Beesands, Elizabeth's cottage
Elizabeth sat up in bed the next morning. She looked at her more than handsome husband, laying on his back, sleeping peacefully. She didn't want to get up but she had made a promise to cook breakfast with King. It was their thing, their mother-son thing and she knew that he was growing up fast. He wouldn't always be there to cook with.
So she glanced one more time at Nathan who had opened his eyes. "Where are you going?" he asked quietly.
"Breakfast. I promised to cook with King before school."
"But I'd rather you stay here. With me. In our bed, in our room." It was perfect. They were perfect together.
She smiled and leaned down to kiss him. "I promised him but once King is off to school, I'm all yours, husband."
He reached up and ran his thumb over her soft lips. "Promise?"
"Always."
He pushed up on his elbow and kissed her deeply, giving her a preview of what was to come in another hour. Fifty two minutes to be exact.
"Love you, Bess."
"Love you too."
"Morning, Mum," King said, a smile on his face and an apron already on when she walked into the kitchen. "I thought we should make omelets. But...maybe a quiche?"
"Shooting for the sky this morning, hon?"
"Why not?" he shrugged.
"Absolutely. Let's make a quiche."
He gave her a hug and handed her a paper. "I found a recipe online."
"Great." Ham, eggs and cheese. Sounded good.
"Mum?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm glad you married Dad."
"So am I."
"I'm glad I met Papa Will and Grandma Grace too." She saw tears in his eyes.
"Hon? What is it?"
"I just wish I had known my other Grandma more before she died. I mean, I'd talk to her on the phone when Dad called her but...I don't think she knew who I was."
"It might not have seemed like it but Aunt Colleen said that she talked about you and your Dad on a good day. She loved you the best she could."
He nodded and wiped his eyes. She just hugged him for a moment. What a dear boy. Losing a grandmother at such a young age.
"I'm sorry," he said abruptly, stepping back and forcing a smile. "Let's make breakfast."
Nathan came down after his shower to a wonderful smelling breakfast. "Morning," he said, a big grin on his face.
"Hi, Dad!"
"Hi, King. What did you make this morning? It smells great."
"Ham and cheese quiche. Mum helped and she made coffee."
Elizabeth stood there, looking beautiful, two cups of coffee in her hands. "Morning, wife."
"Hey." She blushed and handed him a cup.
"Thanks." His eyes held hers for a long moment. He obviously knew King was in the room but he had to kiss her one more time. He leaned forward and brushed her lips with his and then wrapped his arms around her. "I love you."
"Nate, we are not alone," she whispered. One more kiss and he took a seat at the table. Twenty five more minutes.Gracie sighed. Voice-mail again. She wanted, no, needed, to tell her mom that she was engaged but her mom still had the bad habit of not plugging in her cell phone.
She pulled into Lee and Rosie's driveway and headed inside. "Aunt Rosie? Uncle Lee?"
"Living room," Rosie called.
"Hi," she greeted, sitting down in the recliner. "I know it's late but…"
"Nonsense, dear. How is Kylie?"
"Much better. Who knew a double ear infection could make her so sick? It was scary."
"I'm sure it was. It's so hard to see our children sick."
"Yeah."
"So...anything else you have on your mind?" Lee asked, a twinkle in his eye.
"Jude proposed," she blurted, holding up her hand.
Rosie squealed and clapped her hands, already planning a bridal shower and wedding in her mind. "Congratulations, Gracie!"
"Thanks."
"What did your mom say?"
"Her phone is off again."
"Wait, so you told us before her?" Lee asked.
"Not for lack of trying. I wish she wasn't so far away." It was times like this she sort of felt abandoned, like an orphan. The only things that helped were the two wonderful people in front of her.A few hours later….
Elizabeth woke up, Nathan not next to her anymore. "Honey?" she called, thinking he might be in the bathroom. Nope.
"Must be next door…" she mumbled, slipping into the shower and dressing.
She made the bed and then gasped. Her phone. Once again it sat lifeless on her nightstand. She plugged it in, waiting for signs of life so she could make sure everything was fine back in Nevada.
"Mom, please call me back," Gracie's message said. She had called three times. That made her nervous.
"Gracie, honey, I'm so sorry," she told her once she picked up.
"Hi."
Silence followed for a moment. "Gracie?"
"I needed you, Mom. Your phone was off."
"Baby, I'm so sorry." She could tell her that she was distracted by her new husband and being a mom of an eleven year old or just that she forgot. But honestly, there was no excuse that would make up for not being there when her daughter needed her.
Gracie sniffled on the other end and all Elizabeth wanted was to be there to hold her daughter. "What's happened? Is it my parents?"
"No."
"Gracie! What's happening?"
"No, Mom. I'm sorry. You don't get to be mad. I'm mad! Kylie was so sick, Mom, and you weren't there to give me advice. Then Jude proposed and I said yes and once again, your phone was off. It's not fair that I told Aunt Rosie and Uncle Lee before I told my own mother! Its not fair that my Dad can't walk me down the aisle and that my mom is thousands of miles away. It's just not!"
"You're right, Gracie. It's not fair. I'm so sorry."
After they talked a few more minutes, Elizabeth straightened the master and started a load of laundry.
Next door, Nathan was finally scanning and submitting the adoption application with the names Nathan and Elizabeth Grant on it. They were looking for older children, preferably siblings and from within England.
Elizabeth watched him as he stared at the screen, a gentle smile on his face.
"Hey," she whispered, not wanting to startle him.
"Hi." He opened his arms and she took a seat on his lap. "I did it, Bess. Our application is officially submitted."
She nodded, a mix of emotions on her face.
"What is it?"
"Jude proposed to Gracie."
"Oh that's great, isn't it?" He tucked her hair back and kissed her softly. "I thought you liked him."
"I do. Jude proposed and my phone was off when Gracie called me so she told Lee and Rosie first."
"You and that phone, love."
"I wasn't there for her and….she was really upset. I was distracted and...how can I take on more?"
"Hang on. What are you saying?"
She stood and looked out the window at the gray Beesands weather. "I can't even remember to plug in my phone. How can I add more to my plate?"
"Bess." He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "This is something we both want, remember?"
"I know."
"Jake and Gracie are grown adults, living their own lives. The children we are going to raise will need us to care for them for years. They need love and a safe home."
"Are you saying that Jake and Gracie don't need me, Nathan?"
"Of course not. I'm saying, you're a wonderful mother and you've always been there for your children. Whatever children we are blessed to bring into this family will get to experience that same love and commitment. You can do this. We can do this."
"Will you please remind me to always plug in my phone? I don't want to miss anything else."A month later, Henderson, The hospital
Tara and Jake were finally taking Jesse home. He'd been in the hospital since he was born, two months before.
He was strong and handsome, much like Jake, Tara thought. He could keep his temperature up and was now close to eight pounds.
Tara bent down to kiss his dark curls. "I love you, Jack Jesse Thornton."
He yawned and he was easily the most adorable baby she'd ever seen.
"Tara? You ready, babe?" Jake asked from the door.
"Yes. Very ready." Her heart was finally healed from her postpartum troubles and she'd been aching to rock her little boy in his nursery.
Jake picked up the baby carrier and offered his hand to her. She took it, grateful for this loving man next to her.
He had stood by her every moment of the last two months, even when she pushed him away. Now, they had their son with them and she looked forward to raising him together.
"Let's get married, Jake," she said as they drove the short distance home.
"When?"
"Soon. I'm ready to be Tara Thornton, Jake Thornton's wife."
It was music to his ears. The last few months had been the hardest thing he'd ever dealt with, not counting losing his father. He often wished his dad was still alive to offer advice, to show by example how to love and support Tara enough.
At the worst point of Tara's struggle, Jake wondered if he was cut out to be a husband and a father but thankfully after a lot of prayer and much advice from Uncle Lee, he made it through and they were both stronger for it.
"I'm ready too, babe. Let's plan it."Tara and Jake decided to plan a wedding for summer, hoping that would be enough time to get Elizabeth, Nathan and Kingston to the states.
What they didn't know was not only would they already be in the states because of Allie and Robert's wedding in Vermont but Jude and Gracie were getting married around the same time. Nathan, Elizabeth and Kingston decided to travel and stay for about 6 weeks.
Just as school let out for the summer and as they were preparing to leave for Vermont, they got a call about their adoption application.
"Babe?" Nathan said, walking into the kitchen at the Inn where she was preparing a summer salad of sorts.
"Hey, love."
"Our case worker called." She stopped chopping veggies.
"He did?"
"Yeah. They found a pair of siblings, Bess. A boy and a girl. They are twins, ten years old."
"Oh gosh. That's wonderful."
"It is but…to meet them, it would be next week and…"
"We will be in Vermont."
"Yeah, I'm going to call Dan and ask him to schedule it for the week after."
"I can't be here then, Nate." Elizabeth officially felt frustrated.
"Yes you can, Bess. Jude and Gracie's wedding isn't for two weeks."
"So we are going to fly back and forth from the states to here multiple times?"
"Bess, I'm not sure what to do here. We want these kids, don't we?"
She smacked his arm and smiled. "That is a crazy question, Nathan Grant."
"Do you want to see what they look like?"
"You have a picture? Of course I want to see them."
He pulled out his phone and pulled up a picture of two beautiful children. "Duncan and Alice," he said with a smile.
"Duncan and Alice Grant," she mused, hugging him tightly. "I want to meet them. As long as we can be sure to be back in Henderson on time."
"Sweet Bess," he said, capturing her lips with his. "I would never dream of making you miss Jake or Gracie's wedding. I don't want to miss it either."
"Can we go home?" she whispered, looking out the window at King playing with his dog.
"Home? Um, well…"
"Don't look so confused, Nate. You are not confused."
"I'm not, but its summer so…"
"So…."
"King is right out there and…it's not like he's at school."
She pressed her lips to his neck, right above his collar. "Bess…"
"Fine, we will wait until tonight."
"Actually, I was going to see if Mrs. Connors will watch him."
Her eyes lit up and she kissed him softly.
"Tell her thank you for me."