Chapter 17

Bill was locking up the doors of his office, a suitcase in his hand. He and Gustave agreed to have breakfast together before they head to the train station.

The two men talked quite a while as they nursed a bottle of Lucas' whiskey late in the night. They agreed that Bill will look over the rest of Gustave's stuff and send it to him as soon as possible. Gustave brought only the essentials for this trip, anxious to be at his cousin's side now.

As Bill went downstairs he heard somebody rushing his way and sighed in frustration as he heard Rosemary calling his name.

"Rosemary, I don't have time for this. I have to meet Gustave at the saloon", grumbled Bill, but Rosemary just fell into a step with him

"Then I'll walk you to the saloon. We must talk", she said, not paying attention to what he said at all. As usual.

"Rosemary…", Bill tried again.

"Bill, you can't leave with people thinking so badly about Elizabeth now! You have to say something! I can quote you in the newspapers", she pressed on.

"Rosemary, it's not my place to say anything", Bill huffed, hoping that Rosie would just drop it.

He should have known better.

"How can you say that?! You are little Jack's Godfather!", exclaimed Rosie.

"Exactly. Which is why I am keeping my mouth shut", warned Bill.

"How is that going to help him?! You should talk to him, explain why Lucas isn't around anymore", Rosie rambled on.

Bill froze. He stopped in the middle of the street, glaring at Rosie.

"Me?! Have you eaten crazy mushrooms, Rosemary?! Why should I talk to him about that?!", Bill was reaching his breaking point.

"I…well…Elizabeth can't do it", Rosemary said.

"Really? And I can?!", snapped Bill.

"Well, it's easier for you, Bill", Rosemary mumbled.

"Well, maybe you could do it. You with your meddling ways must had a say in everything that was going on between Elizabeth and Lucas", Bill snapped again "Don't expect me to fix what you've done wrong".

Rosemary gasped:

"Bill Avery! How dare you?! How can you let little Jack not know what is going on and why Lucas isn't around anymore?!"

Bill took a deep breath to calm down.

"That conversation is something Elizabeth has to have with her son. Not me, not you, not anybody else. If little Jack needs my help and support, I will be there for him. Always. But, Elizabeth is the one who has to do it", he nodded slightly and with "Goodbye, Rosemary", he went inside the saloon and slammed the doors.

Gustave looked up from the table where he served breakfast for the two of them.

Bill shook his head.

"Don't ask", he huffed, sitting down.

—--

Lucas closed his suitcase as he glanced around the hotel room that was his first home since he arrived in Capitol City.

Gustave called him yesterday morning to tell him that he and Bill were on their way. Right on time. The Governor's mansion was ready for the new tenants to move in. Marcus saw to hiring a new staff, not wanting any traces of Balfour lingering behind. This way, they knew whom they could trust.

The case of attempted assasination on him was moving faster than he thought it would. Marcus certainly did his job well, no wonder that him and Avery were such great friends. Marcus, same as Bill, could smell a fraud and lie when nobody else could, plus he knew how to hit the nerve of the criminals. He let Montaque stew for couple of days seeing that he obviously thought that Balfour would sprung him out from jail. Eight days later and still no sign from Balfour, Montaque lost it. He admitted that Balfour hired him to get rid of Lucas. He promised him quite an amount of money if he fulfills his task.

But, Lucas lived. And Balfour was nowhere to be found.

Lucas grabbed the papers from his nightdesk, carefully placing them in the bag. The first two meetings with his cabinet went quite well and both projects were on an agenda. Lucas was surprised to hear that he had quite a support base among the citizens due to pushing those two projects. He truly hoped that the water problem will be resolved soon. And, from what he heard from Grace and Lillian, thanks to his support for the kids at the orphanage, requests for adoptions were coming in more than ever.

If he managed to help those kids to find a loving home, he would be thrilled.

His days were filled with meetings, studying documents, working hard to bring positive changes. When he would close the doors of his bedroom in the evening, Lucas would be so exhausted.

And he knew that it wasn't because of his job.

It was due to lack of sleep.

When the night would fall on the Capital City and everything would grow quiet, he would lay wide awake in the dark. Trying as he might, he couldn't sleep.

He couldn't chase painful memories away…

Memories of a life he dreamt about and truly believed could happen. Memories of Elizabeth talking to him late in the night as they sat snuggled to each other on the balcony of the saloon or her porch.

Memories of her lips against his.

Memories of her laughter, memories of her voice.

Memories of his little buddy falling asleep in his arms.

Memories of him and Jack playing hide and seek and a little boy bursting to tears because he couldn't find his buddy. Memories of little Jack's happiness once Lucas hurried out from his hiding place, concerned that the precious boy got so upset. Memories of little Jack hugging him tightly mumbling through tears "Don't leave, buddy".

Lucas knew that lack of sleep would take its toll on him. In fact, it already has. He couldn't get rid of the tiredness he felt. He knew that he has to give himself some credit and stop blaming himself because he didn't do anything wrong.

He also knew that he had to give himself some time. A time to grieve a life he lost. A time to recover.

And as much as he was patient with other people, Lucas was way too hard on himself. He expected himself to get back on his feet in no time.

But, the veil of the night always proved to him how impossible that was.

Phone rang, disturbing his thoughts. He picked it up.

"Hello?"

"Mr. Bouchard, I have Mr. Pepin and Mr. Avery waiting for you in the lobby", receptionist said.

Lucas couldn't fight back the smile that crept up on him.

"Thank you. I'll be right there", he hung up and grabbed his dark blue suit jacket. Putting it on, he hurried from the room, suitcase in his hand.

He rushed down the stairs and quickly went into a lobby, his emotions running high as he saw his cousin rushing toward him.

Lucas grabbed Gustave's shoulders, pulled him in a bear hug, patting his back as his smile mixed with tears.

"Gustave, mon frère! It's so good to see you!", he whispered, pulling back slightly.

"Et toi aussi, mon frère", Gustave smiled back only to frown at the sight of his cousin's tired face "Oh, you've missed me alright. Not eating, not sleeping, I see", Gustave grumbled, slightly slapping Lucas against his head.

"Hey!", warned Lucas, fighting a smile.

"Ah, mon frère", Gustave hugged him once again, holding him tightly "I'm here. You're not alone anymore", he said silently.

Lucas closed his eyes and patted Gustave's back one more time before letting him go.

"Gustave is right, you know. You do look a fright, Bouchard", Bill's voice was heard.

"I'm always right. And he looks like a vampire", grumbled Gustave.

"Ah, blood is thicker than water, mon frère", grinned Lucas before shaking Bill's hand. Hope Valley's judge held on Lucas' hand for a second before pulling him in for a friendly hug.

"How are you holding up, Lucas?", Bill asked, concern obvious in his voice. It didn't escape him how tired and pale Lucas was.

Lucas pressed his lips tightly together before replying:

"I go day by day", he picked up his suitcase "But, come on. We should get going. You two must be tired and hungry from that trip. The mansion is ready for the new tenants and their first guest", he smiled and the three men left the hotel.