.
Conversations of the Heart
A Journey of Love
Chapter 15 ~ Settling in… Elizabeth~
Elizabeth was still floating on her newlywed cloud even though she had gone back to work by Wednesday. Just having Lucas to wake up to in the morning made every day exciting. She was an earlier riser than he, but he was adapting his schedule to meet hers. Lucas would go down with her to help prepare their breakfast, taking Jack with them as he had found his way to their bed each morning since they returned from Union City. Her guys would lovingly send her off to school with hugs and kisses and then go get dressed and get their day underway.
On their first day back, the three of them spent most of the day together and then prepared to have dinner with the Coulters that evening. She had slipped over to meet Rosie for tea beforehand because her best friend wanted "all the details." Although she wouldn't give Rosie "all" of them she had to give her enough facts or at least innuendo to satisfy her. She retold the story of their trip and dinner at the hotel and how Rosie's gift was unveiled. Rosie had presumed that Elizabeth was Lucas' first and she confirmed this fact and the fact that it had been perfect…. like nothing she ever could have imagined. Rosie prodded her for specifics but Elizabeth refused to tell her more than that she had never experienced much of what had passed between them. Elizabeth just wanted to relish it herself for a while at least. Her friend soon gave up, but Rosie had gotten enough to know that her friend was being well loved by a very gentle yet passionate man.
That evening their little family joined the Coulter's who were delighted with the tea set they had purchased in Union City and with their personal gifts as well which they had donned at the insistence of Jack who loved Rosie's sparkly pin. They had a grand time as Elizabeth and Lucas gave them the highlights of their weekend adventure and then listened to Jack tell them about all that he had done over the weekend with Auntie Rosie and Uncle Lee. It seemed that Mike fit into the equation as he had been busy on a woodworking project and Lee and Jack had been invited to watch and "help". They ended the evening with tea by the fire and some delicious apple pie that Rosemary had baked for them. Of course, Jack delighted Rosie by telling her that it was "sooo good!"
Her first day back, the children had hung out a welcome sign and wanted to hear about their trip to Union City. Many of them had been at the reception at the café where Bill had been so kind to accommodate the overflow of guests. Lucas had been the one to invite the schoolchildren as he knew how much they all meant to her. Many of them had started school with her and she had nurtured them for over eight years now.
Elizabeth would end her days at school so excited because Lucas had promised to come pick her up for this week at least. They were making rounds to drop off thank you gifts to those that helped during the wedding. Some days they headed over to the mercantile for groceries they needed at home or if Gustave asked for something or another that he had run out of. One day they went to the library to select a book that they might read together and discuss. Even these small moments between them were precious to them as they were facing them as a married couple. Then they would head back to the row house to spend time together before Lucas might have to head back to the saloon.
She had never really had a chance to be a wife … just a bride, as Jack Sr. had been taken from her so soon. So now she spent every moment with her husband with profound appreciation. Lucas knew that this was for the most part new to her too and did everything he could to support her and show her how much she and Jack meant to him. She knew that everything wouldn't be paradise all the time, but she would take it when it was and the rest of the time, they would work through it. They were a team now.
She was so glad that Lucas was able to be flexible this week and spend a lot of time with Jack. His load was lighter as they were renovating the upstairs and so there weren't overnight guests. His suite required little renovation but what it did require was initiated while they were out of town and was to be complete before Friday. She was so looking forward to her date with Lucas. She was glad to see how committed he was to their relationship in addition to his newer bond with Jack. She counted herself truly lucky to have a man like Lucas as her husband. Rosie was going to help her get all spruced up which of course was her delight… anything for love and romance. She butted into their relationship, but she did so with a well-meaning heart and even Lucas had learned to accept and even appreciate Rosie's fussing,