Chapter 18
To Us
Jack opens the note and reads it to her.
To the happy couple on this joyous occasion. May you always be as happy as you are right now. With all our love.
William and Grace
Tom and Charlotte
Beth speaks up and asks, how did they know? Did you tell them? Jack replies, I didn't say anything to anyone. Jack looks up at the waiter and asks, where did you get this? He turns and all of a sudden there they were. William, Grace, Tom, and Charlotte. Jack and Beth stood and walked over to them. Everyone stands and hug. Elizabeth asks, how did you all know? Charlotte raises her hand. I knew when Jack asked me to keep Jarrick over night. So I called Grace and told her this morning after you dropped Jarrick off. William raises his hand and says, I called around to find out if you had a reservation. So when I found out Gracie and I flew down! Jack smirks and asks, what would you have done if I didn't ask her and it was just a date? Charlotte speaks up and says, son I know you better than you know your own self. When you come and asked for the rings I knew it was just a matter of time! We are so happy for both of you! 2 chairs were brought over to the table for Jack and Beth. The waiter brought the champagne and filled everyone's fluted champagne glass. After several toasts everyone went their separate ways. William and Grace flew back home. Jack and Beth drove back home.
As they stepped in to the house, Jack took her by the hand and led her over to the couch. He lit the fireplace and took his seat next to her. She whispers to him, dance with me? He replies, it would be my pleasure! He stands and pulls her up to him. She reaches for the remote and pulls up her play list. She clicks on Breathe by Faith Hill. He leads out to the end of the couch. They take each other in their hand and stats dancing, swaying to the beat of the music. He whispers in her ear, that dress is beautiful on you! That navy blue brings out the blue in your eyes! It fits your shape to a T! I don't know what else you have in your closet but right now it's my favorite! They keep dancing for hours not paying attention to the time. Right now time stands still for them. By the time they separated it was 3:00 in the morning. He turns the lights off but left the music playing.
He leads her to the bedroom. She gets her pjs and goes to the bathroom to change. He changes into his night pants. He pulls the covers back and waits for her to come out. She opens the door and is stopped. He puts out his hand for her to take. She gives it to him. He leads her over to the bed and they climb in. They pull the covers up and he wraps his arms around her and gently starts to kiss her. He's found her weak spot behind her ears. As she starts to moan she whispers, Jack you have...made umm...me...the...umm...happiest...ummm...ummm..in the...world! He finds her lips again. Sliding their tongues in finding every spot in their mouths! She rolls him over and starts kissing him around his neck! She nibbles his ear and back to his neck. He starts to moan...Beth...I...love...ummm...you...ummm! If... ummm...we... ummm... don't ...stop... ummm...we...not be.. ummm... to...stop! She stops to catch her breath! Their breathing is rapid. She falls onto his chest. She says, I know. I can't help I want you! He says, I know I feel the same way but we need to stop. They managed to catch their breath and just lay holding each other until sleep took over.
The next morning Jack woke up first and decided to let her sleep in. He grabs a cup of coffee and goes out to the swing. Sitting there taking in the beautiful sight around him. His thoughts take over. He says to his self, I hope she doesn't want a long engagement. I would marry her tomorrow if she wants to! But I can't take a dream wedding away from her. Jarrick's birthday is next week. We need to get past that first. God spring is beautiful here!
About that time she came out of the house with her coffee. She sat down next him. No need for a blanket the weather was a beautiful spring morning! She kisses him and says, good morning Love! He says, good morning Beautiful! She leans into him. He asks, how did you sleep? I slept great, she said! She says, I'm sorry I got carried away last night. He tilts her chin up to look in her eyes and says, you never have to apologize for wanting me, just as I will never apologize for wanting you. But I do think we should set a date!
Jack? I don't want a long engagement. Jarrick's birthday is next week so why don't we do it June 1st? Next year, he asked? No silly in 2 months. This year! That's sounds good to me but is that enough time to have the wedding of your dreams? I don't need the wedding if my dreams. I just want to be married to you! Well I should be finished with my PT by then. So June 1st it is! That was simple enough!
Now that that is done now we need to plan Jarrick's birthday! Well it's on the 23rd. That's next Monday so why don't we have his party on the 21st? He says, that works. So this is going pretty well. Now what do we get him, he said? Well I think we should get him another train car and some mountains for his tracks and maybe some train tracks. Oh and I would like to get him some new pjs with slippers and a suit of clothes. What do you think, Jack? Boy you're taking this mother thing to a whole new level. I've been racking my brain to come up with something. That all sounds great! Boy will it always be this easy? She laughs, 2 heads are better than 1! Beth you are going to be a great mother to him! I love you so much! Love, I love you too! We are going to be the best parents we can. They don't come with books so we can do our best that's all we can expect. I know I'll make mistakes but that's ok as long as I can learn from them. I do know that I don't want to treat our children the way my parents treated us. I want to raise our children not a nanny or nurse maid. Beth I love to hear you talk about our children! So when do you want to go shopping for his birthday? Oh I almost forgot the cake! How about a train cake? Beth what ever you think. Your doing a great job at this! Ok, we don't pick him up until this evening so how about we get dressed and go get started? He says, I'm on it. They get up and go get ready. Jack showers in the guest bathroom. Elizabeth goes to hers. They meet out in the living room.
At the toy store the choose the train and accessories for him. They go to the drugstore and get the wrapping paper and card. They go to the bakery and order his cake. They go to the department store and buy him train pjs with matching slippers. They get him a new pair of Levi's with a nice shirt. They get back home with 2 hours to spare before they pick him up.
Jack? How are you feeling? I'm a little tired. Why don't you go rest on the couch while I fix dinner? I think I will, he said. He goes in and turns her play list on and lays down on the couch. Elizabeth starts fixing meatloaf, roasted potatoes, and steamed broccoli. She puts the meatloaf in the oven. She walks into the living room to check on him. She smiles because he's asleep already. She kisses her fingers and places them on his cheek and goes out on the back porch and sits on the swing for 30 minutes. She sits with her thoughts. Then she remembered she has to text her parents about Jarrick's party. She pulls out her phone and decides to just call them. Grace answered and say, hello Lizzy! Hi mom. I wanted to let you know Jarrick's birthday party is Saturday the 21st but his birthday isn't really until the 23rd. Grace says, thanks I'll be sure to tell your father! Lizzy have you set a date yet? Yes, June 1st, 2020. Lizzy that's only 2 months away. Actually it's 6 weeks and 3 days. Lizzy it will take 6 months just to get your dress. Mother we don't want a fancy wedding. We want a small wedding with no more than 100 guest. I would prefer less than 50. We have a bridal shop here and I'm going to go look next week so maybe when you all come for his party then we can go look on Monday after. Lizzy I hope you know what you're doing? I'm going to talk to Abigail to see if she can cater. We haven't talked about where yet. So I'll let you know. I got to go and check on dinner. Lizzy how is Jack? He's better. He's asleep on the couch. I had him out shopping for Jarrick's birthday party. So he's wore out. I love you all mother! We love you all Lizzy!
Elizabeth finished up dinner. She went around the couch and knelt down and kissed him and whispers in his ear, love you handsome! He just lays there and didn't move. She kissed his ear and still nothing. She kissed his neck and starts to get hot and bothered. He heard her breathing starting to get heavy. He turns his head and captured her lips. He pulls her onto him. She says, Jack? I think we better go eat. He says, really you wake me up like that and all you want to do is eat, with a smirk? She seats him and gets up. He laughs and follows. He swats her on her bottom. She jumps and says, you better watch it Mr. Thornton! They finished their dinner and went to get Jarrick. While they were at his parents they told them that they had set the date. It's June 1, 2020! Charlotte says, I have to ask, why so quick? Jack pipes up, MOM! It isn't like that. We don't want to wait. Charlotte smiles and says, I thought I raised you right. Thank God!
Saturday, party day
Jack woke Beth up and says, it's time to get up. We have a lot to do today. She doesn't move. He leans over and kisses her shoulder. She's laying on her stomach. She still doesn't move. He scoots over and lays on top of her but not with all his weight. He kisses her ear but still nothing. He kisses her neck. She flips him over and straddles him. She kisses him with as much passion as she could muster. He tells her they don't have time for this. He rolls out from under her and tells her to get dressed. She says, wait a minute, stop right there. You get me hot and bothered and get up and walk away? She gets off the bed and walks up to him. He turns and walks away. She swats him on his bottom. He smirks and says, you better watch yourself soon to be Mrs. Thornton!
Elizabeth gets dressed and goes to the kitchen. Your taking him to the park right? I'll get everything and meet you there. Beth you're the best! Jack gets Jarrick ready for the park. He says, let's go bud. I want to get there before it gets hot. He knows it won't be hot, he just wants to get him out of the house. Beth, I'm taking my car so we're going to walk up to my house and get it. Ok but be careful. I need mine anyway. Your going to keep him at the batting cage, right? Yeah just text me when you're ready and I'll bring him over. Jack and Jarrick walk up to their house. Jack opens the door and walks in. He think to his self, boy this doesn't even feel like home anymore. He backs out and leaves. They get in his car and head to the batting cage.
Beth puts all the presents in the back of her SUV. She sets out to go pick up everything, the cake, balloons, and hot dogs and buns and charcoal. She calls Charlotte to let her know she's headed to the park. Charlotte says ok, we have to make a stop first then we'll be there. Elizabeth says, ok see you there. She gets to the park and starts the grill and waits for everyone. She gets everything set up. She leaves the cake in the SUV. It's time to text Jack,
E. Jack I'm here but no ones here yet.
J. Ok we'll start heading over.
E. I called your mom to let her know I was heading here. She said she had to make a stop first then they'd be here. Do you know where she had to stop?
J. No but I'm sure she'll be here. Don't worry Beth.
E. Can you call her and make sure their coming plz
J. Ok Beth calm down. I will call
E. Ty. IU
J. I️U2
Just as she put her phone down they pull up and Jack came around the corner with those dimples just a showing. He walks up to her and gently kissed her cheek. Jarrick was so excited but then he saw them, GRANDPA and NANA, he screamed. Elizabeth turns around and smiles. She said, I didn't think you were going to make it! Then she seen them step out of the back seat, JULIE, VIOLA, she screamed! She took off running. The 3 of them hugged and danced around in circles. Jack walks up behind her. He puts his arm on her low back and says, I take it these are Viola and points to her. And this must be Julie and points to her. Beth says, yes. Julie, Viola this is Jack my fiancé! Nice to meet you both he says. They said, you to. They go back to the table. Jarrick this is your Aunt Julie and Aunt Viola. This is the man of the hour Jarrick Thomas Thornton, Jr. He will be 5 on Monday! Everyone says, happy birthday! So Jack put the hot dogs on the grill. William asks, what is a hot dog Lizzy? She laughs and says, don't ask just try it. When the hot dogs were done, everyone was told to come get them one. Elizabeth fixed Jack's and Jarrick's plate with chips. She put just ketchup on Jarrick's and the works on Jack's (ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, onions, relish). She hands them their plates. She puts a bottle of water in front of them. She fixed hers next (mustard, mayonnaise, relish) with chips. Elizabeth's family just sat back and watched. They've never had such a thing. Ok mother your turn. She made William's just like Jack's. She handed it to him. He watched how they were eating theirs. So he picked it up and took a bite. It was kinda messy so Grace handed him a napkin. He wipes his mouth and swallowed. So how was it, Grace asked? Pretty good actually! Grace made hers plain so as not to make a mess. Julie and Viola fixed theirs like Lizzy. Elizabeth's family was shocked that something on a bun could be so good. After everyone finished eating the table was cleared and the food was put back in the SUV. Everyone brought out all Jarrick's presents. They were put on the table. Everyone took turns giving him their present. Tommy gave him skiing lessons now that he was 5 and a gift card from the sports store. Pop and Grammy gave him a log hauler car for his train set. He said, look daddy! Jack nods with a smile. Grandpa and Nana give him a passenger car for his train. He says boy we're going to have to make my train track bigger daddy! Viola and Julie got him 5' of track and a bunch of people. Wow I'm going to have the biggest train set around! Jack and Beth gave him 3 more cars for his train, mountains, 5' of track, buildings, clothes and pjs and slippers. Wow daddy I made out like a bandit. Jack handed him an envelope. He asks, what is it. Jack says, open it up and read it. He couldn't read all the words so Elizabeth sat down next to him and read it to him.
You are invited to the wedding of Jarrick Thomas Thornton, Sr.
To
Elizabeth Grace Thatcher
June 1, 2020
Jarrick just looks at it for a minute. He looks up at her and asks, are you marrying daddy? She shakes her head yes. He asks, does that mean you will be my mommy for real? With tears in her eyes she says, yes I will forever and ever! Is that alright with you? He jumps up into her arms and cries. He whispers in her ear, I ain't ever had a mommy before. What does mommy's do? She replies, in the first place you've had a mommy before but she went to live with Jesus so she's been watching down over you like a guardian angel. She'll always be right here in your heart and she won't ever leave you because she lives there. Do you understand? He shakes his head yes. Now I'm going to be your earthly mother. I promise to always love you just as my own! Jack wraps his arms around them and tells them how happy he is and how much he loves them! There isn't a dry eye there. Elizabeth sets him down and asks, who wants cake? Tom has got it out of the SUV. Elizabeth opens the box and shows him his cake. He was so excited that was a train cake! Everyone sings happy birthday to Jarrick. He laughs and claps his hands. Jack whispers in his ear, what do you say to everyone for the gifts? Oh, thank you for all my parents. I can't wait to put it all together when we get home! Elizabeth cut everyone a piece of cake. By the time everyone got through visiting it was almost dark. Elizabeth's family got a ride back to the hotel with Tom and Charlotte. Tommy has his truck. Elizabeth put everything in her SUV. Jack and Jarrick rode in his car. Jarrick says, daddy can I ask you something? Jack says, bud you can ask me anything you want. He says, well I was wondering if my mommy lives in my heart then where will my new mommy live? Jack got choked up and said, how bout we as mommy when we get home? He says ok! They pull in the driveway next to Beth. He gets out and goes around to unbuckle Jarrick. They help Beth to take in everything from her SUV. Jack tells Jarrick that it to late to set up the train set so they will do it tomorrow. He says, ok. Jack tells him to ask his question. They are sitting at the bar. Elizabeth is standing in the kitchen on the other side of the bar. She says, what is it you want to ask? Well I asked daddy if my mommy lives in my heart then where will you live? She walks around and picks him up and sets him on the bar then sits in front of him on the barstool. She replies, well can you make a fist? He makes a fist. Ok, let's see if I can say it so you can understand. Your heart is the same size as your fist. As your fist grows so does your heart. We can always find more room in our hearts for love. Open your hand. See you mommy lives on the inside and I live around it. We will always guard your heart because we love you so much! Do you understand? He says, yeah my fingers wrap around my mommy and you and daddy wrap around my fingers! Elizabeth wraps her fingers around his fingers then Jack wraps his fingers around Beth's fingers. Jarrick laughs and says, I got it!
