WEDNESDAY, TWO DAYS BEFORE THE WEDDING

Elizabeth was at work and Hunter was at school so Jack asked Tom to assist him in moving the rest of his things.

"Dude! How do you have so many things?" Tom flopped down on the couch after their tenth trip between houses.

"I've already moved half my stuff. I guess I accumulated a lot over the years." Jack looked around at the almost empty house. It really was bittersweet. It was his first home with Brenna and then Hunter. He was grateful Rosie was buying it but it was still a little hard to say goodbye.

"Jack? You ok?" Tom had walked over when he saw his big brother lost in thought.

"Huh? Oh, yes, I'm fine. Let's do this."

"Jack, this must be hard for you. Leaving the memories."

"Yeah, but Elizabeth is so wonderful. She loves Hunter and she loves me. I'm excited to move on and forward. It's time."

"Who's taking your pictures at the wedding?"

Jack looked at him and realized he had never tackled that. He wondered if Elizabeth had. "I don't know." He whipped out his phone and texted her.

He received an answer about twenty minutes later. "I forgot about pictures! Oh no."

He pressed the phone icon and called her. "Babe, it's ok. We will think of something. My mom is pretty good with the camera." Tom waved his arms to get Jack's attention. "Hang on, Beth." Jack raised his eyebrows. "You look like you're landing a plane. What is it?"

"I can do it. I'm a photographer, Jack." Of course he was. Jack knew that.

"Beth, Tom says he can do it. Is that ok?"

"Yes, it's perfect. Give him a hug for me."

"Will do. Oh! Question. How do you feel about having a TV in the bedroom?"

"Our bedroom?"

"Yes."

"Can we talk about it later? I need to get back to work."

"Sure. Sorry. Please be careful. I want you present at our wedding in two days."

"I will. Love you, Jack."

"Love you too."

…..

That afternoon, Jack and Tom went shopping for the rehearsal dinner party that they were having the following night and then picked up Hunter from school.

"Hey, bud. How was your day?"

"Fine." Hunter stared out the window. "Where's Mom?"

"She's at work."

"Oh."

"Is something bothering you?" Jack looked in the rear view mirror. Hunter looked upset.

"I just want to see her."

"Did something happen at school?" He saw a tear fall down his cheek so Jack pulled over into a parking lot and turned around in his seat. Tom stayed quiet. "Hunter, what's going on?"

"I need to make sure she's ok, Dad. Please? Can we see her?"

"Of course she's ok. Why are you worried?"

"I had a bad dream last night and I'm scared."

"What was it about?"

Hunter turned his head and cried. "Please, I just want to see her."

"Ok, let's go. I don't know if she is at her desk, but we will try, ok?"

Tom was amazed at how patient and kind and wonderful Jack was with his son. He was really proud of him. He would tell him that later.

They drove to the station in silence, every so often hearing a sniffle from the back seat. When they pulled up in front, Elizabeth was just getting out of her squad car with Lee.

"Mama," Hunter whispered in relief.

"Beth, can you come here?" Jack waved her over. He leaned in the car and unbuckled Hunter.

"Hey, love. What's going on?"

Hunter crawled out of the car and launched himself into her. "Mama, please don't leave me! I promise I will be a good boy!"

Elizabeth picked him up and held him. "Honey, what's wrong?"

"He said he had a bad dream and begged to come see you."

"Last night?"

"Yeah. He seemed fine this morning."

"Hunter, I am not going to leave you. You belong to me now and you are a good boy."

"Promise? I need you!"

"I promise."

After a few moments of silence, she heard him ask, "Can I stay with you?"

"No, sweetie. I'm working but I can try to get off a little early and then we can have a movie night."

"Can I stay in my new room?"

"Of course you can, but you know what? I need to get back to work. Can you go with Daddy?"

Hunter tightened his hold on her for a moment and then reached for Jack. "Ready now, bud?"

"Yeah. Bye, Mama."

"Bye, sweetie. I'll be home as soon as I can, ok?" She kissed his flushed cheek and smiled. She was so blessed to be his Mama.

He laid his head on Jack's shoulder and closed his eyes. Jack hugged him and then kissed Elizabeth. "I love you."

"I love you too."

…..

The rest of the afternoon, Hunter was quiet and laid on the couch with Bruce next to him. Jack checked on him as he unpacked boxes and made dinner. He always insisted he was fine but Jack wondered what the dream had been about.

At five o'clock, Elizabeth walked in. "Mama!" Hunter said, running over to her.

"Hi, love. How are you doing?"

"Ok."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'm ok. I like it when you're home with me."

"I love being home with you too." She kissed the top of his head. "I'm going to go change and then I'll be back, ok?"

He nodded and sat back down, putting Bruce on his lap.

Elizabeth slipped into the kitchen and slipped her arms around Jack's waist as he cooked. "Hi."

"Hey, you."

"What do you think is up with Hunter?"

"I don't know. The dream really shook him up. I'm guessing it was about you."

"I think we should chat with him."

"I think you should. He needs to hear some reassurance from his Mom."

She thought about that while she took a shower and changed her clothes. This was her first honest to goodness mother son talk. She didn't want to mess it up.

She joined him and Bruce on the couch. "Hey, sweetie. Can we pause the cartoon for a few minutes?"

Hunter pushed the pause button and looked at her. His big brown eyes drew her in. They showed trust but also a bit of sadness. He sighed and leaned against her shoulder.

"Hunter, will you tell me what your dream was about?"

"I'm afraid."

"Of what?"

"That if I tell you, it will come true."

"You know what? Dreams are usually just a mix of what we have been thinking about or are afraid of, but most of the time, they don't mean anything at all." She kissed his curls before continuing. "Baby, you know I love you, right?"

"Yes, Mama."

"And it's my job to protect you?"

"Because of your job?"

"No, because I'm your Mom. I will do everything I can to keep you safe."

Jack listened in the kitchen as he finished dinner, grateful for the lack of walls in the house. He loved the woman and little boy in the other room with an intensity that surprised him.

"You told me that you couldn't love me anymore and you said I needed to go live with my first mom. I told you I would be good but you just kept leaving me." As Hunter told her his dream, Elizabeth could see that adopting him after marrying Jack would create the stability he craved and needed badly.

She picked him up and moved him to her lap so he rested against her chest. "I've told you this before, love, but I will keep telling you as long as you need to hear it. I promise I will love you forever and I won't ever leave you on purpose. I will do my best to protect you and so will your Dad."

"Ok, Mama."

"Ok?"

Hunter kissed her cheek and nodded.

His tummy rumbled causing them to laugh. "I'm hungry." Bruce let out a little yip and jumped off the couch. "I think Bruce is too."

After Bruce was fed, the three of them sat at the kitchen bar and ate dinner.

"Jack this is delicious. What is it?"

"Tofu and Vegetable stir fry."

"Tofu? Jack Thornton!"

"You said it was delicious. Can't take it back now."

"Tofu is yummy, Mom!"

"I guess I'm outnumbered. Is this the way it's always going to be?"

"Yep!" Jack and Hunter said in unison. "Forever and ever."

…..

Finally Thursday came and everything was falling into place. The past few days had felt like a whirlwind. Jack finished unpacking and he and Elizabeth got the house ready to host the rehearsal dinner. When he wasn't busy with that, Jack graded papers and tests and prepared his substitute teacher for the day off after the wedding. He'd taken a half day to move in the last things from what he decided to now refer to as Rosie's house, to his and Elizabeth's.

"There. We're all moved in." Jack walked into the kitchen with a satisfied grin.

"Did you really unpack all those boxes?" Elizabeth was standing at counter going over her lists.

"Not all of them, but most. They were some that I didn't need right now. Those are in the attic and I'll go through them when I can. Everything I need is right here." He walked closer and wrapped his arms around her.

Elizabeth sighed, loving the feeling of his hands as they roamed her midsection. "Can you believe it, Jack? By tomorrow evening we will be married."

"I believe it. I haven't thought of much else since I put that ring on your finger," he laughed. He turned Elizabeth around to face him, moved some stray wavy curls behind her shoulder and kissed her cheek. "I can't wait to be your husband," he whispered, before kissing her deeply. Elizabeth held onto him tightly for fear of her legs giving way. Jack's kisses had a powerful effect on her.

"I think I am going to love being your wife."

Remembering that Hunter was still at school, Jack got an idea.

"You know, its just us in the house right now. That never happens."

"No, I suppose it doesn't," she giggled. "What are you thinking about, love?"

"Maybe leading you over to the couch like this…" He pulled her into the living room to the couch.

"Then what?" She bit her bottom lip in anticipation.

"Kiss you like crazy till we have to pick up our son?" The whole phrase had butterflies rising in Elizabeth's stomach as she scooted closer.

"I think that's a perfect idea."

…..

Later at the elementary school, the bell rang for the end of the day. Hunter rushed to grab the rest of his things and ran out the door.

"Hold it, mister!" Mr. Hickam laughed. "Don't forget to bring home your lunch box."

Hunter ran back and grabbed it out of his cubby. "Thank you Mr. Hickam. I have to go. Tomorrow is the wedding day!"

"I know! I'll see you there."

Hunter looked confused. "My mom and dad invited my teacher?"

"Well, I am your teacher, but your dad and I go way back, remember?"

"Oh right! Dad says he plays basketball better than you," Hunter said with a laugh.

Mike just shook his head and smiled. "Maybe, but tell your dad I want a rematch!"

"I will!"

The little boy weaved through the crowd and out the door for pickup. At first he didn't see Jack's or Elizabeth's car and got nervous. He hoped they hadn't forgotten him. Then he saw them.

"Mama!" He ran to the car and hugged Elizabeth. "You're here and you didn't forget!"

"Of course I am, sweetie! We talked about this remember?"

"I know, but sometimes I forget."

"It's okay. We'll work on that. In the meantime, let's go home! We need to get you dressed for the rehearsal."

"What is a rehearsal again? You aren't getting married today, are you?"

"Oh, I wish we were!" Jack wiggled his eyebrow at Elizabeth, thinking about the kiss from earlier.

Hunter giggled. "That's a weird face Dad, what does it mean?"

"Huh, what? I um, didn't think you could see me…"

"I can! In the mirror!" He pointed.

"Of course you can. Guess I should be more careful."

"You think?" Elizabeth teased. "So bud, today we are going to the chapel where we are going to get married and walk through how to do it. Like, when to walk in, where to stand. That sort of thing."

"Boring…" Hunter said rolling his eyes.

"Yes, but after that we are having a big dinner at home with our family."

"Oh, okay. That will be fun."

"I thought so. You can show them your room."

"Awesome! I bet they're all going to love it! Especially the stripes!"

"I'm sure!"

Back at the house Elizabeth made a snack for Hunter before they took Bruce out for a short walk around the block. Everything just felt so right and natural when they were together. Elizabeth went upstairs to change into the dress she'd picked out for the rehearsal. Even though it was a quiet affair at their home, she wanted to look nice. She slipped into her surprisingly comfy burgundy knee length dress, leggings and tall dress boots with a slight heel, taking one last look in the mirror before heading back down the hall.

"Huh," she said to herself. "I look pretty nice." She laughed at herself as she looked over to her large closet. So much had changed in such a short time. Her wardrobe had about tripled, and now the empty side of the closet was filled with clothes from the man that would soon be her husband.

She walked down the hall towards Hunter's room, hearing soft voices inside.

"Why is my tie not like yours, Dad?"

"Well, when you're a kid you get off easy. Someone at the store ties your ties for you and all you have to do is clip them on. When you grow up into a man, you learn how to do it yourself."

Hunter watched as Jack tied his tie. "Maybe I just won't wear ties when I grow up. Looks like a lot of work."

Jack smiled, "You'll wear them when you meet a beautiful woman and you want to look nice for her."

"Not if I found one that doesn't like ties," he said matter of factly.

"And how will you do that, son?"

"Easy! I'll just ask her. If she likes ties, I keep looking. If she doesn't, I ask her to marry me."

Elizabeth laughed from the doorway, gaining their attention.

"Wow, Mama, you look so pretty!"

"Aw, thank you sweetie. You and Dad look pretty handsome. Are we about ready?"

"Yup, let's go!"

…..

After the rehearsal, which Hunter still didn't understand the point of, everyone drove back to the house for dinner. He was having a great time getting to know Viola and Lionel's kids, his cousins. Though he was having a hard time telling which of the twins were which. Regardless they were about his age and so much fun.

Jack had set up two long folding tables he'd borrowed from the school as well as padded folding chairs from the kitchen to the living room. They were end to end and draped with two beautiful blue tablecloths with white napkins. Rosie had purchased flowers for the center of each and little tea candles to sit around the vases. It was beautiful. Much better than what Elizabeth had first thought.

"Rosie, thank you for everything. You've been so helpful through this," Elizabeth said, giving Rosie a hug.

"My pleasure! I really am so happy for you three! I can't wait to officially be neighbors," she laughed.

When the lasagnas, Jack's family recipe, was ready, he got everyone's attention.

"Good evening everyone! Food's about ready so I wanted to say a few words. All of you in this room mean so much to us. You've all helped in one way or another to get us to this point. The point where tomorrow we can officially start our lives together."

He looked lovingly at his bride-to-be.

"It's been a long road that brought us here. Without the support you each gave us during the past, we may never have been able to get here. So thank you! We owe you everything!"

As the night was winding down, Jack, Tom, and Hunter along with Bruce, all got ready to leave for Charlotte and Tom's. While Elizabeth and her sisters would be staying at her place for some sister time.

Elizabeth walked toward the doorway to say goodnight to her boys.

"See you tomorrow?"

"Maybe," Jack tease. "Let me check my schedule."

"Ha ha, very funny." She rolled her eyes, unable to hide her grin, however.

"Trust me Beth, nothing in this world will keep me from marrying you tomorrow. Nothing." He kissed her slow yet passionately. He knew it would have to tide him over until after they said "I do."

Hunter looked on annoyed. "Can you stop kissing her so I can say goodnight?" They laughed at him with his adorable frustrated face.

"I love you, sweetie! See you tomorrow, okay?"

"And then we all get to sleep here tomorrow?"

"Well, not exactly…"

Jack stepped in. "You're going to stay with Grammie and Pop for a few nights."

"Where will you be?"

"Bud, we talked about this. Mom and I are going on a short trip, but we will be back to pick you up from school on Monday."

"Can't I just go with you?"

"Not this time."

"Why?" He pouted.

Elizabeth lifted the boy up on her hip. "Sweetie, sometimes moms and dads need time for just them."

"Like a date?"

"Yes! Like a date. Daddy and I are just going on a long date. Then we'll come back and all live here."

"Promise you'll come back?"

"Of course! We wouldn't be a family without you!" She gave him one last kiss before Tom took him out to the car. "It's a good thing we're only gone for a long weekend. I'm not sure he could handle much more."

"I know. Try not to worry. He loves it with my parents and we can call him before bed and in the mornings."

"Oh Jack, I love that idea!"

"Good! Because as much as he may want to come with us, I'm not going to share you with anyone for the whole weekend. Just me and you," he kissed her again. "Maybe we'll leave the room, maybe we won't," he teased.

"Jack Thornton!" she playfully scolded.

"What? This time tomorrow you will be my wife. You can't tell me my plan doesn't sound amazing!"

She blushed madly. "You're right, it does. Now go! I'll see you tomorrow in front of the chapel."

"Yup! I'll be the guy down front that looks like the happiest man in the world." He winked and headed out the door.

Viola and Julie had been shamelessly watching from the living room.

"You were so right, Jules! Jack is perfect for Beth!"

"I know it! In all her life I don't think she was ever THIS happy. It's wonderful!" She sighed, "Now I just have to find someone for me."

"Patience, sister." Viola wrapped her arm around her baby sister.

"Patience is for the birds. I want to be happy like you guys! Is that too much to ask?"

"Well, what about Jack's brother?" she teased. "He's pretty handsome."

"Oh Viola! Stop!" Julie giggled. Though truth be told, she had wondered what it would be like to get to know the handsome young photographer a little more.