Jack walked over to the boarding house after his morning chores were finished.

"Ma?"

"Be right down."

"Hi, Mr. Jack!"

"Hey, Cam! How are you today?"

"Good. Gonna see Maddie and baby Rachel."

"Oh, that sounds fun. Give Rachel a kiss for me, ok?"

"Ok!" He ran upstairs and Jack waited.

Charlotte came down a few minutes later. "Good morning, son."

"Hi, Ma. I need a favor."

"Yes, Jake and I would love to watch the kids."

"How did you know?"

"Because you, my love, are nothing if not predictable." She kissed his cheek and walked into the kitchen.

"Tonight?"

"Sure, send them over whenever you want."

"Thanks, Ma. Love you."

"Love you too, Jack."

He headed to pick some flowers and then walked home and knocked on the door. He knew it was nap time so Elizabeth would more than likely answer. "Can I help you?" she asked very convincingly and it threw him off momentarily.

"Uh, yeah. I'm looking for Elizabeth? I'm her date for the evening."

"Her date, huh?"

"These are for her," he said, handing her the flowers.

"She'll love these. They're her favorite." She smirked and kissed his cheek. "You're her favorite."

He returned her kiss and stepped in. "Is that so?"

"Oh yeah. She talks about you all the time. She described you pretty well."

They walked into the kitchen and she filled a jar with water, placing the flowers in it.

"How did she describe me?" He sat down at the table.

"Amazing green eyes, dimples that make her knees go weak…" she sat on his lap and kissed him. "Heart-shaped lips that are perfectly kissable." She kissed him again. "The most wonderful husband and father anyone could ever ask for."

"She's pretty amazing herself."

"Is that right?"

"Mmhmm. Perfect body…"

"Stop. I do not…"

"You finished. It's only fair to let me."

"Fine."

"I think her body is perfect. If that is how she looks after having eight babies, she is perfect." He touched her face. "Beautiful soft skin that smells like vanilla." He kissed her neck and then lips. "Her hair…I've always loved her hair." He ran his fingers through her curls, causing goosebumps.

"Jack…"

"I'm almost done. I love her with every single bit of my heart and I thank God everyday that she is in my life."

"She loves you too."

"Mom?"

"Yes, Drew?"

"Um I was wondering if I could go talk to Papa? I know I have chores, but I need to see him."

"Actually, that's perfect," Jack told him. "You, Will, and the kids are staying at the boarding house tonight."

"Great!" He walked off and smiled.

"Wait, Drew!"

Elizabeth stood up. "Yeah, Ma?"

"Is something wrong?"

"No, why?"

"You know you can always talk to me or your father."

"I know but I just want to talk to Papa." He was not asking them about kissing even though they did it more than anyone else he knew.

"Ok." Jack walked up behind her and put his arms around her as he walked back upstairs.

"He's growing up, sweetie. He might not feel as comfortable talking to you as the girls did."

"I guess."

He kissed her ear. "So, I'm cooking dinner for you tonight, babe."

"I can't wait."

"As soon as the kids leave, I'm going to make you a nice hot bubble bath while I cook."

"Really? I can just sit in there and read by candlelight?" She was excited.

"Whatever you want."

"Oh my. This is going to be amazing." She walked off to pack some things for the kids to take but then changed her mind and walked back to him. "Jack, thank you for what you said earlier. That really means a lot to know you feel that way."

"You're welcome. I meant every word."

She kissed his cheek and smiled. "See you in a bit."

THE GIRLS ROOM

"Why go?" Kiki asked Mama for the tenth time.

"It'll be fun. You can all play games and Papa will tell stories."

"Me stay," she told her.

"It's one night, Kiki." Elizabeth put one more book in her bag and handed it to her. "Lets go, sweetie."

They walked out of the room. "Will! Me go!"

He reached for her. "Yes, let's go see Gamma and Papa."

"Good job, Will. I should have had you tell her from the beginning."

He shrugged and kissed her cheek. "Bye Ma."

"Bye kids. See you tomorrow."

Jay walked up to her. "Bye Mama." She bent down and kissed him.

"Bye, love."

Elizabeth walked back in the bedroom and changed into her silky bathrobe and then went to see how the bath was coming along.

"One more bucket, babe, and then you get to relax."

"Thank you. I forgot to grab my book. I'll be back."

"No need, I put it in there for you."

"That was nice." She walked into the bathroom to tie her hair up and gasped. The environment he created was perfect. A few candles lit and scattered around the room, bubbles in the bath, flowers on the sink along with her book.

"Here you go, sweetheart." He poured the water in and then went to leave but she stopped him. She gently took his face in her hands and kissed him slowly. "Mmmm. You are so beautiful, Elizabeth."

"Don't you want to stay here with me?" she asked, slipping her robe off and climbing in the tub.

"More than you know, but if I do, dinner won't get done." He handed her the book. "See you soon."

Jack wished he could have stayed in there with every fiber of his being. It was amazing how gorgeous she was, but he had things to do. He quickly grabbed the victrola from the living room and set it up in the kitchen. He lit a candle for the table and put her flowers there too. The china they purchased many years before was now on the lace tablecloth along with crystal glasses for the wine.

He pulled the pot roast from the oven, bathing it once more in it's juices. He mashed the potatoes and left the rolls to warm. He pulled the fresh butter out of the icebox along with the wine. Finally he hurried upstairs to change so he could be waiting when she came out.

About twenty minutes later, he stood, almost nervously, in the kitchen. "Oh, Jack. This is wonderful." She looked around the room and then back to him. He was wearing his navy suit and white shirt, the neck opened, with no tie. "I feel really underdressed."

"That's the way I like it," he told her with a wink, pulling her chair out for her. "You smell so good."

"It's the pot roast," she teased.

"Not unless the pot roast took a bath in vanilla and lavender."

He brought the sliced meat and potatoes to the table and joined her, holding out his hand. "Let's pray." She slipped her fingers into his and bowed her head.

"Dear Lord…"

VANCOUVER

Em got off the train and hired a car to take her and her trunk and two suitcases to the boarding house. She took multiple deep breaths as she attempted to calm her nerves. The car pulled up in front of the boarding house.

"Are you sure this is the Apple Grove boarding house?"

"Yes, Miss." The sign said so but it looked like a very small boarding house and there weren't apples anywhere that she could see, let alone a grove of them. It couldn't possibly have more than three or four bedrooms.

She shrugged and grabbed her suitcases, leading the way for the driver to carry her trunk. She knocked and waited, feeling sorry for the driver and her heavy trunk.

"Just go in, Miss," he said with a slightly impatient tone.

"Ok." She opened the door and breathed deep. Apples and cinnamon. It was calming. "Hello?"

"Come in, come in. You must be Emma." The young woman, seemingly not too much older than herself, grabbed one of her suitcases. "I'm Laura Grove."

"This is your boarding house?"

"Now it is. It was my mother's but she passed away a few months ago. Now it's mine."

"I'm so sorry about your mother, Miss Grove."

"Just Laura and thank you. Now let's go to your room so poor Mr. Tinker doesn't have to hold your trunk anymore."

"Thank you, Miss Laura," he said with a wink.

Surprisingly, the boarding house had five bedrooms, one of which was Laura's. Em's room was large and it had two beds and two desks, a dresser, a small closet, and a table with a pitcher and basin.

"Your roommate isn't here yet. Her name is Kayla."

"Ok, thank you, Laura."

Em looked around, claimed the desk by the window as hers and started unpacking. There wasn't a bookcase so she arranged her books on her desk. Thankfully she didn't have as many as Maddie. The thought caused pain, making her miss her best friend so much she thought she might hop on the next train and leave. "I'm strong. I can do this."

The door opened and in walked a girl about her age with the blondest hair she had ever seen. It was almost white.

"Hi, I'm Emmy Thornton."

"I'm Kayla Mason." She dragged her trunk in the room and sat on it to rest.

"I have a nephew named Mason." Em watched the girl. Her eyes were very pale blue and she had a few pale freckles across her nose. "Need some help?"

"I got it. Just tell me what bed is mine and I'll be done in no time."

"Take your pick. I haven't decided."

HARRIS TOWN, THORNTON RANCH

The kitchen was clean and the dinner was put away. Jack and Elizabeth danced in the light of the two candles on the table.

She placed her head on his shoulder and sighed. "What's the occasion, love?"

"I love you and I thought we could use a night alone."

"It's been perfect." The wine she had at dinner was making her drowsy. "We should make a fire." She missed sitting by the fire with him. It had been a long time.

He nodded, stopped the music, and led her into the living room. She sat on the couch, her legs pulled up underneath her. She watched him, his bare forearms visible because his jacket had been removed after dinner. The muscles in his arms working, even with the small amount of lifting he was doing, placing small pieces of wood in the fire.

Her fingers were itching with anticipation. Finally, he walked over and sat beside her, his arm pulling her close. "Hi."

"Hey, handsome." She put her head on his shoulder and snuggled in, her fingers stroking his arm that she had been watching. Her mind drifted to all her favorite moments by the fire. The kiss by the campfire before they were even engaged, talking about what their home would look like. When they were engaged and he told her he wanted ten children. Their first night in the house in Hope Valley. The many times they were getting close and they were interrupted. "Jack."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

"For what, babe?"

"For our wonderful life. I've never loved you more than I do right now." A tear escaped as she talked.

He kissed her forehead and then her nose. "I love you too."

THE AVERY HOUSE

"Papa?"

"Hey Drew. I thought you were in bed."

"Can I talk to you?"

"Of course." He put his coffee cup down and gave Drew his attention.

"How old were you when you first kissed a girl?"

"Let's see." He thought a moment and then smiled. "Her name was Helen. I was about fourteen, which, if I'm not mistaken, is about your age…"

"Yeah."

"So you like Carrie, right?"

"Yeah."

"Does she like you?"

"I think so. She looks at me a lot, she thinks I don't see but I do. She told me she likes my curly hair."

"Did you kiss her?"

"No, I don't want to do it wrong. It seems easy but what if she doesn't like it?"

"The first thing that you need to remember is to be kind and not too pushy and be gentle. Girls like gentle."

"Is that so, Mr. Hunt?" Charlotte said as she walked in the room and sat next to him.

"Helen liked my kisses and she married me. Grace liked my kisses and so did you and you both married me too. I must know a little bit about what I'm talking about."

"I'm not complaining, Jake. Just don't worry too much, Drew. It will all work out the way it's supposed to."

So Drew decided he would kiss her at the dance. He figured it would need to be perfect so he put a lot of thought into it.

OCTOBER, NIGHT OF THE BARN DANCE

Not only was it his and Will's birthday, but it would be his first time dancing in front of other people and his and Carrie's first kiss. He was stressed.

"Why are you worried?" Will asked from his bed.

"Because I really like her, Will. What if I'm a bad kisser and she then decides she doesn't like me?"

"Drew, it will be fine. Just don't slobber all over her and everything will be good."

Drew whipped his pillow at his twin, hitting him in the face. Will laughed and threw the pillow back.

"I'm going to go now. See ya." Drew adjusted his tie once more and walked downstairs.

"Andrew Thornton, don't you look handsome?" Elizabeth kissed his cheek. "You look nervous."

"I don't like being the center of attention, Ma. I know you said it's not a birthday party but it sure feels like one."

"Oh! Happy birthday, sweetheart."

"Thanks Ma. I'll see you there."

Drew walked into town and then down the path to the church and the Hogan house. He knocked on her door and waited.

Abigail opened the door. "Hi, Drew."

"Hi." He smiled nervously.

"Happy birthday."

"Thanks."

"Carrie is almost ready. How are you doing?"

"Ok."

Abigail chuckled. "You look about as nervous as your father did when he picked up your mom for their first date."

"Thanks."

Drew looked up and smiled. Carrie walked out looking more beautiful than she ever had before. "Wow," he whispered. Her blonde hair was tied back and up off her neck. Her dress, was dark red and hugged her in all the right places. Drew blushed knowing he should not be thinking about that, but he couldn't help it.

"Hi," she said as she walked up to him. "You look really nice, Drew. Happy birthday."

"Thank you. Are you ready to go?"

"Sure." She took her shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders and slipped her fingers in the crook of his elbow. "See you there, Ma."

"Ok, honey."

The young couple walked arm and arm for awhile and then Carrie stopped. She removed her hand from his arm and looked at him. "You ok, Drew?"

"Yeah. Just nervous, I guess."

"It's me. You don't need to be nervous."

"I am though." The shadows created by the moonlight shining through the trees made her eyes sparkle. "You look beautiful tonight."

"Thank you. Why are you nervous?" She touched his hand and squeezed.

"I don't want to mess this up, Carrie."

"Mess what up? The dance? We don't even have to dance, but you're good at it."

"Not the dance. This." He gestured at them. "Us. You are my best friend and I don't want to lose that."

"I'll always be your best friend, Drew. I promise."

"I like you, Carrie."

"I like you too."

"You do?"

"Yes. I have for awhile."

Drew's heart beat faster as he stepped closer and grabbed her hand. "Would it be ok, if I…I mean I was wondering…"

"Please." She moved toward him, her hands on his waist.

He leaned down, cradled her face gently, and then softly pressed his lips to hers. It lasted maybe three seconds but to him, it meant a lot.

She smiled and then reached up to touch his face. "So serious." She kissed him this time, giving him a better taste of her strawberry flavored lips.

When they broke apart, he held his hand out for her to take and then they walked to the party with fingers intertwined.

Maybe it wouldn't be such a bad thing to go to a party. He had something to celebrate now.