DESTINY
Chapter 15
Lucas was glad to see that the results he and Crower had hoped for with Dara's return to work had come to fruition. Not only was she continuing to progress at a normal pace with her pregnancy, but he could see that the personality everyone had come to treasure in her had returned as well. He was grateful for the fact that she had finally come to grips with the reality of her parent's deaths, no longer blaming herself, but instead, accepting that this was a natural part of life.
Another area of amazement that he soon discovered was his wife' s immense love for the Christmas holidays, which were rapidly approaching. She had insisted on not only decorating a tree, but the house as well. At first Lucas had refused, stating that he wouldn't have a tree in his home, but when he saw the look of intense disappointment on Dara's face he found he couldn't possibly refuse. Despite his efforts to remain stoic about the holiday he found himself enjoying it, especially when his wife had coerced him into a shopping trip for decorations.
Despite his efforts to the contrary, Lucas found himself enchanted with the Christmas season, due to his wife's childlike enthusiasm for the holiday. He realized just how enthralled she was with the various myths when he came home early to find her in the living room, as usual with Caleb, wrapping gifts. Stopping just outside the door to the room, he listened to his wife's surprising inquiry of his son.
"Caleb, have you made your list for Santa Clause yet? I want to be sure he gets it."
Caleb looked at her strangely, "What do you mean, Santa? There aint no such person."
Dara looked at him disbelievingly, she had believed in Santa until she was a teenager. "Caleb, you're only eleven, you mean you don't believe in Santa Clause?"
Lucas stood listening at the door, curious as to what Caleb's reaction would be. He had never believed in the childhood myth himself, due to his family's darker side, the whole idea of Christmas had never been encouraged. His mother had tried, but his father had always squelched her attempts. Considering that fact he realized that he had been robbed of a great deal of joy at that particular person's hands. He also felt guilty over Caleb's revelation. He had never encouraged the belief in the child, and neither had Gage Temple, who had always dealt with the harsher realities of life, never allowing his children the opportunities for the simpler pleasures of childhood. Listening to the interchange now he was sorry he hadn't stepped in soon.
Caleb stated his reason for his disbelief, "Well I aint never seen him."
Dara nodded, understanding his logic, "Well, that's true, but you haven't seen the babies for yourself yet either, but do you doubt they exist?"
Caleb looked at her strangely, pondering her statement, "Well, that's different, your stomach keeps getting bigger so you know that they're in there."
Dara smiled, "That's right, and you also find presents under the tree, so you know Santa was there too. Just because you cant put your hands on something or see it with your own eyes doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. Do you understand?"
Caleb considered her words, "Yeah I guess I do. Well, if you think he's real then maybe he is, so just in case I better make up a list, huh?"
Dara smiled at him warmly, "Yes, I think you should."
Lucas entered the room as though he had just gotten home. Standing over his wife to help her up from the floor, he glanced around, "Well, looks like the Christmas elves have been pretty busy here."
Dara smiled, glad to see his good humor, "Yeah, we're expecting Rudolph and Frosty anytime now." Laughing at her statement, Caleb excused himself to head back to the boarding house.
That had been another area of vast improvement, Caleb now stayed more and more with them. He had even made some small changes to the bedroom he occupied in order to make more of a claim in the house. Dara had even confessed to Lucas that she hoped eventually he would move in with them, since she had become very fond of him and enjoyed having him around. As a matter of fact, she had managed to convince him to stay with them Christmas eve, pointing out that it was a family holiday and that they were a family now.
Lucas was even surprised to find Mama Lucy's attitude towards Christmas to be lightened, also due to Dara's influence. She like Lucas found the house to be more friendly and airy with the addition of the Christmas spirit Dara had bestowed upon the old house. Lucas knew that she had valued only what Dara could provide to the family at first, another heir, but he was highly amused to find that she couldn't deny Dara anything either and that she was now able to see the reasons why he had fallen in love with his wife.
Christmas eve finally arrived to find Dara satisfied with her efforts for the holidays. She had managed to send off the gifts for her family in time, as well as acquire all the gifts Caleb had expressed a desire for even the secret ones he had wanted, just to see if Santa was real. Finally, she was able to climb the stairs to their bedroom to settle down for the night.
Lucas stood watching her as she was brushing her hair before climbing into bed, noticing the look of sadness in her eyes, from her reflection in the mirror; he went over and wrapped his arms around her. "What is it, darlin, thinking about your folks again?"
Turning, she smiled at him reassuringly, "I'm all right, I just miss them, that's all." Putting her arms around his neck, she asked sweetly, "What did you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?"
Lucas, catching her playful mood, ginned at her leeringly, "I'll give you a clue, you wont find it under the tree or in a stocking."
With that they enjoyed their own brand of exchanging and drifted off to sleep.
The morning came to find Caleb bounding into their bedroom to land at the foot of their bed, shouting excitedly, "You were right, there is a Santa and he was here. You should see everything he left, come on." With that he flew off the bed and down the stairs.
Dara sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, just as Lucas was bracing his arm across his upraised knee to grin at Dara, "Just remember, when we have to do this year after year, it was your idea."
Smiling impishly at him she stated, "I don't mind come on lets see what Santa brought." Joining Caleb downstairs, who was trying to contain his excitement until the adults appeared, they took their seat to watch him open his gifts. After he had opened enough to satisfy his curiosity he began handing presents out to the adults.
Lucas looked at the silk shirts his wife had given him in amusement. "You know I love them, but didn't you think I had enough?"
Dara shrugged, "Maybe, but I was getting tired of black."
Finally, after all the gifts had been opened, Lucas pointed to a small box under the tree, "Son, didn't you miss one?"
Caleb pulled the small package from where it sat and read the card, "This isn't for me, it's for Dara." Leaning over he handed her the package.
Dara looked at the small box curiously, "What's this, you've more than spoiled me, what else could I possibly want?"
Shrugging his shoulders in indifference, he stated, "I don't know what it is, I guess Santa must have left it for you."
Shaking her head at his answer she opened the box. There inside was the most beautiful emerald ring she had ever seen. Looking at him in a combination of shock and joy, she stated, "You shouldn't have done this, it's too much."
Moving closer to the end of the sofa where she sat, he took the box and lifted the ring out, took her hand to slide it on her finger, "No, you're too much and more than I deserve. So just say thank you and make me happy."
Throwing her arms around his neck she kissed him, pulling back she had tears in her eyes, "Thank you.
Lucas gently wiper the tears of happiness from her face, then smiling tenderly and placing his hand on the swell of her abdomen, he stated, "Besides, what you're giving me is infinitely more precious."
When Dara was six weeks away from her time for delivery, Matt broached the subject of how she wanted to give birth. "Have you given any more consideration to what we discussed?"
Dara sighed heavily, "Yes, but I'm still not sure what I want to do. I mean I'm not crazy about the idea of you cutting me open."
Matt nodded in understanding, "I can appreciate that, and like we discussed, it's just an option. I though that with you being so petite and the fact that we know the babies are already good sized, that it might be easier for you if we did a c section, but you're healthy enough now and strong enough that you can deliver naturally if you want to."
Dara timidly admitted, "I would prefer to deliver on my own if possible, besides I'd like for Lucas to be there with me."
Matt searched her face to see if she might not have another motive behind her nervousness. "You're not afraid, are you?"
Dara shook her head in denial, "No, I'm just getting nervous."
Lucas chose that moment to knock, opening the door he inquired, "You ready to go?" Dara, gathering her things, nodded.
Matt approached her on another subject. "By the way, are you going to take the Lamaze classes? I think it would be a good idea, you could benefit from the method during your delivery."
Dara considered for a moment, and then glanced at her husband before answering. "I haven't really thought about it." Although in truth she had given a great deal of consideration to the classes, but she hadn't thought that Lucas would want to participate in them with her, despite the fact that he wanted to be present when their children were born.
Lucas, sensing that something was being held back, asked, "What do you mean she could benefit from them? I thought you said she was doing fine, you think she's going to have some sort of complications?"
Matt shook his head, "I don't really see any complications, but Dara is a small women, and delivering twins will be stressful for her body. Not to mention the fact that the babies are already weighing in at six pound each and she still has six weeks to go to full term. I think it would be a good idea if she learned the Lamaze method of breathing, it will make it easer for her."
Lucas considered his words, "All right, sign us up for the next classes."
Dara looked up in surprise, "You'll take the classes with me?"
Lucas looked at his wife in shock, "You didn't think I was going to let you go in the delivery room alone, did you? Besides, if I take the classes with you, then I can better help you in there." Turning to Matt he inquired, "Isn't that the general idea anyway?"
Matt nodded his agreement, "Yeah, I'll sign you up for the class that starts tomorrow night. All right?"
Dara was surprised at how efficiently her husband progressed through the classes, although she progressed just as well, she was becoming increasingly nervous as the time to give birth got closer. She continued to marvel at each passing day at how patient and loving her husband was with her, as well as Caleb. She still heard whispered innuendoes and rumors about him, but he was never anything but kind and loving with her, Caleb and his grandmother.
Chapter 15
Lucas was glad to see that the results he and Crower had hoped for with Dara's return to work had come to fruition. Not only was she continuing to progress at a normal pace with her pregnancy, but he could see that the personality everyone had come to treasure in her had returned as well. He was grateful for the fact that she had finally come to grips with the reality of her parent's deaths, no longer blaming herself, but instead, accepting that this was a natural part of life.
Another area of amazement that he soon discovered was his wife' s immense love for the Christmas holidays, which were rapidly approaching. She had insisted on not only decorating a tree, but the house as well. At first Lucas had refused, stating that he wouldn't have a tree in his home, but when he saw the look of intense disappointment on Dara's face he found he couldn't possibly refuse. Despite his efforts to remain stoic about the holiday he found himself enjoying it, especially when his wife had coerced him into a shopping trip for decorations.
Despite his efforts to the contrary, Lucas found himself enchanted with the Christmas season, due to his wife's childlike enthusiasm for the holiday. He realized just how enthralled she was with the various myths when he came home early to find her in the living room, as usual with Caleb, wrapping gifts. Stopping just outside the door to the room, he listened to his wife's surprising inquiry of his son.
"Caleb, have you made your list for Santa Clause yet? I want to be sure he gets it."
Caleb looked at her strangely, "What do you mean, Santa? There aint no such person."
Dara looked at him disbelievingly, she had believed in Santa until she was a teenager. "Caleb, you're only eleven, you mean you don't believe in Santa Clause?"
Lucas stood listening at the door, curious as to what Caleb's reaction would be. He had never believed in the childhood myth himself, due to his family's darker side, the whole idea of Christmas had never been encouraged. His mother had tried, but his father had always squelched her attempts. Considering that fact he realized that he had been robbed of a great deal of joy at that particular person's hands. He also felt guilty over Caleb's revelation. He had never encouraged the belief in the child, and neither had Gage Temple, who had always dealt with the harsher realities of life, never allowing his children the opportunities for the simpler pleasures of childhood. Listening to the interchange now he was sorry he hadn't stepped in soon.
Caleb stated his reason for his disbelief, "Well I aint never seen him."
Dara nodded, understanding his logic, "Well, that's true, but you haven't seen the babies for yourself yet either, but do you doubt they exist?"
Caleb looked at her strangely, pondering her statement, "Well, that's different, your stomach keeps getting bigger so you know that they're in there."
Dara smiled, "That's right, and you also find presents under the tree, so you know Santa was there too. Just because you cant put your hands on something or see it with your own eyes doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. Do you understand?"
Caleb considered her words, "Yeah I guess I do. Well, if you think he's real then maybe he is, so just in case I better make up a list, huh?"
Dara smiled at him warmly, "Yes, I think you should."
Lucas entered the room as though he had just gotten home. Standing over his wife to help her up from the floor, he glanced around, "Well, looks like the Christmas elves have been pretty busy here."
Dara smiled, glad to see his good humor, "Yeah, we're expecting Rudolph and Frosty anytime now." Laughing at her statement, Caleb excused himself to head back to the boarding house.
That had been another area of vast improvement, Caleb now stayed more and more with them. He had even made some small changes to the bedroom he occupied in order to make more of a claim in the house. Dara had even confessed to Lucas that she hoped eventually he would move in with them, since she had become very fond of him and enjoyed having him around. As a matter of fact, she had managed to convince him to stay with them Christmas eve, pointing out that it was a family holiday and that they were a family now.
Lucas was even surprised to find Mama Lucy's attitude towards Christmas to be lightened, also due to Dara's influence. She like Lucas found the house to be more friendly and airy with the addition of the Christmas spirit Dara had bestowed upon the old house. Lucas knew that she had valued only what Dara could provide to the family at first, another heir, but he was highly amused to find that she couldn't deny Dara anything either and that she was now able to see the reasons why he had fallen in love with his wife.
Christmas eve finally arrived to find Dara satisfied with her efforts for the holidays. She had managed to send off the gifts for her family in time, as well as acquire all the gifts Caleb had expressed a desire for even the secret ones he had wanted, just to see if Santa was real. Finally, she was able to climb the stairs to their bedroom to settle down for the night.
Lucas stood watching her as she was brushing her hair before climbing into bed, noticing the look of sadness in her eyes, from her reflection in the mirror; he went over and wrapped his arms around her. "What is it, darlin, thinking about your folks again?"
Turning, she smiled at him reassuringly, "I'm all right, I just miss them, that's all." Putting her arms around his neck, she asked sweetly, "What did you want Santa to bring you for Christmas?"
Lucas, catching her playful mood, ginned at her leeringly, "I'll give you a clue, you wont find it under the tree or in a stocking."
With that they enjoyed their own brand of exchanging and drifted off to sleep.
The morning came to find Caleb bounding into their bedroom to land at the foot of their bed, shouting excitedly, "You were right, there is a Santa and he was here. You should see everything he left, come on." With that he flew off the bed and down the stairs.
Dara sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, just as Lucas was bracing his arm across his upraised knee to grin at Dara, "Just remember, when we have to do this year after year, it was your idea."
Smiling impishly at him she stated, "I don't mind come on lets see what Santa brought." Joining Caleb downstairs, who was trying to contain his excitement until the adults appeared, they took their seat to watch him open his gifts. After he had opened enough to satisfy his curiosity he began handing presents out to the adults.
Lucas looked at the silk shirts his wife had given him in amusement. "You know I love them, but didn't you think I had enough?"
Dara shrugged, "Maybe, but I was getting tired of black."
Finally, after all the gifts had been opened, Lucas pointed to a small box under the tree, "Son, didn't you miss one?"
Caleb pulled the small package from where it sat and read the card, "This isn't for me, it's for Dara." Leaning over he handed her the package.
Dara looked at the small box curiously, "What's this, you've more than spoiled me, what else could I possibly want?"
Shrugging his shoulders in indifference, he stated, "I don't know what it is, I guess Santa must have left it for you."
Shaking her head at his answer she opened the box. There inside was the most beautiful emerald ring she had ever seen. Looking at him in a combination of shock and joy, she stated, "You shouldn't have done this, it's too much."
Moving closer to the end of the sofa where she sat, he took the box and lifted the ring out, took her hand to slide it on her finger, "No, you're too much and more than I deserve. So just say thank you and make me happy."
Throwing her arms around his neck she kissed him, pulling back she had tears in her eyes, "Thank you.
Lucas gently wiper the tears of happiness from her face, then smiling tenderly and placing his hand on the swell of her abdomen, he stated, "Besides, what you're giving me is infinitely more precious."
When Dara was six weeks away from her time for delivery, Matt broached the subject of how she wanted to give birth. "Have you given any more consideration to what we discussed?"
Dara sighed heavily, "Yes, but I'm still not sure what I want to do. I mean I'm not crazy about the idea of you cutting me open."
Matt nodded in understanding, "I can appreciate that, and like we discussed, it's just an option. I though that with you being so petite and the fact that we know the babies are already good sized, that it might be easier for you if we did a c section, but you're healthy enough now and strong enough that you can deliver naturally if you want to."
Dara timidly admitted, "I would prefer to deliver on my own if possible, besides I'd like for Lucas to be there with me."
Matt searched her face to see if she might not have another motive behind her nervousness. "You're not afraid, are you?"
Dara shook her head in denial, "No, I'm just getting nervous."
Lucas chose that moment to knock, opening the door he inquired, "You ready to go?" Dara, gathering her things, nodded.
Matt approached her on another subject. "By the way, are you going to take the Lamaze classes? I think it would be a good idea, you could benefit from the method during your delivery."
Dara considered for a moment, and then glanced at her husband before answering. "I haven't really thought about it." Although in truth she had given a great deal of consideration to the classes, but she hadn't thought that Lucas would want to participate in them with her, despite the fact that he wanted to be present when their children were born.
Lucas, sensing that something was being held back, asked, "What do you mean she could benefit from them? I thought you said she was doing fine, you think she's going to have some sort of complications?"
Matt shook his head, "I don't really see any complications, but Dara is a small women, and delivering twins will be stressful for her body. Not to mention the fact that the babies are already weighing in at six pound each and she still has six weeks to go to full term. I think it would be a good idea if she learned the Lamaze method of breathing, it will make it easer for her."
Lucas considered his words, "All right, sign us up for the next classes."
Dara looked up in surprise, "You'll take the classes with me?"
Lucas looked at his wife in shock, "You didn't think I was going to let you go in the delivery room alone, did you? Besides, if I take the classes with you, then I can better help you in there." Turning to Matt he inquired, "Isn't that the general idea anyway?"
Matt nodded his agreement, "Yeah, I'll sign you up for the class that starts tomorrow night. All right?"
Dara was surprised at how efficiently her husband progressed through the classes, although she progressed just as well, she was becoming increasingly nervous as the time to give birth got closer. She continued to marvel at each passing day at how patient and loving her husband was with her, as well as Caleb. She still heard whispered innuendoes and rumors about him, but he was never anything but kind and loving with her, Caleb and his grandmother.