*STEAM ALERT *

Chapter 43

Sunday afternoon after Jack and Jarrick returned from their camping trip. Jarrick is so excited to tell her everything that he did in his trip! He talked the entire lunch! Sweetie I'm so proud of you for learning all those new things! I'm super proud of for catching your first fish! He said, thank you mommy! I am to! They finished their lunch and Jarrick asked if he could go play? Jack and Beth both shook their head yes. Jack said, we had a great time! I can't wait to do it again next year! I'm so glad you got to experience this with him! You both needed it! They got up and started cleaning up the kitchen.

Jack walked out and into the office to print out the pictures from their camping trip. He looks at the calendar on her desk and paused. He walks back in to the kitchen, kisses Beth on the back of her neck. She leans back and moans quietly and says, mmmmm what are trying to do to me Mr. Thornton? Nothing really but I think with everything going on with the triplets there was something we both missed! And what would that be, she said? He turned her around. Wrapped his arms around her waist and asked, what is today's date? She says, let me go look. She leaves his arms and goes to the office just off the den. She looks at her calendar on her desk and sees that it is June 6th. She thinks for a moment and raising her hand to her mouth she starts to cry. He followed and stopped at the wall. She looks up at him and back down at the calendar. He walks around the desk and says, it's ok. All the hustle around here, I'm surprise we know our own names sometimes! Love I'm so sorry. Our anniversary, I shouldn't have forgot. Hey Sweetheart it's ok! I promise! I didn't remember it either. Not that I'm proud of it, because I'm not. Happy late anniversary Sweetheart! Happy late anniversary Love! They kissed with a gentle passion! He says, how about we get someone to watch the children tomorrow night and we go out and celebrate? It will have to be your parents because mine have went back home. That's fine Sweetheart!

There was a knock on the door. Jarrick says, I'll get it! Jack comes out of their bedroom saying, it's probably Grammy and Pop! Jarrick opens the door. Jarrick gets excited and hugs them! Well hello Jarrick! It's been awhile since we've seen you! Yes it has Grammy! Pop I have so much to tell you! Well I want to hear all about it! Jack says, hey bud how about you let them come in first as he laughed? Beth came out of the bedroom dressed real nice and asked, Love does this look ok? Jack turned around and takes one look and says, Sweetheart you look beautiful, you could be wearing a burlap sack and I'd still think you were beautiful! Oh Love you always know just what to say!

Jack carried her back to the same Italian restaurant he purposed to her. They had the same food but this time he ordered the champagne! Jack raised his glass, Beth raised hers, he says, to the most beautiful woman in my life! To the mother of all my children! To the love of my life! They clink their glasses and and take a drink. Beth says, to the best man I've ever met and married! To the man that gave me the best 4 children in all the world! To the love of my life forever and ever! They clink their glasses and take a drink. They set their glasses down and then he put his hand out to her and asks, dance with me Sweetheart? She put her hand in his and said, I'd love to. He raised her up to him and they start dancing! They danced for so long that they had gotten lost in each other's eyes. When their waiter came up to them and tapped Jack on the shoulder and said, excuse me sir but we need to close. Without taking his eyes off of her he says, ok just a few more minutes please! The waiter says, yes sir and walks away. After a few more minutes Jack gently kisses her and says, are you ready to go home? She whispers, I'd go anywhere with you! He pays the tab, she grabs her clutch and they walk out hand in hand. He opens her door, she gets in, he reaches across and buckles her seatbelt. As he pulls back he stops in front of her and gives a passionate kiss and says you are the sun, the moon, and the stars to me Be..th! She loved the way he could draw out her name and make it so romantic! I love you with all my heart and soul! Love you are the world to me! I feel the same way about you! Let's go home!

At home. They walk in and Tom and Charlotte asked if they had a good time? They look at each other and said at the same time, yes, yes we did. We danced so long the restaurant closed before we knew it, Beth said! We're glad, but we have one question though. How did we forget our own anniversary, mom? Yes, how? Well with triplets and the camping trip we both just let the day slide by I guess. It won't happen from here on out because we synced our phones every birthday, anniversary and appointment! I'm glad to hear it Tom said. I'm glad you had time with Jarrick.

You need to spend the one one with him. I enjoyed every outing we had! Dad I want to thank you and mom for everything you've done for me! You taught me so much! You taught me how to be the man I am! I want to teach him the same thing! I want to teach him that it's ok to fail because we learn from our failures. Dad I want to teach him everything you ever taught me! Thank you son! But it's not necessary. I enjoyed every second of it! It was my job to teach you and you're brother the same thing my father taught me and his father taught him! To be a father you have to take the responsibility to raise your children to the best of your ability. I truly believe I've done that. I'm so very proud of you and Tommy and the men you've become! So the only thanks I needed was watching both of you turn into the men you are! Thanks dad! I want to be the best father I can be! They said their goodbyes and Tom and Charlotte left.

Beth follows Jack upstairs to check on Jarrick. Beth pulls his covers up over him. They both kissed him good night and backed away as to not wake him up. The head back downstairs and Jack says, I'll meet you in the bedroom. I'm just going to lock up and turn the lights off. She kisses his cheek and says, don't be long Love! I won't be!

Beth sat down at her vanity to take her jewelry off and put them back in their box. Jack came in and changes into his night pants. He walks up behind her and kisses her gently on her neck. He slowly unzipped her dress. She stands and walks around her chair. She lets her dress fall to the floor. She steps out of it and wraps her arms around his neck. He wraps his arms around her waist and gently kisses her lips. He slowly backed her up to the bed carefully laying her down. He crawled in next to her, rubbing the side of her arm with the back of his fingers. She rolls to him. She runs her hand down the side of his face. Make love to me Love! Nothing would make me happier!

After a few hours he rolls off of her! As they are trying to catch their breath Beckie whimpers. Beth starts to get up but Jack grabs her hand and says, I'll get Sweetheart. He gets up and puts his night pants on and goes into the nursery. He unclips the strap that held her up and picked her up. He carried her over to the changing table and changes her diaper. He carried her out to the kitchen. He pulls her bottle out of the fridge and put it in the warmer. He sits down at the bar. He sits her down on the bar with her legs dangling over the edge. With his his hands under her arms he begins to talk to her. She looks as if hanging on his every word. The warmer dings. He picked her up and walked over to get her bottle. He went back and sat down at the bar. He holds her chin with his fingers and thumb while still holding her bottle. He begins to sing to her.

HUSH, LITTLE BABY

Hush, little baby, don't you cry; Papa's going to sing you a lullaby.

Hush little baby don't say a word; Papa's going to buy you a mockingbird.

If that mockingbird won't sing, Papa's going to buy you a golden ring.

If that gold ring turns to brass,

Jack pulls her bottle out and burps her. After her burp he begins to feed her again.

Papa's going to buy you a looking glass.

If that glass begins to crack, Papa's going to buy you a jumping jack.

If that jumping jack is broke, Papa's going to buy you a velvet cloak.

If that velvet cloth is coarse, Papa's going to buy you a rocking horse.

If that rocking horse won't rock, Papa's going to buy you a cuckoo clock.

If that cuckoo clock won't tick, Papa's going to buy you a walking stick.

If that walking stick falls down, you'll still be the sweetest little baby in town!

Jack finished feed her. While he was burping her he began to talk to her. She looked up at him and giggled! Oh you think daddy is funny! That's alright. It was the first time she really giggled. He was amazed at how far God had brought her! Princess you'll always be daddy's little Princess! I want you to know that I don't want to miss any of your first's! I want to experience all of them but there are going to be times when I'm at work and won't be able to be here. So I want you to try your best to wait until I am here. I know there are going to be times when it just happens bd that's ok! Just know that I will be just as happy for you! She looks into his eyes and reaches for his face, he leans towards her and she grabs his ear. She opens her mouth and he gives her a kiss. With tears in his eyes he cuddles her and says, daddy loves you so very much, Princess! He gets up and carried her back to bed. He kisses her good night and clips her in. He says, good night Princess! Sweet dreams!

That morning Beth got up before Jack. She figured she would let him sleep in because he was up with Beckie. She fixed her famous cinnamon rolls. Jarrick came downstairs and into the kitchen and said, mommy did you fix cinnamon rolls? She replied, yes Sweetie I did! He asked, us it Sunday or a special occasion? No! I just wanted to make them for you and daddy! Jack came in and said, it that what I think it is? She replies, yes it is! If you both will take a seat I'll get them out of the oven! After breakfast she reminds them that the photographer will be here at 2:00 today. So Jarrick I need you to get a bath at 12:30 or 1:00. I want you to wear your suit, ok! We are having our first family portraits done. Yes ma'am! Love I need you to help me get the triplets bathed, please! Yes ma'am he said! I've got to go decide what they're going to wear. She gets up and goes into the nursery. She pulls out the girls light flowered frilly dresses with their matching headband and their white patened leather shoes. She pulls Daniel's blue dress pants with a white shirt and a matching bow and white leather shoes. After the photo shoot Jessie said that the proofs would be ready week. Jack and Beth thanked her. She gathered all her equipment and left. Jack told Jarrick he could go change his clothes. Beth and Jack carried the babies into the nursery and changed them. They laid them down for a nap and gave Beckie her breathing treatment.