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 7- On a Ring and a Prayer
Elizabeth returned to her cabin and to an excited Onyx. They went for a final walk around the area before retiring for the night.
Jack thanked Hank and Margaret for a wonderful time. The sermon, dealing with acceptance of the past and allowing yourself the ability to move on to a brighter future, had him thinking. He knew why Elizabeth did what she did all those years ago. Was he angry? Initially he was, but this time alone allowed him to reflect and realize that he may have done the exact same thing had the situations been reversed.
Jack drove back down to his cabin. Everything he saw reminded him of her. One thing was certain, he needed to find her. He believed that she was no longer with Carson, but for all he knew, she would assume that he was still dating Brooke. He needed to find her, express his feelings, and hope that she still felt the same about him.
He fixed a cup of coffee, stepped outside into the cold, crisp, clean mountain air looked up into the clear sky and he prayed…
"Dear Lord, I know that I do not come to you often, well certainly not as frequently as I should, and I'm actually ashamed to be doing so now. With all the war, hunger and discontent in the world, my problem seems quite small in the grand scheme of things. I'm a godly man, and I do believe that you have the power to intervene in our lives. I don't ask that you have Elizabeth take me back. I simply ask that you guide me with your hand; lead me to where she is and give me the strength to be completely honest with her. I believe we belong together, but if in the end we are meant to be apart, we will do so with Elizabeth having the complete knowledge of my feelings for her. I pray for the health and safety of my friends and family, my brothers and sisters in law enforcement, and the men and women who protect our great country. Thank you for always watching over us as we are forever mindful of your presence. In Jesus' name and for his sake, Amen"
All night Jack tossed and turned; the image of the woman at the chapel continued to run through his head. His heart told him that Elizabeth was near, but his head told him otherwise.
He woke Christmas morning to a new blanket of snow covering the ground. He had decided during the night that he would leave today and return home. By no means was he giving up but he didn't see himself finding her on the mountain. However, given the new snowfall, he decided to wait until later in the day to leave.
Elizabeth had nothing to do but sleep in, which she unexpectedly enjoyed. She fried up bacon, scrambled some eggs, and she and Onyx enjoyed breakfast as they sat in front of the electric fireplace doing their best to keep warm. After she cleaned up the kitchen, she slipped into her jeans, her favorite "Your Dog Doesn't Know Sit" sweatshirt, pulled on her boots and they headed out for a hike.
As she stepped off of her porch, she was again in awe of the beauty of the fresh fallen snow. Between the initial snowfall and the one from last night, Onyx found it difficult to make her way through the numerous inches of the white stuff. Elizabeth laughed as she appeared to be moving in slow motion.
They headed across the street and onto the wooded path. They passed Margaret, Hank and their two boys as they headed down the trails in different directions. "Merry Christmas" they each spoke in passing.
"We'd like you and Tootie to join us for dinner tonight," Margaret stopped and offered.
"Thank you, I'd…we'd like that," Elizabeth replied, feeling increasingly uncomfortable at her deception. "Can I bring anything?"
"No, just you and Tootie," Margaret replied. "See you at 6:30?"
"That's perfect. Thanks for thinking of us. I didn't realize how lonely it would feel being up here alone," Elizabeth mentioned as they continued in different directions.
"She's here alone?" Hank asked.
Margaret replied, "Yes, I think so. She told me that she had friends coming, but last night she was still by herself. I'm not sure. I think she's been hurt. Why, are you interested?" She asked as she shoved him gently off of the path.
"Absolutely not. You are my perfect someone, sweetheart," he quickly redeemed himself. "Just wondering because there's a guy that I met a few days ago. He's staying in a cabin down the hill and he's alone too."
"Invite him. It can't hurt," she suggested.
Hank laughed, "I never thought I'd be doing something to set someone up. However, I've got to say, from what you've told me about Beth and what I know about him, I think they would be perfect together."
"When you go to talk with him, check in the office and see if they have any rentals available," Margaret asked as she wrapped her arm through his, leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder.
"You mean the…" Hank began.
"Yes…" Margaret finished his thought. "That was so much fun last year. I'll be home in a little while. I'm going to catch up to Beth. She seems like she could use a friend."
Margaret left her family and headed down the path in search of Elizabeth. A short distance away, she found her resting her back up against a tree. Elizabeth turned away and wiped her eyes as she observed Margaret approaching.
"Oh hi," Elizabeth stated.
"What's wrong?" Margaret asked. "You look so sad… please let me help."
"I'm so ashamed, Margaret," Elizabeth began.
"Oh my…Beth, what's wrong?" Margaret reached out, took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
"I haven't been honest with you," Elizabeth stated hesitantly. "My name is Elizabeth, and this is…well her name is Onyx."
"Trust me, Beth…I mean Elizabeth, I have most definitely heard worse," Margaret assured her. Would you like to tell me why you felt the need to be less than honest? Are you in trouble? Are you running from someone? From something?"
Elizabeth took the Kleenex offered by Margaret and wiped her eyes. "I just went through a break up, and although he hasn't really scared me in the past, he was not accepting of my decision to end our relationship," Elizabeth explained. "I have some emotional baggage that I'm dealing with, and Onyx and I came up here to get away from everything and think."
"Everything and everyone?" Margaret asked.
"Basically…" Elizabeth replied.
"I don't mean to interfere, but I am a good listener," Margaret offered an understanding ear, and comforting shoulder to Elizabeth.
"How can you get someone you have loved almost your entire life out of your heart?" Elizabeth asked; her voice wavered and more tears began to form.
"Why do you need to get him out of your heart?" Margaret asked.
Elizabeth wiped her face, "He's in love with someone else now. I mean, we were in love many years ago. I still am, but he's moved on."
Elizabeth glanced about, as if she were looking for something in particular, but not finding it. Her eyes were sad, "I hurt him; I know that, but I hurt myself to."
"Do you want to tell me about him?" Margaret asked, leaning up against the same massive tree trunk.
"I'm sorry. It's Christmas Day. You should be with your family. I'm fine," Elizabeth assured her as she straightened her jacket, wiped her eyes and took a few steps on the path.
"Tell me about him, Elizabeth…"
Elizabeth turned back around and finding the ability to smile through her tears she stated, "His name is Jack."
"Is that his real name?" Margaret smiled as she attempted to lighten the mood.
Elizabeth returned the smile, "I deserved that."
Margaret was sympathetic, engaging and appeared truly interested. For whatever reason, Elizabeth felt completely comfortable talking with her.
"We met in high school. I think I loved him even back then, but we didn't date until college."
Margaret remained quiet, only releasing an occasional "Ah" or "Uh-huh" to assure Elizabeth that she was following the information.
Elizabeth unburdened herself, releasing her love story with Jack onto Margaret's compassionate ears.
Margaret smiled, "Elizabeth, given this time of year, not necessarily Christmas, but winter time, what is your most favorite memory of him?"
Elizabeth thought for a moment, "We both lived in Boston, and I remember one winter there was so much snow. I'd never seen that much and I was so tired of being cooped up in the house. I think I was going stir crazy."
Elizabeth continued, "I was 17 years old, and he showed up at my house, sled in hand, and he talked my parents into letting him take me sledding at this huge hill. My parents always loved him; I think sometimes more than me," she laughed softly, showing evidence that this was definitely a fond memory.
Margaret smiled at the visual of the two teenagers, who without realizing it at the time, were making such a sweet memory together.
It was evident that Elizabeth was experiencing multiple emotions. Her smile was broad; her eyes were bright, yet they easily and quickly filled with tears as she continued, "I remember riding double, with him behind me holding me so tight. We laughed and laughed and I prayed that the day would never end."
She lifted her head and looked in Margaret's direction. However, it was as if she were looking through Margaret, somehow taken back to Boston on that snow covered hill already in love with the boy who had captivated her and stolen her heart.
Elizabeth looked off in the distance as she continued, "I remember my coat was soaking wet, and he took his jacket off and wrapped it around me. I don't know if it was the jacket or his arms around me that made me feel so warm. He had to have been freezing though, but you never would have known. He never said a word about it."
She took a breath and momentarily smiled before continuing, "I told him that it was a memory that I would keep forever." She glanced down at the snow covered path before returning her eyes to Margaret, "I was too young to know at the time that I was already in love with him. I told him that the only thing that would make this experience more romantic would be to add a horse, some moonlight, and to be with the man I love."
"Sounds beautiful," Margaret remarked.
Elizabeth laughed, "I didn't know it then but the only things missing were the horse, and moonlight. I already had the man and I was crazy in love with him."
"So when did you realize that you were in love?" Margaret asked.
"He was always special to me," Elizabeth stated. "I remember being jealous when he would talk to me about his dates with other girls. I tried to be supportive and listen, but I used to wonder why it wasn't me? I just assumed that he would only ever see me as a friend," she commented a she shrugged her shoulders.
"We went on our first official date to the Christmas dance in our freshman year at Tech. He never asked anyone, and I turned down two invitations. I just couldn't imagine going with anyone but Jack. I'm not sure what happened, but after that, things changed. There was nothing really said about us dating, we just seemed to slip into new roles. We still went everywhere together, but we held hands and stole innocent little kisses," she explained. "Our relationship progressed from there."
"On the night he told me he loved me, we were juniors. Jack hadn't gotten his college ring yet, so he gave me his high school ring on a beautiful silver chain. I still have it," Elizabeth admitted as she thought about the piece of jewelry hanging around her neck, but currently hidden from view.
"What happened?" Margaret asked hesitantly, having a hard time believing that anything but death would have separated them.
Elizabeth bowed her head, "I made a decision to end it. It was the worst choice I have ever made, and I've regretted it ever since."
"Why on earth did you do that?" Margaret asked.
"He wanted a career in the FBI…"
"Oh and you were worried about the danger?" Margaret surmised.
"No, well that may have been part of it. I had just signed a teaching contract when he was accepted into the Academy, and I felt that he wouldn't leave me to 'follow his dream.'" She felt herself choking on her breath, as her words took her back to that bleak moment in her life. "I couldn't leave, and I felt that he shouldn't stay, so I basically told him that the relationship wasn't working out for me, and I walked away from him."
Margaret reached her arm around Elizabeth's shoulders and pulled her in for a hug. "I'm so sorry. Have you seen him since then?"
"I hadn't seen him for seven years and recently…"
Margaret felt her pain, but was mesmerized by the story and needed to know more, "What happened recently?"
Elizabeth took a deep breath, "We talked. I told him why I left. I know it was stupid, and I regret it, but I was 22 years old and not the brightest in life's lessons. I thought I was doing what he needed."
"What about what you needed?" She asked.
"I needed him but I didn't matter; what he needed was more important," Elizabeth remarked.
"Elizabeth, I don't know him, but from what you've told me, I don't think that he would agree with you," Margaret replied. "I have to say that unfortunately communication or actually the lack of communication is one of the biggest problems among couples."
"It doesn't matter anymore. He's moved on, and he should have. I didn't want him to wait for me…" Elizabeth was unable to hold back the tears, "I didn't expect him to wait for me, but I know now that I wanted him to. He didn't; he's happy and he has a girlfriend, so I need to be happy for him."
Margaret continued, "Elizabeth, you won't be able to move on until to tell him everything. What's the worst case scenario? You feel that he's already moved on so telling him everything will require you to do the same? At least you will have come clean, so to speak, and he'll know exactly how you feel."
"I'm so sorry to lay all of this on you, Margaret. I have to say, I do feel better," Elizabeth seemed relieved. "You really are a great listener."
"Margaret," Hank called out from down the path. "I'm going to the store. The boys are at the cabin,"
"OK, I'll be right down," She yelled back.
Margaret turned back to Elizabeth, "You need to allow your heart to heal. You are a beautiful, sweet intelligent woman, and I'm sure that you will find someone when the time is right. Are you okay now?"
"Yes, thank you for listening. I do actually feel better," Elizabeth replied.
Margaret headed back down to her cabin as Elizabeth and Onyx continued their hike.
Margaret rushed to their site hoping to catch Hank before he left to invite the man he had met for dinner. After hearing Elizabeth's story, she didn't feel comfortable trying to set her up, no matter how nice Hank felt the man was. Unfortunately, their vehicle was gone, and she was unable to reach him.
Hank made his way down the hill heading to the office, stopping off at Jack's cabin on the way. He stepped up on the porch and found Jack sitting quietly alone. "Oh, I'm sorry Jack; I didn't see you there," Hank stated.
"Hey Hank," Jack offered him a seat.
"Actually, I'm heading to the office, but Margaret and I would like to invite you to dinner tonight. We won't take 'no' for an answer. Okay?" Hank asked.
"I appreciate the offer, but I was actually planning to leave in a little while," Jack stated. "I was just giving the roads a little bit of time to get cleared away.
"Absolutely not; stay and have dinner with us. You won't regret it. Margaret is an excellent cook," Hank promised.
Realizing that he had nothing to rush home to, Jack appreciatively replied, "Thank you. It is very kind of you to offer."
"Is something wrong?" Hank asked. "You seem kind of depressed."
"No, just thinking," Jack replied.
"Anything I can help you with?" Hank asked.
"How long have you and Margaret been married?"
"It will be 14 years in February. We married on Valentine's Day," Hank offered.
Jack smiled at the symbolism of marrying on such a romantic holiday.
"I see the look…Yes, it was romantic, but I actually think she did it so I would always remember. Why?" Hank sat down in the chair next to Jack. "Are you okay?"
"What do you do when the woman you have loved your entire life leaves you?" Jack asked as he stared out into the woods.
"Oh man, I'm so sorry. No wonder you're bummed. How long ago did she break up with you?" Hank asked.
"Seven years…"
"Seven years? Gosh you do have it bad. Do you still love her," Hank asked.
Jack glanced in Hank's direction, "I have loved her for a great majority of my life."
"Do you think she still loves you?" Hank inquired.
"I think so…"
"Well, what are you doing here? Go find her…"
"She was seeing someone but I'd heard that they broke up," Jack stated, his heart lifted at the thought of her possibly being available. "I don't know where she is."
Jack shook his head in disbelief, "I can't believe it; I think I see her everywhere. Just last night at the chapel, I could have sworn I saw her sitting in the front pew."
"Oh yes, she's a friend of Margaret's and quite beautiful," Hank answered.
"I have no idea where she is right now. Sometimes it feels like she is so close that I could reach out and touch her, and yet other times she seems so far away," Jack advised.
"Why did you come here?" Hank asked.
"Have you ever had a memory that was so strong, so powerful that you just wanted to recreate it?" Jack asked.
"Sure, my wedding and the birth of my two sons are powerful memories for us. Although Margaret says she remembers vividly being in labor, and doesn't feel the need to revisit it physically," Hank and Jack both laughed.
"Elizabeth and I came here many years ago with several other couples for the weekend. The weather was warmer, and we had a great time. I guess I was just trying to feel close to her," Jack remarked.
"Have you told her how you feel?" Hank asked.
"I've tried. We broke up seven years ago," Jack stated. "I didn't know why until recently."
"Do you want to share the reason?" Hank asked.
"She said that she didn't want to hold me back from my dreams," Jack replied.
"What were your dreams and did she have a reason to believe that she would keep you from them?" Hank inquired.
"For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to be an agent in the FBI; I got my chance after college graduation. She apparently didn't think that I could have her and the Bureau, so she chose for me," Jack stated; the tone of his voice becoming slightly agitated.
"Did she choose because she couldn't handle the safety risk?" Hank asked.
"She said that she broke up with me because she knew that I'd pick her over the Bureau. She felt that I would eventually resent her for giving up my dream," Jack remarked.
"I loved her Hank; I still do, but that was selfish of her to make that choice for me," Jack disappointedly replied. He inhaled deeply and released a cleansing breath, "I feel so comfortable talking with you. I guess with you being a minister, you just have that "put people at ease" kind of personality," Jack admitted.
"Jack, I know you're sad, angry, worried, upset, and quite mad, but you are also in love with this girl," Hank moved from sounding board to counselor. "Don't you think that it's possible that she did one of the most unselfish things, and released you to live your dream? Is it possible that she's had some of the same feelings?"
Hank continued, "Did you move on? Did she move on? I know you said that she was dating someone else, but you think that's over; what about you? Are you attached?"
"I think we both tried to move on; well, I don't know about her, I dated, but it never went anywhere," Jack stated. "I'd rather be alone."
Jack leaned forward in his seat; his elbows were resting on his knees as his hands cradled his face. "I miss her, and I want back what we had."
"Well Jack," Hank stated, "If she is who you want, you're going to have to find her and talk with her…honestly tell her how you feel, no holding back."
"I don't really know why I came here. I was drawn here for some reason, but it's not like she's here," Jack released a frustrated laugh. "I think I just need to go home."
"But not until tomorrow. Tonight you are having Christmas dinner with my family and…"
Jack cocked his head and raised his eyebrows, "And what?"
Hank took a deep breath, "OK, I just want you to know that Margaret thought it would be nice to invite the young woman in the cabin next to us. There are…"
"I'm not looking to be set up Hank," Jack stated firmly. "Elizabeth is truly the only woman I want."
"I know, I know…trust me, I know. We have several families and couples coming so you two won't be the only ones there. Please come…I'll make sure my wife doesn't try to put you two together," Hank promised. "I'll make sure that you are on one side of the table and she's on the other."
"What's her name?" Jack asked.
"Beth. It's kind of ironic, isn't it?" I mean Beth and your girl named Elizabeth," Hank remarked.
"I suppose. Is there anything I can bring?" Jack asked.
"Nope, just you. See you tonight around 6:30. I have to go up to the office to check on something. See you soon," Hank remarked as he headed down the road.
Elizabeth wasn't certain why, but she felt relieved after emotionally unburdening herself to Margaret. She decided that Jack deserved to know how she honestly felt about him, and would contact him once she was receiving cell service again. She still had no intention of coming between Jack and Brooke, but felt that she needed a complete cleansing of her soul if she was ever to move on. She frowned at the thought of truly putting her past with Jack behind her, because she didn't want to say goodbye. However, if she was lucky and the Gods of love chose to shine upon her, she would gladly welcome another opportunity with him.
She sat on the sofa with Onyx beside her, grabbed her journal from the table and flipped to the next blank page…
"As the saying goes, 'If you love something, let it go. If it returns, It's yours; if it doesn't, it wasn't. If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were.'
As that saying plays repeatedly in my mind, I must ask myself, once set free do we quickly forget and move on? Is there a set time apart by which there is generally no turning back? Is it possible for those strong feelings of love to surpass the anger, resurfacing later, just as strong; just as intense, and just as real? I have to believe that time is not the determining factor. That love can defy all odds and that those strong emotions don't simply disappear. But I also must realize that seven years is like a lifetime to an aching heart, which cannot be asked to endure but so much sadness."
Elizabeth closed her journal and sat it on the table. She fixed herself a cup of coffee and returned to the sofa where she took a seat beside Onyx. Once she finished her coffee, Elizabeth slipped into her jeans, and boots, before putting on her opal stud earrings, and observing the silver chain necklace that remained hidden under the cowl neck of her sweater. She grabbed her coat, Onyx's leash and started for the door.
She arrived at Margaret's cabin and as usual, Onyx was the hit of the party with the children who were present for the dinner.
Margaret took Elizabeth's coat and handed her a glass of wine as they stepped into the family room where there was a fire burning in the fireplace. "Elizabeth, I have my own confession to make," Margaret began. "Hank invited a guy from a cabin down the hill for dinner tonight."
"Please tell me that you aren't trying to fix me up," Elizabeth stated as she scanned the room looking for other single attendees at the dinner.
"No, I promise, no set up. Maybe that was my initial intent. Hank says he is a wonderful guy, but after we talked, I realized that would be wrong. I just wasn't able to catch Hank before he invited him," Margaret assured her. "If it makes you feel better, he's hung up on someone too, so he only agreed to come if we didn't try to fix him up."
Margaret excused herself to check on dinner, leaving Elizabeth alone among several other couples and families. She kept scanning the room for the single man Margaret had mentioned; not that she was interested, but assumed that he would also feel uncomfortable at the prospect of being set up.
"Excuse me," one of the children called out to Elizabeth. "I think Onyx needs to go outside. Which one is your husband? If you don't want to take her outside, I can ask him."
"Thank you sweetheart, but I don't have a husband," Elizabeth replied.
"I'm sorry lady," the child innocently responded.
Suddenly feeling a bit nervous, Elizabeth grabbed her coat and Onyx's leash and quietly slipped out the door.
As she walked around the snow covered yard, she heard the cheers and laughter coming from inside. She watched several children on the lawn having a snowball fight; initially laughing at the fun they were having until she was hit in the back, causing her to lose her balance and fall to the ground.
"I'm so sorry lady. Go get her husband," one of the boys yelled.
Mark, Hank and Margaret's son responded, "She doesn't have a husband."
Feeling completely out of place, needing to clean up and doubting that she'd be missed, she asked Mark to advise his mother that she had returned home.
Margaret was unaware that Elizabeth had left. She walked to the table with a plate of hors d'oeuvres, glancing around and was pleased that all of her guests appeared to be getting along well. As she sat the plate down and turned back toward the kitchen, something shiny caught her eye. She walked over by the door and picked up a beautiful silver necklace. Lying a foot away in plain view was a young man's high school ring. It appeared that the necklace had simply come unhooked and fallen from the neck of its owner to the floor.
"Is anyone missing a silver necklace?" Margaret called out.
No one came forward. Margaret suddenly recalled the conversation she'd had with Elizabeth regarding the silver chain and high school ring her boyfriend had given her. She looked around and not seeing Elizabeth, assumed that she had simply taken Onyx out for a walk.
Margaret laid the chain and ring on the table and planned to show it to Elizabeth when she returned. As she glanced at the items one last time she thought, "She can't let go…"
A short while later Hank answered a knock at the door, "Jack, come on in. Get out of the cold. We're so glad you agreed to come."
"Nice ride you have out there," Jack mentioned. He thanked Hank and Margaret for the invitation, and immediately scanned the room. Not that he was interested in the woman they had invited for him, but he couldn't help but think that she too would feel uncomfortable.
Jack socialized with some of the men, talking about football and other sports. He excused himself to offer his help to Margaret in the kitchen. She went to hand him a platter of vegetables, but as he sat his glass down on the table, it landed unevenly and tipped over, spilling its contents across the tabletop and onto the floor.
Jack grabbed a rag and began apologizing for his clumsiness. As he cleaned off the table, grabbing items and wiping under them, he sat the silver chain and high school ring down, only to immediately pick them up again. He looked at the ring, recognizing it as his own.
He rushed to Hank, "Where did you get this?"
"I don't know. Margaret," he yelled out, "Where did this come from?"
Margaret looked in Jack's hand and observed the ring and chain, "I picked them up off the floor."
"Their mine, well the ring is mine," Jack remarked.
"Are you him? Are you her Jack?" Did you give that to Elizabeth?" She asked.
"YES, where is she?" His heart was pounding and he was obviously frantic.
"She's around here somewhere. She was here before you arrived," Margaret advised.
"Are you looking for the lady with the dog?" Mark asked.
"Yes," Jack yelled.
"She left. I'm sorry mom, I was supposed to tell you," he replied.
"Where's her cabin," Jack asked as he ran for the door.
"The next one down the road," Hank yelled as Jack closed the door behind him.
"WOW, the Lord works in mysterious ways," Margaret smiled, hoping that Elizabeth would be true to her word and remain honest with Jack.
Elizabeth had already returned to her cabin, feeling the need to be alone and reflect upon the emotional enlightenment she had received during this trip. She grabbed her journal from the table, flipped through to the first blank page, and began to express her feelings on paper…
"Calm; it's that feeling of peace within you. It's the ability to tame the raging winds and violent seas of your soul. It's the knowledge that you can only do your best with the eventual outcome being no longer in your hands, and it puts the battling demons of emotion to rest.
This holiday season has been a profound awakening for me; a journey to rediscovery, as I deal with a plethora of emotions. I can't be sad or disappointed about my journey, as all of my experiences have brought me to where I am today. Would my life have been different had I made other choices? Certainly. Would it have been better? I'm not as certain.
I love you Jack; I always have and I most certainly always will. I pray for the opportunity to be completely honest with you and that we each may have a chance to heal. I wish that you were here with me now. Christmases have not been the same since we…"
Elizabeth wiped her eyes, finding herself unable to complete the final sentence.
Having decided that running away from home was solving nothing, Elizabeth slipped her journal into her bag before gathering the remainder of her belongings to pack her car. With her suitcase in hand, she opened the door…
"Ahhh," her eyes widened and she felt a rush of air enter her lungs as she came face to face with Jack. "What are you doing here?"
He said nothing. He entered the cabin, closing the door as he backed her up against the wall. He cradled her face in his hands before his lips hungrily met hers. Elizabeth felt the air being sucked from her lungs, but never thought before now how overrated breathing was.
The moment their lips touched, there was no anger, no hatred, no sadness or disappointment. There was only love and desire, and it was as if the past seven years had miraculously disappeared.
Jack clasped his hands in hers as he raised her arms above her head; his full weight pressed against her body; their lips touching; their tongues searching, and their hearts pounding.
He released her hands as his fingers were desperate to undo the buttons on her coat. She found it difficult to catch her breath as his hands slipped her coat over her shoulders, dropping it to the floor. His lips were quickly drawn to the soft skin on her neck, as his tongue traced down from her earlobe to her shoulder.
His touch was so gentle; so intimate, a part of him that she had only dreamed of, but never truly experienced before. Her soft moans stoked the fire that was burning in each of them.
He held her close, each curve fitting perfectly together as if their bodies were designed with the other one in mind. He knew that his chest was rising and falling, but he doubted that the air was actually reaching his lungs. "I love you, Elizabeth. I've never stopped loving you," he whispered breathlessly. She felt her knees weaken as his arms around her waist helped to support her.
"Jack…Jack stop. This isn't right. I can't so this," She pushed him away as she moved deeper into the room.
"Are you going to stand there and tell me that you don't feel anything?" Although he was breathless, his voice was stern. "I'm not letting you walk away from me again."
She turned away from him.
"Look at me…Elizabeth, look at me! Do you love me?"
"It's not that simple, Jack. There are feelings and emotions of other people involved here. It's not just what you want or what I want," she replied.
"It needs to be about us," Jack demanded. "Elizabeth, for once, it has to be about us. For fifteen years I have loved you; I have dreamed about you and I have wanted you. I'm not walking away, and I'm certainly not letting you. Are you in love with him?" Jack asked, fearful of the answer.
"Who? Carson? Oh heavens no. We split up after that disaster of a dinner," she remarked. "I was referring to Brooke. I can't come between you two." She turned around and walked into the kitchen.
"So, you didn't spend that night with Carson?" Jack asked.
"Absolutely not. Not that night or any other night for that matter." Elizabeth replied. "Jack stop," she stated as he kept approaching her.
"Elizabeth, Brooke and I broke up that night too," he explained.
"But I saw you at the beach; you were hugging, and you seemed close."
"We were saying goodbye," Jack stated as he approached her, but this time she did not resist.
With only a whisper of space between them, he asked her again, "Do you love me?"
"I always have," she barely got the words out before he devoured her lips as if she were his favorite meal.
Without releasing her lips, his hands found her waist as he lifted her onto the counter. He moved in between her legs, wanting her as close as possible. His hands slipped under her sweater as she felt his fingers gently move across her abdomen. Her skin tingled; her eyes closed as her body melted into him. He leaned back slightly, resting his forehead on hers and breathlessly whispered, "Elizabeth, I want to make love to you."
Elizabeth caught his gaze and smiled nervously, "Jack, if I were a different person, I'd let you. I'm that same girl who fell all over her words in college, trying to explain why I wanted to wait until I'm married. I'm sorry."
He smiled, as air rushed through his nose in the form of a soft laugh. He remembered that moment. He loved her then; he didn't know how it was possible but he loved her even more now. He leaned back, swept a curly strand of hair behind her ear, and wiped the tears that fell from her eyes, "Don't you ever be sorry for that."
She wrapped her arms around his neck. In his arms she finally felt safe and at home. "Why did you come here, Jack?" She asked.
"I don't know why I ended up here. I was supposed to be in Boston…"
"Me too…" she replied.
"I know. We were on the same flight," he remarked.
"So why are you here?"
"You weren't on the flight. I didn't know where to find you. I just started driving, and I ended up here," Jack explained. "I almost left to go home today."
"Wait…how did you know I was here?" She asked.
Jack reached in his pocket and pulled out the silver chain and high school ring. "Hank next door invited me to dinner tonight. Apparently you lost something over there."
Elizabeth checked the neckline on her sweater and realized that her necklace was gone.
Jack slipped the silver chain through the ring, wrapped it around her neck and secured the clasp.
"Margaret invited me to dinner, but with all of the couples…I just felt out of place, so I left."
"So they were trying to set us up," Jack laughed.
"Yes, and I told her I wasn't interested," Elizabeth replied.
"I said the same thing," Jack concurred.
"Wait right here…" Jack ran out of the cabin.
Ten minutes later he ran back inside…
Jack found her still sitting on the counter. "I didn't actually mean that you couldn't move."
"I was afraid that if I moved, then all of this would disappear," she stated.
He helped her down from the counter. He grabbed her coat, buttoning it in between soft, gentle kisses. "Do you have any gloves?"
She reached her hand in her pocket and pulled out one grey glove with red stripes, "I can keep one hand warm."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the matching glove he'd found during his walk to the lake. "In my heart, I knew you were near."
"Where did you find it?" She asked.
"At the lake," he responded as he brought her hand to his lips before helping her slip on the glove.
"Where are we going?" She asked.
He took her hand and led her to the door. "Merry Christmas," he stated as they stepped outside.
Elizabeth took a gasping breath as her hand covered her mouth. She smiled broadly and her eyes glistened as she wrapped her arm through his and they stepped off of the porch to the waiting horse drawn sleigh.
"You remembered. How did you…"
"When it comes to you Elizabeth, I remember everything. But luckily, Hank and Margaret rented it for the night. We're just borrowing it for awhile," Jack stated as he helped her up into the seat and covered them both with a blanket. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and drew her close as he gently kissed the top of her head.
Margaret and Hank stepped outside and watched as the horse drawn sleigh passed by, pleased with their slight involvement in getting Jack and Elizabeth back together.
The horse drawn sleigh carried them down the mountain and back to Elizabeth's cabin. He helped her down and held her hand as they walked back inside. Onyx danced around, showing that either she needed to go outside or that she was a fan of Jack's as well.
"I need to take her out. I'll be right back," Elizabeth stated.
Jack's finger under her chin lifted her lips to meet his. He kissed her soundly, "It's cold outside; let me take her."
Elizabeth handed him the leash and she watched Jack walk to the door, signaling to Onyx that it was okay for her to follow.
Jack walked Onyx around the yard but couldn't take his eyes off of the cabin. It was as if he was fearful that she would somehow sneak away. He squatted down to look Onyx in the eyes, "I know you're very important to her. I don't want to take her away, but do you think we could share?"
Onyx nudged him before licking his face, signifying her willingness to let him in.
They stepped back inside. Jack removed his snow covered boots, and took a towel and peeled away the ice balls from between Onyx's toes before taking a seat beside Elizabeth on the sofa.
He wrapped his arm around her as she snuggled in but still it wasn't close enough. He felt the need to feel her body over every inch of his own. He leaned her back on the sofa as his body covered hers. His arms swept around her waist and pulled her into him. His lips quickly and deliberately found hers. He was gentle, yet demanding, strong, yet tender, and emotional, yet forgiving.
His body responded immediately to her touch as he found it difficult to comply with her earlier proclamation. He wanted her completely, body and soul, as the passion between them continued to be fueled by each preceding kiss.
He opened his eyes, catching hers still closed as he observed single tears slipping down the sides of her face. He drew back suddenly realizing that he couldn't take that part of her that she had been saving for the most precious day of her life.
Jack sat up as Elizabeth took her place snuggled into his chest. Neither said a word as they each said their silent prayers of thanks. Before long, Elizabeth drifted off to sleep as her head lay comfortably in his lap. He slipped a decorative pillow under her head, and covered her body with the throw that was draped along the back of the sofa. His fingers tenderly swept the strands of hair out of her face, and he lovingly watched her sleep…and he cried.
To be continued…
