Elizabeth closed her journal. Another journal filled with her thoughts, fears and dreams was done. Elizabeth put the filled journal next to her other volumes of journals. Elizabeth took one of the journals out of the shelf and started reading it. This one passage from her journal had her five favorite memories with Jack. She looked at the date, it was a couple days before their wedding. Elizabeth must have been trying to come up with vows and jotted down notes.
Her five favorite memories with Jack included when she first met him and thought that she had accidently put chalk dust on his hand, which she did not but he was disappointed. The next memory was when they said I love you to each other. Elizabeth never imagined that their first time saying I love you would be in a damp, dirty coal mine but it was beautiful. The next memory was when Jack surprised her with a schoolhouse and church. He built it out of love for her and the community. Her third favorite memory was when they first kissed. Elizabeth had only kissed one other boy in Hamilton when she was thirteen years old. She wanted to know what a kiss felt like and so she found a boy to kiss. But Jack's kiss was sweet and romantic. After telling her that she was the only one, he softly kissed her lips. Elizabeth remembered how she gasped as he kissed her. His kiss was caring and gentle. The fourth memory was when Jack proposed. Jack was a simple man with big gestures thrown in. The candles alone must have taken hours to light and keep lit. But he did it for her. The final memory was when Jack showed her his land. He wanted to build a house for her and the Thornton clan.
A tear rolled down her cheek at the last memory. Jack and she never got to live their dream out of the Thornton clan but at least she has one member of the Thornton clan with her. Elizabeth looked over at Little Jack and smiled.
Her mind wandered over to Nathan. Elizabeth smiled and opened a new journal. Her first memory with Nathan was Allie's sleepover. He was overwhelmed by Allie's friends that she knew he needed back up. Making frosting with Allie and her students was memorable but the most memorable moment was when she put frosting on Nathan's nose. His face made her laugh in a way that she hadn't laughed in a long time.
Her next memory was at the Christening reception when he offered to hold Little Jack. He saw that she was getting fatigued from holding Jack and decided to relieve her fatigue. That's who Nathan is though. Always looking out for everyone else. And when he made Jack laugh, Elizabeth's heart was full of joy.
The next memory was when he made a plaque for the library. It had one of her favorite Emerson quotes. The plaque was beautiful. It must have taken a long time to sand and stain. The plaque was made from the heart and that is why Elizabeth loved the plaque.
The next memory was complicated. When they were in the woods, Nathan and she had a disagreement. Elizabeth saw how upset he was because she went out after Emily. Elizabeth assumed that he was angry about the Union City trip but it was because he wanted her to be safe because she mattered to him.
Her fifth memory of Nathan was when she warmed his serge. Elizabeth knew at the moment that she cared more for Nathan than just a friend. She wanted to take care of him. She wanted him to be warm out in the cold. He took care of everyone else. Elizabeth could take care of him for once.
Elizabeth smiled at the list and ripped it out of her journal. She would be sharing this with list with Nathan at their next date.