The days that followed involved creating new routines incorporating each other's lives in said routines. It wasn't just het schedule, or Jack's schedule, but primarily Logan's. Elizabeth was great with him. A couple of days a week the three of them had breakfast together at Abigail's and she would bring him to school with her. Other days he would drop Logan off and sneak in to see her briefly. The rest of the days it was Tommy who was on Logan pick up and drop off duty as his job allowed him to work mainly from home. Logan was great at English but found math to be hard so Peter was tutoring him at the Diner once a week. On tutoring nights, he went home with Elizabeth and she drove them both to the Diner where Jack and the rest of their gang would meet them for dinner. Logan was settling in well in his new home and it gave Jack great peace. Logan loved Elizabeth, and shared her rather well with the Stanton kids.
"Auggie, what else did you need me to bring?" she asked as she packed for their Ski Trip. It was winter and she had volunteered to go as one of the adults to his class ski trip as one of the other teachers had fallen ill. Primary school was already on school holidays so she had the time off.
"I think I have everything. Did you need ski gloves? I have a spare set."
"Ah yes, I was going to pick some up today but I totally forget so thank you."
"No problem."
"I baked brownies and oatmeal and raisin cookies,"
"I love you." He replied making her chuckle.
"Are you sure you don't want us to swing by and get you tomorrow to save Antoni the drive?"
"Yeah, he wants to drive me. He's needy when I'm leaving him for a whole week." Elizabeth laughed,
"I get that. Logan has been attached to me every day since school holidays began a week ago knowing I would be gone the whole second week of the holidays."
"I'm sure his Dad isn't far behind." He guessed correctly.
"You could say that. It's the first time we've been apart for longer than a day or two since he arrived."
"I'm looking forward to the road trip. Thanks for filling a gap Beth."
"Of course, what are friends for?"
After Elizabeth had finished packing she had headed over to Jack's. Tommy had a date that evening and Jack had offered to cook dinner for the three of them. Elizabeth knew Jack wasn't thrilled that she was leaving for a week. It wasn't that he was just going to miss her, it was that she was spending her holidays essentially working. Knowing how hard she worked during the school term, he knew that only down time she really had was the holidays. She had let herself into the Thornton home with keys he had long since gotten cut for her.
"Hello," she called out.
"In the kitchen," replied Jack's voice. She followed the unbelievable smell all the way to the kitchen seeing Jack with his apron and oven mitts on as he took what looked like shepherds pie out of the oven.
"Hi Baby," she greeted cheerfully. Jack put the pie down on the stove to rest before dinner. He removed the oven mitts from his hand and kissed her hello.
"Hi Sweetheart. You all packed?" Elizabeth nodded,
"Why is it so quiet in here, where's the kid?" she asked. Jack smiled,
"He and Cody are bowling with Peter. Abigail said she'll drop him off when they're done."
"Oh he'd love that. Can I help?" she asked.
"Can you please set the table?"
"Of course." Elizabeth grabbed the placemats and plates from their rightful places.
"I brought you guys oatmeal cookies and brownies too. I had baked a batch for the trip so I made extra for you boys. I however, left it in my car. I'll grab it once I've finished setting the table."
"Thank you. Logan and Tommy will be excited for that." They worked in quiet unison and Elizabeth knew he was in deep thought. She had slipped out to her car to grab the cookies and when she returned he was washing what he used to cook. She put the cookies on the table and walked up behind him to wrap her arms around his waist,
"Are you still mad at me for going?" drawing him out of his thoughts. Jack washed his hands and wiped them dry on his apron before turning around to face her,
"Sweetheart, I'm not mad at you. I was never mad at you. I know you want to go to ski camp because you love what it means for the kids. I was never mad at you. I'm sorry if it seemed I was. I've just been preoccupied. I just have a few things going on."
"What's going on? You're the talker remember. Talk. What goes on in that pretty head of yours?" she asked using his words on him. Jack smiled and caressed her face lovingly,
"I love you. We'll talk. I promise. I just need to unpack it first okay?" Elizabeth dropped her arms from his waist,
"Sure," she replied hurt evident in her eyes. She turned to finish setting the table when he grabbed her arms to draw her back to him.
"I'm sorry." He said solemnly.
"I know."
They ate dinner in silence mostly. She was relieved when Logan had come bursting into the house. Logan threw his arms around her greeting her hello as Abigail followed close behind.
"I return to you one fed and should be exhausted child."
"Thank you Abigail." Jack said gratefully.
"You're so welcome. Elizabeth, I have organised a basket for you and Auggie. Will you be okay to pick it up? It should be ready by 6."
"Thank you Abigail. Auggie and I are taking the school van transporting everyone's luggage while the kids will be on the mini bus. I think we're leaving earlier than the bus to make sure all the kids things are waiting for them when they get to the accommodation and we can be there to help them with their equipment hire. I can pick up the food before heading to the school. Speaking of which, I should really get going. I have to wake up early. I'll walk out with you Abigail." Elizabeth said rising from her chair leaving a mostly uneaten plate. Jack looked at her surprised. Abigail raised her eyebrow at Elizabeth asking if she had interrupted something.
"I just remembered that I need to pick up a couple of things form Target that I need for the trip." She explained feebly.
"I can take you after dinner," Jack offered knowing he had set their current tone.
"No, I'm good. Thank you." She replied. Elizabeth turned to Logan,
"I'll see you in a few days okay Bud. Be good for your Dad and Uncle Tommy, and when I get back you and I can have a date just you and me." She promised. Logan nodded and hugged her,
"I'll miss you Aunt Bea."
"I'll miss you too Bud." Elizabeth grabbed her jacket and bag,
"I'll talk to you later." She said looking at him but at not meeting gaze. She knew she was leaving him with a whiplash but if he wasn't willing to talk to her, she wasn't going to sit there in silence with him for the next couple of hours. Jack stepped towards her as she found herself stepping back.
"Elizabeth," he said softly in a quiet plea,
"It's okay. You do what you have to do. I'll be fine. You don't have to drive me tomorrow, I can just leave my car at the school."
"Elizabeth, I'll pick you up tomorrow morning to drop you off as planned." He stated not leaving room for negotiation. She answered with a shrug and led Abigail out the door.
"What did we walk into?" Abigail asked she walked Elizabeth back to her car.
"A whole lot of nothing. He won't talk to me, so I don't know. I just refuse to sit there in an uncomfortable silence. I may as well be productive. I actually do need a couple of things from Target so I'm going to wander around the 24 hour one to clear my head."
"Do you want company? I just need to drop my kids home first."
"No, I'm good. I probably need to figure out why I'm so mad at him right now."
"Good plan." Abigail replied.
"Call if you need to bounce. I will be up for a few. I need get the bread ready for proofing before I go to bed."
"Thanks Abigail, you're the best." Elizabeth said giving her friend a hug before driving off in her car. Jack who had watched them depart returned the wave from Abigail as she climbed into her own car.
Jack dropped Elizabeth a quick text before getting Logan ready for bed. His appetite also lost. Elizabeth heard her phone ping with a message and she didn't need to look at it to see who it was from. She walked around Target for the list of things she needed. Once that was accomplished, she wandered around aimlessly trying to outwalk her own thoughts. Jack had been distant for a few days, she thought it was because he was mad that she chose to go to the ski trip but she realised it was a little before that. He had been distant and moody. He was always apologetic and she thought it may have been work, but now she was convinced it wasn't.
As she got ready for bed her she had yet to read and reply to Jack's message. She felt exhausted all of a sudden.
"Elizabeth, I'm sorry."
"You're the talker so when you don't talk it throws me. We're supposed to be partners, a team and if you're not telling me what's going on with you then that means somethings amiss. I get that you need time to process. I guess it throws me because that's my default and not yours. Take the time you need. We can talk when I get back."
To no surprise to her, her phone rang.
"I'm not punishing you Jack. I'm giving you what you asked for. I'm not walking away, I'm not mad." Disappointed, but not mad. She added only to herself.
"Elizabeth,"
"It's okay. I'll see you when I get back okay. I've talked to Auggie, he and Antoni will pick me up on their way. You need to be able to unpack what's in your head without me in the equation. Seeing me off tomorrow isn't going to help you with that and to be honest it wont help me either. So let's table this for when I get back."
"I love you,"
"For what it's worth I did not consider for a moment that you didn't. Get some rest. Do something fun with Logan tomorrow. I'll see you in a few days. I love you."
