It's All Going To Be Okay
Two days before Jack was scheduled to leave, Charlotte and Dale drove down to watch the kids for the evening. Just because the young couple couldn't have their weekend away, didn't mean they couldn't steal away some time for themselves.
Inside the house, Asher sat at the window overlooking the front yard with two of his Paw Patrol figurines. He watched and waited for Grandma Charlotte and Papa Dale to arrive. Rip slept close by. It was as if he felt it was his job to protect and watch over the boy.
A few feet away in the living room, Elizabeth and Mya sat together in the big reclining armchair working on reading. Elizabeth was dressed in her most fitted jeans, Jack's favorite, and a cute long sleeved knitted draped neck blouse. Jack had told her to dress casual, but that didn't mean she couldn't look cute.
As soon as the big Ford Tundra pulled into the drive the little boy took off running into the living room. "They're here! They're here!"
"Okay, love! Now remember what I told you."
"Be good and listen to Grandma and Papa. Go to bed when they tell me, no walking Rip by myself."
"That last one is the most important one!" Elizabeth said rolling her eyes. The day before the enthusiastic little boy decided to help his mom and dad by taking the old basset for a walk down the road. He didn't get more than 2 doors down before Elizabeth took off running down the street with one shoe on looking for him. It was a memory Jack said he would not soon forget.
Jack entered the room with his backpack over his shoulder then hurried to meet his mom and Dale at the front door.
"How are we doing?" Dale kneeled down as both kids ran into his arms.
"We're good," Mya said giving Dale and Charlotte a great big hug.
"Grandma, can we have pizza tonight?" Asher asked.
"Why, grandson? You don't want to eat my cooking tonight?"
"Not really," Asher said calmly. Mya gasped, and the adults, even Charlotte, laughed.
"It's okay, Ash." Jack messed with his son's hair. "I already ordered pizza. They'll deliver in 45 minutes."
"Works for me," Charlotte laughed. "What do you kids say we play a game before it gets here?"
"Yay!" They took off to the cabinet under the TV to pick a game. There was many to choose from.
"No fighting now," Dale warned. "We may have time for two if you're good."
"Thanks again, Mom. We really appreciate this."
"I remember what it was like. Your Dad would leave on assignment and I'd miss him terribly. With all that's going on right now, I figured you two could use a little distraction. The kids too for that matter."
"They could. Just don't let them stay up too late. They have school tomorrow."
"I know the drill, Jack. I've raised my own children remember?" she sassed.
"I'm just saying!" Jack laughed as he tossed his hands up as if surrendering. "Come on babe, let's get out of here before I get myself in any more trouble."
"Smart man," Dale teased from his seat on the floor with the kids. "Come on, sweetheart. The kids picked Mouse Trap."
"Oh dear, I know that one well. It was Jack's favorite."
"Still is," Elizabeth teased. "I think he asks for it more than the kids do."
"Wow, is everyone ganging up on me tonight?" Jack shook his head.
"I'll make it up to you." Elizabeth whispered in his ear.
"Yup, time to go!" he grinned. "Bye kids, we love you!"
"Love you too!"
Jack took his wife's hand and led her out the door as she rambled off where their emergency numbers were and a bunch of other important information that Charlotte already knew. Sometimes it was hard for her to let go, even with those Elizabeth trusted well.
"Finally!" Jack laughed as they stepped out onto the front porch.
"Oh, Dale parked his truck right behind us. I'll go ask for the keys so we can move it."
"No need." Jack held up the keys. "That is our ride tonight."
"The truck? Really? Why?"
"Do you trust me?"
"Should I?" she teased.
"Yes, you should." He kissed her slow and meaningfully. "Shall we?"
"Mhmm."
"Mhmm." They laughed together.
Jack opened the Tundra door and helped Elizabeth inside. She climbed in, giving Jack a good view of her outfit. From the butterflied hair pin all the way down to her tan suede ankle boots, he was in awe.
"Man, my wife is gorgeous," he spoke loud enough for her to hear.
She turned to him, blushing. "Is she now?"
"Yup. Most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
She leaned in to give him a soft kiss, barely touching her lips to his. The action drove him wild. "That's good. My husband's the sexiest man I've ever seen." She loved how he looked in his dark washed jeans and black button down with his sleeves rolled up. The look showed off his strong arms perfectly.
"We're a perfect match then, huh?"
"I think so."
"Would you two get going? You're grossing out the kids," Charlotte called out with a chuckle. She was standing on the porch with Asher, who was covering his eyes and giggling.
"Asher, go inside. Take Grandma with you."
"I'm watching you leave!"
"Okay, we're going." Jack shook his head and closed Elizabeth's door before jogging around to the other side. "You know Mom, if you ever wondered why we boys didn't bring many dates home growing up, this is why."
"Quit the sass and go have a nice evening with your wife, alright?"
"Yes ma'am. Bye, son!"
"Bye Daddy! Don't kiss Mama too much."
"I'll do my best, monkey."
They drove through town and stopped at Elizabeth's favorite Thai restaurant. Her stomach began to grumble at the thought.
"You want to come in or wait here?"
"Are we not eating here?"
"Not exactly. We're getting food from here, but I ordered it to go. There's someplace really special I want to show you."
"Oh! Intriguing. I'll come with you."
Jack let the woman at the counter know he was there and she told them they could wait at the bar, it would be a few more minutes.
Elizabeth climbed onto the bar stool as Jack moved to stand in front of her, his hands resting on her hips.
"Hi." He smiled.
"Hi, yourself." He leaned in to kiss her irresistible lips. "This is nice."
"Yeah? We haven't even done anything yet."
"I know, but still. Most of the short time we dated, you dated not just me but the kids."
"It was great, honey. I have no regrets."
"I know, and I love you for that. I just mean it's nice to be out just us. All I have to focus on right now is this loving, handsome man that I get to call my husband."
"I can guarantee the only one I'm focusing on tonight, is you."
"Perfect."
"Order for Jack Thornton!"
Another woman with an accent called out from the cash register. Jack stepped away to get their food and soon they were back in the truck leaving the city.
They passed little traffic on the long stretch of road toward the country. Jack slowed down by a cute little cabin set off from the quiet road and honked his horn three times.
Confused, Elizabeth looked up at Jack. He said nothing, just gave her a flirty wink and kept on his way.
He stopped the truck in front of an old metal gate. A clear sign to Elizabeth that visitors were not welcomed here.
"Be right back." Jack hopped out of the car and unlocked the gate. Elizabeth watched from the gate as Jack motioned for her to slide over and drive the car through.
"You want me to drive this beast?" she said, sticking her head out the window.
"Just through the gate. You can do it, babe."
"Sure I can… Make sure Dale knows this was your idea when we explain the consequences of this to him later."
Jack laughed, "You'll do just fine."
With a playful eye roll, Elizabeth shifted the truck into drive and slowly made her way through the gate. "Don't do anything funny on me now, truck. You hear me?"
"Nicely done!" Jack cheered with applause as she drove past.
"You're teasing me, aren't you?"
"A little bit. Scooch over. I'll drive the rest of the way." He hopped in and continued to drive the truck down the narrow road that was a mixture of dirt, rock and grass.
"Jack, are you sure we're allowed to be here?"
"Yup. I know the guy that owns this land. He works at the station with me. We had a bonfire out here a few years back. I asked if we could have the area for the night and he was more than happy to oblige. He lives at the house I honked at."
"You honked to say we were here?"
"That was the plan, yeah." Jack smiled. "This will be great. Jason assured me no one would be out here, it's just us tonight; and we're still within cell range so if there's a problem with the kids, Mom and Dale can still reach us."
"You've thought of everything, haven't you?"
"I tried."
They came to a spot in the middle of a clearing on the top of the hill. Elizabeth could immediately see why Jack wanted to bring her there. It was beautiful. The glitter starry sky shone brightly down on them through the windshield. Jack turned the truck around so the bed of the truck was facing out.
"What do you say to a picnic dinner under the stars?"
"I say that sounds magical."
Jack's smile was almost as bright as the moon above. He was thrilled his plan was working.
….
Back at the Thornton's home, Dale sat patiently waiting in the living room with Mya and a stack of books. Upstairs, they could hear Charlotte fighting Asher into his PJs.
"One more book, Papa?" Mya asked.
"Of course, sweet pea. Which one next?"
"This one. It's about a princess and her horse."
"Didn't we just read that one?"
"No, that was a different horse."
"But it had a princess in it too, didn't it?"
"So?"
"You're right. Different stories, different characters. Let's go."
After the next book, Dale carried the very sleepy Mya up to her room and tucked her in.
"Papa Dale?"
"Yes, sweetie?"
"Are you with us forever?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you and Grandma are like Mommy and Daddy were before they got married right? I think it's called dating?"
"Right, that's kind of what we're doing, I guess."
"But dating isn't forever right? Someday you'll marry her?"
"Boy, you sure are a smart cookie," Dale laughed. "I'll tell you something. I love your Grandma very much. One day when we are both ready, I'm gonna ask her to marry me."
"Good. We love you, Papa. I want you with us forever."
"I love you too. Goodnight, sweet pea."
"Goodnight. Oh and Papa?"
"Yeah, honey?"
"If you need help asking Grandma, I can help. I know her really well."
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you, dear."
"No problem."
Dale's heart felt full as he left Mya's room. Her words, "I want you with us forever," playing over and over in his head. That was exactly what he wanted too. Forever with Charlotte and their families.
He peaked into Asher's room but Charlotte had already left so he went back down to the living room. Charlotte was there on the couch with her feet propped up on the coffee table.
"You alright, dear?" he asked.
"There's a reason this kind of parenting is for the young. That boy has enough energy to power a small country."
"You did let him have seconds on dessert."
"You saw his face! He was so sweet and pathetic looking."
"Just saying, you reap what you sow."
"Hush you. I'm a grandma, this is what we do."
"Yes, dear," he said with a smile. He sat down next to her and moved her legs from the table to his lap. "I love you, Char."
"I love you too. Thanks for doing this with me."
"Of course. I love these kids." He checked his phone. "It's my son. Looks like things are falling into place for the harvest festival."
"That's in a few weeks isn't it?"
"Yup. Just after Jack gets back. I hope he and the family can come. I want us to all be together." It would be the first time both Dale's kids and Charlotte's kids would all be together. He wanted it to go well. If it did, he'd be ready to propose.
"I know Jack wants to be there. Tommy, Julie, Jesse, and Clara are all coming. It will be nice."
"Yeah, a night to remember, I hope."
…..
Back under the stars, with their stomachs full of the most delicious Thai food, Jack and Elizabeth took advantage of their time alone. The back of the truck was full of mats, blankets and large pillows. It was like reclining on a warm cloud.
The special dessert Jack had prepared sat almost forgotten in the small cooler in his backpack. His thoughts were fixing in making the woman laying beside him feel his love and know just how precious she was to him. It was working. For Elizabeth, this was one of the most romantic nights of her life.
After another long passionate kiss, Jack laid on his back, pulling Elizabeth to his chest.
"Are you happy?" he asked.
"Very. It's so funny though, I keep asking myself, are we really here, making out in the back of truck under a sea of stars?"
"That is a little juvenile, isn't it?"
"A little," she giggled. "I find it very romantic for us right now though."
"Me too." Jack kissed the tip of her nose. "I have a thought. Come with me." Jack climbed off the truck bed, helping Elizabeth down as well.
"What are we doing?"
"You like dancing, right?"
"Yes, I do."
"How do you feel about dancing under the stars?"
"Hmm, I think that sounds nice."
Inside the cab of the truck, Jack plugged his phone into the dash as he fumbled through the music app, wanting to pick the perfect song. "What would you like, a song from a memory or something new?"
"Hmm, how about something new? That way we have a song to remember tonight by."
"You got it, love." Jack, thinking ahead, had made a playlist of songs to listen and dance to especially for tonight. "Here's a new one for us." He hit play and walked back over to take her in his arms as the Charles Kelley song, "The Only One Who Gets Me" began to stream around them.
"Kinda selfish
A little crazy
But you love me anyway, baby
I'm hard to handle
I'm sometimes reckless
With a heart that's always restless
You're the only one
The only one who gets me good
Who knows me like nobody ever could
Who holds me, strong
Who puts me back together when it all goes wrong
Yeah I want you to know you're the only one who gets me"
In pure Jack fashion, he sang along with the second verse, making Elizabeth melt in his arms.
"You're timeless
A little glamour
With a little wine you're my tiny dancer
You're the calm
You're the steel
When my mind starts spinning those wheels
You're the only one
The only one who gets me good
Who knows me like nobody ever could
Who holds me, strong
Who can put me back together when it all goes wrong
Yeah I want you to know you're the only one who gets me
Yeah we're home
That's what you feel like
Home"
"You are my home, Jack," she whispered against his neck. He held her tightly against his body as her fingers played with the hairs at the base of his neck. Life didn't get much better than this.
"Yeah girl you're the only one who gets me
I, oh who could steal all my attention
Even after all this time
Who loves me so strong
Who can put me back together when it all goes wrong
And I want you to know you're the only one who gets me
You're the only one"
They danced for the next three songs, keeping the same closeness, just stealing a kiss here and there. During the final chorus of the last song, Elizabeth let out a small yawn. Jack smiled as her cute little nose crinkled up and her eyes closed tightly.
"You getting sleepy?"
"No, just relaxed."
"How about we break for some dessert?"
"There's dessert?"
"Who do you think you're dealing with, babe? Of course I have dessert!" he grinned.
They climbed back into the bed of the truck and Jack wrapped a blanket around Elizabeth's lap before grabbing the special treat from his bag.
"How does chocolate mousse sound?"
"Are you kidding? That sounds heavenly."
"Good. Let's hope it tastes heavenly. I made it so you never know."
"You made this?" she asked as he handed her the two plastic wine glasses filled with chocolate mousse and topped with raspberries. "Jack, this looks amazing."
He curled back under the blanket next to her and took his cup from her. He raised the cup up to her. "To my beautiful wife, and our amazing kids, and to our future."
"To us and everything wonderful!"
They touched their cups together and dug into the tasty treat.
"Oh wow," she moaned. "Please make this for us often!"
"As you wish!" he was pleased. Tonight, his only objective was making her happy, it was working.
Once they'd finished their dessert, neither felt rushed to head home. Charlotte had already texted that the kids were asleep and that she and Dale were enjoying the chocolate mousse that Jack had left behind for them and watching a movie.
Jack opened the back window of the truck to let the soft romantic music from the cap trickle back to the bed where they were comfortable reclining in each other arms.
This was Elizabeth's very favorite place to be, securely in her husband's strong hold. She loved his arms. She loved all of him really, but his arms were special. They held her in a way that made her feel safe and loved. She'd felt that way ever since that first hug he'd given her outside Rosie and Lee's the night they first officially met. Those same arms held her children, now their children, as he read bedtime stories to them or sang them to sleep. And one day, Lord willing, they would be the arms that would hold a new life, one they would make together. That thought sent a happy shiver down her spine.
"You cold?" he asked, holding her just a bit tighter with one arm as he reached for another blanket with the other.
"I'm perfect. Here with you, everything seems just how it should be."
"I know the feeling." He kissed her temple.
"Hey, Jack, I was thinking about something."
"Something good I hope."
"It is." She adjusted herself so they were both laying on their sides facing each other. "I was thinking about our future. About adding to our family."
"Alright, you have my attention," he said with a boyish grin. "Should we start now?"
"Jack Thornton!" With a playful swat she hit his arm.
"Okay, sorry I couldn't resist. I'm listening now."
"What I was trying to say is this; it's hard to really plan ahead when we don't know if you will be redeployed or not. I want us to continue to be careful for now. I already gave birth to two babies without the father present. I want this time to be different."
"So do I. I don't want to miss a moment of it. I promise, this next time, it will be different."
"Good. So here's what I'm thinking." She ran her finger up and down the buttons of his shirt. "If you get deployed, we'll start trying for another child the moment you get back. If you don't get deployed…"
"If I don't get deployed…."
"I want to start trying right away. Mya and Asher are so happy with our life. They seem to have adjusted seamlessly. I'd like to think the thought of having another sibling would be a good one for them."
"I think so too. They both know I love them and that that will never change. A baby will just be more for us all to love."
"I agree. So what do you think?"
"I think… I really really don't want to deploy!" They laughed, curled up tight in each others arms in the bed of the truck. "I've been thinking about something too, you know?"
"What about?"
"Our unknowns. I know it's scary, but we'll be okay, you know, if I have to leave."
"You sound so sure."
"I am. We're strong, Elizabeth. You and me. I mean think about it, I fell in love with you before I even met you in person. All your letters and emails. It was enough for me to fall hopelessly in love with you. If we have to revert back to communicating like that, we'll make it work."
"I know. And you can trust me, Jack. I won't be one of those wives who becomes unfaithful when their husband is away. You're my forever."
"You're my forever. There's not a woman in the world that I could ever want more than you. You can count on that."
