Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. All rights go to the actors, writers and creators of the show "When Calls The Heart".

NOTE: Ch 2 of 3 released today! (Ch 6, 7, 8)

(10/9/2018)

Chapter 7

FLASHBACK Continued …

At the two month mark, Elizabeth had got tickets for a festival. Originally she had got four tickets for her, Andy, his girlfriend Tanya and Julie. But now since she was with Jack, Elizabeth just wanted to take Jack. Thankfully, Julie didn't seem to mind the change.

"Come with me?" Elizabeth asked Jack one Sunday when they were eating lunch in the park.

"Maybe. I'll need to get the whole day off. Saturday week right?"

"Yes. Please try."

"I'll do my best."

Jack was at Lee and Rosie's for dinner the following Friday night, while Elizabeth went to her family dinner.

"When are we going to meet the infamous Elizabeth?"

"One day" Jack replied sheepishly.

"Come on. We won't scare her away or tell her any embarrassing stories" Rosie called out from the kitchen.

"Speak for yourself" Lee joked.

"What are you up to next weekend?" Jack asked.

"We're busy Saturday. We're going to that festival in the park."

"Really? I'm going to that with Elizabeth." The words fell out of his mouth and immediately Rosie latched on.

"That's perfect! We can meet Elizabeth then. That will be fantastic. She dances right? I will have someone to dance with since Lee just stands on the side staring."

"Um … sure" Jack said uncertainly.

Rosie clasped her hands together. "The festival just got so much better. Oooh I can't wait!"

Jack hadn't wanted to share Elizabeth with his friends. Up until now they had existed in their own little bubble without the pressure of meeting each other's friends and family. The only other couple they had hung out with was Andy and Tanya.

Saturday rolled around and they were blessed with a beautiful, warm sunny day. Jack had to work the morning shift but was planning to get to the festival in the late afternoon. It had been four days since he had seen Elizabeth and even though they had talked every day, he couldn't wait to see her.

"You have to be there for Imagine Dragons" Elizabeth had told him. "Promise?"

"I will do my absolute best" he assured her.

When Jack got there he texted both Elizabeth and Lee but he managed to find Lee first.

"Where's Elizabeth?" Lee asked as soon as he saw Jack.

"I don't know. She's been here for a while."

"Have a beer" Lee said handing him a plastic cup.

"Cheers" they both said.

As the two men stood there, they had a lot of women approach them but Jack paid them no attention. He was looking everywhere for Elizabeth. Rosie returned with her own drink.

"Where's this girl of yours, Jack?"

"I don't know."

He pulled out his phone again and stared at the blank screen impatiently when finally a text came through.

Near stage on left near amp.

Jack heard the announcement just as he read her text.

"Next up is Imagine Dragons."

"I have to find her. This is her favourite. She's down the front on the left."

Jack raced off. Lee and Rosie tried to follow him to meet his mysterious girlfriend but they soon lost him in the crowd.


Andy had left to get a drink with Tanya but Elizabeth hadn't wanted to lose her spot close to the stage. As soon as they left though, a group of guys had swarmed her.

Elizabeth looked over their heads, trying to see Jack and finally she saw him. Elizabeth waved to him and his eyes met hers. He pushed through the rest of the people in between them, his lips finding hers in greeting, his arms wrapping tightly around her waist.

"Hi" he said before kissing her again, leaning into her as her hands held his face. "I missed you" he said into her ear.

"I missed you too."


Music filled the air as Imagine Dragons made their way onto their stage and Born To Be Yours began playing. Jack pulled away knowing how much Elizabeth enjoyed the band. Her hips began swaying as she sang the words. Jack danced with her and as the tempo increased, the crowd surged and the dancing picked up around them.

Jack stayed close, finding himself continually drawn back to her, especially when she sang the words seemingly to him. "I know I was born to be yours."

He leant in kissing her again and she held him close.

Jack hadn't been sure about going to the festival but right now he knew he made the right decision. Yes, this was a very good idea.


Lee watched his friend dancing with the woman and then he leant in to kiss her, their bodies pressed together.

"Lee, look at them" Rosie said from his side.

"I know. I can see."

"I've never seen him kiss anyone like that before."

"You jealous Rosie? I can kiss you like that if you want" Lee said as he leant toward her before she turned her cheek laughing at him.

"I have to tell Abigail. She's going to flip."

"You cannot tell Abigail!."

"No, you're right. She won't believe me."

Lee thought he'd made enough of an objection for Rosie to back off until he saw Rosie holding out her phone instead to take a photo.

"You didn't!" Lee berated her.

"What?" Rosie was looking down at the photo on her phone. "It's a bit too dark. I need to get closer" she said to herself before moving forward to try again.

"Rosie! Leave them alone!" Lee called out over the music, in the end rolling his eyes at her and giving up. If Rosie wanted to do something, good luck to anyone who tried to stand in her way.

Moments later she returned to Lee's side looking at her phone smiling.

"Do not send that to Abigail!" Lee warned.

"Why?"

"Why? She'll kill him. I doubt he has even told them about Elizabeth yet."

"She can't kill him from interstate."

"Jack will know it was you who told her."

"Don't be silly" she said waving her hand at him.

"You already sent it didn't you?"

Rosie didn't deny it.

Jack had made it quite clear that he wanted his relationship with Elizabeth kept private. Now a photo of him passionately kissing her had just been broadcasted to his foster parents. Lee cringed at what was about to happen.


Two songs later, Jack felt his phone vibrating and pulled back from Elizabeth to check who it was. Abigail. He put it back in his pocket and kept dancing with Elizabeth until he felt his phone ringing again. This time the caller ID indicated that it was Frank. Something was wrong.

Jack leant into Elizabeth's ear.

"I have to take this call. I'll be back" he yelled before kissing her cheek. He thought she would stay there but he felt her holding onto his shirt as he began to make his way through the crowd. He turned back and found her hand to guide her out with him.

As they got further away Jack found somewhere quiet enough so that he could hear his phone.

"I'm sorry. I will just be a minute" he said as he kissed her lips again. One small kiss led onto more and Jack was in the process of losing himself into her again when Jack's phone rang again.

"Sorry" he whispered before answering as her hands wrapped around him and her head rested on his chest.

"Frank, what's wrong?"

"Where are you?"

"At a music festival. Why?"

"Who are you with?"

"Um Lee, Rosie and Elizabeth. Why?" he said as his free hand tightened around Elizabeth.

"Who's Elizabeth?"

"Why? What's wrong? Is Abigail okay? Cody? Becky?"

"We just received a photo of you."

"Okay. What of?"

"You kissing a woman quite passionately in a very public place."

"Rosie sent you a photo of me kissing Elizabeth? Why?" Elizabeth pulled away, looking up at him with those bright blue eyes.

"She's looking out for you. Jack you've never mentioned Elizabeth and now you're doing that. We taught you better than that Jack."

"I've been dating Elizabeth for a few months. I haven't seen her in four days."

"It looks like you haven't seen her in a year by the way you're swallowing her in the photo."

"Whoa. Frank!"

"Jack, just be careful. You told me to stop you if things got serious like that again. This looks pretty serious."

"She's different."

"I'm sure she is. Abigail's worried about you, Jack. We haven't heard from you in the last month and Cody and Becky really miss you. You've almost got your internship. Don't throw it all away on just any woman."

"It's not like that."

"Okay. Why don't you try and come home soon?"

"I'll think about it."

"Bye Jack."

"Bye Frank."

Jack hung up the phone, before pushing it back in his pocket and kissing Elizabeth on the forehead as they turned back towards the crowd, his arm around her shoulder. They made it back to their spot at the front, where Elizabeth stood in front of Jack, his arms over her shoulders wrapped over her chest. Elizabeth put her own hands around Jack's arms as they stood there swaying to the music.

When the band finished and before the next one started, Jack turned and saw Lee and Rosie standing nearby.

Jack's eyes narrowed at Rosie as he let go of Elizabeth and walked toward her.

"What did you send to Abigail?"

"Just a photo."

Elizabeth now stood slightly behind him, probably not exactly sure what to do.

"Show me" Jack said holding out his hand.

Rosie handed over her phone and Jack flicked through until he found the photo in question. He could understand why Abigail and Frank had been so concerned. Jack had barely noticed how short Elizabeth's skirt was until he saw the photo. Her hands were around him as he leant in to her, kissing her deeply.

"Why would you send that to her?"

"I'm just looking out for you."

"How is that looking out for me?! Abigail and Frank are flipping out at home."

"Oh, calm down."

"Calm down? Rosie what are you playing at. We're not in senior year when you can go tell Frank and Abigail that you think I have pot."

Jack was referring to an incident in senior year when Rosie had mistakenly thought that Jack had started doing drugs behind the back of one of the school buildings in their lunch break.

"That was a misunderstanding."

"Obviously this is too!"

Jack was so angry. He had totally forgotten that Elizabeth was still standing beside him.

Lee stepped forward. "Hi, I'm Lee" he said to her, bringing Jack's attention back to Elizabeth.

"Hi. Elizabeth" she said shaking his offered hand.

"This is nosy Rosie, Jack's old neighbour."

Rosie gave Lee a glare before smiling toward Elizabeth. Elizabeth nodded, offering her a small smile in return.

"How about we all go and get a drink?" Lee said. Elizabeth followed his lead, walking with him back out toward the bar, leaving Jack and Rosie to follow behind.

Elizabeth and Lee quickly fell into conversation. Lee was impressed. She was easy to talk to and relaxed. She had a good sense of humour and appeared to be very genuine. He now knew why Jack was so infatuated with Elizabeth.

They went and bought some drinks at one of the stalls and Elizabeth grabbed some fries to share between them. They found a place to sit and Elizabeth sat down close to Jack, his arm drifting around her back.

It seemed Jack had forgiven Rosie for the time being, even when she insisted on taking a selfie of the four of them. After about eight attempts and a lot of laughter, they finally got one that Rosie was happy with.


After almost three months of dating, Jack and Elizabeth's nightly conversations had turned to more serious topics.

One Sunday night, Jack called in on his way home from work and they curled up on the lounge, his arms wrapped around her and she had nuzzled into his chest.

"Viola got engaged today" Elizabeth said as she played with his hand, entwining their fingers.

"That's nice. Was she excited?"

"Over the moon. She was squealing into the phone I could barely understand her" she said with a small laugh.

"He's a nice guy?" Jack asked as his free hand ran through her hair.

"He's okay. Just very practical, I guess."

"When is she going to get married?"

"Not until next year. It's going to be a huge wedding so it will need a lot of organising."

"Do you want a big wedding like that when we get married?"

Elizabeth was surprised by the question but tried not to sound too concerned even though her heart was beating so rapidly right now. He said when WE get married!

"No. I'm much simpler in my tastes. I would prefer to elope than have a big production like that."

"Elope?" he asked.

Elizabeth looked up at him then and could see the twinkle in his eyes. "Yes. Why not? But what about you? What do you want?"

"I want to have a small wedding. Immediate family and close friends."

"That sounds nice" she said with a grin. "Maybe in the park."

"Sounds perfect."


Jack hadn't even meant to say 'when we get married' but when it slipped out of his mouth he found himself holding his breath waiting for Elizabeth's reaction.

She barely seemed to notice and when she looked up at him with a smile on her face, he was glad that he had said it. Everything seemed clearer now. He had already known she was the one but now he knew they were on the same page.

It still caught him by surprise when she continued their conversation.

"How many kids do you want, Jack?"

"Um, I'm not sure. I mean I love kids, I just hadn't thought about actual numbers. What about you?"

"Well, if I'm working for my Dad's company I will be limited to only having one or two. The corporate world isn't really ideal for raising children. My Dad was barely there growing up."

"Are you prepared to have children and never see them?" he said quietly.

"No. And I don't think I'm prepared to stay at the company if I have to give up that idea."

"But you've known that the whole time."

"I know I guess being with you has put things into a new perspective for me."

"Oh?"

She took a deep breath before looking him in the eyes. "Before I had never met anyone like you who I could see a future with. Thinking about that now, I know what I would prefer."

Jack grinned at her. "You think you would prefer to marry me and raise a family without working at your father's company?" he prompted.

Elizabeth nodded at him, a small uncertain smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Jack leant down and kissed her.

"I love you, Elizabeth. Whatever you want to do, I will support you."

Elizabeth's smile broadened.

"Do you mean that? What if I said I was going to stay working at the company and we couldn't have children."

It wasn't even a decision for him. "So long as I have you, that's enough."

"You really mean that?"

"Without a doubt" he said as he kissed her again. "You're the one I want."

To be continued …