Author's note: The line "The best revenge is always to just happily move on and let Karma do the rest" is from an Unknown author, not mine. I am just borrowing it.
Thanks to Avis Minter for helping with scenes where Lee talks to Grace and Lucas.
—--
The crowd slowly started to diverge and Elizabeth listened like a fox to what was being said.
The people praised Lucas and admired Grace for what both of them were doing - making the world a better place for living.
Inside the saloon Sally was talking with the journalists and arranging timetables for the interviews. Grace and Lucas were sitting at one table, talking, their fingers intertwined.
Lee was chewing on a small sandwich near the doors when Rosemary hissed:
"LEE!", she motioned for him to come outside.
Lee creased his eyebrows as he came toward his wife and Elizabeth.
"What are you still doing in there? Take us home!", hissed Rosemary.
Lee's eyes went wide open.
"Rosemary, I am waiting my turn for the interview…", but before he could finish Rosemary interrupted him.
"Whatever for?! We are only publishing what you caught from the press conference!", snapped Rosemary.
Lee slightly gasped.
"Are you serious?! Every newspaper will have an interview with them talking about things that every person should support in any way possible! How would it look like if the newspapers from the Governor's town don't have it?!", asked Lee.
Rosemary huffed.
"Well, I already asked for the interview before the press conference, but Mr. Bouchard deemed it not necessary, saying that I am biased. Well, now, I won't do it", she said.
Lee dragged his palm over his face, feeling his patience wearing thin.
And it's like Rosemary wasn't enough, Elizabeth jumped in.
"He is supporting her orphanage business???!! What about my school, my students, my…"
Lee couldn't take it anymore.
"That's enough, Elizabeth! I put up with your lies for months and I can't listen to you anymore! You dumped him not vice versa!", snapped Lee.
Elizabeth's mouth went wide open in shock while Rosemary bristled.
"Lee Coulter…", she started to talk through her teeth, but Lee wasn't finished.
"How quickly you forgot, Rosemary, that this is a man who saved your life by giving us all the ice he had in the saloon when we couldn't take your fever down!", the dam opened and Lee couldn't stop "This is a man who drove you home when you got in labor and organized a prayer for you! He stayed with me until Goldie was born! You might have forgotten those things, but I haven't! I, for one, admit that I wronged Lucas and I am going to try and fix it. I am gonna talk to him and ask him if he can forgive me", with a dark glare, so rarely seen in Lee's eyes, he turned to go back to the saloon "Now, if you excuse me, I have work to do", and with those words he went back inside.
Both Elizabeth and Rosemary watched him leave, completely stunned.
Fiona and Faith stood nearby, their faces pale from shock as they overheard the conversation.
Molly was coming out from the saloon for a breath of fresh air, sipping on her drink when Fiona waved to her.
"Molly!", she motioned for her to come.
Molly creased her eyebrows as she walked toward Fiona and Faith.
"Girls? What's wrong?", asked Molly.
Fiona shushed her, pointing with her head at Rosemary and Elizabeth.
"Molly, is it true that Elizabeth was the one who broke up with Lucas?", whispered Fiona.
Faith huddled closer to both women as they whispered confidentially.
"We just overheard Lee snapping at Rosemary and Elizabeth about Lucas and…is it true?", asked Faith.
Molly took a deep breath in.
"Yes. It's true", she silently said.
Fiona put her fingers on her lips while Faith just gaped.
"Oh, my God", Fiona whispered "So…all these months…"
Molly nodded gravely.
"Yes. All these months she let us believe that he is also to blame for the break up", she replied.
—--
Sally approached Grace's and Lucas' table and sat down.
"Alright. You'll give six interviews. Every journalist has ten minutes to talk to you, 15 maximum. Then, Mike Hickham will take them to see hot springs and that's it", she looked up at Grace and Lucas "How does that sound?"
Lucas smiled at his trusted PR manager.
"As always, fantastic", he said. Looking at Grace, he gently squeezed her fingers and asked "Are you ready?"
Grace slightly nodded, a nervous smile on her face.
"As ready as I'll ever be", she whispered.
"Hey", Lucas silently called. As she looked up at him, he gave her an encouraging smile "Take a deep breath. Hold it. And let go", as she did that, her breathing calmed down and Lucas gently added "If you don't know what to say, just squeeze my hand and I'll take over. Alright?", at her small smile and nod, he caressed her knuckles with his thumbs and added "Just remember; you are doing this for the kids. This could improve their chances of being adopted. And you are not alone, Grace. I'm here. Focus on the kids and me. Just focus on that."
Grace took a deep breath in and let it out with a smile.
"Thank you, my Lucas", looking up at Sally, she nodded "I'm ready."
Lucas gently brushed his thumbs over Grace's knuckles and looked up at Sally.
"Bring them on, Sally", he said with a smile.
They watched as the first journalist came by, an older man called James Wellington.
"Miss Bennett. Governor", he greeted them as he sat down. Grace and Lucas nodded and greeted him with a smile.
"Alright. Governor, since we already heard you talking, would you mind if Miss Bennett answers the question what do children at New Hope orphanage need now the most?"
Lucas nodded with a smile.
"By all means", he said.
Lucas listened as his Grace talked, his fingers never leaving hers, in case she needed to give him a signal to help.
And, just like Lillian told him more than once, Grace was too hard on herself. She doubted herself without need, always wondering could she do better or was it enough. Was she enough.
James listened as Grace answered the question, then asked her to tell him a bit more about how she and Lillian started the whole thing. At hearing how sisters reconnected after being 12 years apart and decided to start an orphanage where no siblings would ever be separated, James leaned in the chair, amazed.
"So, they stay with you until they are out of age?", asked James.
Grace nodded.
"That's right. We help them to find jobs and accomodation and we stay in touch as long as necessary. They can always contact us for help", she explained.
James wrote a bit in his notebook and then asked:
"And what if some of them wish to attend college? Is there a way to make it possible?"
For the first time since the interview started, Grace stammered.
"Well, I…", in panic, she gently squeezed Lucas' fingers, but he was already talking.
"Well, Mr. Wellington, you will get an exclusive now", Lucas smiled, his dimples flashing "New Hope orphanage struggled under Balfour's authority, but we are changing everything now. Therefore", he glanced at Grace, his smile widening "We are starting a scholarship for the kids that remain in orphanage until they are out of age."
Grace silently gasped in surprise and Lucas gently brushed his thumbs against her knuckles.
James smiled, his whole face brightening.
"That is just splendid, Governor! That will give them wings to fly more freely", he commented.
Lucas nodded.
"Thank you, Mr. Wellington. The way I see it - investment in children is investment in future", said Lucas and James quickly scribbled that line in his notebook, already knowing that he would be quoting young and remarkable Governor Bouchard.
James took a deep breath in and smiled.
"Well, my time is almost up. So, I have only one more question and we're done", as both Grace and Lucas nodded, James smiled and took a chance "How long have you two been together?"
Grace felt her cheeks warming up as blood rushed to her face.
She was about to squeeze Lucas' fingers for help when she heard his warm, velvety, deep voice:
"Two and half months", he said, bringing one of Grace's hand up and gently kissing her knuckles.
A warm smile shone on Grace's face.
Oh, Lucas Bouchard, you take my breath away.
James smiled warmly.
"Well, that's wonderful! I wish you two all the best!", he said as he got up and shook their hands, saying goodbye.
As James left, Lucas hand wrapped around Grace's waist. As she looked up at him, he smiled playfully.
"Well, there's really no point of me not hugging you seeing that we just let the cat out of the bag", he quipped, making her laugh.
Grace shook her head, feeling like her heart will burst with love for this man.
"Lucas…", she whispered, her voice filled with tears and emotions "The scholarship?"
Lucas slightly shrugged his shoulders.
"Like I said, Grace - What's the point of having influence and money if you don't use it to help others? I've been thinking about it for sometime now and it just feels right", he said humbly.
Grace wanted to kiss him so badly right now, but she knew it wasn't either time, nor a place.
She squeezed his hand and whispered.
"You are an amazing man, my Lucas. The best of men. And I love you more than words could ever tell. And I am so blessed to be the one you love in return. Thank you", she whispered, her eyes sparkling.
Lucas' gaze softened and he held himself back with everything he had in order not to pull her in her arms and kiss her until the stars turned off.
"Je t'aime aussi, mon coeur" ("I love you too, my heart"), he whispered, making her smile grow bigger and he could see passion and love flashing in her eyes.
You know what your French does to me.
He could feel her pulse racing as they sat back down as another journalist came closer to the table.
And just before the journalist reached the chair, Lucas heard Grace's silent voice:
"Vous allez payer pour cela, gouverneur!" ("You are going to pay for this, Governor!")
—--
The last journalist who came to interview them was Lee Coulter.
As he walked toward them, Grace looked at Lucas, concerned.
"Do you want me to talk alone with him?", she quietly asked.
Lucas shook his head, giving her a small, grateful smile.
"Alright. Then just squeeze my hand when you can't take it anymore", she gently said and turned to greet Lee.
She could tell that Lee was uncomfortable and Lucas was quieter than usual.
Lee cleared his throat and checked his notes.
"First, Governor, I would like to thank you for all you've done to save Hope Valley and the other small towns as well. I know you have sacrificed a great deal in order to solve the water problems. Secondly, thank you for being honest and up front with the people. My question to you is - What other improvements do you want to see in the small towns?", it seemed to Lee that he said it all in one breath.
He looked up from his notes and froze as he saw Lucas offering him a small smile.
"I would like to see water lines and sewage or septic tanks at all houses in a town so homes could have indoor plumbing, bathrooms and electrical lines extended outside the townships to the rural areas. But all of those things would also have to be planned with the mayors and town councils in order to get the Government funding for these projects", Lucas replied in his calm voice.
Lee noticed that most of the journalists and photographers already went outside. During the third interview, a photographer asked if it would be possible to take a few photos of the two of them, but the light wasn't good. That's when another photographer suggested that photos could be better if taken outside, because of the light and because this was the town from which the Governor embarked on his journey.
Lee knew that it was now or never. If he didn't speak with Lucas now, he may never get another chance.
He took a deep breath in.
"Lucas", as the young Governor looked at him Lee silently asked "Can I talk to you in private?"
Lucas was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Sure", he silently replied "Lets go to my office, I have to get my coat for the pictures", as all three of them stood up, Grace looked up at Lucas and she pulled him aside for a second.
"I have to go get my coat", she said silently "Do you want me to stay or should we meet here in ten minutes?"
Lucas put a strand of her hair behind her ear and cupped her cheek.
"I'll be fine. Go. I'll wait for you here", he said as his thumb gently caressed her cheek that grew warm under his touch, as always.
Grace rushed upstairs and went into her room. She quickly grabbed her coat and as she turned around, she caught her reflection in a mirror.
Her hair was in perfect order, softly curled at the edges. Her cheeks were a bit flushed, but that seemed to be a normal condition of her skin with Lucas close enough to touch.
She smiled happily as she put her coat on and tied it.
Deciding against the gloves as she knew that Lucas will be warming her hands she quickly turned around and left her room.
Rushing downstairs, she saw Lucas talking with Lee.
—--
Lucas opened the doors to his office and went to pick up his coat.
Lee let out a breath.
"There is no easy way to say it so I am just going to say it", he looked up at the young Governor "I'm sorry, Lucas. I am so sorry. Sorry for not supporting you, sorry for not checking up on you. I was caught between two fires", said Lee silently.
Lucas nodded.
"I understand, Lee. You wouldn't have a minute of peace had you stood up for me", he said, his face serious "But, I wish you at least called me or sent me one letter."
Lee exhaled, looking down.
"Yeah, I should have. I am sorry, Lucas", he said "I hope you can forgive me someday."
Lucas watched the man who stood in front of him. He knew that Lee was a good man, but he just couldn't bring himself to trust him fully again. He knew that Lee would never completely stand up to Rosemary and that's why he had to be cautious.
But, he couldn't hold a grudge. Lucas simply wasn't that kind of a man.
He wasn't angry at Lee…he felt sorry for him. Because, if you can't trust in your partner how healthy your relationship truly is?
"Of course, Lee. I forgive you", said Lucas.
And he did forgive him. He knew that Lee couldn't make any other choice.
But, that's why he could also look out for himself now.
There will never be bad blood between us, Lee. But, you'll never have my full trust again.
And with those thoughts, Lucas opened the doors of his office and two men left it.
—--
Grace slowly reached the end of the stairs and waited, not wanting to intrude.
As Lee nodded and turned away to leave the saloon, Grace slowly approached Lucas.
"Are you alright?", she softly asked, placing her palm in his.
Lucas looked down at their joined hands, then at Grace's sweet, angelic voice.
Letting out a breath, he nodded.
"I am. Some things are just getting closure", he whispered and brought her hand up and kissed her knuckles "Come on, lets go."
They slowly left the saloon and immediately fell in the wave of excitement and crowd.
As the photographers checked several positions, they finally agreed on the right spot to take photos of the young couple
Grace felt Lucas pull her closer to his side as he looked at the cameras.
Her heart thumping fast, Grace hugged him and a warm smile shone on her lips as the flash on cameras went on and on.
—--
Back at the saloon porch Elizabeth watched everything with a bile rising in her throat. Her face was like made of stone, her eyes dark with rage.
Molly elbowed Florence.
"What do you think she misses the most? His gentleness, politeness, good looks or attention?", whispered Molly.
Florence smirked smugly.
"Oh, I think she misses being the center of two men's attention! She cannot stand to see Lucas so happy with Grace", Florence snorted "She doesn't want him, but she doesn't want any other woman to want him."
Molly shook her head.
"She's delusional if she thinks she can break them up. I've never seen Lucas so happy before", whispered Molly.
Florence nodded and then almost melted as the cameras took a photo of Grace and Lucas looking at each other. She quickly stole a glance at Elizabeth and murmured:
"The best revenge is always to just happily move on and let Karma do the rest", she smirked as Molly looked at her in awe.
"Touché", said Molly and smiled.