Author's note: Merci to Helene for helping me with my French!
—--
The rest of the evening passed by in a lovely atmosphere as they all talked between each other and with the children. Agatha was in awe of the two sisters. She watched them as they communicated with the little ones, trying to decipher their characters.
Lillian had an aura of calmness around her, she was kind and no-nonsense young lady. She interacted with the children with utmost patience and gentleness, never raising her voice. She and Grace were very close, that was plain as a day. Not even years apart could make the sisters drift away from each other. They were having each other's back throughout all life storms.
Lillian and Lucas had an interesting dynamic, Agatha mused. Like they were brother and sister… Which they soon will be. Very often, they would crack a joke at the other one's account, earning themselves a glare (courtesy of Lucas) or swat of a palm on the upper arm (courtesy of Lillian).
It was also obvious that Lillian and Carson were long time friends. They talked amicably the entire time, catching up on the news and events that happened since they saw each other for the last time.
And then there was Grace.
She was always surrounded by the children who were practically begging her to tell a story. She gave in a few times and Agatha had to hid a smile behind her teacup as she watched the little ones as they listened to their Gracie in awe, barely blinking. Agatha had to admit that the young lady was quite a storyteller. She would change voices, make funny faces and enjoyed startling the little ones that always made them shriek with laughter.
Grace's countenance was sunny, warm and loving. Not a trace of bitterness. It amazed Agatha how carefree Grace looked like, despite her horribly hard childhood and youth. Loving others came naturally to Grace.
Agatha could tell that Grace adored her sister and that she was determined to make up for all the lost years. The way two sisters were able to communicate without a word and even shared their own private jokes made Agatha smile.
Grace and Carson were friends, good friends. During these trip Agatha found out that it was actually Grace who suggested to Lucas to bring Carson in on the Governor's Board of Health. And it was Grace who asked Carson to check on Jack.
And Jack…
Oh, that darling, sweet boy healed right before Agatha's eyes!
Right under Lucas' and Grace's loving wing.
Agatha watched as Grace rushed from one side of the dining hall to another, making sure that every kid was taken care of, all the time with a smile on her face. When she was certain that everything was in order, she took her seat next to Lucas who held Jack on his lap. They shared a look full of love, but nothing else in front of Jack. Not even a hand hold.
Both of them were so thoughtful of Jack's feelings that it made Agatha's eyes filled with tears.
But the love they had for each other could be felt by merely looking at the two of them. Even the air felt different if you walked past them.
And Agatha was certain of one thing.
Those two will have a wonderful life together.
—--
The night covered the sky with its dark coat, splashed with twinkling stars and a thin Moon.
Agatha took half asleep Jack from Lucas' arms so he could put on his coat. Carson has already left and Agatha followed him to the car.
Lucas buttoned his coat and looking up, he caught Grace's gaze and smiled softly at his love.
He slowly closed the space between them and put his palms on her waist.
"I'll see you in the morning. Carson and I will install a gift for the munchkins before we leave home", he leaned down and gently kissed her smiling lips.
She giggled into their kiss.
"Don't forget to bring Santa over", her giggle grew louder as Lucas started to laugh too.
"I cannot believe it that he said yes to that!", said Lucas through laughter.
Grace's smile grew as her eyes twinkled mischievously.
"Well, you are ahead of all of us as you are living with Santa. The rest of us had to write him a letter", she quipped "All you have to do is to make sure you were a good boy this year."
Lucas raised his eyebrows.
"In his books? Never!", he deadpanned, sending Grace into another round of laughter. He joined in and cupping her face, he kissed her lovingly "Bonne nuit, mon coeur" ("Good night, my heart").
Grace sighed, a smile never wavering away from her lips.
"Bonne nuit, mon amour" ("Good night, my love"), she said happily.
—--
"Ouch!", Lucas yelped silently, shaking off his fingers.
Carson stifled a laugh.
"I can see that your carpenter's skills didn't improve in all these years", said Carson, only to burst into silent laughter as he put his hand up to avoid a handful of snow Lucas threw at him before he took a hammer back in his hand and started to pound. Carson shook with laughter as he silently warned "Sssssh! You'll wake up the kids!", at Lucas look of mock annoyance, Carson grabbed the hammer out of his friend's hand "Give me that!", he shook his head as he finally finished the installation "Amateur!"
Lucas snorted.
"Hey, I am the Governor. I have people who do that for me", he quipped as both he and Carson got up from the ground.
Carson silently laughed, along with Lucas, as both of them pulled their collars up and rushed toward the car.
"It's wonderful here. They do such an amazing job with those kids", said Carson as he and Lucas left the backyard of the New Hope orphanage.
He nodded as he looked at the big house, and then at his good friend, a smile curling up his lips.
"Yeah. Yeah, they do", he said. With one last look at the orphanage, Lucas gave Carson's back a friendly pat "Come on. Lets go home."
—--
Grace and Jack were sprawled on the settee, tummies full, giggling at the loud thud coming from the fireplace.
"Zut!" ("Damn it!"), a strangely thin Santa Claus limped his way toward the children, dragging a bag filled with presents and shooting annoyed glare at Lucas "A little help?"
Children gasped in joy as they rushed toward Santa, nearly knocking him over, making him gasp for air.
Lucas fought to hold his laughter back.
Oh, this is even better than I hoped for!
Lucas was trying to remember where did he see this particular Santa Claus before he fell down the chimney in the New Hope orphanage, grumbling in French.
Don't look at Grace, she is giggling already. Gustave will send you to the guillotine if you laugh at him!
Carson grimaced at Santa's gasp for air as the kids bumped into his belly full of jelly.
"You alright there, Santa?", Carson called out "Do you need some medical assistance?"
Santa grumbled something in his white beard before he spread his hands and yelled out:
"Ho ho ho! Joyeux Noel, mes enfants!" (Merry Christmas, my children!"), he exclaimed, only to receive strange looks from the kids.
"Why is Santa talking so stwange, Wucas?", asked little Tess.
Lucas pressed his lips together, barely holding back his laughter.
"I don't know, Tess. Maybe he is broken", quipped Lucas.
Grace and Jack giggled even harder at that, tears rolling down their cheeks.
Santa sent Lucas a murderous glare, making him smile innocently.
"So, Santa! Do you have a gift for me?", he asked.
Santa opened his bag and peeked inside before he glanced back at Lucas.
"Maybe yes, maybe no. Were you a good garçon (boy)?", asked Santa.
Lucas shook his head.
"No", he deadpanned, making Grace and Jack shriek with laughter.
Santa shook his head.
"Tres bien ("Alright"). I will give all your gifts to your frère ("brother")", he scolded Lucas.
Lucas shook with suppressed laughter.
"Which one? Jean or Pierre?", he quipped.
Carson put his face in his palm and whispered to Grace:
"Grace, stop giggling, Gustave is going to kill us!", he said through his laugh.
Grace giggled even more as she whispered back:
"You mean - le père Noël?! (Santa Claus?!"), she shook her head as her smile grew "No way. I am his favourite."
Santa nodded appreciatively.
"Aaaah, belle et intelligente! ("Aaaah, beautiful and smart!") Mais excusez-moi, Mademoiselle ("But, forgive me, Miss"), children first", said Santa, his white beard going crooked as he grinned.
He led the little ones to the backyard, Anna grabbing Jack's hand, prompting him to jump down from the settee and they both quickly followed Santa.
The grown ups stood at the doors, arms crossed, smiles on their faces as the little ones gasped in surprise:
"TRAMPOLINE!!!!"
Lillian gasped as she looked at Grace and Lucas.
"Guys! Is that safe?", she looked with worry as the kids launched toward the trampoline.
Grace waved her off.
"Oh, it's perfectly safe! I used to jump on it all the time in the orphanages. And even if something happens, we have our own private doctor here!", she chuckled and quickly followed the children.
Lillian hurried after her.
"Grace!", she silently called her, only to widen her eyes in surprise when she saw her little sister climbing up on trampoline "What are you doing?!"
Grace turned around a bit with a smile on her face.
"What? Somebody has to show them how to use it!", grinning, she held out her hand to Anna "Anna, come on!"
And before Lillian could say another word, Grace took Anna's little palms in hers and started to jump! In a flash, both of them were squealing and laughing as they jumped their hearts out! Grace plopped down on the trampoline, laughing out loud, exhilarated from jumping and laughing.
She helped a few other kids to climb up and sat on the trampoline, catching her breath and watching over the little ones. Her knees were pulled to her chest, her hands wrapped around them, her face shining with a big smile as she watched the little ones jumping up and down, squealing from glee.
Lillian shook her head with a smile.
"Well, I guess that it is safe after all", she glanced sideways at Carson and quipped "But, please, stand by if necessary."
Carson laughed.
"Don't worry, I will", he said and both of them kept on watching Grace and the kids on the trampoline.
Agatha watched as Jack plopped down after jumping for quite a while. He was giggling out loud, his cheeks a healthy shade of red from exhilaration as he quickly crawled toward Grace. She welcomed him in her arms as Jack went in for a cuddle. She said something and both of them bursted to giggles.
Lucas' heart soared at the sight of the two of them.
Giggling buddies.
He watched as Grace slowly left the trampoline, smiling widely as she went toward them.
"I think that trampoline is a hit!", she exclaimed as she stopped beside Lucas.
He looked at her with a happy, warm smile.
"So, we chose right?", he winked at her, his chest tightening with longing.
Grace nodded, her smile never wavering from her face as her eyes held his gaze.
He is so handsome.
Lucas' eyes softened.
She is gorgeous. Breathtaking.
Noticing their looks Agatha smiled to herself and went over to talk to Gustave, deciding to give them some time alone.
They deserve it.
As Agatha left them Grace's fingertips touched Lucas' fingers as they reached for each other at the same time.
She felt the warmth oozing from him as he leaned down and whispered directly in her ear:
"I love you."
Grace glanced at him, her fingers intertwining with his fingers, and she gently squeezed his palm.
"I love you too", she whispered back, her breath hitching as his thumb pressed gently into the skin of her open palm and slowly caressed it.
She let out a shaky breath and closed her eyes just for a moment.
Only to feel his hand picking up her hand and brushing a kiss over her knuckles.
Grace opened her eyes and they immediately found his eyes. She trembled deliciously from his gentleness and bit her lower lip, making his eyes darken.
Lucas' lips pressed a bit harder into her palm and suddenly she felt a flick of his tongue.
She silently gasped, her heart thundering in her chest.
Oh, my God.
In the next moment, he let go of her palm and stood beside her like nothing extraordinary happened.
Grace fought to calm down her breathing as she slowly looked back at the trampoline.
"You're gonna pay for this, Governor", she whispered, her voice shaking.
Lucas' lips curled up in a devilish smile and he whispered passionately directly in her ear:
"Oh, I cannot wait."