Disclaimer: I do not own the characters within this story. All rights and much respect go to Crown Media, Hallmark, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr., the actors, creators, and writers of the show "When Calls the Heart." Any real people or places noted in the chapter are just there for storyline purposes.
Chapter 33- Date Night Delivery
Two and a half months later…
"Come on, do something…" Jack whispered.
Barely awake, Elizabeth turned her head in his direction, "What do you want me to do?"
"Huh…?" Jack muttered but kept his eyes fixated on Elizabeth's belly .
"What are you doing?" Elizabeth asked as Jack sat in bed beside her; her t-shirt was tucked up under her breasts and he was watching her stomach which suddenly began to roll uncontrollably.
"This is fascinating," he stated, unable to remove his eyes from her ever expanding tummy.
"Jack, stop…I know I look like a beached whale, but you shouldn't be making fun of me," her tone was irritated as she pulled her t-shirt down and the comforter up.
Paying no attention to her, he disappointedly responded, "What did you do that for; I was watching."
"Watching what; watching me get bigger?" she snapped, struggling to turn away from him as she quickly obtained his attention.
"What…no, I'm watching Jack Jr. swimming in your tummy."
Struggling again to turn back around to face him, she replied, "Don't you mean Elizabeth Jr.?"
Jack laughed, "Girl's aren't really named Jr., are they?"
"I don't think so, but I guess as names go, pretty much anything can be done," she giggled. "I've been reading a lot about names, and sometimes its like they threw letters up into the air and the baby's name ended up being whatever order the letters seemed to fall. Some of them I don't even think you can really pronounce."
"You know I don't care if it's a boy or a girl, but honey, you get to carry the baby around and can feel when he moves."
She tilted her head, frowned and glanced in his direction, "When he moves…?"
"I mean, her, you get to feel her moving all the time, and I just feel like I'm missing out," Jack stated, vacillating between excitement and disappointment.
Elizabeth pulled the comforter down, and her t-shirt up as she patted on her tummy, "Okay, have at it…"
Jack smiled, laid down, his elbow was bent, and his head rested on his hand. He lay even with her bare abdomen, as his other hand rested on top of her belly button. "WHOA, did you feel that?" he quickly sat up as the baby rolled from one side of Elizabeth's stomach to the other, looking much like a sea serpent.
She looked at him incredulously, "Really Jack?"
"Oh sorry; of course, you felt that," he responded as his hand remained on her stomach. "I'm thinking that we're going to have an athlete or dancer. Either way, this baby has a hell of a kick."
"Tell me about it. Some days I feel like I'm being beaten up from the inside out," she remarked. "Sometimes she…or he sits on my bladder and I'm in the bathroom all day, or they want to push against my lungs, and I can't breathe."
"I'm sorry…"
"Jack don't be sorry; I am blessed to be in this position," feeling emotional, tears formed and immediately fell down her cheeks.
Jack scooted up in the bed as his hand rested along her cheek and his lips kissed away her tears. "I love you," his own tears welled in his eyes. "You are a remarkable woman. To be able to carry this baby inside you, protect it, nurture it…you are so special to me."
"Oh, I'm just your baby holder lady…" she stated.
Initially thinking that she was joking, he laughed. When she glared in his direction, he realized that she was quite serious. "What's wrong?"
Feeling a bit down recently, due to Jack's erratic work schedule, and her being exhausted by the time he arrived home at night, they had spent precious little time together. "Nothing, I'm fine. I have to get ready for work; you go back to sleep, and I'll see you when I see you."
Quickly realizing the problem, he responded, "Honey, I'm sorry about my schedule. I know it's been hard on you, but I'm just trying to work as much as I can before the baby arrives so I can take time off."
"I know; don't worry about me, I'm fine. You go back to sleep…" she stated as she struggled to get out of bad.
He held her arm, "We have some time now; you don't have to leave for work for an hour."
"I can't; it takes me that long to find something I can wear, and to get my shoes on."
Ordinarily that would have been funny, but not this time; not today, and certainly not the way she was feeling. "Tomorrow in Friday, and I work 7am-3pm. I'm also off on Saturday, so let's have a date night."
"I can't ask you to do that. You need your sleep."
"Elizabeth, I work 3pm -11pm tonight; I'll get sleep before tomorrow and I'll be fine. Please, let me take my beautiful wife out on a date…"
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive…"
"Okay, now I really have to get ready for work," she replied as she started to lean over to kiss him, and he ended up meeting her halfway.
Jack lay back and watched her as she stood in front of the closet looking for something to wear. She was beautiful; she didn't think so, but she was.
Realizing that the horses needed to be fed, and Onyx was begging for breakfast, Jack went outside to the barn, taking Onyx with him to play while Elizabeth showered and dressed.
Thirty minutes later, he returned to the house. Onyx remained in the kitchen eating her breakfast and Jack walked down the hall to find that the bathroom door was still closed, "Honey are you okay?"
"Did you do the laundry last time?" she asked.
"Huh…?"
"The laundry, did you do the laundry the last time? I'm having trouble getting the zipper up on my dress; did you put it in the dryer?"
"I don't do the laundry, remember…after I shrunk your favorite sweater, I lost laundry privileges."
"Well, I don't know what happened. It fit last week…"
"The baby is growing," he whispered.
"What…?"
"Nothing."
Hearing her struggling in the bathroom to get her zipper to close he offered, "Do you want me to get you anything else?"
"Ahh, got it…"
Jack lay back down in bed, hoping to catch up on his sleep before having to report for his next shift. His eyes stared at the bathroom door waiting on it to open and his beautiful wife to step back into the room, but he was sound asleep when she finally came out, make-up done, hair in a ponytail and dressed for work.
Elizabeth kissed his forehead, "Be careful today," she whispered before leaving.
Onyx met her in the hall and walked with Elizabeth to the front door, "You be a good girl and I'll see you later."
Jack was gone by the time Elizabeth returned home from work. He'd previously made Elizabeth promise not to go out into the barn without him and had hired a local teenager to handle the barn chores when he was unavailable.
Elizabeth sat by the pool drinking a bottle of water and watched as the horses grazed. Feeling her baby tumbling inside her, she was looking forward to him, or her one day riding along beside her on their own pony.
"Hey Mrs. Thornton," Joey Conkwright, Jack's hired hand, walked through the side gate. "How are you today?"
"I'm fine; how are you?"
"Doing good," he responded. "Is there anything special you want me to do in the barn?"
"Jack picked up a jug of Red Cell; it's a supplement. Would you add a capful into each of their grain rations please?"
"Will do. Is that once or twice a day?" Joey asked.
"Twice…"
"Okay, I've got it," Joey replied as he walked out into the field.
Elizabeth watched as the horses, knowing that dinner was forthcoming, followed Joey into the barn.
Across town, Jack sat in the parking lot of Lynnhaven Mall. Calling in to the dispatcher he advised, "Unit 223 to dispatch…"
"Go ahead 223…"
"Unit 223, I'm 10-7 at Lynnhaven Mall."
"Unit 223- 10-4," the dispatcher responded.
Jack pulled out his phone and sent a text to Carrie Abernathy, a police officer who had previously worked with Jack, but was now out on maternity leave.
"Hey Carrie…how's the baby…?"
"Hey Jack…Andrew is fine. What's up…?"
"I'm taking E out 2morrow & want 2 get her a new dress. Good place to buy 1…?"
"A Pea in a Pod at Lynnhaven… ask 4 Amber, she'll help u…"
"I'm at Lynnhaven now, just went 10-7. Where in the mall is it…?"
"Next 2 Victoria's Secret. I'm sure u kno where that is…"
"Haha…but yes, I do kno, thx…"
"Enjoy ur nite out. How much longer b4 ur baby is due…?"
"2 weeks, but Dr. said she's not close yet. Wish E wood take off from work. I worry about her…"
"No more than she worries about u, I'm sure…"
"I kno. I'm just excited, but worried…"
"I understand, but it will b fine…"
"U promise…?"
"Jack, E is strong, n perfect shape, & I'm sure everything will b fine…"
"Thx 4 the info about the store. I want her 2 dress up and feel good. She's been down on herself…"
"Jack, that happens. But I'm sure u tell her every day how beautiful she is…"
"I do, but I don't kno if she believes me…"
Suddenly his phone rang…
"Hey Carrie…"
"Hey Jack. I thought it would be easier if I just called you," Carrie advised. "Let me tell you this, her body is doing things it never did before, and won't do other things that she could previously count on it for. She's frustrated, tired, but she's also excited, and scared."
Before he could respond, she continued, "Jack, if she's anything like me, it's frustrating. I mean you want to do whatever you have to in order to keep your baby safe, but I had to come off the street, which I understood, but it was still hard. And when was the last time Elizabeth went riding on her horse?"
"Gosh, I don't think she's ridden since we found out she was pregnant," he admitted. "I know she's scared; I am too, but what can I do to help?" he asked.
"Just be there. Don't take anything she says too personally, because I know Elizabeth, and there is no doubt in my mind that she loves you dearly."
"Thanks for the talk, and thanks for the information about the dress shop," he stated. "I'll talk with you later…oh wait, what about shoes?"
"Well, if she's anything like me, her feet are swollen at the end of the day, so wide flats, nothing with a heel."
"Got it, thanks. We'll make arrangements to get together once the baby is born."
"Oh, do you know what you're having?"
"No, Elizabeth wanted it to be a surprise."
"Okay, but it is only one, right?"
"Don't even imply twins; we're barely ready for one, let alone two. Besides, she had an ultrasound early on, and they said just one."
"Well, all I'll say, Jack is that my sister had twins three years ago and the second baby was missed on the ultrasound."
"Don't tell me that…"
"Okay, Andrew is crying, gotta go. Talk later…"
Jack locked up his patrol car and headed into the mall. Walking past Victoria's Secret, he recalled all the sexy lingerie Elizabeth had previously worn, prior to pregnancy and her expanding tummy.
Walking into A Pea in a Pod he was approached by Shay, "May I help you officer?"
"Is Amber working?" he asked.
Disappointed, Shay excused herself and walked to the back room. "Hey, your boyfriend is here."
"Boyfriend? I don't have a boyfriend," Amber responded.
"Well, this hunky police officer is asking for you. If you didn't do anything wrong, and you don't want him, let me have him…" Shay advised. "He's scrumptious."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Amber stated as she nervously stepped out into the store. "Hi officer, may I help you?"
"Hi, I'm Jack Thornton, and Carrie Abernathy told me to come see you about a dress for my wife."
"Is it a special occasion?"
"It is for us; I mean, our schedules have been out of whack and I want to take her out tomorrow night, but I'd like her to have a new dress, and shoes. Oh, do you sell jewelry too?"
"We don't have jewelry, but Kay's Jewelers is three doors down. Now, first things first, what size is your wife?"
"I don't know, she's pregnant…"
Amber giggled, "I understand, but what size was she before she got pregnant?"
"Oh, she was a size 6."
"Okay, we have some new inventory that came in yesterday, and…" she walked over to the wall and pulled a dress from the rack. "What do you think about this?"
"Oh, I can see her wearing that," he stated as he looked at the navy-blue maxi dress with small white dots that had a scoop neck and spaghetti straps.
Amber stepped around the counter and pulled a pair of Chestnut Tieks from the shoe rack. "These are soft and comfortable. We sell a lot of them, and often women wear them even when they aren't pregnant. They are the best shoes."
"Do you have them in a 7W?"
"Does she have a wide foot?"
"No, but Carrie told me that her feet will be swollen by the end of the day, so I should get her a wide width."
"Well, ordinarily that would be right, but these shoes take care of that for you. So, let's go with a regular size 7, okay?"
"Okay, do you have it in stock?"
"I'm sure I do, just a minute…"
Amber stepped in the back room and while she was searching for the shoes, Shay approached. "So, do you want him?"
"I may want him, but I can tell you, the only woman he wants is his wife…"
"Oh crap, why are all the gorgeous, sweet ones taken?" Shay stated as she disappeared into the lunchroom.
Jack paid for his purchases and with the dress bag over his arm and her shoe bag in his hand, he quickly darted down to Kay's Jewelers. Ten minutes later he walked out with a white gold necklace with a loop made of sapphires linked with a slim bar engraved with "Love always."
He stored his purchases in the trunk of his patrol car, slipped inside, pulled out of the parking lot and picked up his radio, "Unit 223 to dispatch…"
"Go ahead 223…"
"Unit 223…10-8 on Sullivan Blvd..."
"223…10-8 on Sullivan Blvd; 10-4…"
The remainder of Jack's shift was uneventful, and he arrived to a dark house a little after midnight. Onyx normally met him at the front door, but not this time. Concerned, because Elizabeth always left the front porch light on for him, he stepped inside, and immediately began searching.
He went from room to room, but she was no where to be found. Seeing the lights on the gazebo beside the pool, he stepped out into the backyard and found her stretched out in a lounge chair with Onyx asleep beside her.
He rushed over, "Elizabeth, are you okay?" When she didn't move, he placed his hand on her leg causing her to jump.
"WHAT, what's wrong?" she was startled but could barely keep her eyes open.
"I couldn't find you and I was worried. What are you doing?"
She ran her hands up and down her arms, "Why is it so cold in the house?"
"Honey, you're not in the house; you're sitting out at the pool."
She took a deep breath, well as deep as the baby would allow, "I remember now. I was out here when Joey came to feed the animals. When he left, I thought I got up and went inside, but I must have fallen asleep."
"Come on, let me get you inside; you're cold…" Jack took her hand and helped her up from the lounge chair.
She was already wearing her usual t-shirt and sweatpants, and when he slipped into the bathroom to take a shower, she quickly fell back to sleep.
Before going to sleep, Jack walked back outside to his vehicle to retrieve the items that he'd purchased for Elizabeth. He stepped back inside, locked up the house, hung her dress and secured her shoes in her closet, and left her necklace on her dresser before crawling into bed and snuggling up next to the woman who he truly loved more than life itself.
The following morning, Jack had fed the animals, was dressed in his uniform and heading out to work when he woke her with a kiss to her forehead.
"Sleepyhead…" he whispered, "It's time to get up…"
"I'm awake," she stated as her eyes opened, and she pulled the blanket away from her body. "Have a good day and be careful," she stated as she sat up in bed. "Are we still going out tonight?" she called out as he made his way down the hall.
Turning around he stood in the doorway, "Yes, I'm taking my beautiful wife out to dinner and dancing…oh and look in your closet and on your dresser. I got you something new." He wanted to stay with her but having to repair three fence rails this morning before the horses could go out had already made him late."
Jack was out the door and, on his way, to work before Elizabeth found all the gifts. She lay her dress across her bed and held her necklace up to her chest while standing in front of the mirror. She knew that being pregnant caused her to be more emotional that usual. However, at that moment, she also knew that it had little, if any, responsibility for the tears that she was currently shedding.
Elizabeth dressed and headed out the door for work. On her way, she called Jack.
"Hey honey, are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm perfect," she responded.
Her voice was bright and cheery, something he hadn't heard in a while, and he smiled, "You sure are…"
"Jack, you know I'm not really perfect."
"You're perfect for me…" he stated, an explanation that she couldn't disagree with as she felt the same way about him. "I'll be home by 4; I've made reservations at Ruth's Chris for 6:30."
Disappointed she asked, "Who's Ruth and Chris? I thought we were going out alone."
Jack laughed, "I love you so much. Ruth's Chris is that new restaurant that opened in Towne Center."
"Oh, okay now that sounds perfect," she replied. "I love you; please be careful today."
"I love you too. I'll be careful, but you be careful too."
"Jack, I'm with little kids; I don't think I'm that much at risk. You, on the other hand…well, please, just be careful."
"I will"
To the staff and students at Elizabeth's school she appeared to be floating on air. Her mood was happier; her smile was brighter, and she didn't seem to tire as easily.
"Mrs. Thornton why are you so happy today," Jessica Aldrich, one of Elizabeth's students asked as they stood out on the playground.
"What do you mean, Jessica?"
"My sister gets all happy and everything when she has a date with her boyfriend. Do you have a date with your boyfriend?"
"I have a date with my husband…"
"Is that better than a date with your boyfriend?" the little girl asked.
"Well, if you're married, like I am, your boyfriend is your husband," Elizabeth tried to explain.
"Okay; I have an apple in my lunch for you…"
"Well, thank you," she stated as Jessica ran off to take her place in the Dodgeball game.
As the school day ended, Elizabeth packed up her belongings and headed for her classroom door. A strong twinge certainly got her attention as the baby rolled, twisted and wiggled inside her, causing her to stop and lean against the closet door.
"WHOA, Bruiser, take it easy in there, okay; mommy's got a date with the handsomest man in town. No wait, he the most handsome man in the world," she commented as her hand rubbed soothing circles on her stomach.
She assumed that her stern talk with her little one did some good as the rolling, flipping, stretching and kicking seemed to cease.
Elizabeth beat Jack home and was on her way inside as Joey was leaving from taking care of the horses.
"Hey Mrs. Thornton," Joey yelled out as he headed down the driveway having caught a glimpse of her walking up the steps.
"Oh, hey is everything okay in the barn?" she asked.
"Yes, and both horses love the Red Cell stuff."
"Good, I'm glad. Thanks, and have a good weekend," she responded.
"I will, you too. If Mr. Thornton needs any help over the weekend, just have him call, okay?"
"I will, thank you…"
Elizabeth walked inside and turned Onyx out into the backyard while she went to shower. Sitting at her vanity blow drying her hair, Jack walked in, kissed her cheek and placed a dozen red roses in front of her.
"These are beautiful, but they pale in comparison to my beautiful wife." He leaned over and kissed her lips before heading to take his own shower. "Do you want to join me?" he asked as he stood in the bathroom doorway.
"If I hadn't already blown dry my hair, I might. But then again," she glanced down at her continuing to expand tummy, "I don't think we'll fit in the shower together."
Elizabeth turned back; her smile having disappeared from her face. Jack walked back over and squatted down beside her. His finger under her chin turned her head to face him, "I wish you could see yourself through my eyes; then maybe you'd realized how breathtakingly beautiful you are to me."
"The smile quickly returned to her face, "I'm sorry; I don't mean to bring down the evening…I've been looking so forward to it."
His lips pressed gently against hers, "I love you, and if possible, you get more beautiful as each day passes."
"I love you too…"
He kissed her forehead, "I'll be out in a few minutes." Jack disappeared into the bathroom as Elizabeth pulled her hair up into a ponytail and tied it up with a white scarf.
Elizabeth slipped into her dress, feeling sexy for the first time in a while. She struggled with the clasp on her new necklace until Jack stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist.
He stepped up behind her; bending down his lips brushed across her neck, "Here, let me help you."
With her necklace in place, her hair done and her dress and shoes a perfect fit, she kissed Jack, "Thank you…"
"Don't mention it. I know those clasps can be difficult."
She turned to face him. Her hand rested on his cheek, "No Jack, not just for the necklace, for everything…tonight, I mean…everything."
Jack walked over and pulled his light melon dress shirt, black tie and black trousers from his closet. Laying them out on the bed he took hold of her hand and encouraged her to take a seat beside him.
"You know, this is a bit distracting…you in a towel, and me horny as hell."
"Well, you know, maybe we can make it an early night; what do you think?" he asked as he leaned in and kissed her cheek.
"Sounds good if you really want to…I mean, it's been a long time since we've been…you know, intimate."
Jack's hand slipped behind her neck as their foreheads rested against each other, "Honey, please don't take that as a sign that I don't want to make love to you. Think back to when I get home from work, you're asleep, and you need your rest."
"So, do you," she corrected him.
"I know, but life sometimes gets in the way. So please don't think that I don't want to…you couldn't be farther from the truth. But while I'm thinking about it, since you're so far along, is it safe?"
"At my appointment last week, the doctor said to continue life as usual, and she's still saying that she wouldn't be surprised if I went past my due date."
"Well, I guess he…or she will make an appearance when they are ready," he remarked.
"Okay, you get dressed and I'm going to turn Onyx back inside," she stated as she stood up and started for the door.
Jack reached out and took her hand stopping her forward motion. He stood and closed the distance between them as his hand slipped behind her head and pulled her close. "Elizabeth, you are my life, my love, my world; I love you…"
Having shaved last night before he went to bed, Elizabeth ran her fingers over the short beard stubble that had grown in the meantime, "You look ruggedly handsome."
"Do you want me to shave?"
"No, I like it…do you have any idea how difficult it is being close to you like this and still walk away?"
"We could stay home, but I want to make sure that you and Jack or Elizabeth Jr. get a good meal. But it'll be an early night, okay?"
"Okay, and Jack…"
"Yeah honey…"
"I love you…"
"I love you too, Sweetheart."
Onyx was snuggled up on the sofa when Jack walked into the den. He grabbed his car keys and observed the roses he'd brought home for her in a vase on the dining room table.
"Are you ready to go?" he asked.
"Yes," she stated before moving back and forth on the sofa doing her best to gather enough forward motion to stand. "This is embarrassing."
"Let me help you," he stated as one hand on her arm and the other around her waist helped her to her feet.
"I'm sorry," she muttered as they stood, Elizabeth was still wrapped in his arms. "Will you do me a favor…?" she whispered.
"Anything, what do you need?"
"Will you look at my shoes and make sure they match?" she asked.
"Excuse me…?" he stepped back slightly.
She looked down but couldn't see past her pregnant tummy, "Jack, I can't see my feet. I see a pair of shoes in my closet that I want to wear and reach my feet in to slip into them. Last week I went to school with a blue one and a brown one and I had to tell the kids that I was practicing "Opposites" day."
Looking at the smile on his face she continued, "Please don't laugh at me."
"Oh honey, I'm not laughing…I'll be right back," Jack stated as he slipped down the hall returning a couple of minutes later.
She saw him holding a pair of black flats in one hand, and a left blue shoe and a right brown one in the other.
"Take your pick," he stated as he held out the shoe selection.
"I'll take the brown one," she stated as she leaned against him while he took off her one shoe and helped her put on another.
"Are you ready to go now?" he asked as he grabbed her white shrug from the back of the kitchen chair.
"Yes…date night with my husband."
Jack helped her down the front porch steps and held her hand as they walked to their vehicle. Opening her door, she struggled to get inside as Jack held on to her arm to keep her from falling.
Finally situated in the passenger seat, Jack observed a tear trickle down her cheek. He squatted down beside her seat, "What's wrong?"
"I feel like my body is just so out of control," she replied. "Are you sure you want to go out with me?"
"Elizabeth, you are beautiful; pregnant or not, you will always be the most beautiful woman to me. So yes, I want to take you out to dinner, and I want to dance with my gorgeous wife."
Observing a smile on her face brought about one of his own. He helped her with her seatbelt, brushed his lips gently across hers and closed her door before slipping in behind the wheel.
Because traffic was uncharacteristically heavy, they barely made it to Ruth's Chris in time for their reservation. Jack and Elizabeth were escorted into a dining room and seated at a table near the lit fireplace.
Elizabeth perused the menu, "I'll have the Crab Stack," which was a circular stack of pickled vegetables, mango, avocado, colossal crab and Sriracha cream.
"Honey," Jack called out softly, "You don't like avocados, and I think the Sriracha cream is spicy."
"Well, the baby is saying that she wants spicy avocados tonight…"
"Okay, but I'll order the Surf 'n Turf, and that way if you don't like your crab, you can eat mine."
"You're too good to me, Jack Thornton."
"What would you like to drink?" the waiter asked.
"I'll take iced tea, please," Elizabeth responded. "Oh, and a glass of water too, please."
"Me too…"
As the waiter started to walk away, Elizabeth observed a tray pass by, and she called out to their waiter.
"Yes ma'am?"
"Was that grilled Brussel sprouts that just passed by?"
Glancing two tables over, the waiter turned back to Elizabeth, "Yes ma'am, would you like some?
"Yes, I would, but do you have any hot sauce that you could add to it?"
"Yes ma'am, hot sauce on the sprouts."
After the waiter disappeared, Jack commented, "Honey, you can order whatever you want, but I've really never known you to eat a bunch of hot stuff. Are you sure you can tolerate it?"
"Well, you are usually at work when I mix together a can of sardines, Rocky Road ice cream, strawberry sauce, and vanilla wafers," she advised him.
"I don't even know what to say to that. I can't even fathom that combination…"
"Oh honey, you have not had a snack until you take a spoonful of that concoction and put it on a vanilla wafer.
"I'll have to trust you on that, because I don't see me trying it," Jack admitted.
The waiter returned to the table with salads for Jack and Elizabeth and their four glasses, two of iced tea and two of water.
Left alone at the table Elizabeth commented, "If you wanted a glass of wine or a drink it wouldn't bother me. I don't want you to think that you can't have it because I can't."
"No, I'm fine with iced tea…"
Elizabeth and Jack chatted about work, only discussing pleasant topics, keeping their conversation light and enjoyable. They held hands, when possible, and enjoyed their meal, with Jack being surprised that Elizabeth ate what he assumed was fire on a plate.
Jack excused himself from the table, giving the excuse that he was going to the restroom. As he walked away, Elizabeth had a realization that the spicy food she ate was probably not the best idea. She had no intention of telling him that he was right, but the cramping that would come and go was leaving her a bit nauseous. Drinking some of her water seemed to slightly tame the fire within.
While out of the room, he approached the band who was setting up to play later in the evening.
"Hey…" Jack called out.
"Good evening; how are you?" the band's lead singer responded.
"What time do you start playing?" Jack asked.
"Not until 10, why?"
"I'm here with my wife; she's pregnant with our first child, and we really haven't had much time to spend with each other lately. I was hoping to have a dance with her."
"Well, we're almost set up, and we have been working on a new song, so we'll see what we can do," the singer advised. "Oh, what's your name?"
"I'm Jack and my wife is Elizabeth," Jack stated as he handed the band's lead man a $50.00 bill. "Thanks, man…" Jack stated as he returned to his table.
Elizabeth and Jack decided to split a personal cheesecake. As Elizabeth bit into hers she whispered, "Come on pudding…" hoping that the filling would tone down the heat in her stomach.
"What did you say, honey?"
"Uh, oh nothing…its just that the filling is good."
Feeling as though the cheesecake filling along with the water took a bite out of the heat she was packing; she began to settle back into her seat.
The lead singer turned on the microphone and made an announcement…
"Ladies and gentlemen, although we don't usually start playing until 10, we're going to play a song now for a special couple, Jack and Elizabeth, who are expecting their first child. I hope you will join me in congratulating the happy couple…" the announcement ended as the guests applauded.
Jack took Elizabeth's hand and led her to the dance floor, praying that the song the band was going to play would effectively say what was in his heart. Not knowing what they were going to play, it could have gone horribly wrong, but as the band began to play "When You Sat Nothing at All" by Keith Whitley, he knew it was perfect.
Jack put his arm around her waist and pulled her as close as possible; his heart pounded as her body molded against his. "I love you so much…" he whispered in her ear as the band began to play.
It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain
What I hear when you don't say a thing
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
Now you say it best when you say nothing at all
All day long I can hear people talking out loud
But when you hold me near you drown out the crowd
Old Mister Webster could never define
What's being said between your heart and mine
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
Now you say it best when you say nothing at all
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
Now you say it best when you say nothing at all
As the song ended, Jack cradled Elizabeth's head in his hands, gently pressing his lips to hers. "Are you ready to go home?"
"Absolutely," she stated as he took her hand and led her slowly back to their table where she took her seat.
"Are you okay?" he asked, as the expression on her face seemed stressed.
"It's been a long day, but I'll be fine once we get home."
Jack paid the check and left a substantial tip on the table. He walked over to Elizabeth's chair and helped her up. He grabbed her shrug off the back of the chair beside her and placed it around her shoulders.
They had only started for the door when Elizabeth stopped, and Jack slipped on the floor. Catching himself, he exclaimed, "What was that?"
"My water…"
Glancing at their table, Jack remarked, "Your water is on the table."
"Not that water…MY WATER…" she yelled, quickly gathering the attention of every guest in the dining room.
"Oh my gosh…you're going to have a baby," the man seated at the table next to them yelled out.
"What gave it away, Sherlock…?" Elizabeth yelled back before immediately apologizing for her outburst.
Elizabeth grabbed her stomach, "Jack, it hurts."
Jack tossed his keys to the waiter. Pointing out his vehicle, Jack attended to Elizabeth while the waiter retrieved their car.
"It's here," the manager advised Jack as he grabbed Elizabeth's purse and helped her to their awaiting vehicle.
"Okay, you need to breathe…"
She turned and glared at him, "I know I have to breathe Jack. If I recall, heavy breathing is what got me in this position."
The traffic was still heavy and as they sat, bumper to bumper, with nowhere to go, Elizabeth was making no sense, "Can't you go any faster?"
Obviously, Elizabeth was paying no attention to her surroundings as Jack stared at the bumper of the car no more than a foot in front of him. "I'm sorry honey; I can't go any faster."
"Why did you make me eat all of that spicy food; that's what's causing all of this?"
"Honey, I didn't order that food, you did."
"Well, you should have told me not to…"
"I did try to tell you…"
She snarled, "Jack, now is not the time to split hairs. Are you prepared to deliver this baby…?"
"Excuse me…?"
Elizabeth grabbed Jack's arm. He felt no pain until she began to dig her freshly manicured nails into his skin. "Ouch, that hurts…"
As her contraction subsided she turned her head and scowled, "Do you want to change places; because I assure you that pulling a whale through a keyhole will trump nails in your arm any day of the W…E…E…K," she screamed as the next contraction gripped her.
Fearing that the situation was not going to ease, Jack called into the precinct.
"Third Precinct, Sergeant Riley, how may I help you?"
"Hey Barry, this is Jack Thornton…"
"Hey Jack, what's up; have you had that baby yet?"
"No, but it's on its way and I need some help."
"What's wrong, do you need an ambulance?"
"I took my wife to dinner at Towne Center; she went into labor, and I'm stuck in traffic."
"Where are you?"
"We're in my wife's green 4 door Jeep with a soft top on the corner of Virginia Beach Blvd and Constitution."
"Oh man they had a water main break in that area. Okay, I'm dispatching a unit out to you…"
"Thanks man."
He'd barely had an opportunity to explain what was happening when they could hear sirens coming from what seemed like all four sides.
As the one and only police cruiser approached, "Oh, thank goodness," she exclaimed. In between contractions she smiled, and squeezed his hand, "You are so important…"
"I'm a cop. When one of us needs help, the Brothers in Blue come running, or in this case, driving," he stated as he felt her grip harder and her facial expression change when another contraction took hold of her.
Assuming that the blue lights were intended for someone or something happening up the road, vehicles around them moved into the median to allow the police car room to get through. Then, when the officer stopped at the 4-door green Jeep with the soft top, everyone locked their doors and watched, wondering what heinous offense the occupants in that vehicle had committed.
Jack jumped out and quickly shook hands with the officer as they raced around to Elizabeth's side of the Jeep. Jack helped her out and to the police cruiser, getting her situated in the front seat.
"Aren't you coming with me?" She yelled out at Jack as the door closed.
"Honey, I'll follow you. Don't worry, I'll be there."
Elizabeth was scared. Although Jack knew the officer, he was a stranger to Elizabeth. "I don't care if that thing needs to sprout wings, Jack Thornton, you better be there when our baby is born…" she yelled.
"I love you," Jack called out, hoping to get a like response. However, another contraction took Elizabeth's attention and the police cruiser left the scene with lights and siren blaring, and no declaration of her love.
Jack attempted to follow the cruiser, but as the police car made its way down the boulevard, cars in front of him pulled back into the road, again blocking his passage. He blew his horn and motioned for people to get out of his way, but the only response he received were one finger waves, and ugly comments yelled through closed windows.
"Hey Lee, are you and Rosie busy?"
"No why?"
"Elizabeth's on her way to the hospital…"
"Aren't you with her?"
"No, I'm stuck in traffic. I called for a car from the third Precinct and she's in the cruiser, but traffic is at a standstill," Jack explained.
"Oh yeah, there was a water main break near Rosemont."
"Can you and Rosie go to the hospital, so she isn't alone?"
"We're already in the car and on our way. But Jack, hurry up; I know she'll be glad not to be alone, but she wants you there."
"I'm not so sure about that. She wasn't happy with me when she left."
"Just remember, when women are in labor, they say a lot of things that they don't mean. As a matter of fact, when she's holding that baby, she probably won't even remember what she said."
"I hope you're right…"
Jack finally made it to the parking lot of PetSmart, and he followed several other vehicles into the neighborhood behind it. Weaving through the residential streets, he made his way to Independence Blvd, and the free-flowing interstate.
Nervous and worried, Jack immediately called William Thatcher.
"William…"
"Hi Jack, how's Elizabeth?"
"She's actually in labor and she's on her way to the hospital."
"She's on her way; where are you?"
"We were stuck in traffic, so I called the precinct and a patrol car took her," Jack explained. "I'm on my way; I'm only about 10-15 miles away."
"We're on our way…" William advised.
Jack's next call was to his mother who advised that she would sit by the phone to wait on updates.
Twenty minutes later he pulled into the parking lot and passed the police cruiser sitting at the ER entrance as he ran inside Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital. "Where is she?" Jack asked the officer who was standing at the information desk.
"They took her back there," he stated as he pointed to the swinging doors. "Hey Jack, she's not happy…apparently having a baby is very painful."
"You think…?"
When the male volunteer returned to the counter, Jack blurted out, "I'm here…"
"Well sir, I see that, but what are you here for?" he asked.
"Oh, my wife…Elizabeth Thornton is having a baby."
"Oh right, you're him…"
"Excuse me?"
"Let me just say that she's not happy with you right now."
"I'll bet, but how do I get back there to her?"
"Are you sure you want to?"
"Of course, I want to; she's having our baby, I need to be there."
"Okay, I'm just saying, be prepared."
"For what; is she okay?"
"I believe so; I'm more worried about you…"
"I'm going to go find her…" Jack stated as he ran through the swinging doors and listened for her voice.
"Can I help you?" a nurse asked.
"I'm looking for my wife, we're having a baby."
"Oh, you must be Jack…"
"Uh, yes I am; where is she?"
"She was taken up to Labor and Delivery," the nurse advised.
"How do I get there?" he asked.
"Sadie," the nurse called out to a co-worker, "I'm taking Jack up to Labor and Delivery."
"Oh, you're Jack…? Good luck."
As they entered the elevator to ride up three floors to Labor and Delivery, Jack asked, "Is Elizabeth okay?"
The nurse started to laugh, "I've seen them worse. You need to understand that she is in a lot of pain, and you are the one person she can comfortably take it out on. I'm sure that she won't even remember the things she says to you and about you once the baby arrives."
Once the door opened and Jack stepped off the elevator, the nurse pushed to close the door, "Good luck…"
"Hi, I'm…"
"Jack, right?" the Labor and Delivery desk nurse asked. "They called me from downstairs and said you were on your way."
"She's already talking about me?"
"Don't worry; we've heard it all. She's in Room #416. Just go down the hall and take a left."
Jack quickly made it to the end of the hall but hesitantly turned the corner when he heard a woman scream. Thankful that it wasn't his wife, he continued down to Room #416.
Standing outside her room he quickly called Lee, "Hey."
"Hey, we're here, where are you?"
"I'm on the 4th floor, but I have to ask you a favor…"
"What…anything you need, we're here for you."
"Lee, the baby is coming, and we didn't make any plans for Onyx. Can you go by and turn her out for me?"
"Do you need me to do it now?"
"No, but sometime before morning."
"Okay, Rosie and I'd like to stay for awhile to see if the baby arrives, but we'll leave and take care of Onyx if it goes into the night."
"Thanks," Jack stated as he ended his call to Lee.
Stepping into the room he found Elizabeth already attached to an IV drip, wearing a hospital gown and staring out the window that was across the room.
Watching the Nightingale helicopter landing on the roof next door, she did not hear Jack step inside her room. As he stood in the doorway, he saw her rub her stomach and whisper, "Your daddy will be here. He said he wouldn't leave us alone. I know he will be here. He is a man of his word. If he tells you something, you can trust him. He's the most honest man you'll ever know…"
Feeling a little more confident, Jack stepped into the room, "Elizabeth…"
She started crying, "You did make it."
He pulled up a chair and sat beside her bed, "How are you doing?"
"I'm scared…"
Jack stood up, leaned over and kissed her forehead. Through misty eyes and wavering voice, he replied, "I love you, and I'm sure everything is going to be okay."
"Hi, Mr. Thornton. I'm glad you could get here, and I'm sure your wife is too," Elizabeth's maternity nurse, Sioban remarked.
"I'm sorry about the things I said," Elizabeth apologized.
"Don't worry about it, we've heard so much worse…" Sioban giggled. "Mr. Thornton, I need you to put on this gown."
Jack slipped into the gown and Sioban tied it in the back for him.
"Are you okay right now?" Sioban directed her attention to Elizabeth.
"I think I'm fine for right now," Elizabeth responded hoping to have some private time with Jack.
After Sioban left the room, Elizabeth immediately started, "Jack I'm not ready. I think we should wait."
"Wait for what, honey?" he asked.
"Wait for this…I mean, I want to ride the horses more, and after I have a baby, I won't have the time. I think maybe if we wait until next year to do this…" she stated as she waved her hand over her body as if time would rewind.
Jack tried to hide his snickers as he knew now was not the time to tease her.
"Why are you laughing at me? I mean, I'll be more prepared in a year or maybe two. Come on, let's go HOME," she yelled out as a more substantial contraction consumed her, snapping her back to reality.
Jack was thankful when the door opened, "Hello Mrs. Thornton; I'm Dr. Napoli, and I'm on call this weekend. So, let's see about getting this baby delivered," the doctor suggested.
Dr. Napoli continued, "Let's get you down a little on the bed so you can put your feet in the stirrups and let me take a look."
Take a look…? Take a look at what? I'm not so sure I like this guy, Jack thought as his wife was basically spread wide open for anyone in the room to see.
Following the examination, Dr. Napoli advised, "Yes, it looks good and you are progressing along. I'll be back shortly to check in on you…"
"It looks good; what's that supposed to mean?" Jack grumbled. "He's touching you down there and saying it looks good; I don't think I like him," Jack remarked after the doctor left the room.
As he held her hand, she continued to squeeze with each contraction, and her pounds of pressure seemed to increase each time.
"Jack, he's here to help me and at this point, I don't care if it's the janitor; if he can safely get the baby out, he's welcome to come in too."
Fifteen minutes later, after being called back to Elizabeth's room by the nurse, Dr. Napoli put on a fresh gown, washed his hands again before putting on his gloves, and situating himself at the end of the bed. "Do you want to watch?" he asked, directing his question to Jack.
"Excuse me?"
"Do you want to watch your baby come into the world?" Dr. Napoli asked.
"Really, I can do that?" Jack was nervously excited.
"Sure, when the baby begins to crown, we'll put a mirror down here so you can watch." Scooting his stool closer, Dr. Napoli asked, "Okay, I'm sure that you went through Lamaze, right?"
"I did, but he missed most of the classes," Elizabeth quickly responded.
"I'm a police officer and I was working," Jack felt the need to justify his absence.
"Okay, well do you have another coach that you want in here?" the doctor asked.
"No, I want to do it. I can learn what I have to do."
The nurse stepped closer, "Okay, when she has a contraction, get her to focus on something in the room, and you count to ten. When Dr. Napoli tells her to push, you hold her hand and count to ten as she holds her breath and pushes downward."
With the contractions that followed, Jack had Elizabeth focus on the flower vase on the table across the room. "1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10… okay, relax."
"1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10… okay, relax." Jack stated.
"Okay, we're getting closer," Dr, Napoli advised. "With the next contraction I want you to push, and Mr. Thornton you count to ten, but you can look at the mirror and watch the miracle of your child's birth. Hopefully, it won't take but a few more contractions."
"Okay, Elizabeth take a deep breath and push," Dr. Napoli ordered.
"1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10…" Jack counted as Elizabeth held her breath.
Taking a breath, the next contraction was quickly upon her.
"There's the head," Dr. Napoli advised as Jack was completely mesmerized. "Okay, Elizabeth, now we need to get the shoulders out, and then the rest will just slide out. So, push…"
Jack began to count, but it was obvious that his attention was more on his baby entering the world than he was on counting to ten, "1-2-3-3-3-4-5-5-6…"
Elizabeth reached up and grabbed Jack by his hospital gown, pulling him down to her face, "COUNT FASTER…"
"7-8-9-10…"
"Okay Elizabeth, one more push and your little one will be here."
Elizabeth started to cry, "I'm tired, I can't do it anymore…"
Jack held on to her hand and leaned over. He was less than an inch from her face, "Elizabeth Thornton, you are the strongest woman I have ever known. You can do this. You've carried this little one around for nine months; you've kept him or her safe, you can do this. Just one more push…"
"Okay, but just one more…" she blurted out as her face scrunched up and she began pushing as she held her breath.
"1-2-3-4-5-6…"
"WAAAAAAA," the first sounds of their child were heard.
"It's a boy…" Dr. Napoli announced as he placed their son on Elizabeth's chest. The doctor held the umbilical cord and handed Jack a pair of surgical scissors.
"What am I supposed to do with these?" Jack asked.
"Cut the umbilical cord," Dr. Napoli advised.
"Oh, wait…I think you're more qualified to do that than I am…" Jack stated as he tried to hand the scissors to the nurse.
"No, Mr. Thornton; It's clamped on both sides, and you just cut between the two clamps."
"Are you sure it's okay?"
"Yes, go ahead…" Dr. Napoli assured him.
Jack did as he was instructed as he watched the placenta and the attached umbilical cord fall into a sterile bowl on the table.
The medical staff gave Jack and Elizabeth a few moments with their son before taking him over, cleaning him up, weighing and measuring him, and performing the Apgar test.
Feeling no pain, and concentrating solely on their new son, Elizabeth lay quietly while Dr. Napoli stitched her up. Jack held her hand as they both cried.
"Is he okay?" she kept asking until the nurse brought their son back and laid him across Elizabeth's chest.
"He weighs 8 pounds 9 ounces, and he's 22 inches long. His Apgar score was 8 and then 9," the nurse advised.
"What's the Apgar score mean?" Jack asked.
"If you had been to Lamaze you would have known…"
"I'm sorry honey, but I couldn't be in two places at once. So, what does it mean?"
"It stands for Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity and Respiration. The baby gets a score of 0-2 in each category. We test babies at one minute and then again at five minutes," the nurse advised.
"So is 8 and then 9 good?" Jack asked, a question that also interested Elizabeth.
"Yes, your son scored very well."
"Are you hungry?" the nurse asked. "We can call down to the cafeteria if you'd like something."
"No thank you. I think what I ate for dinner brought the little man out of his slumber and squirming to get out."
"Did you eat something spicy?" the nurse asked.
Elizabeth said nothing but simply shook her head up and down.
"The same thing happened to me. I'm not sure if that's what happened, but it sounds likely," the nurse replied. "Are you planning to breastfeed?"
"I really haven't decided."
"Well, would you like to give it a try and see what you think?" she asked.
"Okay," Elizabeth replied as the nurse untied her gown in the back and slipped it down one arm, covering her exposed breast with a sheet.
Initially, their son was refusing to nurse when suddenly, "Ouch, he sure is hungry now," Elizabeth stated, her voice somewhat elevated.
Jack watched as Elizabeth grimaced; he then wiped several tears from her cheeks, partly due to the uncomfortable aspect of first-time nursing, but mostly from her feeling as though she was a failure at a most basic female function.
"Okay, you rest and let me take this little man to the nursery. We'll get him fed and we can try again later," the nurse stated. "I'll have someone come in and get you in a few minutes to take you to your room.
"Thank you," Elizabeth responded.
The nurse took the Thornton's precious cargo, placed him in a bassinet on wheels and headed for the nursery, leaving Jack and Elizabeth alone with their thoughts.
"Are you okay; can I get you anything?" he asked.
Elizabeth looked down at her chest, "Maybe two breasts that work…"
Trying to lighten the mood he responded, "They work for me…"
"Jack, I'm not much of a mother if I can't feed my baby."
"Honey, there are plenty of women who don't breastfeed, either because they can't or just don't choose to. Were you breast fed?" he asked.
"Well no, but I just guess I always thought that it would simply come naturally."
"Well, you can try again; I mean, maybe your milk just needs to drop."
"What do you know about milk dropping, Jack?"
"I have done some reading."
"Mrs. Thornton, are you ready to go to your room?"
"Yes, thank you. Is our baby okay?"
"Oh yes ma'am. He's slurping away on a bottle."
"Good, at least he's getting some nourishment."
As Elizabeth was being wheeled to her room on the third floor, the nurse asked, "Are you having trouble getting the nursing thing down?
"Unfortunately…"
"Don't worry about it. Do you want to breastfeed?"
"I'm not sure, but I'd like to know that I could do it if I wanted to."
"Well, sometimes it can take a few days before your real milk comes in. Initially what you will have is colostrum."
Jack stood in the elevator with his wife and the nurse, a woman he didn't know, listening as they discussed breasts, leaking breasts, full breasts, sucking on the breast, and he uncomfortably watched as the elevator slowly dropped one floor.
As the nurse wheeled Elizabeth into her room she stated, "Don't worry about the breastfeeding issue. If you can't or you don't like it, it doesn't mean you are less of a woman or a mother. I didn't breastfeed either of my kids, and they are healthy and fine."
The nurse left Jack and Elizabeth alone in the room. He took a seat on the side of her bed and held her hand, "What's on your mind?"
"If I bottle feed the baby, will that disappoint you?"
"Disappoint me, in you…? Elizabeth, I am in awe of what you've done today. You brought our son into this world." As tears streamed down his face, he continued, "I could never be disappointed in you."
"I'll try again, but if it doesn't work out, we'll bottle feed, okay?"
"Okay, and now we need to name our son," Jack proudly responded.
"Do you want to name him Jr.?" she asked, knowing honestly that he wanted a son named after him.
"I would love him to be named after me, but what about Jonathan Alexander Thornton, Jr. and maybe call him Alex?"
"I love that, but are you sure you don't want him to be Jr.?"
"I think I'd like for him to be his own person," Jack responded as an attendant wheeled the bassinet into Elizabeth's room and placed the baby in her arms.
"Well young man, how do you like the name Alex?" Elizabeth asked.
"Oh look, he smiled; he likes it..." Jack responded.
"That was gas…"
To be continued…