The Anniversary - Part 2 (Elizabeth is ready to go on her dinner date with Jack, but something in the doorway has her attention! Thanks for your comments! Heartie Love!)
Elizabeth took a tentative step toward the open door, seeing a red rose dangling from someone's hand, the body hidden from view. She stepped closer and took the rose, inhaling its luscious fragrance and noticing a note attached, "Love" it read. She smiled and shook her head. She went back to the bedroom and retrieved the rose that was in her dress box. "Hmm, I sense a message forming here…," she read the card on the first rose, "I" and the second, "Love". She kissed Cole, "Good night, thank you mother for watching him."
"Its my pleasure my dear, have a wonderful dinner," Grace Thatcher cuddled the squirming baby, "and take your time, we'll be just fine."
Elizabeth turned back to the door, "Vernon!"
He nodded, "Good evening Mrs. Thornton, I've been asked to escort you into town for a very important dinner engagement," he extended his hand.
"Well, how lucky am I," Elizabeth said softly as she accepted his hand and walked to the carriage.
"And may I say, you look very beautiful this evening," Vernon said as he assisted her.
"Thank you…oh my!" Elizabeth saw another red rose lying on the carriage seat. She picked it up, looked to heaven, "this one must say "you"." She gasped when she picked up the card, surprised that it read, "Us". "Oh Jack…I love us too," she whispered as she held the three roses together and the carriage headed to town.
Jack paced in the café, smoothing his tie, jumping slightly every time Abigail clanged a pan in the kitchen.
"Here comes the carriage Jack," she called out from the kitchen.
"Good, good, good," Jack took a deep breath and waited.
Vernon assisted Elizabeth from the coach, "Easy now, no tumbling."
"I'm fine," she smiled.
"You're a little shaky," he whispered with a smile.
"I am," she licked her lips, "butterflies."
He opened the café door for her.
Elizabeth's breath caught in her throat at the sight before her. Candles, lace tablecloths and white lanterns hanging from the ceiling, but the vision that made her heart pound was Jack…her husband…standing there looking so handsome in a black suit, white shirt, gray tie, holding a bouquet of red roses. He took her breath away and she gripped her own three roses tightly, "Jack…."
Jack gripped the back of the chair, almost feeling faint at the sight of her, "Wow…you look absolutely beautiful," he uttered as he stepped towards her, "that dress was made for you," he looked up and down, "you're so beautiful." He gave her a sweet gentle kiss. "Here is the rest of your bouquet," he handed her the roses.
Elizabeth's eyes fluttered, so overwhelmed, "Oh Jack, thank you…they're just lovely and the message, I love the message."
"I do love 'us', we're so meant for each other," he stared into her eyes.
She nodded and licked her lips, "Yes…and may I say, you…you look so handsome…that suit is …well, it …" she looked away for a moment, "You're just so handsome."
He took her hand and kissed it, "Thank you." He took all the roses from her, "I'll put these over here in this vase."
Elizabeth watched him carefully place the roses, his shoulders so strong and broad, she wanted to reach out to him but she couldn't move.
He turned and extended his hand, "Shall we?"
As Elizabeth took her seat, she noticed a small teddy bear on the table wearing a blue bow tie, "What is this?"
Jack smiled, "That represents Cole, he couldn't make it tonight, so this little bear is filling in."
Elizabeth giggled, "Oh, I see. Did you invite him?"
Jack tilted his head, "Ah, no, this is my date."
"Well I think that is so sweet of you Jack."
"Thank you Elizabeth…thank you for making me a father. I'm so proud of our son."
Elizabeth blinked and touched the small bear, "I love him too Jack," was all she could say as she fought her tears.
They were silent for a moment, each thinking of how much the past year had meant to them and had given them.
Abigail cleared her throat before opening the curtain with a dinner tray, "Good evening."
Elizabeth looked up, "Hello."
"You look beautiful Elizabeth," Abigail said as she set a plate in front of her, "I hope you two enjoy your dinner. I'm going to leave, I have something I need to do, so you two just enjoy your time together."
"Thank you Abigail, we will," Jack nodded.
Abigail hurried out before Elizabeth could say a word. She looked at Jack, "This looks delicious, but no dessert?"
Jack laughed, "She showed me where things are, don't worry."
They casually ate their dinner.
"I have to admit it feels a bit strange not having to check on our little boy," Elizabeth said.
"I know, but I'm sure he's just fine with your Mom."
"Yes, I'm not worried."
"Good," Jack wiped his mouth with his napkin and stood.
Elizabeth watched him walk away, "Are you leaving?"
He stopped and turned back, "Leave you? Never."
"I'm glad to hear that," she dabbed her mouth and folded her napkin as she heard the music coming from the Victrola Jack had started.
He walked to her and extended his hand, "May I have this dance?"
"Of course," she stood right into his embrace.
Jack walked his fingers across her back, "You look so beautiful tonight."
"Thank you," she said softly.
"Was your dinner okay?"
"Wonderful."
They swayed to the music and Elizabeth looked away.
"Elizabeth, is something wrong?"
She looked into his eyes, "No of course not, what could be wrong?"
"Nothing I hope, but you're so quiet," he shrugged.
"Jack, I feel nervous, I know its silly but this reminds me of our first date," she tried to smile.
Jack nodded, "Well that is what I was going for. But now you're my wife, so you shouldn't feel nervous," he gently pulled her a bit closer. "Although that night I admit, I was nervous too, it being our first date."
"You were?"
Jack threw his head back, "Of course I was. I wanted to tell you about Cape Fullerton, but I was enjoying being with you so much that I knew I couldn't ruin the evening. Just being with you was so wonderful."
"Oh…"
"Dancing with you in my arms like this," he smiled, "It was wonderful."
"You dance so well."
He brought their extended hands closer, tucking her hand against his chest, "I wish I had the nerve then to hold you closer."
She stepped closer and rubbed the back of his neck, "Me too." She pressed her cheek to his, "You were such a gentleman that evening."
"I know, I mean I struggled a bit," he laughed softly. "I wanted to kiss you."
"You kissed my hand at the end of the evening," she sighed and looked into his eyes.
"I wanted you to know that I wanted to court you. That I was serious about us and I was hoping you felt the same way."
"Jack, I've felt that way since the beginning, you're the one who was hesitant."
"We were so different, I didn't think it could work."
"You didn't?"
"No wait let me rephrase that, I was concerned that it might not work."
"You and your concerns," she giggled and rolled her eyes.
"What does that mean?"
"You were concerned about Billy Hamilton too," she said.
"Oh…don't bring him up please."
She bit her lip, "Sorry, but your jealousy was charming."
Jack's expression changed, "Nothing charming about feeling jealous Elizabeth. And it was more than that with him, I was worried that he might hurt…"
She put her finger against his lips, "Honey."
He smiled, "Yes, honey…I remember all about honey."
She pressed against him, "Lets not talk about that. Lets have dessert!"
He laughed and took her hand and they went into the kitchen. Jack uncovered a small white cake, "Looks good doesn't it?"
Elizabeth clutched her tummy, "Yes it does!"
Jack sliced a piece and fed it to her, her tongue swept across the tip of his finger, "Hmm, so good."
Jack raised his eyebrows, "Feed me a piece."
Elizabeth took a small piece of cake and Jack chomped on it, making her giggle.
She pushed against him and kissed him before retrieving another piece of cake and gently placing it near his lips. He smiled and took the cake and flicked his tongue against her finger. "Delicious."
Elizabeth took the cake and headed back to their table. "Lets be civilized now Jack."
"If you insist."
Jack moved his chair closer to her and they used forks and fed each other. Jack went to a nearby table, "I have something for you."
"Jack, you've given me so much already!"
"I'm trying to impress you."
Elizabeth giggled, "Consider me impressed."
He pushed a small package toward her. With her tongue out between her lips, she opened the box revealing a star shaped medal on a thin red rope, "What? What is this?"
Jack smirked and handed her a scroll of paper, "Here, this came with it."
She unrolled the parchment and read aloud, "The Royal Canadian Mounted Police awards Mrs. Elizabeth Thornton this medal of heroism for the capture of the Bloom brothers bank robbers…" She put the paper down, "Jack? Is this real?" She picked up the medal, examining it closely.
"Sure, you're a Mountie hero aren't you?"
"You're teasing me," she put the medal in the box, "but I like it, thank you!" She kissed his cheek.
Jack handed her another package, "Here, this is real…"
She ripped the paper, revealing a framed sketch, "Oh Jack…."
"Do you remember that day I came home and you and Cole were out on the grass and you raised him above your head like that. It was such a beautiful sight, I just had to sketch it."
Elizabeth ran her hand over the intricate drawing, "And you…this is you watching…"
"Admiring you both from a far."
"On your horse," she looked at him, "It's wonderful, so wonderful. Thank you," she kissed him.
"Maybe someday they'll invent a small camera that I will always have with me to capture those special moments."
"Your drawings capture them so perfectly. There's so much meaning in this drawing," she looked closer, "and my hair looks really good!" She glanced at him assuring him that she was teasing.
"Give me that," he laughed and put the framed sketch on the table. "Let's have another dance, shall we?"
Elizabeth stood and placed both hands on his shoulders, "Just hold me close, that's always my favorite dance."
Jack looked around, "Well, okay since no one is here to see us," he laughed as he slid his hands around her and leaned in and kissed her ear. "You smell so good."
"Thank you," she raised her shoulder in response to his kisses.
"Elizabeth, I want to thank you. Thank you for the past year… you've given me everything I could ever want. I'm so proud to be your husband and I'm so grateful for our beautiful baby. I've loved you from the start and I can't imagine my life without you."
She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand, "Oh Jack, this has been a wonderful year. We have so much and we've done so much, together. Sometimes I think we should have married sooner."
Jack nodded, "True, maybe if I weren't so thick headed…"
"No, you wanted to be sure."
"I never doubted my feelings for you, never. I loved you and every day I love you more," he kissed her.
"Hmmm," she lost herself in his kiss, the feel of his strong arms holding her securely against his body, it was the best place in the world.
They continued dancing in silence, staring at each other, knowing it was an evening to remember.
"Do you remember our first kiss?" He asked.
"Of course I do!" She raised her shoulders, "Oh, that tingle all over my body kiss!"
"What?"
"That first kiss, just had me tingling all over!"
He hugged her, "Me too," he whispered in her ear, "me too." They held each other for a moment, "What do you say we head home?"
"Sounds good to me," she held his face in her hands and kissed him sweetly. "Thank you for a special dinner date."
"Thank you, I love you," he smiled.
Jack wrapped the roses in a towel and Elizabeth gathered her gifts from the table. She waved the bear, "Maybe next year we'll have a bear with a pink bow tie."
"Are you trying to tell me something?"
"No…not yet but someday," she took his arm and they left the café.
Vernon rode over in the carriage, "Perfect timing folks, lets get you both home."
"I hope Cole is okay, he must be getting hungry," Elizabeth said.
"I'm sure he's fine," Jack put his arm around Elizabeth's shoulder, "I'm hungry."
She looked at him, "You are? After that wonderful, filling meal?"
Jack laughed softly and kissed her, "You're so cute Mrs. Thornton."
"Oh," she looked down, "I'll be happy to feed your hunger Mr. Thornton," she kissed his lips in a grinding manner that caused Jack to pull her closer.
"Hmmm," he reached down with his free hand and squeezed her waist.
Elizabeth ran the tip of her tongue over his upper lip and ran her hand along his inner thigh.
He leaned into her wanting more.
Her fingertips made circular movements on his thigh and he began to squirm in his seat. He twirled a piece of her hair between his fingers as their kisses deepened. The motions of her fingers almost too much to bear, he entwined his fingers with hers stopping her romantic gestures, "Hmm, you're making me crazy back here."
"We're almost home," she whispered.
"Good thing," he smiled.
As they rounded the corner and pulled up to the house, Elizabeth exclaimed, "What in the world is all this!"
to be continued...
