Fiona was grateful for the day she first arrived in Hope Valley. She had been assigned to get the phone lines up and running and before she knew it, this town was in her heart, an indelible part of her very being. And now, here she sat by the phone waiting for a call from the man she cared about so deeply. The very lines she helped run now reached across the miles to keep her and Lucas side by side despite the great distance between them.
It had been many weeks since their bittersweet goodbye at the train station. Nearly 2 months in fact. Lucas had hoped to come back for Thanksgiving but with meetings and interviews and committees filling his schedule, it simply wasn't possible for him to make the long trip. He longed to spend even just one more evening with Fiona but in the meantime, he called her every day, sometimes twice.
Often they found themselves talking well into the wee hours of the night, keeping each other up to date on daily happenings and also growing closer, sharing their hearts over the telephone lines. It was his favourite part of the day and hers as well. Throughout their day at work and interacting with others, they'd often think "I need to tell Fiona about this" or "Won't Lucas find that funny." So even with many miles between them, their hearts and lives were intertwined.
While he no longer ached at the thought of his break up with Elizabeth, Lucas was continuously reminded of her words. "I wish that I could give you all of my heart." This became his standard of great love for if he was being totally honest with himself, and he'd be doing a great deal of that lately, he had not given his whole heart to her either.
Yes he had loved Elizabeth and fully believed she had loved him too, and rightfully so. But not the way they could have. There were places in his heart, in his past, in his deepest thoughts that he had not opened up to share with her either. Places he held back out of fear and pride.
It wasn't this way with Fiona. They often found themselves baring their very souls to one another, easily moving from light topics to truths from the heart, unafraid and honest. It was in this moment of reflection he realized he had to tell her.
Up until that point Lucas had tread carefully. He let Fiona know he cared. He showed her he cared. But he avoided the words 'I love you' not wanting to toss them around carelessly. She seemed to be waiting for him and he knew in his heart when he told her on the phone tonight, those words would never be more true.
Finally the phone next to Fiona rang and she answered it quickly. Florence grandly informed her she had a call from the Governor as if she hadn't connected almost all their calls since the day he left. Fiona giggled and thanked her before hearing the click and knowing she was now connected to him.
"Fiona?" At the sound of her name in Lucas's rich voice, Fiona was once again filled with butterflies.
"Lucas, it's so good to hear your voice." Although it hadn't even been a full 24 hours since their last phone call, Fiona found herself missing him terribly.
They chatted until the moon was high in the sky and the town outside was quiet. The clock chimed once more before Lucas said he really needed to get to bed. Before signing off, there was a pause and she heard him take a deep breath.
"I love you, Fiona."
He heard a slight gasp through the phone and then "I love you too, Lucas. I really do."
Though short and simple, they were sweetest words either of them had ever heard. Their hearts glowed. Though miles kept them apart, their love kept them connected in a way no distance could truly separate.
"Good night, my love."
"Good night Lucas."
Fiona gently hung up the phone. He loved her. A smile graced her face and tears filled her eyes. Oh she missed him terribly but she was loved by the man she loved and it was enough to make her feel like she was floating.
The next evening, Fiona once again waited by the phone for his call. All day long, she had thought of nothing but his words of love. She sincerely hoped she had done a decent job of the hair cuts and styling she had been tasked with today at the barber shop but she honestly couldn't remember.
The ring of the phone interrupted her thoughts and within a few seconds, she heard his voice again.
"Fiona, my love. How was your day?"
She was quite sure she'd never grow tired of hearing him call her his love. She told him of her day, confessing her great deal of distraction.
"Oh so I'm to blame for the poor haircuts in Hope Valley today?" He laughed, happy to hear his simple confession had had such a great impact on her.
"I thought about you all day too. I really meant it, you know. I'm in love with you." While he couldn't be there to show her, Lucas wanted to make sure Fiona never doubted his love so he determined to remind her often.
Fiona sniffled. "And I am in love with you, Lucas. I miss you."
"I miss you too." And he meant it every bit as sincerely as his love. He glanced over at his calendar. It was Thursday night. Lots of work to get done tomorrow. No holidays until Christmas, over a month away. He didn't want to wait that long to hold her again but what could he do?
When the time came to say good night, sadness tinged both of their voices. Somehow their professions of love had made them both happier and more lonely all at once. Their love had only grown over these months apart but their desire to be together was now stronger than ever. It was a bittersweet circumstance they found themselves in.
Saturday afternoon, Fiona was sitting on the couch in the back of the cafe. She picked at a piece of cake, clearly lost in thought. Faith had just returned from dropping Lily off to play with Jack when she found Fiona, cake crumbs all over her lap, the couch, and the floor around her feet.
"Would you like to talk?" Faith asked kindly, brushing away a few crumbs before taking the spot next to Fiona on the couch.
Fiona looked up as if suddenly waking from her thoughts.
"I miss him, Faith. He loves me and I love him but I miss him so much. I don't know when I'll see him again. Maybe next month over Christmas…maybe. I gave up my work in Nashville and stayed here because of him. Not because he asked but because I didn't want to leave him. But he had no choice but to leave and now I'm not sure what to think of it all." There was a deep sadness in her tear-filled eyes.
"Fiona, you have to decide if it's worth it. And only you can answer that." Faith gently pulled Fiona into a quick hug. "You really love him, don't you?"
Fiona nodded, unable to stop a shaky smile from crossing her face. She really did love him. She knew it beyond a shadow of a doubt.
"And he loves you?"
Fiona nodded again, her smile now radiant. Without question, they were in love.
"Then I think it's worth it." Faith squeezed Fiona's hand, a knowing looking on her face. Faith had loved and lost, experienced the struggle of a long distance romance. Surely she was qualified to give some advice on this subject.
Fiona was about to reply when there was a knock at the door. She quickly wiped tears from her cheeks as Faith moved to see who was there. Before Fiona could get up and brush the crumbs from her skirt, she heard a familiar voice.
"Faith, Is Fiona home?"
Faith stepped aside, opening the door wider and turned to Fiona with a broad smile. Fiona stood too stunned to move and then suddenly her feet were carrying her, seemingly of their own accord, across the room and into Lucas' arms. Faith excused herself, not that either of them really were aware of her anymore.
Lucas held Fiona close in a tight hug before moving his hand to her face and pulling her in for a long, sweet kiss.
"I just had to see you," he said between kisses.
"I'm so glad you're here." Fiona replied, breathless.
"I can only stay for today. I have to take the train back tonight to get back before work Monday." Lucas admitted.
"What? You came all this way for not even a day?" Fiona was torn between disappointment and disbelief that he would do all this just for a few hours together. The disbelief won. "I guess that's what's love does to a person." She said with a cheeky smile, still standing with her hands on his chest, wrapped in his arms.
"It must be." He agreed with a wink and another kiss. "Let's make the most of it."
While it was only a few hours, they enjoyed every moment, never leaving each others' side. Fiona placed a dinner order with Minnie and they took their meal and dessert back to Lucas' apartment across town to enjoy alone. After dinner, they sat together on the love seat and talked.
"Lucas, can I tell you something?"
"Of course," Lucas nodded.
"I am so glad I stayed in Hope Valley. I don't regret it for a moment," Fiona began.
Lucas wanted to interject his thankfulness for her staying as well but sensed she had something important and maybe difficult to share so he simply smiled and reached for her hand.
"But I can't help feeling a little…empty. I miss you every day. And I miss feeling like I was a part of something important. It just isn't what I expected when I stayed here." Her voice grew quiet as she finished speaking, unsure of how he'd take this confession.
Lucas nodded his head and looked down. "I shouldn't have asked you to stay when I…"
Before the words were out of his mouth, he felt her soft hand gently touch his cheek, stopping him from continuing. His eyes met hers and he saw no anger, no remorse. Only love.
"No, I stayed because I wanted to. Because I loved my life here before and because I was falling for a handsome and kind man." She closed the gap between them and placed a tender kiss on his lips. "Lucas, I'm glad I stayed. I would rather spend my days missing you and cutting hair here than go back to Nashville and never get to love you like this."
A small smile crossed his face at her words. Lucas thought about what she was saying. He knew how important her work with the suffragettes was, certainly more important in many ways than her work here as a barber. Of course she wasn't feeling satisfied here. He should have sensed that before. Suddenly a light came on in his mind.
"Fiona, I should have thought of this before. You probably have more political experience than me." He laughed and continued, "I want you on my team. You can work from here. For now at least. Lee has been saying he could use some help on this side of things with the National Park project…and with sweet talking Maisie Hickam." They both laughed. "It may not be as inspiring as the suffragettes but I would love to have your help."
As he spoke, Fiona's face began to light up more and more. "Lucas, I would love to be a part of it! Thank you!" She threw herself into his arms and hugged him tight. The miles may still separate them physically but they would be working together on a common goal. It was another way they would be connected despite the distance. Not only that but Fiona was excited for the sense of purpose it gave her. To be involved in something bigger than herself, something that would bless her community and celebrate the beauty of this place she loved.
Long before they were ready to say good bye again, the clock insisted it was indeed time to make their way to the train station. Lucas and Fiona made their way to platform as other travellers began to board the waiting overnight train headed for Capital City.
"I really can't believe you came all this way for just a few hours together. But I'm so glad you did." Fiona placed a hand on each side of his face and pulled him in for another goodbye kiss, unbothered by the crowd around them. "I love you, Lucas."
"I love you too, Fiona. I can't tell you how good it was to see you. It's worth all 44 hours I'll spend on this train," he said with a chuckle. After one more kiss, he pulled away and boarded the train.
Lucas sat back in his seat as the train lurched forward and then began its steady rocking motion, heading down the tracks and away from Hope Valley one more time. He couldn't keep the smile from his face. An evening with Fiona was what he needed most and he had enjoyed every second. Love could make you do crazy things but he was so happy he'd jumped on that train even for just a few hours with her. Monday, he would make the call to Lee to let him know he'd found the perfect person to join the team and help with the project.
Lucas realized that once again, Fiona would be working to make his dreams come true. A national park to erase the sting of a failed resort. She was his dream come true. His great love that he could give his whole heart to.