"Hi, Pat. Happy birthday." Elizabeth placed the bouquet of flowers in front of the stone. "Goodness, I can't believe this is already the second time your birthday has come since you've been gone."

She reached out to touch the stone. Even through her gloves, she could feel the chill of the polished granite. She took a deep breath when she saw the outline of the ring on her fourth finger.

"I have some news, Patrick. Jack and I are engaged now. I know it's a little crazy to think about." She laughed quietly. "Never in a million years did either of us expect to fall in love with each other, but we did. I do. Love him, that is." She sighed. "He makes me happy, Pat, and I know that's what you'd want for me. And he loves Micah so much, but he makes sure he knows you're his dad. He tells him about you all the time."

She shivered and tucked her hands into her pockets.

"Well, I can't stay much longer. I just wanted to tell you the news. I miss you, Pat. You'll always have a piece of my heart, no matter what. I hope you know that." She kissed her fingers and lightly pressed them to the stone. "I love you."

...

"Jack?"

He glanced up from his book to see a familiar face. "Katie? Hi."

"How are you?" She took a seat beside him.

"I'm good. And you?"

"I'm doing well." She let out a breath. "Wow, it's been a while, hasn't it?"

Jack nodded in agreement. "A few years, yeah. So are you headed to Chicago, too?"

"No. My flight's out of the next gate." She nodded toward the gate. "I'm headed back to Houston. That's where I live now. I was just back here to visit my parents. May I ask what's in Chicago?"

A smile tugged at his lips. "My fiancée grew up there. We're visiting her family for the holidays."

"Oh, you're engaged. That's great, Jack. Anyone I know?"

"Elizabeth Coulter—or I guess if you knew her, it would've been when she was Elizabeth Thatcher. She was a year behind us at OU, so it's possible you two crossed paths."

"Elizabeth Thatcher…" Katie thought for a moment. "That name sounds familiar. Maybe I had a class with her or something." She shrugged.

"Maybe."

"Well, Jack, I should probably get to my gate; I'm supposed to board soon. It was great seeing you. I hope you and Elizabeth have a good time with her family."

"Thank you, Katie." He leaned in and gave her a quick hug. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas to you, too."

Just after she walked away, Elizabeth returned from the bathroom with Micah in her arms.

"Who was that?" She watched the woman make her way to the next gate.

Jack searched Elizabeth's eyes for any hint of jealousy, but found only curiosity. "My ex."

"The one you dated in undergrad?" She sat beside him. Micah climbed down from her lap and reached for Jack.

He picked him up, settling him on his knees. "Yeah. Katie. I guess she lives in Houston now. She said was just here visiting her parents."

"Patrick told me you wanted to marry her."

He nodded. "I did. I was going to ask her after graduation, but she wanted to leave and I didn't, so we split up."

"Do you regret it?"

Without hesitation, he shook his head. "No. I don't regret it at all. For a while after we split, I did wonder what my life would've been like if we had stayed together—if I made the wrong decision in choosing not to follow her—but eventually, I realized it was for the best."

"Dack." Micah pulled himself up to stand on Jack's legs and wrapped his arms around Jack's neck.

"Hi, bud." Jack hugged him back. "I love you."

"Love Dack."

"You're so sweet, little man." Jack kissed his cheek.

"Jack?" Elizabeth put her left hand on his knee, studying the ring on her fourth finger. "Just out of curiosity, did you ever come close to proposing to anyone else?"

"Nope. Katie was my first serious girlfriend, and you met all the girlfriends that came after her. All two of them." He smiled. "I think I just saw what Rosie and Lee had and what you and Pat had and I knew I didn't want to settle. Megan and Rachel were nice, and I liked spending time with them, but I didn't love them."

"I get that. I didn't date a lot before Pat, but when I met him, it felt totally different from anything I felt before."

"It was different for him, too. The first time he brought you over, I could tell he already knew you would be his wife."

"He knew that soon, huh?" A smile played on her lips. "I think I knew that soon, too. I fell in love with him pretty quickly." Elizabeth took his hand and sighed. "I never imagined I would love anyone else. And I especially never imagined I would fall in love with his best friend. But I think Pat would be happy that Micah and I have you."

...

William was waiting at baggage claim when Jack and Elizabeth arrived in Chicago.

"Hi, sweetheart." He pulled Elizabeth in for a hug.

"Hi, dad."

"Mr. Thatcher." Jack stuck out his hand.

William shook it. "Jack, you're going to be my son-in-law. Call me William."

"Okay, William." He chuckled.

Elizabeth took Micah from Jack so he could pull their bags off the luggage carousel. "Where's mom?"

"At home. Julie and Andrew had arrived with Liam just before I left, and we were expecting Viola and Sterling and Nicholas at any time."

"You've got a full house this Christmas."

William grinned. "We wouldn't have it any other way."

The house was noisy when they walked in half an hour later. Julie and Viola were sitting on the sofa with Grace, chattering away. Nicholas was running around in front of Liam, trying to get him to laugh.

"Elizabeth!" Julie jumped up and threw her arms around her big sister. "It's so good to see you. Mom and Viola and I have been talking about your wedding. We have so many ideas!"

"Julie, honey, let her get in the door first." Grace chuckled, getting up to hug her middle daughter. "It's good to see you, sweetheart. And you, my sweet grandson." She took Micah from her, then looked up at Jack. "Hi, Jack. We're glad you could make it."

"Thank you for having me." He kissed Elizabeth's cheek. "I'll take our bags up to our room."

"Thanks, honey."

"Now, come sit." Grace put a hand on Elizabeth's back, leading her into the living room. "We really do have lots of wedding ideas we'd like to discuss with you."

...

Jack wandered into the den, rubbing Micah's back as he leaned against his shoulder. He slowly made his way around the room, studying the pictures hanging on the wall. Many of them showed Elizabeth and her sisters as they grew. He paused in front of one and smiled.

"Your mama and daddy looked so happy there, huh?"

Micah followed Jack's finger to the picture of Elizabeth and Patrick on their wedding day. "Dada?"

"Yeah, bud. That's when your daddy married your mama."

"I guess we need to make some room for a new wedding picture beside that one."

Jack turned to see Grace standing in the doorway. "I guess so."

"Elizabeth is really lucky to have you."

Jack smiled. "I'm lucky to have her. And this little guy."

Micah giggled as Jack rubbed his nose against his cheek.

"I would say that you three will make a wonderful family, but it seems you're already there."

"Just about." Jack snuggled Micah closer. "I can't wait until it's official, though. I'm tired of saying goodbye to the two of them. I'm ready for us to be under one roof."

"There you are." Elizabeth came into the room.

"Mama!" Micah reached for her.

"I'll just leave you three alone." Grace gave Jack a wink and left the room.

"What was that about?" Elizabeth took Micah from Jack. "Were you talking about me?"

"Yes. Mostly just how ready I am for you and me and Micah to be a family."

A smile played on her lips. "I'm ready for that, too."

...

"Julie, good call on the matching bow ties." Elizabeth stood by her sisters as they all snapped pictures on their phones of the three boys sitting in front of the Christmas tree in their red and green plaid bow ties.

"Aren't they darling? We have some cute sons, if I do say so myself."

"Okay," Grace held up her phone, "now you girls get in there for some mother-son pictures."

Jack grinned as he watched Elizabeth lift Micah into her arms. There was a part of him that still couldn't believe that she was going to be his wife, that they would be a family.

"Jack?"

He looked up, unaware that he had zoned out as he daydreamed about his future.

"Come on." Elizabeth was waving him over. "Our turn."

He moved to stand beside her, sliding his arm around her waist. Micah craned his neck to look at him. "Hi, bud. Can you look at the camera?" Jack pointed at William, who was holding Elizabeth's phone up. "Look at papa Thatcher."

Elizabeth looked over at Jack, a smile playing on her lips.

He noticed her out of the corner of his eye. "Hey, you look at the camera, too."

"But I like looking at you. You're very handsome."

"And you're very beautiful." He leaned down and stole a quick kiss. "I love you."

She kissed him back. "I love you."

"Okay, I think that's enough of that. There are children around," Viola joked, pretending to cover Nicholas's eyes.

Elizabeth blushed. "I think we've gotten enough pictures. Let's get back to the house."

An hour later, the adults were all scattered around the living room after putting the boys to bed.

Grace smiled. "The mantle sure looks full this year." There were eleven stockings crowding the mantle, three of which hadn't been there at Christmas the year before: one for Liam, one for Nicholas, and even one for Jack. "We might have to come up with a new place to hang them all if you girls decide to give us any more grandbabies."

"Don't pressure them, sweetheart." William squeezed her hand. "Let them get settled in with the babies they already have."

...

Elizabeth rolled over and bumped into Jack's chest. He inhaled deeply and wrapped his arms around her, touching his lips to the top of her head.

"Good morning, love."

"Morning, professor." She sank into his embrace. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas." He trailed his fingers across her back. "How long do you think we have before we're expected downstairs?"

"Mm, I don't know. Breakfast won't be until late morning, but I imagine Nicholas will be up early and ready for presents."

"Well, he can wait a bit longer." Jack kissed her forehead. "I'm too comfortable to move."

"Me too." She pressed her cheek to his chest, letting the sound of his heartbeat lull her back to sleep.

Thirty minutes later, they were awakened by Micah sitting up in his crib, babbling away.

The morning was hectic, with three squealing boys throwing wrapping paper around and excitedly showing off their new toys. Even the promise of food wasn't enough to pull them away from their presents, and all three of them ended up sitting at the breakfast table with a toy in their hands.

Elizabeth noticed that Jack had been relatively quiet all morning. By the early afternoon, she was worried about him. His face had gone pale, and it was clear he wasn't well. When she finally asked him if he was okay, he just said he was feeling off and excused himself to go take a nap.

...

"Jack?" Elizabeth knocked softly on the door before pushing it open. "It's time for dinner."

He was curled up on the bed. At first, she thought he was sleeping, but then she noticed he was holding his side, his jaw clenched and brow furrowed in pain.

She hurried over to him. "Honey, are you okay?" She pushed the hair back from his forehead. "You're burning up, Jack."

"Hurts."

"What hurts? Your stomach?"

He nodded and groaned.

"Maybe we should get you to the hospital."

"I'm fine," he spoke through his teeth.

"Jack, you look like you're in a lot of pain. Come on." She held out her hand. "I'll take you to the hospital."

She sat beside his bed in the hospital room, waiting for the doctor to come back with the results from the tests they were running.

What felt like an eternity later, the doctor returned. "Mr. Thornton, we need to get you into surgery."

"Surgery? What?" Elizabeth took Jack's hand in both of hers, fear in her eyes.

"It looks like appendicitis. We need to get your appendix out as soon as possible. A nurse will be in shortly to prep you."

They were quiet after the doctor left, Jack watching Elizabeth's face and Elizabeth staring at their clasped hands.

"I'll be fine, Elizabeth."

She finally met his eyes, her own filled with unshed tears. "Don't you dare leave me, Jack Thornton."

"I won't." He squeezed her hand. "I love you."

"I love you, too." She kissed him quickly before she was led back to the waiting room and he was taken back to an operating room.

...

Elizabeth chewed on her fingernail while she paced back and forth in the waiting room. It had been forty-five minutes since Jack had been taken back to surgery, and she was driving herself crazy with worry.

"Liz?"

She turned to see her sisters walking across the waiting room. "What are you doing here? It's Christmas Day. You should be with your families."

"We figured you might not want to be alone right now."

"Thank you for coming." She hugged each of them in turn.

"How are you doing?" Viola led her over to a set of chairs, encouraging her to take a seat.

"I don't know." She sighed, covering her face with her hands. "I'm so worried. I know this is a routine surgery and the risk of complications is low, but I just keep flashing back to when Patrick…" she trailed off, her voice starting to break.

"Hey," Julie reached out and rubbed her back soothingly, "he'll be okay."

"You can't know that." Elizabeth wiped her eyes.

"Well, no. But you're not alone."

"I need you two to distract me. How was Micah doing?"

"Great." Viola laughed softly. "When we left, Nicholas was trying to help him build something with his new blocks, and Micah was not having any of that."

"Oh dear." She chuckled. "He's definitely at the age where he doesn't like to share."

"I think Sterling and Andrew are capable of dealing with any disagreements, though, so they'll be fine."

"Hey," Julie perked up, "have you thought any more about what sort of wedding dress you want?"

"Actually, I have." She took out her phone and pulled up the pictures. "I started looking at some options last night after Jack fell asleep. My choices are a little limited because the wedding is so soon, but I've at least got an idea of what I'm looking for."

"These are beautiful, Elizabeth." Viola and Julie scrolled through the pictures of A-line dresses with delicate lace cap sleeves.

"Are you going to wear a veil?"

"I haven't decided yet."

"Well, either way, I think you should wear your hair up." Julie gasped, "ooh, you should wear a little gold headband."

"I think I should find a dress before I decide on these details."

"Well, don't take too long on these decisions. Three months is not a lot of time for wedding planning."

"I know. It's not that much time." She twisted the ring on her finger. "But it also feels like it's an eternity away."

...

"Hey, professor." Elizabeth smiled when she noticed Jack stirring. "How are you feeling?"

He shifted uncomfortably, his eyes just barely opening. "Sleepy."

"Well, that's understandable since you're just coming off of anesthesia."

"You're pretty." He smiled and reached out, trying to touch her cheek.

"And you're on pain medication." She chuckled, taking his hand in hers. "Everything went well. They said it was a textbook appendectomy."

"Can I see it?"

"Your appendix?" Elizabeth tried to hide the disgust she felt. "Um, I don't think so."

"But I need it."

"No, you don't, honey. They said it was really close to rupturing. They got it out just in time."

"How?"

"How did they get it out?"

He nodded, his eyes slipping shut.

"They did it laparoscopically. I think it's three little incisions."

"Oh." He sighed. "Will you marry me?"

"We're already engaged."

"Oh, good. You're pretty," he repeated, looking at her with glassy eyes.

"You need to rest, hon." She touched his cheek. "Just go back to sleep. I'll be right here."

"Okay." His head dropped back on the pillow.

"I love you, Jack."

"Love you," he mumbled just before he dozed off again.

...

The following evening, they were back in Elizabeth's childhood room, lying side-by-side on the bed.

"I'm sorry I ruined Christmas."

"You didn't ruin it, honey." She brushed her fingers through his hair. "It's not like you chose to get appendicitis."

"I love you, Elizabeth. Thank you for staying by me the past couple of days."

"There's no place I'd rather be. I love you, too."

He carefully pulled her to his chest, groaning slightly at the soreness from his incisions.

"Jack, don't hurt yourself."

"I'm fine." He rubbed soothing circles on her back and sighed. "I wish we were getting married sooner. I just want to be your husband."

"We're only about eleven weeks away." She tilted her chin up, touching her lips to his jaw. "Hey, by the way, I started looking at houses."

"Wow, your sisters let you look at something not related to the wedding?"

"Ha ha." She playfully rolled her eyes. "I looked while I was waiting for you to wake up."

"Have you found anything good?"

"There are a few options. Hang on a second." She slipped out of the bed and rifled through her bag, returning to Jack's side with her tablet. "I think I bookmarked them." She settled herself against his shoulder as she scrolled through images. "Now, I know we haven't set a lot of parameters on what we're looking for as far as price and location and stuff, so this is just a start. These are all three or four bedrooms and relatively close to work for both of us."

Jack was quiet for a moment while he looked through the pictures. "This one is nice." He pointed at the screen. "It looks like it has a nice backyard."

"Mhmm. I like that one, too."

"Well, when we get back home, we can go look at it." He kissed her temple, tightening his arm around her.

"Mama," Micah whimpered, pulling himself up on the side of the crib.

"I'm here, buddy." She left the bed once again to retrieve her son. "What's wrong, little bug?" She lifted him to her shoulder.

"Mama." He leaned his head against her shoulder.

"I love you, Micah. Do you want to come snuggle?" She carried him back to the bed with her, settling him between her and Jack.

He lay down, resting his head on Jack's shoulder and sticking his thumb in his mouth.

"I love you, little man."

"I can't believe this is all finally happening, Jack." She leaned over to kiss him. "We're going to be a family."

He grinned at her as he ran his fingers through Micah's hair. "I can't wait."