Jack took Ellie from my arms, then reached for Jane's hand. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"
"It's just a routine checkup. I'll be fine." I kissed his cheek. "You just take the girls over to Abigail's, and I'll meet you there when I finish up here."
"Okay. Are you girls ready to see Aunt Abigail?"
Jane clapped her hands excitedly. "Yes! Go see Auntie!"
Jack kissed me softly. "We'll see you soon. Go find out how our boy is doing."
"Save me a scone, please."
"I'll try. No promises with these two around, though." He chuckled, looking at the girls.
I kissed him once more before entering the infirmary.
"Good afternoon, Elizabeth," Faith greeted me.
"Good afternoon."
"Hop up on the bed there, and Carson will be with you in just a moment."
"Thank you."
Just after I got on the bed, Carson emerged through the side door. "Well, hello there, Elizabeth. Let's check on baby Thornton, shall we?"
After two and a half pregnancies, I knew the checkup routine well. I leaned back on the bed while Carson checked my vitals and took measurements. I answered his questions about symptoms, the baby's movements, and my sleeping and eating habits.
After he was finished, he flipped through the papers on the clipboard. "Well, Elizabeth, everything is still looking good. Do you have any concerns?"
I put my hands on my stomach. "I'm still worried that I'm bigger than I was with the girls."
"Since you mentioned that last time, I took a look at your measurements from your previous pregnancies, and you really aren't measuring much bigger, just a couple of inches."
"Really?"
"Really. I can show you if you want to compare the measurements yourself." He held the clipboard out toward me.
"No, I trust you." I sighed. "Why do I feel like I'm bigger, then?"
"There are a few things that could make you feel like that. You may just be carrying a little differently this time, or you could have your dates wrong by a week or two, or this baby might be a bit bigger than Jane and Eleanor were and you're feeling that extra weight, but there's no reason to be worried."
"Is it possible that it's twins?"
"It's possible, but I don't think it is. I've only ever felt one head and heard one heartbeat during your exams, and I would expect you to be a little bigger with twins."
"Okay." I rubbed my stomach, feeling the baby kick. "Well, thank you, Carson."
"Remember you can come see us anytime if you have any questions or concerns. Otherwise, we'll see you in a few weeks to start discussing delivery plans."
"I'll see you then. Have a good afternoon."
"You too."
I headed straight for the café after leaving the infirmary. Jack was seated at a table near the window, Eleanor on his lap and Jane in the seat beside him.
"Mama!" Ellie squealed when she saw me.
"Hi, sweet girl." I smiled as I took a seat in the chair across from them. "Are there any scones left for me?"
"I made sure Abigail kept a couple for you. The girls have already devoured theirs."
I chuckled. "I expected as much."
"How's the baby?"
"He's doing well. Carson said we'll start talking about my delivery plans at my next checkup."
"I can't believe we're already at that point." He shook his head. "Only a few months away from meeting him."
"Oh, and Carson said I'm not much bigger than I was with Jane and Ellie, by the way. He says I might be carrying differently this time, or the baby might be bigger and I'm feeling that weight."
"So chances are, we're right about this baby being a boy."
I shrugged. "He didn't say that, but that's what I'm thinking."
Abigail came over and placed a scone and a cup of tea in front of me.
"Thank you, Abigail."
"You're welcome. How's baby Thornton?"
"Doing well." I leaned back in my seat, putting a hand on my stomach. "Carson said everything looks good."
"Are you still thinking this one is a boy?"
"Yes." I nodded. "It still feels so different than when I was carrying the girls."
"Well, either way, I can't wait to meet that little one."
"Neither can we." Jack met my eyes and grinned.
...
"Mama?"
I opened my eyes to find Jane standing beside the bed, clutching her doll to her chest. A few tears were rolling down her cheeks.
I sat up. "What's wrong, sweetheart? Did you have a bad dream?" She nodded. I patted the bed. "Come here, Janie."
She climbed up beside me and immediately snuggled into me.
I ran my fingers through her curls. "Can you tell me about the dream?"
"Dada hurt."
"Dad got hurt? Oh, Janie. That sounds scary." I kissed the top of her head. "Dad's right here, though, and he's just fine." I pointed to the other side of the bed, where Jack was still sleeping.
"Dada." Jane crawled over my legs, settling in next to Jack.
He opened his eyes, blinking a few times before realizing Jane was in front of him. "Hi, Janie."
"Love you, dada."
"I love you, too, sweetheart."
She closed her eyes, drifting off quickly now that she knew that Jack was safe.
"Nightmare?" Jack whispered.
I nodded. "About you, apparently."
"Oh, Janie." He kissed her hair, and she sighed in her sleep. "I'm right here."
...
Jack sank down on the side of the bed after having returned Jane to her own room. It was early, the sun just beginning to peek over the horizon.
"It's bad enough that you have nightmares about things happening to me, but now Jane is having them, too?" He shook his head. "I don't know, Elizabeth. Maybe it's time I leave the Mounties."
"Jack, no." I sat beside him. "We've talked about this. If you leave the Mounties, it needs to be because you want to, not because you feel like you have to. You love your job."
He took my hand in his. "I do, but I love you and the girls more. You three and the baby are my priorities."
"Yes, but is there any job that you would love as much as being a Mountie?"
"No." He sighed. "I just hate that our children will worry about me."
"They'll probably worry about you no matter what job you have." I scooted closer to him. "Besides, don't you remember our time in the mine? We determined that being a schoolteacher is just as dangerous as being a Mountie."
He gave me a small smile. "We did, didn't we?"
"Yes. So you see? There are no guarantees in life, Jack, so you might as well do what makes you happy. I don't think you would be happy if you left the Mounties."
"I think you're right." He leaned his forehead against mine and rested his hand on my stomach. "What would I do without you?"
"Hopefully you never have to find out."
"I suppose we should get up and get ready for everyone to get here."
"Not yet." I leaned into him. "We still have time."
...
I looked up at the clock on the wall. "Jack, you need to get going if you don't want Tom and Julie to be stuck waiting at the train station."
He finished lacing up his boots. "Those two have caused us quite a bit of trouble over the years. It isn't going to hurt them to wait for a few minutes."
I laughed softly. "Good point."
He sat up and pulled his suspenders over his shoulders. "Are you sure you don't want to come with me?"
"If I went, then we'd have to bring the girls, and by the time we got them ready, we'd be very late getting to the station."
"Okay." He walked over to me and put his hands on my shoulders. "I'll be back soon."
I leaned in, kissing him softly. "Drive safely."
"I will."
I stood at the door, watching him get into the car. We had finally broken down and purchased one a few months prior, but it still made me nervous to see Jack behind the wheel.
A couple of minutes later, Jane stood at the window, peering out. "Where dada go?"
"He's going to the train station to get your Aunt Julie and Uncle Tom."
"Callum and Arfur?"
I nodded. "Callum and Arthur, too. And your grandparents will be here in a few days. They're all coming to visit because it's almost your birthday. Do you remember how many years old you'll be?"
She held up her hand, all five fingers stretched out. "Fwee."
"Three is right, but that's too many fingers, silly girl." I tucked two of her fingers down. "There you go. That's three. Can you count them?"
She pointed at each finger as she counted. "One. Two. Fwee."
"Good job, Janie." I touched her cheek, and she grinned. "Let's go see if your sister has woken up from her nap yet, and then you two can help me make some cookies."
"Ya, cookies!" she cheered.
I chuckled. "Goodness, I love you and your sweet tooth, Jane Thornton."
...
"Hello!" Julie's voice floated into the kitchen. "Is anybody home?"
I wiped my hands on a towel and helped the girls down from the chairs they were standing on. "It sounds like your Aunt Julie is here."
Ellie took my hand and Jane followed us out of the kitchen. They both toddled right over to Callum, and Jane started chattering away.
"Look at you, big sister!" Julie shifted Arthur on her hip. "You were hardly showing the last time I saw you!"
"I know. This little one isn't so little anymore." I put my hands on my stomach. "And I still have two more months to go."
"I can't believe you're about to have three children. It seems like it was just yesterday that we were children ourselves."
"Time does seem to pass more quickly the older we get." I shook my head and smiled. "I'm very glad to see you."
She hugged me carefully. "And I'm glad to see you."
Jack and Tom came in, arms filled with suitcases. "Which room are they staying in?"
"Across from Jane's. It's good to see you, Tom."
He smiled. "You, too. Thanks for having us."
...
By the morning of Jane's birthday, our house was full. Charlotte had arrived in town the day after Tom and Julie, coming from her new home in Red Deer. My parents arrived from Hamilton a few days later.
It was wonderful to have family around, but I was already exhausted after just a few days.
As the day dawned, Jack awoke early and promised to start on breakfast so I could rest a while longer.
I lay in our bed long after he left, fingers dancing across my belly. The baby moved slightly, a little bulge appearing on the right side of my stomach.
"Good morning, little one." I smiled. "Are you just waking up? It won't be long before you're out here with us, waking up in the cradle your dad made." I rolled onto my side, and the baby shifted again. "It's your big sister's birthday today. Should we go see if she's awake?"
I made my way to Jane's room. The house was quiet, save for the occasional noise coming from the direction of the kitchen, so I assumed everyone else was still in bed.
Jane was just waking up when I opened her door.
"Good morning, birthday girl."
She rubbed her eyes. "Mo'ning, mama."
I took a seat on the edge of her bed and ran my fingers through her unruly curls. "I think your dad is downstairs making you a special birthday breakfast."
"Pan-takes?"
"I don't know. Let's go see." I stood back up and held out my hand.
She reached out, and I lifted her onto my stomach. She wrapped her arms around my neck, resting her head against my shoulder.
I kissed the top of her head. "Are you still tired, sweetheart?"
She shook her head and yawned. "No."
I laughed softly. "I think you are, but that's okay. You can take a nap before your party later."
Jack turned from the stove when he heard us enter the kitchen. "There's my big girl! Good morning, Janie." He took Jane from my arms. "I heard it's someone's birthday today."
"Mine! I fwee old, dada."
"You're three years old?" He feigned shock. "That can't be right. Jane Thornton is supposed to be a tiny little baby still." He tickled her chin.
She giggled. "No, dada. I big girl."
Ellie toddled over from her spot on the floor. "Mama." She tugged on my skirt, then held out her arms. "Up."
I lifted her from the ground. "Sweet Ellie." I kissed her nose. "Have you been helping your dad make breakfast?"
"No. Eat, mama?"
Jack laughed. "We'd be eating already if you would've helped me, Ellie girl."
"Are we the only ones awake?"
"My mom is up. She wanted to help with breakfast, but I convinced her to go for a walk instead."
"Oh, good. Eating pancakes is enough of an adventure for my parents. I'm not sure how they would feel about eating pancakes that are full of lard."
"That would probably be pretty funny to see, though."
"Should I tell them you said that?"
He narrowed his eyes at me. "You wouldn't."
I shrugged. "You never know."
...
Abigail shook her head. "I just can't believe that little Miss Jane is three years old already."
"She's three going on thirteen." I chuckled as I watched her talk animatedly with Patrick and Eleanor. "She threw a fit the other day because I couldn't take her riding, and she didn't want to wait for Jack to get home."
"Oh dear."
"Thankfully, she's so sweet most of the time."
"That little girl has everyone wrapped around her finger."
I smiled. "That she does." She ran over to my father, who started to chuckle as she spoke to him. "I don't think I've ever seen my father smile as much as he does when he's around Jane and Ellie."
"He's a wonderful grandfather."
I nodded. "I'm so grateful for that. And the fact that he and my mother—and Charlotte—want to be so involved in their lives is wonderful."
"Mama!" Jane ran up and threw her arms around my legs. "Eat cake?"
"You're ready for your cake now?"
She nodded emphatically.
"Okay. Go tell your dad it's time for cake."
She barreled across the room. "Dada! Eat cake!"
A few minutes later, we stood around the table, everyone enjoying slices of the cake I had made with Julie's help earlier in the day.
Jack put his arm around me. "We have a three-year-old now."
"I'm in denial. She's our baby. There's no way she's already three."
He chuckled and pressed his lips to my cheek. "She's three, Ellie will be two before we know it, we're about to have a newborn in the house again. Oh, and we can't forget our fourth anniversary is coming up, too."
"Where has the time gone?"
"I have no idea."
I reached up and touched his cheek. "I'm so glad I get to go through life with you."
...
A/N To ease your mind, Jane's nightmare and the subsequent conversation between J&E are not foreshadowing. You don't need to worry about Jack in my stories :)
