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."

Chapter 30- Love Grows

Elizabeth walked inside, but watched Jack pull out of the driveway before closing the door. She immediately walked to the bathroom and looked in the mirror, "a glow? I think he's being kind, because I certainly don't see it."

She walked into the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of water and returned to the den where she took a seat on the sofa.

"Come on, Onyx," Elizabeth called out as she patted the sofa cushion beside her.

Onyx did as usual; she placed her front feet on the sofa and demanded that Elizabeth lift her rear end, which she did. Elizabeth took her seat again and wrapped her arm around her dear confidant.

"Do you think Jack's going to be mad?" she asked, knowing that responses never materialized but hoping that on this occasion one would.

As the day wore on, Elizabeth and Onyx dozed on the sofa, trying their best to enjoy the lazy Saturday.


At 4pm, Elizabeth slipped her shoes on and started for the back door. Feeling a slight ache in her ankle, she stopped by the sink and grabbed a glass of water and two extra strength Tylenol caplets, swallowed them and continued to the barn.

She watched Sophie and Bugsy eat their dinners; she wanted desperately to ride, but decided that she'd better wait until she spoke to her personal doctor. With the stalls cleaned, water buckets filled and hay in the rack for the morning, she and Onyx headed back toward the house.

"Jack…" she called out but received no answer.

She stood in the middle of the den, inhaled and released a frustrated breath. "Would you like to take a walk, Onyx?"

Onyx's tail began to wag as Elizabeth pulled a plain white piece of paper from the kitchen junk drawer. She grabbed a pen from the counter and prepared to write Jack a note.

"Ruff, ruff," Onyx barked loudly, startling Elizabeth.

Assuming Jack was home, they both rushed to the front door. Elizabeth grabbed her leash from the entryway table and out the door they went, leaving the blank, white piece of paper sitting on the counter.

They both climbed into Elizabeth's Jeep and headed away from the house. Before reaching the beach Elizabeth's phone rang.

"Hey Rosie…"

"Did you and Jack talk?"

"I intended to, but he went to help someone move today, so no, we didn't talk."

"Elizabeth…" Rosie stated with an accusatory tone.

"Stop Rosie; I was prepared to tell him, but someone was counting on him."

"You count on him. You depend on him. He needs to know. Besides the longer you wait, the harder it will be to tell him."

Elizabeth felt herself beginning to shut down again. She knew Rosie was right, but she couldn't help being afraid to broach the subject.

"Are you at home? I'm coming over…"

"No Rosie; Onyx and I are going to walk on the beach for a while. The sound of the waves always seems to clear my head."

"Let me guess; you are at your favorite place, right?"

"Yep, I'm heading for the Fort Story Lighthouse."

"Please be careful."

"I will…"

"Do you promise to talk to Jack?"

"I will. Maybe tonight."

"No maybe's about it. You have to tell him."

"Rosie, I know. You aren't telling me anything I don't know. I'm just scared that he's going to be so upset with me."

"Elizabeth, he'll be over the moon excited."

"I hope you're right. Worst case scenario is that I take my old room at your place…" Elizabeth nervously laughed.

"That's not true and certainly not funny. I mean you're always welcome here, but you won't need it."

Elizabeth pulled into the parking lot and was surprised to find an empty spot in the front row. "Actually, we don't even have to get out. The Lighthouse is right there. Seeing Onyx's excitement at the prospect of walking along the water she opened the door, and with no other dogs around she allowed Onyx to run loose on the beach.

She grabbed her bag and as she started walking behind Onyx toward the water, her phone, left inside the car began to ring.


"Elizabeth, where are you?" Jack asked in the message that he left.

He sat on the sofa, holding his phone and repeatedly pulling it up to view the screen. He walked to the back door and observed the horses munching on grass, but was worried because Elizabeth had usually taken care of the animals by now.

"Hey Rosie…" Jack called out as he called Elizabeth's dear friend.

"Hi Jack."

"Do you know where Elizabeth is?"

"She isn't home yet?"

"Home from where? She was here when I left."

"I think she just took Onyx out for a walk along the beach."

"She's not answering her phone."

"She must have left it in the Jeep. I talked to her just before she went for her walk."

"Where did she go?"

"She said that she was at her favorite part of the beach…"

"The Lighthouse?"

"Yes, you really do know her Jack. Go find her and talk to her."

"Is something wrong?"

"Jack, it isn't my place to say anything, but I think she needs to talk to you."

"Rosie, what's wrong?"

"She'll talk to you, Jack. Just go find her."

Jack grabbed his keys, jumped in his truck and headed for Fort Story.


Elizabeth pulled a towel from her bag along with her journal. She took a seat on the towel and while listening to the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore, she momentarily reflected on the recent happenings in her life.

She opened her journal and flipped to the next blank page. She glanced down as her hand protectively covered her abdomen, before noises in the background drew her out of her self-imposed trance. She clicked her favorite pen and began to purge herself of burdening feelings and thoughts…

"Your biggest battle is between what you believe to be true and what you fear will happen. You exist, knowing that although you have a say, the final decision should be made together. But you're scared to speak the words for fear that they will not be received a happily as you intend them.

Your stomach, once excitedly uneasy, steadies…calms with an uncomfortable stillness as your heart breaks and the butterflies die. You are now torn between two people; one you've loved for a long time, and the other has yet to materialize, yet the feelings are there and are just as strong.

Is it simply a matter of love? Is it simply a question of whether or not there is enough to go around? If you consider our lives as a glass of water with several squirts of lemon for taste, you have your choice. You can either consume the concoction as it is tart as it can be, or you can continue to pour in water, at some point easing the sour taste. The same goes for life and the journey we undertake together. We may attempt to pluck, piece by piece anything that we find distasteful or uncomfortable in our world or we can add in more love. For love appears to be the only thing that as you give it away, the more you actually receive."


He pulled into the parking lot and found an empty space next to her Jeep.

Jack walked out onto the beach and immediately found Elizabeth sitting on a towel in the sand not far from where the waves were crashing along the shore. Her knees were bent and her arms were wrapped around them as she grasped one wrist with the other hand and gazed out onto the water.

As he approached, Onyx broke from Elizabeth and ran toward Jack. Elizabeth quickly looked up, and seeing Jack she immediately began to wipe her eyes.

"Hi…can we talk?" he asked as he walked up and squatted down near her.

"Hi…do you have the time?" she responded, as she looked away while continuing to dry her eyes.

"Elizabeth, I always have time for you."

"We haven't lately…"

"Honey, what's wrong?" he asked.

"You're going to be mad; I know it."

"Elizabeth, please look at me…" when she continued to look out on the water, his finger under her chin turned her to face him. "Please talk to me."

"I'm scared. I don't want you to be upset with me…"

"Did you get a ticket? It's okay; we'll just pay the fine. It's not worth getting so upset over."

She turned away from him and rested her forehead on her knees surrounded in the circle of her arms. Her breathing was ragged and her tears continued.

"Okay, so it's not a ticket. Please tell me what's wrong…" He sat quietly beside her rubbing her back, doing his best to comfort her.

"Did your dad give you something you don't want to tell me about?"

She shook her head back and forth but didn't raise it from the safety of her arms.

"Elizabeth…honey, I can't help you unless I know what's wrong."

Elizabeth carefully stood and began to walk down the beach, followed quickly by Jack and Onyx. As tears began to form in his eyes he took her hand and pulled it up to his chest, turning her body to face him, "Elizabeth, you're scaring me. I can…we can handle anything as long as we do it together."

As her hand rested on his chest, she felt his heart pounding as if he had just run a full marathon. She knew that she needed to tell him, but for some reason she was unable to force the words out of her mouth. Disappointing him was one thing she seriously didn't want to do, but with him being so adamant about waiting on children, she was certain that she had.

"Nothing is that bad. We'll deal with it. Did the doctor tell you something that you haven't told me?" he assured her.

Elizabeth took several deep breaths doing her best to calm her own breathing and she began…

"Jack, I know that this isn't what you want, and I guess it's my fault, so I'm sorry. I didn't take them like I was supposed to and whether you believe me or not, I didn't trick you, although it may seem like I did."

"Take what honey? Trick me with what?"

He looked worried, and she decided that the old Doris Day reruns were right; Que sera, sera; whatever will be will be. He'd be happy or angry, and whichever he chose, she would be unable to control the outcome. His feelings were his and she would have to accept them.

"Jack, you've said over and over that you don't want children right now; I do, but I promise you, I was willing to wait until you were ready." She felt her body tremble slightly, "Jack, I'm…

A broad smile covered his face as his hands took hold of her upper arms, "Pregnant…are you pregnant?"

Awaiting the shockwave, she simply shook her head up and down. The stern look never materialized. The anger that she anticipated never broke through, and the disappointment that she expected to see in his expression was completely concealed by his broad smile and tears, the amount of which rivaled hers.

His hands cradled her face as his lips met hers softly, so gently. As he drew back slightly his thumbs brushed across her cheeks, carefully sweeping away her tears.

"Pregnant…?" he whispered.

"I'm sorry Jack; I know you weren't expecting this and I promise you I…I…"

"That is the best news you could have given me… I'M GONNA BE A FATHER," he yelled before picking her up and spinning her around.

He quickly and very carefully placed her feet back on the sand. Before either of them could catch their breath, his lips covered hers. It was soft and tender, but with an excitement that had previously been reserved for their times alone.

While attempting to catch her breath, she asked, "I'm confused. Why are you so happy after you've continually told me that you're glad we decided to wait?"

Before she knew it, he had swept her up in his arms and they were heading for the bench located nearby. "What are you doing?"

"Taking care of you…"

He gently placed her on the bench and took a seat beside her.

"So, are you going to answer me?" she asked. "Your reaction has totally shocked me. I thought you were going to be upset with me."

He took her hand and pulled it to his lips, "Upset with you? Never! Elizabeth, I have been crazy about you since we first met. Marrying you, and having children with you…well, I couldn't be happier."

"You still haven't answered me…"

"Do you remember when we were talking about marriage and having children?"

"Of course I do…"

"Well, you were riding the horses and you mentioned that you wanted to finish out the year with the shows before we tried for a baby," his words caused her to think back.

"You remember that?"

"Yes, and if you will recall, I was disappointed, but I figured when the time was right it would happen."

Elizabeth looked down as she appeared deep in thought, "I remember the look of sadness in your eyes but you agreed to let me have this time. I had forgotten that."

Still confused, she continued, "But why all the talk about the family that came in to file the complaint and the kids were screaming and being glad that we'd decided to wait? Or any time I brought up the subject you changed it."

"Honey," he pulled her into his body, "Did you think I didn't want kids?" As he spoke the words, his voice wavered. "I'm so sorry you felt that. I was so upset with myself for not being with you when you needed me. I was just frustrated and said it without thinking. It certainly isn't how I felt then, or how I feel now. I should have chosen my words more carefully."

Her palm rested on the side of his face and he continued, "As for changing the subject, I assumed that once you were pregnant that riding might be off limits. I just wanted you to be sure. I want you to have everything Elizabeth. I want to give you everything…"

"You love me, Jack. That's all I've ever asked for," Elizabeth replied.

He continued; with his hand around her shoulders, the fingers on his free hand brushed the loose curls behind her ear. "The show season isn't over for six more months," he advised her, a fact that she knew but had somehow removed from her conscious thought. "That's why I thought we'd look at it again next year."

His eyes watered profusely. She had only seen a man cry this much on one occasion when her grandmother passed away. She remembered seeing her father break down following his mother's service. Although he remained strong in front of everyone, following the funeral, she observed him crying uncontrollably through his open office door. His show of emotion, even though he assumed it to be in private, made her love him even more, and she easily felt the same about Jack.

As her fingers slipped through his hair and amidst the tears from both, their lips met. Their tears continued as they separated and he pulled her into his chest.

"Let's go home; I need to get you out of this chill," Jack stated as he stood from the bench. He took her hand, pulling her up from the bench as they started walking back toward the parking lot.

"WE'RE PREGNANT…" he yelled emphatically as they passed two couples.

"Congratulations," the two women replied. Their significant others directed the women away almost as if they thought that pregnancy could be passed by osmosis, and they wanted as much space as possible between them.

As they reached the stairs, Jack's hand swept behind her back to steady her.

"As much as I appreciate the assistance, I can climb stairs, Jack," she teased.

"Please indulge me," he stated as his lips brushed across her cheek.

They walked to their vehicles and he opened her door. Before she slipped inside he turned her around to face him. "I love you Elizabeth Thornton, and I love this baby too. Please never doubt that," he stated as his hand rested upon her abdomen.

"What do you feel like eating for dinner?" he asked.

"Lasagna…oh, with extra sauce," she stated with a smile.

"I'll stop by Olive Garden on the way home. You text me when you get home, okay?" he responded.

"Jack…"

"I know what you're going to say, but humor me," he replied as he leaned in through her window and gently met her lips, quickly and pleasantly quieting her.


"I'm home…" she texted.

"Be there soon. Love u…"

"Back atcha Daddy…"

Jack sat in Olive Garden waiting on their order, a big smile on his face, and a strong desire to hurry home.

Forty five minutes later Jack walked through the door and found that Elizabeth was outside checking on the horses. He put the food on the counter and placed a gift bag on the table.

As she walked back inside, Jack's broad smile had yet to leave his face from earlier. He stepped to the side, revealing his surprise.

"Jack, what did you do?"

To be continued…