Jack texted Dylan on Christmas Day. "Want to go bowling? Just you and me, bud?"
"Hey, Mom?"
"Yeah, Dylan."
"Jack wants to know if I can go bowling. Just him and me."
"Today?"
"Yeah."
"Sure. That would be fine."
"Thanks, Mom."
Dylan texted Jack back and they made plans to go around lunch time.
Jack grabbed the little box from his top dresser drawer and stuffed it in his pocket. Then he put his wallet in his back pocket and headed downstairs.
As he drove the short distance to the cottage, he got a bit nervous but he was ready. The man-to-man talk they were going to have was going to dictate how the Florida trip would go.
"Hey, Jack," Dylan said as he climbed in the truck.
"Merry Christmas, bud. How was your morning?"
"Good. We ate breakfast at Grandpa and Grandma's and opened presents."
"Oh, that reminds me. I have gifts for you and your mom from my parents in the back seat."
"Your mom and dad got us presents?"
"Yeah. They know how important you both are to me. You're family."
"Not quite."
"True. I was hoping we could chat about that today actually."
"Okay. Are you going to finally ask Mom to marry you?"
"That depends on what you say. I heard from a little birdie that you wanted me to ask your permission first." Jack pulled into the parking lot of the bowling alley and turned to Dylan. "Dylan, I love your mom. With all of my heart."
"I know, Jack. You don't need to ask me. I know you will never hurt her or me. She is happy with you and that is all I want. Plus, I think it will be pretty cool to have a Dad that actually likes me and pays attention to me."
"I don't just like you, I love you, bud. And this kinda thing, the guy's day, will be a regular occurrence for us."
"Cool. When are you going to ask her?"
"On our vacation. I thought maybe you and Harp would like to help me get everything set up."
"Yeah! That would be awesome."
"Great. Let's talk plans while we bowl."
They planned the whole thing that day and Jack even got Dylan's approval on the ring that he'd bought her weeks before. By the time he went home, he was looking forward to the next day and the start of their epic vacation.
"Your Dad just told me he is going 2 propose!" Dylan texted Harper as they drove home.
"Yeah. Cool, huh?"
"Yeah. I'm glad we get 2 help. I can't wait 2 C her face."
"This is going 2 B a great vacation!"
"Yeah. Remember we r riding the Tower of Terror. No chickening out!" he reminded her.
"Yeah yeah."
Jack glanced at Dylan. "Tell Harp she better be packed."
Dylan smiled and fired off the text. "Told her. She says, "Relax, Dad."
"Tell her I've been relaxed. Now we are just running out of time. Six AM comes fast."
"She says she's packed. And she says you just need to worry about not forgetting the ring."
"Tell her to stop sassing."
Dylan laughed after texting her. "She stuck her tongue out at you."
Jack smiled and shook his head. He loved his sassy daughter.
Jack headed inside the cottage with Dylan when they arrived.
"Mom?"
"In the kitchen, honey."
"We're back."
"Great. We need to leave for Grandpa and Grandpa's in one hour. Can you go take a shower please and get dressed?"
"I don't need a shower."
"Dylan…"
"Yes, ma'am." Dylan gave Jack a fist bump and headed upstairs.
Jack reached for Elizabeth and pulled her close, placing a soft kiss on her lips. "Hey, Blue Eyes."
"Hey. Thanks for taking Dylan out. He needs time with another guy sometimes."
"Glad to do it."
Jack gently tucked her hair behind her ears and gazed lovingly into her eyes. He could not wait to make her his wife. He wanted to come home to her every night and hold her and kiss her without holding anything back.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked, breaking into his thoughts.
"How much you and Dylan mean to me. How much I love you."
She smiled and gave him a kiss. "I love you too."
After a few more kisses, he reminded her that he and Harper would be by to pick them up at 6 am so they could catch their flight and then left to head home.
The following day after a non-eventful 5 hour flight to Orlando, Jack, Elizabeth, and the kids rented a car and using the GPS on Jack's phone, drove to the timeshare condo that William's friend had offered them.
"Whoa, Blue Eyes. This place is great!" Jack told her as the foursome walked into the house.
The look of the furniture and decorations reminded him of a cabin in the woods. It had a huge curved leather sofa, a stone fireplace that reached up to the ceiling and lots of wood. It felt cozy and he was happy to stay there with his family. That's what they were and legally would be very soon if he got the answer he was expecting in a few days.
"Yeah. Dad's friend Frank is a classic bachelor type."
"Well, I love it. How many bedrooms?"
"Three, so someone needs to sleep on the couch."
"I will," he told her.
"I was thinking more like Dylan."
"He and Harp are upstairs choosing their rooms now." He took her hand and pulled her to the couch and snuggled close. "Can you believe we are here, together, in Florida, honey?"
"Yeah. I'm very glad we are."
"Me too." He slowly kissed her lips, losing himself momentarily until they heard a pair of groans on the balcony that looked down into the living room.
"Get a room," Dylan laughed.
"Sass!" Jack said, waving them back to their rooms. "Twenty minutes and we can head to Animal Kingdom."
"Woohoo!" they shouted, making Jack and Elizabeth laugh.
Jack kissed her again and then pulled her up off the couch. "I guess we should get unpacked so we can go."
As they entered the park a bit later, Dylan announced that he had done research and they absolutely needed to go on Expedition Everest.
So they headed to stand in line. It took about thirty minutes but they were finally seated in the steel roller coaster car awaiting the first movement.
Harper sat next to Elizabeth while the boys were right in front of them. "You like rollercoasters, Elizabeth?"
"Not the biggest fan but I'll try anything at least once. What about you?"
"Never been on one. Should I be scared?"
"No, just be prepared for some excitement." Elizabeth held out her hand. "I'm here. Just hold on to me."
Harper slipped her fingers between Elizabeth's and took a deep breath as the ride started.
The girls screamed at various points in the ride, their hearts beating fast when the Yeti appeared, but all in all, they had a good time.
"I want to do that again!" Dylan announced the moment the ride stopped.
"Let's get lunch first," Elizabeth suggested. "I'm starving."
Pizzafari was what Dylan and Harper chose. As they waited for their large pepperoni and ham pizza to be delivered, they planned out where they would be headed each day.
"Tonight though, I'd like to do the Kilimanjaro Safari. I heard its amazing," Jack told them. "What do you think?" he asked.
"Yeah, that sounds great!" Harper agreed.
The safari ride lasted about twenty five minutes and because it was evening they were able to see animals that were mostly nocturnal. Jack just enjoyed being there with the family and getting to hold Elizabeth's hand through the whole thing, sneaking a kiss once it got dark.
As they wandered back to the parking lot where their rental was, his hand found hers again. She smiled at him and all he could think was how she was going to be his fiancé in just a couple days. He couldn't wait.
The kids climbed in so he walked her over to the passenger side and pulled her into his arms. "Good first day," he mentioned before giving her a kiss.
"Yeah."
Dylan knocked on the window and yelled "Get a room!" and then started laughing.
Jack took that as a challenge. He pulled her close again and kissed her even longer, making a show of it. Elizabeth laughed and smacked his arm. "Be good, sweetheart."
"I'm being good."
"We don't need to embarrass the kids."
"I think they'd better get used to this. I don't plan on stopping for the rest of our lives."
The next day, Dylan and Harper were waiting in line for the Tower of Terror. They'd spent part of the day with their parents, checking out attractions after breakfast. Now they waited in a long line for their ride.
"So we've got some time here," Dylan began. "How do you really feel about this whole proposal thing that's about to happen?"
"It's a little weird, huh? I mean, who would've guessed when we met in homeroom, that our parents were like high school sweethearts or something."
"Seriously. It's so weird." Both laughed. "I guess we'll be what? Step siblings?"
"I guess." The two moved forward a little in line. "You know how in all those movies, the step mom, dad, sister, are all mean?"
"What like in Cinderella?" She nodded.
"Yeah but we don't have to worry about that."
"Right, I guess what I'm thinking is…" She huffed. "Forget it."
"Hold it, sister," Dylan gave her a playful flick in the arm with his finger. "Talk."
"I'm not going to call you my step brother. You're my brother. Okay? None of this step stuff."
"Works for me." He smiled. "Does this mean I can officially intimidate any and all boyfriends you ever bring home?"
"No!" She gasped. "That's Dad's job and I don't even want him doing it."
"No way! I think it's also the big brother's job."
"I'm older than you, dork. Your birthday isn't till March."
"Maybe, but I'm taller."
"Your point?"
"My point is that I am the "big" brother. So deal with it."
"Whatever!" She laughed as they moved forward again. "You think they'll want more kids?"
"What like a baby?"
"Yeah," she shrugged. "Isn't that what married people do? Have babies?"
Dylan scrunched up his nose at the thought. "I guess. Aren't Mom and Dad a little old for that though?"
"Beats me. They sure kiss a lot."
A visible shiver ran through Dylan's body. "New subject please."
"What?" Harper teased. "Our parents make you sick to your stomach?"
"Sometimes… yes!" They laughed.
"Just wait. A couple years and they'll be catching you kissing on the front porch." She made a few kissy noises as she teased.
"Are you serious? Me and who?"
"I don't know. Maybe Em Montgomery?" She sang the name.
"Emily…. and me? Gross!" The thought caught him completely off guard. "Wait, you think she'd go for me someday?"
Harper gasped. "No way! You do like her? OMG! She is going to flip when I tell her!"
"Hold it!" Dylan snatched her cell right out of her hands and held it up over his head. "You tell Emily, I tell Coulter."
"Ouch! That's fair though."
"Thank you…" Dylan sighed handing her back her phone. "And Harp?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad we're gonna be a family."
"Me too."
In another part of the park, Jack and Elizabeth walked hand in hand through the different shops. After picking up a few gifts for their parents and a couple small surprise things for the kids, they stopped at a scoop shop for some ice cream.
Elizabeth smiled at Jack as he sat across from her. His double chocolate ice cream had left a mark on his chin.
"You're adorable. Like a small child."
"What?" he narrowed his gaze. Elizabeth pointed to his chin. "Oh!" With the back of his hand he wiped it clean.
"Hopeless." She shook her head. "You know how hard I've tried to get Dylan to just use a napkin?"
"We're guys, Blue Eyes. No napkins for us."
"Clearly," she laughed. Her phone buzzed. "Aw, look! The kids sent me a picture."
She turned the phone to Jack so he could see the selfie Dylan took of himself and Harper waiting in line. The message said "Just letting you know we're still alive."
"Funny guy," she messaged back. "Have fun!"
"They seem to be getting along well," Jack stated.
"They are. They seem to have a solid bond."
"Almost like brother and sister?"
Bashfully, she smiled."Yes, just like that, actually."
Jack reached across the little round table and took her hand. He said nothing, just gazed lovingly at her. Tonight would be the night. He'd ask her the question that would solidify what was already there. A once in a lifetime love, the four of them as a family. It was time.
"Earth to Jack?" Elizabeth waved her cone in the air. "Where'd you go just then? You seemed to lose yourself in thought."
"Sorry, just thinking about life. Us. The future."
"Things are pretty great right now, huh?"
"I couldn't agree more."
As they drove back to the condo for dinner, the kids couldn't stop talking about the fun they'd had.
"You should have heard him scream, it was the funniest thing ever!" Harper said with an evil laugh.
"It dropped sooner than I expected, that's all!"
"It's called "random drops" for a reason, bro."
"You're acting as if you didn't scream yourself."
"I'm a girl, its expected."
Jack looked back at the two of them and grinned. Dylan was wearing his new Animal baseball cap he'd got at the 3D Muppet Show they'd all seen that afternoon. Harper was wearing a cute tee she'd got in the gift shop of Tower of Terror.
"So kids, what do you want to do tonight?"
"Can watch a movie? The condo has got a ton," Dylan suggested.
"Yeah! We can order food from that taco place down the street! I'm all for movie night!" Harper said excitedly.
"That could work. What about you Blue Eyes?" Jack glanced over. "Let the kids watch a movie and we'll do dinner on the beach?"
"I kind of like the sound of that," she grinned. "You kids alright if we do something different?"
"Go for it. We're big kids now Mom. Go do that romantic staring into each others eyes crap you like so much."
"Dylan Christopher!" she scolded as she laughed. "Not a very classy way to put it but sure, we'll do that."
When they arrived back at the condo, the kids decided to dress in their beach gear and hit the sand before dinner. Elizabeth snuggled in on the couch with her book, enjoying the quiet.
"Blue Eyes, I'm gonna head into town real quick and pick up dinner for us."
"What about the kids?"
"They gave me a list. I know what they want."
"Alright then." she giggled. "I'll go out on the beach with the kids and keep an eye on them in the water."
"No need. They're just walking right now. I told them no water. You rest. How about you meet me on the beach in say, 30 minutes? There's a nice little spot just down the beach on the left."
"Perfect, I'll be there."
Leaning down towards Elizabeth, Jack kissed her sweetly on the lips. "See you in a bit. Love you."
"Love you more."
"Not possible."
Twenty minutes later, the kids stomped in the condo, covered in sand from head to toe, laughing loudly at something.
"What are you two up to?"
"Nothing," they said in unison.
"Alright, I'm gonna go up and change for the beach. You guys okay?"
"Yup. We're just gonna go pick a movie from the den," Harper grinned.
Out in the previous mentioned spot, Jack waited for Elizabeth to show up. Dylan and Harper had been great in helping him set up the heart of candles on the beach and the blanket with a picnic dinner.
He watched in the dim light as two young figures rushed through the sand in the distance. A moment later his phone went off.
"Mission's a go, Dad." Harper messaged.
They were now hidden behind a small sand dune, waiting for Elizabeth to come so they could be a part of it.
Jack felt in his pocket for the tenth time.
Yes, it was still there. He took a deep breath and let it out. Then his eyes lifted and he saw her. Gorgeous in her teal bikini and matching lacy cover up. The sun was setting on the water and she was perfect.
"Hey there." She smiled lovingly. "This is nice." Looking closer, her eyes saw the heart shaped candle formation in the sand. "Jack, what's going on?"
"Dance with me, Blue Eyes?"
He pushed play on his spotify app and slipped it in his pocket. It started playing on the small bluetooth speaker he'd set up one of his favorite songs that made him think of her. Bryan Adam's Heaven.
She stepped into his arms, dancing close among the candles.
"Oh thinkin' about all our younger years
There was only you and me
We were young and wild and free
Now nothing can take you away from me
We've been down that road before
But that's over now
You keep me comin' back for more
And baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
Oh once in your life you find someone
Who will turn your world around
Bring you up when you're feelin' down
Now nothin' can change what you mean to me
Oh there's lots that I could say
But just hold me now
'Cause our love will light the way
And Baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven
I've been waitin' for so long
For somethin' to arrive
For love to come along
Now our dreams are comin' true
Through the good times and the bad
I'll be standin' there by you, oh!
And baby you're all that I want
When you're lyin' here in my arms
I'm findin' it hard to believe
We're in heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn't too hard to see
We're in heaven, heaven
Whoa, oh, oh!
You're all that I want
You're all that I need
We're in heaven
We're in heaven
We're in heaven"
As the song ended, Jack moved back just a step, keeping hold of her hands and gazing into her eyes.
"Elizabeth, I am so in love with you. I had no idea what I felt for you all those years ago until I saw you again. Now I know it was love. And this love I feel for you now is a thousand times deeper than it was back then." He paused and knelt down on his knee.
"Jack," she whispered, so overwhelmed by what was happening.
"Elizabeth, I don't want to live without you. Will you marry me?"
"Yes." She smiled as he slipped the gorgeous ring on her hand. "Absolutely yes."
He pulled her into his arms, lifting her off the ground as he kissed her soft, sweet lips.
"WOOHOO!!!" Dylan and Harper yelled from a few feet away as they rushed towards their parents.
Jack kept kissing her a bit longer before setting her gently back on the sand.
"I thought you two were watching a movie," Elizabeth questioned.
"We wanted to help, Mom. We're going back now." He gave his mom a hug and then Jack. "Congratulations."
"Thanks, bud."
Harper didn't say anything. She just gave them a hug.
"Harp? You okay?" Elizabeth asked, smoothing the girls golden hair back.
"Yeah." She sniffled and wiped her cheeks.
"Are you happy?"
"Yes." She nodded and gave Elizabeth another hug. "I love you."
"I love you too, sweetheart."
"Come on, Harp. Jack said we can order anything we want from the Mexican place. They deliver!"
"Really?" Jack nodded and handed his daughter his credit card. "Awesome!"
As they ran off, Jack yelled. "Use common sense!" He laughed. "I have a feeling my credit card is about to take a hit."
"Who cares?" She pulled Jack close. "Tonight we are all celebrating."
"Yes we are," he grinned then gave her a kiss that carried all his love and passion for his soon to be bride.
A couple days later, Jack pulled into the driveway of Elizabeth's beach side cottage on the Cape. It was nearly midnight.
"We're back," Jack called out into the back seat where both kids had been asleep.
"Finally," Dylan said as she opened his car door. "That nighttime traffic was a nightmare."
"And the delays at the airport," Harper groaned. "Who knew a plane couldn't fly through ice." Bad weather in the north made it so their plane had to be rerouted to Atlanta. It took them hours of waiting in the airport before they boarded the last flight home.
"Well, we're home now," Elizabeth smiled.
"Wait a second," Dylan said as they all climbed out of the car. "How much longer is this home? I mean, you're engaged now."
Jack and Elizabeth looked at each other. They'd talked about it some, but hadn't narrowed down a time frame.
"I'm not sure, sweetie. But I promise you both, when we know, you'll know."
"Fair enough." Dylan grabbed his suitcase and after saying goodbye headed into the house.
Harper gave Elizabeth a hug then sleepily climbed back into the car, ready to be back in her own bed.
"Dylan has a point," Elizabeth said softly as Jack wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close. "The kids need to know what their future looks like. Lord knows they both had enough changes and uprooting in their lives."
"You're right. Harp's got Ashley's wedding this summer. I know she's hoping Harp will spend some time down there beforehand."
"That's fair. I guess we could get married in the fall?"
"Maybe." He leaned down for a kiss. He'd been staring at her tempting lips for too long today without being able to do much about it. With Dylan inside and Harper back asleep in the truck, now was the time. "I might have a better idea."