Disclaimer: I do not own the characters within this story. All rights and much respect go to Crown Media, Hallmark, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr., the actors, creators, and writers of the show "When Calls the Heart."
Chapter 1- Summer in the Sand
North Carolina State University…
As her name was called, she stood and elegantly crossed the stage to accept her Master's Degree in Education. She stood next to Dr. Marion Daniels, Dean of Education, as her father repeatedly snapped picture after picture of the pair. She stepped off the stage and returned to her seat.
Following the ceremony she was enthusiastically greeted by several of her Phi Sigma Theta sorority sisters as they hustled her out into the parking lot.
"Are you packed?" Hadley Jones asked.
"I am, but since I didn't know where we're going, I wasn't sure what to pack," Elizabeth replied.
"Not much if we have anything to say about it," Hadley replied.
"Stop it girls. You know that's not me. So, where are we going?" Elizabeth asked.
Abby Avery, Elizabeth's nearest and dearest friend spoke up, "Summer in the Sand festival at Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington. All you need are shorts, bathing suits, and a nice dress to go out to that fabulous seafood restaurant at the marina, which also happens to be attached to our hotel for the weekend."
"There are going to be a boatload of handsome guys there too. You can have your pick of any of them, Elizabeth," Raven Ackerman remarked.
"Come on, you know me and I haven't changed since we graduated. I'm not into hook ups…never will be, so don't push it," Elizabeth reminded them.
"Elizabeth, they are just teasing you. I'm married so I'll hang out with you…that is until Bill gets to town tomorrow night," Abby stated.
Katie Yost held up her keys, "I have the biggest vehicle; pile in and let's go. Anything you need but don't have, you can buy when we get there."
Elizabeth and the others piled into Katie's Suburban, leaving Raleigh on I-440 and headed toward the coast and fun in the sun.
The six women had been best of friends since pledging in the Phi Sigma Theta sorority as freshmen at NC State University. All of them graduated together with Abby, and Raven moving away to start their careers. Katie continued on at the Veterinary School, moving to Atlanta, Georgia following graduation.
Abby went on to culinary school and opened a restaurant in Washington, DC. Rosemary completed paralegal school and moved back to Raleigh where she was employed by a prestigious legal firm. Hadley moved to Virginia where she attended medical school, and was now a practicing pediatrician in Baltimore, Maryland. Last but not least, Raven had found it difficult to find a job in her field, Public Administration, so she covered her bills by waiting tables at Captain Jack's by the Bay, located in Nags Head, NC.
Jack stepped out into the hallway at the 3rd Precinct humbly accepting the applause of his brothers and sisters in blue. Everyone considered him to be the single suitable candidate for the only detective position that had opened in recent years, and they were right.
Jack was a hard worker; he took his job seriously, but after working weekends for the past two months he was looking forward to a little fun. "So, where are you guys taking me?"
"It's a surprise, but I understand that it is a smorgasbord of beautiful women," Kyle Morris stated.
"I hate surprises. Where are we going?" Jack asked again.
"Summer in the Sand Festival at Wrightsville Beach in Wilmington," Jack's close friend, Lee Coulter admitted.
"Look guys, I appreciate the time away and I'm sure that we'll have a great time but I'll find a woman on my own…no hookups for me, okay?" Jack remarked.
"Sure thing, but we're going to blow off some steam, so I say if anyone asks, we're from Boston," Kyle joked as the others laughed.
David Taylor, a close friend of Jack's but a rookie on the police force boldly remarked, "That's right…what happens in Wilmington, stays in Wilmington!"
Jack, Lee, Kyle, David and dispatcher Steven Fisher climbed into Kyle's Ford Explorer and left for their weekend adventure.
The women arrived at their destination as Abby and Katie stepped inside the Shell Island Resort, located right on Wrightsville Beach to check in. They secured three rooms, one for socializing, and the other two were split up with three women in one and two in the other. That is until tomorrow night when Abby secured another room for her and her husband, Bill.
Elizabeth stepped outside onto the boardwalk and was captivated by the waves crashing onto the shore. She stepped back inside and headed toward the elevator with her friends just as a group of men entered the office to check in.
"Did you see that?" David asked Kyle.
"I sure did," he replied. "I think this is going to be a very memorable weekend."
"Stop it guys. Can't we just have a nice weekend, maybe a round of golf, and some good food without it being about women?" Jack asked.
"WOW, he must not have seen them," Kyle joked.
"Jack, don't you know that everything is eventually about women?" David joked. "We're going to get you a woman this weekend."
"Guys, I don't need a woman in my life right now. I need to put all of my energy into my new job, Time for a woman will come later. Besides, I don't want the kind of woman you're talking about," Jack scoffed.
"Okay Jack; tell us what you're looking for…" David pushed for more information.
"I'm not talking about this in the lobby. It's personal; I'll know her when I meet her, and I don't think it will be here," Jack stated as they approached the counter as a group.
They secured three rooms. Jack had his own room as this was a celebration weekend for him making detective. Kyle was rooming with David and Lee was bunking with Steven.
They headed to the elevator and the fifth floor where their three rooms were adjoining. Once the elevator door opened on the third floor, they heard women laughing as they approached the door.
Hadley squeezed into the elevator before Elizabeth advised, "Hey Hadley, this is going up. We need to wait for the next one."
Hadley smiled at the men inside as she backed out of the elevator.
"Hey, you can still ride up with us," Steven's voice was heard coming from the back although he was blocked by David and Kyle.
"We're heading to the beach; maybe we'll see you there," Hadley mentioned as the door closed.
When the doors opened on the fifth floor, Kyle and David rushed to their room.
"Why are you in such a hurry?" Jack asked.
"Didn't you see them Jack? They're heading to the beach…we're heading to the beach. Stay here if you want, but we're making the most of this weekend," David stated as he pulled his swim trunks from his bag and headed for the bathroom.
Jack opened the door to his room and sat his bag on the bed before heading to the balcony and his spectacular view of the beach. He rested his arms on the railing as he people watched.
He had to admit, there were some beautiful women who were apparently there to enjoy the festival, but one woman seemed to stand out. She was of average height, with long, curly auburn hair that at the present time was pulled up into a loose ponytail. She was wearing a modest one piece teal bathing suit, and was gorgeous, reminding him of a Baywatch beauty.
Although the guys thought he wasn't paying attention, she had certainly caught his eye from the back of the elevator. Jack had to admit that he'd never forget those piercing blue eyes of hers…maybe there were some things that were all about women, he thought.
*Knock…knock*
Jack opened the door to find Lee and Steven standing in the hallway.
"Come on Jack; get on your trunks. We're heading to the beach," Lee advised. "We'll meet you downstairs."
Five minutes later, Jack exited the elevator on his way to the beach.
"Whoa, we'll never lose you in those," Lee joked as he commented on Jack's orange swim trunks.
Jack, Lee and Steven headed for the beach and the bevy of beauties that awaited them.
"Hey," Kyle ran up to the group. "There's a bonfire tonight on the beach at a hotel down the strip. We've been invited."
"Sounds good," Jack responded as he found an unoccupied lounge chair, took a seat and continued his people watching. However, if truth be told, he was really only watching for one person.
Unfortunately he didn't come across her the entire afternoon. However, the more he thought about it, was meeting her for a day or two, and then heading in their separate ways worth it? "What's the chance that we will see each other after this weekend?" he asked himself. What were the chances? Mathematically speaking they would seem to be slim to none.
That evening men and women from hotels along the strip ventured down to the Marriott as they took the opportunity to meet new people. There were multiple beer kegs, and coolers filled with water and soft drinks for those who did not want alcohol.
Jack walked with his friends the three blocks along the boardwalk, eventually arriving at the bonfire. He could only imagine that the large number of people there would rival spring break in Ft. Lauderdale.
He realized that even if this woman attended the bonfire, with the number of people already there, he felt an incredibly slim chance that they would even see each other. As such, he decided to put her out of his mind, and simply enjoy himself and the new people he was likely to meet.
"Jack," Kyle called out.
"Hey, did you find a seat?" Jack replied.
"No, but those girls that are at our hotel are sitting over here. One of them invited us to join them," Kyle responded.
Jack thought that maybe, just maybe this was his chance to meet her, only to be disappointed when she still was nowhere in sight.
Jack sat down next to Katie…
"Hi, I'm Jack…"
"Hi Jack, I'm Katie. Where are you from?" she asked.
Knowing that Jack was not one to fib, Steven blurted out, "We're from Boston."
Before Jack could correct the statement, Katie was pulled away by Abby.
"Hey, I know we're the same age, but I just want to tell you to be careful. I'm married, so I'm not looking for one night stands, but you just need to watch yourself…"
"Abby, I'm 28 years old and I am very careful. Don't worry about me," Katie stated as she headed back to her seat.
"Sorry, but I do," Abby whispered.
"I believe I saw you and your friends when we arrived earlier," Jack asked Katie as she returned to her seat.
"Yes, I remember seeing you and your friends," she replied. "My friend, Elizabeth, just received her Master's Degree. We're her sorority sisters, so we brought her on this little weekend getaway."
"Where are ya'll from?" Jack asked.
Hearing "you" instead of "ya'll" Katie responded, "Atlanta, Georgia."
"So, where is the rest of your group?" Jack asked.
"Well, Abby has a husband, so she's not interested in meeting a lot of people. I think Hadley, Raven and Rosemary have met guys and they are just getting to know each other," Katie giggled.
"Hey," Steven stopped beside Katie's chair, "Would you like to go for a walk?"
Leaving Jack alone, Katie agreed and they walked down the beach away from the bonfire.
Seeing Elizabeth standing alone by the water, Katie broke away from Steven and ran to her. "Hey, those guys we saw when we checked in are here tonight," she motioned over to Steven to come join them.
"Elizabeth, this is Steven…Steven, this is my dear friend, Elizabeth," Katie completed the introductions. "They are from Boston."
"WOW, that sure was a long drive for just the weekend," Elizabeth replied as a slight wind began to blow her hair across her face.
"It's not too far when you meet someone as sweet as this one right here," he stated as he motioned toward Katie.
"Well, we're walking, so I'll see you later…maybe" Katie's voice trailed off to a whisper as they walked away.
Standing by the fire, Jack observed Kyle talking with one of Katie's friends. Although he didn't know her name, he did recognize seeing her with the group earlier in the day. They looked like they were getting along nicely, and although he was happy for them, he couldn't help feeling a bit left out.
Jack decided to take a walk, feeling the need to break away from the hustle of guys and girls looking for hook ups for the evening. That was certainly not what he was looking for, but thought if nothing else, a walk on the beach would be relaxing.
Jack took his time as he had no place pressing to be. Until he saw her…a few blocks away from the bonfire, talking with Katie and Steven, and there she was the woman he'd seen upon his arrival; the woman that he learned was named Elizabeth, and certainly the woman that he wanted to meet.
He casually approached her; it was late, but the lights from the waterside hotels illuminated the beach.
"Good evening," Jack stated as he walked up. ""You probably don't remember me, but we checked into the hotel just after you and your friends," he stated to remind her.
Elizabeth remembered, but pretended otherwise, "I'm sorry, I wasn't really paying attention."
"My name is Jack…"
His voice was soft, romantic and made the butterflies flutter in her stomach just with his mere introduction. Although she found him quite handsome, this was a weekend trip for all involved. It offered hardly a chance to take the time to get to know someone, and certainly the type of situation where one night stands are made, truly not what she was looking for. Also, he lives in Boston, and she in Raleigh, "It's not worth the effort to get to know each other," she thought.
Being polite she replied, "Hi, I'm Elizabeth."
"Beautiful evening; isn't it?" he responded.
"Yes it is. There is nothing like a full moon over the water," she stated as a breeze swept through and she shivered slightly.
Jack peeled off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders.
"Thank you…" she made note of this chivalrous act, wondering if he would turn out to be like 99% of the men she had met that evening, and the reason that she had left the bonfire.
Kyle walked up with Hadley, and David was holding hands with Raven as they approached Jack and Elizabeth.
"Where's Rosemary," Elizabeth asked. "She was with you a little while ago."
Hadley spoke up, "She went back to the bonfire with their friend, Lee."
Kyle gently shoved Jack, "Come on, get your girl; we're headed to this place called the point."
"Hadley…Raven, that's not a great idea…" Elizabeth scolded them.
"Don't worry; we're going with a group. We'll be fine," Raven replied as they headed back toward the hotel and their vehicles.
David pulled Raven along with him before turning back toward Jack, "Come on…you and your girl need to come with us."
Feeling sad that he seemed to be turning out like all the others, Elizabeth turned to Jack and stated, "You probably need to keep looking. I'm not interested in a hook up." She handed him back his jacket and headed toward the hotel.
"Why do I let them talk me into these adventures? They know I don't sleep around, and I just end up mad at being left behind," she talked softly to herself as she walked away from him.
"Hey…HEY…How dare you…" Jack yelled out to her causing her to stop and turn around.
"How dare I what?" she called back to him.
"How dare you assume that all I'm looking for is a hook up for the night," he stated with a touch of anger in his voice.
Elizabeth glanced over toward his friends who were walking away. "I guess I just assumed that since your friends were inviting you that it was something you did regularly."
"So I guess I could assume the same thing about you since your friends are the ones accompanying them," Jack remarked.
"Good point. I'm sorry for the assumption. I hope you have a nice evening," Elizabeth stated as she turned around and headed back toward the hotel.
"Do you have to go back so soon?" he called out, getting her to stop once again.
"No, I guess I don't have to leave. Besides, apparently my friends have left me in the dust," she sadly admitted.
"Do you want to walk, or would you like a cup of coffee? There's a shop, I think it's called The Daily Grind about a block away," he suggested.
"Coffee would be great," she responded as her body shivered from the breeze coming off the water.
Jack draped his jacket over her shoulders again and they walked toward the coffee shop.
Elizabeth took a seat in a booth while Jack went up to get their coffee. She glanced at her watch, 9:35pm, and although she was cautious, there was something about him that had her intrigued.
They talked and laughed about many topics including family, animals, special holidays, and even more controversial subjects like religion, male vs. female roles, and a few mild political topics.
"Excuse me, it's almost midnight and we're getting ready to close," the barista advised.
Elizabeth glanced at her watch a second time, 11:47pm, and she realized that they had talked nonstop for over two hours.
They walked to the door and before stepping outside Jack gave her his jacket. They continued along the boardwalk, heading toward their hotel as they passed couple after couple standing along the railing seemingly quite close.
Although they were enjoying their time together, the fact that they lived so far apart left each one questioning the feasibility of pursuing anything further.
Jack walked her to her room, "Elizabeth… would you have dinner with me tomorrow night?"
"Thank you for asking, but really, is there any point? I mean in a day you head home and I head home, and we won't ever see each other again," she disappointedly turned him down.
"Elizabeth, it's just dinner," he prodded further.
"Thank you Jack, but I have plans with my sorority sisters. It was really nice meeting you. Thanks for a lovely evening. If things were different, maybe…" Elizabeth responded before opening her hotel room.
He watched her walk away and assumed that maybe it was for the best. He didn't need to become involved with anyone right now while he was establishing himself in his new career. Besides, with her living in Atlanta, and him in Raleigh, the distance was just too far to make any real relationship work. So why even start anything?
She could feel his eyes on her as she entered her room. Part of her wanted to have dinner with him; to see why he was different from most of the other men she had met. However, with him living in Boston and her in Raleigh, the distance was just too far to make any real relationship work. So why even start anything?
Although they each nonchalantly looked for the other the following day, they were disappointed when their paths never crossed.
Abby's husband Bill stopped off on his way home from a conference to spend Saturday night with her. The other girls chose to spend time with the guys they'd met before leaving for home the following morning.
Elizabeth was startled as Rosemary entered the room unexpectedly, "What are you doing here? I thought you were spending some time with…what is his name?"
"Lee, and we are, but I wanted to see if you wanted to go to dinner with us…please?" she asked.
"I don't want to impose," Elizabeth remarked.
"It is no imposition and I won't take no for an answer," Rosemary stated.
"Okay, if you're sure that I'm not imposing," Elizabeth commented.
"I'm sure, now go put on that something fancy that you brought," Rosemary suggested.
Elizabeth walked out a few minutes later wearing a little black dress and flats. Her legs were tanned so pantyhose were not required, and her hair was pulled up on the sides and held with pearl clips.
"You look beautiful. He'll be excited," Rosemary's voice trailed off as she spoke.
"Excuse me?" Elizabeth asked.
"Oh nothing; you look beautiful. Come on, let's get going;"Rosemary suggested.
They walked into the restaurant downstairs and approached the hostess. They were directed to a table outside where they could enjoy the boat traffic entering and exiting the harbor.
As they approached the table, Elizabeth saw him…it was Jack. She stopped Rosemary, "What did you do?"
"Elizabeth, don't be so dramatic. He is a friend of Lee's and he didn't have any plans tonight either. It's just dinner," Rosemary chided.
They approached the table and Jack turned back from the harbor. He immediately stood and held her chair out for her.
He leaned in and whispered, "So, I get to have dinner with you after all," he was all smiles.
She returned the smile, "It appears so."
"Do you two know each other?" Lee asked.
"Yes, we met last night," Jack responded.
The conversation flowed between all parties. However no mention was made of their hometowns or last names. With each one "knowing" where the other hailed from, they chose to take whatever time they had and simply enjoy themselves.
Following dinner they stepped next door to the lounge to listen to some music. They found the live band to be particularly entertaining.
"Would you like to dance?" Jack asked as Lee and Rosemary left the table and headed for the dance floor.
She took the hand he offered as he helped her stand. The upbeat song ended just as they took to the floor with a slow tune following close behind.
The band began, and Elizabeth immediately identified it as a favorite of hers…A Thousand Years by Christina Perri.
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt, suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer
I have died every day, waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything, take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath, every hour has come to this
One step closer
I have died every day, waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed, I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me, I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
One step closer
One step closer
I have died every day, waiting for you
Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
And all along I believed, I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me, I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more
As the music played, she wondered if he listened to the lyrics. They were beautiful words and although people called her a hopeless romantic, she believed in her heart that one day, the man of her dreams would find her…not that she assume him to be Jack, however.
As they danced and he held her in his arms, there was something so comforting about her body pressed up against his. As he inhaled, he was certain that he would forever remember the floral scent of her perfume, the soft touch of her skin, and the melodic sound of her breathing on his neck.
Jack walked Elizabeth back to her room as Lee and Rosemary enjoyed a nightcap in the lounge. As she stood by her door, Jack leaned in and kissed her cheek. "I have really enjoyed meeting you Elizabeth. I'm just sorry that we live so far apart. But…do you think maybe we could keep in touch?"
Elizabeth looked down before catching his gaze; completely disappointed in the hand she was dealt she stated, "Jack, I have really enjoyed meeting you. You know it's rather cliché but if it were at another time or place maybe things would be different. I just don't see it helping either one of us to stay in touch."
"But you never know, things could change," he stated softly, as his voice brought about the same butterflies fluttering in her stomach again.
"I think its best that we just say goodbye, but I'd like to thank you," she stated as she slid her key card into the lock on her door.
"Thank me for what?" he asked.
"For showing me that not all guys are jerks, simply out for one thing, and I'm fairly certain you know what I'm referring to," she stated as she felt a rosiness rising from her neck upward.
"Elizabeth, I just..." he looked down as he took her hand and then met her eyes again with his. "I don't want to say goodbye to you. I don't know what we can do, but I just have the feeling that something will change."
"Jack I can't. For whatever reason, we were meant to meet, but that's all. I hope you know that I've really enjoyed meeting you. You're so easy to talk to," she stated as she leaned in and gently brushed her lips across his. "Take care of yourself."
As her door closed, separating them possibly forever, they each felt a sense of loss and an unexplainable feeling of sadness.
The following morning Elizabeth's group and Jack's group were all loading up to head home. Jack made note of the license plate on the Suburban that Elizabeth was driving…Georgia tags, and it seemed even more disappointedly real.
"Hey Elizabeth," Hadley and Raven stated in unison, "We just wanted you to know that although we were late getting in last night, we were ladies, and didn't do anything that we're ashamed of."
"Well, the fact is that it isn't any of my business. I just worry about you. It isn't safe to go off with people you don't know," she responded, realizing that although she and Jack didn't do anything that she regretted, the fact was that she really didn't know him either. But the truth was, she really did want to get to know him, and was sad that their short time together had come to an end.
Back home they each headed. Next week, Jack would be starting in on his new position as a detective with the Raleigh Police Department. Although Elizabeth was on summer break from her position as a 1st grade teacher, she was starting her second career as a college professor, teaching an elementary education class at her alma mater, North Carolina State University, located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
It was Sunday night; Elizabeth had returned home to her extremely happy black Labrador Retriever, Baloo; thanked her neighbor for taking care of him for the weekend, and settled into the comfort of her sofa with her journal.
She reflected on the weekend, her offensive accusation of Jack's agenda, how her enjoyment at meeting him surprised her, and how she seriously doubted that they would ever see each other again. She flipped through her journal, her fifth one; this one filled with writings from the past year, and she settled on the next blank page. She took a deep breath, clicked her pen into operating mode and began to convey her thoughts and feelings onto the paper…
"We glance about, often gauging the happiness and satisfaction in our lives by what we see displayed by others. Material things, although having the ability to bring temporary joy, whither and decay with time. Although not material in nature, the love we feel, give and receive in return can be easily seen and felt in the gentle touch of a hand, the soft whisper of a kind word, a tender kiss and a generous and giving heart.
Is it true that there is one special someone out there for each of us? If we meet, but the timing isn't right, have we lost our chance at true love and happiness? The fact is that personal euphoria can't be dependent upon the actions of others. Although it is often enhanced by their presence, it is also extremely unfair to place the responsibility on the shoulders of another.
Finding joy in the simple pleasures allows us to open our hearts completely, experiencing everything, but expecting nothing. However, how we handle those opportunities is upon us, and regretting chances presented but not taken may leave us with an emptiness that may never be filled completely.
So we do our best to live life to the fullest; we take those chances that we can, and we accept where we are led. Who knows, maybe the closing of this door will open opportunities that we have never even dreamed to be possible. Being ready and willing to forge ahead will be the key to my eventual success."
Several weeks passed; although Jack and Elizabeth attempted to put their meeting of each other behind them, neither had been able to do so.
Elizabeth spent her evenings working on lesson plans or commiserating with Rosemary over lost opportunities.
Jack was busy learning the requirements of his new position with the police department. However, when not working, his mind wandered to the beautiful woman with long, wavy auburn hair, and captivating blue eyes who unfortunately lived two states away.
He wasn't alone in his thoughts…Lee also found himself thinking about the boisterous woman who was different from every other female he knew, and her image remained with him as well.
"Hey, what are you doing down here?" Jack asked as Lee walked into his office.
"I was downtown getting a building permit for a job and thought maybe we could go to lunch at The Brickhouse," he replied.
"Sounds good, but do you know what sounds even better?" Jack asked, hesitating slightly.
"What? You have some place else you'd rather eat? Lee asked.
"No, The Brickhouse is fine. I was thinking about going to Atlanta this weekend to see Tom," Jack mentioned.
"Hmm, sounds fun," Lee smirked. "You really aren't going to see Tom though."
"What are you talking about? I haven't seen my brother since Christmas, and on that occasion he came here," Jack reminded him.
"I remember, but you're going to Atlanta to find Elizabeth," Lee teased.
"To find Elizabeth? Are you crazy? I don't even know her last name. Although I am a detective; I should be able to find her," Jack rambled.
"Well, if you see Elizabeth, see if you can find out where Rosemary is," Lee looked off into the distance as he spoke. "I have to be honest, I don't know why, but I miss her."
"Well come with me. I have a CPR recertification that I have to do Friday morning, but I could leave around noon," Jack encouraged him.
"You know, it's stupid, and no way we're going to find them, but we certainly won't see them again if we stay here," Lee smiled at the thought of seeing Rosemary again. "I tried to find Rosemary on Facebook and Instagram, but since I don't know her last name, I was out of luck."
"At least I'm not the only one who tried that too," Jack admitted with a frustrated release of a breath.
It was Wednesday evening, 6:30, when Elizabeth's phone rang…
"Hello…"
"Hey, Elizabeth. I'm bringing Chinese food over, so don't eat. Do you have any wine…?"
"Rosemary, you know I always have wine," Elizabeth admitted.
Twenty minutes later Elizabeth's doorbell rang.
"Come on in…Hmm, it smells scrumptious," Elizabeth stated as she took the bag from the local Chinese restaurant and placed it on her kitchen table.
"Elizabeth, I wanted to talk with you about something," Rosemary sounded somewhat depressed.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing really, but I was thinking about driving up to Boston this weekend, and thought you might like to come with me," Rosemary suggested.
"Boston? What's in Boston?" Elizabeth asked, pretending that she didn't know.
"You know what's in Boston, or rather who's in Boston," Rosemary replied.
"You'll never find him. That's like looking for a needle in a haystack," Elizabeth joked.
"But I can't stop thinking about him, and I know you're thinking about Jack too," Rosemary prodded. "Elizabeth, that dog of yours is trying to get the bag off the table."
"I am not thinking about Jack, and Baloo, you've already eaten," Elizabeth sounded somewhat defensive.
Rosemary picked up Elizabeth's phone to show her the locked screen, "Then why have you saved the selfie of you two?"
"It doesn't matter. If he was interested in me, he would have asked for my number or something," Elizabeth replied.
"Elizabeth…"
"What…?"
"He did want to keep in touch with you, but you didn't want to…"
"Rosemary, it's not that I didn't want to, but he lives in Boston. We live in Raleigh. Even if we had a relationship, which I'm not saying we would have, it's too hard to be that far away. I was just being practical…"
Elizabeth continued, "I'll go on with my life; he will too. It's certainly not healthy to be pining after someone that you can't have. Trust me, in the long run we'll be better off."
"So, it's settled…you'll come with me to Boston," Rosemary assumed.
"What? I didn't say that. I'll think about it, but no promises," Elizabeth remarked as she poured two glasses of wine.
"I'm leaving around noon on Friday…you will be going with me. Do I pick you up here, or at school?" Rosemary asked.
"Rosemary, I have to make arrangements for Baloo if I go away. I mean, I can't just fill him a bowl of food and water and leave him alone for days," Elizabeth reminded her.
"What about your next door neighbor? I mean the one who took care of him when we went to Wilmington," Rosemary suggested.
"I'll call her tomorrow," Elizabeth promised. "If I can go, you can pick me up at school. I have a meeting with the education department Friday morning.
Friday arrived; Elizabeth made arrangements for her next door neighbor to take care of Baloo. She was packed, and surprisingly excited about the possibility of seeing Jack again, no matter how remote the chances were that they would actually find him.
"Where is this CPR class…?" Jack texted David.
"Education Department, Building #2, Rm. #170…" David replied.
"Hate the Education building. Never any parking available…"
"That's building #1. Building #2 has parking around back. Hurry up; it's filling up fast…"
Jack eventually found a parking space next to a dark green Jeep Cherokee. He wasn't sure why, but the license plate caught his eye…"2L8IWIN" and he made a mental note of it before rushing inside. He found David and they grabbed a cup of coffee before taking their seats.
"Hey, what are you doing this evening?" David asked.
"Lee and I are heading to Atlanta to visit my brother. Why?" Jack asked.
"I have a date and I was going to set you up with her best friend…she's gorgeous," David responded.
"Thanks, but I'm not interested in blind dates. Besides, I haven't seen my brother is quite a while," Jack remarked.
"Wait…Atlanta, isn't that where those girls were from that we met in Wilmington?" David asked.
"Hmm, was it?" Jack stated as he inwardly smiled.
Elizabeth was grateful to be leaving her meeting. Two hours listening to Dr. Gregory's monotone was more than she could stand. Even a 10 hour drive to Boston sounded more appetizing.
She headed down the hall; making one final stop at her office to pick up her bag and then off with Rosemary to start their adventure.
Jack was thankful that his CPR class was over. He was certified for another year, and now he could turn his attentions to his trip to Atlanta with Lee.
Elizabeth exited at one end of the building just as Jack was walking out the other. She had the back of her Jeep Cherokee open as she straightened things before pulling her bag out. Rosemary was due to pick her up in a few minutes.
Jack walked up and hit his key fob, opening the driver's side door to his F150 pickup truck. He noticed the back up on the Jeep beside him and was curious as to the owner of the vehicle, so he sat and waited.
The wind shifted as it went from north-south to east-west, and it flowed through his open window. He inhaled. He turned his head slightly and he smelled it again; that distinctive floral scent…her perfume.
He heard the trunk close and glanced back, immediately smiling without any further thought. Then it hit him…
His door flew open, "Elizabeth, is that you?"
She looked up but it was difficult to read the surprise on her face.
His heart pounded. Had she been here the whole time? "You don't remember me…"
"Hi Jack," she smiled as she felt her heart in her throat. "Of course I remember you."
"I thought you lived in Atlanta," he commented as he jumped from his truck and walked around her vehicle.
They hugged, and although there should have been a slight awkwardness, there wasn't. Neither one realized it at the time, but they were home!
As they separated, Elizabeth responded, "What gave you the idea that I lived in Atlanta? Besides, I thought you lived in Boston."
"I was talking to your friend, Katie, and she said that ya'll were from Atlanta," he responded.
"Katie is from Atlanta, but I'm from here," she replied.
"What are you doing here? Pretty far away from Boston," she remarked.
"I don't live in Boston. It's something that a couple of the guys came up with. You know, like what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas?" he explained.
"Oh, so you lied?" she challenged him, suddenly feeling stupid that she spent time thinking about him when he was just like the rest.
"No, I never said I was from Boston, and when I tried to correct my friend, someone interrupted us. I'm a detective with the Raleigh Police Department," he corrected her.
His heart was pounding so loud that he could feel the throbbing in his ears. How was it possible that she was here all the time? He had no answer, but he did know that he needed to learn more about her.
"We were never formally introduced; I'm Jack Thornton," he stated. He wanted to kiss her soft, plump lips, and knew that he'd be thinking about them for the rest of the day, but he stretched out his arm to shake her hand instead.
She smiled, feeling her own heart pounding so soundly that she was certain he could see her chest popping with every beat.
"It's nice to meet you, Jack Thornton. I'm Elizabeth Thatcher," she replied.
To be continued…