Chapter 16

Grace held Lucas tightly, blinking tears away, but some escaped her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Her heart broke for this wonderful man. He wore his heart out on sleeve, gave everything he could to Elizabeth and she toyed most cruelly with his most sincere emotions.

How could some people be cruel to the ones who love them Grace would never understand.

She felt Lucas moving a bit in her embrace and she looked down at him. He swallowed hard, his forehead somewhere between her shoulder and neck and she heard his broken voice whispering:

"The worst thing of all is…", he shook his head, his eyes closing painfully.

Grace moved to sit beside him, never moving his head away from its place on her shoulder.

"What? Tell me", she gently encouraged him.

Lucas blinked a few times, staring at his hands before he looked up at Grace.

"In a few years Jack won't even remember me. He is only three years old. He is too young to understand and when he grows up he will forget that I ever existed. He will never know how much I love him", his voice shivered as he spoke and Lucas took a deep breath in, trying to calm down

Grace nodded, her eyes misted with fresh tears.

"I know. But…", she took Lucas' fingers in her palm, her thumb gently caressing his knuckles as she added carefully "But, Lucas, I am certain that you will never forget him. That you would jump in and help him even when he doesn't remember you, in case he needs it".

Lucas slowly nodded.

"Of course I would", he silently agreed.

Grace smiled sadly.

"I know that nobody can replace Jack in your life, Lucas. But, just so you know, you got yourself quite a fanclub here", she silently said, grateful to see a small smile and a tiny spark back in his eyes.

"Really?", he whispered.

"Are you kidding?", she gasped "Little Patrick asked Lillian can she teach him how to read even though he is only four years old. When she agreed, he asked can she make him a three piece suit", Grace watched Lucas' eyes shine with surprise and wonder and she raised her eyebrows, adding with a smile "When she asked him why does he want all that Patrick replied that he wants to be like Wucas of Oz when he grows up, to tell stories and look sharp", she finished with a smile.

"Lucas of Oz?", Lucas felt his heart healing a tiny bit causing his lips to curl up a bit in a smile.

"Mhm. Even if it wasn't for the stories part they still think you are a magician due to all those flips of pancakes you did", she concluded with a smile.

That did it - a big smile graced Lucas' features, his dimples coming out in all their glory.

Grace smiled to herself.

Mission accomplished.

"You were right, Grace", as she looked at him puzzled, he gently squeezed her palm and added "These kids give you so much. And all they ask from you is to love them".

"Well, stick with me, Governor, you may learn a lot", Grace quipped, her heart swelling at the smile that widened on Lucas' handsome face.

His eyes filled with warmth as he looked at her.

"Thank you, Grace. So much", he whispered.

Grace gave him a small smile.

"I'm glad I could help", she gently said and just held his gaze a bit longer before adding "You didn't deserve to be treated like that, Lucas. Never forget that", she took a deep breath in before silently continuing "Sometimes people we know are not the people we thought we knew", her gaze fell down.

Lucas caught a change in her face and eyes before she quickly masked it with a gentle smile.

"Come on. You should get some rest. I'll show you to the room Lillian got ready for you", she slowly got up, careful not to lean on her hand. She could feel pain starting to throb in it.

"What… No, Grace, I couldn't…", Lucas stammered, completely shocked and surprised.

"You are in no condition to drive and you shouldn't be alone tonight. Kids will be thrilled to see you in the morning. Better think which story will you…oooowww!", Grace hissed in pain, her eyes squeezing shut as she placed her fingers on her hurt arm.

Lucas was on his feet and by her side in a second.

"Grace! Your arm!", he looked around and saw her sling laying on the floor, long forgotten. He quickly picked it up "Why did you take it off?"

Grace swallowed hard, her forehead creasing in pain.

"It was in a way", as she noticed Lucas watching her completely confused, she added "You needed a hug. It was in a way".

Lucas felt a tugging at his heart. Another brick from the wall he built around his heart started to fall down.

How she cared so much about others without thinking about herself was amazing to him. When she was in, she was in completely. When she wanted to help somebody, she really helped. He knew it maybe better than anybody now.

He helped her to sit down before going to the fridge and pulling out some ice. Going back, he sat beside her and took off his suit jacket. Rolling it, he placed it under her injured arm and took out ice from glass. Rolling up her sleeve he gently iced her swollen arm.

Their eyes met as he gently wiped water from her skin.

Lucas' eyes watched her with warmth and he gave her a gentle smile.

"I've never met anybody like you, Grace Bennet", he whispered warmly.

Grace let out a shaking breath feeling blush creeping up her skin. Her heart skipped a beat as she held his warm gaze.

Trying to save herself from completely drowning in the chocolate pools of his dark eyes, she gave him a nervous smile and whispered:

"Have you looked in the mirror lately?"

He smiled gently and she smiled back. Lucas went on rolling ice on her skin and she watched him do it, her heart speeding up.