Chapter 11

Christmas part 3

Charlotte calls everyone to the table, it's time to eat. Jarrick jumps up and runs to the table. Jack tells him to slow down. Elizabeth gets up from Jack's lap. Jack gets up, takes her hand and leads her to the table. He pulls out the chair to his right for her. She sits down and says, thank you. Tom asks the blessing. Kind Heavenly Father we want to thank you for sending your son on this special day. We honor you today. We remember the reason for the season. Thank you for everyone here today and the one's afar. We ask blessings on all of us here today. We ask that you bless this food for the nourishment for our bodies and those that prepared it. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen. And everyone says Amen. Tom slices the turkey and places it on the plates as Charlotte passes each plate around the table. Charlotte helped Jarrick's plate before setting it in front of him. Everyone else fills their plate and passes the food around the table. Jack squeezes Elizabeth's hand gently and tells her that he is glad she came. She give him a smile and begins to eat. She tells Charlotte the food is delicious. Charlotte says, thank you. Jarrick looks up and spots the cake. He asks if he can have some? Elizabeth says, not yet. It's a surprise! Jack says, you have to finish everything on your plate. Jarrick asks, everything? Jack replies, yes. There's not to much on your plate. Jack looks at Elizabeth and gives her a big questionable smile. She just shrugged her shoulders. Everyone is talking and having a blessed time. Charlotte asks Elizabeth, what were your Christmas' like at home growing up? Elizabeth replies, pretty much the same as here. Except when we come downstairs already dressed in our finest Christmas dress. Meeting our parents at the tree in the formal living room. Our mother would hand out all of the presents. My father never put her gifts under the tree and mother didn't put his there either. Once all the gifts were handed out, my mother would sit back down in her chair next to father. Then they would tell us to go ahead and open. We couldn't just tear into them. We had to be very lady like and open them very carefully and we couldn't just throw the paper everywhere. We neatly stacked the paper on top of each other. Everything was in a box. Jack stopped her and asked, were you allowed to get excited? She said, yes as long as we acted like a lady. No hooping or hollering. Then we got up kissed our parents and said thank you father, thank you mother. Then we sat back down to watch them exchange gifts. After that it was time for breakfast. After breakfast we were allowed to go to our rooms to play with our new gifts until lunch. Then Christmas dinner was always the best. It as always a dinner party with family and friends. They always brought us gifts but they were taken to our rooms, unwrapped and the paper was taken away before we even seen them.thecards were laid on the top of the gift so we would know who it was from. When dinner was over there was always a surprise dessert. Jack asked, so this is dessert surprise? She nods. She continues, once dessert was served and we were finished we were excused and only then we could go to our rooms. There was no rushing up the stairs. We had to change into our night gowns, brush our teeth, brush our hair. Then quietly we could look at all our gifts we had received from the guests. On the back of every card was what the gift was so that when we got up the next morning we had to write thank you notes to everyone that gave us gifts. Take them downstairs and hand them to our mother along with the cards so she could check to see if we had missed anyone. Tommy asked, is it still like that now? She said, not so much now that we are all grown. Most of the guests that come to the Christmas parties do bring us gifts anymore now that we are grown. But Christmas morning is the same. I don't act like that now now that I'm out on my own. Christmas at the dorms were great. That's how I found out that it was supposed to be fun! Tom said, I was about to ask if you were going to be the same way but I'm glad college has thought you different. She said, God no, I'm nothing like my family. I've always wanted a normal life. I've always been very independent and very head strong. That's one reason I moved here. To get away from that life. Charlotte asked, did you run from something there? Elizabeth looked at her for a minute then replied, no. Just my father is very controlling. Everyone said in unison, wow. Jack touched her hand with a gentle squeeze. Everyone was finished eating. Tommy and Jack cleared the table. Jarrick with a whine in his voice asks, can we please have a piece of cake? Elizabeth looks at Jack for approval. He nods. She told Jarrick that she was going to need him to help her cut it! She picks him up and places him on one of the barstools. Charlotte hands her the plates. She puts the knife in Jarrick's hand, but tells him that this is the only time he can touch a knife. Ok? He nods with a big grin. She helps him cut the cake. Then they make another slice. She puts the knife under the piece of cake. She starts pulling it out and reaches up with her other hand to help steady it. As she pulls it out everyone is standing and watching. Jarrick's eyes are getting wider and wider. She finally pulls the piece of cake out and Jarrick shreaks with excitement! Look there's gold in the cake! Elizabeth tells him that it's candy bars! She tells him to get 1 piece of candy and put it on his plate. He reaches in and gets 1. She sets him on the floor and tells him Merry Christmas little man! I love you! He says thank you, I love you too! He takes his plate to the table and sits down and eats it. Jack asks him, what do you think of that son? He says, that's the best! Jack says, I think so too but Jarrick didn't know Jack was talking about Elizabeth and that's alright. Elizabeth give everyone a piece of Jarrick's gift cake. Tommy of course had to have a piece of the candy. Jack came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist and says thank you for making his day! She whispers, I can't wait to see his eyes light up when sees what we got him! Charlotte asks, does anyone want coffee? Everyone said yes please. Elizabeth went into the kitchen to help her with the coffee. She got a coffee mug for Jarrick and opened the fridge. She got the milk out and poured milk in Jarrick's mug. She took it in and set in front of him. Charlotte brought everyone their coffee. Elizabeth went in and brought out cream and sugar. Jack kissed her cheek and says, your going to spoil him rotten. She says, that's the plan but keeping him respectful! Elizabeth helps Charlotte clear the table. She sets the dishes in the sink. Charlotte walks up to her. Grabs her hands and tells her how happy she has made her son and grandson! It has been a very long time since she has seen Jack smile the way she makes him smile! After Jenny died I didn't think he would ever find love again. Elizabeth stopped her. Love? Jack hasn't said anything about love to me. She thought after she said it, she told herself that she wished he did because she knew she loved him. Charlotte brought her back from her thoughts. Charlotte was telling her she knew her son and he is back to enjoying life again and she knew it was all thanks to her! All he talks about is you and what you do to make Jarrick apart of your relationship with his father! Jarrick has never known his mother. From what he says you treat him like a son! I just wanted to thank you for bringing joy back into this family! Elizabeth hugs her and tells her those 2 in there have brought her just as much joy. I didn't know what joy was until they came into her life! They finished cleaning up the kitchen. Elizabeth asks, do you, Tom, and Tommy like to come to my house and watch Jarrick with his gift from Jack and I? Jack and I have gifts there. Charlotte asks, are you sure we wouldn't be intruding? I would love for you all to come! We are leaving at 3:00. They joined the guys back in the living room. Jack pulls Elizabeth down gently onto his lap. She smiles, thank you. Jack tells her that he is so excited that she came today!

It's now time to go to Elizabeth's. Jack tells Jarrick to go get his coat on because their going to Ms Elizabeth's! Jarrick runs in and puts his coat while Jack helps Elizabeth on with hers. After everyone gets their coats on the go out and get in the vehicle to leave. Tommy rides with Jack because he had rode with his parents. Everyone pulls into Elizabeth's driveway. Tommy gets Jarrick out of his booster seat while jack helps Elizabeth out of her SUV. She hands Jack her keys. Everyone notices and smiles. Tom whispers to Charlotte that they act like they are married! Charlotte whispers back hopefully one day soon! Tom asks Charlotte do you know what it is? She assured him she don't know. Jack had kept her in the dark this time. Tom leans in and whispers in her ear, it's about to kill you not knowing isn't it? She looks at him and says not this time. Not this time. I have a feeling I'm going to be more in the dark from now on and I'm ok with that. There is so much love in the air than we know. More than they are willing to admit to one another. Jack unlocks her front door and opens it for to enter. Everyone follows. Jack takes everyone's coat and hangs them in the coat closet by the front door. Jack leaves out the back door to go in the shed to make sure it is warm enough and pulls the tarp off Jarrick's gift. He goes back in the house and nods to Elizabeth. Elizabeth tells Jack she's going to go change into something more comfortable. He smirks and asks, do you need any help? She looks back at him and replies, I got into these clothes, so I can get out of them! She calls Jack back to her bedroom and asks, hey do you want your gifts now or later? He replies, later! He reaches up and gives her a gentle kiss and says, you are so beautiful. She says, I was all dressed up before now I'm just in casual clothes. He says, you would look beautiful in a gunny sack! She reaches up and kisses him and says, thank you! Her stomach has so many butterflies that she's almost weak knees. They walk back to the living room. Jarrick has the tv on. Jack asks him to shut it off please. Jarrick takes the remote and turns it off. Elizabeth gathers up all the gifts and put them under the tree except for one and she puts it on the tree. Jack asks, what did you do? She says, what? Nothing much! Jarrick asks, when can we open presents? Before Jack could say anything Elizabeth sat down in front of him and gently told him in just a few minutes, ok. Jarrick says, yes ma'am. Jack looks at his parents with a huge smile on his face and shakes his head yes! Jack says to himself that Beth, your going to be an awesome mother one day. Elizabeth stands back up and asks if anyone would like some coffee, tea, or water? Everyone says no thank you. Elizabeth called Jarrick over to sit by her on the floor. He jumped up and went over to where she asked him to sit. She handed him all of his presents. He started tearing the paper off right and left! Elizabeth asked, Jack will you light the fireplace? He turned and lit it. She handed Jack all of Jarrick's gift wrap. He put it in the fire. She handed Tom and Charlotte the envelope off the tree. They looked at each other. Charlotte said, Elizabeth you shouldn't have. Elizabeth said, it's isn't much. I just wanted to get you all a little something! Please open it! Charlotte opens the envelope and finds a gift card to the nice Italian Restaurant down in the middle of town. Then Elizabeth hands Tommy a small box. It was a gift card from the sport shop on Main Street. They all tell her thank you for their gifts. They get up and give her a hug. Jack walks over and kisses her on the cheek and says, that was a nice thing to do for them but you didn't have to do it. She said she knew that but just wanted to! She hands Jack a small box. He says, I told you not to do this. She said, I heard you but I had already bought it. So just open it please. He opens the box to find a gold tie clip with a diamond birthstone on it. He looks at her. How did you when his birthday was? She says, awhile back you told me his birthday was in 3 months, remember? He shakes his head up and down. She walk over and puts her arms around his neck from behind the chair he was sitting in. He reaches up and places his hand on hers that covered his chest. She says, you can where it with your dress uniform. He pulls her down and places a kiss on her cheek and says thank you so much! You are the most thoughtful person I know! She says thank you. Are you ready for the big surprise? He shakes his head yes. Puts the cover back on the box and sets it down. He stands up and says, Jarrick there is one more gift. This one is from Ms Elizabeth and I. Come with us. Everyone follows them out to the shed. Jack tells him to close his eyes and no peaking. He leads Jarrick into the shed and over to the table. Charlotte gasps and puts her hand over her mouth. Elizabeth and Jack count to 3 and says, open your eyes! Elizabeth bends down and puts her hand on his back. Jarrick opens his eyes and screamed. Jack bends down and whispers to Jarrick, Ms Elizabeth talked him into setting it up in here so that you and could play with it anytime we come over here! Do you like it? Jarrick shakes his head up and down. Tom, Charlotte, and Tommy's eyes were wet with tears. There was so much compassion in Elizabeth. Charlotte reaches for Elizabeth's hand and gives it a gentle squeeze and smiles. Elizabeth shakes her head. Jack says that Jarrick has wanted a train set since he was old enough to say choo choo! You two have made him one happy little boy! Elizabeth reaches into a box behind them and pulls out 2 engineers hats. A large for Jack and a small for Jarrick. They put them on and say, choo choo! Jarrick sits on his dad's lap so he can show him how to run it. He tells Jarrick to push the red button. He pushes it and then all of a sudden the train starts blowing steam from the stack on the engine. The lights come on. The whistle blows, chooo, chooo! Jarrick's eyes light up with all kind of excitement! Elizabeth bends down and kisses Jarrick on the cheek and says, merry Christmas little man! I love you! Jarrick says, I love you too! Thank you so much! She leans over and kisses Jack on the cheek and says, merry Christmas handsome! He noticed he had tears in his eyes. She asked, what is it? He said, nothing. Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Tom walked back in the house leaving the 3 boys to play. They knew they would be there for hours. Elizabeth asked them if they wanted some coffee? They both said, yes. Elizabeth went into the kitchen and poured them a cup of coffee. She brought them back to he dining room table and set them down in front of them. Tom says, you know they may be out there all night. She said, yeah I know but it's alright. Christmas only comes once a year! They all said thank God in unison and laughed! Jack came in and noticed them drinking coffee. He said, is there enough for me to have a cup? Elizabeth got up and poured him a cup and set it on the table next to Herat the head of the table. She asked him what are you doing back in here? I figured you all would be out there all night! He laughed, Tommy wanted to ply for a bit. So I came in and let them play. Jarrick loves it. I think we got him the best present ever. She speaks up and says, how do we top that next year? Jack just shakes his head and says, I don't really know. Tom and Charlotte finish their coffee and got ready to go. They put their coats on and went out to say goodbye to Tommy and Jarrick. When they came back in the house the hugged Jack and Elizabeth goodbye and told her thanks again for the gift. We haven't been out in a very long time, thanks!

Elizabeth told Jack she had a surprise for him later! He tilted his head with a puzzled look on his face. She didn't say anything else, just left it at that as she went to walk away. Jack catches her hand to turn her back around and says, wait a minute, you can't say something like that and walk away. She smiles and says, yes I can and walks out of the kitchen leaving him standing there with his mouth wide open. Jack finally shuts his mouth and followed her into the living room. She was standing and staring out the back window. He walks up to her and asks, a penny for your thoughts. She said nothing. I just love standing here and look out at all the beauty. He said, it is beautiful just like you Beth. Her body tingled every time he called her that.its getting pretty close to dinner time. I'm going to make us some ham and cheese sandwiches. You can take some out to the boys. Engineers need to eat to! Jack followed her to the kitchen. He asked if he could help? She said, yes grab the bread and pull the slices out. We'll have an assembly line going. Elizabeth reachedinto the fridge and pulled out the ham, cheese, lettuce, tomato, mustard, and mayonnaise out. She set everything on the bar in a line. She grabbed butter knife from the drawer and handed it to Jack. Jack put mustard and mayonnaise on the bread while Elizabeth pulled a sharp knife out of the block and started slicing the tomato up. He said, Jarrick doesn't like lettuce and tomatoes. Good to know thanks, she said. Your welcome, he said. Jack put cheese on all the sandwiches. Elizabeth put the ham on top of the cheese. Jack put the lettuce and tomatoes on all except for Jarrick's. Elizabeth put the other slice of bread on top. They each sliced the sandwiches from corner to corner. She put some on a plate and hadJack take them out to the boys. She said wait a minute. She took 4 halves and cut the crust off of them and said these are Jarrick's. Jack asked, how do you know he doesn't like the crust? She said, I didn't. That's how we eat them at home. He laughed and asked, you've never had the crust of the bread? She laughed and said, nope. Jack tells her she needs to try it. She just laughs. He says, I'll be right back. As he left Elizabeth's phone rang. She sees it's her mother. She answers as she walks to her bedroom , hello mother. Merry Christmas! Her mother says, Merry Christmas Lizzie! I thought you might have come home for the holidays. We missed you this year. This was our first Christmas without you dear. Elizabeth said, no I have to work tomorrow. I know I miss you all to. How's father? Her mother Grace said, the same. He won't talk about you without getting upset. He says, he don't understand why you are being like this? How was your Christmas? Elizabeth says, it was wonderful. I spent it with Jack, his son, and his family! Grace asked, who is Jack? Elizabeth replies, he's my boyfriend mother! Jack walked up to her bedroom door just in time to her her say he is her boyfriend. He was all smiles! She sees him standing there. She puts up 1 finger to wait a minute. She goes back to her conversation with her mother. Grace says, I thought you went there to work and to get away from everything? Elizabeth said, I did mother. I met him at work. He's the captain of the rescue squad. He is such a gentleman. I've never met a man like him. He likes me for me and not my father's money, or what my father can do for him. Grace asks, how do you know that Lizzie? She says, because he has his own money mother. Grace thinks Elizabeth has got a rich boyfriend. She says, I thought you wanted away from all that money? Elizabeth says, I did but Jack is different. He don't blow money on extravagant things. He is really down to earth. He don't think he's better than anybody else. He don't put on airs. I need to go mother. I'll call in a few days. Give my love to father, Viola, and Julie. I love you mother. Grace said before we hang up, we put your Christmas into your account because I didn't have an address for you. I'll text it to you later. Goodbye mother and thank you for the gift. She hung up her phone. Jack motioned with his hand asking if he could come in. Elizabeth shakes her head yes. She tells him that that there isn't any place in this house that you can't go! He smirks and says, well we aren't married and after all this is your bedroom. She laughs and said, Jack I have my clothes on and the door is open! Jack looks at her and asks, can I ask you something as he wraps his arms around her? She says, you can ask me anything you want. I am an open book to you! He kisses her and asks, did you really mean all those things you said about me and Jarrick to your mother? Yes Jack I did, she said. I'm not lying to my mother or anybody else for that matter about the way I feel about you and Jarrick. I love that little man, Jack! I didn't plan on it but it just happened. That's not who I am. As you know I'm not one for pulling any punches. He laughs and says, yes I get the picture but I never heard you talk about us at all. She says, I've not talked to anyone outside Aspen. This is the first I've talked to my mother. He smirks and asks, ok what is this surprise you have for me? She says later handsome! You have to be patient.

Tommy comes in from the shed with Jarrick lagging behind. Jack takes one look at his son and sees he getting tired. This little guy still needs a bath. Elizabeth whispers in Jack's ear. Jack's eyes get this shimmer in them. He turns to Tommy and says, why don't you take Jarrick home, get him a bath and see to it he gets in bed? You can spend the night and I can take you home in the morning before you have to go to work. Tommy says, sounds like a plan to me but if I take your car how will you get home? Jack laughs and says, I only live 4 houses up, I'll just walk. I'll bring his gifts with me when I come home. Jack kisses Jarrick and tells him he would be home in a bit. Love you bud! Jarrick says I love you too daddy. Jack put his coat o him. Tommy picks hi up and carries hi and put him in the car. Tommy buckles hi to his booster seat. Climbs in and takes him home.

Mack closes the door and looks it. Elizabeth says, you afraid someone is going to just walk in? He say no just a habit. He turns to her and says now, the surprise! She walks over to the tree and picks up the last present under the tree. She sits down on the couch and motions for hi to other. He says hold that thought. He bends over and places another log othe fire. The he joins her on the couch next to her. She picks up the remote to the tv and presses a button and music starts to play. She pushes another button and the lights dim. He says, wow! That's pretty cool! She hands him the gift. He says, you already gave a wonderful gift! I love it too! Elizabeth says, I know but this is a special gift. I wanted to give it to you while we we totally alone! He smiles and those dimples appear. Boy how she loves those dimples! He opens the box. It was a necklace that said, "Love is Patient". Looking back at her he says, oh Beth then back at the necklace. She gets up and walks around behind him and puts it on him. He says I love it! Jack I can't hold it in any longer. I have to say it or I going to bust! Jack Thornton I love you with all of my being! I know we haven't been together very long but I have never felt this way about anybody in my entire life! I love you so much that it hurts. It don't matter if you don't feel the same way but I can't hide it any longer. The way you make me feel every time you walk in the room I get feeling in my stomach and I get weak in the knees! He stops he by putting his finger to her lips, shh. He leans in and gives her a very passionate kiss. It lasts so log tatwhen they partition had taken their breath away. He pulls out a small box from his pocket of his jeans and hands it to her. He said, I didn't know when was a good time to give this to you. Now is the time. She opens the box and there was a necklace that said "Love is Kind". Elizabeth kissed him. He said, Beth I've been feeling the same way. Every time you walk in the room or I'm at work or where ever I at I catch myself thinking about you all the time. I can't get enough of you! I love you with every beat of my heart! You have brought back feelings that I thought I would never feel agai when Jenny died. When I told her goodbye standing out there on you back porch I knew then you were the one, the only one! She holds out her hand and says, please dance with me! He takes her hand and stands. They walk over to the end of the couch and start dancing to the beat of the music playing not even hearing the words. They kiss and dance for while longer. Then Elizabeth tells him that there is something that she needs to tell him but it might just be a deal breaker. Either you will continue to love me or you will walk away but I have to say this. He says, Beth there isn't anything that make me walk away from you. What ever it is we can get through it together. She says I don't think so but here it goes. I've never been with a man. I feel that part of me belongs to the man I marry. It is a sacred part of me that I will not give up. He steps back and says, you beam your...a...vir...gin? You've never...ever? She says, no. If you want to high tail it out if here I'll understand. That's one of the reasons why I haven't been able to keep a boyfriend very long. They find out that I won't sleep with them and they leave. They always do. Jack cups her face in his hands and says, his is not a deal breaker as you call it. I love you. I can't just turn that off and on like turning on a faucet. I respect you for it. If that's what to want then that's what we won't do. Jenny and I did the same thing. I admire you for it. I promise you that I will not cross that line. I love you more than you will ever know. She says, really you don't mind waiting? I figured you would leave me. He says, I'm not like all the rest of the guys. I told you you were the one and only one. I meant that. You love my son as if he were your own. You are everything all in one package! He kisses her so soft and gentle. She runs her hand up the back of his neck, running her fingers through his hair. They get lost in time. Time flies by and by the time they look at the clock it was 2:00 in the morning. He says, I had better get going to let you get to bed. You have to work tomorrow. She asks him, do you have to work tomorrow? He tells her no because he worked last night. So I'm off for 2 days. As they were swaying to the music she asked him if he would stay until she fell asleep? He says, I don't think that's a good idea. She says, why they are adults. They can control themselves. Please just until I fall asleep. He couldn't say no to that face. The way she bites her bottom lip just drove him crazy! He told her he would try. As she pulled away from him she said, you get the lights, and lock up. Leave the music playing! I'm going to go change. Meet me in the bedroom when your done. She kissed him one last time and left the room. He tells himself to calm down and get a hold of myself. It's just until she falls asleep. Nothing is going to happen. He makes sure all the doors and windows are locked up. He shuts the lights off. He shakes his self and heads to the bedroom. He takes a deep breath and exhales. He says, we can do this. It's just for a little bit. He pulls her covers down on her side of the bed. He can tell which side she sleeps on by the clock on the table next to the bed. She comes out of the bathroom in a pair of flannel pajamas pants and a pink short sleeve t-shirt. She climbs into bed. He pulls her covers up to her neck. He goes around and slides in on top of the covers. Lays down next to her. She turn the light off. Turns the alarm on and sets her phone n the charger. She rolls over and rests her head on he chest. She don't have to be at work until 8:30 in the morning. He gently pulls her chin up and places a kiss on her lips. He pulls away and says, good night Beth. I love you! She tells him that she loves him for all eternity! Good night! Drops her head back down on his chest. They both lay there in silence thinking to themselves, how they could get use to this. Jack thinks how much he had missed holding his woman that he loved in his arms. He said a silent prayer thanking God for sending this woman into his life. Jack felt her relax in his arms. Her breathing slowed and steady. He knew she was asleep but he didn't want to get up yet. He tells himself the he would just hold her for just a few minutes. Before they knew it her alarm went off.

It was 7:00 am. Elizabeth rolls over to shut the alarm off. She sees Jack still there sleeping in his clothes on top of the covers. She decided to let him sleep since he got off work yesterday morning. She got up went in took a shower. She forgot her clothes. So she wrapped her towel around her and headed for her closet. She grabbed her clothes and went back to the bathroom and got dressed. She went to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee, grabbed a blueberry muffin. She filled her travel mug with coffee. Left Jack a note and a house key next to a muffin and a coffee mug. She grabbed her ski coat, gloves and out the door she went. Jack didn't wake up until 9:30 that morning. He noticed she had let him sleep and had already left for work. He wondered why she didn't wake him up before she left. He made her bed. Went into the kitchen for a cup of coffee. He finds the note:

Good morning handsome! Didn't want to wake you. You were sleeping to peaceful. Here's a key to my house just in case you ever need to get in or Jarrick wants to play with his train. I love you so much! I miss you already. Have a great day. I know I will!