Jack Jr., Sophie, Elizabeth, and Rosemary met at the Strawberry Festival. Each were given a small crate to put their strawberries in. Jack Jr. told Sophie to make sure she was picking ripe strawberries. He showed her what a ripened ones looked like. He told her that the ones that weren't ripened had to stay with their family a little longer. Sophie giggled at that. Rosemary and Elizabeth were telling Sophie the different things they could make with strawberries. They could make jam, strawberry shortcakes, dip them into chocolate or even make pie.
After they had picked all the strawberries they could fit into their crate, they went over the festival which had tents set up. There were vendors from Hope Valley and from other towns. They were selling all different items such as jams, crafts, t-shirts and even paintings. Jack Jr. bought Sophie strawberry ice cream. She ran over to where the other kids were sitting to listen to a story being told by one of the school teachers. Jack Jr. decided to try a strawberry beer. Jack Jr. sat down on one of the picnic tables and started sipping the beer. It wasn't half bad.
As Jack Jr. sat at the picnic table, he saw his mother a short distance talking to a group of women. Jack Jr. looked at his mother. He was grateful to have her as a mother. His mother homeschooled he when boarding schools weren't working out. She took care of Maggie while he was away. And cared for his child when he didn't have the strength to care for her. Jack Jr. had shown his mother's his plans for her house but he didn't show her the one additional room he is adding. The room will be facing the sun. The room will get the sunrise and the sunset. Jack Jr. decided this room will be his mother's writing room. It will be a room where she can write in her journal or even publish her third book. He couldn't wait to see his mother's face when she sees the room. Elizabeth saw Jack Jr. looking at her and gave him a little wave. He gave her a little wave back. She went back to her conversation. Even though they never saw eye on anything, he wished Lucas was still around. At least there would be someone for his mother. Jack Jr. wanted his mother to find one last love. Someone who will love her unconditionally and take care of her.
Jack Jr. looked over to see what Sophie was doing. The story had finished and all the kids had dispersed. Sophie was sitting there finishing up her ice cream. Jack Jr. looked at Sophie. He loved that little girl so much. He hated himself that he suggested that she be put up for adoption when she was born. She was the best thing that has ever happened to him since he met her mother. As she had grown, her features had become more pronounced. She started looking like her mother more each day. She has blonde hair, just like her mother. She has blue eyes, like her mother. She has her mother's smile. She had Jack's nose and personality. She was curious and a little mischievous at times. She has also been known to charm her way into a second helping of sweets. Jack Jr. smiled thinking at Sophie.
A woman had come over to talk to Sophie. Jack Jr. looked at the woman. She was pretty. She had dark blonde hair, almost brown. She was petite and seemed sweet. It took Jack Jr. almost 3 years after Maggie passed away to even look at another woman. He had been on a few dates since Maggie's passing and was even in a relationship for six months. The women were nice but none of them gave him butterflies. The first time he saw Maggie, she gave him butterflies. They never left him. Even thinking of her now gave him butterflies. Sophie ran over to Jack Jr. and the woman followed. He saw that she had piercing green eyes. As she got closer, he realized that she was prettier up close.
"Daddy, Daddy! This is my new teacher" Sophie exclaimed. Jack Jr. laughed after seeing Sophie had ice cream all over her mouth. He grabbed a napkin and wiped the ice cream off her mouth.
"I think she really enjoyed the ice cream." The woman said. Jack got up from his seat.
"I think so too. Hi. I'm Jack Thornton" he said to the woman
"Katherine Guff" The two shook hands
"Nice to meet you" Jack Jr. said to Katherine
"Sorry to be abrupt, but are you the son of Jack Thornton, the son of the Jack Thornton school?"
"One in the same" Jack said with a smile
"Wow. You know your parents are legendary in this town" Katherine told him
"I am aware of that" Jack said
"Sophie told me that you two moved here permanently?"
"Yes. Myself, Sophie and my mother" Jack Jr. told her
"What made you come back after all these years?"
Jack Jr. didn't want to tell her the whole story. "We wanted a fresh start"
Katherine nodded "Do you have friends here?"
Jack Jr. laughed. "Most of them are my mother's friends. Not around my age"
Katherine stood silent for a moment. "There is a great swing dancing bar in town. Tonight is when most of people around our age go out for dancing. Would you like to come tonight?" Katherine asked Jack Jr.
"I don't know. I'm not much of a dancer" Jack said hesitantly
"You don't have to dance. You can come as my guest and I'll introduce you around." Katherine told him
Jack Jr. took a moment to think "Why not? It sounds like fun" Jack saw a wedding ring on Katherine's finger. "Will your husband be joining us?"
Katherine started twisting the ring. "No. He is overseas. How about your wife?" Katherine said pointing to his wedding band.
"My mommy is in heaven" Sophie said
Katherine was embarrassed "I'm sorry. I didn't know"
"Don't be. You didn't know" Jack assured her.
"Why don't you come to my house around 7:00 tonight ad we can walk to the bar. It's a short walk from my house because the bar's parking lot get overcrowded. My address is 3769 Oak Lane" Katherine said
"3769 Oak Lane. Got it" Jack Jr. smiled at Katherine
Katherine smiled back. Jack Jr. noticed that she had a pretty smile.
"I better get going. I'll see you later. Bye Sophie. Hope to see you in class soon"
"By Mrs. Guff" Sophie yelled back
"Let's go find Grandma" Jack Jr. said to Sophie and grabbed her hand.
They found Elizabeth and Rosemary looking at a jar of jam.
"Hello" Jack said to them. They said hello in unison.
Jack Jr. told them about how he met Sophie's teacher and that she had invited him to the swing dance bar and he accepted. "Can you watch Sophie tonight? Jack Jr. asked Elizabeth
"I can't. I'm having dinner with an old friend" Elizabeth told Jack Jr.
"What old friend?"
Elizabeth was coy about who it was with.
"It is with Nathan Grant" Rosemary told him
"Rosemary!" Elizabeth shrieked. Jack started to get his teasing smile.
"Nathan Grant. You don't say" Jack Jr. teased
"It is just dinner between two people" Elizabeth blushed
Jack Jr. touched his mother's arm "I think it's great"
"You do?" Elizabeth said
"Yes. If having dinner with an old friend makes you happy, then I'm happy. Nathan Grant is a good man" Jack told his mother
Elizabeth smiled "I'm glad you approve"
"And don't worry about Sophie, I'll watch her tonight. We have to think of ideas for these strawberries" Rosemary winked a Sophie
Sophie giggled. Jack Jr. picked up his daughter and started to give his daughter kisses on her cheeks all while Sophie screamed in delight.
