Chapter 49 Granada

The Alhambra Palace Hotel was as impressive as its name; it had opened only nine years previous and sported the most modern amenities, but in a historical atmosphere. Lucas and Elizabeth's suite was on the top level with a large rooftop patio walled in like a fortress perimeter. If they looked over the edge, they could see the gardens of the Generlife, a summer palace of the Nazrid Dynasty built in the later part of the 13th century. Up on the hill lay the Alhambra built early in that century, the crown jewel of the city and of the Moorish occupation of Spain which ended in 1492 with the Fall of Granada.

"Oh Lucas, the views are breathtaking!" Elizabeth exclaimed.

"Papa, can you help me see?" Jack asked.

Lucas lifted the little boy and pointed at the various sites telling him a little about each of the places they would be seeing.

"Can we go to the park?" He said, pointing to the gardens of the Generalife.

"Well, perhaps after lunch I can take you for a while. Your mama can be invited, but I think she may be happy to have a soak in that beautiful bath," Lucas said looking over at Elizabeth. He was hoping she would take some time for herself, while he attended to Jack. The ride on the train, while not all that long, had been uncomfortably hot and the accommodations, not all that pleasant.

"I think a soak in that amazing bath will be glorious" sighed Elizabeth.

"Ours is not quite as grand, but very nice too. But I think I will just wash up a bit for now and go to the park too; if I am invited that is," Laura said.

"Of course, you are welcome to join us," Lucas told her.

Lucas had ordered lunch to be served on the patio. It soon arrived and the four enjoyed their meal of Spanish omelet, which was filled with potato; it was a favorite of Jack's. There was cold gazpacho soup and an assortment of cheeses, sausages and ham and crusty bread just out of the oven. A bowl of fruit and some almond crescent cookies rounded out the luncheon. They chatted about their plans for the next couple of days. Today, they would just relax but tomorrow would be filled with their visit to the Generalife and Alhambra palaces. Lucas was very excited for Elizabeth to experience these architectural wonders built by the Moors during the occupation of Spain from 711 to 1492. Their last day would be spent in the Albaicín (Albazyn) neighborhood, the old Moorish quarter. That last evening, he and Elizabeth would be returning to the Alhambra before dining at a nearby restaurant. It would be a romantic honeymoon date and would be followed by dancing on their patio. The hotel had promised to loan him a Victrola for the occasion.

Everyone but Elizabeth had left to visit the park. Jack was anxious to run around the gardens and Lucas would be getting plenty of exercise chasing after him. Laura would take turns with him of course. Meanwhile Elizabeth was left to have some quiet time to herself, something she was looking forward to after the unpleasant trip from Cordoba. She filled the sunken tiled pool with lukewarm water and eased into it and then slid under the water so she could wet her hair. There was an array of bath salts, soaps and shampoos to choose from; she selected the lavender scent as it reminded her of the countryside both in Spain and in France as well. She leaned back and enjoyed the luxury while daydreaming about the places they would see. Her mind drifted to thoughts of her husband; she knew he was planning a special evening on their last night here and she looked forward to whatever romantic interlude he had in mind. Their honeymoon was soon coming to an end, and they would be taking some wonderful memories home with them. But while a bit melancholy at the prospect of this adventure closing, she also knew that there would always be more adventure and romance ahead with this man. He could make a trip to Heath's pond, seem like a voyage to the Riviera. He saw an opportunity for them to have a new adventure and or a taste of romance, wherever and whenever he could. She would miss their adventures here, but with the new house and business ahead there would be much to look forward to. Plus, the thought of adding to their family, well, she had tried to keep from thinking about it until she was more certain of her condition. She really hadn't had any symptoms yet, except perhaps being a little tired, but with the heat, it was hard to say that that wasn't the cause.

She persuaded herself to get out of the bath, by promising herself another soak very soon. After putting on one of the hotel robes, she made her way out to the terrace with a book she was reading and lay on the daybed which was presently shaded. A light breeze kept the warmth of the day tolerable. She sipped on some lemonade that the hotel staff had left them after their lunch and resumed her spot in her book. It wasn't long, however, before she was fast asleep.

Lucas left Laura and Jack in their room. Jack had exhausted himself running around the gardens in the heat of the day, but it was a happy tired. He insisted he didn't need or want a nap, but Lucas had convinced him to remove his shoes and socks and lay down while he read him a story. The boy was asleep within moments.

He returned to his room and was surprised not to find Elizabeth either in the tub or on the bed. He headed out onto the patio and there he found her, his wife, a vision of loveliness as she slept with a little smile on her face. Her hair was spread out over the pillow; he could smell the lavender scent of the shampoo she had used. He didn't want to wake her; he knew that she needed the rest. So, he headed back into their room and began filling the tub for a well-deserved bath. Not only had he already felt grimy from their travels, but he had worked up a sweat chasing after Jack in the heat. He undressed and then slipped into the water with a sigh of sheer pleasure. Finally, he noted, a bath that was big enough for them both. He would make it his mission to get her to join him in this heavenly pool before they left for the next stop on their journey.

Elizabeth woke from a lovely dream. The sun was now beginning to invade her space, so she gathered her book and the towel that she had worn on her head earlier; she then refilled her drink and headed into their suite. She made her way to the bed and hopped up onto it. She could hear Lucas whistling a tune; the sound was coming from the bathroom so she concluded that he must be enjoying that heavenly pool. She thought of going to seek him out but knew that she would be destined for an "adventure" that would likely be interrupted by their son. So, despite the flush she felt from the thought of joining him, she resisted the urge and made it her mission to get him to join her before they left Granada. She knew if she found the right time, she would have a very willing husband. He was always up for a new first in their romantic relationship. And so far, making love in a tub had eluded them for practical reasons, but this heavenly pool had more than enough room for two….. mmmm, she flushed again just thinking of it.

"Ah, sleeping beauty has awakened," he said as he entered the room and saw her on the bed. He came to her side and leaned in for a kiss. He had wrapped a towel around his waist but was still dripping wet as he was hoping it would keep him cooler as the warm breeze dried him. She reached up and ran her fingers through his wet hair, something she often did. It always reminded her of the day in the car when they first were dating. They had gotten caught in a rainstorm while on a picnic. She wasn't ready for intimacy yet, but had wanted so badly to run her hands through those wet tresses of his. Well, if she was truthful, she had wanted badly for him to kiss her, but was glad he had listened to her "no" as she still hadn't been quite ready to let him that far in.

"A lovely memory, no?" He said, as he knew where her thoughts had drifted to. He had come so close to kissing her that day. They both had wanted to give into the pull, but he had already decided what he truly wanted, and he would be patient to ensure the best possible outcome… for her heart to be his completely first.

She nodded, coming back from her memories. He could see the lust in her eyes; he knew that look so well now. "Shall I lock the door?" he asked her.

"What of Jack, is he awake?" As much as she wanted to indulge in her desires, she didn't want to lock their son out at a time when he was likely to come seek them out.

"Well, he reluctantly fell asleep, but I don't expect him to stay down for long. He was insistent that he didn't need a nap," he told her honestly, leaving the decision to her. As much as he wanted her, he didn't want her to have even the smallest regret if their son came to find them.

He sat down on the edge of the bed as he watched her mind working. He reached over to cup her cheek with his hand in a tender message that the choice was completely up to her. There was really no mistaking his desire at the moment, but he was indeed leaving this to her.

She never had to make the decision; just then they heard the knock on the door and feet running toward their room.

He looked at her and stroked her cheek, "I will remember where we left off," he told her as he leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"I love you Lucas Bouchard, you always know just what I need and just what to say."

"Because you are my heart," he told her kissing her hand and placing it on his chest over his heart.

"Mama, mama….. Papa and Laura and me, saw some orange fish at the park!" Jack told her excitedly. Lucas got up to go and change and rubbed Jack's head as he passed him.

"We did indeed see some very large orange colored fish," Lucas agreed.

"They were this big!" Jack held his hands out to show her their size which Elizabeth imagined was a bit of an exaggeration, but point taken nonetheless. "We can show you tomorrow when we go to visit the palace," he assured her.

"That is definitely something I would like to see," she told him while pulling him in for a hug. Lucas had slipped on his pants; he stepped from behind the dressing screen and gazed at his family. A lump formed in his throat as he watched this tender moment between mother and son.

They decided to have their dinner in the hotel that evening. The dining room was exquisitely decorated to reflect the Moorish culture for which the hotel was named. Beautiful, tiled walls with light dancing from the candles, lit inside tin lanterns with intricate cutouts that cast delicate patterns of light throughout the room. The soft strains of Arabic inspired music being played by a small group of performers outside on the terrace added to the atmosphere.

The host welcomed them and leaned down to speak to Jack in accented English, "we have just the place for you young man," he told Jack. He looked over at Lucas, "with your permission I would like to seat you over in the section by the patio; I think your son will enjoy it."

Lucas looked in the direction that he was pointing. While most of the restaurant had standard tables for two to four guests, he saw that there was an area that was set up for sitting on cushions on the floor in north African style. He smiled and nodded to the waiter as the man was entirely correct; Jack would find this a new adventure. The man led them to a private area with a large silver tray of intricate design surrounded by a low curved couch on one side and large cushions around the rest. The man motioned for Jack to sit on one of the cushions next to the couch; Elizabeth was then seated on the couch next to him followed by Lucas on her other side. Laura took the cushion next to Jack.

"We are going to eat on the floor?" Jack said.

"Yes, this is how people eat in many places in the world," Lucas told him. He proceeded to explain about the people that had come from the Arabic Peninsula, across north Africa and eventually into Spain bringing their customs with them.

A young waiter arrived carrying a basin and pitcher of water. He made his way to each of them so that they could wash their hands. This was a tradition as well. The maître de soon came to take their order. "Would you like a menu, or may I suggest our special of the day?"

"What is the special?" asked Lucas.

"We have a traditional Moroccan dinner that I highly recommend as part of this unique dining experience," he told them.

Lucas looked over at Elizabeth who nodded, "yes, the special it is," Lucas told him. The waiter handed Lucas a card that contained the menu so he could share it with the group. Lucas explained each of the dishes while they awaited their first course.

A pair of waiters wearing traditional Moroccan attire soon arrived with a large bowl of soup called "Harira" made with chickpeas in a rich broth. They served the soup in beautifully painted ceramic bowls and offered each of them bread from a colorful basket. Once they were finished with their soup, a large round pastry called "B'stilla" was placed on the tray. It was made of dozens of layers of very fine sheets of pastry called "warqa" (similar to filo) and filled with a layer of tender pigeon, almonds, and another of eggs and cilantro. It was savory but the top was decorated with a dusting of confectionary sugar and cinnamon in delicate pattern. It was meant to be eaten with one's hands which delighted Jack as he pulled of pieces of the flakey pastry and declared it "sooo good."

The main course was brought out, a large mountain of steamed "cous-cous" (tiny round pasta) with a "tagine" of braised lamb and seven vegetables; seven was a traditional number and usually included carrots, zucchini, potatoes, turnips, chick peas, onions and white radish although other combinations were optional. The waiter showed Jack how to scoop the cous-cous in his right hand, as it was customary to only use the right hand to eat, and then how to eat the tagine with his hand or with the aid of pieces of flat bread. It was a messy affair as they were all novices, but they enjoyed the experience with giggles, as much ended up falling as entering their mouths. They had all been given large cloth napkins to cover their laps, so no harm done.

The dinner was topped off by sweet mint tea and a tray of delicacies. Almond cookies covered with confectionary sugar, crispy pastries made with ground nuts in pastry sheets and drenched in honey, and dates filled with a creamy cheese. There was also a basket of fragrant oranges. They ate their dessert while Lucas recounted stories from his travels to Morrocco with his parents. They had ridden camels in Marrakech, and he described what it was like to straddle the camel and have it get up on its feet and then how it felt in reverse. He demonstrated by rocking back and forth, much to Jack's delight. He then began to tell them about the storytellers and snake charmers in the large open market. Elizabeth moved in closer to him, wanting to feel him beside her, as he spoke in that rich full tone of his and mesmerized them like the snake from the basket as it swayed to the music of the flute.

After they had tucked Jack into bed and said goodnight to Laura, who was writing in her journal, they made their way to their room hand in hand. He squeezed her hand, "I remember where we left off earlier," he said.

"Well then, you will remember that I was fresh from my bath and wearing one of those luxurious robes. And you, my love, were wearing nothing but a towel, and you were dripping wet," she told him.

"Well, we can skip ahead to where you were on the bed with your hands in my dripping wet hair or we can back up and go take our baths again," Lucas told her pulling her into his arms and placing his forehead against hers.

"I suggest we fill the tub and share it, after all it is quite like a small swimming pool," she told him.

"Are we wearing our new bathing costumes that Rosemary made us?" he asked her while grinning.

"You may if you like, but I am just wearing bubbles," she teased.

He reached up and took the pins from her hair, letting it tumble around her shoulders. He took her mouth with his, pinning her in close against him with his hands on her hips. She freed her arms and began to unbutton his shirt as he began nudging her towards the entrance to the bath, never freeing her lips but for a moment to breathe and then deepened the kiss.

Much later they lay side by side on the bed in their robes, enjoying the warm breeze coming through the terrace doorway and the far away strains of the music still being played on the patio of the restaurant below.

"If I think of all the places I might be, there is nowhere that I would rather be than with you, right here in this moment," Lucas told her. She could see his eyes sparkling in the candlelit room, that look of love that was only for her. She raised her hand to his cheek and stroked his beard and then ran her fingers through his hair which was still damp.

"Moi, aussi… me too," she said. "Wherever you are, that is where I belong."

He gathered her close, just wanting to hold her for a time and enjoy the afterglow of their passion. He was so grateful that he had found her, his perfect woman. And he promised himself, as he did each morning as he woke and each night before he slept, that he would do everything he could to make her happy each and every day.

The next day promised to be a full one. They would be first touring the Genarlife, being certain of course to see the "giant" orange fish. Elizabeth had decided to wear a special dress she had had made in Paris for her travels in Spain. It was a bit dressy, but she thought their tour of the palaces was the perfect occasion. Lucas had looked at her with admiration when she had made her entrance down in the restaurant for breakfast. He rose to help her to her seat. "You look lovely," he told her, and he made her feel lovely too.

Jack had been busy telling Laura about something, but he stopped and said "you look very pretty mama."

"Thank you, Jack, thank you both," she told Jack and smiled over at Lucas.

They had already ordered a heartier breakfast so that it would get them through their busy morning. Lucas turned to motion the waiter over, "What shall I order for you?" he asked.

"I am not feeling very hungry this morning, perhaps just some mint tea and a plain roll."

"Are you sure, it may be a long morning before we have our lunch," he told her.

"I will be fine; I have some biscuits in my bag that we bought to tide Jack over the other day. I can have some of those if I feel hungry later," she smiled assuring him she would be just fine.

They spent most of the morning at the Generlife garden and summer palace. As stunning as it was, nothing really prepared them for what was to come that afternoon. They had purchased sandwiches and eaten in the gardens. Lucas tried to get Elizabeth to eat before they made their way up the hill to the Alhambra; but she still wasn't very hungry. She ate the sandwich roll and gave him the "jamon serrano" and "queso Manchego" (ham and cheese) from inside. The bread was enough to satisfy her.

The Alhambra was like stepping into the past, built in 13th century, it was one of the most impressive remains of Moorish architecture. The archways of the pillars, windows, and doorways were intricately carved and looked like finely piped frosting on the most beautiful wedding cake. The warm breeze carried the scent of lavender from the surrounding landscape and the experience was exhilarating. Jack wanted to run ahead, so Laura kept track of him while Lucas and Elizabeth strolled the rooms. It was easy to imagine a time long ago when the palace housed the royal families; the majesty and romance of the place was undeniable. She knew Lucas had planned a special date night for their bank of memories. They would return the next evening for a special musical event before going to dine in a nearby restaurant.

They arrived back at the hotel, excited about today's adventure but tired from all the walking and the heat. Lucas was a bit concerned about Elizabeth, although she had assured him all day that she felt well. He drew her a bath so she could relax and cool off and then when she came from her bath and climbed up to curl on the bed, he gently massaged her tired feet. Coaxing out a purr…. she soon was asleep. He smiled; she may be fine as she said, but she was exhausted nonetheless. He headed over to search out Jack who was surprisingly the liveliest of the group. "How about a nice swim in our bathroom young man? You could use a bit of cleaning and you might as well have fun too. Laura, I have him, okay? So, you are on your own."

She nodded as he took Jack by the hand, grabbed a clean outfit for him and led him across the hall. The sunken tub was indeed large enough for a little boy to float and paddle in. He undressed him, and then removed his own clothes down to his underwear; he was prepared to give Jack a swimming lesson. They climbed in and Lucas had Jack floating all on his own before long. He also showed him how to paddle like a dog. The tub wasn't large enough for Lucas to demonstrate much more than that, but they had made progress. Jack laughed as he paddled and got Lucas laughing as well. Soon Elizabeth appeared on the scene to see what the ruckus was all about. There she found them, water had splashed over the tub, and both were grinning from ear to ear. She shook her head and smiled, "boys will be boys," she thought to herself.

"Care to join us?", Lucas grinned.

"No, I am fine right where I am," she told him.

"Suit yourself," he said as he was splashed by a jubilant Jack.

Lucas had taken Jack and Laura to dinner in the hotel dining room. They had left Elizabeth on the patio writing in their journal. She hadn't felt up to dressing for dinner, and just lounged in the robe she had put on after her bath. He promised to send up room service to her so she could dine outside.

Laura and Jack retired to their room after eating; Laura had promised to read to him from a story book about a Syrian prince named Aladdin. Lucas took the dinner cart from the bell boy who arrived with Elizabeth's dinner. He had ordered a chilled potato soup, and crusty bread, knowing that it would be flavorful and light enough to tempt his wife to eat. She seemed to have had her fill of all the meat that they had eaten lately. Spain had the most wonderful, cured ham and assortment of sausages including the spicy "chorizo", as well as grilled or braised lamb and heavy stews with pork and a variety of beans. He knew that it was much heavier than she was accustomed to so planned to ensure that they also ate some lighter fare in the days ahead. He was already thinking about how to adjust the menu he had planned for tomorrow night's dinner date. He would get the assistance of the concierge to ring the restaurant to make a few adjustments to the planned meal.

Soon after eating, Elizabeth was yawning so he helped her into a light cotton nightgown and tucked her under a sheet in their bed. He placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, "sweet dreams" he whispered.

He went out on the patio to enjoy the evening breeze with a glass of brandy. He felt the loss of her presence but knew that she needed the rest. To be truthful, he was a bit exhausted himself. He lay on the daybed, looking up at the stars and thinking that soon he would be looking up at these same stars from their new home, thousands of miles away.

The next day, they had their breakfast out on the patio. Elizabeth seemed much refreshed and even anxious for tea and rolls. She stayed away from the deep-fried churros and porras, but seemed to have an appetite. They would be heading to the Moorish Quarter to spend the day wandering the streets of the old town, visiting some of the historic churches, and shopping for a few gifts for their loved ones at home.

As they visited the old town, Lucas kept Jack entertained by jogging up stairs with him and finding interesting shops to browse through. They were searching for the perfect memento of Granada for Jack's shelf in Lucas's office. They had seen several items, but Lucas prolonged the search so that he could keep Jack entertained, while Laura and Elizabeth looked through the shops with a few gifts in mind for family and friends. Elizabeth decided that she would buy "mantillas" (shawls) for her young friends at home, Fiona, Faith, and Mei. Laura told her she should wait until they arrived in Sevilla to purchase those; the city was known for its beautiful dancing and costumes, which included the lovely embroidered fringed shawls. They bought a wooden keepsake box for Laura's father; the intricate inlaid work in a Moorish design was a memento of the culture that had influenced Spain so profoundly. Elizabeth decided on a similar one for Lee Coulter; they had purchased a pin for Rosie in Toledo already, but she had decided to also get her a fan, which they carefully selected from the many choices in one of the shops. She also bought fans for Florence and Molly, knowing they would appreciate the floral patterns that they had selected. Florence's was black with a pattern of red roses and openwork on the wooden frame. For Molly they picked one with a brown frame and beautiful orange flowers and greenery. The colors would go with those that Molly favored which complimented her lovely red hair.

They found a small square with open-air dining to enjoy their lunch and then they spent the afternoon visiting the local cathedral and then ended with a visit to a park not far from their hotel. There they found some children for Jack to play with. Lucas and Elizabeth made entries in their journal and Laura kept her eye on Jack while they wrote.

Elizabeth and Lucas took turns in the bath and then dressed for their date. Jack was excited because the children that he had played with in the park were staying at the same hotel. Their parents had invited Laura and Jack to join them for dinner since Elizabeth and Lucas would be dining out.

Elizabeth dressed in her new pink gown, especially planned for the date. Lucas brushed her hair out for her, something he took pleasure in doing. It was always a bit of a sensual experience as they watched one another in the mirror. Sometimes he would brush her neck or shoulder with his hand sending shivers down her spine. Tonight, he was particularly attentive, ensuring that their night got off to an inspired start. He helped put on her jewelry, being sure to brush a finger along her back while he fastened the necklace and stoke her throat as he put on her earrings for her. Just as he was finished, he kissed her along the collar bone while she moaned her pleasure.

"Shall we," he asked holding out his hand to take hers. They said good night to Laura and Jack, who complimented the pair on their best prince and princess look; then headed out to take a carriage up to the Alhambra. An orchestra played in one of the courtyards while the sun set. Lucas pulled Elizabeth into a private spot as he wanted to share the sunset with her and marvel as the stars began to make their appearance as dusk fell. The moon was visible, a glowing crescent in the darkening sky. He held her as they absorbed the magic around them; he kissed her tenderly so that she might feel what he could not hold in. She held her hand on his lapel, a habit she had formed from their first declarations of love in the library. Sometimes he truly made her swoon, so would grab on firmly to his lapel to keep herself upright.

When the music stopped, they walked hand and hand back to their carriage that would take them to the nearby restaurant. They looked back at the Alhambra alit for the evening event, and quietly said farewell. Someday it might call to them to return.

Dinner was in an old historic restaurant that had existed for centuries. The first course was a light vegetable consommé, followed by a shared salad of lettuce and sumptuous tomatoes as only could be grown in the Mediterranean. Ripe black olives and thinly sliced red onions with a dressing of olive oil and sherry vinegar completed the salad. The next course was composed of seared scallops that had been driven up that very morning from the coast, along with roasted asparagus with a light lemon aioli. A roast leg of lamb had been the original plan, but he had adjusted it to cater to Elizabeth's palette tonight. And although not typical Spanish fare, the restaurant had agreed to make a special dessert for them. It was a flourless chocolate cake with a consistency somewhat like very thick pudding; it melted on their tongues. Elizabeth couldn't help the moan that escaped her lips, as she closed her eyes momentarily, to focus on the wonderful taste. He was glad that she was enjoying the dinner so thoroughly as this was one of their special indulgences, something they had shared since their first trip to Union City. A fine meal could be a sensuous experience when shared with someone you love. That first had been as friends, but the promise of what was to come had tantalized them even then.

After dinner, they had the carriage driver take them on a route around the nearby gardens before returning to their hotel. He escorted her to their suite and out to the patio where candles had been lit for them and the Victrola was ready. He started the music and swung her into a waltz around the patio, spinning her around and around until they were breathless. The song changed and he slowed their dance to a sway, holding her close against him, taking in her scent and rubbing his cheek gently against hers. When the music came to an end, they continued to sway for awhile and then he took her hand, and they replaced the record with another. He took off his jacket and vest; the night was warm and it felt good to be free of them. They resumed their dance as she hummed to the music which was to a song she recognized. He filled the champagne flutes with an apple cider that the concierge had brought in special to substitute for champagne. Lucas wanted to be sensitive to the fact that she had given up wine and her precious coffee in case she was carrying their child. They toasted to love and one another and sipped the delicious juice while she stood, leaning her back against his chest with his free arm around her, looking up at the stars. "Last night when you fell asleep, I came out here and lay, looking up at the stars and thinking that soon we would be seeing them again, in Hope Valley at our new home," he told her.

"I was just thinking that very same thing." She turned to face him and took his hand leading him over to the daybed, so they could sit awhile or perhaps even lay next to one another to enjoy the night sky. He sat first and took her glass from her, setting it down on the little table next to him. He turned her around and unbuttoned her dress… it was one of those she would never be able to get out of on her own; there were perhaps a dozen cloth covered buttons down the back. Once he dispensed with them, he helped her step out of the dress. She was wearing a light camisole, but she had left her legs bare in order to make the heat bearable. He helped her remove her shoes. And then quickly removed his outerwear and pulled her down onto the bed with him. He scooped her against him as they lay gazing at the stars. He pointed out his favorite constellations and told her the ancient stories that went with them. Tales of love and loss, desire and betrayal. Star crossed lovers and heroes of old that had been cast into the sky by the Gods. She took a turn, telling him her a couple of favorite stories that her father had told her and her sisters, when she was but a little girl. Without thinking, he began to stroke her as he listened; and before long he realized that she was trembling in response to his touch as her story had ended. He turned her to him then and looked into her eyes. "I want you," he told her.

"I need you," she told him. And that was all he needed to hear as he turned his casual exploration into something much more deliberate. He ran his tongue along the soft skin of her earlobe down her neck and along her collar bone before taking her mouth with his. The kiss was filled with the desire that they had been building all evening, a quite sensual dance culminating in this heated passion that overtook them now. She no longer existed without him, nor he without her as they called to one another under the starry sky.

They had drifted to sleep but sometime during the night, Lucas awoke to the now cool air. He lifted his sleeping wife into his arms and carried her to bed, slipping in beside her and covering them both. He realized that she had awakened when she reached out and stroked his chest, it wasn't long before her intent was clear. So, he returned her caresses mirroring them with his own, until they succumbed to the need once again and fell back to sleep holding tight to one another.

The next morning the sun woke them both, but they lay quietly for awhile enjoying a few moments before their day started. They would be heading south to the coast in the town of Malaga. Soon it would be time to get up and pack and get their breakfast before heading for the train station.

"I need to get up for a few minutes," she told him. He let her escape his arms as she swung herself into a seated position, suddenly grabbing on to him.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"Just a little bit light-headed," she told him.

"Sit for a moment, I will come beside you." Lucas put on his robe and came around to her side. He helped her into hers and then let her hold on to his arm as he walked with her to the bathroom. She seemed steady on her feet now.

"I will be okay, it seems to have passed; perhaps wait outside the door and I will call you if I need you," she told him. He did as she asked; soon he heard the sound of water as she washed her hands and face before returning to the bedroom. She seemed steady enough on her feet but a bit pale.

"Do you want to lie back down?" he asked her. She shook her head.

"Perhaps we could go to the patio and get some fresh air," she told him. He motioned her to lead the way and moved one of the armchairs in the living room to the patio, setting her in it.

"I will be back momentarily," he said stepping inside to ring the front desk. "Would you please have some hot mint tea and some cool water sent up to our patio. Perhaps some fresh bread if you have any baked yet?"

He joined her out on the patio, taking the other armchair with him. He reached over for her hand and squeezed it. "Tea is on the way; it might help settle your stomach." She hadn't mentioned that she felt a bit nauseous, but he could tell by her pallor and the look on her face.

"Thank you, Lucas," I think that will help. Would you mind getting the biscuits from my bag? I think those might help too. Just something dry to put on my stomach for now.

He went in search of her bag and brought the roll of biscuits to her. "Do you have a fever?" he asked, putting his hand to her forehead; she seemed cool. "Or perhaps we ate something that didn't agree with you last night."

She smiled at him, reached up and pulled him down to pat him on the cheek. "Don't worry, I don't have a fever and I didn't eat anything disagreeable. But you had better get use to this, Papa, I think it is safe for me to say that I am most certainly pregnant."

"Oh Elizabeth", he scooped her up out of her chair and sat in it bringing her into his lap. "I am so happy!" he exclaimed; he had been waiting patiently to talk to her about their hope again.

"Easy for you to say," she replied giggling and throwing her arms around him. She knew this occasional unsettled feeling could last for a month, or two even, but she would have him to dote on her and keep her from feeling too sorry for herself.

"I am sorry that it is making you feel queasy, and if I could carry our baby for you I would, but I promise you I will do whatever I can to make you as comfortable as possible," he said looking at her very seriously.

"I know you will, my darling. I feel fine, for the moment at least, and I am blissfully happy. He had placed a hand on her tummy, symbolically of course, because it would be a while before their baby grew large enough to fill the space where he had tenderly placed his hand. She placed her hand on his and kissed him on the cheek. "JUST eight more months to go," she joked.

" However, will I make it that long?" he replied. And they both laughed and cried with joy. They heard the knock on the door as their little boy called out.

"We are out here Jack," Lucas called to him. The little boy ran to where they were seated, and Lucas scooped him up with them. He could hardly wait for the day when it was time to tell Jack that he would be a big brother, that there were four of them now. Elizabeth looked at him with a knowing smile. She knew exactly what he was thinking, and she could hardly contain her joy.