"North Carolina?" Jonah repeated.
"Yeah."
"Wow." He pulled Ray inside and into his arms, holding her tight.
"I don't want to leave you," she told him, clinging to him just as tightly.
"I wish you didn't have to."
He leaned down and met her lips with his, feeling his emotions taking over. She felt so soft in his arms, so feminine and he loved her. Her moving away was not something he ever thought would happen. Now what were they going to do?
Jack walked into the room and saw them. He cleared his throat.
Jonah sighed and moved slightly, keeping his hands grasping hers though.
"Mr. Thornton," Raylinn said, her cheeks rosy. "We are moving to North Carolina."
"I'm sorry to hear that, Ray. We will miss you."
Jonah pulled her into another hug. "We aren't breaking up, Ray," he told her, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "We are going to make this work. When are you leaving?"
"The day after school gets out."
"So we still have a little time."
"Not enough."
Elizabeth walked in the room and took Jack's hand, taking him back to the kitchen. "Why were you watching them?"
"They were kissing."
"They are dating, Jack."
"Not just a little kiss, Bee."
"Sweetie, maybe they just need a bit of space to themselves." She stepped close and wrapped her arms around him. "Would you want people in here watching us kiss?"
"No, but we aren't sixteen."
"And they are in the living room, in our house. They aren't going to get into trouble. You just have to trust them a little."
Jonah walked back in the room alone, tears in his eyes. "I'm going to bed."
"You don't want to play chess?"
"No thanks." He grabbed a bottle of water and headed upstairs.
In the days leading up to the wedding, it was filled with finalizing plans. On the day before the wedding, the family all headed to the hotel ballroom but found it filled with water.
"What's going on?" Jack asked the maintenance worker.
"Pipes froze and it flooded last night."
"We are supposed to be here for our wedding rehearsal."
"I don't know anything about that, sir. I would check with the front desk."
The group walked to the front desk. "How can I help you folks?"
"We are the Thornton group. We are supposed to be rehearsing our wedding in the ballroom for tomorrow."
"Oh, well, the pipes flooded."
"Yes, we saw. What's being done?"
"They are working on cleanup but unfortunately it won't be able to be used tomorrow."
Elizabeth's heart plummeted into her shoes. "Why didn't anyone call us? If this happened twenty four hours ago, someone could have called us all day today." Elizabeth was starting to panic.
Jack squeezed her hand. "It's okay, Bee."
"It's not okay, Jack. We have nowhere to get married."
Jonah watched Jack as he stepped away to call someone. He decided to take the reins too just in case.
"Grandpa?" he whispered to William.
"Yeah, bud."
"Is there anything we can do?"
"We could have it at our house. The living room and dining room are pretty big and if we move everything out, we can make it work."
"Great. Thanks!" Jonah hurried over to Jack. "Dad, Grandpa says we can have it at their house."
"Really?"
"Yeah. We can just move stuff. It will work."
"Why don't you go tell your mom?"
Jonah walked over to Elizabeth. "Hey, can I talk to you?"
"Not now, sweetie. We have to figure this out."
"It's about the wedding. Grandpa and I have an idea."
"What is the idea?"
The idea seemed perfect. All the men worked on moving everything into the large garage and the women, minus Elizabeth and Rosie who were not allowed to help, decorated with flowers and candles.
Elizabeth and Rosie headed for a walk around the subdivision, waiting for the text that they could come back.
"I can't believe this."
"It's working out, Beth."
"I know. I guess I'm a bit disappointed. The ballroom was going to be so romantic. I pictured it all."
"We can make this romantic."
"Yeah."
"Trust me. It's going to be wonderful and really, all that matters is that you are marrying Jack, right?"
"Of course." After everything that had happened in the past few months, she just wanted something to go right. "Is it bad that I wish we had just eloped?"
"No, it's not bad. But you just need to trust that everything is going to go just fine." Rosie slipped her arm through Elizabeth's. "Just think, tomorrow night, you will be his wife and you won't have to be so careful anymore."
"Careful?" Rosie raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Rosie!"
"What? Are you saying that you aren't ready to…?"
"Rosie!" Elizabeth blushed deep and started walking faster.
"That's what I thought."
"You need to think about other things. I saw you and Lee talking."
"Yeah? What's your point?"
"He's kinda cute, don't you think?"
"Uh yeah. He's very cute, actually. And kind and funny."
"And living here instead of Wisconsin," Elizabeth pointed out.
"That's a perk," Rosie agreed.
"Are you going to go out with him?"
"I think that's up to him."
"Uh no, I think it's the twenty first century, Rosie. You can absolutely ask him out."
Elizabeth's phone buzzed a moment later. "It looks like it's time for a rehearsal."
"Let's go make you a practice wife."
That night, after they had arrived back home from the rehearsal, which had gone perfectly, Jack curled up with Elizabeth on the couch by a nice fire.
"A penny for your thoughts, Bee," he whispered, kissing her temple.
"I love you," she told him. "That's all. I love you with everything I have in me."
He touched her cheek and kissed her soft lips. "I love you too."
"This time tomorrow night we will be on our way to Key West. That's pretty amazing."
"It is. I confirmed our reservation a few days ago."
"Great." She played with the button on his dress shirt. "I'm a little nervous," she told him honestly.
"No need. It's just me, Bee. We will just let things happen at your pace."
"You're my first everything, Jack. I just don't want you to be disappointed."
"Not a chance, sweetheart. You are perfect for me. Everything is going to be just as it should be." She nodded. "Trust me."
"I do."
The next evening, Elizabeth found herself exceedingly grateful that she had not wanted an outdoor wedding. There was a strong thunderstorm going on, lots of lightning and thunder with torrential rain.
Just as her hair was perfect and they were ready to walk down the aisle, the lights went out.
"Perfect," she muttered. But she refused to let it ruin her positive attitude. This was happening now, with or without lights.
"Don't panic, Bethie. The ladies are fixing everything," William told her through the door. "Just sit tight."
Rosie lit up the room with the flashlight on her phone. "Everybody doing okay?"
"Yeah. I just want to marry Jack. I don't care if there aren't any lights."
About ten minutes later, William knocked. "You ready, Beth?"
"Yes." She opened the door. William was standing there holding a candle.
"You wanted romantic," Rosie told her, making sure her dress was perfect in the back. "Candles equal romance in my book."
And it was romantic. As William walked her down the aisle, it was indeed perfect. The aisle was lit by candles that the guests held. Jack, Lee, Isaac and Jonah were standing up front with candles and Rosie walked ahead with a candle as well.
The minister stood in front of a fireplace that held a dozen tealights on it.
When she got close enough to see Jack, their eyes locked and a huge smile appeared on his face. "I love you," he mouthed.
Everything else faded away and now it was just the two of them.
"Good evening, friends and family. We are gathered here tonight to celebrate the life journey of Elizabeth Thatcher and Jack Thornton."
Jack handed his candle to Lee and Elizabeth handed hers to Rosie. Jack gently took her hands and pulled her closer so her feet were between his. "You're gorgeous, Bee."
She blushed. "Thank you." She couldn't take her eyes off of him, not that she wanted to. His gray suit and gold tie looked great by candlelight. His eyes sparkled as he stared back.
"Love is patient and kind," he began, quoting 1 Corinthians. "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails."
Jack was familiar with the emotions involved in love. The pain that can happen when losing someone you love dearly. The high and excitement when you first fall in love. The comfort that comes when your best friend is that person that you fell in love with. The contentment when they are next to you, supporting you.
A few moments later, it was time for his vows. "Bee, you are my love, my best friend and my sweetheart. You came into my life and filled a void in my heart the moment I saw you. You were shy and beautiful and so smart. You and Isaac had an instant connection and the love I had in my heart when you taught Jonah to dance to make a connection with him…it filled me. I promise to be faithful to you, to keep you warm when you are cold, to keep you safe when you are afraid. I will be there for you always and love you with all that I have."
Next it was Elizabeth's turn. She was in tears at this point but ready to pledge her heart and soul to the beautiful man in front of her.
"Jack, I always wanted to meet a man like you. One that was my best friend, one that treated me well. That let me be myself but would protect me too. I know that you are the one that I was meant to be with. The one I had been hoping for. I promise to be faithful to you, to support you when you make decisions, to love you and hold you when you feel alone. To be the best mother I can be to our children and the best wife to you. I will love you with all that I am, for the rest of our lives together."
Jack leaned his forehead against hers, a lone tear falling down his cheek. "I love you, Bee."
"I love you too."
The minister held their two rings in his palm. "These rings are a promise and symbol of your unending love and loyalty. Please take them and place them on each other's fingers."
"With this ring," Jack began.
"I marry you," Elizabeth finished with a smile.
"By the powers vested in me by God and the state of Michigan, I now pronounce you husband and wife. What God has yoked together, let no one pull apart. Jack, you may kiss your wife," he told Jack.
His hands slipped to her waist just as his lips met hers in a slow, deep kiss, claiming her as his wife, leaving no doubt to anyone how he felt about her. She didn't have the strength or the want to stop him, so she returned the kiss, just as passionately, filled with emotion.
The crowd clapped as they broke apart temporarily and then wrapped their arms around each other, not wanting to be an inch apart.
"Folks, let me introduce Jack and Elizabeth Thornton."
The boys were first to hug them and then of course Lee and Rosie.
"Congratulations, bro," Lee told him, slapping his back.
"Thanks. For everything, Lee. I owe you so much."
"No, you don't. We are family."
"Always," Jack confirmed.
About thirty minutes later, the living room was transformed into a romantic, candle lit dining room. There were black lanterns with white candles on each of the six tables and two small vases with a rose on either side.
Jack led his new wife to the table where their boys sat. "Hey guys."
"Hey, where did you go?" Isaac asked innocently. Jonah smirked, knowing where they had gone.
"We just took a walk."
"In the rain?"
"No, upstairs," Jack told him, hoping for no more questions.
Elizabeth blushed deeply, glad for the dimness of the light in the room.
"Upstairs? Ow!" Isaac said, receiving a kick under the table.
"You are not confused, Isaac. Think about it."
"Oh…"
Elizabeth hid her face from her new sons and took a sip of champagne. "Let's change the subject. Are you two excited to be staying with my parents?"
"I am!" Isaac told them. "Grandpa and I are going to have a chess tournament."
"Fun!"
"Yeah. I'm going to get as good as Jonah and then we can have tournaments too."
"Good plan, sweetie," Elizabeth told him.
Grace brought over Jack and Elizabeth's food. Prime rib with roasted potatoes and a nice salad. "Wow, Mom. This looks great. Thanks!"
"You're welcome, dear. Congratulations. You look absolutely beautiful."
"Thanks, Mom."
Jack watched her eat, his thumb teasing the soft skin of her neck. "Aren't you going to eat?" she asked.
"Maybe." He smirked and leaned over, giving her a kiss. "Maybe you should feed me," he whispered in her ear.
Her cheeks heated but she pierced a roasted potato with her fork and held it up to his lips. He took a quick bite. "Thanks." He whispered in her ear again. "I really want to leave….like soon."
"When's our flight?"
"8:00."
"So we need to get to the airport by like 7:00. We have time."
"What if we fly out tomorrow instead?"
"But we have tickets."
"We can buy more."
She gave him a soft kiss. "I kinda want to spend our wedding night in our bungalow in Key West."
She smiled and took a bite of her food.
"Okay. Key West, here we come."
