Jack returned to the small cabin he was staying in while on yet another assignment for the Mounties, with a letter from Elizabeth in his pocket. The Mountie in the town he was sent to had injured his ankle while chasing a criminal. He needed about four to six weeks to recover, so Headquarters had sent Jack. He had wanted to refuse; it had only been about three weeks since he returned home to Elizabeth after finding out about the baby. He didn't want to leave her for the remainder of the pregnancy. When he told Elizabeth he was going to turn down the assignment, she had told him no, to take it. She said as much as she would miss him, it was better he take the job now and then work something out with the Mounties for when she was due to have the baby. Logically, Jack knew she was right. He would quit the Mounties if they tried to send him away when she was having the baby. Still, he felt guilty that he had to leave so soon after the last assignment and he was sad to know he would miss a lot of the pregnancy, including feeling the baby move for the first time. He wanted to share that with Elizabeth. She was sad he would miss it too but she assured him it would still be a wonderful feeling when he returned to her.
Jack pulled the letter out, removed his serge and sat down on the bed to read her letter. He insisted that she regularly write to him so he could know how things were going for her back in Hope Valley. He stared at the envelope for several minutes, just gazing at her handwriting and feeling tears of loneliness come to his eyes. He wiped them away, then tore open the letter and began to read.
My Darling Jack,
I love you and I miss you. Baby Thornton says "Hello, Daddy!" I am writing this letter at 2 in the morning because I woke up when I felt a kick to my ribs! A couple of days after you left I started feeling little fluttering in my belly and I thought that was the baby's first movements. Abigail confirmed that for me. Tonight was the first time I felt an actual kick. I am so excited right now but I am sad at the same time. If feels wonderful knowing the baby is progressing along and getting more active but I wish you were here with me to feel it too. Abigail mentioned to me that you wouldn't be able to feel the baby yet but I still want to share this moment with you. I only hope I don't make you too sad that you aren't here to experience it with me.
I had my checkup yesterday. Dr. Matthews is pleased with my (our) progress. He says I am on track for a healthy delivery. I am happy he said that, but Jack, I have to admit the thought of the painful contractions scare me. I am not sure I can handle the pain. Abigail says I will be fine and she will be in the room with me and that makes me feel a little better but I wish you could be there with me. I know it's not conventional and that maybe seeing me in pain might be hard for you, but I still wish you could be with me. I do understand if you don't want to. Please don't feel pressured to be with me if it's really what you don't want to be.
Enough of the fear talk. I have months yet before I have to think about that. What we also have months for but I am thinking about is names for our baby. I have been thinking about using family names. For a girl, I was thinking using my grandmother's names. I don't think I ever mentioned them to you before because they have both gone to a better place, but my paternal grandmother was named Erin and my maternal grandmother was named Charlotte. I like how Erin Charlotte Thornton sounds. Say it out loud to yourself before you decide. If you don't like it we can come up with something else. I am having trouble find a boy's name I like. I would love to name a son after you but I am not sure how you feel about it. If we pick Erin Charlotte then I think a boy's name should come from your family but I only know your father's name. Please write back to me with any suggestions. There is one boy's name we both agree on that we don't want.
The baby has finally settled down enough for to go back to bed. I am so tired but thankfully tomorrow (or is it today?) is Saturday. I am going try and sleep late and just relax around the house. Abigail is teaching me to knit and I have already made a pair of booties and a hat that came out almost perfect. I am going to attempt a blanket next. Wish me luck!
I love you and can't wait for your return!
Your Sweet Elizabeth
Jack folded the letter and put it back in the envelope. He laid down on the bed and felt the tears return. He hated that he was missing out on so many things with the pregnancy. It took all his strength not to pack up everything he had and return home the next morning. He had to wait it out. Fortunately the angle injury was healing faster that the doctor's thought and it appeared the other Mountie might be able to return next week. Jack would wait until then and see where to go from there.
Jack sat up in bed and wiped the tears away. He wasn't going to let himself be unhappy about his situation anymore. He was so blessed. He had a smart, caring and beautiful wife who was about the give him the most precious gift in the world: a baby. His heart started to feel joy over Elizabeth being able to feel the baby kicking. He remembered what she said about him not being able to feel the baby yet. Maybe by the time he got home he would be able to. He sat down at the small table and pulled out the letter again. He wanted to answer her back and he needed to think about some of the other things she said, especially about the names.
Elizabeth walked into town after school about two weeks after she had felt the baby move. She was once again thankful it was Friday. She was exhausted by the end of the week. Part of it was not sleeping as well with Jack now home but she knew part of it was also the pregnancy. If she was this tired now, in the middle of her second trimester she could only imagine how it would be later on. For the time being she tried to get as much rest as possible, sometimes napping when she got home from school and always taking it easy on Saturdays.
She made her wait to the mercantile to get a few groceries for the weekend. "Good afternoon, Mr. Yost" she said as she entered the store.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Thornton. I have a letter for you."
Elizabeth rushed to the counter and picked it up. It was from Jack. "Thank you, Mr. Yost." She slipped it into her basket. "I am here to pick up a few groceries." She gave him her list and waited while he filled her order. On her way home, she stopped off to see Abigail for a moment. Abigail packed up dinner for her friend, pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans and her famous biscuits. Elizabeth had been craving them lately along with Abigail's chocolate cake, which was also included with the dinner. Elizabeth gave Abigail a big hug, thanking her for packing up the meal, then made her way home. After she put away her food and changed into her nightgown for the evening, she made her way to the couch and slipped under the blanket she kept there. She opened the letter.
Sweetheart,
I love and miss you and Baby Thornton so much! When I first read your letter, I did feel sad that I wasn't there with you when you felt the kicking in your ribs (I hope it didn't hurt. If it did, I am going to have to talk to our little one when I get home). After I thought about it for a while (and felt sorry for myself) I decided I was being a little foolish. I remembered what you said about me not being able to feel it yet and I felt my heart fill with joy. Like you said, feeling the kick made you realize that things are progressing as they should be. I am glad your checkup went well too.
About what you said about having me stay with you while you have the baby. I have had a lot of time to think at night and I came to the conclusion before you even mentioned it that I want to be with you. I want to hold your hand and help you through the contractions, rub your back if you need it. You can squeeze my hand as hard as you want if it will help you through the pain. I do admit that seeing you in pain does frighten me but I know that you feel the same and we can help each other through it. We just have to remember that at the end of all that pain we will be holding our precious child, a child made from the love we share for each other.
I love the name Erin Charlotte for a little girl. Your parents and my mother will be thrilled. I have been having this dream recently where I am coming home from work one day and I see a beautiful little girl playing in our front yard. She turns to me and starts running towards me. I pick her up and look into her face, seeing your gorgeous blue eyes starting back at me. She also has your long, dark curly but when she smiles, her mouth is all mine, including the dimples. She kisses me on the check, then rests her head on my shoulder and says "I love you, Daddy! My heart just melts.
As for a name for a boy, I only knew my paternal grandfather. His name was Daniel Thomas Thornton. I would rather name our son that than after me. I think two Jack's in the house might be distracting. However, if you don't like Daniel Thomas, we can have a discussion about boy's names when I return, which I hope is soon.
I can't begin to find the words to tell you how much I miss you and love you. I can't wait until I hold you in my arms and I can feel our baby kick.
Yours forever,
Jack
Elizabeth grasped the letter against her chest, leaned back and smiled. She felt happy tears fall down her cheeks and she reached up to wipe them away. Jack may think he is not good with words but she fell in love with how he described the dream to her. She always knew he would make a wonderful father; the dreamed proved he must be thinking it too. She was glad he wanted to be with her while she was in labor; a huge weight felted lifted off her shoulders. She was still nervous about the pain but like Jack said, the end result of it would be well worth it. She felt the baby kick just at that moment. She smiled as she laid a hand on her ever growing belly. One thing for sure, Jack would be surprised at how much bigger she had gotten, but the weight gain was also worth it.
"Well, Little One. Are you a girl or a boy? Kick once for a girl and twice for a boy." She waited a moment to feel kicking but she felt nothing. "Well, both your daddy and I think you are Erin but if you are Daniel, we will be just as happy. Erin or Daniel, you will be just as loved, just as wanted and just as blessed to be part of our little family." She got up from the sofa. "Ok, little one! Time for dinner."
After she finished eating the delicious pot roast and indulging in two biscuits, Elizabeth went back to the living, where she added some more wood to the fire. She returned to the couch and settled in to read for a while. She decided to write Jack another letter in the morning. Within a half an hour, Elizabeth had fallen asleep.
It was nearing nine pm when Jack arrived back in Hope Valley. The Mountie he had taken over for had recovered faster than they thought and Jack had been on the road back to Elizabeth for a week. When it was getting dark, he knew he should stop for the night but he was so close to Hope Valley that he couldn't wait any longer to see Elizabeth. He urged his horse to move faster and before he knew it, his home came into few. The lights where still on in the living room. Jack felt his heart skip a beat as he realized Elizabeth was still up. He quickly brought his horse to the barn and took care of him for the night, then grabbed his bag and ran to the house.
He set his bag down in the entry way and went to the living room to surprise Elizabeth. When he walked in, he saw she was fast asleep on the sofa, a book in her lap. He watched her for several minutes, just taking in her beauty. She must have sensed she was being watched because she started to stir. He rushed over to the sofa and kneeled down next to it, taking her hand in his and bringing it to his lips just as she opened her eyes.
"Jack?" She whispered, sleepily. "Is that really you?" She pushed herself up on the sofa and reached out to touch his face.
He leaned over to kiss her. When they parted, he replied, "Yes, it's me."
She attempted to move over on the sofa so he could join her. She wasn't making enough room for him. "Jack, I want you to hold me in your arms but I have gotten so big since you have been gone that there is no room for you here. Can we go to the bedroom?"
"Of course." He stood up and held out his hand to help her up. Once she was standing, he let his eyes travel up and down her body. Yes, her belly was bigger but she was still beautiful. She was glowing and blossoming with new life. He put his arm around her and leaned towards her ear. "You look gorgeous, Sweetheart. Breathtaking."
She smiled at him. "Thank you, My Love." They started walking down the hall towards their room when she felt the baby kick. She stopped moving. "Jack, give me your hand!" She exclaimed.
Jack gladly gave her his hand, knowing she must have felt the baby move. Sure enough as soon as his hand rested on her belly, he felt a nice, strong kick. He grinned and felt joyous tears form in his eyes. "Sweetheart, that's amazing! Does it hurt?"
She laughed, remembering what he had said in his letter. "No, Jack. It doesn't hurt. The kicking does keep me awake from time to time and it feels uncomfortable when the baby kicks my bladder but other than that, I love the feeling."
Jack kissed her forehead then started walking them down to the bedroom. "Let me help you into bed, then I am going to get changed and join you."
"OK, I just need to use the washroom first."
Jack waited until she was done, then got her settled in bed. He quickly put on his night clothes and crawled into bed with her. He put his arm around her belly, hoping for some more kicking. He was rewarded within a minute. He grinned again; he felt like he was bonding with their child for the first time. "Sweetheart, I have some good news for you."
Elizabeth turned over slightly to look at his face. "What is it, Jack?"
"Before I left, I got a letter from Headquarters. They have someone new in charge of the assignments out here. He has a wife and three children. He remembers what it was like for him when his wife was expecting. He was in a region like my parents where were Mounties couldn't pick their assignments, like I could, with only occasionally assignments out of town. He wrote to me to thank me for being willing to take these last two jobs so close together when you are pregnant. He then said that they will not be giving me any out of town assignments until after the baby comes and they gave me time off to be with you when you do give birth."
Elizabeth's face lit up. "Oh, Jack! That's wonderful news. I am so happy!"
"So am I. Now I can be here for you the rest of the way, experience things with you. I would like to go to the doctor with you."
"That would be great! When I was there last time, Dr. Matthews let me listen to the baby's heartbeat. It was the most joyous sound! I remember wishing you could hear it too. I have an appointment next week and I am sure he would let you listen too."
"I'd like that very much." The baby kicked again and they both laughed. "I guess that makes it unanimous!" Jack leaned down to kiss Elizabeth. "I am so glad I am home"
"Me too." She replied. "I am glad you liked Erin Charlotte for a girl's name and I love Daniel Thomas for a boy."
"Great!" He snuggled closer to her, relishing having her back in his arms. "How have you been doing since I got your last letter?"
"For the most part I feel fine. I still get a little nausea every now and then but it's normal. What bothers me the most and I am told it gets worse as the pregnancy goes on is how tired I get. You saw tonight. I was asleep before 9pm. I finished dinner at 7pm and went back to the sofa to read. I think I was reading for may twenty minutes or so but I don't remember anything after that until you came home."
"Well, I am sure some of your exhaustion is from having to do a lot of things around the house with me not being here. Now that I am home, I will help you out more. Take over some of the cooking and cleaning so you can rest. In fact, I am going to make you breakfast in bed tomorrow morning and I will take care of anything else you need done tomorrow."
"Thank you, Jack. That's so sweet. Usually by Fridays I am so exhausted that I just rest on Friday nights and all day Saturday. It will help a lot of I don't have to cook tomorrow morning."
"Actually, since you need rest on Saturdays, I will cook all the meals tomorrow. You deserve some pampering again." He began running his fingers through her soft hair. "Do you have any special requests for breakfast tomorrow?"
"I would love some pancakes, if that's not too much trouble."
"For you, Sweetheart, it's no trouble at all." He kissed her again, then noticed her yawning. "We should get some sleep. I am very tired myself. Sleep well and if you need anything in the middle of the night, wake me up and I will take care of it."
"All right, Jack. We love you!" She took his hand and brought it down to her belly.
Jack felt the baby kick and smiled again. "I love you both!" He let his hand rest on her belly and he felt her hand rest on top of his. Soon they were both asleep.
Many of you who regularly read my stories may notice I am using the same names in the story as I am for The Wedding Bouquet. I love the names Erin and Daniel so much I wanted to use them in this story.
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