Two and a half years later….
Elizabeth nursed two month old Julian while Maleah played with her doll nearby. She was waiting for Jack to return from his latest assignment for Portland PD. For the last two and a half years, since their trip to Hawaii, he had been doing periodic undercover assignments.
The decision had been made with Jack's promise that, with the exception of the first one, he wouldn't take the most dangerous assignments. He had no intention of taking unnecessary risks when his wife and now four children waited for him at home.
Elizabeth looked up as now nine year old Sawyer and Brennan walked in from school.
"Mom, Aunt Vi needs to speak with you," Brennan told her.
Vi and four year old Rylie walked in the door. "Beth! We're going! To Nigeria! We'll finally bring her home."
"You are? That's wonderful! When?"
"Next week. I can't believe she will be home for Christmas."
About eighteen months before, Viola and Steve had found a baby girl to adopt in Nigeria. Her name was Nasha and she was almost three. Finally they were headed there to bring her home.
"Is it still okay for you to watch Rylie? We will be gone two weeks."
"Of course. Happy to do it."
"Thank you." Vi reached for Julian who was sleeping on Elizabeth's lap. "Hi, handsome," she told her nephew, kissing his rosy cheeks.
"Boys, time for homework. You can play video games after you're done."
"I have to do a book report, Mom," Brennan told her.
"Please tell me it's not due tomorrow."
"Nope. Friday."
"That's three days away. Brennan Thornton. Sawyer, do you have one too?"
"Yes."
"Holy moly."
"Holy moly what?" Jack asked as he walked in the door.
"Dad!" both boys yelled, running over to him.
"Boys, shh. Julian's asleep." Elizabeth walked over and waited her turn to greet Jack. Finally the coast was clear. "Hi, babe," she said with a brief kiss. "I'm glad you're home."
"I'm guessing, whatever you said holy moly about will now be my responsibility?"
"I knew I married a smart man." She patted his chest and walked in to the kitchen to make dinner.
Jack groaned when the boys told him about the book reports. "Good thing we have lots of books in the library. Go get started, boys."
The rest of the evening involved reading, dinner, baths, more reading and then Jack tucked the boys in while Elizabeth took care of Maleah and Julian.
When Jack entered the bedroom, he smiled. Elizabeth, Maleah, and Julian were all asleep on the bed. He was so lucky to have such a wonderful family to come home to.
That afternoon, they had finally closed a case so he told his boss that he needed some time off. Summer was almost upon them and he wanted to take everyone down to Florida for a few weeks once school was out.
Jack slid into bed moving Maleah over a few inches so he could lay down comfortably. "Daddy," the little angel whispered.
"Hi, sweetheart. Close your eyes and sleep."
"You seep," she told him, starting the game they played often.
"No you sleep," Jack retorted, kissing her nose.
"Let's all sleep," Elizabeth said, one eye open.
She sat up, picked Julian up, and put him in his crib. "Maleah? Time to go potty then bedtime in your room."
"No, here!"
"Let's go, little miss sassy."
"Me not sassy, Mama."
"I beg to differ, sweet pea." Elizabeth shooed her into the bathroom and then brought her back to say goodnight to Jack.
"Night, Maleah."
"Night, Daddy." She kissed his puckered lips and Elizabeth carried her away.
When Elizabeth returned she changed into her nightgown and slipped into bed, thinking Jack was asleep. However, a moment later, she felt him move up behind her and sigh.
"Bedtime?" he asked.
"Yup. Goodnight, love."
"Wait, what? Are you mad at me?"
"For what? I haven't seen you in two weeks."
"Exactly, which is why I'm shocked you just want to go to sleep. I mean, it's been awhile, about three months to be exact." She turned and looked at him.
"Elizabeth, you said you went to the doctor and he said you're healed."
"True. I just don't feel very attractive right now."
"No matter what, I'm always going to be attracted to you. That being said, I think you look amazing. But, I won't push. Just tell me when you're ready."
She kissed his perfect lips and sighed. "I'm ready."
"What? You just said… You have a mean streak, Mrs. Thornton."
"Changed my mind. What can I say? You have magical lips."
…..
Next week….
Vi and Steve left for Nigeria, leaving Rylie with Jack and Elizabeth.
Good thing was, Jack was on leave from Portland PD so he kept the boys and Rylie busy when Elizabeth felt overwhelmed.
This particular day, he took Dash and the boys to the park to run around while Elizabeth kept the girls and Julian.
"Dad, can we get a boat?"
They had mentioned getting one a few years before, but it never happened. The babies happened so they pushed it out of their minds.
"We will talk to Mom about it, okay, Bren?"
"Ok."
"We are going to Florida in a few weeks so I will make sure that we go on a boat ride while we are there."
"Can we go fishing?" Sawyer chimed in.
"Yep!"
"And can we see dolphins?"
"Of course."
Jack listened as the boys chatted excitedly about the trip until they arrived at the park. Then he sat on a bench and texted Elizabeth.
"Hey, babe."
"Hey." He called her instead.
"I'm missing you."
"I was just thinking that I wish you were here. I miss you too."
"The boys mentioned a boat again. What do you think?"
"I don't really see a need but I'll leave it up to you."
"It might be fun. Maybe one night we can get a sitter for the kids and go for a sunset ride."
"Sounds pretty romantic."
"I try." Silence filled the line for a moment. "Want me to grab dinner on the way home?"
"Sure. Let's get Italian."
"Sounds good. Love you, Elizabeth."
"Love you too."
…..
An hour later….
Jack pulled into his driveway and he immediately took note of the number of cars. All belonged to family but it would put a damper on getting alone time with Elizabeth until later.
They walked in and he was greeted with baby noises, kids playing, conversation, and now Dash barking loudly with excitement.
He put the food on the counter realizing what he brought would not feed everyone. They could order pizza though.
He pulled out his phone to look for the number when he felt arms slip around his waist. "Hi, handsome."
"Hey," he told her, turning and wrapping his arms around her. "There are a lot of people here."
"I know, they kind of just showed up. I'm sorry."
"No need. Family is family."
"We've been talking about throwing a party to welcome Nasha into the family. Not right away. Maybe a month from now, after we get back from Florida."
"Sure." He traced her temple and jaw with his fingertip before leaning down to kiss her tempting lips.
"Aunt Beth?" Rylie's little voice said from the doorway.
"Hi, sweetheart. What's wrong?" She bent down to pick her up and kissed her cheeks.
"When do Mama and Daddy come home?"
"A little bit longer yet."
"I want them."
"I know but when they come home, they will have your new sister. Isn't that exciting?"
"Nasha."
"Yep. Nasha. You'll get to play games and read books and share a room."
"Yeah. That will be fun."
"Yes it will."
Julian cried in the living room so Elizabeth handed Rylie to Jack. "Hey, punkin, let's order pizza."
"Okay! With ham?"
"Ham it is."
….
That night…
All the kids were in bed and so were Jack and Elizabeth. "It's so quiet," Jack whispered.
"I thought that's what you wanted." she whispered back, kissing his chin.
"It is. Was. I don't know."
"Our bath was nice."
"It was."
"Jack, what's going on?"
"Ever think about moving?" he blurted.
"What? No. I love Maine."
"Sure, but some place warm all year round. Like Florida."
"Are you serious?"
"I don't know if I am. My company can basically run without me. Coulter and Avery and Flynn are more than capable."
"Of course they don't need you every day but my parents and our siblings and your parents…every one is close by."
"I know. It was just a thought."
A thought he had been thinking about for a year. One that gave him the idea of going on vacation there and house hunting. But she really didn't want to move. So unless she changed her mind, in Maine they would stay.
….
The next day…
"Hudson," Annie told her, rubbing her eight month pregnant belly.
"Hudson. I like it."
"Hudson Donald Thornton. It had to have Dad's name included. Tom agreed as long as our next boy could include Thomas, after his dad."
"I'm so happy for you, Annie."
"Thanks. Me too. It's been a long few years." Tom and Annie had tried to get pregnant since they got married. It took a long time, but finally they succeeded. And now, Hudson would join the family shortly and no one could be happier than them. Although Charlotte and Tom Sr. were a close second. "After everything, now I'm doubting if I'm ready."
Elizabeth handed Julian to her and smiled. Annie immediately snuggled him, taking a deep breath of his clean baby scent. "You're ready."
"Yeah. Maybe I am. I really can't wait to meet him. Will he have Tom's dimples? Will he be tall and strong like his grandfathers?"
"If I could wager a guess, I'd say yes on both accounts." Julian woke up, grunting and stretching. "Its time for him to eat. I'll take him for a few moments."
Elizabeth got him settled and looked at her sister who was starting to fall asleep on the couch. She was beautiful and happy. That's what mattered.
Elizabeth thought about Jack's idea of moving away. She couldn't imagine not living with all their family nearby. If they moved, would she be happy? She didn't know, but the move seemed important to him so she would pray about it and talk to him again.
….
About ten days later, Steve and Viola returned home with their beautiful Nasha, excited to be there and introduce Rylie to her new sister.
Vi texted Elizabeth to ask if someone could drop off Rylie in about an hour. She said that she would leave the kids with Jack and bring her over.
"Nasha and Mama and Daddy are home?" Rylie asked from the back seat.
"Yes they are. We will be there very soon."
Rylie kicked her feet and looked out the window as she waited the ten minutes it took.
Elizabeth parked, got out, and lifted Rylie out of the car. She immediately ran up to the door with Elizabeth trailing with her bag behind.
Vi opened the door and her arms. "Rylie!"
"Mama!"
Elizabeth followed them inside, anxious to see her new niece. Steve sat in the recliner cuddling a beautiful dark skinned little girl with bright eyes.
Rylie ran over and climbed up on his lap, leaning against her dad.
"She's lovely, Vi. How was your trip?"
"Hard. It was hard to take her away from the only home she's ever known. She cried so much and it broke my heart."
"She seems alright now."
"For the most part. She still only wants Steve. That's really hard for me."
"She will want you very soon, Vi. Once she sees you with Rylie, she will figure out she wants what Rylie is getting."
"I hope so."
Elizabeth gave her a hug. "I promise."
Vi saw something was on Elizabeth's mind. "Want some tea?"
"Yeah." The women went in to the kitchen and talked while they sipped tea.
"What's on your mind, Beth?"
"Jack wants to move to Florida."
"How do you feel about that?"
"I don't want to go. Everyone is here."
"True, but it might be nice not to have to deal with winter anymore."
"I don't mind winter. I just don't want to be somewhere where I don't know anyone."
"You'll meet new people."
Elizabeth thought again about leaving as she drove home. It would be different if Jack had work there that he was moving for. But moving just to move, she didn't see a reason. Uprooting a great dane and four children was going to be quite the task. She couldn't even imagine it.
When she got home, she headed to the kitchen to start dinner. "Babe?" Jack said from the doorway, but she was in her own world, stewing about Florida.
"Elizabeth."
She looked up. "I'm sorry. What?"
"What's going on?"
"Nothing much." She put the chicken she prepared earlier in the oven and washed her hands. "I'm going to pack. Our plane is at eight. So we need to get to the airport at six thirty at the latest."
She started to walk away but he grabbed her hand. "Babe. Talk to me."
"I don't want to move. I don't see a need to uproot the kids and Dash and move us all there."
"Then we won't." He was disappointed, mostly because he had been working it through in his mind and he figured she would be willing. She didn't look like she believed him. "Elizabeth, we won't go. I can work here like always."
"You're not mad?"
"Of course not. It was just something I had been thinking about for a while. I knew the possibility was there that you wouldn't want to go."
She nodded and tried to leave again, but this time he pulled her into a nice long hug. "I love you, Jack."
"I love you too."
"I am going to pack."
….
That night….
"How long, Jack?" she asked as soon as the lights were out.
"How long what?"
"You said you'd been thinking about moving to Florida for a while. How long?"
"Just the past year."
She turned the light back on. "Are you serious?"
"Yeah. It's not a big deal."
"A year. And you never mentioned it?"
"You were pregnant most of that year, and I'm sorry, babe, but with this pregnancy you were….not easy."
She couldn't deny it. It had been rough. First horrible morning sickness until she was almost five months. Then she got a kidney stone and was hospitalized for it. Then she ended up in labor for almost 24 hours. In between those things, she knew she was beyond moody.
"Good point." She turned the light off and moved back into his arms, her head on his chest. "Jack, why Florida?"
"A fresh start. Somewhere our family can start new, no sad memories for any of us in Florida."
"Are you having a hard time missing Katie?"
"No but Sawyer is. He came to me crying one day, saying he couldn't remember her anymore."
"He keeps her picture by his bed."
"Yes but she is just a woman that was holding a little boy that he knows is him in that picture. He doesn't remember anything she used to do or how she sounded."
"Poor kid. I understand. I had the same revelation about my Dad. I remember more because I have more to look back on, but I get it." She kissed his chin.
"Maybe I'll tell him that if it comes up again."
"I'd appreciate that."
…..
It came up again the next morning, very early. Elizabeth wandered in his and Brennan's room to find him crying on his bed, staring at the picture of him and Katie.
Elizabeth sat down next to him, putting her arm around him. "Its okay, sweetheart." He laid his head on her chest so she kissed his hair.
"Mama, I don't remember her."
"That's okay. You remember when I told you that my Daddy died? Gran's husband?"
"Yeah. Do you remember him?"
"He is fading from my memory just like your Mom is from yours."
"It makes me sad."
"Me too but your mom and my dad wouldn't want us to always be sad about them. Now I have Papa Don as a Dad and you have me. We both have people to love us and take care of us. I'm very happy that I have him if I can't have my first daddy."
She stroked his hair as he thought about what she said. "I'm very happy I have you if I can't have her."
"I'll always love you, Sawyer. No matter what."
"I love you too."
Maleah and Brennan walked with Jack and Julian. "Who wants to go to Florida?" Jack said with a grin.
"Me!" The boys shouted.
"Well, let's eat so we can catch our plane."
….
Two days after Jack and Elizabeth left, Annie went into labor. She was working at the book store with her dad, sorting piles of new books when her water broke.
"Dad?"
"Yes, sweetie."
"My water just broke."
"It did?"
"Yes. Will you take me to the hospital now?"
"Of course. You text Grace and Tom on the way." He looked at his daughter, the picture of grace and calmness as she gathered her purse and phone. Her mother had been like that as well. "You are pretty calm, Annie."
"Yeah. I am ready for this. I can't wait to meet him."
They paused to put the alarm on and flip the closed sign before heading outside to his truck. As they drove, she had a few contractions. In between those, she called Tom who said he would meet them there and then she called Grace who agreed to do the same.
"What are you naming him, Annie?" Don asked.
"Hudson." She left out the Donald part as a surprise for later.
"Oh, that's a cute name. I can picture a grandson named Hudson."
"With big brown eyes and Tom's dimples," she said with a smile, rubbing her belly.
"You are going to be an amazing mother, hon."
"Thanks, Dad. I'm certainly going to give it my best try. I love him so much already. I can't imagine what I'm going to feel when I see him."
"It will be overwhelming but so wonderful. At least that is what I felt when I first saw you."
"Tell me that story, Dad. I don't think I have ever heard it."
So he told her the story as they drove to keep her mind off the contractions.
…..
In Florida
"Jack! Annie is in labor!" Elizabeth told him as they drove to the marina. They rented a boat for the day so they could take the boys fishing.
"Great! I love being an uncle."
"I wish I was there."
"I know. She's quite early."
"About three weeks, unless they miscalculated I guess."
"Whoa! Mom, look at that boat!" Brennan said pointing.
There was a large yacht docked close by. It was huge. "Yeah, babe, but that one isn't ours."
"Oh."
"Actually…." Jack began.
"Jack Thornton," Elizabeth said. "You rented that huge yacht?"
"It wasn't all that much compared to the others." She raised her eyebrows. "It wasn't. I know the owner. Or should I say, Don knows the owner. He gave me a deal."
"Don, as in, Leonard?"
"The one and only. Don't worry, Elizabeth. This is going to be great and comfy for you and the younger kids."
….
Back in Portland….that afternoon
"Babe, push!" Tom told her. "I can see the head. I can see him. He's right there." Tom couldn't believe he was about to be a father. He had wanted it for so long and now it was moments away.
After another few pushes, he was out, screaming and pinking up nicely. The nurse immediately put him on Annie's chest, making sure he got the necessary skin to skin contact all babies need.
"Oh, my gosh. Tom, look at him. He's beautiful." He had nice dark curly hair and her nose, as far as she could see.
"He is and so are you," Tom told her, kissing her. "I love you so much, Annie."
"I love you."
Tom took a picture a bit later after he was cleaned off and wrapped up, sending it to all the family members.
…..
That evening
The sun was setting on the water as they floated on the gulf. The kids were all asleep in the rather opulent bedroom down below deck. They had caught enough fish for dinner and fried them up, pairing it with buttered potatoes and corn that the boys wanted.
"This is nice, don't you think?" Jack asked as they stood at the railing, watching birds diving and catching fish.
"Yeah. It is."
"Tomorrow, I have somewhere I want us to go."
"Like where?"
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course I do."
"Okay, then I will take you and the kids there and see what you think."
"Alright." She kissed his cheek and stared back at the water. "What are you up to, Jack?"
"Nothing much."
"Mmhm."
"I did secure us the boat for the night."
"We are going to sleep here?"
"Yeah. There's another bedroom. It has a feather bed."
"On a boat?"
"Well, yes. Especially this boat."
She heard Julian cry down below so she kissed him and left him standing there. Jack watched her leave and hoped that she wouldn't get mad when she saw what his plans were for the next day.
…..
"A house, Jack?" she said looking over at him. "Why are we here?"
"Because I made the appointment when I finalized the plans for the trip. I didn't want to cancel it because I wanted you to see the house." He could see she was about to shoot it down without seeing it. "Just give it a chance. You never know, you might actually like it."
She nodded a moment later and got out, getting Julian and Maleah out.
"Good morning. Jack Thornton?" a woman in a suit said from the porch of the house.
"Yes, Maria Coldwater?"
"That's me." She walked down the brick walk toward them and smiled. Jack shook her hand and then Elizabeth did the same.
"This is my wife, Elizabeth, and our children."
"Nice to meet all of you," she told them. "What do you say we go inside and look at the house?"
"Why are we here, Mom?" Sawyer asked as they walked in the beautiful foyer.
"We are just visiting the house, sweetie. Use your inside voices in here, okay?"
That was easier said than done. Maleah didn't quite get the concept of inside voices so once she figured out that her voice echoed inside the empty house, she took advantage of it.
"So this is the master suite," Maria told them as they entered the room. It was a large, very nice room. It had four large windows and two walk in closets. The bathroom was nicer than the one in their house.
The house had five, good size, bedrooms, four and a half baths, and a very nice screened in sunroom/veranda leading to a huge deck and fenced in pool and yard. Dash would have a blast, she thought.
The kitchen was a chef's dream and she could just imagine Jack cooking in there.
She didn't know why she was imagining things like Dash in the back yard and Jack cooking in the kitchen. They weren't moving. But she could see it as if they already lived there.
….
Ten days later….
The whole family was at Jack and Elizabeth's for Nasha's welcome to the family party.
Tom, Annie, and Hudson sat on the love seat, watching the festivities. Tom felt so protective of his family, he didn't want to leave their side.
Vi, Julie, and Elizabeth sat on the floor by the couches keeping Nasha, Maleah, Julian, Rylie, Emerson, and Chloe busy while Jack, the older boys, his Dad, Don, and Blake manned the grill outside with Steve.
Grace and Charlotte made side dishes in the kitchen, chuckling at the huge amount of noise in the house.
When the food was all prepared, everyone gathered outdoors by the two picnic tables and the deck.
"Everyone," Jack said, raising his voice to be heard. Once quiet, he spoke. "Before we pray and then eat, I just want to say how proud I am to have a new niece in the family. Welcome Nasha!" Everyone clapped, including the guest of honor. "This family is a huge blessing. Just a few years back, I was struggling through life as a single father, not sure how I could be happy again. How to make Sawyer happy again. Then I met Elizabeth and Brennan and they were going through the same thing. It was perfect. All four of us needed a second chance to live again." Elizabeth smiled through her tears. "Now look at how much our families have grown. Please join me in a prayer of gratitude."
Everyone bowed their heads. "Dear Lord, we thank you today for the love of this family. Every one of us gathered here is deeply grateful to you for bringing us together and for bringing us Nasha. Please help her to know that we all love her and will take care of her forever. Also, we are grateful for this food we are about to eat and for everything you give us daily. Through Jesus name, Amen."
Everyone echoed "Amen" and wiped their tears.
Jack hung back and watched as everyone filled their plates. "Babe? Not hungry?" Elizabeth asked him, slipping her arms around his waist.
"I am. I just want to remember this moment. There won't be too many like this after we move."
"No, I suppose not." She kissed his lips and smiled. "But, I think starting over is what we need. After all, we will only be a plane ride away."
***Well, this is the end of this story. When I started it, I never intended for it to be a long one with dozens of chapters. However, as you can see, I left it open for a possible continuation at some point. No promises there but I hope you'll read other stories that I will post in the future. Until then, thank you for your support! It means the world. ***