Chapter 38 Europe at Last

The transatlantic voyage was now behind them as they arrived at their hotel in Rotterdam. Lucas was grateful that Jack seemed none the worse for wear after his….. shall we say, adventure? Elizabeth had had a few days to recover, and although just a bit more clingy than usual, he could see that she had all but regained her usual spirited demeanor. He had done everything he could to lift her spirits, but it was Jack that had done much of it without even knowing. Whereas he had become so much more independent in the past few months he seemed to instinctively know to be extra attentive right now, when it came to his mother. From time to time, he would seek her out for a hug or kiss and Lucas sensed that it was really for her more than it was for any need he might feel. He was very proud of the little boy; so very kind and thoughtful. Lucas was happy with whatever part he had and would have in helping Elizabeth to raise him.

He realized that this was supposed to be their honeymoon, and while he was grateful that they were together as a family, he wanted them to have some memorable time for just the two of them as well. They would be alone in Paris in a few weeks, but until then, he would find ways to let her know that she was truly special to him. He looked forward to their first night in Europe… or as Elizabeth reminded him… the Netherlands. She had suggested they could have "a first" for every country or every city for that matter.

She seemed to sense him watching her as she brushed her hair and prepared for dinner. She looked up at him in the mirror of the dressing table and gave him a knowing little smile. He winked at her, letting her know what he was thinking about. He could imagine the blush blooming on her cheeks as she held his gaze for a few moments before shyly looking away. She was a paradox in some ways, so naturally modest and sweet, but yet she revealed another deeply passionate side when with him. One he encouraged because they made up the whole of her. She was at her core nurturing and selfless and that side would overwhelm the other if she were left to her own devices entirely. So, he ensured that she took from him all that she could when it came to their romantic connection. He wanted her to feel safe to express herself in whatever way she desired; he would not judge her and while it had taken her time to really believe it, he knew that she had. And as her soulmate, she accepted from him all that he wanted to give and anything he wanted in return. It was a part of their bond.

Lucas shook himself out of his thoughts which had meandered down a certain path and welcomed Jack as he came to have some buddy time.

"Mama is taking a long time. She said she needs to get beautiful."

"Your mama is always very beautiful. But girls need time to fix themselves up and we need to give them all the time they want."

"But I am hungry Papa. And Mama is already beautiful."

"Did you tell her that?"

"I told her I am sooo hungry."

"But did you tell her that she is so beautiful? She will love to hear it from you."

So, with that, Jack wiggled off his lap and headed over to where his mother had just put on her earrings. "You look beautiful Mama. Can we eat now?"

Elizabeth chuckled as she returned, "yes, I am quite done with my beauty treatment, and we can go feed you. Is Papa hungry too?"

"He said we had to give you all the time you want to get beautiful."

"He did, did he. And does he think I need a lot of time to do that?"

Oops, time to step into this one. Lucas rose from his spot. "What I said is that you are always beautiful." He took her hand and kissed it as he helped her from her seat. "But that girls like to primp so we were to give you all the time you wanted to do that."

She poked at him but giggled. "You don't do so bad either in primping. Lucky for us we don't have to wait for you to select earrings."

"There she is, my sweet comedian. Now are we ready to go feed this boy before he starves? Jack why don't you go get Laura and we will meet you at the door." Jack scurried away while Lucas slipped into his suit jacket, and he then gathered Elizabeth's wrap. She took his arm as he escorted her to the door but before stepping out to join the others who were now waiting for them, he wrapped her in his arms and held her for a moment. She looked up at him.

"Now what was that for? Not that I am complaining."

He kissed her gently on the cheek and then whispered to her in the way that made her tingle from head to toe. "I was just thinking about us and how much I love you."

She looked at him, making sure that he was looking into her eyes, "I was thinking about us. And then as I saw you watch me in the mirror, I knew you were thinking about us too."

With that he smiled the shy smile, the one that was so him, but only the him that she knew. She loved the vulnerable version of Lucas as much as she loved the confident, self-assured version that the whole world got to see. Both were hers to love and she was truly grateful.

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The next morning, Elizabeth awoke just as the sun reached over the horizon casting a golden glow in the room. She carefully turned so she could look upon his sleeping face. He looked like an angel… so beautiful in sleep with his hair a tousled mop of waves and his eyelashes perfect against his creamy skin. She didn't want to wake him yet. They had not gotten much sleep.

They had settled Jack in for the night, leaving Laura reading to him and decided to return to the restaurant for an after-dinner aperitif and a dance or two. Afterward, Lucas had talked her into a stroll along the canal. It was a starlit night and warm enough that other couples were also partaking in this romantic evening. They walked hand in hand for a while until Lucas put his arm around her so that she was cuddled in next to him as they began their journey back to their hotel. She could sense his excitement as they had started a long day of seduction before they had even left the ship. Her mention of tonight being "a first" had begun it and had heightened their awareness of each other throughout the day and into the evening. She knew that while their romantic connection brought them pleasure and satisfaction, tonight would have that extra little bit of spice brought on by the anticipation they had both been building. She closed her eyes at remembered his touch and soon she had returned to dreams.

Lucas awoke with the sun shining in on them and looked over at his wife who was sleeping quietly. He didn't want to wake her as they had had a late night. She looked like an angel sleeping next to him. Her hair spread out over the pillow and those luscious eyelashes against her creamy complexion. Little did he know that she had been watching him earlier just as he watched her now. He felt that tug on his heart as he watched her. His love so intense that he had felt desperate to tell her how much last night. But the words weren't enough and never could be enough. But she knew, he had felt it in her response to him. She had drawn in all he had and given it back to him in return.

A smile touched her lips now as she could feel him watching her. "Good morning my love," he whispered.
"Mmmm good morning, my love." She replied, opening her eyes and looking deeply into his. "I am supposed to be a writer, but I can't find the words, Lucas. To tell you how deeply I love you."

"I know, I was thinking the same thing while watching you sleep. But, I feel I know, just as I feel that you know the same."

"I do, but I will never stop trying to tell you or show you; promise that you will do the same."

"I promise." He kissed her forehead and drew her in close, wanting nothing more than to lay with her in his arms and soak in the comfort of her as they looked forward to a new day and adventure.

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Jack was bursting with excitement at breakfast. Although he had enjoyed the ship, he was glad to be on the next leg of their trip. They were going to go on a sightseeing tour of the area and in particular the windmills that the country was so known for. Jack was such an inquisitive boy, and he would bring all he had learned about the steam engines on the train and ship to learn all he could about what made the windmills work. He had also learned a bit about the little mill on their new property, so Lucas couldn't wait to see him marvel at these giants in comparison.

They soon arrived at an area called "Kinderdijk" which had a concentration of windmills that had been introduced hundreds of years before in order to pump water that flooded the land.

"Papa, look at all the windmills!" Jack exclaimed with excitement.

"Yes, I see them. These are called the "Kinderdijk Windmills. "Kinder" means child in Dutch the language of the people here. And "dijk" is a structure to hold back water. Most of this country is below the level of the sea so keeping the water from the land is very important. That is what these windmills do, they pump the water off the land and into the river."

"Why do they call them the child, windmills?" Asked Elizabeth.

"Well, it is an old legend that many centuries ago, after a flood, a baby was found floating in a cradle. Some rescued him from the waters. When they began to build the windmills to keep the lands from flooding; they named them after the child that was rescued," Lucas told them.

"What a lovely story," said Elizabeth. "I will have to add that to one of my lessons when school resumes. Perhaps you and Jack would like to be invited to explain to my students how the windmills work? And we can share with them the drawings we will be making today."

"That sounds like a fine idea, let's find a spot to stop and do some drawing and have the picnic lunch that the hotel packed for us." Lucas replied.

Laura helped Elizabeth lay out the blankets for them to sit on and the basket filled with their picnic. In the meantime, Lucas unpacked their drawing paper and pencils along with an easel that the restaurant manager had loaned them. They spent their day relaxing in the warm June sunshine and creating their "masterpieces" of the landscape and Windmills of KInderdijk. Lucas did his best to make a drawing of how the pumping action worked in the windmill to the delight of Jack who was acquiring a collection of "how it works" diagrams on this summer trip of theirs. Laura had been reading a guidebook about the Netherlands and from time to time would interject an interesting fact or story.

When Jack had finally decided it was time to eat, they dove into their lunch which contained an interesting assortment of Dutch treats for them to try. Jack's favorite were the little fried meatballs called "Bitterbal". There were also Worstenbroodjes, dough wrapped sausages and Kibberling, deep fried whitefish. Elizabeth preferred snacking on the red wax wrapped Gouda cheese and Ossenwurst sausage accompanied by freshly made bread. They all enjoyed a piece of apple pie with a flakey crust and crunchy topping for their dessert.

They all laughed and/or groaned at some silly jokes that Laura had found in her guidebook and Lucas looked at his little family and thought to himself…. "life is good."

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