She put her hand in the drawer and removed the small black box. She fought the tears that had immediately filled her eyes the second she realized what was about to happen. He walked over and kissed her softly.
"Elizabeth, I love you, with all of my heart. I fought it at first and then I realized how badly I needed you and I couldn't fight it anymore. Sweetheart, you are amazing and strong and you're a wonderful Mother and you deserve to be happy after what you've been through. If you say yes to me, I will try so hard to make sure that you are." He kissed her forehead, resting his lips there for a moment. "Will you be my wife?"
"Yes. Of course I will." She kissed him, then, with all the love she felt in her heart. A big kiss for sure, one that left them unable to think for a moment. When she finally pulled her lips away from his, she opened the box and sighed. "Sweetie, it's beautiful." He slipped it on her finger and smiled.
"It looks good."
"Its perfect. Thank you." She kissed him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I love you so much."
Audrey ran in. "Did you like it Mama? Did you give him a big kiss?"
"Yes I loved it."
"She gave me a huge kiss, pumpkin. Thank you for helping me keep the secret."
"You're welcome. Did she say yes?"
"Yes, she did."
"So you will be my Daddy now, right?"
He picked her up and sat on the bed, along with Elizabeth. "Audrey, I need you to know something, ok?"
"Ok."
"I know that I will never take your Papa's place. He will always be your first Daddy. I love you and your Mama, but I don't ever want you to forget him, ok?"
"Yes, he was my first Daddy, but he isn't here anymore. I need you now."
"Then I'm yours." This time it was he who couldn't hold back the tears. Tears of joy and a little sadness for Audrey, but mostly, tears of immense love that he felt for his soon to be family.
TWO WEEKS LATER
Jack and Elizabeth decided to get married sooner, rather than later for a few reasons, not the least of which was so they could spend time alone for a week before the baby was born. Jack planned a trip to Vancouver, just a day away by train.
"Mama, I don't want you to go away."
"It won't be for long. Besides you will have so much fun staying with Matthew and Miss Abigail and Bill that you won't even miss us."
"Yes I will. Why can't you just stay here?"
"Because Jack and I need some time alone."
"But why?"
"No more questions. Tomorrow is a big day and we both need to sleep."
"Can you stay in here with me?"
"Sweets, time for sleep. Door open or closed?"
"Open," she responded with a sigh.
"Love you, baby."
"Love you, Mama."
Elizabeth walked down the stairs and over to the couch where Jack was waiting by the fire. "Hey."
"Hey. She was full of questions tonight. Why can't we stay here? Why do we need to be alone?"
"What did you tell her?" He pulled her close, dragging his fingertips lightly down her arm, causing goosebumps.
"I didn't say. She's only five. She doesn't need to know certain things just yet."
"I suppose that's true."
"It is." She leaned back into his chest and closed her eyes. She grabbed his hand lacing her fingers through his. "Tomorrow, sweetie. Are you ready?"
"Yes, very ready."
Elizabeth started to drift off but remembered she wanted to take a bath. "Sweetie?" she mumbled.
"Yeah?"
"Can you heat water for my bath before you go?" She tilted her head up and kissed his chin.
"Sure." He did that a few times a week for her and for Audrey. He didn't want her lifting the heavy buckets while she was pregnant. He gently removed his arm from around her and stood up, stretching.
He added another log to the fire and then wandered to the kitchen to fill the buckets.
Elizabeth laid down on the couch and dozed, dreaming of the next day when she would become Jack's wife. She was excited but not nervous, after all, she had been married before. A few moments later she woke up, climbed the stairs to her bedroom, and changed into her robe.
She came back down and wandered into the washroom to tie her hair back so it wouldn't get wet. The tub was about half filled, so one more bucket full would probably suffice. She added some bubble bath, lavender, and stirred it with her hand. Nice and hot.
"Here's the last bucket, Elizabeth." He paused, mesmerized, never having seen her in her robe before.
"Thank you, sweetie." He dumped the bucket in and turned to kiss her goodbye.
"Love you."
"Love you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. "See you tomorrow." He nodded, holding her tightly for a moment.
"Its so hard to leave you right now, Elizabeth."
"I know."
Jack kissed her once more and left, looking forward to the next day.
As Elizabeth slipped down into the hot water, she allowed it to ease her muscles and relax her. The baby kicked her hard, causing her to chuckle. "Settle down in there. Mama's trying to relax." She was six months along and feeling great, but a lot of that had to do with the fact she was young, only twenty five, and in love. Her life was certainly different than she thought it would turn out to be, but she didn't have any regrets anymore.
Tomorrow she would marry Jack and everything would be the way it should be.
THE NEXT MORNING
Elizabeth heard a knock at the door when she was upstairs helping Audrey get ready. "I can open the door, Mama."
"No, sweets. I'll get it and you put your new shoes on. Then meet me downstairs. We need to get to town."
"Ok, Mama."
Elizabeth opened the door a moment later. "Can I help you?" There was a young woman at the door, about twenty she would guess, dressed in pantaloons and a vest over her blouse.
"I was told Jack Thornton lived here. Is he here?"
"Jack will live here starting today and no he's probably in town. I'm Elizabeth, his fiancé."
"Well, I need to speak with him." She glanced down at Elizabeth's pregnant figure and raised her eyebrows.
"As I mentioned, he's probably in town. Is he expecting you, Miss…?"
"Lila Thornton. I'm his sister." They had never spoken of his family, other than his mother.
"Oh! Come in, please. We are on our way to my, our, wedding."
Audrey came down the stairs at that moment. "Mama? I'm ready, I think." Elizabeth looked down at her.
"Sweets, you look so beautiful."
"Thank you, but my new shoes hurt." Elizabeth looked down and stifled a laugh.
"Well, that's because they're on the wrong feet. You just need to switch them."
"Hi!" Audrey just noticed Lila. "I'm Audrey." She bent down and unbuckled her shoes and switched them.
"Hi, Sweet pea. I'm Lila."
"My Mama and Mr. Jack, I mean Daddy, are getting married today."
"That's what your Mama said."
"I'm sorry to have to leave, but it takes about ten minutes or so to walk to town and I need to get ready still. Will you walk with us, Lila?"
"Sure thing." As they walked, Lila stole glances at the woman and child next to her. She had no idea that her brother was getting married. She thought he was still seeing that Rosemary lady. She was glad he wasn't but this Elizabeth was quite obviously pregnant. Was the baby Jack's? If not, why in the world was he marrying someone pregnant with someone else's child?
"Lila? I assume you're here for the wedding."
"No, I'm not. I didn't know Jack was getting married or that he was not with…" She decided not to continue her statement.
"With Rosemary?"
"Yes."
"I will let Jack fill you in on her."
"Ok. So how long have you known my brother?"
"About three months or so." Lila wasn't sure about such things, but Elizabeth appeared to be more than three months pregnant. "The baby's and Audrey's father passed away about five months ago."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Thank you." They continued walking towards town. "So, what brings you here, if not the wedding?"
"I need to speak with Jack about that." Elizabeth nodded, extremely curious but not wanting to pry.
"Well, this is the church. You are more than welcome to stay for our wedding."
"Thank you. I think I will."
"That's good. I'm going to go get dressed now. I'll see you soon."
"Yes, I will see you."
AN HOUR LATER
Jack stood waiting at the front of the church with Pastor Hogan, while Audrey walked towards them, sprinkling dried flowers on the floor. She stopped right in front of Jack and smiled. "Hi, Daddy!"
"Hi, Pumpkin." Jack couldn't help himself. He was very happy to be her Daddy and to be the one she could count on.
Audrey stood off to the side next to Clara and Abigail who had walked up behind her.
The music changed and Jack saw her. She looked beautiful. He couldn't believe he was actually marrying her, getting married at all, actually. Rosemary had taken away his dream, but the moment he met Elizabeth, his dream came back. A bit different, but still his dream.
Elizabeth looked up at her handsome groom, grinning at her. He made her feel loved, just by looking at her. It still baffled her that she had fallen for him so fast and that he had taken a chance on her and Audrey after everything Rosemary had put him through, but she was grateful, and would try to never take him or his love for granted.
The ceremony was beautiful and simple and just what they wanted. Only a handful of people were invited, including Lila, whom Jack had yet to notice.
When it came time for the rings, Audrey was the one to give them to Jack and Elizabeth. It meant a lot to have her as part of the ceremony, part of uniting the family.
Lila watched her brother. She had assumed that he was just marrying Elizabeth because of some sense of duty, her being pregnant and all. However, the more she watched him and the way he was with Elizabeth and Audrey, she could tell there was more to it. He seemed to love them and the feeling was apparently mutual.
If only she could find someone that appreciated her like that. The only men she had met in her travels were not interested in marriage. She had to get away from the last one as fast as possible. Why couldn't she meet someone like Jack? Or her own father? They were good men. It couldn't be that difficult, could it?
"Do you, Jack, take Elizabeth, to be your wife? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Jack answered, placing his hand on her cheek.
"Do you, Elizabeth, take Jack, to be your husband? To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, as long as you both shall live?"
The words were so fitting for her life up until this point. "I do," she whispered, trying to hold her tears inside, but failing. Jack dried her tears and stepped closer, keeping eye contact with her, assuring her that he was there.
"I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride." Elizabeth pulled him close and welcomed his kiss, celebrating a new life, a new beginning for all of them.
Lila walked up to them after they walked off the stage, nervous about what Jack might think of her showing up unannounced. She waited as everyone else congratulated them and then she spoke.
"Congratulations, both of you." Jack stared at her, almost not recognizing who she was. "Hi, Jack."
He looked at her up and down, still silent.
"Jack? Isn't it nice your sister is here?" Elizabeth asked, squeezing his hand.
"How do you know who this is?"
"She stopped by the house this morning looking for you."
"I doubt that."
"She was there."
"I'm not doubting she was there, Sweetheart, just that she wanted to see me. She hasn't contacted me in five years, or my mother, so why start now?" It didn't go unnoticed by Lila or Elizabeth that in the whole conversation, he never once spoke a word to her. "I just need a moment, ok?" He let go of Elizabeth's hand and left the church, worrying Elizabeth and Audrey.
"Mama? Where's he going? He's coming back, right?"
"Yes, of course he is, sweets. He just needs a moment to himself. He'll be back very soon."
After ten minutes and still no Jack, Elizabeth told Audrey to stay with Clara and she went to find him.
She didn't see him at first, but she walked over to the steps of the schoolhouse and found him. "Jack?"
"I'm sorry I walked off. I was so caught off guard by Lila, I just had to go think."
"Audrey was worried you weren't coming back."
"I'll go talk to her." He started to stand but she grabbed his hand and pulled him back down on the steps with her.
"In a moment." She smiled and leaned against his shoulder.
"What?" He couldn't help but smile back.
"We did it. We got married."
"Yeah. I'm so glad." He kissed her forehead and sighed.
"Is that it?"
"What?"
"A kiss on the forehead? I was hoping for more." She smiled, teasing him.
"More like this?" He leaned in and kissed her, taking his time, remembering she was his wife now and she was more important than anything that had happened in the past.
"Um, yes. Much better," she said chuckling when they parted. "Do you think you should patch things up with Lila?"
"Nothing to patch up or say to her. She left us, more importantly Mom, when she needed her most. She only thought of herself and what she wanted. She's selfish, Elizabeth. She doesn't care what her actions do or cause others to feel."
"Its been five years. Don't you think she could have changed?"
"Doubtful."
"I'm only suggesting this because I'd hate to see you upset or distracted on our trip, but I think you need to talk to her. Catch up on each other's lives."
"Why did she come back now? I don't want to spend my time with anyone but you today, and now she shows up."
"Let's go invite her to lunch at Abigail's. Then tonight, I'm all yours, as planned." She raised her eyebrows at him, waiting for him to agree.
"One hour, then we need to get home."
ONE HOUR LATER, ABIGAIL'S
"Jack, can't you just hear me out? I need your help."
"Since when? You stopped needing other people's help five years ago when you left us to "go see the world."
"I need your help now. I was seeing this man…"
"Lila. I can't help you. You are on your own." Elizabeth looked at Jack and squeezed his hand, reminding him to give her a chance. If she took all the trouble to find him, maybe she really needed his help.
He looked back at Elizabeth, stubbornness etched into his eyes and his face.
Elizabeth decided to help even if Jack refused. Lila was her family now too. "Lila, please continue your story." Jack looked back at his wife, a surprised expression on his face, and maybe a little anger.
"As I said, I was seeing this man. Typically, I can take care of myself but this man, Paul, he was very controlling and jealous. He refused to let me do anything or talk to anyone without him being there. One day, I needed to get something from the store so I went. He found me there and got angry. He dragged me out of the store by my arm and when we got far enough away from town he started hitting me."
"What?!" Jack shouted. "What's his last name?"
"Jack, why?"
"I'm going to find him. No one hits my baby sister and gets away with it!"
"Jack, I don't want you to find him. That's not why I came here. I just need a safe place to be. I'm tired of running and hiding. I've been moving around for a year to keep away from him, and I'm done. I just don't want to be scared anymore."
Jack sighed, running his fingers through his hair, thinking.
"Daddy? Can I sit on your lap, please?" Audrey asked as she came over to them.
"Yes, pumpkin." He picked her up and hugged her close to his chest. If anyone tried to hurt any woman or girl in his life, his wife or daughter or sister, he would protect them with his own life. Of course he would help Lila. "Abigail?"
She walked over to the table. "Yes, Jack?"
"Have you met my sister? This is Lila. She needs a place to stay."
"Hi, Lila. I'm Abigail Avery. I have spare rooms above this restaurant."
"That's very kind. I have no money, though."
"First month free."
"You don't have to…"
"Anything for family, and Jack and Elizabeth and Audrey and now you, are my family. First month free. What do you say?"
"Thank you. I will take it."
