Just an FYI, the beginning of this chapter is more adult-oriented, but I tried to be respectful. The later half is light-hearted and humorous.
The next morning, Lee woke up extra early to log in a few hours at the mill before Jack's bachelor party later that afternoon. Rosemary and Abigail had agreed to begin setting up the café around noon, as the bridal tea began at 1:00 PM. Rosie made sure to dedicate her morning to playing with Lillian and allowing her some Mommy time before the chaos of the wedding slowly began. After she had fed and dressed Lilly and spent a few minutes of tummy time, she placed her daughter in the basinet while Rosemary finished stitching the lettering on her gift place set for Jack and Elizabeth. Someone knocked at the door and Rosemary peered out the window before she saw it was Elizabeth. Rosemary hastily hid the napkins and heard a second knock before she opened the door, "Elizabeth, what are you doing here?" she asked through gritted teeth. She really did have to finish the cross-stitching on the napkins. Elizabeth had an anxious look in her eyes and Rosemary gained a look of concern, "Oh dear, you look like a woman who needs to talk," she pulled Elizabeth into the house.
Elizabeth smiled and patted Lilly before she took a nervous breath, "I know you're busy, Rosemary, and I'm sure you wanted to spend some time with Lilly, but it's important."
"Is something wrong with your dress? I can talk to Dottie and we can make last minute alterations," said Rosemary.
"No, no," Elizabeth held up her hands, "The dress is perfect."
"Well, does it have something to do with the wedding?"
"Kind of," Elizabeth blushed, "Or after the wedding," Elizabeth quietly muttered under her breath.
"What was that?" asked Rosemary.
Elizabeth's breath shook, "Listen, Rosie, I'm not really all that close with Dottie, Florence, or Molly and I know I could talk to Abigail about this subject, but…" Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know, it's been more recent for you."
"What's been more recent for me?" asked Rosemary confused.
Elizabeth looked into Rosemary's eyes, "Your wedding night," whispered Elizabeth, barely audible.
"Oh," gasped Rosemary surprised. That was indeed an important aspect of the marriage ceremony, "What did you want to know?" asked Rosemary quietly.
"I don't know," Elizabeth began to pace, "I know it's not ladylike or proper to talk about this sort of thing."
They both heard Lilly fuss a little and turned toward the whimpering infant, "Tell you what? I'll go put her down for her mid-morning nap and we'll talk. It would be a little awkward to talk about this sort of thing with her in the room anyways."
Elizabeth nodded and Rosemary scooped Lilly into her arms and carried her up the stairs. Ten minutes later, Rosemary rejoined Elizabeth in the living room, "Is she asleep?"
Rosemary nodded, "Drowsy at least. Lee and I have been putting her in her crib when she's just getting sleepy that way she'll learn to fall asleep on her own the rest of the way. It's been going pretty well so far. Do you want some coffee or tea?"
"No, I'm good, thank you," said Elizabeth. Rosemary took a seat next to her friend, "I don't even know where to begin. It's such an embarrassing topic."
"Elizabeth," Rosemary grabbed Elizabeth's hand, "Everything you're feeling is completely normal. In fact I'd probably be worried, and a little jealous, if you were super confident right now."
Elizabeth couldn't help but chuckle. Leave it to Rosemary Coulter to quickly add humor to any conversation, "So, you weren't the outgoing superstar I'm used to you claiming to be?"
"Oh dear no," she laughed, "Lee and I looked like a couple of newborn baby giraffes, I'm sure." Elizabeth smiled, though Rosemary could tell she wasn't entirely relieved, "Anything else, Elizabeth?" she asked gently.
Elizabeth sighed and nodded, "Just…your wedding night? Was it something you'll always remember? And how is it exactly?"
"Oh goodness," Rosemary sighed, thinking back to her own wedding night, "Well, do you want me to be honest with you or do you want me to sugar-coat it for you?"
"Have you ever actually sugar-coated anything in your entire life?" Elizabeth raised an eyebrow amusingly. Rosemary took that response as a 'be honest' answer.
"Well, all I can say is…you'll be nervous. Terrified really. Jack will be nervous too, but if he's anything like Lee, he'll probably try to hide it. Neither one of you will have a clue about what you're doing and it'll be extremely awkward and uncomfortable, both physically and emotionally. But you'll get better. I mean, after all, that's what the honeymoon's for," chuckled Rosemary and Elizabeth smiled and nodded, "But, what I guess I'm saying is…if you're with the right person, it'll be okay. And you and Jack are made for each other. I promise you, you'll never feel closer to Jack than on your wedding night and every other time. You pour out your heart and soul to each other and truly do become one flesh. There's a reason God designed the marital act the way He did: for that one special person with whom you choose to spend the rest of your life. There's nothing else like it. And who knows? Maybe Lilly will have her own little playmate by the end of the year."
"Rosemary," laughed Elizabeth.
"And make sure he… oh, even I can't say this out loud without it feeling awkward," Rosemary leaned in and whispered a few more words of advice in Elizabeth's ear.
"Good to know," Elizabeth chuckled, "Thanks Rosemary. I know this is an uncomfortable subject."
"It's no problem, Elizabeth," she smiled and squeezed her hand.
"Maybe you should go back to writing that advice column," Elizabeth smirked.
"With all due respect, Elizabeth, I don't believe this discussion would be appropriate for the local paper," Rosemary laughed. The two women heard Lilly crying and Rosemary took a deep breath, "Well that was a quick nap. Care to engage in some tummy time with your Goddaughter?"
"Oh, I would love to, but my family should be arriving from Hamilton any time now," Elizabeth hugged Rosemary and headed towards the door. Elizabeth looked towards the coach stop and noticed a few familiar faces stepping off the wagon. She ran as fast as she could, smiling broadly, "JULIE!" she shouted happily.
"Elizabeth!" Julie gave her sister a joyful embrace, "Where's Jack?"
"He had to take care of a few things at the office before his bachelor party," explained Elizabeth.
William helped Grace step off the wagon and he smiled, "Hello Lizzie," he embraced her as well.
"Father," she smiled and hugged him back.
"How are you Beth?" asked Grace, kissing her on the cheek and hugging her as well.
"I'm doing well Mother," admitted Elizabeth, "Just a little nervous."
"Understandable," agreed Grace, "And Lionel and Viola send their regrets but their flight from London was delayed so they won't be arriving until tomorrow morning."
Elizabeth nodded, but wondered whether they truly had a flight delay or if they just wanted to spend as little time on the frontier as possible. Airplanes weren't a super common and expensive mode of transportation so maybe that was truly the case, "How is my nephew?" asked Elizabeth.
"Little Theodore is just the sweetest little boy," said Julie. She leaned closer to Elizabeth and smiled, "Though I don't know who needs more attention: Viola or Theodore?"
Elizabeth smirked and covered her mouth, "So Mother, Father, are you staying above the saloon?"
"Oh no dear, Jack made sure we could stay in a closer bed and breakfast," said Grace, "Your one Matron of Honor said we could leave our trunks in the café during the bridal tea."
"Of course," nodded Elizabeth just as Charlotte came riding over on her horse.
"Elizabeth," she shouted, "Let Jack know that Tom and I are going for a ride, but we'll be back in time for the bachelor party!"
"Uh, Charlotte wait!" called Elizabeth. Charlotte dismounted her horse and came over to the Thatchers, "I'd like to introduce you to my family: my father, William, my mother, Grace, and my sister, Julie. Mother, Father, Julie, this is Charlotte Thornton, my almost mother-in-law."
"Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Thornton," said William, shaking her hand.
"Oh please, call me Charlotte," she said, "Grace."
"Pleasure," she said stiffly, "So bachelor party? May I ask, aren't you attending the bridal tea later this afternoon?"
"Oh no, I already cleared it with Jack to attend the bachelor party. Beer and poker are more my forte than tea and frilly things," said Charlotte.
"I see," Grace nodded curtly.
"Mother," Elizabeth warned, "Well, now that you all are here, let's place your things at Abigail's. Have a good time at the bachelor party, Charlotte," said Elizabeth, quickly escorting her family away from the coach stop.
Later that afternoon, everyone was arriving at Abigail's for the bridal tea, "So you're telling me that woman rides horses, drinks alcohol besides wine and champagne, plays poker," listed Grace, "Hunts, and doesn't wear dresses very often?" she asked incredulously.
"Mother," pleaded Elizabeth, "It's only a few days. Remember she didn't grow up well off and she raised Jack and Tom by herself. Please just try to get along."
"Alright Beth," sighed Grace. Abigail and Rosemary came over to the three women and Rosemary had Lilly in her arms.
"Ladies," Elizabeth smiled, grateful for the extra company at the moment, "I'd like you to meet my mother, Grace Thatcher, and, Rosie, this is my sister, Julie."
"Nice to finally meet you," smiled Rosemary.
"Mother, Julie, these are my Matrons of Honor and my best friends in the world, Abigail Stanton and Rosemary Coulter," introduced Elizabeth.
"And who's this little sweetheart?" cooed Julie to Lillian.
"This is Lee and Rosemary's daughter and my Goddaughter, Lillian," smiled Elizabeth rubbing her head.
"We call her Lilly for short," said Rosemary.
Grace smiled at the baby, "Reminds me of when you girls were in my arms."
"Well, we should probably get started," Abigail gestured towards the table.
Elizabeth sat at the head of the table with her family and friends on both sides. They laughed and shared stories about their marriages before Abigail stopped and said, "Well, everyone knows the traditional rhyme of 'Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue' so, I'd say we should present our gifts," Abigail handed Elizabeth a pair of earrings, "Elizabeth I wore these at my wedding to Noah, and I would be honored to have you where them at your wedding to Jack. Something old and something borrowed."
Elizabeth smiled as she took the earrings "Thank you, Abigail."
Clara passed down a box and Elizabeth opened to find a hand-stitched cloth with hers and Jack's names and anniversary date, "We figure you can pin it somewhere on your dress where it'll be close to your heart. Something new," said Clara.
Grace smiled at her daughter, "Well this isn't exactly something blue, more like something else old and borrowed, but I want you to have this on your wedding day, Beth," she handed Elizabeth a small box.
Elizabeth opened it to reveal a flower crown to place right under her veil, "Mother, it's beautiful."
"I wore it on my wedding day when I married your Father and Viola wore it on her wedding day when she married Lionel. I'd like to continue the tradition and for you to wear it on your wedding day to Jack," Grace smiled softly.
"Thank you, Mother," she got up and hugged her.
"To Elizabeth!" chorused Abigail and Rosemary simultaneously.
"To Elizabeth!" everyone chanted holding up their tea cups.
Charlotte gathered up her chips as she had just won the latest round of poker, much to Lee, Jack, Frank, Bill, Hickam, Jesse, Murphy, Ned, Tom, and Gowen's chagrin, "Nice to know you continued the legacy of what you did at my bachelor party at your son's bachelor party," joked Lee.
"Oh, sorry Jack," she said.
"Lee and I still respect winners, Mom," said Jack, taking a swig of his beer.
"I'd like to propose a toast!" Bill lifted his beer glass, "To Jack Thornton, the man who found the perfect woman in every way. And then took forever to do something about it."
All of the men chuckled as Charlotte said, "Didn't I tell you to either get in the saddle or get off the horse?"
"Yes, Mom, you did," Jack sighed.
"Come on brother, I could always see something between you two ever since we ran into each other in Hamilton," Tom wrapped his arm around Jack's shoulder.
"Well I appreciate all of your love and support. Especially to the beautiful woman who maintained the strength to raise two rambunctious boys and still come out of it with a certain degree of sanity," he smiled at Charlotte and everyone laughed.
She smiled humbly and laid her hand on his shoulder and then clapped her hands together, "Alright, who's up for a round of darts?" she asked excitedly. Everyone groaned in response.
Up next: JACK AND ELIZABETH'S WEDDING!