Disclaimer: I am not the owner of the characters in this story. All rights go to Crown Media, Hallmark, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr., the actors, creators, and writers of the show "When Calls the Heart."
Chapter 31- Who's More Excited
STEAM ALERT…
Recap from the end of Chapter 30…
"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?"
Now on with our story…
Grinning like the Cheshire cat, Jack seemed quite pleased with himself.
Elizabeth approached the table and looked inside the huge bag, which she found contained two smaller ones. Each bag was decorated differently. She was relieved that the news was out and thankful that he was so excited; his reaction finally allowing her the opportunity to feel blessed by their circumstances.
The first bag with pictures of ballerinas on all four sides contained a pink teddy bear, and when the key on the back was wound up it played the song "Daddy's Little Girl."
"The baby isn't even here and already you are wrapped…" she giggled. "Jack, this is precious," she stated as she held the plush bear up to her chest.
"Look in this one," he stated as he held up the second bag decorated with pictures of Transformers. "I'm not sure what these are, but they didn't look girlie."
Elizabeth reached inside and pulled out a small glove and wiffle balls. "Jack, you know that if we have a boy it will be a while before he can play catch."
"Yes, but with a wiffle ball, we can play inside when the weather is bad. See, I'm thinking ahead," he explained.
He took the bag from her hands and pulled her into his chest, "I have never been happier than I am right now…well, the day I met you, the day you agreed to marry me and our wedding day were awfully special too."
Before she realized it, Jack had scooped her up in his arms and was carrying her back toward the bedroom, "Let's celebrate."
"Jack, although I love the pampering, I can walk," she whispered into his ear.
Jack leaned back slightly capturing her lips with his. "Mmm, wait," he whispered as he turned and headed back for the kitchen.
"Wait, what about the celebration?"
"I forgot dinner; you and the babies need food."
"Excuse me? Babies…plural?"
"Well, you never know and I want to be sure you eat well."
"Jack…"
"Please humor me, Elizabeth. I've never been this excited before in my life."
"Okay Jack, I'll humor you."
They sat down to dinner; held hands throughout the meal, as their smiles never left their faces.
"What do you want, Jack?"
"Do you mean like World Peace and stuff like that?"
"No silly; do you have a wish for a boy or a girl?"
"To have a boy to teach to fish and throw a ball; to take to baseball and football game…" he obviously floated into his own little world as he smiled but said nothing else.
"Jack…Jack," she called out, as he finally returned from the World Series in his mind where their son hit the game winning grand slam. "What if we have a girl? I mean, will you be disappointed?"
Jack got up from the table and took her hand, gently pulling her out onto the open floor. "Elizabeth," he smiled as she observed his eyes become somewhat misty, "I would be in heaven with a little girl who looks like her mom."
Jack held Elizabeth close as they started swaying to the imaginary music. With a lift in his voice, Jack continued, "I can see me dancing around the room with her standing on my feet, looking up into my eyes with such love, like I'm the best man she has ever known."
"You are; she will be so lucky to have you…"
Jack continued, "I would be cheering her on from the front row of all of her dance recitals and drama club performances." Jack turned Elizabeth around so her back was to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his hands on her abdomen as he leaned in and whispered in her ear, "Elizabeth, with you as their mom, I will feel blessed with either a son or a daughter, or both."
"Jack, would you please stop with this 'both' business? I don't know that I can sign up for a litter, okay?"
"I'm sorry, but twins do run in my family."
"Where?"
"My mom is a twin…"
"I never knew that," Elizabeth hesitantly replied as the possibility of a multiple birth now seemed to loom more possible.
Jack took her hand and led her toward the sofa.
"Hey, what happened to our celebration?" she asked as she pulled on the bottom of his button down shirt, wrestling it over his head and on the floor before he objected.
"Honey, maybe we should wait to get the okay from the doctor…"
"Jack," she whispered while moving closer, her breath warming his skin as the fire was ignited within. "I don't know if you are aware, but my understanding is that a woman's need for making love is greater during pregnancy."
"Really…?"
"I guess that's one of your perks," she whispered as her lips worked their way along his neck.
"I just don't want to do anything to hurt you or the baby…"
Elizabeth began laughing.
"What's so funny…?" he asked, his tone showed that he was slightly hurt.
"I'm sorry, Jack. It's nothing…"
"No, tell me…"
"Well, are you thinking that you'll be bopping the baby on the head when we're in the throes of passion?"
"Uh, no…of course not," he stated but his expression showed that the thought had crossed his mind. "I don't know what I'm thinking…"
"Jack, first of all, the baby is very small right now, and well, what you're thinking just isn't going to happen."
"I'm so excited but are you positive that it's safe?"
"Well, if you'd like to show me how excited you are about this news, I promise you that my doctor has already said I'm cleared." Seeing his hesitancy she continued, "But, if you don't want to be with MEEEEE…" she ended up squealing as he slipped his hand under her legs and swept her into his arms.
"While I'm breathing, there will never come a time in my life where I don't want to be with you," he barely managed the words before his lips met hers.
He never recalled the hallway being that long as he rushed to get to their bedroom. He gently laid her across the bed and his heart practically exploded when he observed the glowing smile which covered her face.
"You are the most beautiful woman I have even known. I love you so much," he whispered as he gently lowered his body down onto the bed beside her.
Jack's fingers began working meticulously on the buttons which ran down the front of her shirt. Her body rose up slightly as the garment was slipped over her shoulders revealing a cream colored camisole underneath.
Her skin tingled as his fingers brushed across her abdomen while he rolled the camisole up her body and over her head. She laid her head back and closed her eyes as she felt his hands move softly, tenderly across her body.
Her heart pounded and respiration increased as his hand brushed across her breast and his lips met the soft skin on her chest. He moved along her collarbone as her gentle moans fed the passion.
Jack's lips softly press against her closed eyelids before making contact with his true desired target, her soft, plump, rosy lips. As their lips met, over and over again, the passion soared, and the butterflies in her stomach scrambled as she felt a tingling sensation all the way down to her toes.
Her lips opened slightly encouraged by the subtle pressure of his tongue as it began to sweep across the tender skin on the inside of her mouth.
They separated slightly as both attempted to catch their breath. No words were spoken, none were needed. He looked into her eyes and saw everything important to him, and his lips again met hers.
His hand rested below her ear as his thumb caressed her cheek. She slipped her hand under his t-shirt and ran her fingers down his spine. The heat between them was intense as she pulled his body closer to her. Skin to skin, with no space between them, she could feel his heart pounding against her chest.
Jack sat up while straddling her hips and quickly pulled his t-shirt off, dropping it onto the floor. Her hands reached for the buckle on his belt as it was quickly removed and her fingers began working on the zipper on his pants.
Excited and unable to contain his desire for her, he jumped off the bed, shedding his pants and boxers before returning his attention to the lower half of Elizabeth's body. He unbuttoned her jeans, slipping them and her panties down her long, shapely legs.
His hands massaged each leg as he worked his way up her calf, over her knee and as she gasped with pleasure, his hands gently moved across her thigh.
"I want you, Jack…I need you," she whispered as he quickly joined her back in bed.
With his arms around her waist, his body rolled, taking her with him. As they kissed and their hands continued to explore each other, the passions raged and both were desperate for more.
She leaned down, teasing him as her hair brushed across his chest. She ran her tongue along her bottom lip, moving in closer to his lips before giggling and backing away, leaving him wanting her desperately and feeling much like he was burning from the inside out.
She whispered, "You're mine."
"Always and forever," were the only words he could manage as her touch swiftly and suddenly stole his breath.
As he held her arms firmly, his body rolled, coming to a stop with her on her back and his body firmly on top of her.
He clasped his hands in hers as he raised her arms above her head. His lips gently moved across her breasts as her back arched and soft moans escaped with the rush of air from her lungs.
She drew her knees up and his body fit perfectly between them. Their wants, needs and desires, took control as her body rhythmically rose to meet his. At that moment they were one; skin to skin, emotion to emotion, and heart to heart. In the darkness of the night, as the pleasured sounds escaped through their lips, they each found themselves on the edge of ecstasy.
Jack made love to her like it was the first time. Actually it was the first time he'd touched her since learning that she was to be the mother of his child. It was new, exciting and more beautiful than either could have imagined.
As they lay in bed, doing their best to catch their breaths, Jack snuggled up to Elizabeth's back. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in close to his body.
Elizabeth was quickly asleep, much to Jack's dismay, who was usually the first one to close his eyes. He placed his hand on Elizabeth's abdomen, closed his eyes and prayed…
"Dear Lord,
I praise you every day for bringing this woman into my life. She is everything I need and all that I could ever possibly want. I feel so blessed to be with her on this journey."
This woman brought out the tender, gentle side in him, and at this moment, tears formed and easily spilled down his cheeks. He continued his prayer…
"I love her; I didn't think I could love her more, but then I look at her again, and I do. She is the best thing that has ever happened in my life, and now a baby… Thank you Lord for this miracle, he or she will bring such joy to our family. Please keep Elizabeth and the baby safe. Let there never come a time where I let them down, and may they always know just how important they are in my life.
In Jesus name and for his sake,
Amen"
Elizabeth stirred slightly as she turned her head and barely opened her eyes, "Are you okay?" she whispered.
She felt his warm breath as it caressed her neck. She giggled as her head tilted slightly, giving him free accessed to her bare skin. She turned her head and looked into his eyes.
Observing his tears, she rolled over to face him. As her fingers brushed across his cheeks, she whispered, "Are you okay? What's wrong?"
His smile calmed her immediately. "There is absolutely nothing wrong. I love you so much, and I feel so blessed to have you in my life…and now a baby. I am truly one lucky man."
Her lips met his as he rolled back and her head eventually came to rest on his chest.
"Elizabeth," he whispered, "I promise to always take care of you…"
Elizabeth placed her arms on his chest and rested her chin in her hands, "Jack, I don't need you to take care of me; I just need you to love me."
"I already do that," he replied.
Her lips met his chest, "You most certainly do…"
His arms held her tightly as she drifted back to sleep. He rose up on one elbow, content to be quiet and simply watch her sleep.
Several hours later, Elizabeth woke, still wrapped in his arms and with his left leg draped over hers. Their arms and legs were quite the tangled mess, but she inhaled deeply and smiled as she released a very satisfied breath.
Much like a spy movie where the heroine meticulously works her way through various laser rays, Elizabeth was able to unwrap herself from his hold and slip out of bed. All of their clothes were scattered on the floor on the other side of the room, so she grabbed his light blue dress shirt that was hanging on the bed post and slipped it on.
Elizabeth walked over to her desk, pulled out her journal, feeling the need to express the joy and happiness that she felt over the news of their pregnancy. She flipped through the book, stopping to reflect on several recent entries, thankful that Jack's reaction to their life altering news did not blow their relationship out of the water.
She flipped to the next blank page, clicked her favorite writing pen and began to convey her feelings onto the white canvas…
"As I have moved from childhood to adolescence, and now into adulthood, I am appreciative and thankful for each and every choice, heartbreak and regret. I am well aware of the fact that should anything in my life been different, even minutely so, my dreams could have led me in different directions, and the unacceptable outcome that I may never have met you.
We are now beginning a journey of a lifetime. Our lives will no longer be our own; our lives will never be the same, but in the same regard, our lives will be incredibly exciting, fulfilling and euphoric. My dearest Jack, I don't think I understood just what you meant to me until I saw how excited you were about our little peanut.
Elizabeth placed her hand on her abdomen and smiled. Her pen returned to her journal as a very powerful thought consumed her… "Whatever you may be, our princess or our prince, please always know that you are now and will forever be most definitely wished for, longed for, prayed for, and dearly loved."
Weeks passed, Elizabeth felt so relieved that Jack had been told about her pregnancy and was both accepting and noticeably thrilled. She found it difficult to contain her own excitement, as she continually perused online stores for nursery decorating ideas. Additionally, she was unable to bypass the local baby store on Wednesdays and Saturdays, knowing that their shipments of new items arrived on those days.
"Elizabeth, we have plenty of time to get the nursery ready. I'm afraid that you're going to over exert yourself," Jack commented as he found magazine after magazine on the coffee table displaying decorating options.
"Okay, but look at these things I got at Baby's 'R' Us. Aren't they just the cutest?" Elizabeth asked as she dragged Jack to their room and retrieved several bags from the back of her closet, pulling each item out to show him.
"Honey, I love you, but don't you think this may be a bit too much? I mean we don't even know if we're having a boy or a girl."
"I'm sorry Jack. I just walked through the store and saw these adorable outfits and I had to have them," she explained. "Besides, these can go for a boy or a girl."
"Well, I understand you're excited, so am I, but you don't see me going out buying up the stores. I don't know maybe men just handle the excitement differently. I guess we're just calmer and take things as they come."
"Well Jack, if you will recall, you purchased the first presents for the babies…"
"Babies…?"
"You know what I meant, Jack. I'll try to tone down the excitement somewhat, okay?"
Jack pulled her in for a hug, "I'm just teasing. You do what you need to do to prepare. I'll just sit back and watch."
Jack kissed her cheek before getting up from the sofa, "I'm going out to take care of the horses. Do you need anything before I go?"
"Nope, I'm fine. I'm just going to put this stuff back in my closet."
Elizabeth took the numerous bags and returned them to the confines of her closet before returning to the den and the comforts of her sofa. She stretched out, feeling the need to nap, and had only just closed her eyes when Jack's phone rang.
"Jack," she called out, forgetting that he was in the barn. She sat up and answered, "Jack Thornton's phone."
"Is Mr. Thornton there?" the voice on the other end asked.
"No, he's in the barn taking care of the horses. This is Mrs. Thornton; may I help you?"
Following the call, Elizabeth sat his phone on the table and lay back down. Twenty minutes later Jack walked back into the house.
"The horses are done for the night. Did I miss anything?" he asked.
She sat up and her facial expression was in obvious thinking mode. She pulled one of her baby magazines from the table and as she began to flip through it, she nonchalantly remarked, "Hmm, Mrs. Halloran from The Goddard Gifted School called and wanted to thank you for your inquiry. Oh, and she wanted to let you know that our baby has been placed on the waiting list for their 2022 preschool program."
"BUSTED…" Elizabeth called out as she laughed when she caught Jack's stunned expression.
To be continued…
