Wednesday evening

Jack's phone had died Monday night so after charging all night, Tuesday morning, he had seen her call and text. He just chose not to call her back. He was utterly confused about what he was feeling. He needed Tom.

Since he didn't have him, he would try to bring it up to Lee that evening at basketball. What he didn't realize was Lee was bringing a few other guys with him. Mike Hickam, a sergeant and another lieutenant, Carson Shepherd. He was already taking a big step playing with Lee…now with three guys…he didn't know…

"Captain! I brought reinforcements. Maybe two on two?" Lee suggested.

"Uh, sure. Good to see you guys. But no ranks tonight. Just guys playing, okay?"

They all agreed and started playing. Their conversations centered around their home lives. Mike was single and had two German Shepherds. Carson was married to a woman named Allison. They had two daughters around Jack's girl's ages. Lee of course had Rosie and they had an adopted son, Jacob who was ten.

"What about you, Jack?" Carson asked.

"I'm single…" he said first, but that felt wrong. "Well, I'm seeing someone."

"Right, Beth from Treasures, right?" Lee asked, sinking a basket.

"Yeah."

"How's that going?"

Jack stopped playing and looked at the three guys. It was now or never. They were listening and all had different perspectives. They wanted to know.

"I think I messed it up."

"Been there," they all said, causing laughter all around.

"My brother just passed and I am taking care of his girls. Around the same time, I met Beth."

"Pulled her over, right?" Carson said, grabbing the ball from his hands and completing a successful lay-up.

"Does everyone know?"

"Yep. Small town," Mike told him.

"Right right." Jack chuckled. "So we went out on a date. We see each other a lot. Text, all that. The girls love her."

"Too much, too soon," Lee mused, jumping to block Mike's shot.

"The other day, our conversation turned to the future. She really wants kids and I told her she'd be a good mom. Then I told her that I had a dream back when I was in Hartford about two little curly-haired, blue eyed boys."

"She has blue eyes," Mike confirmed.

"But straight hair," Lee said.

"Apparently she flat-irons it," Jack said, making a two-pointer.

"So you freaked," Lee filled in.

"Yeah. We were supposed to be going slow. This did not feel slow."

"Have you talked about it since?" Carson wondered.

Jack blushed and stole the ball, making another basket.

"Uh oh. You've been avoiding her."

"Yeah."

"Its a small town, Jack. You can't keep avoiding her. Plus, isn't she with the girls now?" Lee asked.

"How did you…"

"Rosie hears things."

"Is Rosie friends with Gowan's wife?"

"Oh yeah. Molly and Rosie are best friends."

"Anyway, you need to talk to her, Jack. Don't wait too long."

"And apologize," Mike told him. Everyone stared at him.

"Hey, I might be single but I know things. Maybe throw in some flowers."

An hour later, the four parted ways, shaking hands and making plans for a rematch Saturday afternoon.

Jack headed home to shower before he would head to the store for flowers and then to Beth's house. However, when he got there, he saw movement in the house. He watched for a moment and then grabbed his firearm. He slowly made his way to the side of the house and peeked in the window.

He didn't see anything…

"Jack?"

"Mom?" he asked, lowering his gun and putting the safety back on as he turned. She stood with a grin on her face. "What are you doing here? I thought I was being robbed."

"Are you serious. Jack? It's your birthday."

Jack sighed and walked over to her. "It would have been nice to know you were coming. The house is a mess and honestly I'm not sure where you are going to sleep."

She wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

"Mom, I'm all sweaty. I need to shower."

"I love you, son. You know that?"

"Of course." He cleared his throat.

"Then you know I never let my boys celebrate their birthdays alone."

He kissed her cheek and walked to his car to get his gym bag and uniform. "I don't want to celebrate. Not this year."

"Son."

"Mom. Tommy is gone. I don't want to do this."

"Tough."

"I'm not a child that you can boss around. I moved here to start fresh. To live my own life."

"Listen, Jack. I miss him too but you and I both know he wouldn't want you to miss out on things because he's not here anymore."

He followed her to the house. "The girls are with Beth. I just need to shower and then I'll walk over to get them."

"Okay."

But when they walked in, the girls, Beth, Abigail and Frank, a very pregnant Clara and Canyon and Beth's sister Vi and son Davey were standing there blowing noisemakers.

"Surprise, Uncle Jack!" the girls said, running up to hug him.

"Phew. You're stinky," Cassidy told him.

"Thanks, Cass. Thanks for this, everyone. I'm going to go clean up."

Elizabeth sighed. He didn't even look at her. Nothing.

"Don't worry, Beth. Maybe he's just not good with surprises," Clara whispered.

"I think I'll just go."

"Nonsense," Charlotte said, giving her a side hug. "He's missing Tommy and he is definitely stubborn. You just need to give him a few moments."

Elizabeth busied herself with making sure all the food for the taco bar was out and perfect. Once that was done, she made coffee.

Jack wandered in about ten minutes later, his hair wet from the shower.

"Do I smell coffee?"

She handed him a steaming cup. "Enjoy." She started walking away but he took her hand.

"We need to talk."

"Why? You haven't felt the need the last two days." She pulled her hand away and crossed her arms. "You disappeared."

"Beth, maybe after everyone leaves."

"I don't know if I'll stay that long."

"Please."

She looked into his eyes. He looked sincere enough. She nodded. "Happy Birthday."

"How did you find out?"

"Your mom. Remember our date?"

"Right. Well, I appreciate the trouble but I don't want to celebrate. Not this year."

"Well, it's a little too late. There's tacos and banana cream pie instead of cake. The girls and your mom really wanted to do this."

"And you?"

"I'm not sure how I feel at the moment." She walked away to find Clara. She needed her best friend right now.

Clara pulled her to the living room and sat down. "What did he say?"

"That we need to talk."

"Well, yes you do."

"He hasn't wanted to talk to me since Monday. Why now?"

Clara bit her lip, a telltale sign that she knew something.

"Spill it."

"I heard Rosie and Molly Gowan at the store. Apparently Lee, Mike Hickam and Carson played basketball with Jack."

"Okay. I'm not sure why that matters."

"They probably gave him advice...including to apologize."

Elizabeth stayed, spending a lot of time in the kitchen, trying to stay busy but she emerged a few times to spend time with the guests she'd invited.

Finally everyone left and Charlotte and Tom took the girls through their bedtime routine, leaving Jack and Elizabeth alone.

"Would you like a glass of wine?" he asked her, reaching for the glasses.

"Sure."

He poured them each a glass and held out his hand. "Let's sit out back?"

She nodded and took his hand. They sat silently for a moment, listening to the water on the beach. Then he started.

"Elizabeth, first, I want to apologize for not answering your call or text."

"Texts," she corrected.

"Yes. I didn't get them until Tuesday and by then…"

"You chickened out."

"Essentially."

"Jack, this is all my fault really. You said go slow. I didn't do that. I should have listened to you and not my heart." She put the glass down and stood up. "I'm sorry."

"This is not your fault."

"Jack, this is just hard. I'm very attached to those girls in there. They mean so much to me, but, I think we should…"

"I don't want to break up."

"I don't think we are both ready for this."

"I am. Beth, please let me explain."

He put his wine down and took her hand again, leading them down toward the edge of the water. "I was in Hartford for Tommy's funeral. I went running in my parent's neighborhood and stopped at the park where we used to play basketball. There was this man there and his little boy, maybe two or three years old. I watched him teaching him to play and...I could feel the love between them."

"That's sweet but I don't see..."

"That's when I realized that I still want that. My own kids. I could see them. And until you told me you had curly hair, I didn't know whose they could be."

"Jack, it really doesn't mean anything."

"What if it does?"

"All it means is you want a family. One day, you'll have that."

"Elizabeth, I need you and my girls need you. Please don't give up just because I'm an idiot."

Her eyes softened and she reached up and touched his face. "Don't call my best friend an idiot."

"Forgive me, please. Tell me you'll give me another shot."

Inside, Charlotte and Tom were watching from the window. "Kiss him!" Charlotte whispered.

"Come on, dear, give them some privacy."

"Wait." She smiled as she saw Beth wrap her arms around his neck and their lips meet. "Okay, now we can go."

The next morning, as Elizabeth reorganized the fabric section at her store, she heard the bell ring.

"Be right with you!" she called, slipping the navy muslin in above the sky blue.

"Beth?"

"Julie! Wow!" Elizabeth's eyes traveled to Julie's midsection.

"I'm pregnant."

"Sam's?" she asked, wrapping her arms around her baby sister.

"Yes." Julie started crying then so Elizabeth led her over to the coffee area to sit. "I'm so stupid. Why did I marry him?"

"You said you loved him," she reminded her, handing her a kleenex.

"I thought I did. But he cheated, Beth. That hurt so much and I told him I'd never forgive him."

"Sorry, hon, but you broke up like six months ago. How far along are you?"

"Four months. I just wanted one more chance. Maybe he'd love me enough to choose me?"

"Did he?"

"No. He's with her."

"What a moron."

"Anyway, I need a new start, Beth."

"Here?"

"Yeah. I was hoping….could I stay with you?"

"For how long?"

"I'm not sure. I need a job."

"My part time girl just quit since school is starting in a few weeks."

"I'd work hard. Please, sister?"

"Okay and my guest room is yours until you're on your feet."

Julie smiled and hugged her. "Thank you!"

Elizabeth had a feeling her guest room would be occupied for quite awhile.

"So what should we do tonight?" Julie asked. "Something that involves food, I hope."

"Well, I have a date so you're on your own. There's delivery."

"Oooo, a date. Is he cute?"

"Yeah. Very."

"Tell me about him."

"He's a Captain in the Hope Island Police Department," a deep voice said from down the aisle.

They watched as he walked up, all strong and tall, carrying a bouquet of pink tulips in his hand.

Elizabeth got up and gave him a kiss. "Hi."

"Hey. These are for you."

"They're lovely. Thank you."

"Ahem," Julie said loudly.

"That's Julie, my sister. Julie, Jack Thornton."

"Its so nice to meet you, Officer."

"Just Jack. Its nice to meet you, Julie."

Jack looked back at Elizabeth. "We can do movie night a different night since you have family in."

"Nope. I already told her she's on her own."

"Or she could come too," he mentioned.

"Will there be food?"