Chapter 27
Lucas inhaled deeply, trying to hold back his tears.
Grace gave him a sympathetic smile.
"Lucas… I know that last Saturday was hard and horrible for you. I've been there, remember?", she silently spoke and Lucas knew she was talking about Patrick's betrayal. He nodded, his eyes blinking a few persistent tears away and he quickly wiped his eyes so the little ones wouldn't see him cry.
Too late.
"Wucas?", little Mary's voice was heard.
Grace looked down at Collin's three year old sister and gently picked her up.
Mary's little palm gently touched Lucas arm.
"Wucas sad?", little girl asked sadly.
Grace placed a gentle kiss on little Mary's head and replied, giving Lucas a time to calm down as much as it was possible:
"Lucas is moved by what you all did for him. It means a lot to him, baby", she softly smiled at little girl.
Mary looked suspiciously.
"But he is sad", she looked at Lucas "Don't be sad, Wucas. We wove you", Mary's little palm pressed gently on his arm and Lucas took a shivering breath in before giving little Mary a wobbling smile. He took her little palm in his hand and gently kissed her tiny fingers.
Grace looked at Mary and whispered conspiratory:
"You know what could make him feel better?", as Mary's attention was back on her, Grace smiled warmly "How about you bring him and me those chocolate muffins you helped me make?"
Little Mary grinned and wiggled her legs to sign to Grace that she was ready to run to get the muffins.
Grace watched her go with a small smile, then looked back at Lucas, her heart aching at his pain.
"Thank you", she heard him whisper.
Grace gave him a small, sad smile.
"Just take one day at a time. Don't be hard on yourself. I had days when I didn't want to get out from the bed", she gently spoke, carefully watching him for reaction.
Lucas nodded.
"That's exactly how I feel", he silently spoke.
"And there's nothing wrong with that. Let yourself be sad, upset, angry. Cry if you have to. Scream in your pillow if you have to", she could see it in his eyes that her words reached him.
In her peripheral vision she could see little Mary coming back carrying a plate with three chocolate muffins. Grace had to smile at the sight of the little girl's concentration on the task of not dropping the plate.
Seeing her gaze drifting somewhere behind him and a smile showing up on her lips, Lucas curiously turned around…
Only to have the same reaction as Grace.
He warmly smiled as little Mary offered him chocolate muffins and a toothless grin.
As all three of them took their muffin, Lucas gently picked little Mary up in his arms.
"Thank you, sweetie", he whispered and gently kissed the little girl's cheek. Mary smiled, happy to see that her friend was not sad anymore. She picked up her muffin and squealed "Twy it, Wucas!"
He chuckled and obeyed, only to close his eyes in delight at the taste of pure chocolate fantasy.
"And remember, Lucas", he heard Grace's playful tone of voice and looked back at her just as she winked at him and popped a piece of a chocolate muffin in her mouth "Chocolate will always make you feel better".
He watched her silently for a few moments, completely enthralled.
"You are amazing, do you know that?", he whispered.
Grace nearly choke on her muffin, her heart skipping a beat. She coughed, trying to catch her breath.
"Excuse me", she quickly rushed toward the table to get some water. And to calm down.
He didn't just say that…
Did he?
Grace closed her eyes, begging her racing heart to calm down.
She could feel his presence beside her before he even spoke her name.
Grace quickly opened her eyes, her heart thumping so loud she was sure that Lucas could hear it.
"Never talk with food in your mouth. That's what Lillian always tells me. And I never listen to her", she babbled nervously.
Lucas watched her carefully as she avoided his glance, walking around the table, ponting out the snacks, talking about this and that, but never looking back at him.
And something happened right there. Right at that moment.
Lucas felt a shift in his heart.
At first, it took him so much by surprise that he silently gasped, but couldn't ignore a ray of light and warmth that broke the darkness in his heart.
Anna and Colin rushed toward Grace, excitedly talking, pulling her along to show her something.
Lucas was standing alone, watching as they ran away before he heard Henry's voice:
"What did you do now?"
—-
Breathe, Grace. Just breathe
As Anna and Colin showed her up to a gazebo hidden in the far side of the garden, Grace could feel that fear coming back to her.
Fear to feel.
Fear to love.
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to calm down.
What was I thinking coming here and organizing all this?! I should have listened to Gustave and let him argue with Lucas about eating every day.
She opened her eyes at Anna's voice telling her something, then listened as the kids ran around, yelling that they are going to search for a pot of gold.
Oh, why did she come alone with kids? If only Lillian was here she could find an excuse to run back home.
To run away from warmth in his brown eyes.
—--
Lucas looked at Henry.
"I have no idea", he said silently.
Henry watched his friend carefully before he said:
"Grace is an amazing young woman", he spoke cautiously.
Lucas nodded.
"That's just what I told her. And she ran away", Lucas couldn't reason with anxiety in his soul.
Henry nodded, taking a breath in.
"You know, Lucas… John Matthews is a dangerous man. A ruthless man. And his son isn't different either. And he hurt and betrayed Grace", seeing that he got Lucas' attention Henry continued "She is good at helping others, but she never had anyone by her side who could protect her. Lillian can only do so much", as Lucas glanced at the way where kids took Grace to, he heard Henry's voice "Until you came along. She was hurt badly, Lucas. You have to be patient with her".
Lucas glanced back at Henry and swallowed.
"I am not sure that I am ready either, Henry", he whispered.
Henry nodded with understanding.
"I know. And I understand. What Elizabeth did to you was horrible. But, don't let your past destroy your future. Be patient with yourself too, Lucas. You both need to heal, but…", Henry placed his palm on Lucas' arm and said "Trust me - Grace is a keeper".
—--
Grace took a deep breath and walked around the mansion wall. She looked around, her eyes searching for him.
He was standing alone, watching Gustave teaching kids how to put together mini sandwiches so they both taste and look heavenly.
Bill and Henry were sitting at one table, looking at some drawings that kids made. A table was filled with crayons and papers while the little artists turned into tiny master chefs, courtesy of Gustave.
Grace let out a shivering breath.
Now was her chance to make things right.
She plucked up the courage and went toward Lucas, noticing that he already saw her and watched her so intensely that she almost forgot to breathe.
Don't imagine things that are not there, Grace Bennet, she scolded herself.
Her palms were pressed together in front of her, her fingers pressing nervously against each other.
"Hey", she heard his warm, deep voice and her heart skipped a beat.
You can do this, Grace.
She nervously smiled.
"Hey", she swallowed hard "I'm sorry about earlier. I…I'm not used to…", she looked down at her wringing hands as she quietly finished "I'm not used to people giving me compliments".
Time stood still for a moment and then, like in a dream, she saw his fingers taking both her palms, stopping the wringing immediately.
Grace stopped breathing.
Her heart stopped beating.
His fingers were gentle and light on her palms and she watched mesmerized as his thumbs slowly caressed her knuckles.
"Grace?", his silent voice was velvet and just an octave lower. She shivered and he whispered "I know. But, please, know that you never have to fear me", her heart skipped a beat as she looked at his warm, brown eyes.
"I know, Lucas", she silently said.
If only I could be able not to fear myself.
He gave her a small, gentle smile.
"What you did for me today…and ever since we've met…", his eyes were sad, she could see that clearly "It's more than anyone ever did for me", he let out a breath "And I'm not used to that".
Grace smiled sadly.
"What a pair we make, huh?", she quipped, letting out a breath.
Lucas chuckled.
"Indeed", he winked, making her smile just a little bit.
If only I wasn't falling for you, she thought.
—-‐—--
I know he hurt you,
Made you scared of love, too scared to love.
He didn't deserve you,
'Cause your precious heart is a precious heart.
He didn't know what he had and I thank God, oh.
And it's gonna take just a little time,
But you're gonna see that I was born to love you.
What if I fall? (I won't let you fall)
What if I cry? (I'll never make you cry)
And if I get scared? (I'll hold you tighter)
When they're tryna get to you, baby, I'll be the fighter
Look in the mirror,
You're beautiful, so beautiful.
I'm here to remind you
You're my only one, let me be the one.
To heal all the pain that he put you through
With love like you never knew,
Just let me show you.
What if I fall? (I won't let you fall)
What if I cry? (I'll never make you cry)
And if I get scared? (I'll hold you tighter)
When they're tryna get to you, baby, I'll be the fighter
I wanna believe that you got me, baby.
I swear I do from now until the next life.
I wanna love, wanna give you all my heart.
What if I fall? (I won't let you fall)
What if I cry? (oh, I'll never make you cry)
And if I get scared? (I'll hold you tighter)
When they're tryna get to you, baby, I'll be the fighter
(Keith Urban feat. Carrie Underwood - The fighter)