Chapter 37 Safe and Sound

Jack and Floppsie had bonded during their adventure and Lucas had to spend some time explaining that Floppsie would have to go back to her owner for the night.

"Jack, as much as I know you don't want Floppsie to go, there isn't enough room in this bed for all of us. Do you want your Papa to have to sleep on the floor? And besides, we promised her owner that we would return her this evening. We must keep our promise, right?"

"Yes Papa, but I love her."

"I know son, and you will be able to see her again tomorrow. But her owner will be very sad as she misses her. Remember she was very worried about Floppsie, just like we were about you."

"Can I hug her for just a few more minutes?"

"Of course, buddy, Mama and I will be right over on the couch while you say your goodbye."

When it was time for Lucas to return the little dog, Jack let him take her without any fuss but with a few teardrops. "Bye-bye, Floppsie, see you in the morning," the little boy said.

Lucas and Elizabeth slept with Jack between them, so they could watch over him during the night. Lucas had seen the scared little boy in the baggage hold and wanted to be there for him if he had a bad dream, this first night at least.

For all his worrying, Jack slept quietly, perhaps comforted by the closeness of his mama and papa during the night.

Jack awoke with a little moan as he scooted onto his knees. Lucas immediately woke with a jolt. "You okay buddy?"

"Knees hurt Papa."

"I am sorry that they hurt, but the doctor says it will not be very long. After today they will feel a lot better. We will try not to touch them too much, but we must walk today so they will not get too stiff. Have to keep the oil moving in those joints."

"Oil, like in your car? Papa you are funny."

"Well, it is very similar, so we have to keep you moving. Now come in for a big hug and I will try not to hurt your knees." The little boy obliged, happy to be hugged.

"How are your hands feeling? Mama will change your bandages for you when she wakes up, okay."

"Don't hurt so much."

"Good. See, you are already on the mend."
===================================

They were all famished at breakfast; no one except Lucas had been able to eat much from their dinner service in their room the night before. The captain made his way to their table and joined them for breakfast.

"So how are we doing today young man?

"Better… ", he said a bit restrained.

"Well, that is good, a sailor gets back on his feet as soon as he can. You were very brave while you awaited rescue, young man," the captain smiled at Jack.

"Do you feel up to telling us what happened?
"It is important to know how to make our ship safer if we can," the captain added.

Elizabeth jumped in, her duty as his mama. "Jack, you don't have to right now if you don't want to. The captain will wait until another time, won't you Captain?

"Yes of course."

"I can tell the story, Mama."

"Okay, let's finish your oatmeal and another sip of orange juice and then you can tell us…."

Once he had done as his mother had asked, he started in …."I was playing by my Mama with my cars and then I saw a little dog come out of the door. I sorry Papa, I know I suppose to be careful with strangers.

"Yes son, with people and with animals. But I know that Floppsie is small and very cute….. but it would have been best to tell Mama you saw the dog and ask if you may pet it, understand?"

"Yes, Papa."

"So, then what happened, son?"

"I wanted to pet her but she went back through the door," Jack hesitated…..

"Go ahead," said Lucas.

"I followed her. She was sniffing all the doors. One was open a little bit and she jumped in. I went too but it was dark; and I was scared," the boy faltered, and a tear started down his cheek.

Elizabeth put her hand on his and squeezed it gently, "it is okay, Jack…. take your time."

"Floppsie went to the window, so I went to the light with her, but I fell and hurt my knees and hands. Floppsie licked my face."

"Then I heard the door bang closed. Mama I wasn't a big boy, I cried."

Elizabeth gathered the little boy onto her lap and stroked his hair. "Even big boys cry sometimes, right Papa?"

"Absolutely, said Lucas. Papa is proud of you for waiting patiently and hugging Floppsie until we could find you. She was probably scared too."

"I falled asleep. I heard calling and whistling. Floppsie barked.

"Yes, that was one of the crewmen and me. We opened the door and saw you by the window."

"My Papa found me and Floppsie."

Elizabeth answered, "yes he did, he was so happy to find you."

The captain added, "a sailor always tries to save his buddy."

"It seems that someone left the baggage hold open. That is against the rules. The door can be opened from the inside, but a small child would not be able to reach the wheel to open it," said the captain.

"Thankfully your crewman and I found them quickly, Floppsie heard us and started barking," said Lucas.

"And how is Madam's baby?" asked the captain.

"We haven't seen her yet today, but as soon as we are finished, we will go in search of Madam and Floppsie," interjected Lucas. "I am sure that she and Jack will be happy to be reunited."

Jack hugged his Mama, and then rested his head on her chest. "Can we go soon? He whispered.

Elizabeth glanced at Lucas and caught his gaze, he nodded to her.
====================================

They stopped at Floppsie's cabin on their way back to theirs. Marie Gordon was her owner's name; she turned out to be very hospitable and kind in addition to a very amicable eccentricity. Floppsie was overjoyed to see Jack, jumping on him with her little tail wagging. Jack hugged her and then was on the rug playing with her, sore hands and knees quite forgotten.

Laura excused herself to go next door to see her new friends while Lucas and Elizabeth sat and had a cup of tea with Madam Gordon. They exchanged plans for their upcoming travels and reminisced about places they had all been. Madam Gordon's husband was an envoy in Madrid, and she was on her way to join him there. Lucas had been to Madrid and so they chatted about the sites and the restaurants they had frequented. Elizabeth had never been to Spain, so she was quite interested in what they were saying. Marie gave them her address and phone number so they could make contact later that summer when they traveled through Madrid on their way to southern Spain and Portugal.

It was time to say goodbye, but Jack wanted to stay longer. Normally they would have trusted Madam Gordon and her companion to watch over Jack, but Lucas could see Elizabeth's reluctance. Of all of them, she had undergone the hardest time. Having her son lost had not only scared her but she was left with a sense of guilt. She had not let Jack from her sight since he was returned to her.

Lucas knew her so well and he wanted to let her go at her own pace, but he also knew that the longer she stayed in this mode the easier it would be to remain that way. So, he took a leap of faith and urged her, "Elizabeth, Jack will be perfectly safe with these two ladies. Perhaps we can leave him to play for just a little while, and then return to get him before the hour is up?"

"But,…. " she was about to protest but wasn't sure what to say without insulting the two women who would be perfectly competent caretakers for the 30 or so minutes that Jack would be with them. She gave Jack a kiss on the cheek and tried to sound confident as she said, "Mama and Papa will be in our cabin just a few doors down. We will come back to get you in a little while."

"Okay, Mama." He returned quickly to his play with the dog and a rubber bone.

Lucas bowed to the ladies and then wrapped his wife's arm around his and escorted her back to their room. He could see her look away and try to hide the tears that began to fall. He brought her to the bed and removed her shoes and his own so he could curl up around her. "Shhhh, my sweet. Everything is okay. He is safe and will rebound quickly… he is a little boy and will be easily distracted by that little dog. But back in his subconscious he will remember that he must be careful. That is part of growing up, learning from mistakes as we become more and more mature."

"But I could have lost him forever. It was my mistake not to have been more vigilant."

"You can't have him in your line of vision every second. You did nothing wrong. Look at the chances of this happening… for the one minute you are not looking directly at him, a little dog comes out of the door, on a ship, and in effect lures him into the aisleway, and into a hold, with a door just ajar, and then someone shuts it," says Lucas.

"But, something could happen like it again."

"Elizabeth, we will be reasonably vigilant, but he is growing up quickly and we can't stifle him altogether," Lucas replied.

"I know you are saying all the right things to help me, but I saw how it impacted you when he was safely back in our cabin, and you let go of that calm polish you somehow manage to put on."

"Yes, I was scared, but it helped no one to succumb to that. I have trained myself to be calm when the storm is brewing and then release when it is calm again."

"It is your strength as a leader, and you bring that to us as your family. How could I possibly find a better man for me or for my children's father. I won't call you perfect, someday I will figure out your flaw…. ," she giggled at that, "but you are perfect for me."

"And that is what matters, that you and I are perfect for one another. And when one stumbles, the other is there to help them get back on track. Now let it go, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and I will be right here with you until it is time to go and retrieve Jack."

"I love you, Lucas." And with that she closed her eyes, took a deep breath and then just absorbed his warmth as he held her so she could drift off until it was time for them to go get their son.
======================================================

The next two days were unremarkable. They spent their days reading and visiting their new friends, Madam Gordon, Mrs. Trembly, Laura's two friends and a couple of business acquaintances Lucas had made.

Finally, it was their last full day aboard ship and a Farewell Ball would be held. Both Elizabeth and Laura would be wearing lavender-colored gowns. It was one of Elizabeth's best colors and Laura also looked pretty in hers. At dinner, one of the young men who had danced with Laura at the Captain's ball had stopped at their table and said hello and hoped that he would see them at the ball. Lucas had replied for them, "yes, my good sir, we will be there, and we hope to share some punch with you." Elizabeth added a smile and Laura blushed, not in that "to the hairline" version of her old self but more delicately with obvious pleasure at his attention. He continued on to his table after looking back once.

"Well, I think someone's dance card is going to be commanded by one Mr. Benjamin Huntley, "declared Lucas. Laura blushed a deeper shade but smiled demurely, showing that she would not mind at all.

Mrs. Trembly saw them at the ball and offered to watch Jack while they danced. Lucas promptly took Elizabeth into a lively dance and twirled her around the ballroom floor. They then danced to a slower song and afterwards, headed for their seats. Lucas convinced Mrs. Trembly to dance one with him, so they took to the floor while Elizabeth watched Jack. Laura danced with a few gentlemen, but she was having a second dance with Mr. Huntley who soon joined them at their table with some punch for all.

"Mr. Bouchard, if I might meet with you tomorrow after breakfast in the observation deck at say 10:00?"

"Yes, that will be fine". Lucas shook the young man's hand and then he bowed to the ladies and made his way over to his friends with whom he was traveling.

Lucas looked over at Elizabeth and rolled his eyes so that Laura wouldn't notice. He leaned over to her… "I thought I would have sixteen or so years AFTER we had a daughter to face this sort of thing. What do I know about being father to a young lady even if she is over twenty?"

"You will do fine. They haven't spent enough time together to expect much of a challenge in this meeting, but I expect that you have enough experience with other men and their intentions… You will do fine. And just think about the great experience you will have for our daughter should we be lucky enough to have one." She reached up and patted his cheek tenderly.

They awoke the next morning excited to be leaving the ship that afternoon. They ate breakfast and then Elizabeth, Laura and Jack headed for a promenade on deck anxious to be the first to see land. And while they were out on their walk, Lucas headed toward the observation deck to write in their journal and await his meeting with the young Mr. Huntley.

He arrived promptly at 10:00 and Lucas stood to shake his hand and indicated that he should take a seat. "Would you like to order anything?"

"Well, I did have breakfast, but I wouldn't mind a glass of water and a cup of tea. I find my mouth suddenly dry."

Lucas signaled the waiter and gave him their order. "So, Mr. Huntley, what can I do for you?"

"Please, my name is Benjamin or Ben if you prefer. I would like to be straightforward and tell you that I am interested in contacting your ward and would like your permission to call on her while you are staying in France."

"And do you believe that my ward, Laura, will be willing to receive your call?"

"Yes sir, I do believe she is not disinterested. I know that we have barely met and only exchanged a handful of conversations while dancing, but I am able to speak with her like no woman I have met before. I am not much for put on airs and she wouldn't know how to if she tried. She seems very gentle, and kind and we have a common love of reading. I was quite taken with her knowledge of many pieces of literature that I am partial to."

"While we share a cup of tea, why don't you tell me a little about yourself. Perhaps a little about your family, your education, your current employment and anything else you would care to share."

"Well… I come from Boston, my parents are Nelson and Mary Huntley and still reside there. My father owns an import/export company mostly centered on food and beverages to and from the United States. I attended Boston University with a degree in business and work for my father's company mostly on the west coast. I have a flat in Seattle and travel to San Francisco quite frequently. I make trips to Europe yearly to meet with some of our clients and vendors. We intend to also establish some business in Vancouver Canada."

"Well, Benjamin, I am acting as her father while she is travelling with us and helping to take care of our son. I suppose that I am amenable to you calling on her. She will be properly chaperoned at all times. Do you understand?"

"Of course, thank you."

"Well, we may have some discussion on your family's intention to expand business to Canada when we receive you in France," said Lucas.

"Sir, I must tell you that I met a Mr. Harrison the other day. He had observed our encounter at the Captain's ball and mentioned that you two were discussing possible future business opportunities. I hope that all three of us might garner some business opportunities together someday."

"That sounds like something that may have merit and I do look forward to further communication with both of you. Why don't you give me your business card or info and I will give you mine. I will add my contact info in France so that you can get in touch with us when you are ready for a visit. Did Laura tell you what our schedule would be in France?

"Yes, it seems that there are about three weeks at your cousins. "

"Yes, we plan to head for Spain on the 25th of July and we will return to Canada via Lisbon and NYC. We leave Lisbon a month later."

"I will be returning to Boston and then Seattle a couple of weeks before you. I will leave via Rotterdam."

"Well, I should return to my family to assist in our packing. It was nice speaking with you and if I don't see you before we disembark, I will see you in France."

"Thank you, sir, I appreciate your attention and look forward to our visit in France."

Lucas headed to their cabin where he found Elizabeth packing gowns back into one of their trunks that had been stored in the baggage hold that Floppsie had ventured into.

He kissed her cheek. "So, how did it go with the young man?" asked Elizabeth.

"Well, as expected, he is interested in calling on Laura while we are in France. As it turns out, his father is in the import/export business and he works for him. His family lives in Boston and he is based out of Seattle."

"Does he realize that Laura comes from a family of very modest means and that she is rather unsophisticated for a woman of her age, at least those he would have met?"

"Strangely or perhaps not, that apparently is part of the attraction. He seems to be disenchanted with women who put on airs as he called it. My guess is some unpleasant experiences there. They also apparently have an overlapping love of literature. That is probably a bit of your influence my love."

"Yes, I encouraged Laura to discover the world through reading. She has a very fine acquired love of classic novels including adventure tales from around the world and works of history," said Elizabeth proudly. "That is why I am so glad to have her with us so she can see a bit of it for herself."

"Do you think her father will approve of her being called upon by this young man?" asked Lucas.

"Well, if he doesn't, he needs to. He knew her world would expand the moment he agreed to her accompanying us. And he should want her to have all the opportunities for a happy fulfilled life that she is afforded."

"Well, he seems like an accomplished young man, and we will just have to see where this goes." Lucas added. "Now, what still needs packing?"

"Your wardrobe my darling. That should keep you busy for the rest of the voyage," Elizabeth teased.

"The comedian again….," he said and grabbed her for a quick but sumptuous kiss.

"Mmmmm ", Elizabeth moaned as she stepped away. "Guess what we have to look forward to tonight?" She sashayed away looking over her shoulder.

"Another first?", Lucas queried. "Let me guess, we haven't made love in Europe before?"

"If you think of it correctly, we have a first for The Netherlands tonight. Just think how many more firsts we can have if we think of it correctly…..?"
"Hey wife, I like the way you think? I knew you were meant for me," they both laughed and then attacked their respective jobs …. Both thinking about the night ahead with a smile.
===========================================================

As they were gathered on the deck, to get ready to disembark, Lucas noticed the man who had been tailing them. "Mr. Aldrich, do you have any update for us on Amos Dixon?"

"Yes, I was just looking for you to let you know that he was spotted near the port in NYC but had not arrived in time to board the Rotterdam. He evaded us again but was seen at the train station in Washington D.C.. It appears that he is headed south, and we suspect that he is headed for Mexico to lay low for a while. We believe you are safe for now, but be vigilant Mr. Bouchard; his reach can be long. I myself believe, however, that he wants to address his matters with you personally. So, I think until you are back in North America, you are safe."

"Well thank you for the update. I agree with you. This is very personal to Amos, and he will want his revenge to be as well." Lucas held out his hand and Mr. Aldrich shook it.

"Safe travels, I hope you have a pleasant summer with your family. Perhaps we will see each other again someday when you are back from your trip."

"And safe travels to you as well, I take it you will be returning to the United States from here in Rotterdam?"

"Yes, I do have some friends at the U.S. embassy that I will visit while I am here in the Netherlands; I will be returning in just shy of two weeks."

"Well, I must get back to my family as it is almost time to disembark. Thank you again." And with that Mr. Aldrich tipped his hat and the men parted.

"Papa, are we going to get off the ship now? Mama says that we will visit some windmills. Will you help me to draw a picture?"

"Yes, certainly. We will take our colored pencils with us. Mama can help too. We will draw the windmill and she can draw the scenery around it. How does that sound?"

"Sooo good." Jack replied.

Life with his family was just that.

14