Grace carried the roses to the kitchen to put them in a vase.
As the water ran into a vase, Grace's fingertips gently brushed over lovely petals of the roses as she got lost in thoughts, remembering Lucas' words…
"You are my angel. You are my salvation. You are my new beginning. And I never wanna see those beautiful eyes cry again. All I want to do with the time I have left is to hold you in my arms and thank God every second for sending you in my life".
Grace bit her lower lip remembering how he kissed her…
Oh, I miss him already!
Lillian came inside the kitchen and as she saw her sister standing still, water running she creased her eyebrows as she went toward her.
"Grace?", she called.
Grace jumped up slightly, startled.
It was at that moment that Lillian noticed the bouquet.
"Oh, Gracie!", she gasped with a smile "Do I even need to ask where did those come from?"
Grace smiled, handing her a note.
Lillian read it and rushed toward Grace, enveloping her in a bear hug, doing a silly little dance, making Grace hug her back and giggle.
"Oh, he is so in love with you!", squealed Lillian.
Grace let out a breath.
"Oh, Lillian, I miss him", sighed Grace.
At that moment the phone rang.
"Hold that thought", Lillian said, winking as she ran to pick up the phone while Grace put the roses in a vase, deciding that she will take them to her room.
She took a vase and a note, and left the kitchen.
Just as she was halfway upstairs she heard Lillian calling out:
"Grace? Phone call for you", Lillian's smile widened "a VERY important political phone call for you".
Grace's heart skipped a beat.
It's him!
It's my Lucas!
She ran back downstairs with a huge smile on her face, grabbed the phone and pushing the roses into her sister's arms, she pleaded:
"Please, take them to my room", she smiled as Lillian nodded and left upstairs.
Grace felt her heart skipping a beat as she answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Are you taking the kids or some flowers to your room?", his velvety voice caressed her senses even over the phone.
"Lucas, I love them. Thank you so much", she smiled shyly.
"You are welcome, mon coeur", he replied in a husky tone of voice.
Hearing him speaking in French, Grace leaned on the wall beside her and closed her eyes.
"You're not playing fair", she whispered gently.
"Oh?", he said, his lips curling up.
"Mhm. You know what your French does to me", she added silently, biting her lower lip a bit.
Lucas smiled, leaning in his chair.
"Excuse-moi, ma chérie", he whispered.
Grace opened her eyes, her smile impossibly huge.
"Je viens d'appeler pour te dire que combien je t'aime", Lucas whispered.
Grace kicked the wall with her palm, taking a deep breath in.
"Je t'aime aussi", she whispered back and her smile grew as she heard him inhale deeply. She waited for a few seconds, then gently asked "How is your shoulder?"
Lucas let out a breath.
"Annoying. Keeps me from doing things I want, but can't", he replied, holding back a smile.
Grace grew concerned.
"Things like what? Please, don't tell me that you…", she started to speak, but he interrupted her by whispering:
"Things like hugging you. Things like caressing you. And no, I didn't exert it", he finished with a smile.
Grace felt blood rushing to her face at his loving words.
"Well, don't go on forgetting to take your medicine and stay careful for a few days, and it will heal. In the meantime", she smiled as she whispered "I will make sure you don't exert yourself".
"And how are you going to do that?", asked Lucas, smiling lazily as he took a sip of his tea
Grace took a deep breath in.
"I'll take care of you, Lucas", she whispered.
Lucas' chest constricted at her loving words.
He leaned in his chair.
"I miss you, my angel", he whispered.
Grace's heart came close to melting completely.
"I miss you too", she whispered "I wish you were here".
Lucas smiled softly.
"Careful what you wish for, sweetheart…it may come true when you least expect it", he said warmly.
Grace sighed, her smile never wavering, not even for a bit.
"So", she changed the subject "When are we meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Williams tomorrow?"
Lucas put his cup back on the table and got up.
"At eleven. Is that alright with you?"
Grace nodded.
"Sure", she bit her lower lip but couldn't hold her smile back "I can't wait".
Lucas nodded, a small smile curling up his lips.
"To meet Harry and Susan? Yeah, they are also looking forward to…", Lucas started to speak, but Grace interrupted him.
"To see you", she whispered and heard him inhale sharply.
Grace felt her heart almost stopping.
What was wrong?
"Lucas?", she silently called.
He was silent for a moment or two before she heard him speak again.
"I…uh…I have to go. Henry says it's important. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night", and before Grace could say anything, he hung up.
Grace stood still for a moment, then looked at the phone before she slowly put it away.
She slowly went upstairs and into her room.
What have I done?
She slowly undressed and put on her nightgown and robe. Putting on her slippers she saw the roses and swallowed hard.
Grace worried her lower lip, not being able to calm down
She left her room to check on Lillian and the children.
They were fast asleep.
Grace rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache setting in.
She sighed, deciding to go downstairs to get some water.
Bringing a brush with her, Grace took the combs out as she walked toward the kitchen.
After taking a few sips of water Grace sat down at the chair and slowly brushed her long wavy hair.
She kept on replaying the last few minutes of their conversation, trying to understand what set Lucas off so suddenly.
What did she say?
I can't wait… To see you.
Grace's hand stopped at the end of her hair and she placed it on the table.
She didn't believe for one bit that it had something to do with Henry.
Putting her head in her hands, Grace closed her eyes, fighting tears.
Did I mess it up?
And at that moment there was a soft knock at the doors.
Grace flinched, startled.
She glanced at the clock on the wall.
21.37.
Another knock.
Well, this IS the orphanage. Perhaps somebody was bringing in a child.
Grace stood up and walked quickly toward the doors. As she walked, she cringed remembering that she wasn't properly dressed.
Well, it's not my fault it's time for bed.
With that thought she unlocked the doors and opened them…
A gasp escaped her.
"Lucas", she breathed out before he stepped inside and took her hand.
Grace was speechless.
Am I dreaming?
Lucas was breathing hard, his hair was a mess, his hand warm despite the cold outside.
And she realized…
He ran all the way to get to her!
Her eyes widened as she watched his handsome face that was so dear to her.
Could I possibly love you more?
"I apologize for calling on you so late, but…", he locked his gaze with hers "I had to see you", as Grace tried to reply, Lucas quickly interrupted her "Please, let me finish", as she nodded, he continued "Grace… I never had what you are giving to me so freely, so sincerely. I never had anybody telling me so openly how much they care. I am scared that I will mess this up. I love you so much and I want you to be happy, and I want to show you how much you mean to me just because… just because you do. A lot", he let out a shuddering breath "But, I was frowned upon because of that last time I tried to show my emotions… My affections were belittled and thrown back in my face... I was scared that you would think that the rose garden and candles were too much…that my bouquet was too much…that you would hate such grand gestures…"
Hate such grand gestures?!
Grace couldn't stay quiet anymore.
"Lucas!", she called out to get his attention and he fell silent.
She knew what this was about.
She knew WHO this was about.
Elizabeth Thornton.
Grace took a deep breath in.
Oh, how I would love to have a little chat with that Little Miss Perfect!
Grace looked straight into Lucas' eyes.
"I asked you this once, when you first told me about your heartbreak and I will ask you one more time - why are you apologizing for being the man who feels deeply?", Grace gently cupped his cheek "Nothing you do is wrong. Everything you've done for me took my breath away and showed me how much you care. YOU take my breath away. You always know what I need or think before I even say it. That's how attuned you are to my heart", her fingertips gently caressed his beard "How could you think that I don't like our rose garden with candles? And your roses?", her cheeks warmed up as her fingers searched for that glorious dimple in his cheek "I probably kissed each one of them".
Lucas let out a breath, his eyes searching hers.
"And what if I told you that I would give you the Moon if you wanted it… what would you say?", Lucas asked silently.
Grace's face shone with a smile.
"I'd say that I'll keep it in my heart because YOU gave it to me", she whispered.
Lucas' face softened and he closed his eyes, leaning his forehead on hers.
"Where have you been all my life?", he whispered.
Grace smiled at his question and whispered:
"Now, there is something I want you to do for me right now", she whispered, causing his eyes to flew open.
"Anything", he whispered back.
Grace took her hand from his grasp and cupped both of his cheeks.
Looking directly into his eyes, she whispered huskily:
"Smile, my Lucas… I wanna kiss those sweet dimples of yours".
His eyes darkened at her tone of voice and his heart soared, freed of fear and pain thanks to her love.
He let out a breath and did what she asked of him.
He smiled.
Grace lovingly smiled back at Lucas before leaning in and placing a kiss on his left dimple.
And the flames licked up her nerves at the feel of him on her lips.
She breathed heavily as she went to his other cheek, touching it briefly with her lips before she felt his arm hugging her and pulling her closer to him.
Her heart raced at the look in his eyes. His pupils were almost dark as he drank her in with his eyes, only now noticing the state of her dress as she was pressed against his hard body.
She didn't pull away after kissing his dimples. She sneaked one hand in his dark hair, messing it up even more as she gently massaged his head.
He half closed his eyes at her touch, letting out a sigh.
"Lucas", Grace whispered, causing him to open his eyes again and look at her. She placed her other hand on his pulse point and whispered "You once told me that I never have to fear you", her breath grew harder with his breath mingling with hers "Well, same goes for you. You never have to fear me. You never have to hold back and pretend something you're not. Not with me… Because, I love you deeply, my Lucas…"
And as those words left her mouth, Lucas slightly pulled away.
Grace watched in shock as he pulled off a sling from his left arm only to wrap both of his arms around her and pull her close to him.
And in next moment, his lips crushed on hers!
Grace whimpered in delight, sneaking both of her hands in his hair. She already knew how much he loved her hands in that place and she decided to give him what he wants.
Her fingertips gently pressed against his head, instantly getting a reaction from Lucas. He shivered against her and a sigh escaped him…enabling Grace to deepen the kiss.
Lucas gasped in delight at her bold move and hugged her tightly, feeling every soft curve of her body against him.
He broke their kiss just for a second to get some much needed air, his eyes never leaving hers.
She grinned mischievously.
"We could get in trouble for meeting up like this", she quipped.
He winked at her, quite saucily.
"You said you couldn't wait to see me and that you wish I was here", his lips brushed against hers as he whispered "I told you to be careful for what you wish for, sweetheart…it may come true when you least expect it", and as she inhaled a shivering breath he stole it with his kiss.
—--
Kiss me, out of the bearded barley
Nightly, beside the green, green grass
Swing, swing, (swing, swing) swing the spinning step
You wear those shoes and I will wear that dress.
Oh, kiss me, beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me.
Kiss me, (kiss me) down by the broken tree house
Swing me, (swing me) upon its hanging tire
Bring, bring, (bring, bring) bring your flowered hat
We'll take the trail marked on your father's map
Oh, kiss me, beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me.
Kiss me, beneath the milky twilight
Lead me out on the moonlit floor
Lift your open hand
Strike up the band and make the fireflies dance
Silver moon's sparkling
So kiss me,
So kiss me,
So kiss me,
So kiss me.
("Kiss me" - Sixpence None The Richer)