Lillian stopped in front of the doors of the orphanage and was about to unlock the doors, but
then couldn't resist and glanced at Grace with a smile.
"Are you ready? The bridal circus is about to begin!", she quipped, her smile widening at the
sight of Grace's quick nod and a smile that could blind the sun itself. Lillian unlocked the doors
and opened them…
"GRACE!!!!", Molly and Florence were first to rush in, even before Helen who shook her head at
the two women elbowing their way beside her. She watched as they rushed toward Grace who
jumped up and down in joy and welcomed FloMo power into a warm, friendly embrace.
Helen's lips curled up slightly and her heart warmed with love as she saw pure blissful
happiness on her soon to be daughter-in-law' face.
Dear girl.
Lillian smiled widely as she hugged Helen and Lucas' Mother felt so at home with these two
remarkable girls. They spread warmth and love to everybody around them.
"Hello, Helen and welcome!", Lillian warmly said.
Helen hugged Lillian with a warm smile before she turned to see Florence yapping Grace's ears
off and shook her head in disbelief.
"Mrs. Yost, do you mind?", she asked in her calm voice.
Florence flinched startled as ever poised and elegant Helen Bouchard raised one eyebrow at
her. Grinning nervously, Florence stepped aside - at least for a millisecond - and Helen's whole
face transformed with a warm smile as she walked toward smiling Grace and two of them
hugged warmly.
Helen hugged precious young woman who will become her son's wife in two days and held her
tightly, her heart breathing out in relief… because, now she was certain that her darling boy will
be looked after, cherished and loved forever.
Swallowing hard, trying not to cry in front of sharp eye of ever nosy Molly, Helen lovingly
caressed Grace's soft, brunette hair and whispered:
"Thank you, dear heart, for making my son so happy", she placed a gentle Motherly kiss on
Grace's blushing cheek and pulling back, she took her palms and smiled as she asked "How are
you feeling?"
Grace exhaled shakily, her trademark warm smile never wavering from her face.
"Excited. Nervous. Beyond happy. Like I will jump out of my skin!", she giggled as Helen's warm
smile turned into a small laugh of understanding and Grace added "And I feel like my heart will
burst out from my chest!"
Helen nodded, her smile growing, and was about to say something…
But, Molly was faster.
"Oh, about that…we'll help you deal with that. You don't have to worry about that", said Molly
and Florence nodded quickly, grinning like a maniac.
Grace slightly creased her eyebrows in confusion.
"Help me deal with what?", she asked, completely puzzled.
Molly smirked.
"With wedding night issues", said Molly and completely ignoring Helen' stunned look and
Grace's embarrassment, she continued to talk "Every bride has her own fears and…", but
before she could go on, Lillian grabbed her hand and dragged her and Florence toward the
living room saying:
"…And let's at least give Grace a chance to greet her guests, okay?"
Helen smiled softly at Lillian's smooth response to FloMo power and she followed them, leaving
Grace to greet Minnie, Angela and Mei Suo. Her friend from childhood in orphanage Eve and
Lucas' PR manager Sally were coming a bit later. Eve was on the train from New York and Sally
was finishing some business. It was fine as young women planned to go outside in the evening
and have a bachelorette party. Now, it was time for the bridal shower.
Grace exhaled in relief, grateful for her sister's quick reaction and she rushed over to give
Angela a hug. Sweet young girl hugged her back and smiled.
"Congratulations, Miss Grace. I am so happy for you", said Angela, warming Grace's heart.
Grace gently squeezed the darling girl's shoulders.
"Thank you, my dear Angela. And I am so glad that you could come! It wouldn't be the same
without you and Cooper", she said and smiled as Minnie hugged her warmly "I hope that they
won't have trouble for skipping school?"
Minnie gave Grace a calm smile.
"No problem at all. Our new teacher, Ned's daughter Katie, said it is no problem at all. They will
be just fine", she said and added warmly "My friend, you are positively glowing! It does my heart
so good to see you like this. You deserve all the love and happiness in the world."
Grace could feel tears filling her eyes and as two of them rolled fast down her cheeks, she
smiled as she hugged her dear friend and her daughter once again.
"Thank you so much", she whispered.
When Minnie and Angela stepped aside, Grace let out a small squeal of joy as she saw Mei
Suo. Her lovely Asian friend from Hope Valley smiled warmly and they hugged.
"Mei Suo, thank you so much for coming!", Grace said as they pulled away and looked at each
other, their smiles honest and warm.
Mei Suo gently squeezed Grace's palm.
"Thank you for inviting me. I cannot tell you how happy I am for you and Lucas", she said
sincerely "You two are made for each other, Grace. I never saw him so happy as he is with
you."
Grace's smile grew at her friend's words.
"Thank you so much. He makes me happy too", grabbing her friend's hand, she gently tugged it
and led her toward the living room "Come on."
When they entered the living room Lillian was already pouring tea and serving biscuits and
muffins, chatting amicably with Minnie and making sure that Angela can reach her offerings.
It didn't escape Helen how both sisters were gentle and attentive to Angela. She was a sweet
girl and obviously was attached to Grace. She couldn't help but smile softly as Angela took
Grace's palm between her palms.
"Miss Grace, I am helping Mama in the café now", said Angela.
Grace's face lit up.
"Really?"
Minnie smiled proudly at her daughter.
"Her blueberry cookies became a specialty. People can't get enough of them", said Minnie.
Grace's smile grew.
"That's wonderful, Angela! I am so proud of you", Grace said warmly.
Angela gently squeezed Grace's palm.
"I couldn't do it without you, Miss Grace. Thank you for showing me how to do it", she said
quietly, moving Grace so much that tears filled her eyes and she hugged the sweet girl.
Minnie's smile grew.
"She is right", looking up at Lillian, she said "Your sister showed Angela how to cut dough with
glass, how to put it in the tray", gently caressing Angela's back, Minnie added "She said you had
blind children at the orphanage before?"
Lillian nodded.
"Yes, we had a boy who couldn't see at the orphanage. I consulted with some specialists and we
went for training to learn how to help kids like him and Angela", said Lillian woth a smile.
Minnie took a deep breath in.
"It's wonderful what you two are doing for these children. You change their lives for the better",
she said warmly and looked around herself "It is such a warm, nice home you have here."
Lillian smiled warmly. She heard from Grace how kind and good hearted Minnie was and now
that she met her, she liked her even more.
"Thank you. Would you like to have a tour?", offered Lillian and added "The kids are napping,
but we can be quiet and look around the rest of the house."
Minnie nodded, a gentle smile never leaving her face.
"That would be lovely, thank you", she replied as she got up.
Angela turned in direction of Minnie's voice and asked:
"Can I come too, Mama?"
Minnie looked at Lillian, not sure how to reply.
But, Lillian smiled warmly and went toward Angela. Gently taking her hands in hers she warmly
said:
"Of course you can, Angela. Here, hold onto my hand", she put Angela's palm in the crook of
her arm and walked slowly, making sure to avoid any obstacles for the Canfield girl. Minnie was
right behind them.
And as they walked away Florence and Molly watched them go like two hawks.
The minute they were out of sight Florence jumped up from her seat and went to sit down
beside Grace, Molly hot on her heels.
Plopping down on the sofa Florence said:
"Okay, we have to be quick before they return. It's not really proper to talk about such things in
front of the children", she deadpanned.
Grace's eyes widened in panic as she realized what this was about.
"Florence, I really don't think that…", Grace tried to stop them, hoping against hope that they will
remember that Lucas' Mother was in the room with them. She could feel her cheeks and neck
heating up from embarrassment.
But before she could finish, Florence interrupted her:
"I remember my first wedding night. You know, with my late husband. Not Ned. Anyway. I
thought that I was going to die", she said, her eyes wide as saucers.
Helen nearly choked on her tea and she quickly put her teacup on a saucer. It clinked, but it
didn't affect Florence and Molly one bit.
Molly nodded, glancing at Florence as she sat on the other side beside Grace and put her two
cents in:
"From pleasure."
Before anyone could say anything, Florence rambled on:
"But, even though I could scarcely breathe as he laid on top of me, I felt…", and before she
could finish the sentence, Molly added smugly:
"Pleasure. And passion."
Florence's eyes went wide open.
"Well, maybe you did. I froze", she said, her voice slightly high pitched.
Molly raised her eyebrows as she looked at her longtime friend, pointing at Grace with her head
as like she tried to warn Florence about not upsetting Grace.
"But, you warmed up soon enough, right?", asked Molly.
Flo grinned as a Cheshire cat as she replied:
"Oh, I sure did!"
Molly smirked and wiggling her eyebrows, she asked:
"Was it good with Ned the first time too?"
And in that moment Helen's voice was heard:
"Alright, that's enough!", she said sharply, stunning FloMo power in silence. She got up and
went toward the sofa, sending Florence away with one sharp glare and she spoke in a
matter-of-fact voice "I think it's time for gifts. Why don't you get yours and Mei Suo, would you
please find Lillian, Minnie and Angela?", as Mei Suo nodded, her eyes full of understanding
Helen gave Florence and Molly one more glare sending them away.
With everybody gone, Helen sat down beside Grace. The poor girl was looking down at her
hands, her cheeks flushed in a bright shade of red.
Helen's heart went out to her. Not having a Mother to talk to about these things and now being
ambushed by these two yapping silly women must have made Grace feel horrible. And, Helen
knew that she was embarrassed because all this was said in her presence.
But it is not your fault, dear heart.
Helen gently took a hold of Grace's fingers and said in a calm tone of voice:
"Grace? Please, look at me", as the sweet girl hesitantly raised her eyelashes and looked at her,
Helen gently squeezed her fingers and said warmly "Please, don't be embarrassed because
those two cuckoos said all that in front of me", and just one look at Grace's hazel eyes said to
Helen that it was exactly how she felt. She pressed her lips tightly together, her facial
expression turning sympathetic "I am so mad at them for upsetting and embarrassing you!
Grace", she gave Grace's hands one more soft squeeze "Don't look at me as Lucas' Mother
now. Talk to me like a woman to a woman", she held her gaze for a moment before she gently
and cautiously asked "Is there anything you want to ask me about that?"
Grace swallowed, a lump forming in her throat before she slightly shook her head, not saying a
word.
Perhaps that will end this conversation before I die from embarrassment.
Helen took a deep breath in and nodded.
"Alright. Perhaps I could explain something to you", she said.
Grace's eyes went wide open in panic.
Perhaps not.
Helen saw her facial expression and gently smiled.
"Don't worry. I won't go in details. Just know that you can ask me anything you want and I will try
to answer as best as I can", her eyes softened "What I can tell you for sure is that my son loves
you. He loves you deeply. You are never far away from his thoughts. There was no conversation
during these months that your name wasn't mentioned…even before anything happened
between you two", she put a stray curl behind Grace's ear and added quietly "Martin and I
raised him to be a gentleman and a good person. And he surpassed our expectations. I know
my son. And that is why I know that he won't make you do anything you don't want to. That he
will be patient and gentle with you"
in her peripheral vision Helen saw Lillian, Minnie and Angela
coming back and she gently squeezed Grace's shoulder "Promise me that you will come to me if
you have any fears or doubts."
Grace pressed her lips tightly together, moved beyond words.
"I will…Thank you", she whispered.
As everybody stepped back into the room Helen put on a smile as she looked up at Lillian.
"Should we start with gifts now?", as Lillian nodded with a happy smile and sat down at Grace's
side, Helen turned around to get her gift.
Lillian glanced at Grace and noticed her flushed complexion. As the ladies chattered, Lillian
leaned toward Grace and asked quietly:
"What happened? Are you okay?"
Grace let out a breath.
"I'll tell you later", she whispered and looked up as Helen turned back and took Grace's palm in
hers.
"Something old", said Helen as she gave a dark green jewelry box to Grace.
Grace took it slowly and as she opened it, she gasped at the beauty laying inside the box,
resting on a dark blue velvet.
A diamond bracelet and hair comb with diamonds at the edge of it.
"Oh, it is exquisite!", gasped Molly.
Grace looked up at Helen, barely able to breathe from emotions. Helen smiled softly and started
to talk:
"These belonged to my Grandmother. She got it from her Mother on her wedding day and she
passed it to my Mother who gave it to me", her entire face softened as her eyes filled with tears
of happiness "Now it's time for me to pass it on to you", blinking fast, she let out a breath and
smiled, reminding Grace so much of her beloved Lucas. Helen took another box and said gently
"And this belonged to Martin's Mother", as Grace opened the box, a collective gasp was heard
as a breathtakingly beautiful diamond necklace shone from the icily white velvet "It has been in
this family for many generations. And all Bouchard brides got it", she felt a few tears escape her
eyes as she noticed Grace blinking tears away and Helen softly added "I hope that you will carry
on tradition by giving it to your and Lucas' daughter or your son's bride one day."
Grace's breath got hitched and closing the lid, she put the boxes down on her lap and pulled
Helen in a hug, smiling as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Thank you so much", she whispered. As they pulled away, Helen wiped Grace's tears and
softly smiled.
Grace gave the boxes to Lillian who put them beside her on the sofa, her smile mixing with tears
as well. Grace deserved to be loved like this. And it made Lillian feel so happy and calm at
seeing her sister like this.
Minnie got up from her seat with a soft smile.
"This is from us. Something new", she gave Grace a box wrapped in red paper with white bow
"We all hope that you and Lucas will be able to use these small tokens of our friendship for
many years to come."
Grace smiled warmly at her friend, so moved by Minnie's words. She slowly unwrapped the gift
and picked up a lid.
"Oh, Minnie!", she whispered, her eyes shining with tears as she took out a brand new family
Bible and a cutter for dough made in shape of two joined hearts "It is beautiful!"
Minnie's smile grew.
"Joseph made a cutter especially for you two", she said.
Grace pressed her lips tightly together before she got up and went toward Minnie and Angela
and hugged them.
"Thank you so much", she murmured quietly. Minnie and Angela hugged her back.
"You're welcome, my dear friend", whispered Minnie.
Mei Suo got up and walked toward Grace. She smiled warmly as she gave Grace a beautiful
handmade blanket, eliciting a collective gasp from all the ladies as she helped Grace to unfold
it.
It was made of beige and brown material with red hearts embroidered in every cube.
"This is from me. Something new. I made it especially for you and Lucas. May it keep you warm
through the cold", she said quietly.
Grace brushed her fingers slowly over embroidered red hearts and looked up at Mei Suo. Her
good heart constricted as she noticed sadness in Mei Suo's eyes. Just for a moment…only to
have it covered up with a warm, sincere, friendly smile.
Grace hugged her and whispered:
"Thank you, my dear friend. It is so beautiful...We will treasure it forever."
She watched as Mei Suo nodded and sat back down. Grace wondered what was troubling her
and decided that tonight, when they go out, she will offer an ear to Mei Suo, hoping she will
confide in her…
And as she thought about it Florence and Molly ran in baby steps toward her, grinning like idiots.
Without a word, they placed a small box on Grace's lap and waited with baited breath for her to
open it.
Florence immediately jumped in:
"Something borrowed. I had it on my wedding day with Ned", her eyes widened and she quickly
added "Oh, don't worry, I washed it!"
Grace's throat slowly started to close up in panic, but she knew she has to open the gift…
And as she slowly opened it, Grace closed her eyes, trying not to blush as she saw what was
inside.
Florence nodded eagerly, grinning like a cat that just ate canary and quickly pulled out a lacy
bridal accessory…
"A garter toss!", Molly pitched in.
Mei Suo slightly creased her eyebrows in confusion.
"What is that?", she asked.
But before anybody else could answer, Molly rushed to explain:
"A garter toss is a tradition at weddings here. During the ceremony a bride sits down on the
chair and the groom has to remove the garter from the bride's leg and toss it to a group of single
men. The one who catches it is believed to be the next in line for marriage", Molly smirked
devilishly "Now, he can take it off with his hands or his teeth, but for that he'll need some help.
Therefore, something borrowed", she reached behind herself and turned back toward Grace
whose skin was becoming a nice shade of red again at Molly's graphic explanation. She gave
Grace a small box and as the bride-to-be opened it Florence grinned as she added her own two
cents in:
"Scissors! If it gets stuck!"
Lillian gasped slightly, not sure should she burst to laugh or worry about the fact that Lucas'
Mother was in attendance and heard all this.
Quickly she looked at Grace and upon seeing her sister embarrassed beyond words Lillian
opened her mouth to say something to protect Grace from these two lunatics…
But before she could say a word, Helen took a garter toss and scissors, sending both Florence
and Molly a death glare that made them wilter under intensity of it.
"You do realize that the giving of scissors, or any cutting tool, as a gift usually means there will
be a divorce or other ending of a relationship in the future…", Helen's eyes darkened a bit and
she took Grace's palm in hers. She squeezed it gently to encourage dear girl and then she icily
asked "Are you implying that my son and his beautiful bride will be divorced?!"
Molly gulped and shook her head, slowly putting the scissors back in the box.
Helen nodded curtly.
"Good", turning to pale Florence she spoke "And, Mrs. Yost, I must say that I didn't expect this
from you. You were married twice. I thought that you should know that these are not the kinds of
gifts to give a young bride. Something borrowed does not mean a garter that has already been
worn!"
Florence nodded, her eyes wide open and she quickly put the garter away.
Helen took a deep breath in.
"Excellent. Now…perhaps we could all have more of that delicious tea and cookies, Lillian?",
she offered and Lillian gave her a small smile, her eyes sparkling with admiration and
gratefulness.
Slowly, but surely Grace calmed down and while the other women chatted about this and that
she took Helen's palm in hers. As Lucas' Mother looked at her, Grace softly smiled and
whispered:
"Thank you. For everything."
Helen gave her a soft smile back and with a gentle squeeze of Grace's hand she continued her
talk with Minnie.
