(Elizabeth's POV)

The next few weeks went by in a blur. I focused on school, while Jack was up early and home late. He was dividing his time between work and building our forever home and the new school. While I missed him, for he usually came home once I was already sound asleep and out of the house before I was awake, I knew that this was part of a bigger plan. Once everything was finished, we'd have a new home to raise our family in.

Luckily, my morning sickness slowly made its way out of my daily routine, for I didn't want my students to notice anything different. I also wasn't showing either, which was to be expected, since I wasn't even that far along yet.

The night we found out though, Jack & I decided to tell Rosemary and Lee, and then Jack told Bill on his own as well. We wanted those closest to us to be there every step of the way, through better or worse.

"Oh, you're having a baby! Oh Elizabeth, that's wonderful news!" Rosemary clapped her hands, and pulled me into a tight & loving hug.

"Congratulations to the both of you." Lee went to shake Jack's hand, but Jack pulled him into a hug instead. We stayed and chatted a bit, and then went to bed, for it had been a long and stressful day.

"Bill, I've got some news to tell you," Jack decided to tell Bill the next morning when they met up to discuss their plans for the day. "Elizabeth and I are expecting."

"Jack, that's wonderful news. I'm so happy for you two, you'll make great parents." Jack knew to be careful with what he said, for we both knew Bill had lost his own son at a young age. Even though Bill wouldn't admit it, it still was a touchy subject.

"Thanks Bill, if you've got any advice for me, I'll take it."

"Loosen up, Jack. Being a parent will come naturally. Besides, the way you interact with Elizabeth & the school children, you're a whiz at it already."

I decided that with all of the good news recently, Carson had given me an all-clear on my cancer as well as checked that the baby was still in good health, I figured it was finally time to tell the children (who would eventually spread it around town for me).

"Alright class, before we start our lessons today, I have some exciting news."

"Is it about the new school?" Emily was growing up before my eyes. I could tell her heart was calling her to work with children when she grew up. She was so responsible and such a leader for those having trouble at school. When I told the class we'd be getting a new school with a library, she even offered to organize the book drive for it and help organize where the books belonged.

"It's not about the school, though Mounty Jack is making sure everything is running smoothly. The big news is that Mounty Jack & I are having a baby."

The class erupted into "oohs" and "ahhs", questions, and loud cheers of excitement. Everyone seemed very excited, but it was also a lot of noise at once.

"One at a time everyone. You may ask a few questions, but then we need to start our first lesson. Yes, Gabe?"

"Is that why you were sick earlier?" Gabe, Emily's older brother, was outgrowing school before my eyes too. He was still deciding whether or not he wanted to go to college or work with Lee. I think he'd be great at both, and I'd support him either way. Poor Gabe was the one who first asked if I felt alright when I got sick, and he also took charged when I collapsed in the saloon. Those Montgomery kids were strong leaders though, their mother taught them well, and I was so proud of them.

"Yes. I was scared my sickness was back, and I didn't want to worry you all. But it turns out that it was just because I have a baby in my belly."

"Is the baby making you sick?"

"Kind of, Opal. The baby's moving around and making his or herself comfortable, so it can make me sick at first. But I think things are finally settling down. In about nine months, we'll all get to meet the baby.

"But that's such a long time."

"I know, but we'll have other things to focus on. The new school, putting together the library, and our lessons. Which, we should start now."

(Abigail's POV)

Everything was finally settling down in our town. Elizabeth was expecting, Jack was building a home and a school, and I was newly engaged. Frank & I phoned Becky, and she said things were going well at school. She was going to graduate this year, in hopes of becoming a nurse in Hamilton, but would try her best to make it back for the wedding.

Frank & I both agreed that we wanted a simple wedding. Of course, the whole town was going to want to be there, but we wanted a small wedding party. When I called Becky, I asked her to be one of my bridesmaids, which she was honored about. Cody was going to be Frank's best man, which I thought was so sweet of Frank to do. I knew I wanted Elizabeth & Rosemary by my side when I married Frank, but there was still one more person I had in mind.

Dottie's Dress Shop was in a full swing these days, and I knew that Rosemary was in her element here. "Abigail! I didn't expect you here, are you looking for something in particular? Need me to whip up a design?"

"Thank you, Rosemary, but I'm actually here to see Clara." I hadn't told Rosemary about the wedding just yet. Considering the day I got engaged was also when Elizabeth learned she was pregnant, it was just a lot all at once. Plus, I wanted to tell Clara first. She was like a daughter to me, and she's family.

"Oh, she's in the back working on some orders. Let me go get her." Rosemary hopped off the stool, and disappeared in the back.

I looked around at all of the dresses, and thought about my own wedding dress. I still had my dress from my first wedding. I honestly thought about wearing it, but didn't know how Frank would feel. He had been so kind to include Noah in his proposal, but I also knew that this union wouldn't be about him this time around. I also knew that Noah would be happy for me that I found a man to love me like he once did.

My thoughts were cut off when Clara appeared. "Abigail? What brings you by the dress shop?"

"There's something I need to tell you." We walked outside and sat down on a bench outside. "Frank proposed to me a few weeks ago. We haven't told many people yet, but I wanted to ask you to be one of my bridesmaids."

"Abigail, that's fantastic news! I'm so happy for you!"

"Thank you, Clara. I'm so glad you're a part of my family. Frank even found a way to include Noah & Peter in the proposal…" I explained that afternoon to Clara, and tears filled her eyes.

"That was so lovely of Frank to do. I'm so thankful that we've both found love through the tragedy we faced."

"And we found each other in the process."

"A wedding?! Oh that's so exciting!" Rosemary appeared from the doorway and came over to the two of us. "I couldn't help overhearing the news, and I'm so happy for you!"

"Well thank you, Rosemary. I was just asking Clara to be one of my bridesmaids, and I'd love for you to be one too. I still have to ask Elizabeth too, then all the special women in my life will be with me on that special day."

"Yes of course I'll do it! I'm so honored that you thought of me. Do you have a wedding dress yet? What about bridesmaid dresses? What's your theme or you color palette?"

"I haven't thought that far ahead yet, we don't want anything too out there, just something that's simple and reflects our love for one another."

"Rosemary, why don't we go back inside and let Abigail get back to the café?" Clara said to Abigail, and gave me a wink, and I smiled back at her.

"Yes, yes of course. We will talk more about this later, Abigail!"

I could tell that these next few months were going to be filled with so much love for Hope Valley and the people who lived here.