Thank y'all for all the wonderful reviews! I'm so happy that y'all are enjoying it as much as I have enjoyed writing it! I catch myself needing a J fix! So when I can't find an update on my over 300 J stories, I write! So thanks to all the wonderful writers doing J stories! I love them all!
Chapter 57
Everyone was up early, ate breakfast and was on the road to Denver. The children fell back to sleep just shortly after they started moving. Beth had put the girls in their cheetah print leggings with a tan shirt. She put their cheetah print sandals on them. She put Daniel in his brown shorts with a tan shirt. She put his black sandals on him. Daniel had a cap to match his sandals. The girls had a cap to match their sandals. They were adorable!
Beth and Jack and Jarrick was dressed to match the little ones! They were excited to be going to the zoo for the first time! Jarrick was so excited because he had never been to the zoo either! Aspen is to far from Denver. So he couldn't wait!
Grace seen the joy on his face and asked, why are you so excited, Jarrick? His eyes were twinkling and dimples shining big, he replies, I've never been to the zoo before! I want to see everything that I've seen in books in the library at school!
The ride was long to Jarrick. The little ones were asleep as usual because riding always put them to sleep. Jarrick was antsy and excited all rolled up in one! He kept asking, are we there yet? William just laughs and replies, no not yet. We have about 15 more miles. Jack, he says, how is it this boy has never been to the zoo? Well sir I mean William. We live so far from a zoo. If I'm being honest, I've never been either. Beth laughs and asks, really? You've never been to the zoo? No Sweetheart. The only places I've been is Australia with you and Vail. Then up here to Estes Park. With my job the way it was before you we...didn't take vacations. After Jenny, I just threw myself into my job. Then I met you and you changed all that. Now I can't get enough of being with my family. You showed me that it was ok to open up my heart again. Jack looked out the window and noticed a sign. It said Denver Zoo exit 3 miles. He reached over and patted Jarrick on the leg and pointed to the sign. Jarrick started talking 90 to nothing. Jack had to calm him down with just a look. Jarrick knew that look and settled right down.
They pulled into the parking lot and up front where there was 2 more limousines. George pulls up next to one and stops. He gets out and opens the doors. Everyone steps out except for Jack and Beth. They were getting the children out while George got the stroller out of the trunk. He set it up and parked it next to the door. He set the brakes. Jack steps out with Daniel. He put him in the front seat of the stroller. He got him buckled in. Then Beth handed him Charlie. He set her in the middle seat and buckled her in. Then Beth steps out with Beckie. He took her, placed her in the back seat and buckled her in.
Jarrick was telling William everything he wanted to see and do. William laughs, ruffles Jarrick's hair and says, son you are funny! Jarrick laughs and says, I know but I'm so excited! I've wanted to go to the zoo every since I started school when my teacher was reading us a story about the animals in the zoo! Beth walks up to him, puts her arm around him and asks, Sweetie why didn't you say anything? We could've brought you last year when we came up here. He replies, I didn't know the zoo was this close. She says, don't ever worry about how far something is. Just let us know so that way we can make arrangements, ok? Yes ma'am! Now can we go in PLEASE? Everyone laughs and Jack replies, yes, yes we can. William hands George a card and says, make sure you get something to eat and drink while we are inside, ok? Yes sir, as he took the card.
They head for the side gate. William had already paid for everything. Jarrick follows him, walking double time just to keep up with William. Jarrick reaches up and took William's hand. William looks down at him and smiles.
As they walked through the gate Jarrick's eyes widen, his mouth opens and says, WOW! Beth was walking next to Jack who was pushing the stroller. She ran her hand through his and held his elbow. She leans over and asks, you really haven't been to the zoo? Your mom and dad never brought you either? Jack shakes his head and says no. Every summer Pop took me camping. We never asked to go to the zoo I guess. She says, you are in for a real treat! We'll see, he replies!
They walk around to the front gate. There were souvenir shops, food courts, ice cream carts, balloon carts. Then Jarrick spotted the cart, he says, dad! There it is! Alright Bud, here and hands him a 5 bill. He laughs as Jarrick takes off running. Everyone chuckles and watched him in a dead run. Beth, still holding Jack's arm asks, has he never has cotton candy? Once, he replies. The school held a carnival and Pop and mom took him. They said he ate so much that he got a belly ache for 2 days. Well we better watch how much he eats of it then, she said. I don't think we will have that trouble. Jarrick said he wouldn't eat that much ever again! They all walked up behind Jarrick as the vender handed him the tallest cotton candy he had ever seen. Jarrick turned around with his eyes wide open and licking his lips! Beth walked up to him and asks, are you planning on eating all that at one time? He laughs and replies, No, Ma'am! I remember the last time! He points to his brother and sisters, can they try it Mom? Well I don't see why not but let's wait until they have lunch first, ok she replies?
They start walking around. Grace spots the Build a Bear shop. She points and says, let's go in here first. I want to get them each one. Jack's dimples show up and says, ok, but let's don't go overboard right off the bat, ok? Grace nods agreeing. They walk in and she asks, can we get them out so they can pick their own? Beth replies, sure but we need to keep an eye on them, ok? Of course her mother says! Jack and Beth get the children out and holds their little hands as they walk around. Beckie says, up dada up as she reaches her little arms to him. He bends over and picks her up. William picks up Daniel. Charlie still wants to walk. Beth holds her hand until Charlie spots something. She takes off running as fast as her little legs would go. She stops and reaches for the cutest little bear. It was purple and very plush. She says, mine momom! Ok little one you can have it, she says! She bends down and asks, can you say Teddy? Charlie hugs it and says, my Teddy! Beth hugs her and says, that's right baby girl, Teddy! Good girl! Daniel looks around in William's arms. All of a sudden he started reaching for something. William put him down and watched him closely. Daniel ran up to a table and grabbed it off the table and says, mine? William says, is that what you want? Daniel replies, mine! William chuckles and says, ok you can have it! Beth walks over to him and asks, Daniel can you say Tiger? He looks at her and back at the tiger. Tigger! No she replies and repeats again, Ti..ger! Daniel repeats her, Tiger! That's right little man! Good job! Beckie just lays her head on her daddy's shoulder. He asks her, what do you want Princess? He walks around with her, showing her all the animals. He picked them up one by one, showing them to her. She just kept pushing them away. Then he picked up one and showed it to her. She grabs it and says, mine? He replies, yes Princess you can have it! She hugs it and says, mine! He asks, can you say Rabbit? She squeezed it tight and says, wabit! Great job he says! She just kept saying, wabit, wabit, wabit! Beth came over and kissed her cheek and and said, good girl, baby girl! It was a floppy eared rabbit. You are getting so smart! Jarrick chose a White Tiger! Grace tells him that it suits him. Jarrick says, thank you! He asks, how come it's not stuffed? Grace replies, you have to go around and get it stuffed and if you want you can put a heart in it with a sound. Then if you want you can get clothes and hat and shoes! Really! I can dress it? Yeah most people do! Awesome he says!
They all walk up to the hearts. Jarrick asked, hey mom can you say I Love you in my heart? Beth started to tear up and replies, I would love to! The girl behind the counter tells her to push the button on back and hold it. Then say what you want to say. Then release it. Beth did as she was told and handed it back to her. The girl took the heart, filled his Tiger with stuffing, placed the heart in its place. Sewed it up and handed it back to him. Jarrick said thank you then pushed the heart. He held it up to his ear and listened to her voice! Thanks mom! It's my pleasure Sweetie!
Jack got a heart for Beckie's. He says, hey Sweetheart? Yes Love! Let's both say I Love You in theirs! That's a great idea. As they talked into each heart they handed it back to the girl. When they went to take their animals to hand to the girl. They each went to crying and reaching for their animal. They all tried to console them with no avail. They told them that they would get them back in just a minute. The girl finished with Charlie's and handed it back. Beth hands it to Charlie and she quit crying. The girl handed Daniel's back and he quit crying. Beckie reaches for hers just as the girl finished hers. They were all happy now.
They walked over and they all got an outfit for each of them with shoes and socks. Grace was browsing and finds matching outfits for the children. Jarrick says, I don't need one Nana! She nudges him with her elbow and chuckles. I didn't think so either! She also bought sunglasses for each of them. William paid for everything.
They walked outside and sat at a table to put the outfits on the animals. They put the children back in the stroller with their animal. Daniel was just a talking to his. They didn't understand what he was saying but it was so cute. Beth pulls out her phone and took their picture for their memory book. Jarrick was ready to go. Beth put her phone back in her pocket and took Jack's arm as they started walking. They came to the monkeys first. The cage went all the way across the sidewalk with plexiglass over the sidewalk. All 4 children were amazed! They just stared at all the monkeys running back and forth. Beth looks at Jack and she nudged him. He just showed her his dimples! Jarrick had his dimples when he was excited! They walked out from under the monkeys into the open area. There were bears on one side and porcupines on the other side. They let the children and Jack have time to take it all in before they went on. Jack walked with his dimples just a showing! He says, it amazes me how they get all these animals here. I know they don't come from here! No she said, they get them from around the world.
Just then they came to the penguin exhibit! They walk in and it is cold. Jarrick asked, why is it so cold in here mom? Well Sweetie, the penguins live in a very cold environment so they have to make it match their home. They can't live in a warm environment because they will die. Wow, look at them swim. There was a girl in the exhibit feeding them. They were diving for the little fish that was being tossed. The children giggled every time!
When it came to the snake exhibit Beth said she would stay outside with the children. I don't think they need to see them, she said. Grace said she didn't care to see them either and chose to sit outside also. Jarrick, William, and Jack came out a few minutes later. All talking a mile a minute. Jarrick says, did you see the size of that boa? Mom you should've seen it ! It was huge! That's ok Sweetie. I've been coming here since I was a little girl and have never been in there. So I'll take your word on it!
Jack walks up behind her and lightly runs his finger across the back of her neck. She stiffened her body and whispers, that better not be a snake JACK THORNTON. Everyone laughs and William says, son I wouldn't be standing that close to her if I was you! Elizabeth screams and yells, GET IT OFF THORNTON IF YOU KNOW WHATS GOOD FOR YOU! He backs up and puts his hands in the air and replies, there's nothing there Beth. It was my finger as he laughs! Her mother says, Lizzy dear there really isn't anything there, I promise! Elizabeth reaches up slowly and touched her neck to check. She turns around to swing at him but he was to far away from her. Everyone starts laughing. William laughs and says, I told you so! Jack lunges to grab her hands before she could swing again. He laughs and says, I'm sorry Sweetheart. I was just playing! I didn't know you were afraid of snakes! She tries to break loose but he still held her tight. He looks into her eyes and sees anger that he had never seen before. Beth, Sweetheart I truly am sorry. He went to kiss her lips but she turned her head. He continues to hold her. His eyes pleading to her. She just kept glaring at him. Please Sweetheart. Grace walked up to her and said, Lizzy dear? She said nothing. Elizabeth Grace look at me. She immediately turned to look at her when she called her by her full name. Elizabeth Grace it was all in fun. He didn't know you're afraid of snakes. He was just joking around with you. He never had a real one. It was just his finger. Now you except his apology so we can finish our day and have fun. You know we would have never let him put a real one anywhere near you. He loves you and would never do anything to hurt you or make you hurt yourself. Now except it . Elizabeth looks back at him and says, I will except your apology but if you ever do that again...and she stopped talking. Beth Sweetheart I would never intentionally do anything to you. Now that I know I will never do it again, I promise! He hugged her and she hugged him back. He leans his head out and asks, am I forgiven?
