It was Friday afternoon and Grace decided to take a stroll after lunch. The day was a bit warmer then when she just arrived in Hope Valley.
She got up from her bed and started to put her shoes on when a thought came to her mind.
She took out her purse from the suitcase and opened it, looking at the amount of money inside.
Grace looked out through the window as her fingers tapped against her purse, her gaze going to the jail.
She turned around to look for something to put money into and she noticed a copy of Valley Voice.
That'll have to do.
Counting the money Grace wrapped the banknotes in newspaper and put it in the inner pocket of her coat.
She left her room and quickly went downstairs, then left the saloon.
Crossing the street Grace knocked at the doors of Mountie's office.
"Come in!", she heard Nathan's voice.
She took a deep breath in and slowly opened the doors.
"Hello", she silently said.
To say that Nathan was stunned to see her was understatement.
"Hi", he replied.
Grace offered a small smile.
"If this is a bad time, I can come back later…", she started to speak, but Nathan interrupted.
"No, no, it's…uhm… it's fine, really. Please, sit down", he said politely.
Grace shook her head.
"No, thank you, I won't stay long. I just came to give this back to you", she opened her purse and handed him the money wrapped in newspapers.
Nathan creased his eyebrows in confusion.
"I don't understand", he said.
Grace put the money on the table.
"I heard that you had some trouble because of losing money in a poker, so", she shrugged "I'm giving it back to you".
Nathan was speechless.
"But…you won it, fair and square", he said.
Grace raised her eyebrows.
"Well, it's not like I slaved in the kitchen for days", she quipped. As Nathan remained silent Grace quickly added "Just take it, Nathan".
Nathan looked at money then at Grace.
"I…I don't know what to say", he mumbled "Thank you".
Grace nodded and quickly turned around and left the jail.
She let out a breath of relief.
It just didn't feel right to keep the money when someone was having so many problems due to losing it. She couldn't watch someone else suffering on her account.
She wasn't that kind of person.
Letting out a breath of relief Grace decided to go to the Queen of Hearts and treat herself with that delicious hot chocolate.
I deserved it.
As she walked over the porch of the saloon Grace decided to have her cup of hot chocolate on the upper balcony. She still didn't go out there due to cold weather and she felt a strange pull to check it out.
Did Lucas go out there just to think or to have a break, perhaps even a cup of tea?
With those thoughts, Grace went to the bar and placed her order. As the waiter left to make her hot chocolate Mike Hickham approached her.
"Hello, Grace. How are you? Do you need anything?", he asked with a friendly smile.
Grace shook her head and smiled.
"No, thank you, Mike. I am just waiting for my hot chocolate and I will go to check the upper balcony. I still wasn't there and I can imagine that the view is spectacular".
Mike nodded as he leaned on the bar next to her and smiled.
"It is. Make sure you go out at night. Now, THAT view is breathtaking. The stars are amazing", he smiled sadly "Lucas used to love to sit up there while having a cup of tea".
Grace's ears perked up.
"You sound like you miss him", she said cautiously.
Mike looked down at the bar and nodded.
"We've been working together for a long time, first for the oil company and now he entrusted me to manage Queen of Hearts in his absence", Mike said seriously "Lucas always gave a chance to everybody. I won't go into what happened in his relationship with his ex - fiancee, but I don't think he deserved to be judged so harshly without him even being here to defend himself and tell his side of the story".
Grace swallowed hard, trying to keep her tears at bay.
I don't think he deserved to be judged so harshly without him even being there to defend himself and tell his side of the story.
Truer words were never spoken.
She saw turmoil on Mike's face and her good heart clenched in sympathy.
Unable to hold back, Grace gently said:
"You should tell him that when he arrives, Mike. He will appreciate it, I am sure of it".
Mike looked up at her with a sad smile.
"I hope so", he said.
At that moment Grace's hot chocolate arrived and she took her purse to get the money to pay for it, but Mike stopped her.
"Please - it's on a house", he smiled "Enjoy the view on the balcony", and with a small nod, he went away.
Grace watched him leave, pleasantly surprised. Her lips curled up as she turned around and went toward the stairs.
Yes, there were still good people in Hope Valley.
She slowly climbed upstairs and opened the doors to the balcony.
And gasped in delight.
Oh, it was spectacular!
Making a mental note to come back in the evening Grace closed the doors behind her and took a sip of her hot chocolate.
Her eyes closed in pure delight at the taste.
It tasted of chocolate and Lucas' lips.
She smiled as she took a stroll around the balcony and then she saw a table with a chair.
He must have sat here and watched the street as he sipped on his tea.
With a gentle smile curling up her lips, Grace pulled out a chair and sat on it, leaning her hand on the white fence.
She saw Henry as he walked out from his car and he waved at her with a smile on his face. Grace smiled and cheered to him with her cup of hot chocolate.
Cooper was running down the porch across the Main Street with Timmy and Emily and waved at her.
"Hi, Miss Grace!", he exclaimed.
"Hello, Cooper!", she smiled warmly and waved back.
One more day.
And he will be back in her arms.
—--
Lucas pulled out his pocket watch as he left the Prime Minister's office and checked the time as he rushed downstairs, his staff right behind him.
He quickly got into the car and looked at his driver Stephen.
"Do we have time to get to the train station?", Lucas asked, breathless.
Stephen already started the car and drove away from the parking lot.
"How long before the train leaves?", asked Stephen.
Lucas pulled out his pocket watch once again.
"Almost 45 minutes", he replied.
Just as the words left his mouth, Stephen sped up causing Lucas to grin widely.
"Good man", he commented and leaned in his seat.
I'm coming, my angel.
—--
Saturday morning came with cloudless sky and with the sun shining warmly, most of the Hope Valley townsfolk were enjoying a stroll down the Main Street, having some sweets or drinks as they talked with each other.
Grace was also out, enjoying a lovely winter day as she walked down the steps of the Mercantile with Minnie and Mei Sue, carrying two bars of chocolate in her pockets.
She and Minnie were laughing at a story that Mei Sue told them when the thundering of hoofs was heard and in the next moment the stagecoach rolled into town.
"That's strange", commented Minnie "It's been a while since the old stagecoach rolled into town what with Queen of Hearts carriages and taxi…", but before she could finish the sentence Cooper came running after stagecoach waving to Minnie as he yelled:
"Mama! Mama! It's Mr. Bouchard! He's back!"
Grace felt her heart stop…only to start thumping fast a second later.
She quickly turned around to see the stagecoach stopping in front of the cafe and the doors opened…
And her world started to move in a slow motion as she saw Lucas' stepping down from the stagecoach, immediately looking at her direction with the biggest smile ever.
The rest of the world ceased to exist. The people on the Main Street ceased to exist.
Grace didn't see anybody else as she started to walk quickly then gasped as she broke into run!
"Lucas!!", she called him, smiling and crying at the same time.
He was already moving fast in her direction and opened his arms as she ran in his embrace!
He caught her shivering form and hugged her tightly, reveling in the feeling of her arms around his neck, the scent of her silky hair as he buried his face into it and, inhaling deeply, he picked her up from the ground and twirled her!
She squealed and laughed happily through her tears.
He was here!
Lucas stopped and put Grace back down on the ground, looking warmly at those eyes he loved so much as he smiled widely.
He left one hand around her waist but the other one urgently cupped the back of her head as he leaned down and kissed her passionately!
Grace whimpered in delight at the feeling of his lips back on hers and she dived right back in, opening her mouth to him, her fingers already roaming through his glorious hair making him groan in pleasure.
He picked her up from the ground once again, never breaking their kiss and holding her tightly against him, feeling every soft curve pressing into his hard body.
Lucas gently slid her down his body, making her sigh passionately at the feeling of him as he placed her back at the ground and pulling back barely an inch, he gazed deeply into her brown eyes, cupping her warm cheeks.
She smiled through her tears of happiness as she placed her hands on his chest.
"I couldn't wait for the Saturday morning train", he whispered "I caught one right after the meeting on Friday".
Grace smiled widely.
"And a stagecoach?", she laughed.
Lucas grinned.
"Taxi and carriage left right in front of my nose! I traveled all night to get to you and I wouldn't let that minor issue to stop me from reaching you as soon as possible", he whispered, chuckling and making her giggle and he leaned to kiss her soft, rosy lips.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, sighing into his kiss only to tremble when she felt him deepen their kiss, his tongue passionately caressing her mouth to the point of fever burning!
As they broke the kiss, Lucas leaned his forehead against Grace's and wrapping her up in his arms he picked her up, twirling her and enjoying the sound of her happy laughter.
"I love you, my angel", he whispered into her ear.
She shivered most deliciously in his arms and whispered, kissing his hair as he held her close to him.
"I love you too, my Lucas. Welcome home…in my arms", and as she said that, Grace felt Lucas letting out a deep breath of relief.
His Grace was here, by his side. And that was everything he wanted.
—--
I had to escape, the city was sticky and cruel
Maybe I should have called you first
But I was dying to get to you.
I was dreaming while I drove
The long straight road ahead
Uh-huh, yeah
Could taste your sweet kisses, your arms open wide
This fever for you was just burning me up inside.
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright?
I drove all night, crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep to make love to you
Is that alright?
I drove all night.
What in this world keeps us from falling apart?
No matter where I go I hear the beating of our one heart.
I think about you when the night is cold and dark Uh-huh, yeah
No one can move me the way that you do
Nothing erases this feeling between me and you, oh.
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright?
I drove all night, crept in your room
Woke you from your sleep to make love to you
Is that alright?
I drove all night.
I taste your sweet kisses, your arms open wide
This fever for you is just burning me up inside.
I drove all night to get to you
Is that alright?
I drove all night, crept in your room
Is that alright?
I drove all night.
("I drove all night" - Celine Dion)