The women celebrated their reunion well into the wee morning hours. They had a late night of wine, laughter, and of course chocolate. Double chocolate brownies to be exact.
Elizabeth caught Fiona up on all things Jack. Fiona made Elizabeth tell her all the appropriate details of their engagement night. Gasping and giggling frequently. This of course sent them right into a discussion about potential wedding and honeymoon plans.
By the time they'd exhausted that particular topic they were curling up on the couch watching some of their favorite wedding movies. The Wedding Planner, followed by their favorite, Runaway Bride.
"I should tell you," Fiona said, taking another sip of her wine. "If you pull a Julia Roberts and take off through the apple groves, I may just slide right over and take your place." Elizabeth laughed so hard she snorted. "What? He is a dreamboat!"
"You know, he does have a brother."
Fiona's cheeks pinked. "Let's just get back to the movie, ok?"
While the credits rolled up the screen, Elizabeth gave Fiona a virtual tour of Jack's home through pictures she'd taken.
"Elizabeth, this house is breathtaking! It looks like a dream home for you!"
"It is!" She laughed. "This probably won't surprise you, but that was intentional. For the longest time the house was just a finished kitchen with a half finished living room and bath. Jack spent most of his time with Tom and Ryan or out on the deck."
"Interesting. Where'd he sleep?"
"The couch. And let me tell you, that couch was ugly. I don't have a picture but it was this old leather thing with cracks and faded spots everywhere. The very kind you'd expect from a cheap bachelor."
"First off, nothing about this house looks cheap now. Second, why? I mean, why not at least buy yourself a bed?"
"It's a long story. He just… he had a lot on his mind from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was a very skilled officer and he and his men did a lot of secret, dangerous missions. They didn't all have good outcomes. If that wasn't enough, then he lost his sister-in-law."
"Tom's wife?"
"Yeah, he was deployed at the time. In the middle of a terrible conflict. Only to come home to more loss."
"Oh wow. So, he was punishing himself, in a way?"
"Yeah, how'd you…"
"It's part of the grief journey." She shrugged. "A part I was stuck in for a long time. Sometimes…" Fiona picked at the blanket covering her lap. "Sometimes I think I'm still in that phase."
Elizabeth took her friend's hand. "What can I do? How can I help?"
"You got me here. You're helping me restart my life. Helping me be the best mom I can be for Emma. That's more than enough."
With a warm embrace Elizabeth replied, "You're one of my best friends, Fi. Like a sister. I'll always be there for you and Emma."
"Right back at you," Fiona smiled, wiping away a tear.
"You being here is so good for me too, you know? Aside from Rosie, I don't have a lot of people. There's Jack and his family…"
"Soon to be your family," Fiona said with a wink.
"Yes," Elizabeth blushed. "But a gal needs her friends too. That was one of the mistakes I made with Charles. Outside of family, it had been mostly just us."
"I remember that. We hung out, but Charles was very time-consuming."
"Yeah. Some of that was on him. Some of it was on me. I didn't know how to balance a relationship with being a mom and friend. I was so afraid of losing him."
"You're better now, though. With Jack your happiness seems so natural."
Elizabeth smiled as she stared down at her engagement ring.
"You miss him, huh?" Fiona laughed. "How often did you two spend the night together?"
"Oh, I don't know," she blushed. Her mind immediately went to the feel of his hard, warm body next to her in bed. His breath and lips on her neck and shoulders.
"Sure you don't," Fiona laughed.
"Alright, alright!" They laughed. "A lot. We were together a lot. It's funny, I mentioned waiting until spring or summer to get married but I'm not so sure I'll last that long. He's so much a part of me, you know?"
"Yeah, I do."
Fiona's smile was genuine. Even though thinking of Lucas brought back feelings of grief and loneliness that she wished would go away for good. Maybe this new chapter in her life would bring her more than just a good job and her old friend.
Needing to lighten the mood again she teased, "Why don't you just call Jack and tell him to come over already, you silly goose?" Then she laughed at the shocked look on Elizabeth's face. "Seriously, I don't mind. Just don't get all worked up. The walls are thin."
Elizabeth's face went white, then bright red with embarrassment. "No! I'm fine. Really! Besides, it's late."
"Holy cow, it really is! Almost 3 am! We should get some sleep."
"Yikes, we should. Sleep in tomorrow, okay? We can go to the orchard before lunch and I'll show you around town."
"Perfect! Though I'm not sure Emma will let me sleep in much," she laughed.
"If she's up she can come with me to take Levi to school. I'd love some aunty-Emma time!"
"Sold!" Fiona grabbed her phone and headed towards the stairs. "Elizabeth, thank you for this."
"Love you, Fi."
"Love you back."
Once all the lights were off and doors locked, Elizabeth made her own way up to her room. She checked in on Levi first. Poking her head in she nearly burst out laughing. There he was, lightly snoring away with his legs up in the air against his headboard. She took a picture and quietly closed the door.
Once she was wrapped up all warm and cozy in her bed, Elizabeth began to miss Jack. The absence of his strong arms holding her against him made her feel almost empty. She picked up her phone to text him.
"I miss you."
Before her phone was back on the nightstand, it rang. Elizabeth answered it immediately.
"Babe?"
"Liz, why are you still awake?"
"Why are you?" she countered with a tiny bit of sass.
"Because my crazy fiancé woke me up texting about how she misses me." Though she couldn't see it, she knew he was smirking.
"Want me to hang up?"
"Nope, you woke me, now you have to deal with me."
"Alright," she laughed. "I miss you."
"You mentioned that. What do you miss?"
She snuggled down a bit more under her down comforter. "Being curled up in your arms, for one."
"Mmm, I like that too. Believe it or not, Ranger isn't as good of a cuddler as you. Not to mention he doesn't smell nearly as sweet."
She giggled. They continued for the next few minutes talking sweet affection to each other till there was a knock on the door. Elizabeth knew Levi would have just walked in so it must be Fiona.
"Come in," Elizabeth called out softly.
The door opened and a smirking Fiona leaned against the door frame.
"Everything okay?"
"I told you," Fiona laughed. "Tell Jack it's okay to be here. Just remember, keep it PG."
"Huh?"
"Thin walls. No bedtime aerobics. Bye!" With a wink and a giggle, Fiona closed the door and went back to bed.
"Oh my gosh," Elizabeth whispered, face hot with girlish embarrassment. "Did you hear that?"
"Every word," Jack chuckled. "What do you think? Should I come over?"
"It's nearly 3am."
"So? I can come hold you for a while then take Levi to school. I'll be there soon."
Elizabeth plugged her phone back in and sighed. She felt a twinge of guilt in her gut over what had just happened. Was Fiona really okay with Jack's presence in their lives right now? Elizabeth had assured her that she wouldn't be an inconvenience by staying there, and it was true, but would she still believe that? Would it make her miss Lucas too much?
With quiet steps Elizabeth made her way down the tiny hallway to Fiona's room. The door was opened a crack and the bedside lamp was on.
"Hey," she whispered. "Can we talk?"
Fiona silently giggled and gave her friend a nod. "Come on, sit." She patted the space on the bed next to her.
Emma was in a deep sleep on the toddler bed that was against the wall. Her stuffed animals all arranged just so.
"I'm so sorry about…"
"Beth, please don't be. I told you, I'm thrilled for you and Jack! Levi too! You all deserve this kind of happiness."
"I know, but," she sighed. "I want you here. I don't want you to think differently."
"I get it, I do. In fact, I'm pretty sure we had this conversation downstairs earlier,"she laughed. "Look, I know I've only known Jack a tiny bit but he seems great. He doesn't make me feel the least bit awkward. And if this arrangement is going to work, you need to live your life."
"Promise me you won't rush out of here because of Jack and I."
"I promise. Just understand, I do want Emma and I to have our own space. It's important to me that she knows we are a family and I can provide for her."
"I understand. Truly."
"I figured you would. This single parent thing isn't easy, but for now, I'd like it if Emma didn't know how hard it really is."
"You're amazing, Fi. Don't ever forget that."
"Yeah, yeah." She laughed, "Now scoot. Oh, and do you have any earplugs?"
Elizabeth grabbed a pillow and playfully smacked Fiona in the head.
….
For the first time in too long, Fiona slept a restful, dreamless sleep. With her eyes still closed she took her first deep breath of the new day and smiled. Yeah, this had been the right move. Feeling relaxed and hopeful, she rolled over with a stretch. That's when she realized she had a little company in her bed, and it wasn't Emma.
"Um, hi?" She whispered to the fuzzy German Shepherd snoring up against her. "Well this is new…"
The dog awoke with a start, turning his head from one side to the next as if he too was surprised.
"It's Ranger, right?" He wagged his tail. "Hi, I'm Fiona. I suppose after last night, we should at least be on a first name basis." She giggled at her own joke and sighed.
She looked over to the toddler bed that she'd laid Emma in last night and found it empty, the bedroom door open just enough for a small child or, medium sized Shepherd to get through.
"Where's my little girl, Ranger? Have you seen her this morning?"
Ranger leaped off the bed and moved to stand by the door. Turning back at her he barked, as if to tell her to hurry up and follow.
"Alright," she laughed. "Let me at least get dressed first!"
Fiona replaced her night shirt with a bra and hoodie, leaving on her pink plaid pj bottoms and followed her furry guide downstairs.
In the kitchen Levi was up and dressed at the breakfast table with a Dog Man book in front of him. He was completely unaware of her until Ranger ran up to lick his hand.
Levi then knocked on the table to get Emma's attention. She was too busy coloring in a brand new princess coloring book to notice anything. She silently looked up at Levi who signed, "Your mom's up."
Emma sprung from her seat.
"Mama!" She shouted, using her voice. "Cookie pancakes!"
"Cookie pancakes?" Fiona signed and spoke. "What great deliciousness is that?"
"Good morning, Fiona," Jack said from the stove. "I'm making pancakes into shapes using cookie cutters. An old trick of my mom's."
"Yum!" Fiona bent down and kissed her daughter's head then helped her back into her seat so she could keep coloring. "So, Jack?"
"Hmm?"
"I had a surprise visitor last night. Should I be concerned or can you vouch for him?"
"Sorry about that." Jack laughed. "Usually he ends up in Levi's room when we're here. For some reason, he felt he needed to be with you. Liz tried to get him to leave but he wasn't having it. She didn't think you mind. How'd you sleep?"
"Honestly, much better than I normally do. I haven't been a great sleeper for a while now."
"I get that. Ranger's trained to help people with anxiety and PTSD. Not saying you have either of those, but maybe he sensed some tension over the move."
"Yeah, maybe."
What Jack couldn't have known was she did suffer from PTSD. Not from war or abuse, but from her loss. From being in a devastating car crash and losing her husband the night their daughter was born. She's been to therapy, some. Still, it wasn't uncommon to lay her head down at night and see Lucas' face.
"Fiona? You okay?" Jack interrupted her thoughts. "You seemed to kind of go somewhere there in your mind."
"Yeah, I'm good."
She could feel Jack's eyes watching her as she moved towards the coffee maker and poured herself a cup. When she turned to the fridge to get out the cream, Ranger was at her side.
"I'm fine," she whispered to the dog. "Really."
"What was that?" Jack asked, flipping another pancake onto a plate.
"Oh, um, just wondering what time you head to the orchard in the mornings."
"It depends but usually when it's business as usual, I'll go right after I drop Levi at school. You're coming by later, right?"
"That's the plan! Elizabeth is going to show me around the area and then tomorrow I have a couple appointments with some preschools for Emma."
"Nice. Did you get in touch with the one that's a part of the boy's school?"
"I did; I'm still trying to get a meeting with the coordinator though."
"I hear you. That school," Jack shook his head. "Its great once you're in, but it's a beast to get there."
"So I've heard," Fiona laughed. "Tom said maybe your mom could help?"
"Did he now?" Jack said teasingly. "What else did Tom say?"
"I, um… what?"
"Jack," Elizabeth said with a warning tone. "Don't tease her."
"I'm not teasing her, I'm teasing my brother."
"Who's not here right now so by proximity you are teasing me," Fiona sassed with amusement, regaining her barings. "So should I ask your mom for any tips?"
"Definitely. And hey, I'm sorry. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable."
"We're good."
Elizabeth's hair was still a bit damp when she stepped into her fiance's warm embrace. Fiona watched as Jack leaned his head down and lightly kissed the top of her head. They were absolutely perfect for one another.
She was very happy for Elizabeth but...she felt a pang of loneliness mixed with a teeny bit of jealousy. There was also some confusion there too. She didn't feel ready to move on. To find someone new when she still missed Lucas.
"Mama?" Emma signed, tugging on her hand. "Sad?"
She smiled and told her, "Maybe a little. But you make me happy."
With coffee and a juice box in their hands, Elizabeth gave Fiona and Emma a drive-by tour of Rochester and the surrounding area.
After spending the past years in Florida, Fiona was enthralled by the late fall leaves covering the ground and trees. She felt as though she was the star in a seasonal hallmark movie. A young mother with a new job and a fresh start.
They pulled into the orchard's main dirt parking lot just before noon. Fiona's mouth gaped open as she took in the site before her. Rolling hill fields of rows and rows of apple trees. Big red barns, a playground, chickens roaming free without a care in the world.
"This is so Hallmark," Fiona whispered.
Elizabeth let out a giggle, "It does have the feel to it, doesn't it?"
Fiona wrestled her daughter out of the car seat. Emma was so excited her little legs were running before her feet touched the ground.
"Mama, chickens?"
"Go see them, but stay where you can see me."
With that she was off, skipping her little heart out.
This was what Fiona wanted. For her daughter to grow up free and happy. With Mother Nature as a beautiful backdrop. Tears escaped her eyes as she watched Emma tilt her head at the chicken and sign, "I'm Emma, what's your name?"
"Aw sweetie," Elizabeth said, coming beside her and wrapping her arm around her. "Are you okay?"
"Better than okay. I'm going to be working here?" Fiona said in awe.
"Yes you are! Ready to go inside? The office is upstairs in the main barn right there."
"Let's do this!"
It took some pleading and a promise that she could come back to see the chickens for Emma to be willing to leave.
The barn wasn't too busy as far as customers, only half a dozen or so.
An older woman in black muck boots with a Thornton Orchards vest walked up the side ramp and into the barn. Her focus was solely on the clipboard in her hands. With a satisfied smile she placed the pencil into her lightly salt and pepper bun and looked up.
"Why hello, Lizzy." Charlotte gasped, "Fiona Bouchard?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Please don't ma'am me, makes me feel old. I mean, I know I'm old but I don't want to remember it."
They all laughed.
"Oh, my goodness, and this little angel must be Emma!" Charlotte started signing her words. "Hi, Emma. I'm Charlotte." She did her name sign, then finger spelled it as well. Emma waved.
"She's shy," Fiona said. "But once she's gotten to know you she may never leave your side."
"Oh, I will look forward to that! Let's try this. Why don't I show her around the kids area while you two go see the boys upstairs?"
"Emma, can our new friend, Charlotte, show you something fun? I will be right back."
Emma looked from her mom to Charlotte and back again. After seeming to contemplate the thought, she nodded and reached for Charlotte.
"Don't you worry Fiona. I'll keep both eyes on her at all times."
"Good idea," Elizabeth laughed. "You wouldn't want to have another missing kid roaming around the orchard."
"Sassy lady!" Charlotte laughed. "And for the record, that only happened once, and it wasn't our fault. Besides, it all worked out rather nicely, I think."
"Yes it did," Elizabeth said with a blush.
Elizabeth and Fiona climbed up the stairs to the offices. Halfway up they stopped, giving each other a quizzical look. The tense male voices that Elizabeth knew were Jack and Tom were growing louder and louder.
"Should we come back later?" Fiona asked.
"No… let's just check it out. Shhh."
They crept up the remaining steps as silently as possible.
From the top of the stairs they could see Tom sitting at his desk chair furiously clicking away on the computer. Jack stood behind him with his arms crossed shaking his head.
"There!" Tom said victorious. "It's fixed."
"You sure?"
"Let's just hit the refresh button and you can see for yourself, ye of little faith." Tom hit the refresh button and sighed. "Crap."
"Way to go, genius." Jack smacked Tom upside the head before trying to push him out of the chair.
"Don't touch me!"
"Move over!"
"Don't touch it. I've got this."
"Clearly!" Jack hung his head as he loomed over Tom.
"Wow," Elizabeth said loudly, gaining their attention. "With sons like you two, I'm amazed your mother doesn't have more grey hair."
"It's his fault!" they said together.
"I'm sorry, are you men or toddlers?"
Fiona couldn't help it, she let out a melodious laugh. One that immediately got Tom's attention and he stood.
"Fiona?" he asked.
"Um, yup. Hi."
Fiona tried not to stare, but the computer screen she'd last seen him on hadn't done Tom justice. He wasn't as tall as Jack, but shared those adorable dimples. His light brown hair was a little long and tossed, possibly due to his frustration with the computer. Then there were his arms. Strong shoulders and arms, proof of years of hard work, perhaps. Catching herself staring she blinked rapidly and glanced back up at that dimpled grin and blue eyes.
"So tell me," she said, pulling up a chair and sitting beside him. "What exactly did you do?"
"Yeah, well, I um," Fiona wasn't the only one who got a bit distracted. "I went into the back end of the website and edited our hours and pricing. Like I was supposed to."
Jack laughed. "If that's what you did, then why is the whole page missing and everything else is out of order?"
"If I knew, it'd be fixed by now, wouldn't it?"
"Alright boys," Fiona giggled. "May I?"
"Move over, Tom. Let's let the lady do what she does best."
"All yours," Tom smiled at Fiona, and then glared at Jack.
Fiona stretched out her neck and fingers and got straight to work.
"Do you have a list of passwords and database names?"
"Here." Tom handed her a blue folder. "This was supposed to be your welcome packet. Might as well give it to you now."
"My very own folder! I do feel welcomed." She winked, and she and Tom both laughed.
Jack took Elizabeth's arm and quietly led her into the conference room. Closing the door behind them.
"That worked out. She doesn't seem shy at all," he laughed.
"She's not really. Not when she's confident and comfortable. And the place she's most like that is when she's dancing."
"Teacher, right?"
"And performer. Though that was a whole other life now."
"She seems comfortable for sure. Maybe her and Tom..."
"Jack! Are you matchmaking?" she teased.
"Me? Never!"
"Jack…"
"Okay come on. I mostly just want everyone to be as unbelievably happy as I am."
"Aren't you cute," she giggled, grabbing his collar and pulling him in for a soft, lingering kiss.
"Ugh," Jack moaned. "Marry me, now."
Elizabeth laughed. "Soon, love. Soon."
"Not soon enough." He bent his head to place his own soft, lingering kisses on her neck.
"Jack…" she gasped.
"I have an idea."
"Mmmm?"
"Let's elope."
"Deal."
"Seriously?" Jack pulled back to look at her.
"In the spring, at the barn." She smirked. Jack glared.
"That's not eloping. That's having the wedding we're planning that's months from now. Months!"
Elizabeth laughed. "I know, sorry. I couldn't help it. Jack, love; I want nothing more than to be your wife. I don't need a big fancy wedding for it either. Just us and those close to us."
"So eloping isn't completely off the table?"
She kissed him slowly. "Not completely."
"That's fair," he grinned. "I can be patient."
"Can you?" She teased.
"Well, I can try!"
Tom came into the conference room just in time to witness his brother and soon to be sister-in-law in yet another serious lip lock.
"Ah, geeze! Get a room!"
"We did." Jack huffed. "Try knocking next time."
"Fiona fixed everything. You two still want lunch? Or do you need more time for whatever that was?"
"Why don't you go…" Jack began but was interrupted by Elizabeth's hand over his mouth.
"Lunch sounds great, Tom." Elizabeth smiled. "I didn't notice, is the food truck still parked outside by the field?"
"Til the end of the season when it starts to get real cold! So a few more weeks."
"Perfect."
Tom left the room shaking his head. Fiona laughed at the whole scene then quietly followed Tom down the stairs to get Emma and Charlotte.
"You know," Jack began. "Tom might be on to something."
"How so?"
"Maybe we should get a room. I know a place," he wiggled his eyebrows as he referred to his home on the other side of the orchard.
She just shook her head, "It's lunch time. Let's go."
"You're no fun."
"Oh, I'm loads of fun. Just not at this very moment."
