Chapter 14

The daylight's fading slowly and Lucas wondered where had the hours went by. It felt like he arrived at the orphanage barely one hour ago when, in fact, it was already time for dinner, bedtime stories and tucking the kids in.

He felt so much at home here, surrounded by these cute kids, just getting to know them, their little personalities as well as their two guardians.

Lillian had an aura of a mature woman, her gentle strength giving kids a sense of security. She was kind and quiet, no-nonsense and stable. It looked like nothing could shake her, but watching her looking over her sister told Lucas volumes about how much Lillian was still scared that Grace would be snatched away from her. That trauma from childhood left Lillian with fears that she, sometimes, couldn't fight back.

His eyes moved across the hall and stopped at the sight of Grace. Without a warning, his heart sent a small, but warm smile to his lips.

Surrounded by the children Grace was shining. Her warm and compassionate heart gave itself selflessly to every kid in the orphanage. She could be all bubbly and playful when kids would be up to some mischief and tried to hide it. It usually resulted in surprised shrieks when Grace would discover them, sweet kids' giggling mixed with her warm laughter that cracked a tiny hole in the wall around his heart.

However, it was Grace comforting little ones who were crying or upset that truly moved him. She turned into such a gentle person that his heart literally ached. She was incredibly patient, even with the fussiest of kids, her good arm offering warm hug and caresses of hair, peppering their soft rounded cheeks with kisses.

She was amazing. And unlike anyone else he met before.

He turned back toward the stove, flipping another pancake. Approximately 10 kids stood by his side and gasped in wonder every single time he flipped a pancake. And every time, Lucas couldn't stop a warm smile when he heard that.

"Alright, munchkins! Who's next with a plate?", he asked, turning around.

"Me!", four year old Susie grinned. As Lucas put a pancake on her plate she gave him a grin and "thank you, Wucas!" before rushing toward Lillian to get some jam or syrup.

Lucas was the one who suggested pancakes for dinner and volunteered to make them. Lillian provided jam and syrup while Grace was in charge of the story. Kids listened to her telling them an exciting story of a little girl named Heidi. They were so caught up in the story that they forgot

to eat or were chewing slowly, their little mouths opening in awe every few seconds as they held onto every word Grace spoke.

Last of the pancakes were distributed and Lucas noticed that he was left alone with a little boy with big blue eyes and brown hair. He couldn't be more than three years old. He wasn't talking much during the night, but watched every move Lucas made while making the pancakes.

It was only when the other kids left to the tables to eat that he approached Lucas, asking shyly:

"Me? Twy?", he pointed to the stove.

Lucas smiled gently.

"Sure. Here", he pulled a chair toward the stove and gently picked the little boy up on it "Now, give me your hand… put it right here… shake it a bit aaaaand…", as they flipped the pancake together, Lucas smiled at the little boy's happy laughter "There you go! You did it!"

"One fow you? And Gwacie? And Wiwian?", a little boy asked excitedly and Lucas warmly smiled.

"Okay, let's do it!"

They baked at least ten more pancakes before the batch was gone.

"You two look like you're having a time of your life", Grace's voice was heard as she walked toward them.

It was only then that Lucas noticed most of the kids went to their beds.

"Yeah, and we forgot about the time", Lucas glanced at Grace, his face shining with a smile. For a moment, he looked like he didn't have a care in the world.

As he saw the little boy yawning a bit, Lucas picked him up and turned toward Lillian.

"He earned two bed time stories", Lucas winked at Lillian, causing her to laugh as she took a little boy from Lucas' arms.

"I'll remember that if he doesn't fall asleep on the fifth stair", she quipped.

Smiling, Lucas turned back toward the stove, picked up some dirty plates and started to walk toward the sink.

"Well, we are off. Good night, Grace, good night, Lucas", Lillian peered into the face of a little boy who was already half asleep in her arms as she gently whispered "Say good night, Jack".

CRASH!

The plates fell from Lucas' hands, crashing into thousands of pieces…but that was not what alarmed Grace.

She watched in horror as Lucas slid down on the floor to a kneeling position, hyperventilating.

She sprung in action, rushing toward him and sat down taking his hand.

"Lucas? Lucas, what's wrong?", she asked, a sense of panic filling her senses as she noticed his breathing turning into sobs.

Ignoring dull pain in her hurt arm Grace took the offending sling off and moving closer to Lucas, she hugged him tightly.

Grace looked at Lillian, both of them concerned. Lillian glanced at a little boy in his arms and mouthed to Grace that she will tuck the kids in.

Grace nodded and in the next moment paid full attention to a man that was shaking in her arms.

She knew that she wouldn't be able to pull anything out of him until he calms down. Her heart broke as he fought for a breath between his sobs.

"Ssssshhh, Lucas", she pulled him closer to herself, his face hidden between her shoulder and neck "Just let it all out. Just cry", as she felt his hot tears on her skin she gently caressed his hair, praying to God to help her help this wonderful man "It's okay", she whispered, rocking him gently in her arms "It's okay, Lucas. I'm here. It's okay."