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Chapter 20
The Discussion
Jack and Beth wake up to a visitor in between them. They just looked at one another and smiled. He whispers as to not wake him up, sometime real soon he won't be able to come in here like this. She says, I know but can we just enjoy it for right now? As much as I love waking up next to you, I love the feeling of waking up to him next to me!
Jack and Jarrick has to take his train set apart and adds all the new accessories he got for his birthday! Jarrick says, boy that took a long time to put together! Daddy? Yes son. Where we going to put my train when you and mommy get married? It won't fit at our house. Don't you worry about that. We'll figure it out, ok? Yes sir. They had played for a couple mor hours when Beth came out to say, all engineers need to call it a day! I have a big day tomorrow so maybe we should call it a day. Little man you need a bath before you go to bed tonight. Jack looks at his watch. Beth it's only 5:30. She says, okay. Dinner is on the stove. I'm going to take a bath and soak for awhile. Can you please make sure he gets his bath? Sure Beth! She bends down and kisses both and says, I love you both so much before returning to the house.
Beth has been soaking so long she fell asleep. It's now 8:30. Jack walks in to find her not in bed. He knocks on the bathroom door and calls, Beth you in here? No answer. He opens the door and peaks in. Afraid of what he might see. So when he didn't see her standing he opens the door all the way and sees she has fell asleep with bubbles all around her. He leans over and gently kisses her lips. Her eyes start to flutter but can't quite get them open. He kisses her temple and says, are you going to sleep in here all night with a little chuckle? With her eyes still closed she says, if you keep kissing me like that I just might! She asks, what time is it? He replies, 8:30. She asks, where's Jarrick? He replies, bathed and in bed sound asleep! The kitchen is cleaned up and the house is all locked up. Everything is taking care of except for you. Now if you are going to sleep in here then I'm going to bed and turns around laughing! Jack Thornton don't you think your going to get that whole bed to yourself! He laughs and closes the door. He changes into his night clothes and gets in bed. He pulls her covers back on her side of the bed and waits. He knows she'll be out directly! When she comes out she laughs because he's laying in the middle of the bed! So you think you get all the bed? He says, no just from her to there (his half out of the middle)! She put her hands in her hips and says, Jack you only left me 2' of the bed! He says, that's what you get for sleeping in the tub and pats the bed next to him! Well Mr. Thornton I could take my pillows and go sleep in the other bedroom or go sleep with Jarrick! He says, you wouldn't? Watch means she reaches for her pillows and he stops her by grabs her hand. He pulls her down to him. She starts laughing uncontrollably! She catches her breath and says, you give up way to easy! He slides over and she craws in. He rolls to face her as he pulls the covers up over her. He asks, is this how it's going to be? Us enjoying life all the time! She replies, I would think so. I know there isn't anything as a perfect marriage. I'm sure we will have our fair share of arguments but I trust that we can get through them together!
As they lay in each other's arms he says, Jarrick asked me something out in the shed today. She just lays and listens. He asked where is train was going after we got married? I told him not to worry about it. Beth? We haven't talked about where we are going to live after. She leans up on her elbow and says, that's because I just figured we would live here. Your house is way to small. Here we have the extra bedroom just in case we have more children! Do you have other thoughts? No that sounds ok to me but I need to start packing up my house. Your shed isn't big enough now so I think we should get another one that's wider and put yours down at my house. Then I can sell my house with a shed. It would bring a better price. That sounds good to me, she said. Now that we are on the subject of you'd and mine, I want to merge all of my assets into yours. Beth I don't need yours. Jack we are going to be married. What is mine is yours. But I do want to ask, I know this may be a touchy subject but did you get money when Jenny died? Why would you ask something like that? Jack? My thoughts were if you did you should put that money into a trust for Jarrick. After all that was his mother. Ok Beth I'm sorry I got a little upset at your question. I don't mind telling you, I've just never discussed my finances with anyone before. My parents don't even know. She says, I think we should put all our money together. We should know what each other brings into this marriage, don't you? I do Beth. We can figure it out next week when we go meet with an attorney. Jack do have one here? He says, yes but we don't have to use him if you don't want to. No I think you're attorney will do fine. I'll contact my attorney and have my portfolio and file sent to yours. Beth if I may ask, how big is your portfolio? Sure you can ask me anything. I have no secrets from you. But to answer your question, it's a little over 2.3 million. All my stock is just under 4.2 million. One of my accounts has a little over 352,000. My checking account has a little over 126,000. When I told you that my future generations would never have to work I meant it. Jack was in aw. Beth I would never guessed that you were that rich! I mean I knew you came from a rich family but this? Jack my father only put money into the account that has the 352,000. In just 23 years old but I built up what I have with good sound investments. I haven't touch that account in almost 3 years. When I was in college my roommate showed me how to live on my own. Yes I started out living off my father's money but I wanted to get away from his control as soon as I could. So she taught me how. And I've been doing it ever since! I'm proud of what I have accomplished in my life. I'm not free with my money. Yes interest is put into my checking account every month. I don't have to work. I wanted to. But now that we are getting married I don't want to. I want to be a stay at home mom. Is that ok with you, Jack? He says, wow I'm marrying a multi millionaire! Yes Jack you are! I know you will be able to support us but I think we should pool our money. That way when the time comes to buy a bigger house we can afford it!
And why do we need to buy a bigger house, he asked? Well for all the Thornton clan we will have. Jack we never discussed children. Well seeings that you seem to want a clan maybe we should just leave that up to the Lord on that one. Jack I really want a houseful! I grew up with 2 parents that loved me but know affection really. Sure I got a hug from my father here and there but my mother wasn't so affectionate. I have so much love to go around for all our children. I made a promise to myself a long time ago that if I ever had children that they would have all the affection they could stand. He laughs, is there going to be enough love and affection for me with all those Thornton clan? Oh Jack you're not going to be left out! You're going to be making all the Thornton clan! Oh Beth I like the sound of that. Come on June 1!
The next morning Jack and Beth was sitting at her desk with all their financial accounts. So Jack you have 223,000 in one account and 99,000 in another. Then you have your checking account with 23,416. Which one is from Jenny life insurance? He replies, 223,000. Ok she says. The 99,000 what is it for? That is an emergency account. Ok what do you want to do with that? Leave it, he said. Ok why don't we do this, we set up a Thornton Family Trust and put all my cash and Jenny's life insurance into it? That way our future generations will always have an inheritance! Beth, how long have you been planning this? Ever since I made my first million. I do have a masters degree in business you know! Well I think you've got this all figured out. Now that we have it figured out we can just go to my attorney this week and get everything merged! Beth why don't we start looking for land to have a house built on it? I mean beings you want a clan we can get started and by the time we start having them we'll already have the house and it will be the home place for them? Sounds great to me Love! Now I have to go get ready to go dress hunting and you are supposed to go to your dad's and take Jarrick or you could invite him, father and Tommy over and take turns playing! That sounds better, he said!
Jack calls all the guys and invites them to the house. They all take turn playing with Jarrick and his train! William still has trouble keeping it on the track which Jarrick finds funny every time! The men spend the day getting to know one another more. William is learning to let loose like the other men. He's learning that once you leave work it's family time not all business.
The Bridle BoutiqueMeanwhile at the bridle boutique, Elizabeth, Grace, Charlotte, Viola, and Julie are walking around looking at all the dresses! The salesperson came up to them. My name is Ella. I will be helping the bride today. Who is the bride to be? Who is the maid of honor? Who is the bridesmaid? Elizabeth raises her hand and says, I'm the bride! Ok then, you come with me. We have to get some information.
Ella: when is the wedding?
Elizabeth: June 1, 2020
Ella: oh, that quick.
Elizabeth: yes, we don't want to wait any longer then we have to!
Ella: inside or outside?
Elizabeth: outside!
Ella: ok, what are you're colors?
Elizabeth: rose and navy!
Ella: so we have a June wedding so what style of dress do you want and shoes? Size dress and she size?
Elizabeth: High-low. Strapless! Size 2 and size 5 1/2.
Ella: MOH dress, color and style?
Elizabeth: high-low no ruffles, rose!
Ella: BM dress , color and style?
Elizabeth: Hugh-low no ruffles, darker rose!
Ella: face vail, back vail, or no vail?
Elizabeth: short back vail with flowers!
Ella: I think I have everything I need to know. How about we get started?
Elizabeth: do you think you have everything that's on my form?
Ella: I do! Let me make a copy for the other 2 salespeople.
Elizabeth goes to her mother and says with a smile, she says she has everything here if it's to my liking! Oh, Lizzy that's wonderful! Ella came back with the other 2 salespeople and introduced them. This is Monique, she will be with the MOH. Who is the MOH? Everyone looks at Elizabeth? She says, Viola is my MOH and Julie is my BM if you 2 are alright with that? They hug her and say yes that they would love to!
Ella speaks up and says ok then. Monique you take Viola and your card. This is Emilee she will be with the BM. Emilee you take Julie and your card. Everyone go find what's on the card no more or no less.
Monique asks Viola, what size are you and what is your shoe size? Viola replies, 3 and size 6. Monique writes it on the card. Emilee asks Julie, what size are you and what's your shoe size? Julie replies, 1 and size 5. Emilee writes it in the card.
Monique grabs an empty dress rack and pulls it over to the dress rack. She starts pulling all the rose colored High-low no ruffle dresses off the rack and puts them in her empty rack. She grabs all the rose colored shoes size 6 and places them on the bottom of the rack. She asks Viola to please follow her to the back dressing room. Viola follows.
Emilee goes and gets an empty dress rack and pulls all the dark rose colored high-low no ruffle dresses off the rack and puts them on the empty dress rack. She grabs the far rose colored size 5 shoes and puts them on the bottom of the rack. She asks Julie to follow her back to the dressing room.
Ella gets an empty dress rack and starts pulling all the size 2 high-low wedding dresses and puts them on the rack. She puts all the white size 5 1/2 shoes on the bottom. She gets another rack and pulls all the half back vails and puts them on that rack. She asks, shall we get started? Elizabeth nods with tears in her eyes and gets up and follows her.
Viola tried on several dresses until she chose the one with her shoes! She came out and stepped up on the pedestal. She turns to the mirror and loves what she sees. She turned around for Grace and Charlotte to see. She asks, what do you think? They were in awe! Grace choked up with tears and said, oh Viola that is beautiful! You have chosen the perfect dress to match your skin tone and for your height. Your shoes match perfectly just the right heel height! Grace tells Monique, we'll take this one. Viola returns to the dressing room to change back into her clothes. Then she joined her mother and Charlotte.
Next Julie came out after trying on all of the dresses chose for her. She steps up in the pedestal and looks in the big triple mirrors. She is pleased with her choice. She turns to Grace, Charlotte, and now Viola. She asks, so what do you think? Viola covers her mouth in shock and says, Julie Thatcher what was you thinking? Julie says, what ever do you mean? Grace says, umm Julie this is Lizzy's wedding. You are not going to our shine her. Grace looks at Emilee and says, bring the rack out here. Emilee says, yes ma'am right away. She returned with the rack. Grace got up and goes over and pulls out every dress and looked at it then at Julie. She finds the perfect dress and shoes. Julie go put these on and come back out here. Don't think this is over by a long shot, Grace whispers in Julie's ear. Julie went and changed into the dress and shoes. She returned to the pedestal. She looked in the triple mirrors and says, I guess it will have to do. She turns to the ladies in her party and asks, what do you think? Grace says, perfect. It matches your skin tone. Grace was put out with Julie's fiasco. Grace tells Emilee we will take it! Yes ma'am, Emilee said. Julie returns after changing.
Now it was Elizabeth's turn. She tried on all of them but they just didn't scream this was the one. She looks at Ella you don't have anymore? Ella says, let me go look one more time. Ell left the changing room. A few minutes later she came back with the most beautiful high-low she had ever seen. The tears were falling down her cheeks. Ella helps her into it. She says, ma'am you are going to be the most beautiful bride! Ell help her step into the matching shoes. The vail she had chose was a perfect match. Ella pinned Elizabeth's hair up and places the vail around her head. She asked, are you ready to go show them? Elizabeth wipes her tears on a wet cloth that Ella had handed her. Elizabeth asked Ella to go ask them to close their eyes and wait until I say ok. Ella steps out of the dressing room and tells them Elizabeth's request. Ella handed them each an eye mask. The ladies look at each other then puts them on. Ella asks, can you see anything ladies? They all shake their head no. Ell call to Elizabeth. She steps up on the pedestal. Ell straighten the dress. Elizabeth says, ok you can look now with tears in her eyes! Each one takes the mask off. Their mouths in awe! All with tears falling. Even Charlotte had tears even as hard as she is. Grace stands and says, Lizzy! Never in my dreams of you getting married was I prepared for this! Mother this is the dress! Charlotte came over and said, Elizabeth you are going to literally make him faint! That is the most beautiful dress I've ever seen! Viola says, you will knock him dead! Elizabeth chuckles, I hope not. Julie was still pouting. Grace says, pay her no mind. Grace walks over to her , bends down and whispers, Julie Agatha Thatcher you get up and stop this pouting right now. This is your sister's day not yours. We will discuss this when we get back to the room. Julie got up and told her sister that she's going to be a beautiful bride! Elizabeth says, thank you all so much! I love you all so much! Ella says, I have to ask even though I know the answer, is this the dress? They all say at the same time, YES! Elizabeth changes and Grace goes to pay for everything but is stopped by Elizabeth. Mother I can pay for our wedding. We don't need you to pay for any of it. Grace places her hand on Lizzy's arm. Lizzy dear, we know you can but this is something you're father and I have been planning for for since the day you girls were born. Please allow us to do so? Elizabeth looks into her mother's eyes. She sees the sincerity. She hugs her mother and says, ok if you want to that will be fine! Oh mother I just love you and father so much! All 3 dresses were brought out in black garment bags. Their shoes were wrapped in tissue paper and placed in the bottom of the bags with their matching dress so they couldn't get lost or separated. Elizabeth walks out on cloud nine because that was the most important part done!
