That evening, Levi sat on the couch with a stack of books beside him. It wasn't uncommon for children with hearing disabilities to lag behind in reading. Not Levi. Having a mother who was an educator for his advocate was a huge bonus. Not only was he reading, but he was above target for his age. Elizabeth worked extra hard to learn the best ways to teach her son and to get help from experts in the field.
Putting his Ninja Turtle early reader book in the finished pile, Levi looked up at Elizabeth. She was pacing back and forth in the kitchen, her hand firmly placed on her hip. Levi knew that stance. She was in fight mode.
"No, it's unacceptable!" She raised her voice. "Not knowing where my son is for a moment, it happens, but leaving the orchard without him is completely inexcusable."
Levi waved his hand in the air to get her attention.
Elizabeth covered the receiver. "What, love?" she mouthed slowly.
"Who?" He used his voice and pointed to the phone.
"Your school."
Levi smacked his forehead with his hand. "Sorry," he spoke.
"It's okay, I love you."
"Love you," he smiled as he signed then grabbed another book. He glanced up occasionally but Elizabeth spoke so fast as she moved back and forth that he could barely make anything out. He did catch the words "danger" and "never again."
Hanging up the phone, Elizabeth walked into the living room and sat down on the couch, pulling Levi into her embrace. She knew he couldn't hear her but she still whispered, "I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you." Then she kissed the top of his head.
Sitting up to face his mom, Levi signed, "Do I go to school tomorrow?"
"Yes," she told him. "Is that okay?"
He nodded. "I have library tomorrow."
"You and your books." She laughed, hugging him close.
A little while later, after Levi had showered and was put to bed, Elizabeth curled up in front of the TV with a glass of white wine and a blanket.
Halfway through an old episode of Sherlock, her phone rang. She didn't recognize the number, but answered it anyway.
"Hello, this is Elizabeth Thatcher."
"Good evening Ms. Thatcher. My name of Charlotte Thornton, of Thornton Orchards. I hope it's not too late."
"Oh no, you're fine. How can I help you?"
"I talked to my sons this evening and they shared with me what happened in regards to your sweet Levi. I just wanted to personally apologize to you."
"Thank you, ma'am, but it wasn't your fault. The school should have been more careful and Levi needs to try to be more aware of what's going on around him."
"I just wish I could have prevented it. I met him today and he is such a delightful little boy."
"That he is, I can't imagine my life without him."
"I'm sure! Thankfully, my sons said Levi seemed to take it all in stride though."
"He did. To him, today was one big adventure. He loved having lunch with Jack."
"I believe Jack enjoyed that time as well," Charlotte chuckled and then an idea began to form. "Tom mentioned you were on the waitlist for a spot at Eastman for Levi? With your permission I'd love to see if I can maybe help speed that along."
"How? Besides, I don't want to be a bother."
"Nonsense! What good is me being in the school board if I can't help?"
"Alright," Elizabeth chuckled at the woman's enthusiasm. "I'll take whatever help I can get. I just want Levi to feel comfortable and safe at school. Right now he's the only child like him and though the staff tries, they don't always know how to help him."
"I understand. We went through the same thing with my grandson. I'll let you go, I just wanted to apologize again. I'll be in touch."
"Thank you, Charlotte. Bye."
Elizabeth hung up the phone and unpaused the TV. She only lasted another 15 minutes before her body began begging her for sleep. Technically it was still early, but she felt like emotionally she'd been through the ringer that day.
Turning off everything, she headed to bed. As her head hit the pillow, she closed her eyes. To her surprise, the first image her brain brought up was of the handsome, tall, dark haired man her son had shared a lunch with that day.
"Wow," she said, shooting up in her bed. "Don't do it, Elizabeth. Don't go there. A guy like that, he's got to be married."
…..
In the next town, Jack sat out on the back deck of his partially finished home. He'd been working on his log cabin for a few years now. It was coming together nicely, but the fact that it was just for him at the moment, made his motivation to finish minimal.
He pulled long hours at the orchard, and did most of his construction on the house at night. It worked out well. Especially on the nights he couldn't sleep. Seven years had passed but his final mission as an Army Ranger still haunted him at times. There were nights Jack would wake up in a cold sweat, screaming as he came out of a nightmare. Sometimes he could tell if one might happen. Like tonight, as he sat on the deck facing the lake, he could still hear the blasts, the cries for help, all as if he were still there.
He needed a distraction, but didn't feel like working on the home. Instead he picked up his phone and started to watch the episode of Sherlock he'd started earlier. He didn't watch a lot of TV, but it was useful when he needed to be pulled out of his mind and into a fictional world.
Ten minutes later, the sound of tires on the dirt drive out front pulled Jack back into the real world. He didn't move. There were only two people that would come unannounced at this time of night. Both would know where to find him.
"Hey, bro." Tom walked up on the deck. "Thought you might be up still."
"It's only 9:30, of course I'm up." Tom took a seat in the chair next to Jack. "How's Ryan?"
"Asleep. Mom's watching him."
When Megan passed, Charlotte moved back into the main house on the orchard to help Tom. It was the same house she had raised her children in. Jack lived there too for a little while when he'd first left the service.
Once Tom got into a good rhythm as a parent, Jack bought a small trailer and moved out to the patch of land he was now building his home on.
Tom looked around at the progress his brother had made. "It's looking good."
"Thanks. I think the kitchen is almost done."
"And the upstairs?"
"Haven't worked on that much. I mean, its framed in and all but it needs taping, paint, trim and floors."
"Oh, is that all?" Tom laughed.
"I'm in no rush."
"What if you meet some beautiful woman and you want to, I don't know, settle down?"
"I'm happy. You, on the other hand…" Jack smiled.
"Don't even go there, man, I'm happy enough with my life. I've got a good job, great son, family. I'm set."
"What about…"
"If you go off about how one day Ryan will need a mother, I'll smack you. You sound like Mom."
"Sorry. Just trying to look out for you."
"I know." Tom sighed. "I loved Meg with my entire heart, Jack. Moving on from that isn't so simple."
"I get it. Well, I get it as much as I can, having never been in your shoes."
"And I hope you never have to be in my shoes. Feeling like you had it all then losing the love of your life… it changes you."
"I'm sorry, Tom. I wish I could change it."
"It is what it is. I just gotta keep moving forward, you know?"
Tom had no idea just how much Jack understood the idea of just keep moving. It had been his montra ever since that last mission.
…..
By the time Friday rolled around, Elizabeth and Levi were more than ready for the weekend. The young boy had grand ideas of playing soccer or riding bikes at Turning Point Park. Unfortunately, the weather had other ideas.
Elizabeth stood at the sliding glass door that overlooked their small, yet private, patio while sipping her coffee. She watched as the rain pelted her outdoor furniture, leaving little puddles on the glass top table and cushioned chairs.
"Levi isn't going to like this," she sighed.
In an effort to make up for the weather, Elizabeth whipped up a batch of belgian waffles, Levi's favorite. As a fun twist, she put blue sprinkles in the dough, knowing it gave them a "funfetti" effect.
Just as the last waffle was coming off the iron, Elizabeth heard Levi coming down the stairs. Being sensitive to vibrations, Levi liked to come down the stairs one step at a time, or rather, one big thud at a time.
Elizabeth just laughed. "Oh, our neighbors must hate us."
"Morning!" Levi said in his unique voice. She loved the sound. Loved that he was comfortable enough in their home to use it. She knew how uncomfortable he was in public, since he couldn't really hear it well himself and people tended to look.
"Morning, love. I made waffles!"
Levi rubbed his hands together with delightful anticipation. Then he noticed the weather. His face and shoulders slumped.
Elizabeth put his plate on the table. When Levi looked up at her she signed "sorry." He nodded with an adorable frown then thanked her for breakfast.
"You eat?" he asked, again using his voice.
"Of course!" She smiled and sat across from him. She knocked on the table to gain his attention and then signed. "I thought maybe we could go out today? Grandma and Grandpa bought us passes to the science museum. Want to go?"
Levi thought for a moment then signed, "Go see the stars?"
"Yes!" She exclaimed. "We can see the stars." The science museum had a nice planetarium, which Levi loved. Every time they went he would ask for more glow in the dark stars for his room. Today would be no exception, she was sure.
…..
The sound of an incoming video call awoke Jack from a restless sleep on the couch. He didn't remember falling asleep the night before, but clearly he never made it to bed.
Staggering off the couch, Jack hit "accept" on the incoming call and was greeted with a smile from his adorable, blonde haired nephew.
"Morning Ryan," Jack spoke and signed. "What's up?"
"Dad's taking me to the science museum today. Come please?" Ryan's face was pleading.
"Sure, Ryan. I'd love to."
"Awesome!"
Without another comment, Ryan shut off the call, making Jack laugh. The boy sure could use a lesson in phone etiquette, but Jack didn't really mind.
Jack was just stepping into the downstairs bath to shower when the video phone went off again. He hurried over and accepted the call. Sure enough, it was Ryan.
"Hi, Ryan. What's up?"
"Grandma made too much food. Come for breakfast." Before Jack could respond, Ryan had ended the call.
Jack laughed all the way down the hall to the shower. He loved that little boy so much. As he stepped into the hot shower, his thoughts trailed from Ryan to Levi, the equally adorable little man Jack had met earlier that week. Jack wasn't sure if it was just that Levi was like his nephew or if there was something more that made Jack feel so connected to the little boy. Either way, he wanted to learn more. Not just more about him, but more about his mother too.
The beautiful woman had occupied more than a few of Jack's thoughts since he'd met her Tuesday afternoon. She looked like a movie star. Not one of those with too much makeup and cosmetic surgery. She was the classy, "girl next door" meets "hollywood lights" kind of woman. Especially when she smiled at Levi. It was clear that the boy was her world.
Soon after she'd come to his mind, Jack would try to shove her out. He was fine. His life was fine. Tom, on the other hand, maybe this could be a blessing for him. Jack wasn't sure why Levi didn't have a father. Had he died? Did he leave them? Either way, Elizabeth wasn't married. Maybe she was the second chance Tom deserved. Seemed perfect. That was, if Jack could stop thinking about her.
…..
From the moment they entered the science museum, Levi was dragging Elizabeth towards the planetarium. The annual passes they'd received from her parents last Christmas had certainly gotten a lot of use.
As they walked up to the entrance of the theater, Levi was signing away about what he remembered about the stars and planets from the last time they had come. The staff member at the door, a young college student smiled as they approached.
"Hello!" the young woman smiled.
"Hi! Would it be possible for us to sit near the front? The lighting is better there which will make it easier for me to interpret for my son."
"Of course! We have another little boy with us today as well that needed interpreting. Come with me."
They followed the woman down to their seats, Levi skipping the whole way. Elizabeth loved to see him so happy.
"Here you are. Let me know if you need anything else."
"Thank you," Elizabeth smiled then signed for Levi to sit.
"Elizabeth?" A male voice next to them said.
"Tom Thornton, hi!"
"Hey! Hi Levi," Tom signed. "Come here, this is my son, Ryan. He's your age, remember?"
Ryan came over and signed "Hi." The two boys began signing at a rapid pace. Levi told Ryan all about his adventure in the apple orchard earlier that week. Then the two began sharing what their favorite parts of the museum were. Ryan invited Levi to explore the rest of the museum with him after.
"Can we, mom?"
Elizabeth nodded.
"I see you have a science geek for a son as well?" Tom laughed.
"I do, yes. Especially when it comes to astronomy."
Jack entered the theater from the bottom entrance after stepping out to take a call. Walking back to his seat, he noticed Tom and Ryan weren't alone.
"What do you know?" he smiled at his brother and Elizabeth in the middle of what looked like an amusing conversation.
Suddenly, a pinch of jealousy nipped at Jack's heart.
"Let it go, Jack. She's not for you." He reminded himself as he walked over.
"Hey, Jack! Look who we found." Tom grinned.
"I see." Jack gave a soft smile and wave. "Hi, Elizabeth."
"Hi," Elizabeth nervously moved a loose curl of her hair back behind her ear. She thought Jack looked handsome yesterday in his work clothes. Now here he was dressed in a leather jacket and dark jeans. She could feel her cheeks turning red.
She watched as Jack said hi to Levi. The boy's face lit up seeing his new friend. Elizabeth had heard a lot about Jack throughout the week since Levi's impromptu lunch with the man. It was clear to her both then and now that Levi really liked him.
The lights dimmed just as the show was about to begin. With Levi now taking up what had been Jack's seat, Jack moved to the other side of Elizabeth and sat.
"How was the rest of your week?" Jack whispered as he leaned in. "Levi didn't get lost again, did he?"
"No, thank goodness." Elizabeth laughed. "I can't thank you enough for being so kind to him. You made what could have been a really traumatic experience a wonderful memory for him."
"Of course! And he's welcome at the orchard at any time. You both are."
"Thanks."
When the presentation started, Tom moved from his seat to be in front of both boys. Kneeling down, he began to sign along with the narrator's words.
The narration was fast, but Tom did his best to keep up so the boys could understand what was going on around them. Both Levi and Ryan had come before with their respective classes. When that happened, the schools had arranged for an interpreter.
Elizabeth enjoyed getting a chance to sit back and enjoy the show. As a single mom, when they'd go somewhere where Levi needed an interpreter, that was her job. All the time, 27/7. Not today though.
Tom shook his right hand, his hand was getting tired. Seeing the action, Jack left his seat and took Tom's spot, stepping right in where he'd left off. Jack was a little less polished than Tom, but still did a great job.
When the lights came back on, Ryan jumped from his seat and waved at Tom to get his attention then signed, "Can Levi and his mom see the museum with us?"
"Ask them," Tom signed with a grin.
"Please?" he signed to Elizabeth.
"We'd love to," she answered with her voice and hands.
The boys high-fived and hurried off out of the theater.
"I'll follow them," Jack volunteered, leaving Tom alone with Elizabeth. He turned back for a second halfway up the aisle. Elizabeth was laughing with a beautiful smile while Tom seemed to be doing one of his impressions of someone. Jack felt his heart twinge again with a bout of jealousy. A feeling he'd never had before, until today.
It had been some time since Jack was in a relationship. He'd preferred to be unattached while in the Army. His unit was commonly put into situations where Jack was surprised they even made it out alive. He needed to be focused on the mission and his men. Not how his girl back home would take the news of his injury or worse.
Since moving back to NY, his focus had been the orchard and his family. That was enough. Besides, if he ever were to be in a relationship, he'd have to expose the scars he'd buried deep down since leaving the Army. He had no interest in doing that to anyone. It was too much to put on anyone else. No, whatever was causing that fleeting moment of jealousy could just bug off. He didn't need anyone. Tom, on the other hand, knew what it was like to have a partner, to love and be loved. Jack knew he missed that. Now, here was Elizabeth, she knew what it was like to be a single parent. That meant they had at least that in common.
Jack looked over his shoulder one more time at them. It didn't last long. Next thing he knew he had two little boys pulling him forward. Ryan had read in the brochure that there was an exhibit where you could learn how to make slime. Jack knew with his nephew's obsession with Ninja Turtles, that exhibit was a must-see.
Twenty minutes later, both boys each had a bag of green slime to take home with them, much to their parents shagrin.
While sitting at a craft cart where the kids could make super hero masks, Tom's cell went off in his back pocket.
"Shoot, gotta take this. Jack, you got Ry?"
"Yup. I got eyes on him."
"Be right back." Tom smiled at Elizabeth before heading to a quieter spot to take the call.
Elizabeth helped the boys with their masks. She took the Batman mask Levi had made and adjusted it to fit around his mop of curls.
"So handsome," she smiled at him.
Levi grabbed the second mask he'd been working on. "For Jack," he signed.
"Oh." Elizabeth called Jack over. "Levi has something for you."
"What is it, bud?"
Levi proudly presented Jack with a mask made to look similar to Superman.
"Thanks, Levi!" Jack adjusted it to fit around his head, then wearing the mask, he hugged Levi.
Once Ryan had his mask on, Elizabeth asked, "Jack, can I take a picture of you three?"
"Sure." They each gave Elizabeth big smiles while standing in their best superhero stances. Elizabeth giggled, that one was frame worthy for sure.
While the boys went back to making masks, Jack came to stand by Elizabeth. Levi was working on a Wonderman-like one for Elizabeth while Ryan made a Spiderman one for his dad.
"You're great with them," Elizabeth complimented. "Ryan and Tom are lucky to have you around."
"Nah, I'm the lucky one."
"Hey, how are they doing?" Tom said as he walked back over.
"Good. Busy making masks."
"Good." He let out an exasperated sigh then turning to Jack he said, "You're not going to believe that call."
"What was it?"
"You know that meeting I have on the books for next week with our distributor? Well, he got the date wrong and he's here now."
"You're kidding me? He's at the orchard?"
"Yup. Mom's keeping him busy till I get there. Unbelievable. I swear, starting Monday I'm looking for a new distribution rep."
"We've worked with these guys for years."
"I know but now with the new ownership they've just gotten sloppy." Tom glanced over at his son. He looked so happy. "Ryan's not going like this but we gotta get going."
"Why don't I take the meeting?" Jack offered. "Then you guys can stay."
"I appreciate that bro, but I've been working with this guy for a while. This is my side of the business remember?"
"You're right. Spreadsheets and data is your comfort zone, not mine." Jack sighed.
"He can stay with me," Elizabeth offered. "He and Levi have hit it off so well, it wouldn't be a problem at all."
"You sure?" Tom asked.
"Of course. This way you can both go to the meeting, if that helps."
"Jack would probably love not to be at the meeting." Tom laughed. "I'll leave Ryan's booster seat at the front desk if you don't mind bringing Jack and Ryan home after. We only brought one car."
"Not a problem. Go, I can watch all three boys."
"Hey now!" Jack nudged her, making her laugh.
Tom smiled, sensing a spark between his brother and Elizabeth. "Well, I see they're all in good hands. I'll see you later. Thanks, Lizzie."
Saying goodbye, Ryan gave his dad a big hug and turned back to his mask.
Jack turned and smiled at Elizabeth, who smiled back. Today hadn't turned out how either of them thought, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing, was it?
After grabbing a quick lunch, Jack and Elizabeth took the kids to the museum's Adventure Zone. A giant indoor playground with rope ladders, tunnels and all sorts of things to climb and slide down.
While the kids played, Jack and Elizabeth sat on a bench which had a perfect vantage point for them to easily keep an eye on their hyperactive boys. So far, most of their conversation had been around the boys and the different things they saw as they made their way through the different exhibits.
Elizabeth was finding it hard not to be attracted to Jack. He was handsome, of course, but the way he was with both Ryan and Levi showed a compassionate and loving side. When it came to her, he was kind and respectful, but seemed to keep himself guarded.
What she didn't know was Jack was trying his hardest not to feel attached to her at all. If Elizabeth was one day his sister-in-law, it wouldn't be good to be harboring romantic feelings for her. Right now, that was a huge challenge. There was just something about this woman and her son that captivated Jack deep in his soul.
"Tom seems like a great dad," Elizabeth spoke, starting up a conversation next to Jack on the bench.
"He is. I'm very proud of him."
"What happened? To Ryan's mother, I mean. I know she died in childbirth but that's all. Though, I guess it's none of my business."
"No, it's alright. I can tell you." Jack watched as Ryan went higher and higher in the climbing structure. "Her name was Megan. Tom's high school sweetheart. She went into labor at six months. She had this issue where the placenta detached and she began to bleed a lot. They barely got Ryan out in time."
"Oh no! That's terrible."
"It was. She had a complicated pregnancy from the start. After Ryan was born, he was so small. He was in an incubator but I swear he was no bigger than my hand."
"That must have been so scary."
Jack nodded. "I was away at the time."
"Where were you?"
"Afghanistan with the Army Rangers. I'd just gotten back to the base from a mission when I got the call that she was gone. I got home as fast as I could and never looked back."
"That's honorable, Jack. Very. To stop your life for your family. "
"The real hero is Tom. He took on the role of a Dad and gave that boy all the love in the world. My mom and I have helped, sure, but still. I hope he can find someone again someday."
Elizabeth nodded as she watched the boys. They'd come out of the play structure and moved on to play with the Keva blocks at a nearby table. She loved to watch them carry on, being good friends so fast. This is what she'd wanted for Levi. This is why they moved from Florida and away from her family.
As she watched Ryan laugh when his tower came crashing down, her heart went out to the Thorntons. So much heartbreak surrounded that handsome little boy's birth.
"Do you mind if I ask about your husband?" Jack asked.
"Oh, well… I've never had a husband."
"Oh, sorry." Jack felt as if he'd just stuck his foot in his mouth. "No judgment here by the way."
"Wait, no." Elizabeth laughed. "It's nothing scandalous. I adopted Levi when he was just a tiny toddler. Levi's birth mom was so young when she had him, and not in a good place in her life. When she gave birth prematurely and there were all sorts of health complications with him, she got scared and left him there in the NICU. Levi landed in foster care soon after that."
"So you were a foster parent?"
She nodded. "Well, I was supposed to just be a respite person. You know, a safe place for kids to come on the weekends so their foster family could have a breather. I did that for Levi's foster family for a while but then when Levi needed a forever home and they couldn't take him, I couldn't say no."
"Wow, you did that all by yourself?"
"I did. I had a boyfriend for a while, but he didn't show much interest in Levi. I thought maybe that would change, but it never did. I think he thought my being involved with children like this was just a phase. When I made the decision to adopt we went our separate ways."
"That's too bad."
"No it's not," she laughed. "It was long overdue by then. What about you?"
"Me? Not much to tell. My last relationship was… well, it was a long time ago."
Elizabeth looked into his eyes as he watched the kids. The wall was still there, guarding something in his heart, but she sensed he would let her in some.
"You ever get lonely?"
Jack looked back at her. "Sometimes, I do."
"Me too."
