Present Day, Hidden Lake, Michigan
Elizabeth looked at her namesake, now sleeping on the porch swing. She was so lovely and sweet, with a touch of Elizabeth's own outspokenness.
"Bee? You out here?" Jack bellowed from inside the house.
"Yes, dear. Why are you yelling? You are going to wake up Lizzie."
He stepped out on the porch and took a seat next to Elizabeth. "Its sure beautiful out here."
"Yes it is. Lizzie wanted to know how we met so I've been telling her our story."
He held his hand out to her and smiled as she placed her hand in his. "It's a good story. A good life, we've had, Bee."
"Yes. Very good."
"I'm sure glad I met the cute, nerdy accountant all those years ago."
"I'm sure glad Rosie dared me to take a painting class."
They looked up as a car pulled in their drive. It was Isaac to pick up Lizzie. He was forty five now and the father of two beautiful girls, Lizzie who was ten and Nicole who was seventeen.
"Hey, Ma. Dad."
"Hi, sweetie," Elizabeth said as he kissed her soft, weathered cheek.
"Was Lizzie good?"
"Yes, dear. Lizzie is an angel. Now where's Nicki? I miss her."
"She's getting ready to go to her first dance."
"Oh, does she have a date?"
"She does, against my better judgement. Mandie insists that she's old enough. I'm not so sure."
"Seventeen is a year older than you and Jonah were when you started dating,"
Jack reminded him. "And your sister was seventeen. Am I right, Bee?"
"Yes, Hope was seventeen," she confirmed. She had married her high school sweetheart, John after college and now they had a daughter of their own, Corinne who was eight.
Lizzie opened her eyes and smiled when she saw her Daddy. "Hi, Daddy!" She walked over and sat on his lap even though she was getting almost too big to do so. "Gran was telling me how she met Papa. It's a good story."
"It is. Where'd she leave off?"
"Mmm. She was teaching Uncle Jonah to dance."
"I remember that," Isaac said.
"What happened next, Gran?"
"Well, your Uncle Jonah and I practiced a couple more times…."
…..
Elizabeth took a picture of Jonah before he Jack took him over to pick up Raylinn and took them to the dance.
"Are you ready?" she asked, adjusting his tie.
"I think so."
"Remember if you feel nervous, just take a few deep breaths and go slow."
He nodded. "Thanks, Elizabeth."
"You're welcome. Have fun."
"Not too much," Jack told him. "Let's go, bud." Jonah headed out to the car and Jack gave Elizabeth a quick kiss.
"See you later, Bee. Thanks for staying with Isaac."
"It's my pleasure."
"Yeah, Dad! It's gonna be awesome. We are gonna play minecraft," Isaac called from the kitchen.
"And yahtzee!" Elizabeth reminded him.
Jack chuckled and kissed her again.
"What, Jack?"
"Nothing except you math whizzes are super predictable."
"Yeah yeah. Have fun at the dance."
"I'd have more fun if you were dancing with me."
"Maybe our next date can include dancing."
"When's that?"
"Next weekend, I guess, since someone I know works every night during the week." They heard a horn honk from the driveway. "Better go."
He nodded kissing her a third time and headed out the door.
"Alright Isaac! Let's do this!"
….
Jonah nervously shoved his hands in his pockets as he and Raylinn walked in the building. His dad had thankfully stayed in the truck for a moment to let them walk in alone.
He felt Raylinn put her fingers inside his elbow and relaxed a bit. "I've never seen you this nervous Joe. You okay?"
"Yeah. I guess. I hope you aren't expecting me to be a genius on the dance floor or something. I'm not that good and I apologize in advance if I step on your toes or something."
"Stop," she said, squeezing his arm. "You are going to do just fine. It's just me, you know."
"Yeah, I know."
"But…?"
"I want this to be perfect. It's like our first real date. I just don't want you to change your mind about us."
"It won't happen, Joe. January can't come fast enough for me."
He took his hands out of his pockets and smiled, visibly relaxing. "Me either."
Jack watched them walk in and texted Elizabeth. "Made it 2 the dance."
"That's good. Having lots of fun here. This Minecraft game is awesome!"
"Lol. I'm glad u r having fun. Jonah doesn't enjoy the game so it's good that Isaac has someone that will enjoy playing."
She didn't answer or respond so Jack guessed she had been drawn back into the game by Isaac so he put his phone in his pocket, took a deep breath, and wandered into the school to chaperone a bunch of high school kids.
…..
"Do you want to switch to Yahtzee?" Isaac asked her after a couple hours of Minecraft.
"Nope! I'm so close to a chicken and a cow!"
Isaac laughed and paused the game. "Sorry, I need a break. Be right back."
Elizabeth sighed and picked her phone back up. She had three more texts from Jack. Two were regular texts and one was a picture of Jonah and Raylinn dancing.
"Nice pic! Mark my words, they will b married 1 day."
"Bite your tongue, Bee. I am choosing to believe that is at least 10 years away."
"Lol. I am guessing 5 maybe. But there is absolutely something there."
The look on their faces as they danced close reminded her of the picture Isaac had taken of her and Jack without their knowledge. It was definite attraction and joy and something else. She wondered if it was love. The more time she spent with Jack the more she wanted to. The more time she spent with the boys, the more she wanted to too but there was a definite difference.
She texted Rosie. "Hey, can I call you later tonight? I have a question."
"Sure. I will be here."
Isaac came back, bringing a bag of chips and a jar of salsa along with two bowls. "Snack time."
"Nice. I could use a snack for round two."
Isaac opened the bag and sat back, but didn't restart the game. Elizabeth could tell something was on his mind. "What's going on, Isaac?"
"Nothin."
"You can tell me. I promise, I'm a good listener."
"I've been thinking."
She took her bowl of salsa and sat back, turning toward him while taking a bite of a chip. "About what?"
"If you marry Dad, what's our relationship going to be like?"
"What do you want it to be like?" she asked. She figured he had something in mind.
"I want us to be friends like now, but I wouldn't mind a mom."
Her heart filled with love for Isaac at that statement. It was very sad that he didn't have memories of his own mom. "Then that's what I'll be. I'll be your mom and your friend."
"Good."
"But you know that this thing with your dad and me is new. We aren't anywhere near marriage right now."
"But you love him, don't you?"
"I think that is something I want to tell him first, fair?"
"Sure, but I can tell you do. Why not just admit it?" She blushed and took another bite. "Dad said you did that."
"Did what?"
"Blushed a lot. He said it's cute. Personally, since you are going to be my mom one day, I'm not going to agree."
"Eat your chips, bud." He laughed and dug in.
….
Later that night after Elizabeth got home, she called Rosie.
"Hey."
"Hey. What's up?"
"I think I love him, Rosie. Or I think I'm well on my way."
"And?"
"What do you mean "and"?"
"I know you do, Beth. You are so transparent. Your heart is on your sleeve and that's a good thing."
"Is it though? Because apparently I just figured it out."
"It's out there for the world to see anytime you talk about him or look at him or think about him."
"Yeah well, my blushing is a problem then."
"No it's not. I bet he finds it adorable and as time goes on, he probably won't ever have to guess how you feel."
"Rosie, I want this. Him, the boys, all of it. Am I crazy?"
"Probably."
"Gee thanks. I'm so glad I called you."
"You know I love you, Beth, but you worry too much."
"Ever think that maybe it only appears that way because you don't worry enough?"
"Nope."
Elizabeth was quiet for a moment and then she blurted, "I don't know what I'm doing here, Rosie. I don't know how to be in love! Isaac told me he could use a mom. I don't know how to be what he needs."
"You may be jumping the gun a bit. It's not like you're getting married tomorrow. Plus, being Isaac's mom will come naturally. He already cares about you a lot and you have nerdy stuff in common."
"Yeah."
"I know it's not what you usually do, but try not to plan this to death. Forget spreadsheets and five year goals and just go with the flow. You got what it takes, Beth."
Elizabeth sighed. "Thanks. One more thing."
"What's that?"
"Do I just come out and tell Jack I love him?"
"First? Absolutely not!" Rosie said, horrified.
Elizabeth laughed. "I'm just kidding. I'll wait until it's the right time."
…..
That was easier said than done. Over the next week, she saw him at breakfast before she headed to work almost every day. All she wanted to do was tell him now that she knew it was true.
By the time Saturday night rolled around and it was time for their date, she was nervous it would just fly out of her mouth without her permission.
She dressed up in her skinny jeans, a dark red long sleeve shirt and her ankle boots and then headed to Tortilla Charlie's to pick up their takeout he had ordered.
Then she arrived at his house and she couldn't wait to get inside. She grabbed the takeout and headed up to his door. Before she could ring the bell, he opened the door, a huge dimply grin on his face. "Good evening, Bee."
"Hey, handsome." She gave him a kiss on the cheek as she slipped past him into the house. As she entered the living room she stopped. There were probably a dozen candles burning, casting a very romantic glow. Then in the middle of the room, he had moved the dining room table where they would eat. "Jack…"
"You like it?"
"Yeah. It's beautiful."
He took the bag of food in one hand and took her hand with his other, leading her into the kitchen.
They transferred their food to plates and carried them into the living room. After he said a prayer, they started eating.
She didn't know what to say. He was so thoughtful and the candles made his eyes sparkle and…
"Bee? Something on your mind?"
"I guess. Not really." She shook her head and took another bite.
"You can tell me."
Of course she could. He was her best friend and she did love him. It seemed logical to tell him. But what if he didn't feel the same? Then she realized all the trouble he had gone to to make things nice for their evening and all the looks he gave her and the gentle touches. He had to be feeling something.
"You know how I've told you that I never really dated or kissed anyone?"
"Yeah. You can't say that anymore," he teased.
"No, I can't," she said, her cheeks turning pink. "I'm really grateful to have you and the boys in my life."
"The feeling is mutual, Bee."
"The best part of my day is when you and I see each other or even just talk on the phone."
"Mine too." He reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers.
"That's good."
"Is that all you wanted to say?" he wondered.
"For now, yeah."
He nodded and stood up, pushing a button on his phone. "Dance with me, Bee?"
"I'd love to." Forever and ever, she thought to herself.
