Chapter 88 The Trip Back Home
Lucas woke up next to his beautiful wife admiring how lucky he was to have married the most beautiful woman inside and out. He lay there staring at her watching her as she slept. He would never tire of watching her. He ran his hands gently through her hair causing her to open her eyes.
"What are you doing Mr. Bouchard?" Elizabeth said with a teasing smile rubbing her hands over his masculine chest.
"I love it when you tease me like that. I am just admiring how lucky I got when you came into my life or maybe I came into yours." Lucas laughed then placed gentle kisses on her lips.
"Darling, thank you for this. This truly was an amazing anniversary, and you were wonderful last night." Elizabeth said returning his kisses.
"Well we still have a few hours before we need to check out." Lucas teased.
"Oh yeah! So what are we going to do for a few hours?" Elizabeth asked seductively.
He rolled over playfully tickling her and making her laugh. They spent the next several hours getting lost in each other once again; knowing their love was forever and they would always enjoy each other.
The afternoon came and Lucas had their bags loaded into the car as he opened the door for Elizabeth and ushered her inside. Once they were seated she slid over close to him gently placing her hand on his thigh. He started up the car and they said goodbye to Union City and headed back to Hope Valley where they knew that they had four beautiful children waiting on them.
"Lucas, darling as much as I love our family; this trip has been amazing. It was nice just to get away just the two of us for a change." Elizabeth spoke while studying him as he drove.
"I know what you mean. I have been waiting for this trip for about six months." Lucas laughed. "I am not the patient man I once was. Waiting for you to get well enough to be able to be intimate has truly tested my patience. I must say Elizabeth; our road has definitely been full of challenges. We have survived some crazy things, just another reason why we are destined to be together for eternity." Lucas said squeezing her hand.
"Lucas, there is no other man that could ever make me feel so loved and I know that there is nothing you wouldn't do for me and our family. Having said that, I want to make Thanksgiving dinner together this year all by ourselves. I think it will improve on those cooking skills of yours." She said teasingly.
"What, no Gustave?" He asked.
"No, I think it would be good for us to start doing more of our own cooking and giving Gustave a break. He caters to us a lot. I think he needs time to enjoy himself too." Elizabeth smirked.
"Ummm okay. Just so you know Elizabeth, pancakes are about the extent of my cooking talent." Lucas teased as the car pulled into the driveway.
Lucas walked over to the passenger side of the car and opened the door for Elizabeth and helped her out. "I will bring the bags in. You go on inside and greet our family."
Elizabeth opened the front door of the house to be greeted by both of their families and the nannies. Elizabeth took the time to kiss on all their children excited to see them. Jonathan helped Lucas bring in all of their things and then he also took a moment to love on the children.
"Momma, Daddy! Jack shouted as he charged down the stairs and barreled into Lucas's arms.
"We missed you too Jack." Lucas said as he gave Jack a big bear hug.
"Daddy, I have been practicing my jump rope and I am getting good. Do you want to see?" Jack asked.
"Of course." Lucas said excitedly.
Jack grabbed his jump rope and in the family room started jump roping. "Jack, you really should not jump rope in the family room. There is a room for that." Elizabeth scolded him.
"Okay momma but did you see me. I was good, right?" Jack asked.
"Yes Jack you have improved a lot." Lucas encouraged him as he patted him on the back.
Lucas carried their luggage upstairs while Elizabeth talked to their families about their anniversary. "Okay Beth. Spill it." Julie demanded.
"We ate dinner in Union City like we did on our first trip together. We renewed our vows. We danced and the rest is history. It was an amazing anniversary!" Elizabeth said reminiscing over the trip.
Julie was swooning. "That sounds so romantic."
"It was perfect!" Elizabeth said. "Lucas and I have decided that we are going to make Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow all by ourselves. We will need some things from the mercantile father. If I give you a list, can you and Jonathan head into town and get the groceries?" Elizabeth asked.
"Lucas is going to make Thanksgiving dinner?" Jonathan laughed. "This should be good."
"We will go Elizabeth." William responded.
"He is going to help with dinner." Elizabeth explained as Lucas came down the stairs.
"What is so funny?" He asked.
"You are cooking dinner." Jonathan said. "This may be the best Thanksgiving yet son."
"I can cook." Lucas defended as Elizabeth leaned in to kiss her husband.
"Elizabeth, I have put away all of our things and I am going to head into town with our father's. I want to stop by the hotel and the Queen of Hearts and give my staff their holiday bonuses for volunteering to work tomorrow." Lucas wrapped his arms around his wife and gave her a sweet kiss. "I will be back in a little bit."
"Daddy, can I go with you?" Jack asked.
"If it is okay with your momma, it is okay with me." Lucas said adoringly.
"It will be fine, but dress warm Jack." Elizabeth smiled at Jack wanting to go with the men. He was getting big and the times were definitely changing.
The men headed into town with Jack, the list, and the bonuses. They pulled up in front of the mercantile. William and Jonathan went in to get the groceries, while Lucas took Jack and went to the hotel and the Queen of Hearts.
"Daddy, when I get big, can I be like you?" Jack asked.
Lucas picked Jack up to carry him. "Son, you don't have to be like me. You can be anything you want to be when you get bigger and I will be right there to help you achieve all of your dreams."
Jack squeezed his face as they walked. "I want to be like you!"
Lucas and Jack made the rounds giving everyone their bonuses and Jack took in everything. Lucas was starting to realize how much Jack was learning from him and his little mind was eager to learn everything. They wished all the employees a Happy Thanksgiving and met William and Jonathan at the mercantile.
"Jack, let's go get some flowers for momma." Lucas said.
"Ya!" Jack replied excitedly while he was holding Lucas hand and jumping up and down.
William and Jonathan didn't want to be out done so all of them got flowers for their wives to take back. They pulled into the driveway and walked in the door and surprised their wives with beautiful flowers. The women were glowing with surprise as they were all in the kitchen working on dinner.
Jack handed the flowers to Elizabeth and said from Daddy. She kissed him and Jack went to play. "Lucas they are beautiful." She said giving him a kiss.
"Elizabeth, Jack said he wanted to be like me when he gets big. I told him he could be anything he wanted, but he said he wanted to be like me. Will that upset you that he does not want to be a Mountie like Jack?" Lucas asked.
"Lucas, you are every bit the man Jack was. You are a wonderful man and I can only hope that our son turns out to be like you in so many ways. I love you Lucas Bouchard. Now, why don't you feed the children and get them bedded down. By that time we should be ready to eat dinner. We are having Chicken and Noodles." Elizabeth replied with a deep kiss.
"Okay love. I will be back." Lucas said as he took Adelaide from the nanny and headed upstairs with a bottle to feed her and put her to bed. He repeated the process until all of their children had been put to sleep. He returned downstairs to eat with his family. After dinner, Lucas helped clean up the dishes and then the men sat down and played cards while the women talked about Thanksgiving dinner.
The evening was winding down and Elizabeth suggested they get to bed early because they had to get the turkey on and a full day of cooking ahead of them. The Bouchard's said goodnight and headed upstairs to retire for the evening where they could lay in each other's arms and escape the pressures of the day.