A week later

Lucas sat down on the couch, Boo in his arms, waiting for Beth.

"I know, Leo. Mommy is coming. She knows it's time to eat." His adorable Boo was getting hungry, his tongue pushing in and out of his mouth.

George Leland Bouchard. George was Lucas' paternal grandfather's name and Beth's maternal grandfather's name and obviously Leland was to honor Lee. They called him Leo, knowing it fit him more than the other two names.

"I'm here, so sorry," Elizabeth said, sitting down, smelling very much like vanilla after her shower. She adjusted her robe and Leo immediately latched on. "Hi, handsome," she said, trailing her fingertips along Leo's hairline.

"Hi," Lucas joked.

She looked at Lucas and smiled. "I'm sorry. Are you feeling left out?"

"Nope. I'm feeling perfect. I've got you. I've got Boo and we've got a classic playing on the TV with the fire keeping us warm. What could be better?"

She leaned into his chest and sighed. He was right. Being a mother was a lot but having a wonderful partner and husband to share the load, it was pretty perfect.

"I agree."

"So….I was thinking about Valentine's Day."

"Babe, I don't want to leave him," she blurted.

"I know and I wouldn't expect you to. You are still healing and he is super young. I was going to make you dinner here."

"I'm sorry that we won't…."

He stopped her words with a finger to her lips. "No, it will still be romantic. In a few months, we can approach that subject again."

"You're amazing," she told him, tears in her eyes. "Thank you, Lucas."

"You're welcome. Thank you, Beth. For giving me Boo. He's perfect."

"He is."

…..

Coulter House

"Papaaaaa," Julian whined. "Mama? Pease?"

"Juju, Mama is feeding the babies. Do you want to go see?"

"No. No brudder or sissy."

"Bud, you are tired. You like your brother and sister. Why don't we try to go take a nap?"

"No!"

Julian was going to be four in March and he was wonderful and kind, but his jealousy over the last week had crept up to astronomical proportions. He knew that things had changed, Mama's attention had shifted and Papa's too and he was struggling.

"Come here, bud. Let's go read a story."

Lee picked him up and grabbed two books from the bookshelf and then they sat down on his bed to read. Julian was sniffling but he was listening as Lee read the first couple pages.

"Lee!" Rosie called. "I need a diaper….oops, make that two please!"

"I'll be right back, Juju."

"Noooooooo! My Papa! No babies."

Lee kissed him and brushed his hair back. He needed a haircut. "Juju, no fits. I'll be back soon."

Lee sighed and headed into the master where Rosie was trying to assist the twins but she did need his help.

He grabbed two diapers and the wipes and took Cate from her. "Hi, buggie boo. I love you Catie Cate Coulter," he cooed. He loved his babies, all three, but he had a very soft spot in his heart for his daughter.

Rosie smiled at him and then took care of changing Charlie. "It is amazing how many diapers you go through with two babies," she muttered.

"Yeah for sure."

"How is Julian? Is he down for his nap yet?"

"I was reading to him when you called."

"Oh, he probably didn't like that too much."

"No, but my guess is that when I go back, he will be asleep."

"Can you burp her, Lee?"

"Sure."

Julian came running in crying and climbed up on the bed. "Mama, I need youuuuuu."

"Hi, Juju. I'm changing your brother's diaper."

"No brudder! I potty in bed."

"You wet your bed? Honey, you know you need to pee in the potty. Now you need a bath and I have to change your sheets."

Rosie wanted to cry, much like Charlie was doing. She picked him up and burped him and blinked fast to keep the tears from falling.

"I'll give him a bath and change his sheets, sweetheart. And if he's going to wet the bed, maybe we should put pull-ups on him instead of underwear."

"Noooooooo ups! I not wet bed. Promise, Papa!"

"Come on, Julian. Bath time." He turned to look at Rosie. "Want me to put her in the bassinet?"

"No. I'll take her."

"I'll be back soon and then you can take a bath, alright, Rosie?"

She nodded, fighting those darned tears.

"Honey, I love you so much." He kissed her forehead and she sighed.

"I love you too."

"Is everything alright?" Rosie's Dad asked as he entered the house.

"Yeah. Rosie is overwhelmed and Juju wet the bed and…." he stopped with a sigh.

"I'll give Julian a bath and change his sheets."

"No, Dad, its ok."

"I'll do it," he insisted. "I'm here to help. Go be with Rosie and the twins. You need rest too."

"I really do."

Lee wandered back into the master and sighed again, seeing Rosie rocking both babies on the bed, tears streaming down her face.

"I'm here, sweetheart."

….

The next morning, Grace stopped in to see Boo and Elizabeth since she was still in town.

"I need to run to the store," Lucas said, kissing Grace's cheek and then Elizabeth's lips. "I love you."

"Babe, can you get me some soup?"

"Nonsense, I'll make it," Grace offered.

"Homemade soup? That sounds wonderful."

"Ham and potato?"

"Absolutely."

"Babe, we need ham and potatoes," Elizabeth told him.

"Got it. Be back in an hour," he promised, rushing out the door. Yes, Grace was there but he wanted to be home. He was so in love with this season of life and with Beth and Leo, of course.

Ham, potatoes, milk, steak, salad, sparkling grape juice…

"Dude," Lee said, rushing in the door.

"Hey, Lee. How's the family?"

"Its hard but good…Rosie needs chocolate chunk ice cream…."

"That way," Luke pointed. "Say hi for us."

Lee was halfway down the aisle so Lucas continued his shopping trip. He grabbed cheesecake and fresh fruit and a bouquet of flowers before heading to checkout. Valentine's would be romantic, that's for sure.

He checked out and headed to the jewelry store to pick up the gift he ordered for Beth and then he went home.

He walked in and all was quiet so he thought maybe everyone was asleep.

"Hi, Lucas," Grace said in a whisper from the couch. "Beth and Leo are asleep."

"That's good. I am going to start making dinner. Did you want to stay?"

"I don't want to be in the way."

"You are so helpful, Grace. You won't be in the way."

"How are you doing, Lucas?"

"I'm fine."

"Good. Getting enough sleep? Enough time with Beth?"

"Yep. We are perfect. Everything is great."

"That's good."

"Why do you ask? Did Beth tell you that we aren't? I mean…"

"No no. I just remember how difficult it was with Vi and finding time to be with Will. I'm sorry. It really isn't my business."

"I appreciate your concern, Grace, but we are being very conscious of making time for each other every day."

"I'm so glad. I'll uh…go home now."

"Please stay. I would like you to have dinner with us."

"I made soup…we can have that. Maybe make some biscuits to go with them?"

"Sure, lets do that."

…..

About thirty minutes later

Grace decided that since Leo had just eaten, she would hold him for a bit in the guest room so Beth and Lucas could have dinner together. They insisted it wasn't necessary but she insisted she wanted to spend one on one time with her new grandson so that's what happened.

"Its kind of nice to eat with both hands," she joked, holding up her spoon and a warm biscuit.

"I bought food for tomorrow night," he told her.

"What are we having?"

"Steak, salad, sparkling grape juice and cheesecake for dessert."

"That sounds really good."

"I hope you enjoy it. The whole evening."

"I'm sure it will be perfect."

"What's your dream, babe?" Lucas asked.

"Being married to you, being Leo's Mommy."

"No I mean, what have you always wanted to do, since you were a kid?"

"Really, to be a wife and mother but…I would still love to go to Tuscany."

"We are going to make that happen. Why don't we go for our two year anniversary? Leo will be almost two and we will be able to save up to go for a few weeks. Maybe your parents can watch him."

"And maybe we can work on baby number two on the trip? I think that would be so romantic to say we conceived in Italy."

"Sure. I'm up for it."

She took a spoonful of soup and closed her eyes. Her mom's chicken soup was so good. So comforting. "What's your dream, hon?"

"Well, you know that I want to open a soup kitchen or shelter."

"Yes. I know that that will happen, Luke."

"I hope so. Until we figure out how, I'm going to visit the one downtown and volunteer again."

"That's great, honey. What made you want to do it? Open your own?"

"I can't believe I never told you this. When I was a teenager, I was walking downtown after school and I saw a man sleeping on the ground. It was winter and so cold and he was on the sidewalk next to a building. No pillow, only a threadbare coat covering him. At first I didn't understand what was happening but a friend of mine told me that he was homeless.

"I dug in my pocket and took out a twenty that was supposed to be for getting a burger with my friends but that guy needed it worse than me. So I put it in his hand and then went home instead of going out with my friends. I felt like at least maybe he could get something warm to fill his stomach."

She reached for his hand and gave it a squeeze. "I love you, Lucas Bouchard. What a wonderful man you are."

"I just like to help people."

"I know and as a teen, most boys your age probably would have ignored the guy. Not you. I hope we can teach Leo to be just like you."

"We can try," he said with a grin, missing his son even though he was just down the hall.

Then, as if he knew that Lucas was thinking about him, he started fussing.

"I bet he's hungry," Elizabeth mentioned. "Its been exactly two hours and that boy loves to eat."

She took another spoonful of soup and a bite of biscuit and then unbuttoned her shirt a little further.

"Sorry to interrupt," Grace said, bringing Leo out.

"That's okay. Thanks, Mom. Would you like some soup while I feed Boo?"

Lucas got up and got his mother-in-law a bowl of soup and came back.

After Leo was done eating, Elizabeth handed his little snuggly body to Lucas for burping and buttoned her shirt.

"Hi, Bud. Are you full now?" Leo looked up at him as if he was listening. "Mommy has the good stuff, huh?"

"Lucas," Elizabeth laughed, blushing.

Lucas leaned towards her and kissed her, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you back, hon."

Grace went home about an hour later after some more baby snuggles.

As the family of three were snuggling on the couch, they heard something. Then they noticed a mess forming on Leo's sleeper.

"Guess he needs a bath tonight," Elizabeth giggled.

"I'll do it. Come on, bud, let's go clean you up."

Elizabeth sipped hot cocoa while she waited. After a bit, she decided to go check on her boys. She wandered into the master and instead of hearing the bathtub water running, she heard the shower. She walked quietly to the doorway and heard Lucas.

"There, how's the temp, Boo? Let's get you smelling better. Here's the soap Mommy uses to bathe you. It smells so good."

Elizabeth smiled, falling more in love with her husband. He was so gentle and kind. Such a good husband and father.

"You know, I can't wait until you start to talk and walk and do all the things. I can't wait to teach you how to kick a ball and throw a ball. Just not in the house. Pretty sure Mommy wouldn't like that. In the meantime, I'll be patient. I don't want to rush this part either."

Elizabeth stepped into the bathroom and waited by the sink with a towel. Lucas washed Leo's hair and kept chatting with him, filling Elizabeth with love and making butterflies flutter in her stomach.

Lucas opened the shower door and stepped out, dressed in black swim trunks and Leo's tiny bare body tucked in his arms protectively.

"Hi."

Elizabeth smiled. "Hi." She placed the towel over Leo and reached up to give Lucas a long, slow kiss. "I love you so much, Lucas Bouchard."

"I love you too."

The doorbell rang so Elizabeth let Lucas finish taking care of Leo and headed to answer the door.

"Helen, come in," Elizabeth said, hugging her mother-in-law. "Wow, it's snowing?"

"It is. Supposed to get about four inches by midnight."

"I think you should stay over then. Our guest room is all ready for you. Is Roger here?"

"No, he's not. Is Lucas here? I'd like to talk to you both and perhaps snuggle my new grandson."

"Yes, Lucas just bathed him so he should be down soon. Would you like some tea?"

"I'd love some."

…

Lucas joined them a few minutes later with a warm and snoozy Leo, handing him to Helen and kissing her cheek.

"Its good to see you, Mom. Is Roger here?"

"No, dear. He told me to handle this myself."

"Handle what?"

She pulled out two envelopes from her purse, handing one to him. He looked up at her with a perplexed expression.

"Its from your Dad."

"It is? Why are you just now giving it to me? He's been gone…"

"I had to wait. It's part of your Dad's will."

"What is?"

"Babe, why don't you open it?" Elizabeth asked, putting her hand on his thigh.

He sighed and opened the envelope.

"My dear son,

"If you're reading this, you have welcomed your own little one into the world. You know what it means to have unwavering love for someone that you and your soulmate have created together. I wish I was there to meet her but I know that she must be amazing and perfect for you." Lucas leaned over to Elizabeth and kissed her temple.

"He's right. You're amazing, Beth."

She smiled and he continued reading.

"The second envelope your mother has will explain more, but I need you to know that when your mother and I welcomed you, our only son, into the world, we made plans with my accountant and tax advisor and I had you and your future family in mind.

"I loved you, Lucas, with every bit of my heart and I know that you will use your head and your heart to make the best decision for your own family. Take care of them and your mother for me.

"Your Father

Martin"

"Mom?"

She handed him the second envelope and Lucas's heart could feel the importance of whatever was inside.

"Babe?"