The day rolled on and what was supposed to be a breakfast party quickly turned into a luncheon having Bill and Gustave deciding to fire up a grill in the garden, regardless of cold, winter air turning their faces red.
Lucas smiled as his cousin glanced at him like he was asking was it alright that they occupy the Governor's fine garden for a turn of a barbecue.
As Lucas nodded, he decided that he could make something as well.
He looked behind his shoulder to see Henry and Grace sitting down with the kids as they listened to Henry telling them a story. Grace held little Mary on her lap, slowly rocking her in her embrace as they both watched Henry and listened to his storytelling.
Lucas' heart warmed at the sight of Grace with little Mary and he felt a strange feeling washing over him.
A feeling of peace and comfort and belonging.
A feeling of home.
He slowly moved toward the big glass doors of the mansion and slid them open. He tiptoed inside, careful not to disturb five children who were sleeping soundly on the couch.
Lucas smiled at the sight of the kids, sounds of their quiet little snores filling his heart with warmth.
He tiptoed toward the couch and fixed the blankets on his little friends.
As he started to straighten up, he heard the glass doors sliding open and looking up, he saw Grace coming in, carrying little Mary in her arms.
Lucas smiled gently at the sight of Mary in a deep sleep.
"Another one lost the battle?", he whispered, already taking another blanket from the closet as Grace came closer.
"Totally out", whispered Grace with a warm smile. Noticing that the couch was a bit crowded, she looked around the room and silently asked "Lucas? Where can I put her down?"
Lucas looked around the living room and smiled.
"Wait… I have an idea", he started to take the fluffy pillows off the furniture and put them in front of the fireplace. Next, he spread the blankets across the pillows and then brought a few more.
In a flash, a cozy sleeping haven was formed on the floor of the living room and Lucas quickly added two more logs to the fireplace to get the fire going.
"Here", he whispered, getting up "Lets get these munchkins settled".
He and Grace worked diligently, carrying the little ones to the fluffy made beds, covering them up with blankets. Both of them were so careful and gentle that not a single child stirred up.
They stood silently, watching sleeping kids, neither one of them wanting to escape this warmth.
It felt natural.
It felt so much like home.
"Henry is so good with them. He was the one who got little Millie to talk", whispered Grace. At Lucas' curious gaze, she smiled gently as her mind traveled back to that Christmas in Hope Valley "Millie approached Henry on the street, by herself, carrying a book 'The greatest Christmas wish' asking him without words to read it to her. And he did, every single day", Grace silently talked.
Lucas slightly creased his eyebrows.
"Why Henry?", he asked curiously.
Grace took a breath in.
"Millie's older sister Charlotte told him that he reminded them of their Dad", she spoke softly.
Lucas' face softened in sadness.
"On Christmas Eve she approached him for the last part of the story and he asked her did she make a Christmas wish yet. She nodded and he asked her does she want to know what was his Chrstmas wish. As she nodded Henry said: 'My Christmas wish is that one day you read this book to me'. And as he read, she moved her lips and he encouraged her to go on and she did. She started to read out loud. We were all so happy because it was then that the orphanage director signed the papers so that Millie could go with us and stay with her sister", she smiled, looking at the sleeping children "I remember Henry telling Millie that her Dad would be very proud of her".
Lucas smiled sadly, following her gaze.
"Henry is a good man. We had our ups and downs, but he was always a good friend to me. Still is", he silently said.
For a moment, the only sound in the room was fire cracking in the fireplace.
Lucas looked at Grace.
"Are you up for some hot chocolate?", he asked. As she glanced at him, he added "I make a mean hot chocolate".
Grace felt her lips curling up.
"You do?", she asked.
Lucas placed a palm over his heart.
"What, you don't trust me?", he asked, playing hurt.
Grace silently snorted. Lucas silently gasped.
"Oh, mon dieu! La douleur est trop forte!", Lucas breathed out.
Grace chuckled before widening her eyes and slightly gasped, playfully holding her hand against her heart too.
"Pouvez-vous me pardonner, monsieur?", she breathed out and held her laugh at the stunned look on his face.
Lucas slowly smiled, shaking his head.
"Grace Bennet, I am utterly speechless", he said softly.
Her cheeks blushed, but she held her composure, remembering their talk earlier…And the words he said…
Please, know that you never have to fear me.
So Grace took a leap of faith.
And jumped right in.
"So, will I get to try that mean hot chocolate of yours, monsieur Bouchard?", she asked with a smile.
Lucas grinned.
"Après toi, mademoiselle", he extended his hand toward the kitchen and Grace nodded haughtily.
"Merci", as she followed him down the hallway, they smiled at each other.
It felt so right.
It felt like home.
—--
Lucas slowly stirred ingredients on the stove while Grace added a bit of this or that, following his instruction.
After a few minutes, he turned the stove off and poured dark liquid in a cup.
He put left hand on his back and gave Grace a cup with his right hand, slightly bowing.
"Mademoiselle - voilà", he said with a small smile.
Grace accepted a cup with a small smile of her own.
"Merci, Maître Chocolatiers", she brought a cup to her lips and blew on hot liquid for a while before she took a sip.
Oh. My. God.
Her eyes closed in pure delight and a sound resembling both sigh and moan escaped her lips.
"Oh, Lucas", she slowly licked chocolate off her lips.
Lucas smiled.
"Not bad, huh?", he winked.
"Oh, this is pure heaven!", Grace smiled at him, her entire face lighting up in happiness.
She is beautiful.
A thought flashed through Lucas' mind, robbing him out of his breath.
She is amazing.
Lucas quietly poured himself a cup as Grace opened the cabinet from where she saw he took cups for the two of them.
Taking the cups out, she placed them on the tray, a smile shining on her face all the time.
"Oh, the kids are going to love this", she said happily.
She is an angel.
Lucas took a breath in as he slowly sipped on his hot chocolate.
She saved his life.
She welcomed him to her life like they knew each other for years.
She listened. She cared.
She let him in.
She eased the horrible pain he was going through. She pulled him out from his own personal hell.
She was healing his wounded soul.
And unbelievable, but true …
She was healing his bleeding heart.
—-
I thought I was doing all right being alone,
I swore I'd never let somebody get close again,
I was never gonna let my guard down,
Not for anyone,
But there's a light in your eyes and it's got me moving in,
And tonight these walls are all coming down.
And my heart is open
I'm letting you in
'Cause you give me a reason and the faith I've been needing to start again
And your love is healing
I'm finally breathing
I've been waiting so long hoping for this moment
My heart is open.
These days it seems like everybody's just walking away,
Like there's no forever and love is just a game,
But don't you know you can believe me when I say that I'm your man.
And my heart is open
I'm letting you in,
'Cause you give me a reason and the faith I've been needing to start again.
And your love is healing
I'm finally breathing.
I've been waiting so long hoping for this moment,
My heart is open.
I can't wait anymore, no no
Because I've got nothing left to prove,
And I've got so much left to use,
That's why I'm tearing out the walls and baby I'm kicking down the doors.
And your love is healing
Baby, I'm finally breathing
I can hear you calling, I'm ready to fall in love again
My heart is open
My heart is open
My heart is open.
(Keith Urban - My Heart Is Open)