Chapter 21

Securing Our Future

Beth and Jack walk out of PT. She asks, how are you doing? I'm a little sore but ok. Do you want to go home and rest or do you feel like going to see the attorney today? Do we have everything we need to drop off? We do, she said. Ok, we can go take care of that. It will be one more off our plate, he said.

After they leave the attorney's office she is furious. Jack why would he ask me if I wanted a prenup? That should not have been asked. I want you to have access just in case something happens to me. I know you don't like to talk about it but I want you to be my beneficiary on everything! Beth that's not something I will talk about. You make all the arrangements and I'll abide by it. Ok I guess I can understand how you feel. Just know if it does just go see the attorney. Enough said.

Beth I have something I want to show you. Ok. They pull back onto Main Street. They head north of town. Jack where are we going? It's a surprise, he said. He drives about 15 minutes then makes a left. Then he makes another left. He drives all the way to the end and pulls over and stops. He gets out and goes around to help her out. He opens his arms and stretched them out and asks, what do you think? She says, it's beautiful but why ask me? Well it's for sell. Oh Jack it's beautiful! The mountains are far enough back that we don't have to worry about an avalanche! How much land is here? 250 acres. Wow so it takes in the mountain to! Yes he said. I figured with the clan you want to have, if they want to build then there would be enough land for them to build! Oh Jack you have thought about our future generations! I love you so much, Love! Ok we have to budget for this. How much is it going to cost us? He looks at her and smirks, nothing! Jack no one is just going to give you 250 acres for free. Honestly Beth, it was my great great great great grandparents Thornton.There is 500 acres . Dad lives on mom's parents land so Tommy and I will split this. So we can start building? Yes but we have to put it in our name first. K I'll leave that to you, Jack! So now that we have where we are going to live out of the way how many bedrooms should we have, he asked. She thinks for a moment and says, 5 plus 1 for guests! Wow, you really are planning for a clan, he chuckles! How many stories? I think 3 but the 3rd floor is all entertainment! Wow! What else? A huge island kitchen with a 6 burner stove and oven, 2 ovens in the wall, sink in the island with dishwasher, fridge and freezer drawers in the island, large refrigerator, walk-in pantry, a breakfast nook with a bench to seat 6, a dining room with a table to be able to expand to seat 20, a den with a fireplace. I don't want a living room. I want our whole family in one room. There is something special for our bedroom! I want it on the bottom floor so we can protect our children. It must have a fireplace with a rug in front of Iran's a loveseat. It has to have a queen size feather bed and a private porch with a view of the mountains! A porch to watch the sunset and a porch to watch the sunrise. Anything else future Mrs. Thornton? No I can't think of anything else right now! Beth it sounds like you want a mansion. No I want it to look like a cabin. Jack this is going to be our forever home. I don't want to have to worry about adding on in the future. If we are blessed with only 5 children then they each have their own bedroom! My God Beth you want more than 5 children? Jack I want what ever God blesses us with! Ok Beth I surrender! Love, I'm only 23 years old and you are 26. We have plenty of time for a big family! Ok ok ok I give. At least I'll have fun making them!

Abigail's Cafe

Elizabeth walked into Abigail's the following week. Hello Abigail, how have you been doing? Good and you? I'm good! I have a favor to ask. Abigail says, ok if I can. Elizabeth says great. I need to find out what day you are closed? Sunday and Monday why.

Well Jack and I are getting married June 1st , we were wondering if you could cater the reception here? Oh Elizabeth I would be honored! Have you ordered your cake t? No I haven't. I was about to go do that next. Elizabeth, I'd be honored if you were to let me do your cake. It will be my gift to you! Oh Abigail that would be awesome! Ok let's have a seat and make the menu! They sit at a table. Ok Elizabeth, what are your colors? She says, rose and navy. Abigail asks, how many guests? She says, 50. Ok we can handle that many. That's a 2 tier cake. Oh Abigail I don't want a couple on the top. All I want is a waterfall of rose and navy flower cascading down the cake! Perfect Abigail says.

Now what is the food to done. Ok I was thinking ribs, baked beans and roasted potatoes Elizabeth said.

Abigail says, that is so easy! Now what time will the reception take place? Well the wedding is at noon so 1:00. Awesome Abigail says! Ok come look at the dishes and choose your pattern. Abigail? I didn't know you had different patterns. Yes I have 4 different patterns. So if you look at the tub it shows the patterns. Oh Abigail I want the rose pattern. Abigail? Do you have fluted champagne glasses? Yes I do. I'll also set Mr. Mrs. fluted champagne glasses on your table. Those you will keep. Thank you so very much! You don't know how happy you have made me!

All is taking care of. Except the pastor. Elizabeth you know Frank is an ordained minister. Really? Do think he'll marry us? If you and Jack talk to him. Awesome! I talk with Jack! Now I'm off to the florist! Thank you Abigail!

The Florist

Good afternoon, I'm Elizabeth Thatcher. I'm getting married on June 1st at 12: o'clock noon. I need to order 6 boutonnières with artificial rose colored Mini roses. 1 of them needs to have 3 mini roses. The others just 2. I need 2 corsages, they need 3 mini. My bouquet Is made up of artificial regular and mini rose and navy colored roses. I want it to hang down in the front about a foot. I need 2 other bouquets like mine except half the size for my MOH and my BM. Someone will pick them up by 11:00 am in June 1st. Ok Ms Thatcher if I could get your signature in this order we will get started ordering the flowers because I don't stock artificial flowers. That's fine. How much is the deposit, Elizabeth asked. If I may ask, who is the groom to be? Capt. Jack Thornton, Elizabeth replied! Are you talking about the Search and Rescue, Capt. Hack Thornton? Yes I am, Elizabeth said. Well in that case they are on the house. He saved my husband in that avalanche a few months back! Well we don't mind paying for them. He's going to say that it was just his job and he had help, Elizabeth said. No ma'am it's my pleasure and I won't take no for an answer! Thank you very much! That's sweet of you Elizabeth said!

Home

Elizabeth walks through the door. Jack was making dinner. She goes in and kisses his cheek and says, mmm smells delicious! He asked, how was your day? Did you get everything done? Love, you wouldn't believe how everything fell into place! Abigail is making our cake as a gift and she catering the reception! The florist is making all the boutonnières for free because you saved her husband after the avalanche! All we have to pay for is the bouquets, and corsages! He says, that's great!

I need to talk to you about Frank officiating? Oh wow I forgot about him, he said! Yes that good! We have to go talk to him first. Ok we can do that. Now I have a huge favor. Oh no you want to make the house bigger. No that's not it. I want to get married on our land. I know the house won't be there but I was thinking about an arbor with flowers. Chairs in front of it! Beth that's doable! Perfect! Now who is your best man? Who is your groomsman? Well Tommy is my best man and I'll ask Lee to be my groomsman. So we have 3 weeks left. So you need to take them and Jarrick to get Navy suits. Wait a minute Beth, I'm getting married in my dress uniform. It's dark navy blue with all my medals. Oh ok that's fine. I just never thought about it. So you still need to take them all to get their suits but don't get them the same color as yours. I have a sample of both dresses so I want their ties to match. I don't have a flower girl so Jarrick will come down by his self. So make sure his tie is a shade darker then Lee's. Beth how am I supposed to know who wears what? Well Tommy is your best man so her let me write on the sample. Rose/ Viola Tommy. Dark Rose/ Julie Lee. Now you know. I want Jarrick's darker than Lee's. Got it? I guess so. Jack this is something I can't handle. It's always up to the groom to handle the suits. Then you take them out to lunch after. So you need to get started on this this week so if anything needs to be altered they will have time to make them. But you might get lucky like we did and have all of them in stock!

After the meeting with Frank they were pleased! Love, can you believe we're getting married in 2 1/2 weeks? I know Beth! I can't wait! Hey Love, have you thought about our honeymoon? Yes it's booked already! Are you going to tell me? No Beth, it's a surprise! Jack? How am I supposed to know what to pack? Do worry about packing anything you won't need clothes! Jack please don't tell me you've booked a nudists camp? No Beth, regular clothes and 1 gown and 1 dress. Now how is that? Fine Jack.

Suit Store

Jack, Tommy, Lee, and Jarrick walk in. Jack says, we're here for the Thornton wedding. I understand that Elizabeth Thatcher made an appointment for us. Yes sir. He says, my name is Hank. Do you have the samples? Jack says, yes sir right here and he hands them to the salesman. Ok sir if you'll follow me we have everything pulled. We just need to take some measurements for all of you.

Ok let's start with this little guy. Jarrick stepped up on the pedestal. The salesman took his measurements. He wrote them on a card. Then handed it to another salesman. That salesman says, Leo what is your name? He said, Jarrick. Ok Jarrick let's go get you a suit. Leo looked through the suit coat and pants. Perfect we have you size and now let's get your white shirt and tie. Leo found the shirt but needed the sample to pick out the tie. Leo called to Hank do you have the sample for Jarrick's tie? Jack speaks up and says, you see the one that says Lee on it? It's supposed to be darker than that. Hank called out a code to Leo while he was measuring Lee. Leo says, thank you, got it. He dressed Jarrick and had him stand out by the pedestal. Jack says, wow bud you look good! Mommy is going to cry. Why will she cry daddy? It will be happy tears bud. Those are good tears.

Hank finished measuring Lee . He wrote them on the card and handed it to Leo. Leo introduces his self to Lee. I'm Lee and shakes Leo's hand. Leo took Lee over to the rack. He pulled out a coat, pants, white shirt. Hank what code on Lee's, Leo said? He called the code to Leo. Leo pulled the tie. He took Lee back to the dressing room. Lee came out and said, perfect fit. He went and stood by Jarrick. Jack teases Lee, man you clean up nice!

Hank is almost finished measuring Tommy. When he's done he writes them on a card and hands it to Leo. Leo introduces his self. I'm Tommy. Nice to meet you. He takes Tommy over to the rack. He pulls his coat, pants, white shirt. Hank I need Tommy's code. Hank calls out the code. Leo went and pulled the tie. Leo took Tommy back to the dressing room to change. Tommy comes out and stands next to Lee.

Jack takes one more look and says, Hank do you have matching vests and pocket napkins? Hank says, let me look. Hank and Leo leaves to go look. Tommy says, hey Elizabeth didn't say anything about the vests and pocket napkins. Do you think she'll be upset that you changed it? No she said it was my job to take care of the suits. Hank and Leo brought over the vests. Everyone took off their coats and put their vest on. Then they put their coats back on. Hank took the matching napkins an folded them and placed them in their breast pocket. Jack stepped back and said, perfect! We'll take it all. Hank says, Mr. Thornton do you all have black shoes to go with your suits? Jack looked at Tommy and Lee, do you? They both shook their head no. Jack says, I know Jarrick doesn't. So Hank I guess we need shoes to. Hank measures Jarrick and tells Leo to pull a size 5. He brought them out and put them on him. Hank measures Tommy and Lee. Leo retrieves theirs and let them put them on. Jack says, that looks great guys! Ok Hank we'll take it all. Everyone went and changed. Jack paid the bill and waited for everyone to come out. Leo put everything in a garment bag. He wrapped their shoes in tissue paper and set them in the bottom of their garment bag. Jack grabs Jarrick's garment bag and they walk out to go to lunch after they put their bags in Jack's car.

Jack says, let's go to Abigail's. Everyone agreed. They walk across the street to Abigail's. After lunch Jack drops Tommy and Lee off at their homes.

He tells Jarrick that they need to make a stop before they go home. Jarrick says, where we going daddy? He says, you'll see. Jack stops at jewelers. Come on bud. We got to get mommy a wedding present! Jack looks around and then he spots it. He tells the sales clerk we'll take that right there and that one. He goes to the other case and says, I'll take that. He tells her to please wrap them. They are wedding gifts! They pick up the gifts and walks out and get in their car. After buckling Jarrick in his booster seat Jack says, hey bud these are a secret so we can't tell mommy ok? Yes sir, when are we giving them to her? The morning we get married, he replied.

For Sale

Jack emptied out the shed packing everything up and puts it in the 3rd bedroom. The truck came to move the shed down to his house in the back yard. Then another truck brought the bigger shed in but set it back to the edge of the property so it wasn't so close to the house.

Before they put everything back in everyone met him at his house. Everyone took a room to pack up. Elizabeth and Jack packed his bedroom. She ran across a bunch of photo albums. She asked, why are these packed away? She opens them one at a time. He said, it was to hard to look at them. Well Jack I want Jarrick to have them. He doesn't remember her or your life together but he deserves to see how happy you both were before he came along. That's fine Beth. They will be his one day anyway. Jack I want him to have them now. You don't have to look at them but I truly believe that they should be put in his room. That way he can look at them when ever he wants to. Ok Beth what ever you think. She puts them in a box and mark it Jarrick's room. She takes it out to the the front door to be loaded onto the uhaul truck. Directly the truck was full. Tom and Tommy took the truck back to Elizabeth's and put the box where they are marked. There was only one that didn't go in the shed, it went in Jarrick's room. They took the truck back for another load. It didn't take but a couple of days to clear everything out except for the furniture and a few props.

Jack called the realtor. Jack says, Hello this is Jack Thornton. Who am I speaking to? Hello I'm Vicki Hamlin. How can I help you? I have a house at 2654 S. Main Street that I want to sell. Vicki says, is it ready to be shown? Yes ma'am it is. We've cleared everything out except for the furniture and a few props. We've even had it cleaned. Good when can I see the house so I can take pictures and get it in the market? He says I'll be able to meet you there about 3:00 today. She says, that perfect. I'll meet you then.

After PT Jack meets Vicki at his house. She goes in she looks around. She says, I would like to do a virtual tour video. They usually sell faster when there's a virtual tour video. So if you don't mind could you wait outside while I video? Sure he said. Oh there's a shed in the backyard that goes with the house. She said, that's great. He tells her, I live 4 houses back toward town so when you're finished just come there and I can sign the contract. She agrees and he walks back home.

Jack walk in Elizabeth's feeling a little down. What's wrong Love? It's nothing really Beth. Sure it is I see it in your face. Well it's just hard sell the house. We had that house for 5 years. It was home that's all. Well I can't say I know what you are going through because I don't. But hopefully it will get better in time. You know I love you and would do anything for you. So if you need to talk I'm here. Thanks Beth I love you more than life it's self.

About an hour later there was a knock on the door. Jack got up to answer it. It was Vicki. He said, come in. Vicki this is my fiancé Elizabeth Thatcher. Beth this is Vicki our realtor. Vicki has to ask, are you related to William Thatcher? Elizabeth looks at her curiously and says, yes that's my father why? No reason. It's just he's looking for property here. That's all. Yes I know but he's looking for a larger house because he still has 2 daughters at home, Elizabeth said. So he told me, Vicki said. I wasn't insinuating that he buy Mr. Thornton's house. I was just curious if you were related. So Mr. Thornton as for your house, I'm going to appraise your house at 352,900. I think we should list it for that. It is in very good condition and it is in town and in the Main Street. What do you think? Jack replies, that over double what I paid for it 5 years ago! So yes I will agree to that. Did you bring the contract with you? Yes I did. After going over the contract, Elizabeth looked it over. She said, it says you get 10% after closing. Why would you take that much when the normal is only 2% after closing? Vicki picks up the contract and reads it. Oh I'm sorry that should say 2%. I'll cross it out and initial it the he can initial it to agreeing to the changes. There how's that? Elizabeth finished reading the contract and agrees to it. Elizabeth hands it to Jack and nods. He signed it and handed it back to Vicki. Vicki said, it will be posted by tomorrow and our sign will be in the yard tomorrow as well. Jack hands her the spare keys and she leaves. Jack looks at Beth and asks, how did you know to check that? If I had signed it then she would've got 35,290 of my money. Jack I have a degree in business and contracts are part of that. So I just wanted to check that before you signed. Boy I'm glad you did!

So Mr. Thornton did you get their suits taken care of? Yes I did. Let me show you Jarrick's. He pulled her into their bedroom. Opens the closet door. Elizabeth's eyes get real wide. He stick his arm around the corner without looking and pulls Jarrick's garment bag out. He says, I figured your dress was in there so I didn't peak. He unzipped the garment bag. He pulls the suit out and the shoes. What do you think Beth? Oh Jack our little man is going to be so handsome! What made you think about the vest and breast napkins? Well I was standing there looking at all 3 of them in their suits and something was amiss. So I asked if they had them and they did. I did almost forget the shoes until I was paying for them. Then hank happened to ask me if we needed them. I looked the them and they shook the head no. I knew Jarrick didn't. So now everyone is set! Jack thank you so much! You are amazing!

No cliffhanger this time. The wedding will be coming up soon. Sorry that Jarrick wasn't in this one that much. He will be in the next chapter I promise! The train has to be set back up. Thanks so much for all the great reviews!