Chapter 25

Train station was filled with people, steam from the locomotive hiding their faces.

As he stepped down, a suitcase in his hand, Henry Gowen looked around. It's been a while since he traveled this far, years catching up on him. Still, with a goal to help a friend in his mind, Henry pushed forward.

When Lucas called him almost a week ago, Henry was determined to help him. Because Lucas was much more than a business partner.

He was a friend. A good friend.

And yet, Henry felt that he somehow betrayed Lucas because he didn't notice that something was wrong. Last thing he knew was that in three weeks he will be attending Lucas and Elizabeth's wedding.

Apparently, he missed something.

He still remembered the day when Elizabeth told the town that the wedding was off. Lucas was already far away in Capitol City, but Henry was certain of one thing.

If it was up to Lucas this would never happen. That young man worshiped the ground Elizabeth walked on.

He stood aside watching townspeople fussing over Elizabeth who walked around Hope Valley with a long face.

But, what sprung Henry into action was the talk between Emily, Opal and a few other kids in the mercantile. Florence asked the children are they excited about the election day and Henry nearly dropped his things in shock when he heard Elizabeth's students say that they don't like election because they don't like Mr. Bouchard because he left Mrs. Thornton when he was supposed to marry her.

Henry felt sick. He quickly paid to Ned and rushed toward the saloon, looking for Gustave… Knowing that the chef was the only one who knew Lucas' side of a story.

And Gustave just confirmed what Henry already suspected.

It was Elizabeth who broke off the engagement. It was Elizabeth who toyed with Lucas' most sincere feelings.

And it was Elizabeth who played the injured party now.

But to hear when and how she did it made Henry's stomach turn around.

Few days later was the christening of little Goldie and everybody acted like everything was normal.

While his friend was away, doing what he was pushed into, all by himself. And heartbroken.

Henry couldn't imagine how Lucas felt, not only in the past few weeks, but on that long train ride, just seconds after his heart was shattered in pieces.

So when Lucas called him and asked for his help, Henry gladly accepted it.

He will make it up to him.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he almost missed a familiar face.

"Hello, Henry."

Henry looked up to see Lucas standing in front of him. He was smiling, but Henry could see black circles under Bouchard's eyes and how pale he was.

He looked down at Lucas' outstretched hand and accepting it, Henry pulled his good friend in for a hug.

"It's good to see you, Lucas", said Henry.

Lucas swallowed hard.

"You too, my friend. Thank you for coming. Come on", he took Henry's suitcase, ignoring the older man's resistance "You must be exhausted. I know how hard that train ride is", as his friend nodded, Lucas added "My car is over there. I hope you're hungry", he gave him a small smile as they reached the car.

"I did miss Gustave's Coq au vin", grinned Henry.

Lucas grinned.

"Actually, Gustave is cooking at the orphanage today. Bill offered to make his specialty".

Henry sighed.

"Kill me now", he grumbled in good humor causing Lucas to slightly snort.

It felt good to have his friends by his side.

—--

It was way past one in the morning when Gustave woke up from his sleep. Turning around, he checked a clock on the table.

01.25.

His mouth were dry and he reached for a pitcher on the table, filling it with water.

As he drank, Gustave's eyes caught a string of light coming under the doors of his bedroom.

Finishing his glass of water, Gustave creased his eyebrows as he got up and put his slippers on.

As he exited his bedroom Gustave saw from where the light was coming from.

Lucas' office.

Gustave walked toward the office and slowly opened its doors.

Lucas was standing by the window, nursing a glass of drink, watching something in his hand. His hair was disheveled, his tie lost, his shirt wrinkled.

At the sound of the doors opening he turned around and looked up at his cousin.

His eyes were red brimmed…

… and Gustave knew why.

"Mon frère…did you sleep at all?", Gustave asked, walking slowly toward his cousin.

The only response he got was a slight shake of head.

Gustave stood beside Lucas and looked down to see what was his cousin holding in his palm.

It was a pocket watch with engravement on it.

Our time has come.

Gustave felt fury boiling inside him at a mere thought of that lying, heartless woman.

The fact that clock showed 01.35 meant that it was Saturday already.

But not any Saturday.

"We were supposed to get married today", Gustave heard his cousin's silent, broken voice. Lucas looked at him, mumbling as the tears started to fall "Gustave…what did I do wrong?", as he broke down in tears Gustave quickly pulled him in for a big hug.

Holding his cousin tightly, Gustave let him cry.

"Nothing. You did nothing wrong", Gustave told him, trying not to burst in tears himself at the sound of his cousin' anguish.

—--

Bill and Henry looked up from their breakfast as tired looking Gustave came in the dining room, mumbling in French to himself.

"Hard night?", Bill asked sympathetically.

Gustave just nodded. It was obvious to both Henry and Bill that he didn't sleep at all.

"How is he holding up?", asked Henry.

Gustave sat down and huffed in frustration.

"Not good. He didn't sleep at all until just now. He doesn't want to eat. We should let him get his rest today", mumbled Gustave.

"Of course", Bill nodded.

Gustave took his cup of tea but put it down before it even reached his lips.

Jumping up, he said:

"Excuse me, I need to make a phone call", he left the dining room to go back to Lucas' office.

—--

Grace was pouring some hot water over thyme in her cup when she heard a phone ringing.

Placing a kettle down she walked over to the hallway and picked up the receiver.

"New Hope Orphanage, how may I help you?"

"Mademoiselle Grace, it's me, Gustave", Gustave said.

Grace smiled, a bit confused.

"Good morning, Gustave. Is everything alright? I thought you would come here this morning? ", asked Grace.

Gustave sighed.

"I am so sorry, mademoiselle Grace. I thought that I would be able to, that he will be alright, but… I cannot leave mon frère today."

A sense of dread washed over Grace's senses.

"Gustave? What happened?", she asked, concern getting better of her.

Gustave angrily wiped at the tears that filled his eyes at the memory of Lucas' pain.

"It was supposed to be his wedding day today. I was up with him all night. If I was in Hope Valley now, I would go and tell that lying, heartless witch a piece of my mind one more time!", Gustave's voice cracked and a strangled sob escaped him.

Grace felt her heart ache. Tears filled her eyes.

"Where is he?", she gently asked.

Gustave sniffed.

"I finally managed to get him to sleep. I don't know what to do, mademoiselle Grace, I don't know how to help him. I can't come today, please, forgive me. I have to be there for him", Gustave rambled through tears.

"Gustave, listen to me. It's alright. Of course you have to stay with him. And you are helping him, trust me. Your presence, support and love is all that he needs right now", she said gently "Alright?"

Gustave wiped the tears away.

"Merci, mademoiselle Grace. You always know the right words to say", he said, truly meaning it. He saw how much calmer and his old self Lucas was in Grace's company.

Grace let out a shivering breath out.

"Gustave, I wanna help. What can I do to help?", she asked, her heart aching, begging her to do something to ease Lucas' pain.