Chapter 2
A spacious canteen in the Capitol City orphanage was eerily quiet as Grace and Lillian worked quickly, clearing the tables and bringing dirty dishes inside the kitchen.
Lillian shook her head.
"Two people leaving… I am happy for Maria and Paul, but we will feel their departure immensely".
Grace shrugged.
"No use to dwell upon it. We just have to find somebody new", she pressed down on the particularly stubborn dirt on one plate, scrubbing it like it was its own fault that their cook and kitchen helper left.
Lillian glanced at her sister.
"I'm running out of ideas for meals. Thankfully, you turned out to be quite a chef so these little ones don't have to eat bad cooking like mine", she finished and winked at her sister.
Grace looked up from the foamy water and the sisters burst into laughter.
"Oh you! Someone would think that I am a chef indeed just because I know how to make mashed potatoes!", giggled Grace.
Lillian shrugged.
"Well…it takes a high profile masterchef not to make it lumpy", Lillian grinned.
Shaking her head, Grace turned serious again.
"Now, if only I could be in three places at the same time", she sighed, glancing at the pile of dirty dishes.
Lillian rinsed the plate in her hands and nodded.
It was three weeks since Maria and Paul, happy newlyweds, left for New Orleans, starting a new life. With them gone, jobs doubled up. Sisters barely managed to get everything done during the day. Ordering food, going to the market, preparing meals, cleaning after the kids left…
An orphanage was their dream coming true. Giving a warm place to the kids without parents' love was a dream for both sisters. They knew firsthand how hard life is without parents' love.
And, to quote Grace from a few years ago "Every person is able to make this world a better place for living".
That was a motto sisters lived by every single day.
—--
Lucas stepped down the train and looked around the station. New place, new beginnings.
Was he ready for this?
Pulling his shoulders slightly back, Lucas held more tightly to his suitcase as he started to walk through the crowd.
His eyes squinted as he noticed an older man approaching him.
"Mr. Bouchard?", at Lucas' slight nod, a man extended his hand "Marcus Flynn, Bill Avery's friend. Welcome to Capitol City".
Lucas shook his hand "Thank you. Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Flynn".
"Likewise. May I congratulate you on your speech? That took some guts. It's about time somebody stood up to Balfour", Marcus said, his face serious.
Lucas slightly smiled nodding his thanks. Marcus noticed tiredness etched in the young man's face and patted him on shoulders.
"Lets go. It's a long way to Capitol City. You should get some rest. I imagine you didn't sleep much on that bustling train".
"You can say that again", Lucas nodded, walking beside Marcus.
"I can't wait to see how Avery will survive that train ride. How's that old bull doing anyway? Still sticking his nose in everybody's business?", Marcus said with a grin.
Despite feeling like he just walked through hell, Lucas couldn't help but smile.
"He would tell you now that he is only doing his job", he quipped, making Marcus laugh.
"As a forensic inspector? Mountie? Sheriff? Which one of the many professions?", Marcus joked goodheartedly.
"Don't forget a judge", Lucas grinned.
Marcus' eyes widened.
"A judge?!", he shook his head in wonder "Stubborn old goat".
"You two know each other for long?", asked Lucas.
Marcus nodded
"Ever since Academy. Stood by each other through some hard times allright. That man saved my life more times than I could count. Best friend I ever had", he replied, then added, his grin showing up again "If only he learned how to accept defeat in cards".
Lucas smirked.
"I'm afraid that there's no improvement on that front", he said.
Marcus snorted.
"Figures. Can't wait to skin him over a game again. It's been too long", he glanced at Lucas "Come on. Let's get you settled in".
Well you know those times when you feel like
There's a sign there on your back
That says I don't mind if you kick me, seems like everybody has
Things go from bad to worse
You think it can't get worse than that
And then they do
You step off the straight and narrow
And you don't know where you are
Used the needle of your compass, to sew up your broken heart
Ask directions from a genie in a bottle of jim beam
And she lies to you
That's when you learn the truth
If you're goin' through hell keep on going
Don't slow down if you're scared don't show it
You might get out before the devil even knows you're there
I've been deep down in that darkness
I've been down to my last match
Felt a hundred different deamons breathin' fire down my back
And I knew that if I stumbled I'd fall right into the trap
That they were layin'
But the good news is there's angels everywhere out on the street
Holdin' out a hand to pull you back up on your feet
The one's that you've been draggin' for so long
You're on your knees might as well be prayin'
Guess what I'm sayin'
If you're goin' through hell keep on going
Don't slow down if you're scared don't show it
You might get out before the devil even knows you're there
When you're goin' through hell keep on movin'
Face that fire walk right through it
You might get out before the devil even knows you're there
(Rodney Atkins - "If you're going through hell")