One Year Later
...
Lucas peered into the crib, grinning at his daughter. "Good morning, sweetheart."
The little baby cooed, giving him a smile. Even after six months, he never tired of seeing her sweet little face first thing in the morning. Jack was a good mix of Thatcher and Thornton, but Coraline Helen Bouchard was all Elizabeth, with her bright blue eyes and dark hair that showed a hint of red in sunlight.
"Are you ready to start your day?" He lifted the baby out of the crib, cradling her against his shoulder. "Let's change your diaper and get you back to mama so you can eat."
He carried her across the hall to the nursery, gently laying her on the changing table. He spoke quietly to her as he put her in a clean diaper, and she smiled all the while.
"I love you, Coraline." He kissed her cheek as he lifted her up to his chest. "Let's go see your mama."
Elizabeth was sitting up in bed when he brought their daughter back to their room. "There's my smiley girl." She held out her arms, snuggling the baby close after Lucas released her. "Good morning, Cora."
"I think she might just be the happiest baby I've ever met. She's been smiling since the moment she woke up."
She settled the baby in to nurse, guiding her chubby little hands to grip the edge of her nightgown instead of her hair as the baby was wont to do. "Well, waking up to your face is pretty pleasant."
He chuckled, running his fingers through his hair. "Even with the bedhead?"
"Especially with the bedhead." She wiggled her eyebrows at him. "That and the scruff. Mm." She shook her head, laughing softly. "Sometimes I'm not sure how I get anything done when you're around."
"Elizabeth Bouchard, are you flirting with me?"
"If I can't flirt with my husband on our anniversary, when can I?"
He grinned, showing off his dimples. "I can't believe it's already our second anniversary. Or that it's been a whole year since we moved into this house and you told me this little one would be joining our family." He reached over and touched Coraline's cheek, eliciting yet another smile from the little girl.
"You didn't buy us another house for our anniversary this year, did you?"
"No." He laughed. "Although I do have a few surprises for you."
"Are you pregnant?" she teased.
"Ha ha." He lightly pinched her side. "Are you?"
"No, but maybe I'll have that news for you on our next anniversary, once Cora is a little bit older. If you want another baby, that is."
"If we can be guaranteed that they'll all be like Cora and Jack, then I will take all the babies you're willing to carry." He ran his fingers down the side of her face, sighing contentedly. "I'm so glad I waited for you, Elizabeth. This life we have together… it's more than I could have ever dreamed."
"No regrets?"
He thought back to all the years of traveling around, going here and there, doing this and that. He'd had a wonderful life before arriving in Hope Valley, but nothing compared to the joy he felt getting to wake up everyday to Elizabeth's face, the wonder of getting to watch their children grow and thrive.
"None at all," he finally answered. "I love you, Elizabeth."
...
"You were supposed to stay in bed," Lucas protested when Elizabeth appeared in the kitchen. "I was going to bring breakfast to you."
"But I missed you." She crossed the room, placing a hand on his hip and kissing the back of his shoulder. "And it's too quiet upstairs. Jack is still sleeping, and Cora fell asleep again after she ate."
"I just wanted to do something special for you for our anniversary."
"What if I promise to sit here quietly while you finish cooking? I'll even go back up to bed when you're done so you can bring it to me there. I just want to be near you." She stuck out her lower lip, pretending to pout. "Please?"
He sighed, but smiled. "Okay." He turned, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
"Thank you." She grinned, returning his kiss before taking a seat at the small breakfast table.
She watched him moving around the kitchen and was suddenly reminded of her early days of marriage to Jack and his sweet attempts to show his love. Jack and Lucas were so different in so many ways, but every once in a while, she saw some similarities in the two men. She said a silent prayer of thanks that she was blessed to experience the unconditional love of two such wonderful men.
"Lucas."
"Hm?" He gave her a quick glance before turning back toward the stove.
"I love you."
He set down the wooden spoon he had been using to stir the eggs and stepped over to her. He leaned down, pressing a sound kiss to her lips. "I love you, too, but please, no more distractions unless you want me to burn your breakfast."
She chuckled. "Sorry, but a kiss from you is worth a slightly-overcooked breakfast."
"Well, if you really feel that way…" He took her hand, pulling her up from the chair. Caressing her face in his hands, he brushed a soft kiss against her lips.
She whined when he pulled away, and he smiled.
"Patience, my love." He kissed the corner of her mouth this time, her cheek, down her neck.
She shivered. "Lucas."
"Elizabeth," he breathed, bringing his lips back to hers, his hands sliding down her back.
"Mama?"
They jumped apart, turning toward the voice. Jack stood in the doorway, blinking sleepily.
"Good morning, buddy." Lucas rubbed the back of his neck. "What are you doing up? It's still early."
Jack shrugged. "I don't know. Something smells funny."
"The eggs!" Lucas exclaimed, running back to the stove and pulling the pan off of the burner.
Elizabeth laughed. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be." He winked, giving her a look that made her blush to the tip of her ears. "These are still edible, so I'll eat them. I can make you more."
"Can I have some?" Jack asked, joining Lucas at the stove.
"Sure, buddy. Do you want to help me finish making everything?"
"Yeah."
Lucas pulled a chair over and lifted Jack onto it. "We're making eggs and bacon, and maybe some toast. Why don't you help me stir these eggs while I slice up the bread?"
Jack nodded, dutifully taking the wooden spoon from him.
Elizabeth returned to her seat, enjoying the interaction between her two favorite guys. Even before they were married, she knew Lucas would make a good father. Now, two years into their marriage, she'd learned that he was an even better father than she expected. No matter how busy or exhausted he was, no matter if he'd had a bad day, he always made time for Jack and Cora.
"Dad?"
Lucas suppressed a smile, still not quite used to hearing the little boy call him anything but 'buddy.' "Yes, Jack?"
"This right?"
"You're doing great, bud." He patted him on the back. "I'm glad you're helping me. Now your mother's anniversary breakfast will be even more delicious."
"Good."
"Maybe I'll let the final product be a surprise and go check on Coraline." Elizabeth rose. "You boys don't get into too much trouble in here."
"We'll be fine. You just go back upstairs and relax."
...
Elizabeth was nearly finished grading the last of the students' tests when she heard someone enter the schoolhouse and clear their throat. She glanced up, finding Lucas standing there, his hands behind his back.
"Lucas."
"Milady." He bowed slightly. "Would you join me on a little ride on this fine afternoon?"
"I'd love to, but what about the children?" She gathered her things, placing what she didn't need to take home on top of the desk.
"I paid Robert to watch them for an extra hour. We won't be gone long."
"In that case…" She stood, crossing the room until she reached him. "Lead the way."
He held out his arm for her, then led her out the door, where a horse was saddled and waiting.
"Where's Sergeant?"
"Well, there's an element of surprise to this ride, and I didn't think you'd want to ride blindfolded all by yourself."
She rolled her eyes playfully . "This again?"
He smirked, slipping his arms around her back. "Please?" Leaning in, he whispered in her ear, "besides, sharing a horse means we get to stay close."
"Then I suppose that's okay," she relented, allowing him to tie a scrap of cloth over her eyes once they had mounted the horse.
They rode in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the sunlight warming them as they headed away from town. Lucas held the reins, continuing to lead the horse down the path. Elizabeth was sitting in the saddle in front of him, leaning back against his chest.
"Okay, I think you're definitely kidnapping me this year," Elizabeth said, reaching back to adjust the blindfold.
Behind her, Lucas laughed. "I promise I'm not kidnapping you. We're almost there."
"Whatever you say."
"I wouldn't need to kidnap you. You almost ruined my breakfast-in-bed plan this morning just because you wanted to be near me."
She turned her head slightly, wishing desperately that she could look into his eyes. "Darn, you've figured me out. I can't resist you."
He kissed her cheek. "Well, I'll let you in on a secret. I can't resist you, either."
"Then it's a good thing we got married."
"Good thing," he agreed as he pulled back on the reins, bringing the horse to a halt. "We're here."
"Can I take off the blindfold now?"
"In a minute." He slid off the horse, then put his hands on her hips to help her dismount. "Now, you can take it off."
Facing him, she slipped the fabric off of her eyes. "Hi." A smile played on her lips.
"Hi." The corners of his eyes crinkled as he returned her grin. "Did you see where we are?"
She finally looked away from him, seeing the bridge where they had shared their first kiss. "We haven't been out here since before Cora was born."
"I know. I thought it was about time we came back." He took her hand, leading her to the middle of the bridge.
They both leaned against the railing, quietly looking out at the water.
"I still remember how…broken I felt when I came here, thinking I missed my chance with you. I was scared I would never get a chance at love again. But then you showed up, and I knew right then that I would never let you walk away again without a fight."
"I thank God every day that I decided not to leave Hope Valley that day. My love," he touched her cheek, "sometimes I still can't believe that I get to call you mine."
...
Jack rushed past Elizabeth into Rosemary and Lee's house, immediately searching for the toy airplane that he knew was nearby.
Rosemary chuckled, shifting Franny on her hip. "Well, it looks like he won't have any problem spending a few hours here."
"I guess not." Elizabeth laughed. "Thank you again for watching them for us."
"You know they're welcome any time. We love having them over, and Franny loves having some playmates. Isn't that right, sweetheart?" She gave the toddler a little tickle, eliciting a giggle.
"Mommy!"
"Okay, okay. I'll stop." She kissed her cheek. "Franny, why don't you go help Jack find the airplane?" She lowered her daughter to the floor and nudged her toward Jack.
Elizabeth gave Coraline a little squeeze, kissing her forehead before passing her over to Rosemary. "You be good for Auntie Rosemary, sweet girl. Daddy and I will come get you in a little while."
Rosemary lifted the baby to her shoulder. "Do you have everything ready?"
Elizabeth nodded. "Everything is all set up. I just need to get changed and pick up the food from Gustav. I had Robert take a note to Lucas telling him to meet me at the library. Hopefully that note actually gets to him this time," she joked.
"Well, I hope you two have a wonderful time. And don't rush your evening. Jack and Coraline will be just fine here."
"Thank you again." She glanced past Rosemary, her eyes settling on Jack, who was wandering around the room, making the toy airplane fly. "Jack, have fun and be good for Auntie Rosemary and Uncle Lee."
"Okay, mama." He waved before turning his attention back to his little game.
"We're all set here. Now go," Rosemary encouraged her. "You don't want to keep that husband of yours waiting."
Elizabeth shook her head and smiled. "I'm going."
...
Lucas smiled as he stepped up to the library, seeing a warm glow through the window. A small sign was hung on the door, indicating that the building was closed for a private event.
He slowly pushed open the door to find Elizabeth standing at the far end of the room, a smile playing on her lips.
"Hello, Mr. Bouchard."
"Mrs. Bouchard." He gave her a little nod.
"Please, have a seat."
He obediently sat in the chair that she had already pulled out for him, facing her with an expectant look on his face.
"Now, you might be wondering why I asked you to meet me here on our anniversary. You might think it's because this has been a special place for us throughout our relationship, and that is part of the reason. But the biggest reason is this." She turned slightly, picking up a stack of papers from the small table beside her. "I thought our anniversary would be the perfect day to give you a little taste of the first novel by Elizabeth Thornton Bouchard."
"I finally get to know what you've been writing about all this time?"
She gave him a cheeky smile. "Yes, and you get to be the very first to experience it—aside from Cora, but she slept through most of it, so that doesn't count."
"My mother hasn't read any of it?"
She shook her head. "She knows I have it written, but I wanted you to be the first to read it. But remember that means it hasn't been edited, so this is still just the first draft."
"I'm sure it's wonderful."
She cleared her throat, flipping to the first page. "I haven't quite figured out how to word this yet, but it's dedicated to you, for all of your encouragement and love."
...
Elizabeth stood unnoticed in the doorway of Jack's bedroom, watching as Lucas read Robin Hood for what seemed like the thousandth time.
He had Coraline settled on his lap and Jack cuddled against his side, both children engrossed in his reading.
A smile played on her lips when she heard Jack giggle at a silly voice Lucas was using for Little John.
She fell in love with him a little more each time she saw him with their children, and it was clear the children loved him as well. Jack adored his buddy, and asked about him frequently when he wasn't around. Coraline was quickly becoming a daddy's girl, always reaching for him when he was near.
He turned the page in the book, dropping a kiss on the top of Coraline's head as he did so. She looked up at him, giving him a gummy smile. He softly tweaked her chin, making her laugh.
"Dad, the story!"
He chuckled. "You've heard this one enough times that you know what happens next."
"Keep reading, please." He pointed at the page.
"Okay, since you asked so nicely." He gave the boy a little poke in the side.
Elizabeth watched them for a few more minutes before tiptoeing away.
She changed into her nightgown, getting settled in bed with a book just as Lucas stepped into the bedroom. He smiled at her, lowering a now-sleeping Coraline into the crib.
"You know, you can't fool me, Elizabeth." He started to unbutton his shirt and slipped his suspenders off of his shoulders.
She set her book down. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"How long were you watching me in there?"
"A while. You're such a wonderful father, Lucas Bouchard." She kept her eyes on him as he continued to change into his sleep clothes. "And a wonderful husband."
"What were you pretending to read when I came in here?" He craned his neck, trying to see the cover of the book on her nightstand.
"Dangerous Liaisons." A blush rose in her cheeks. "It makes me think of you."
He grinned, thinking back to one of their early interactions in the library. "'Now, I'm not going to deny that I was aware of your beauty,'" he quoted as he slipped into the bed beside her, bringing a hand to the side of her neck. "'It was only when I began to feel actual, physical pain every time you left the room that it finally dawned on me: I was in love, for the first time in my life.'"
"You didn't quote that part last time," she breathed, leaning closer.
"I love you, Elizabeth. Happy anniversary."
"I love you, Lucas." She threaded her fingers through his hair, finally pressing a kiss to his lips. "Happy anniversary."