October, Spruce Mountain, Kentucky
Jack sighed as his lower left arm itched and burned. The arm that wasn't there anymore. Phantom pain, they called it. Whatever it was, it was annoying and he just wanted it gone.
He also wanted the nightmares from his most recent deployment to stop. He couldn't remember the last time he slept all night. His therapy helped a little bit but it was a slow process.
"Jack? Son, your eggs are done," Charlotte said through his door.
He needed to move out of his parent's house. He was twenty three for goodness sake. "Okay," he told her, pulling his sweatpants up with his good hand and his stump.
But his parents had welcomed him back, with his missing arm, broken spirit and all. He needed to remind himself to be more grateful.
As he walked into the kitchen, his dad smiled at him over the newspaper. "Morning, son."
"Hey, Pop."
"What are your plans for today?"
"Same as always, I guess." Which didn't involve much.
"I think it's time you talk to Chief Gowan about a job at the station." Not this again.
"What would I do there? I can't do anything with one arm!" He regretted raising his voice the moment it happened. "Sorry, Pop. It's like my mind isn't my own anymore."
"Just so you know, Jack Thomas, you are not incapable of working. You can do plenty of things for the Chief."
"Like what?" he asked, keeping his voice calm.
"Desk jobs for one."
"I don't want to be stuck at a desk when every other officer is out in the field. You know how boring that would be?"
"As boring as sitting around here on your butt?" Charlotte asked.
"Fine but I can't figure out what would make Gowan hire me. As soon as he sees me, he will make up his mind."
"Son, Gowan knows your situation. He knows you did two tours in Iraq and that you were a Staff Sergeant. He wants to meet with you."
"Great. Nothing like my dad getting me a job to boost my confidence."
Charlotte took his chin in her hand. "Jack, you listen to me. I don't care that you are twenty three years old or that you only have one arm. You need to be respectful and grateful. You are alive. You are getting a chance to make something of yourself. It's time to grow up and move forward. Stop looking behind."
He knew she was right. However, he also knew that any future he had seen for himself was not going to be possible anymore.
No one was going to want to marry a cripple or have babies with someone who couldn't even tie his own shoes anymore or had trouble pulling up his own pants.
"Yes, Ma."
"I see that look in your eyes, son. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You have so much to offer."
"Its not that easy, Ma. This is not how I dreamed my life would be."
"Maybe not but you're strong. You have everything ahead of you."
About an hour out of town…
Elizabeth pulled into a parking lot and winced at the smell coming from the back seat.
She got out and unbuckled her daughter from her rear-facing car seat.
"Hi, pretty girl. Mama loves you even though you're stinky."
Her daughter gave her a half smile. One she had a feeling would sport dimples like her Daddy's one day.
"You have such a pretty smile," she told her, tickling her cheek with her fingertip.
As she changed her diaper, Elizabeth felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She knew who it was. Lucas. Her off and on boyfriend. Rowan's Daddy.
He likely went to her apartment and her roommate told him she had moved out. Now he was freaking out.
As immature as Lucas Bouchard acted sometimes, when it came to his daughter, he was serious. He loved Rowan and Elizabeth knew that was good. The problem was, she had graduated and now she needed a job. Living where she had been wasn't an option because her roommate was moving too. So, she was moving to Spruce Mountain and her parents were only charging her half the rent she had been paying.
Elizabeth nursed the baby and then placed her carefully back in her carrier so she could start driving again.
Her phone buzzed again. She sighed and pulled it from her pocket.
"Hi, Lucas."
"Beth, please tell me Randi was lying. Please tell me you didn't move away."
"I'm two hours away, Lucas. I won't stop you from seeing her."
"I told you you could move in with me. Beth…"
"We aren't together, Luke. It would be way too awkward."
"Awkward? We were engaged. We had a baby together."
"Like I said, we aren't together. I'm not sure your girlfriend would enjoy your ex-fiance and your baby living with you." She sighed. "Look, I need to get driving again. Row is asleep and I would like to get to my parent's house sooner rather than later. I sent you their address. Use it, Luke."
"This weekend. I'm coming."
"Okay. You can stay in the basement apartment."
"Great. Bye."
"Bye."
Beth pulled into her parent's driveway an hour later. "Here goes nothing," she whispered.
Her younger sister Julie came running out to meet her. "You're here!" she squealed. "Where's that gorgeous niece of mine?"
"Sleeping in the back seat. Would you like to get her out?"
"Yes!" Julie unbuckled Rowan and inhaled her soft, fresh smell. "Oh boy. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have a handful of these one day."
"Julie, they are a lot of work."
"I'm aware of that. I'll make sure I'm married first so I won't be doing it all alone though," she mentioned. Then she realized what she had said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything by that, Beth. I promise."
"Its fine. I'm sure you're not the only one who feels that way right now."
She knew her parents weren't pleased about her conceiving a baby without being married first. They had made their feelings known when she and Lucas had come for Christmas the year before and announced her pregnancy.
"At least she's engaged, William," Grace had said when she thought she was out of earshot.
Neither had come to meet Rowan once she was born, and yet, she was welcomed to stay with them once she graduated. She gazed down at her emerald engagement ring and sighed.
They still didn't know Lucas and she had broken up.
"You know, lying to them about it isn't going to help," Julie told her, sounding more like an older sister than younger.
"I'm not lying. I'm just not divulging that information yet."
"What are you waiting for?"
"Until I know I'm strong enough to handle their reaction." That was just an excuse. She would tell them soon.
Beth followed Julie inside, the baby bag on her back and a large suitcase behind her. She was thankful she had packed and shipped everything else instead of driving it all home.
"Julie, what's your class schedule?" Beth asked as they shut the door behind them.
"I am just doing night classes. Three nights, 6 to 9."
"That's perfect. I have an interview tomorrow at 10am. Would you be willing to watch Row for a couple hours? I'll make sure you'll have milk for her."
"Of course I will. Auntie Julie is gonna be your favorite," she cooed to Rowan. "Won't she?"
Beth laughed. "Thanks, Julie. I really appreciate it."
"Anytime, sister. Well, except when I finally get a date with Mike Hickam. Then you'll be on your own."
"Julie, you've liked him since junior year in high school. What makes you think he's ever going to ask you out?"
"We've been talking. Well, texting. I have a good feeling, Beth."
Beth looked up as her parents entered the living room. "Hi," she greeted, a small smile on her face.
"Hello, dear," Grace said. William opened his arms and she walked into them.
"I've missed you, Beth."
"Missed you too, Daddy."
Rowan let out a squawk. Beth reached for her. "I need to change her. I hope we can talk after?"
"I'll change her, Beth," Julie offered, taking her back. "We will be up in your room."
"Thanks, Julie."
Beth and her parents sat down. "You wanted to talk with us?" Grace prompted.
"Yeah, about a few things." She nervously played with her ring. She needed to rip the bandaid off. "Lucas and I broke up."
"What about his daughter? Kids these days don't take responsibility for their actions," William said standing and pacing.
"He's giving me money weekly for her, Dad, and he sees her often. He's coming on Saturday too."
Grace tugged his hand and pulled him down. "He can stay in the basement apartment."
"Thanks, Mom. Also I want to let you know I have a few interviews set up so as soon as I get a job, I will find an apartment. We won't be a burden for long."
"Elizabeth Thatcher, you are not now and you never have been a burden to us."
"I'm sure you never thought I'd move back in and bring my daughter with me."
"No, but that's how things worked out."
Julie brought Rowan back in. "Sorry, but she's hungry or something and I can't help with that."
Elizabeth took her, covered herself with a blanket and fed her daughter. William excused himself leaving just the ladies.
Just across town, Jack called the Spruce Mountain Police Department and asked to speak to the Chief. He didn't think he would get hired but he was going to try. If he didn't get a job, he couldn't move out and he needed to move out.
"Chief Gowan," a gruff voice answered.
"Hello, Chief. My name is…"
"Jack Thornton."
"Yes, sir, and I was wondering if I…"
"Could apply for a job?"
"Yes. Sir, I don't want to get this job because of my father. I want to earn it."
"Jack, in my opinion, you have earned it. Two tours in Iraq is nothing to sneeze at. I don't care that you only have one arm. You come highly recommended from not only your father but your CO too."
"My CO, sir?"
"Yes. Now, I need an instructor for the rookies in forensics. Avery assured me that you are a great teacher and investigator. I'm more than willing to give you a chance and provide time for extra schooling. Maybe you could even become a detective some day."
"Really? That actually would be great. I'd love to have more education." He could be a detective with one arm.
"Why don't you come in and I will put you through the formality of an interview and then I can get you started on your paperwork."
"Would tomorrow be good, sir?"
"Perfect. Ten am sharp, Thornton."
"I'll be there, sir."
Jack hung up and smiled. It had been awhile since he had thought of himself as worth something. The moment his arm was amputated, he felt like he wasn't enough. Like the doctors stole his identity along with his arm. If he could become a detective, his life would feel like it was on the right track again.
He told his parents at dinner that he was going for an interview the next day. Tom shook his hand and slapped his back, a huge grin on his face. Charlotte tried to hide it but he saw her eyes tear up a bit.
"I'm so proud of you, Jack." She had no idea what those words meant to him.
"Thanks, Ma."
The next morning, Jack got up early, showered, dressed in a short sleeve button down with a black tie and black pants. He heard a knock on his door.
"Come in." Tom walked in. "Hey, Pop."
"Hey, son. I have something for you."'
"What's that?"
Tom held out his hand and showed him a silver money clip. "Your Grandpa's money clip. I think it's time to pass it on to you."
"Pop, you love that money clip."
"My dad gave this to me on my wedding day. He wasn't someone who showed his feelings easily but when he gave it to me, I could feel that he loved me and was proud of me. I guess I'm not that good at telling you how I am feeling either so I hope that this helps you to know that...I love you and I am so proud of the man you are. I know that you have had a rough last year but you are stepping up and not giving up and that is more than most would do in your situation."
"Thanks, Pop." Jack took out his wallet and put his ID and money in the clip and then put it back in his pocket. "I love you too."
"You got this, son. You are going to be a great detective."
"I'm going to try, Pop."