Two weeks later
Elizabeth looked around at their family as they observed the wedding ceremony. The kids were all standing in a semi-circle watching. The girls were dressed in coral, knee-length bridesmaids dresses, with bouquets of coral roses and baby's breath. The boys were dressed in navy suits that matched Nathan's with coral roses in their lapels. Elizabeth wore an ivory knee length gown with a coral sash around her waist.
She felt so connected to them. Over the last two weeks, she and Nathan had made a conscious effort to spend time with each child, checking on their emotions and feelings and making sure they were okay with moving again. With becoming an official family.
After the ceremony, they would all go to the new house for dinner from the Mexican place in town. Then after the meal, Elizabeth and Nathan would take off for the weekend, heading up north to Mackinac for a brief honeymoon. Grace and William along with Ruth and Archie were going to stay with the kids.
Nathan smiled at Elizabeth, despite his woozy, headachy feeling. The meds took the edge off, but his vision was blurry and he fought nausea periodically.
Elizabeth knew her love. He had a headache. She could tell by the look in his eye. She had hoped that he wouldn't have one today, of all days, but they would deal with it together.
"Nathan, please put this ring on Elizabeth's finger and repeat after me," the pastor instructed. "Elizabeth, with this ring, I promise my unending love and faithfulness."
He repeated it and slipped it on her left hand. It fit perfectly.
"Elizabeth, please put the ring on Nathan's finger and repeat after me," the pastor said. "Nathan, with this ring, I promise my unending love and faithfulness."
She spoke, a huge smile on her face as she slipped it on his hand.
"By the power vested in me by the state of Michigan, I now pronounce you husband and wife. Nathan, you may kiss your bride."
He bent slightly, slipping his arms around her waist and picked her up off the ground. "I love you, Beth," he told her before giving her a slow, deep kiss and putting her back down.
"I love you too, sweetheart."
All the kids and both sets of grandparents walked forward giving hugs and congratulations. Then they all walked through the sand towards Nathan's rental home where the cars were parked.
The newlyweds followed everyone else, so Elizabeth took advantage of a potentially quiet moment. "Nate?"
He stopped walking and faced her. "Yes, wife?" he asked, stepping really close. "Good grief, you're gorgeous."
She pulled his lapels and held tight, wanting to be even closer. "Truth. Do you have a headache?"
"Yeah."
"Maybe we should lay down when we get to the new house."
"We, huh?"
"Or, we can send the rest of them to the new house and we can stay here."
"I like the way you think. I'm so glad I married a smart woman."
"Thank goodness we have it until the end of the month. Give me a moment, babe," she told him, standing on her toes to kiss him before walking around the house to the cars. She found her father. "Dad? Can you take everyone to the new house? Nate's got a migraine coming on."
He smiled and kissed her cheek. "Sure, Beth. You take care of your husband."
"Thanks, Dad. The keys to the Tahoe are in it."
"You enjoy your weekend."
"Thanks," she said with a smile before she walked over to join her husband.
A few hours later, Grace had dropped off some food for them but Nathan was not in any condition to eat.
He sat on the floor in the bathroom, his head pounding, Elizabeth next to him, running her fingers through his hair.
"Maybe we should have just rested," she said, although she was happy they hadn't.
"Absolutely not," he groaned. "Nothing was going to stop me from loving you."
"But, babe..."
"No buts. This is our wedding night, Beth."
"Okay, yes. You're right."
He kissed her softly. "Will you get me my meds?"
"Of course." She got up and he watched as she walked out, his t-shirt that she was wearing not leaving much to the imagination. She had such long legs….
At the new house, JJ was missing his parents, Kendra had burst into tears when Julian teased her and Evie and Allie were baking cookies and not letting Kendra help.
The grandparents were not having much luck getting JJ to understand that they would be back in a couple days.
Evie finally came into the living room to help. "JJ? Want to help us make cookies?"
"You better let Kendra help too," Grace told her granddaughter.
Evie sighed. "Yes, ma'am."
"Thank you."
JJ followed Evie to the kitchen and before long, Kendra and Julian were in there too.
Archie snapped a few pictures and sent them to the newlyweds.
Elizabeth smiled as she looked at the picture of all five kids making a huge mess in the new kitchen.
She looked over at Nathan who was sleeping peacefully after his meds started working. As scary as it was to think of someone cutting into his skull, if he ultimately felt better, it was worth it.
"Mmm," he moaned in his sleep. "Beth?"
"I'm right here," she said, touching his back. Apparently he was a stomach sleeper.
"Beth?" He lifted his head and squinted.
She scooted under the covers and touched his face, loving the slight scratchy feel of his skin. "Shhh. Go back to sleep."
"I had a dream."
"Oh yeah? Was it a good one?"
"Yeah. We had twins. A boy and a girl."
"Yikes. Seven kids?"
He chuckled. "Yeah. It was wonderful."
He snuggled closer, pressing his lips to her neck, making her shiver. "How are you feeling?"
"Perfect."
"Yeah?"
"I've got you in my arms. How could I be anything less?"
"That was a pretty romantic thing to say, husband." His lips met hers for a brief, tantalizing moment. "So...when should we start trying for these twins?" she asked, partly teasing.
"Immediately is good for me." Elizabeth laughed. "What do you think, Beth?"
"I'm good with whatever and whenever it happens." She sat up and started getting dressed.
"Hey, where are you going?"
"We should go say goodnight to the kids. If I know JJ, he's probably missing us now."
He was. He didn't want to sleep in the scary new house without Momma and Daddy. Even if Julian was there. It was still scary.
So right now, he was sitting on the couch with his new Grampa Archie and Grandpa William watching some show with a guy on it named Lone Ranger.
"Anyone home?" a voice said from the doorway.
"Momma! Daddy! I'm so glad you're home!" JJ yelled running over and hugging them.
"Hi, bud. Its late," Nathan told him. "Why aren't you sleeping in your new room?"
"Its scary," he said very seriously. "I need you here."
Nathan hugged him tight, enjoying his new official role. "What's scary about it?"
"Its dark. I don't like dark."
"Give Mom another hug and kiss and we will go check it out."
While she was holding him he almost fell asleep on her shoulder. "Love you, JJ. Sleep well, okay?"
"Are you staying here?"
She looked up at Nathan. He shrugged.
"We can stay tonight and leave in the morning I guess."
"Dad?" Allie said, rushing forward to hug him.
"Hi, Al. What are you doing up?"
"We're all up," Evie and Julian said from the doorway. Kendra trailed in right behind them.
"Hi, everyone," Elizabeth said, putting JJ down and opening her arms. They all rushed forward. "What's on your minds?"
"We can't sleep."
"There was a lot of excitement today, huh?"
They all nodded.
"Let's make hot cocoa and talk and then its definitely time for bed," Nathan suggested.
About twenty minutes later, the grandfathers had gone to bed and there was a slight chill in the air so Nathan built a fire while everyone found a comfy place to drink their cocoa.
"Uncle Nathan?" Julian said from behind him.
"Yeah, bud."
"Can I talk to you?"
"Sure."
"I mean, just us."
Nathan stood slowly and they wandered to the cozy library/office off the kitchen. "Better?"
"Yeah." Julian was comfortable with Nathan since he had been his therapist and all. Somehow, this was harder.
"Take your time."
Julian sipped his cocoa. "Will you adopt me?"
"So that would mean, Aunt Beth would be your mom too. Are you okay with that? It hasn't been very long since your mom passed."
Julian stayed silent for a while. "Yeah. Aunt Beth is like my mom anyway. She does everything a mom does."
"True, yes. If that's what you really want, I'd be honored to adopt you, Julian."
Nathan and Julian joined everyone else and Elizabeth could tell something new existed between them. She tilted her head at Nathan, wondering. He just smiled and she knew he'd fill her in later.
Later came in about thirty minutes when all five kids were asleep either on the floor by the fire or on the large sectional sofa nearby.
Nathan stood up, fighting his dizziness and held his hand out. "Shall we head to the master, Mrs. Grant?"
"Yes please."
As soon as their bedroom door was locked, he pulled her into his arms.
"What were you and Julian chatting about?"
"You really want to talk about this now?"
"Just what he wanted. Then we can continue."
"He wants me to adopt him."
"And you said…"
"Yes, of course. I'd adopt all of them when they are ready."
"You're a wonderful man, Nathan Archibald Grant." She assisted in removing his shirt. "I'm awfully glad I married you."
"Love you, Beth," he said as he returned the gesture.
"Love you more."
The weekend went fast and before anyone realized it was Sunday night and the newlyweds were home.
They walked in the door with the family's favorite Mexican food and huge smiles on their faces.
Evie, however, was grumpy and she seemed to be snapping at everyone. Elizabeth pulled her aside.
"Eve, what's going on?"
"I don't feel good."
"You're on your monthly?"
"Soon. I hate that I get grumpy before. Its not who I am."
"It happens to most women, sweetie. Just think before you talk and apologize to anyone you've treated badly and move forward."
"Yeah. Will you take me to the store?"
"I'll take you," Nathan offered from the doorway. He wanted to spend time with Evie but she turned red and dashed from the room.
"Apparently she doesn't want me to take her."
"Don't take it personally, babe. She needs tampons and she's embarrassed." Elizabeth stood on her toes and kissed him. "I love you for offering."
"Thanks. I would do it. I still buy Al's."
"I know you do. You're the best. In fact, you can buy my tampons next time."
"I'll consider it an honor."
She laughed and kissed him again. "Let's have dinner and then I'll take the girls to the store."
"Kids, time for dinner," Nathan yelled.
Elizabeth drove Allie, Evie and Kendra to the local grocery store. "We also need to get some groceries so if we split up, it will go faster. Al and Evie, if you want to head to get what you need and then get eggs, milk and cheese, Kendra and I will get cereal, chicken, beef and bread."
"Eve?" Allie said as they looked at the little blue boxes.
"Yeah."
"You ever liked a boy?"
"Yeah. But he's older and has a girlfriend."
"Oh."
"You?"
"Yeah. You know Topher Flynn?"
He was so cute and the same age as Allie.
"Yeah. He's pretty cute."
"So cute!" she said, way too loudly, making them both giggle. "Anyway, we've been eating lunch together and he held my hand in the hall by the lockers."
Allie blushed, making Evie smile. "That sounds like he likes you too."
"Yeah."
"So what's the problem?" she asked, finally choosing a box.
Allie picked one up too and they headed to get the eggs, milk and cheese.
"What if he tries something crazy like kissing me?"
"Kiss him back?"
"I don't know how to do that!" she said way too loudly again. "Do you?"
"No but, look at Nathan and Elizabeth. They make it look easy."
Over in the cereal aisle….
"Come on Ken, just pick," Elizabeth said with a laugh.
Kendra picked up the Frosted Mini Wheats and Captain Crunch. "Okay, got them, Momma."
Elizabeth paused as she grabbed oatmeal. She looked at Kendra who dropped the boxes in the cart. Her face crumpled and the tears started.
Elizabeth walked over and picked her up, holding her tight. "Oh, sweetheart. Its okay."
"I don't want to forget her! Does this mean I will?"
"Of course not. You will always have her in your heart. Maybe when we get home we will play the memories game, okay? And we can write in our journals."
"Yeah. Will Uncle Nate be there?"
"Yes, honey. He will always be there now." He could usually make Kendra feel better. He listened to her when she was sad and upset and assured her that everything would be just fine.
"What's wrong?" Evie said as she and Allie put their things in the cart.
"Nothing. We are right as rain, aren't we, Ken?" Elizabeth asked as she put her down.
"Yeah."
"Al and Evie, can you grab a few more packages of cheese and some flour? I think we should make pizza for dinner soon."
As she and Kendra finished their list, Elizabeth tried not to feel overjoyed that Kendra had called her Momma, even if unintentionally. It felt disloyal to Vi in a way even though she had in fact stepped into that role.
She sighed and fought her tears, longing to get back into her new husband's comforting arms. She texted as they waited in line. "I love u. C U soon."