"Do you like it?"
"Yes." She rubbed her hands around the supple gray leather steering wheel and looked at all the gadgets. "Its more than I need, Jack."
"Actually, it's perfect for what you need. It's all wheel drive, good for winter. It has heated seats, trust me, you will enjoy that immensely. It has the rear entertainment system in the back for our road trips…." They were taking a road trip at the end of March for a week to New Haven. She wanted Jack and her mother to meet and of course Sawyer too. "Honey?"
"I'm sorry. I was thinking. What were you saying?"
"This is a great vehicle for you but ultimately, it's up to you."
"Let's get it." He was right.
"Great." He kissed her and walked inside to sign some papers. About thirty minutes later, they were on their way to Kaplan's Bar and Grille for dinner. They hadn't been there before together, but Jack had been there with the guys from work numerous times.
Elizabeth drove extra cautiously, not wanting anything to happen to her new car. When she pulled into the parking spot next to Jack, he was standing, leaning against his vehicle waiting.
She got out and he looked at his watch. "Jack Thornton, no comments from you. I was driving carefully."
"Have you always driven carefully?" he asked, putting air quotes around the last word.
"If you are trying to say that I drive too slow…"
"No, just saying maybe we should leave early if we have an appointment or something." He grinned, laughing at his own joke.
"Shush," she told him, poking his sides. He grabbed her hands and pulled her close, their lips mere centimeters apart. "Thank you, Jack."
"For what?"
"Everything. Being my best friend. Loving Brennan. Loving me. Taking care of us."
"I see it as a privilege to take care of you."
She kissed his perfect lips with her own. "Sweet man. Let's go eat."
….
March flew by and before they knew it, it was time to go to New Haven. Julie had not found a job, so Elizabeth hired her for the week to run the store. She had been helping periodically and Jack had offered to pay for some expenses so Elizabeth could pay her when she helped.
"Mom, let's go! Dad and Sawyer are here. I want to see Gran!"
"Relax, baby. They are early and we still have a few things to do before I'm ready to leave."
Jack knocked and walked in with Sawyer. "Hey," he said, kissing her cheek.
Sawyer hugged her waist and smiled up at her. "Hi, Mom."
"Hi, sweetie."
"Almost ready?" Jack wondered.
"Yeah. Would you take our bags and these snacks down to the car, please?"
"Of course." He grabbed her keys and the two suitcases and walked out the door.
She turned off the lamps and turned the thermostat down a few degrees since they would be gone.
"You boys have your pillows?"
"Yes, Mom!" they said in unison.
She headed into her bedroom for one last check and then she was ready. "Boys, please try to use the bathroom before we go. It's going to take awhile to get there."
"I just went before we came here, Mom," Sawyer told her.
"Ok, then. Bren, please."
He did as he was told, even though giving the impression it was an imposition.
About five minutes later, they were in the Buick with Jack in the drivers seat.
About a half hour in, the boys were watching a movie with their headphones on so Jack squeezed her hand. "Hey."
She turned her head and gave him a brave smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Hi."
"You haven't said a word since we left your house. What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just going back there…and introducing you to my mom. It's hard."
"We will get through it together. Just lean on me." He kissed her hand and smiled his reassurance.
"Ok."
Jack wasn't too nervous. Yes, it had been a long time since he had met the parent of his significant other in a relationship but if she was half as wonderful as Brennan and Elizabeth were, everything would be fine.
"Tell me about your parents, babe."
"My Dad and Mom met in college. Dad was getting his degree in Accounting and she was trying to become a teacher. They were married before she finished her degree and they decided she would help him run his accounting firm instead of teach. They had Viola a year later, me two years later, and Julie a couple years after that."
"Were you and your Dad close?"
"Yeah. When he died, I think a part of me died too. I miss him so much and it's been ten years."
Jack listened to her talk and confide her fears about losing the people she loved. He understood them and experienced them but he had always refused to allow the fears to rule his life. The first year after losing Katie was rough but then he forced himself to focus more on his work and raising Sawyer the best he could.
Now, he only thought of the future and making the people that were in the car his priorities.
When they made it to the outskirts of New Haven, they found a "mom and pop" restaurant for lunch. It was inside a big, old farm house. They walked in and felt relaxed and welcomed.
"Welcome to Ruby's," an elderly woman greeted them, a big smile on her face.
"I'm Ruby. Follow me to your table."
The table was one of five, nestled in a large dining area. The table reminded Elizabeth of ones she had eaten at as a child. Wood, well worn, full of the love of the people who had used it before.
"Thank you, Ruby. Where are your bathrooms? We've been on the road for about four hours."
"Yes, ma'am. Right through there."
"Thanks. Boys, do you need to go?"
"I do," Sawyer told her. She offered her hand and they walked through the dining room to the bathrooms.
"Dad?"
"Yeah, Bren?"
"Can I sit on your lap?"
"Sure, bud." He picked him up and settled him there, smiling when he leaned his head on his chest. "Feeling ok?"
"Yeah." He sighed and then closed his eyes. "Dad?"
"Yes."
"I love you." Jack held him tighter, wondering what was bringing on the emotion he saw on his face.
"I love you too. Are you sad about something?"
"My Daddy died here."
Jack knew they were close to the area, but he didn't know Brennan was aware of it. "Here in New Haven."
"Yeah. He got in an accident."
"I know."
"I don't want you to leave me," he told him, tears rolling down his little face.
Jack dried his tears. "I will not leave you on purpose. Your daddy didn't do it on purpose either. Sometimes accidents happen, but I promise you, I won't ever try to leave you. I love you and Sawyer and your Mom too much."
He nodded and wrapped his arms around his neck, taking a shuddering breath.
"Everything ok?" Elizabeth asked as they returned.
"Yeah." Elizabeth kissed Brennan's head and sat down.
About an hour later, they pulled up to a modest sized house.
"Boys, we're here," Elizabeth told them. They hopped out and ran toward the house.
"Ready, Elizabeth?"
"Yeah."
"Remember, I'm here with you. We will get through it together."
She nodded and kissed him. "I'm glad."
He got out, opened the tailgate and took out two of the suitcases. "Babe, wanna take the boy's suitcases and I'll get ours?"
"Sure."
When they entered the house, they heard laughing and giggling in the kitchen. "Boys?"
"Mom! Gran is making cookies the size of our heads!" Sawyer told her, a big grin on his face.
"Oh yeah?" She looked up at her mom. "Hi, Mom."
"Hello, dear." She walked over and cupped her face with her palm. "You seem happy."
"I am. And this man and those boys are why." She took Jack's hand and squeezed. "Mom, this is Jack Thornton, my fiancé. Jack, my mother, Grace Thatcher."
"Ma'am. Its wonderful to meet you," Jack said, kissing her cheek.
"You too. Now, tell me about your wedding."
Jack and Elizabeth sat down at the table and told her the date they picked, July 1st. "Its going to be in Jack's backyard. There are beautiful maple trees and a stone walkway that'll be perfect." Elizabeth smiled, taking Jack's hand. "Will you come, Mom?"
"Oh, Elizabeth. I don't know how I would get there."
"We would come get you if that meant you would be at our wedding. I need you there."
"You haven't needed me in years, dear."
"Yes, I have. It's you that hasn't needed me." Elizabeth stood and left the room, fighting her tears.
The boys watched the whole thing. Jack saw concern on their faces but they seemed ok. "Boys, will you please go get your pillows from the car and put them and your suitcases in your room?"
"The boys will sleep in the living room on the pullout couch. I only have one guest room."
"Oh, well, then Elizabeth and Bren should take the guest room. Sawyer and I will camp on the couch."
The boys walked outside leaving Jack and Grace alone. "Mrs. Thatcher, I'm not sure what has happened in the years past between you and Elizabeth, but it seems to me that you need to have a serious discussion. I think I'll take the boys and head into town to see if we can find something to do."
"No need. Conversations have never changed anything. Can't see why they would now."
"Maybe you both need to put aside your stubbornness and try for a change. Our wedding is important to your daughter. To me that means it should be important to you."
Jack walked out and found Elizabeth sitting in the guest room. "Hey. I'm taking the boys to town so you can talk to your Mom."
"Jack, I knew this would happen. I don't know why I thought coming here was a good idea."
"Because I think deep down, in your heart, you want things to be good again."
She wiped her eyes. "I'd like to go home."
"I'm going to tell you what I just told your mom. You both need to put aside your stubbornness and try to fix whatever is going on. If, after you both give each other a chance and talk, you still want to leave, we can go." He kissed her lips and smiled. "I love you. We will be back in a few hours."
"Water's Park. Take the boys there. Big playground and food trucks." He turned to leave but she stopped him, hugging him hard. "Thank you."
…
Elizabeth took a deep breath and then walked into the kitchen where her mom was probably baking.
"Mom?"
"Beth. I'm not sure why he thinks we need to talk."
"Really? We have so many things we need to fix here."
"Such as?"
"Why you won't come to my wedding? Why have you pushed and pushed me to date someone when I wasn't ready?"
"I didn't say I wouldn't come."
"Yes you did. I don't know how I'll get there? That's basically saying, "sorry, dear, you're not important enough for me to make myself leave this house."" As far as Elizabeth knew, she hadn't left the house in years. She had a friend bring her groceries and didn't even own a car.
"You're putting words in my mouth, Elizabeth. That's not fair."
"Life isn't fair! You know that. Mom, we both lost our husbands. We have that huge, horrible thing in common. But I found love again. Can't you make an effort to support me?"
Elizabeth knew that she was firing a lot at her mom all at once. But she had wanted answers for so long, it all came pouring out.
"Mom, can we make some coffee and talk calmly? I promise to give you a chance to speak."
She nodded and made them coffee. A few minutes later, they sat in the living room on the couch. Elizabeth turned her body so she was facing Grace. "What do you think of Sawyer, Mom?"
"He's wonderful. He ran in with Brennan and hugged me and called me Gran."
"He is wonderful. What do you think of Jack?"
"He loves you. I can see it in everything he does."
"I love him too. He takes care of us, Mom. It was so hard for me to let him do that, but now I don't know what I would do without him."
"Your father took care of us like that."
"I know. I miss him so much." She felt her eyes burn as she held her tears in.
"Me too. He should be here. He should be meeting Jack and his grandchildren. He should walk you down the aisle. He should be next to me in our bed every night."
Elizabeth moved over next to her mom and held her hand. "I understand those feelings, Mom. I went through them and the only thing that pulled me out was meeting Jack and Sawyer. They filled that hole that Tyler left in my heart."
"I could never fall in love again. Your father was it for me, Beth."
"I don't just mean a man. Meet people. To do that, you need to get out of this house."
"And go where? I can't just walk to town."
"Does Fran still drop off groceries for you?"
"Yes."
"Maybe go with her to the store." Grace appeared to give it some thought.
Grace stared at the gleaming engagement ring on Elizabeth's hand. "Your ring is amazing."
"It is. Jack picked it out, with a little advice from Viola."
"Hang on one moment." Grace returned a few moments later with a ring in her hand. "This was my wedding ring. It matches your engagement ring almost perfectly."
Elizabeth slid it on and she was right. "Wow. It does." She handed it back to her.
"I want you to have it, Beth. Please."
"Ok. Thank you." She slid it on and took her mom's hand again. "Mom, why did you keep pushing me to find someone?"
"I didn't want you to make the same mistake I did and shut yourself off from everyone. You need someone and Brennan does too. Being alone is not what I want for you."
"So it's not that you don't support me in marrying Jack."
"No. Of course I do. I just don't know how I could travel that far when I haven't been out of my own house for five years."
"One step at a time, Mom."
