting in a corner by himself, somewhat obscured by the dark, Jack was on the floor with a picture book in his hand, absentmindedly flipping through pages. The expression on his face was a cross between sadness and boredom, overshadowed by profound loneliness, and he didn't like it. Lucas felt his stomach tighten and took a deep breath.
Walking over to the boy, he crouched down and smoothed his hand over the top of Jack's blonde locks.
"Hey, buddy," Lucas said. "You okay?"
Jack looked up briefly, and then his eyes turned back to the book. "Mm-hmm. I'm okay." He turned the page.
Lucas frowned and got down on the floor next to him. "You don't sound okay. What's wrong, Jack? Did you get too tired? Didn't you feel like playing with the other children?"
At this point, Lucas noticed Jack's chin quivering and immediately felt an emotion rising in himself that he'd never felt before. Placing a hand on Jack's shoulder, Lucas was immediately greeted by the tear-filled eyes of a heartbroken little boy. "Oh, Jack. It's alright. Don't cry." Lucas opened his arms, and Jack immediately leaped up from his seat, throwing his arms around Lucas's neck and burying his face in his chest. Feeling the boy's quaking body, Bouchard embraced him, gently patted Jack's back as he gingerly rose to his feet so he could carry him somewhere that they could talk. Finding a small sitting room, he listened patiently as Jack told him everything that had happened.
Charles and Elizabeth were sitting at a piano playing one of their old songs for Beatrice and giggling when Lucas returned to the library. Other than their party, the room was mostly empty except for a waiter and bartender and one other couple at the far end of the room. Lucas held Jack in his arms when he entered but stopped and sighed when he saw his wife enjoying herself with Charles. He shifted their son and picked up her wrap, then walked to her side.
"Elizabeth, we need to leave. Say goodbye," he stated flatly.
Elizabeth stopped playing and looked up at him, then she saw Jack, whose cheeks looked flush as he sucked his thumb and appeared to be going to sleep. "Is he okay?" she asked, placing a hand on Jack's back. For the first time, she saw Lucas's expression, which was very unsmiling though, at the time, she didn't understand why.
"He's fine," Lucas replied, starting to turn toward the exit. "Don't forget your handbag."
Elizabeth was confused about the turn of events and by her husband's demeanor, but did as she was instructed. "I guess I have to go," she stated as she stood. Charles stood with her, and he and Beatrice followed the couple as Lucas hurried them toward the door.
"It was good to get to know you, Beatrice," Elizabeth said politely, just as they reached the threshold. "I had a really good time tonight."
"So did I," Beatrice replied. "It's always good to meet good people of common interest."
Charles smiled, "Perhaps we could meet up for breakfast in the morning – That is if everyone feels okay." He made a slight motion with his hand as if he were going to touch Jack's arm but never connected.
"I think that would be okay," Elizabeth replied with uncertainty. She looked toward Lucas, who was glaring at Charles.
Lucas paused for a moment. "Here. Take him, please," was all he said before passing Jack over to his mother.
Still confused and a little taken aback, Elizabeth watched as Lucas approached Charles. From the look on his face, she sensed trouble and reached out her hand to stop him. "Lucas, let's go." Lucas shrugged her away.
"That will not happen," he said brusquely.
"Excuse me?" Charles asked, furrowing his brow. "What will not happen?"
Bouchard did not blink as he took two steps forward, standing chest to chest with Kensington and seeming to tower over him. "We will not be joining you or Beatrice at breakfast, at lunch, at dinner, or ever again. And I would kindly ask that you make no further attempts to speak to my wife and that you leave our family alone."
"Lucas!" Elizabeth said, shocked by what she was seeing.
"I'm sorry, but I don't understand," Charles said, disbelieving. "Are you asking me to refrain from speaking with one of my oldest friends?"
"I did not recall making a request," Lucas said, raising his voice slightly. "I am telling you, without hesitation, stay away, or you'll live to regret it," he replied, turning on his heels and taking Elizabeth by the arm.
"Lucas, what is going on?" she asked.
"We'll talk about it later," he replied.
She followed him out the door.
The two said nothing more until they were safe in their suite and Elizabeth had put Jack to bed. She stayed with the little boy, who seemed very withdrawn until he went to sleep. Shutting the door to his bedroom, she entered the couple's suite, where Lucas was seated by the window, swirling a full glass of cognac in one hand and staring into space. It was clear he was still angry, and Elizabeth felt a bit angry herself.
"Do you want to tell me what all of that was about?" she asked pointedly as she walked to him with her hands on her hips. By now, Elizabeth had gone over events in her head and had drawn certain conclusions based upon what she knew. Lucas had come into the library, had seen her and Charles playing piano, and allowed his jealousy to ruin their evening. She couldn't let that stand.
Lucas set his glass on the table then turned to look at her. "You are not to speak to Charles Kensington or be in his presence ever again."
"Excuse me?" she asked. "And, why would I avoid Charles?"
"Because. I said so," he stated, rising from his seat with glass in hand and walking towards the sink. Elizabeth grabbed him by the arm before he could take another step.
"I'm sorry. 'Because I said so' isn't good enough. Just because you're jealous - "
"What?" he asked, squinting his eyes.
"Don't deny it, Lucas. Ever since you saw him on the dock, you've been acting differently – not at all like the man I married. It's like you're threatened by him or something."
Lucas huffed, "Me, threatened by that pretentious, pontificating, popinjay? Is that what you think?" Surely, you jest." He jerked his arm away from her then tossed his beverage down the sink. Reaching for his coat, he walked toward the door.
"Lucas Bouchard, don't you dare walk away from me!" she said, causing him to turn back. "Whatever this is, this, this – temper tantrum…."
"Temper tantrum?!" Lucas replied.
"Yes, this temper tantrum – whatever you are upset about, you better get under control right now because what you did in there was absolutely unacceptable, and I'm not going to stand for it!"
Lucas stepped forward. "Is that right? And what in your mind did I do that was so unacceptable?"
"You embarrassed me! Right there in front of one of my oldest friends. And poor Charles…."
"Poor Charles?! Poor Charles is lucky I didn't coldcock him right then and there!"
"Lucas!" Elizabeth's eyes filled with tears, and she turned her back to him.
"Elizabeth, I need for you to trust me. I'm only protecting you."
She shook her head, wiping a tear from her eye. "There we go with the protection again…yeah, some protecting."
For a moment, Lucas stood there, torn between unloading every detail of what had happened and was really going on, but knowing himself as he did, he decided that in his current state of mind, such a conversation would be counterproductive. Besides, he wasn't quite sure what he would even tell her. He needed space and time to calm down and get his emotions back in order so they could discuss things rationally. Lowering his head, he turned from her and grabbed his overcoat.
She heard the door open. "Where are you going?" she demanded.
"I need to take a walk. I'll be back."
"Lucas!" she pleaded.
He turned to her, his eyes, while still disturbed, reflecting the tenderness he felt toward her. "Elizabeth, I'm taking this out on you and hurting you, and that's not at all what I want to do. I'm going out for a while to get some fresh air. Maybe we can talk later."
She stepped forward. "Lucas, don't leave."
"I'm sorry. I've just got to get out of here for a while and clear my head," he replied. "Don't wait up."
Back in Hope Valley, Emily Reardon sat in the dining room at the Queen of the Valley, waiting for Nathan to arrive. The dinner crowd had gone, but the establishment was still open for another hour – though Gustave's crew was busy preparing to close. Grant had gotten a visit from one of his superiors at headquarters that afternoon and would be busy with the man until early evening. But, knowing he'd have missed dinner, he agreed to meet her for a late-night snack and some conversation before going home. While he was out, Emily had gotten some news of her own that she also needed to tell him.
Nathan appeared tired when he arrived but happy to see her friendly face. Joining her at the table, he gave her a quick kiss before taking his seat. She raised her hand to his cheek and ran her fingers over his temple.
"You look tired," she said. "Hard day?"
"Yeah, well…I've had better." Nathan nodded as he leaned back in his seat. "The officer from headquarters wanted to discuss a prisoner transfer we were a part of a few months ago going from Buxton to Cape Fullerton. The accused was a fifteen-year-old kid convicted of murdering his brother. They hanged him a week later. Now they've found evidence that seems to have exonerated him."
"Oh, that's awful," she replied. "What did that have to do with you?"
"I spoke up for him and asked them to reconsider," he replied. "The kid seemed confused, like he wasn't quite all there. I don't know, some might call him simple-minded. And I felt even if he did do it, which I had my doubts given the fond words he had about the brother, I'm not sure he would have even known what he was doing. He kept talking about the brother having been hurt but said a doctor was going to fix him up, and he'd be coming home soon. It just didn't feel right, you know. Which now, we know it wasn't. It seems they found a friend of the brother was stealing collectibles from the family, and when the brother confronted him, he shot him. He planted the weapon under Scotty's pillow – Scotty's the kid who got convicted. And, when Scotty felt something there, well, he naturally investigated and got his fingerprints all over it. Buxton Mounties never even looked elsewhere, and now the kid is dead. It's all so discouraging," he said, shaking his head. "But enough about that. How was your day after I talked to you? I hope happy?"
Emily looked nervously across the table, not wanting to be the bearer of more bad news. Twisting her napkin in her hand, she looked down at her fingers.
"Well, Cy now has a job," she replied.
"Really?"
"Yes, he's the accountant at Gowen Petroleum. Apparently, he's some sort of genius with numbers."
Nathan raised his eyebrows. "That's surprising but good for Cy."
"Yes, and now Lucas can fulfill Elizabeth's request of getting Cyrus a job."
Nathan nodded. "Well, that will be good for them too, I guess."
"Yes," she replied. "Oh, and Carson called. I'd been keeping him aware of Cy's progress and how things were going, and he called to let me know that things have progressed more rapidly than expected with the new hospital. They are moving opening day up a couple of months, and he wants for me to be there."
Nathan tilted his head. "A couple of months? You…you were only going to be here for three more months."
"Right. That means I only have two more weeks in Hope Valley."
Nathan's heart dropped. "Two weeks? Can't you tell him no? I mean, it seems like you just got here."
"No, love," she responded. "The chief administrator is adamant that all staff be present on opening day so that the hospital can show it's fully staffed on day one with the most experienced group of doctors and nurses in the province. Faith and I leave on the 20th."
"Faith?" he said, still reeling from the news but glad she wouldn't be going alone.
"Yes," she said. "She and Carson have been talking on and off for over a year, and they've grown closer. He wants her to be there to celebrate when they cut the ribbon."
"I see," Nathan replied, not knowing what to say. "I guess that means we don't have much time left then."
"No, I'm afraid we don't," she replied. "If I could change it, I would. You know that, don't you?"
He nodded.
"It's just this is my job, and I have to do what they say – at least for now."
Nathan took a deep breath and reached for her hand, great sadness showing in his eyes. "Then we'll just have to make the best of it while you're here."
She smiled. "We'll have the grandest time."
Lucas walked out onto the deck and paced from one end of the ship to the other for what seemed like forever. Trying to make sense of his own emotions, he felt terrible about how he'd left things with Elizabeth, but he couldn't bear to tell her the truth about Charles on their honeymoon. This was supposed to be a happy time. Why upset her?
And then there was himself. He felt anger like none he'd ever experienced, and he wasn't quite sure why seeing that little boy huddled in the corner all by himself had affected him so. Of course, there was the love he felt for the sweet child who was truly and would soon be legally his son; but what had been done, while distressing, did not explain the utter rage that overtook him when he considered Charles, Beatrice, and even Dougie. A child near Jack's age - he was angry with a child! How rational was that?
Was Elizabeth right? Was it jealousy? No. That didn't explain it at all. He knew that even if Charles still harbored affection for his wife, Elizabeth was entirely his and felt fully secure in their relationship. Something else drove him to behave as he did. He had snapped at his wife, apparently made a bit of a scene (though he was so angry at the time, he couldn't have told you who was in the room), and then left Elizabeth in tears in their honeymoon suite, begging him not to go. In short, he felt like a cad – albeit a cad with an innate sense of self-justification.
Lucas sat down in a lounge chair overlooking the Atlantic, resting his throbbing head in his hands. "Pull it together, Bouchard," he chided himself, trying to will the rage to go away. Every muscle in his body was tense, and now even his leg was aching from overuse. He laid back on the chair and draped his arm over his eyes, and tried to perform mental exercises to release some of that tension, but he couldn't focus. Finally, he decided to pray, but as often happened, he fell asleep on the Lord before the conversation was through – just another thing to feel guilty over when the crewmember awakened him a few hours later.
Elizabeth waited up, hurt by Lucas's response to her but also puzzled by what was driving it. Something else must have happened, something he wasn't willing to talk to her about yet, and it was driving a wedge between the two of them that shouldn't be there.
She considered her man and his way of dealing with things when he was troubled. How often she'd witnessed him choosing to bear the weights of life alone rather than lay any burden on her. It was how he'd always been, probably from his youth, and she was starting to learn to recognize the trait when it appeared. Her challenge was how to respond to it. Getting angry with him wouldn't solve anything. In fact, it seemed to cause him to withdraw even more because he'd never want to hurt her. So she was learning to be patient, knowing, in time, he would open up to her. He always did. But for now, she just wanted him to come back. Whatever happened, they could discuss it later. And, she knew they'd work it out.
Nathan returned home to discover Allie sleeping on the couch with a book on her stomach. She'd tried to stay up for him, but at last, her body gave way. Smiling, he considered how quickly she was growing into adulthood and knew that someday, sooner than he would ever want, she too would leave him as pretty much everyone in his life had done.
He took a seat on a wooden chair next to the couch and unlaced his boots, removing them and setting them next to the wood-burning stove in the corner. He then removed his serge. As he hung it up, it slipped from the hanger and fell to the floor, waking Allie up.
"Sorry," he replied, seeing her stir.
Allie yawned and stretched as she sat up. "That's okay. I was just wanted to see you before we went to bed."
Nathan rehung the serge and took a seat beside her. "Oh? Anything going on?"
Allie nodded. "Nothing with me. I was just thinking."
"About?" he asked.
"You and Emily," she replied.
Nathan considered this and smiled a lopsided grin, partially amused and partially nervous at what might come next. "What about me and Emily?"
Allie looked him in the eye. "I think you two should get married."
Nathan nearly choked, not at all expecting this to be what she was going to say. "You do, do you? Why do you think that?"
She shrugged. "Well, it's obvious you two are crazy about each other, and she's only here for a little while with her job. If you get married, then she doesn't have to go."
Nathan shook his head and leaned back into the couch. "Allie, It's not that simple."
"Why isn't it?"
"Because. Emily's job is very important to her."
"So are you," she countered.
"And is she to me," he replied. "But, I can't ask her to give all that up. Besides, we haven't been seeing each other very long."
"So?"
"So…I think a couple should go together at least a year before they even consider marriage," he replied.
"Have you considered marriage with Emily?" she asked.
Nathan paused, nodding his head from side to side. "Well…"
"Have you?" Allie said, raising one eyebrow.
Nathan nodded. "Okay. Maybe it's crossed my mind."
"So, you've already broken that rule. Too late to take it back. What else?"
"What do you mean?"
Allie folded her arms. "What else stands between you asking Emily to marry you? I mean, you love each other, right?"
Nathan nodded. "We do."
"And you get along well. You have common interests and love being around each other. If her career is an issue, you can work that out later – true love conquers all."
"Allie," Nathan said.
"You need her, dad. And I think she needs you. And I think you need to stop thinking about it, just do it. You and Emily should get married."
Nathan stared at her for a moment. "I'll take it under advisement."
"Hmph. You'd better!" Allie said as she stood from her seat, walking toward her adoptive father and hugging him around the neck. "Besides, I have never seen you as happy as you are when you're around her. And, I like it when you're happy. And I like her for making you happy and just wanted to let you know where I stood."
Nathan rubbed the outside of Allie's arm, so young and yet so full of insight."I appreciate that, and I will consider it. I promise."
She smiled and said goodnight.
Elizabeth sat next to the window, reading a book waiting for Lucas to return. It had been three hours, and she was growing increasingly concerned. Finally, she rang the ship's captain and asked for him to send a crew member to see if they could find him. A half-hour later, she was relieved when she heard the sound of a key being turned in the door.
Lucas entered, and she could tell from the fatigue on his face that he'd been struggling this entire time. His onyx hair was disheveled, and the coat he was wearing damp from an evening spent outside next to a cold ocean mist. Their eyes met, and the pain etched on his dark features was almost palpable. Still, she didn't say anything, choosing instead to rise from her chair to meet him, to show him without words her unconditional love. Wrapping her arms around him, she pulled him into her embrace.
Lucas rested his cheek on her head and hugged her tightly in response. "I'm so sorry," he said. "I didn't intend to be gone so long. I hope you weren't too worried."
"I'll always worry over you," she replied, pulling back slightly and gently caressing his face with her fingertips.
Seeing the concern in her eyes, a pang of guilt twisted in his stomach. He tried to explain. "Well, I walked up and down the deck for a while, and I had this headache and…."
"Lucas. You don't have to explain. It's okay." She replied. "What's important is you're safe, and you're back with me. That's all that's important."
He looked toward her lovingly, raising his hand to her chin and leaning in to kiss her. They held each other for several long seconds until she pulled away.
"You're all wet," she said. "You have to be freezing."
Lucas nodded. "I am a bit cold."
She ran her fingers through his hair. "Why don't you go over there and start getting ready for bed. I'll bring you your pajamas. We can snuggle and warm you up."
He smiled softly then a sadness reached his eyes. "Elizabeth, about what happened…."
"It can wait," she said, sitting him down on the bed then kissing him on the forehead. She leaned down and looked him in the eye. "Lucas, I love you unconditionally. You know that?"
He smiled a weary smile, "I do. And, I love you, Elizabeth – more than you could possibly know."
The two kissed once more; then, she stood up, holding him close to her chest. Kissing the top of his head, she brought him fresh clothes to change into, and soon they were asleep.
At daybreak, Emily Reardon made her way down the stairs at the Queen's hotel, determined to catch Nathan as he made his morning rounds. But, before she walked out the door, the concierge greeted her, letting her know that a special package had arrived for her that morning. Curious, she waited for him to bring it to her and was delighted when it was a bouquet of the reddest roses. Quickly, she opened the card that was attached.
To my Sweet Irish Rose,
I woke up this morning with
You on my mind and thought
That I would send you
These flowers. I'd have loved
To have been there to give them to you,
But Allie and I have some business we need to
Take care of out of town. I'll be back tonight.
I hope you'll have dinner with me.
With all my love,
Nathan
Emily was sad that she wouldn't see him until later in the day but so touched by his thoughtful gift. Leaning in, she breathed in their sweet scent and closed her eyes. Oh, how she wanted to stay. Taking the bouquet, she snagged a vase from one of Lucas's tables and took it back to her room, where she provided the flowers with water.
At eleven o'clock, the sound of the ship's whistle blaring signaled to all guests that lunch was being served in the dining room. For Elizabeth, it was her wake-up call. Lucas was still sound asleep, the steady rise and fall of his chest indicating quite deeply. She rose up on her elbows and reached for his pocket watch on the nightstand.
"Eleven!" she said, with alarm, knowing that they'd already missed breakfast and with the ship's tight schedule, they would likely not eat anything substantive until dinner if they didn't move quickly. Setting the watch down, she shook Lucas awake as she got up out of bed.
"Hmmm…what?"
"Time to get up," she said, grabbing for her robe as she went to wake up Jack. "We've overslept."
Opening their son's door, she was surprised to see that Jack was already dressed. "How long have you been awake?" she asked.
Jack looked to one side and began to count with his fingers. "The big hand was on the six, and the little hand was on the nine. Nine-thirty."
"Very good!" she smiled. "And you didn't come to wake us?"
He shook his head. "You and Papa needed to sleep. You had a rough day."
Elizabeth laughed and turned back to see if Lucas had heard what the little boy said but noted that instead of sitting up and going through his normal routine, beginning with putting on his prosthetic, he was still laying there.
"Lucas. Sweetheart. It's time to get up. If we don't get ready quickly, we won't get any lunch."
Lucas groaned a little and rolled over onto his side, facing her. "I'm afraid I'm not very hungry. You two go on without me."
Elizabeth frowned. "Go get mommy her pocketbook." She instructed Jack as she walked over to the couple's bedside. "What's wrong? Are you sick?"
Lucas kept his eyes shut. "I'm okay. Just tired."
She took her hand and felt his forehead, comparing it to her own. "You're burning up. Lucas, you're sick."
He sighed. "I'll be okay."
"Nonsense! I'm going to call the ship's doctor!" she replied, walking to the in-room phone to call the front desk.
Lucas finally tried to sit up. "I don't need a doctor. I said I'm…." He sat still, raising his hand over his face.
"What is it?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Just a little dizzy," he said. "I'll be okay."
"You're going to see the doctor!" she replied. Lucas laid back down. "Oui. Je' mapelle Elizabeth Bouchard…"
"How about this one? Do you think she'd like it?" Nathan asked Allie as they stood outside a Jeweler's case in downtown Union City. The pair had asked Joseph for a ride, and once the minister realized what Grant was intending, he gladly volunteered to drive. An exuberant Minnie would handle things at home.
"Too gaudy," Allie stated. "You want something big – but not too big, classy but not snobbish, up with the times but still traditional," she explained. "Think of how she dresses. Emily is the kind of woman who is up on modern styles but still modest and very feminine."
"Feminine," Nathan said, shaking his head.
"What about these over here?" Joseph asked. The father and daughter joined him at another showcase and leaned down, looking at the various rings on display. Nathan perused the items, occasionally pointing to a ring and looking to Allie for approval. Inevitably the answer was no. Finally, when they were just about to give up, the store clerk, a young and stylish woman herself, walked forward and presented them with a case.
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but overhear. You're looking for an engagement ring?"
Nathan swallowed nervously, for indeed, that was what he was doing. "Um, yeah."
"And you're the groom?" she asked.
Suddenly feeling jittery, he stuttered out a response which Allie interpreted for her. "He's going to ask Emily to marry him."
The woman smiled. "Emily sounds lovely. And, I heard the description you gave of her. May I suggest one of these?"
The three travelers gathered together, and the woman opened a velvet box containing seven diamond rings. Each ring featured a half to a full carat of diamonds set in white or yellow gold and perched in filigree settings so dainty that they reminded one of lace.
Allie immediately smiled when she saw them, and Joseph said, "They're beautiful." But Nathan's attention was drawn to one particular ring.
"That one," he responded. "I'd like to see the one with the rose design on the side."
The clerk handed him the ring, which he held up to the light watching it sparkle and glisten like the crystals of fresh-fallen snow. His eyes went to Allie, whose smile was broad and whose head was bobbing up and down. Nathan breathed a relieved sigh.
"I'll take it," he said, handing the clerk the ring.
"Excellent choice, sir," she replied. "I'll bring you its box."
Nathan walked forward, "Um…can I ask you something?"
"Certainly," she said.
"Is it possible to put an engraving on the inside?"
"Why, yes, It is. What would you like it to say?" she asked.
Nathan reached for a piece of paper and wrote down the inscription. "I'd like it to say this." He handed her the paper.
"To my Sweet Irish Rose, with all my love forever – Nathan," she read. "That's beautiful, sir. And appropriate. I'll have our engraver work on that now."
Elizabeth walked with the doctor toward the door as he explained to her his diagnosis.
"Your husband has an ear infection and a slight head cold, nothing too serious," he said. "I'd like him to stay in bed, and I'd like you to give him these twice a day. He should start feeling better in a couple of days."
Elizabeth took a bottle of pills from his hand and exhaled, relieved it wasn't more serious. "Doctor, he spent several hours outside last night, out on the deck. Could that have caused it?"
The doctor nodded. "It's possible. The inflammation in his ear seems to be pretty new, though he may have been on the cusp of catching a cold. If he was feeling tired or stressed, that could have played a factor."
"I see," she responded. "Well, thank you so much. I am so glad you could see him so soon and that you speak English. My French is a bit rusty, so I was concerned that Lucas would have to be both patient and translator."
The man smiled. "I'm just happy that it's something treatable. Take care of yourself and your husband, Mrs. Bouchard."
"Thank you. I will."
After the doctor had left, Elizabeth looked over at Jack and realized that he'd missed both breakfast and lunch in all of the confusion. He had to be famished. She looked over toward her husband, who was again sound asleep, and wondered if she might take Jack outside for a few minutes to see if the ship's kitchen had anything to spare. It would have to be okay.
She whispered to Lucas that she'd be right back and kissed his fevered cheek, then walked with Jack to their destination. A sympathetic waitress smiled at the child and told Elizabeth she would find something for all of them to eat, which again brought her heart relief.
While she was waiting, she noticed Charles and Beatrice sitting in the lobby, each reading a newspaper and paying no attention to one another or to Dougie on the floor. A few seconds later, a ship worker walked by carrying some candy boxes to the onboard gift shop. Dougie immediately jumped up from his space and began tugging on his mother's arm.
"Mother, I want some taffy." she could hear as the child spoke to Beatrice.
"You'll spoil your dinner."
Dougie frowned. "But I want it. I'm hungry."
"And whose fault is that, young man? You wouldn't eat your lunch. You'll just have to wait until dinner."
"Lunch was yucky! I want taffy!" the child's voice grew louder.
Charles set down his paper. "Dougie, listen to your mother, or you'll go to your room. And please, lower your voice."
Dougie walked to Charles and stuck out his chest. "I not have to listen to you! You're not my father!" He promptly kicked Charles in the shin.
Elizabeth covered her mouth, hiding herself and Jack behind a post as she watched Beatrice jump up from her seat, grabbing Dougie by the arm and swatting him several times on the rear end while the child screamed and kicked and then deliberately went limp to make himself dead weight. Charles put down his newspaper.
"We'll have no more of that," Charles said, picking the child up and slinging him over his shoulder. Beatrice grabbed her handbag, and together they walked toward the elevator.
"Let me down!" Dougie screamed.
"Douglas! Lower your voice!" Beatrice said.
"Where are you taking me?" Dougie asked.
"You're going to take a nap like all little boys have to do when they are bad," she replied.
"I don't want to go to bed! Mother! I don't want to go!" he screamed as he was pulled onto the elevator.
"Well, you should have thought about it before you kicked Charles," Beatrice said. "Boarding school can't come soon enough!"
"I hate you! I hate you both!" were the last words Elizabeth heard as the elevator doors slid shut.
Elizabeth blew a stream of air out her mouth with eyes like saucers, unsure what to think of what she'd just seen. Charles's engagement to Beatrice did not have the makings of a match made in Heaven. She felt a rustle near her skirt and remembered her own son, who was witness to it all. Jack looked up at her with saddened eyes.
"Is Dougie in trouble?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Yes, he was a bad boy," she said, brushing her hand across his head.
"Dougie isn't nice," he said. Elizabeth's curiosity was piqued by the comment, but she didn't get a chance to inquire anymore when the waitress returned with a bag filled with sandwiches, an apple, and some soup still in the pot from lunch.
"Oh, thank you!" Elizabeth said, smiling. "I can't begin to express how grateful I am."
"Mon plaisir, madame," the woman replied, patting Jack on the shoulder and then sauntering away.
The sandwiches and soup were just what the family needed to renew their energy. Some drops the doctor prescribed for Lucas's ear already seemed to be bringing relief, and he sat up without dizziness and ate some soup for Elizabeth before laying back down. The rest of the afternoon was peace and quiet for the three.
At dinnertime, Elizabeth slipped down to the kitchen and brought back a meal with more substance. Unfortunately, Lucas's temperature was back up, and he picked at his food, soon choosing sleep over eating. Assuring herself that sleep was healing, she kept watch over him and tried not to worry too much before, at last, joining him in bed.
Nathan, Emily, and Allie enjoyed some of Gustave's finest when the Grants returned to town. Asking what sort of business took them away, the response she received from Allie was a half-truth.
"Oh, there was just something I needed to look at. Nothing for you to worry about."
Emily thought that answer was strange but didn't question it.
That evening, Nathan kissed her goodnight and then made his way back to his home. He had so much on his mind with her leaving so soon. When should he ask her? How should I ask her? Would she say yes? What if she did say yes, but then still had to go to Quebec? So much that could go wrong or go right. There would be no sleep that night.
Lucas had a rough night, vacillating between hot and cold, and had gotten little sleep, so Elizabeth resolved not to disturb him while he rested. To keep the noise level down, she and Jack slipped out of the cabin and ate breakfast together at a café on the second deck. When they were finished, Elizabeth took the boy down to the gift shop to see if they might have any new books for him to read in the quiet of his bedroom that afternoon. While they were looking through the shelves, a woman approached them from behind.
"If it isn't young Jack!" the woman said with excellent English. Elizabeth tilted her head, and the woman smiled.
"Hello, ma'am. I'm Marie – from the Children's Lounge. Jack was with us the other night at dinnertime."
"Oh, yes. I remember you now," Elizabeth said, making the connection. "I hope he was a good boy."
"Very much so, unlike the others." She replied. "You know, I was so worried about him when he went to the corner to be by himself. I tried to get him to go back, but he told me he wanted to read."
Elizabeth looked at Jack, who suddenly looked conflicted. "Jack does love books," she replied cautiously, her mind exploring all the possibilities that would have caused him to do such a thing, especially when he was so excited to be with Dougie and the other children. "Thank you for looking after him," she said.
"Gladly," the woman replied before purchasing a packet of chewing gum and leaving the room.
Elizabeth helped Jack find a book, and together, mother and son walked up on deck where it was a clear, sunny day. Taking a seat by one of the many decorative fountains on deck and away from the crowd, Elizabeth began to probe Jack about the situation with Dougie and what happened the night of the dinner.
At first, he didn't want to say. When asked why, he explained that when he told Papa, Papa got upset, and he didn't want to upset her as well.
"Papa wasn't upset with you, Jack," she reassured. "And I promise, I won't be either. Tell me. What happened in the playroom?"
Jack began to open up. "after you and Papa left, Dougie and Donnie and Grayson went to play with a ball."
"Donnie and Grayson are other little boys?"
"Mmm-hmmm. They was tossing it at each other. I wanted to play too, but Dougie told me that I wasn't allowed."
Elizabeth frowned. "Not allowed? What do you mean?"
"Because he say that his mommy said he couldn't play with me. He say her boyfriend said my daddy - was a Mountie and a com…a common…a…."
"Commoner?" Elizabeth asked.
"Mmm-hmmm, a commoner. What is that, mommy?" he asked.
Elizabeth folded her hands in her lap. "Well, a commoner is someone who isn't born with a lot of privilege."
"Priv-age? What's that?"
"Priv-il-ege." She enunciated. "It means that your daddy's mommy and daddy didn't have a lot of money. Daddy Jack's father was a Mountie, just like he was, and his mother, Charlotte, was a school teacher.
"Like you!" Jack smiled.
"Yes, a lot like me," she said. "Go on. What else did Dougie say?"
"Well, him…"
"He."
"He say…"
"Said," she corrected.
"Said. Dougie said that his mommy told her boyfriend she didn't want me playing with him 'cause he might pick up bad habits from me."
Elizabeth's eyes went wide. "She said, what?"
"Then, Dougie say…said that I wasn't good enough to play with him and his friends. So, I went and got a book instead."
Elizabeth's heart sank just thinking of how her son must have felt, and then there was Lucas – walking in and seeing Jack that way. Suddenly, his actions all made sense. She took a deep breath to control the anger she, too, felt boiling within. "And you told all of this to Papa?"
"Mm-hmm," he replied as Elizabeth listened. "I cried 'cause they hurt my feelings. Papa says- said, not to say anything, and he would talk to you later."
Elizabeth shook her head. "Why didn't he want you to say anything?"
"'cause he didn't want you to be sad on your honeymoon."
Elizabeth couldn't help when tears began to brim her eyes. That poor, misguided, darling of a man.
She reached forward and touched Jack's face, then scooted her chair close to him, pulling him into a hug. "I am so sorry that you had to go through that. But you know what, Jack? Nothing they said was true."
She bent down so that she was eye to eye with him. "Your daddy Jack was a good and kind and brave and honest man and had more nobility in his little finger than Beatrice or Charles Kensington ever hoped to have. And as for Dougie, he was mean to you, but you know how to handle it?"
"How?"
"If you see him again, try to be nice to him. Oh, he may not respond, but you did the right thing. And, who knows, maybe it will change him into being better."
Jack nodded his head. After a few minutes, he brought up another topic. "Mommy, why was you and Papa Lucas arguing when we got back to the room?"
Elizabeth stiffened. "You heard that? I thought you were sleeping"
"I waked up," he replied.
"I see." She lowered her head. "Papa and I argued because mommy misunderstood why Papa was upset. Mommy needs to apologize for that. But Papa needs to talk to Mommy too. None of that has to do with you, and neither one of us was upset with you at all. We just don't want you picked on. So, if anything like that ever happens again, you'll tell Papa or me? Okay?"
Jack looked at her and smiled. "Okay, mommy. Don't cry, mommy."
Elizabeth laughed bittersweetly. "Mommy's crying because her feelings are hurt for you (and Papa, she thought, but didn't say). When you hurt, Mommy hurts too, and so does Papa. You should never be afraid to tell us the truth," she said, kissing the top of his head and hugging him to her side.
An hour and a half later, she and Jack returned to their room and were happy to see Lucas was awake and sitting up. He was a little pale but smiled when he saw them come in.
"You're up!" she exclaimed, closing the door setting a bag containing soup on the credenza just inside the door. She quickly handed Jack his book so that she and her husband could talk.
"Yes," he said. "I believe my fever has broken."
Elizabeth walked over to him, and sure enough, his forehead felt cool. "How do you feel?" she asked.
"Better," he replied. "A little tired but definitely better."
"I'm so glad," she said, taking hold of his hand. She walked over toward the credenza and brought Lucas's soup back to him, sitting on the edge of his bed as she pulled it out of the bag. "I brought you this. It's soup."
"Same kind as the other night?
"Yes," she replied. "You liked it, didn't you? I mean, I could go get something else."
He took the soup from her hand. "No, I loved it. And I love you."
She smiled, then leaned in, and they kissed.
While Lucas unwrapped his utensils from a cotton napkin, Elizabeth considered how she would begin her talk. "Jack and I had a really good time this morning."
Lucas took a bite of soup and looked up at her, giving her his attention. "Really? What all did you do?"
"Well, we had breakfast together and then went down to the gift shop and found him that book. You know, while we were down there, we ran into the nicest lady – Mary."
Lucas shrugged.
"Mary is the attendant at the Children's Lounge. She was telling me about Jack and the other children from the other night, the night we had dinner."
Lucas stopped eating and set down his bowl of soup. He wiped his mouth with the napkin. "What did she tell you?" he replied, already knowing the answer.
Elizabeth nodded. "That instead of playing with the other kids, Jack went to the corner to read by himself."
Lucas was quiet but nodded.
"So, I got to thinking why he might have done something like that, given he was so excited to play with the other children, and I asked him."
Lucas broke eye contact and looked at the bed briefly, knowing what he didn't want her to know about had come out. "I had hoped that you wouldn't find out."
"And why was that?" she asked.
Lucas looked up at her. "Because this time, our honeymoon, it's supposed to be filled with happiness, and I knew that seeing your friend Charles behaving in such a gauche way was bound to leave you disappointed. I promise I wasn't going to keep it from you forever, but for this little while, I did it to protect you. I didn't want for you to be sad."
Elizabeth shook her head. "Well, first of all, Charles is my former friend. It's true that once we were very close but something has changed in him. He was never very strong, but I did see him as a good man. I guess I saw what I wanted to see."
"You always try to see the good in others," he replied. "Even ornery old gamblers," He grinned.
She smiled. "Well, there was a lot of good to see in you," she replied. "But, Lucas, trying to protect me from the truth – well, it's just not necessary. I hate knowing that Charles said the things he did, but Jack is my son – our son, and if something is happening with him, I need to know about it, even if it hurts. Don't you agree?"
Lucas thought for a moment, then nodded. "I hadn't thought of it quite like that. I was just thinking of your relationship with a friend."
"That's alright," she responded. "But, there's one other reason you should have spoken to me."
"What's that?" he asked.
"Because walking into that room and seeing Jack hunched over in a corner reading a book hurt you too," she replied.
Lucas lowered his gaze again, and she could tell she'd struck a nerve. "That is true," he said. "But I behaved like a wild boar. I was too abrupt in my demeanor and hurt and embarrassed you, which was never my intent."
"You were being a good father." She said.
Lucas looked at her again. "Is that what it was? Because, Elizabeth, I have never felt so angry as I did that night, and for the life of me, I've been trying, but I can't make sense of it."
"Well, let me explain it then," she said, causing him to scoot a little to the side so she could sit in bed next to him. "If you asked any parent – any good parent – when their child is sick or hurting or in any way distressed due to no fault of their own, if they would take the place of that child and bear that child's pain instead, I'd bet all of them would agree that indeed they would. That's something I would do."
Lucas nodded as she talked.
"But, I think it was more than that," she continued, watching his chocolate eyes following her every move. "I think that when you saw Jack, you were upset by seeing him unhappy, but I also think that when he'd retreated to the corner with a book, and you saw him hurting and all alone, I think it reminded you of yourself. And I think all of that pain came rushing back to the point that not only were you carrying Jack's pain but yours as well."
Lucas furrowed his brow.
"And the anger you felt, the rage – that was you standing up for Jack because what was done with him was so unfair – but you were standing up for you too, because nobody stood up for you when you were a child and your sense of what is just and good just couldn't stand to see it happen to him too."
By now, Lucas's eyes appeared wounded, but Elizabeth knew it was only because what she was saying to him was true. Once again, he'd been confronted by his past, but this time he couldn't just roll with what life hit him and move on. This time there was a greater love involved. He lowered his head.
"They didn't even see me," Lucas said softly.
"Who?" Elizabeth asked.
"Everybody. My parents. Teachers. The other children. It was like I didn't exist. And so, I coped the best that I could and retreated to the safety and comfort of books. With my parents, I know it was just because they were busy, but to a little boy, the only message I received was that I wasn't good enough, that I didn't matter." He stared into space for a little bit. "That wasn't fair. I didn't deserve that, and neither did he."
Elizabeth put her arm around his broad shoulders and rested her cheek there as well. "No, you didn't. And yes, it wasn't fair. But Lucas, you got through it and somehow managed to stay a kind, generous and loving man in spite of it all. And I've very proud of what you did – for Jack and for you."
Lucas turned his eyes toward her, and it seemed to her every emotion in the world was reflected in their shining depths, and she knew instinctively why. She saw him - just as he had seen her son.
His nose twitched ever so slightly. With one sniffle, she pulled him over toward her, letting him release the burden he was carrying and letting him know in no uncertain terms that he no longer carried it alone. That day, another wall came down between them, drawing them ever closer to each other's souls in ways they never dreamed possible.
For the rest of the cruise across the Atlantic, the world was right again and the family of three cherished every moment of making memories together until the ship docked in Lisbon. Finally, when it came time to disembark, they followed the porter to the main deck where patrons luggage was lined up from the tiki bar at the end of the deck to a conveyor at the other end where passengers would receive a ticket that matched their luggage so they could retrieve it once it reached land.
Checking his pockets for his wallet and pocket watch for the fourth time, Lucas seemed more than ready to get off the boat. Elizabeth elbowed him once to get him to stop fidgeting, but it didn't seem to do any good until Jack spotted Dougie. Immediately, he tugged on Elizabeth's skirt and had her lean down so he could whisper something in her ear. Elizabeth smiled sweetly but also with a hint of concern.
Jack reached into her purse and pulled out a small paper bag which she'd place there for when they boarded the train for Madrid later that afternoon. Quietly, he walked toward Kensington and Beatrice, who were all but oblivious to her child's presence. Lucas started to follow, but Elizabeth shook her head no. So the couple watched.
Jack walked up to Dougie and tapped him on the shoulder. The child frowned.
"What are you doing here?" Dougie asked.
"I came to say goodbye and to give this to you," Jack said, holding out the bag.
"What's that?" Dougie asked, snatching it from Jack's hand. Dougie's face lit up. "Taffy? Oh, boy! Taffy!"
Jack smiled, then looked back at Elizabeth and Lucas, who took each other's hand, enjoying that moment – that was until Beatrice realized what was happening.
"What on…what are you doing here?" she said, with a harsh tone. Jack took a step back, afraid. "And what is this?" She snatched the taffy from Dougie, who immediately began to grab for it.
"No! I want it."
"What is it?" she said, looking inside the bag. She got a hateful look on her face and took the bag in hand, tossing it in the trashcan. "Oh, no! I already told you, Dougie. You're not having any more candy and certainly not from this riff-raff! I thought Dougie told you to stay away!"
Jack lowered his head.
In an instant, Elizabeth broke from Lucas's grip and moved swiftly toward's Charles's fiancée. Lucas didn't even try to stop her. Instead, he made his way toward Jack and quickly swooped him into his arms, getting him out of the way. Charles stepped forward, apparently trying to broker peace between the two women. It was a fool's errand, to say the least.
"How dare you speak to my son like that! Don't you ever come near him again!"
"Come near him? We've been trying to get away from him since I discovered who he is."
"Who he is?! Do you want to know who my son is? He's everything but common. He's special, and he's kind, and he's brave, and he's good and beautiful, inside and out, just like his father and just like Lucas. And unlike your little boy, if you don't stop treating him like your accessory, he's going to have a happy and stable life full of love because he deserves it. And that's something that money can't buy."
Beatrice took a step toward Elizabeth, and Charles did too.
"Come now, ladies. Let's be reasonable."
"SHUT UP, CHARLES!" both women said in unison.
Lucas felt a paternal tug to not let Jack see what was happening, but like a person witnessing a natural disaster, he couldn't turn away.
"Is mommy going to hit Dougie's mommy?" Jack said as the women continued to exchange words.
Lucas shook his head no, but not a word was uttered, so mesmerizing was the display. It was as if he was glued in place. And it wasn't until he actually did see Elizabeth's arm cock backward and her rolled up fist that he knew he had to step in. But it was too late.
With a crash and a splash, Beatrice Monteith found herself knocked onto her rump inside a fountain with water pouring down on her head. Lucas cringed when it happened and tried to hide Jack's eyes, and Dougie giggled, making his way over to the trash can to retrieve his taffy. Charles tried his best to reach in and help Beatrice, who was flailing her arms in anger even as he tried to grab her wrist.
"Get off me! If I needed your help, I'd ask for it." she bellowed, making him as wet by her splashing as she was laying in water.
Elizabeth turned toward Lucas, her cheeks red and angry tears pouring down her face. "Let's get away from here," she said. Lucas moved to comfort her until Beatrice's shrill voice pierced the air.
"Security! Arrest that woman!" she cried.
Looking toward two security guards who were making their way through a crowd that had gathered, he quickly kissed Elizabeth on the cheek and passed Jack over to her. "Time to make a run for it. You two move along. I'll take care of things here."
Seeing her imminent detainment, Elizabeth and Jack fled the scene.
Like a champ, a beaming Lucas happily made his way toward the guards. Explaining what had happened and how Beatrice had gone after his son, he received support from a most unlikely source. Charles stepped forward and gave an identical statement to Lucas's, wanting more than anything to avoid the unpleasant publicity that such an event would bring. In the end, Lucas pulled his wallet out of his pocket and agreed to pay for any damages there might have been. That seemed to satisfy security, who declined to pursue the case any further.
A porter approached Lucas with tickets in hand by which he could reclaim his luggage, and Bouchard turned to go. But, before he did, Kensington's voice rang out.
"Bouchard!"
Lucas turned and looked at the man through emotionless eyes.
"I'd like to apologize," Charles said. "That got a bit out of hand."
Lucas again said nothing but turned to leave.
"I only want her to be happy." Charles tried again.
Finally, Lucas spoke. "Then you can do that by staying away – and getting your life together." He turned and looked at him. "I know that once upon a time, you were a very different man because my Elizabeth is a good judge of character, and she would never have grown so fond of you if you weren't. But something changed you. There's still time to turn back if you so choose. But that's up to you."
"It was her," Charles replied. "Elizabeth."
Lucas clenched his jaw.
"I should have been the one. We were fated to be since we were children, and I loved her, and then I lost her to that…that Mountie."
Lucas shook his head. "I never knew him, but from what I've heard, Jack Thorton was as fine of a man as there ever was. And he was a man. And, I will raise his son to be just like him. But those things aside, Charles, you never loved Elizabeth because you never really knew her. So, no. Losing Elizabeth is no excuse for who you've become. For you never really had her. Have a good life."
He turned and walked away.
"I hope you know that this means Albion Rail and Monteith will never do business with NorthWest again," Charles called out.
"I believe we'll manage," Lucas replied as he stepped away.
Later that evening, the family sat side by side, watching out the window of their Madrid-bound train. There, they would spend a couple of days before taking another train to Barcelona, then along the coast of Southern France before going to Paris. Lucas's itinerary had them taking a week in the French capital before hopping another train East and heading toward Munich. Those days were filled with joy and happiness, and though there wasn't a lot of privacy for the couple, the love that was shared made up for it all.
Elizabeth enjoyed the child-like delight with which Lucas shared each moment of their journey and took special pleasure in all of the little things that she knew he'd done for her. From giving her fresh flowers every day to dancing on the balcony of their hotel room when they returned from a day's touring at night, he'd been planning little surprises for her just about every day they were together. But on the 14th day, since they docked in Europe, it was Elizabeth's turn to give him a surprise.
Arriving in Paris around five in the evening, Lucas tipped the man who was retrieving their bags and joined Elizabeth at the concourse. Taking in a deep breath, he closed his eyes.
"Do you smell that?" he asked.
Elizabeth breathed in. "Fresh bread?"
"Yes! Let's get going to our hotel. If we hurry, there's a little restaurant I want to take us to." He started toward the door.
"Lucas," Elizabeth said. "There's been a change in plans."
Bouchard stopped and turned. "A change? Is something wrong?"
Elizabeth smiled. "No." Her eyes drifted to something behind him. "We have company tonight."
Lucas slowly turned to see what she was looking out, and his mouth dropped open when William and Grace Thatcher, Sir Lionel, and Viola along with their children stepped toward them, with the most welcoming smiles upon their faces."
Lucas looked toward Elizabeth. "What is this? Your parents and your sister?"
Elizabeth walked up to her husband and looped her arm through his as William was the first to shake Lucas's hand and engage him in a hug.
What a happy surprise!" Lucas said, "But, I guess I don't understand. Why are you here?"
William chuckled. "Elizabeth. When you reached Portugal, she sent us a telegram letting us know you'd arrived. In that telegram, she also let us know that while things were going very well, that you had been spending so much time entertaining my grandson that you scarcely had any time alone. So, since Grace and I were planning to visit in a couple of weeks anyway, we decided to move up our trip and take Jack with us so he can meet his cousins while, um, you give my daughter a proper honeymoon."
Lucas looked at Elizabeth. "I don't know what to say. I guess I'm speechless."
"You say yes," Elizabeth said. "We'll be gone for a few weeks, then meet up with Jack when we get back to England."
Lucas grasped onto her arm, having a difficult time containing the excitement he felt inside with finally being able to be alone with the woman he loved.
"Yes!" he laughed.
"Would you like that, Jack? You want to go play with your Auntie Viola's children?"
"Yeah," he smiled, walking to his cousins. "I'd like that." He extended his hand. "I'm Jack, Jack Th…" he stopped and looked at Lucas. "Papa, what's my name now?"
Lucas looked at Elizabeth and then walked over to Jack. He bent over. "Your mother and I discussed that and have decided to leave it up to you. I haven't filled out the final paperwork which declares you legally my son, but if you would like to be Jack Bouchard, I would love you to carry my name. If you want to go by Daddy Jack's name, I'm happy with that too. Whatever makes you happy."
Jack thought for a minute. "Can I be both?"
"Jack Thornton-Bouchard?" Lucas said, looking back at Elizabeth. He returned his gaze to Jack. "You certainly can be."
Jack smiled. "I like that. I'm Jack Thornton-Bouchard, and I'm your cousin."