A few days later…

Elizabeth took a deep breath and turned over to look at Jack. It was now or never.

"Jack?"

"Hmm?"

"We need to talk."

"Alright." He turned his head to look at her.

"Abigail called me. She has a ten year old boy, Brady, who needs a respite placement this coming weekend."

"I don't think so."

"Jack, he needs someone. He can't go to his new foster home until Monday."

"Why did she even call us? You told her we needed a break."

Elizabeth stayed silent for a moment.

"Didn't you?" He sat up and looked down at her.

"Not exactly."

He put his clothes on and walked out of the room. She did the same and followed him. She found him getting a drink of water from the refrigerator.

"Jack?"

"Elizabeth, we talked about this. I can't lose another child right now. Why didn't you call her? I thought you felt the same way."

"I did. I do. Kind of."

"What does that mean?" he asked, his tone showing his exasperation and irritation.

"It means I had told her to keep us open before you mentioned not wanting to do it anymore."

"So you just call her and say we changed our minds." His tone was now angry but he still wasn't yelling.

"I can't do that. I love those children. They need love and safety. We can give that to them."

"Elizabeth…I can't do it."

"I already agreed."

"You agreed? Without running it by me first?" He shook his head and walked away into the living room.

"Jack…"

"I'll see you in the morning."

"We can't go to bed angry. We promised never to do that."

"I don't see any chance of me not being angry at this point so I guess we won't keep that promise."

….

The next morning…

Elizabeth rolled over and sighed. She touched his pillow. Cold. He had slept somewhere other than next to her. They had promised never to do that.

She shivered as she got out of bed so she grabbed one of his sweatshirts and slipped on his sweatpants too. Nice and cozy.

She peeked in on Autumn who was still asleep. Today was not a school day so she let her stay in bed. Jack wasn't in the guest room so she went downstairs.

She found him asleep on the couch so she headed in to make them coffee. Five minutes later she walked back to the living room and put his cup on the end table while she curled up in the recliner.

It didn't take long for him to open his eyes and sit up. His eyes found her.

"Morning, honey," she said quietly. "I made you coffee."

"Thanks." He sipped the coffee and yawned.

She admired his messy hair and bare chest. Gosh, he was cute. He probably wouldn't appreciate the comment at this point though.

"Why are you smiling?" he wondered, sipping his coffee again.

"I'm not allowed to smile at my husband? Good grief. You are grumpy this morning."

She stood and walked into the kitchen and pulled out the boxes of cereal for their breakfast.

"Beth." He never called her Beth. Always "babe" or "baby".

"What?"

"I'm sorry."

"Me too."

He stepped close and touched her shoulder. "I love you."

"I love you too." She turned and wrapped her arms around him and held on. "I don't like this fighting thing and I know it's my fault. I am truly sorry."

He looked down at her and smiled. "You are wearing my clothes. You look so beautiful when you do that."

"Thank you." He dipped his head and kissed her slow and deep, his fingers slipping beneath his sweatshirt that she wore so well. "No more fighting," she whispered against his lips.

He kissed her again. "Agreed. How long do you think we have before…"

"Mommy!" Autumn called from up the stairs.

"Never mind."

She laughed. "Yes, baby?"

"I am hungry."

"You are? What would you like? Frosted flakes or Fruit Loops?"

"Fruit…loops, please."

"You got it."

As they ate their cereal, Jack thought about the boy she had mentioned. "What's Brady's story, Elizabeth?"

"He is going to be transferred to another foster home next week and the one he was in couldn't take care of him anymore."

"That must be hard on him."

"This will be his fourth in a year."

"Kids need a stable home," Jack said. "He is probably angry and doesn't understand why no one will keep him."

"Needs….family," Autumn told them. "Needs love."

"That's right, baby. He certainly does."

"You love….babies. You love…Mercy. You love…Autumn. Love him?"

Jack looked at his daughter who was asking them that question that he didn't want to face right now. Yes, they had love to give but he didn't want to open his heart again right now. He still missed the twins so much.

"It is only two days, Jack," Elizabeth whispered to him. "Two and then he moves on."

"Daddy…love him?" Autumn asked.

"I don't know, pumpkin. I need to think." He got up and walked out of the room.

"Mommy? Daddy sad?"

"Yes. He misses Addy and Aiden a lot right now."

"I miss…babies too."

"So do I, honey."

"Daddy need….hugs and prayers." Elizabeth smiled as Autumn climbed down and ran off to find him.

…..

"Daddy?" Autumn climbed up on the couch and into his lap. "Daddy, sad?"

"Yes. But holding you tight is making me feel better." He squeezed just a little tighter and sighed. How could one beautiful daughter heal his heart so quick?

"I pray." She leaned back and put her little hands in his and shut her eyes. "Dear God. Daddy…sad now. Daddy misses…babies. Please help Daddy not….be sad no more. In Jesus name….Amen."

"Amen." He kissed her forehead and smiled through his tears. "Thank you, my love."

"Welcome, Daddy."

"So you think we should have Brady stay here this weekend?"

"Need love. We have…lots."

"We certainly do."

A few moments later, Jack and Autumn went back into the dining/kitchen area.

"So, our very smart daughter here convinced me to say yes to having Brady here this weekend."

"That's great, Jack. I'll tell Abigail that we need a break after him."

"Or maybe tell her we are only available for respite placements."

"Are you sure?"

"We have lots of love, right, pumpkin?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. That's what we will do then."

….

Friday evening, just before dinner, Abigail knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Autumn asked, Jack right behind her.

"Its Abigail."

Autumn's eyes and her smile lit up as she turned the doorknob.

"Hi!" she said with a wave.

"Hi, sweetie. Can we come in?"

Autumn stepped back and nodded.

"Autumn, Jack, this is Brady."

Autumn stared at the boy curiously. He didn't look happy to her. He looked mad. She didn't understand why. Her Mommy and Daddy were the best, in her opinion.

"Hi, bud. Nice to meet you," Jack said offering his hand for the boy to shake.

Brady just looked annoyed.

"Well, I can take your bag if you like and show you to your room." Jack bent down to grab the bag but Brady was quicker.

"I can carry it," he snapped.

"Alright. Let's go check out your room. Thanks, Abigail."

"No, thanks to you and Beth. I'll be back Sunday night to get him." She stared at Brady a moment and then gently touched his chin to command his attention. "I know you're angry right now, but the Thornton's are good people. They are giving up their time to take care of you, so be nice, young man. Got it?"

"Whatever."

"Jack, I'll be looking for a full report with how Brady acts this weekend."

"Will do. Thanks again, Abigail."

A moment later, Jack introduced Brady to Elizabeth and then showed him where he would be staying and where the bathroom was.

As soon as they walked in the door, Brady dropped his bag and climbed the ladder to the top bunk and laid down.

"Dinner in thirty minutes, Brady."

Jack received no response. He left the door open a few inches and headed back downstairs.

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows. "He climbed up on the top bunk and laid down. Maybe he's tired."

"Maybe he is confused and angry," Elizabeth told him, stirring the spaghetti meat sauce. "I would be too, I think."

"Maybe…need prayers," Autumn said with a nod.

"We can say an extra prayer for him at bedtime then," Jack told her.

"Yeah."

Brady didn't emerge from his bedroom at dinner, or while Elizabeth made popcorn for their movie, or while Autumn took her bubble bath and got into bed.

However, after Autumn was asleep and Jack was reading a magazine at the island, Brady entered the kitchen. "Hey there. You hungry?"

Brady shrugged.

"Well, Elizabeth made spaghetti and garlic bread. You'll love it."

"Why are you being so nice?" Brady growled.

Jack ignored his tone and went on putting food on a plate. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You don't know me. Trust me, if you did, you wouldn't want me either."

"Why is that?" he asked, putting the plate in the microwave.

"No one wants me. My own dad didn't want me and neither has any other foster family."

"Look, I don't know what happened with your dad or anyone else. What I do know is you needed a safe place to stay and a little kindness. No one is kinder than my Elizabeth or Autumn." He grabbed the plate and a fork and set it on the island. "What I expect from you while you are here is the same respect that we give you. You do that, there will be no issues. You do the opposite and there will be consequences. Got it?"

"I guess."

"What was that?"

"Got it."

"Good. Milk or water?"

"Milk." Jack stared at him. "Please."

Jack nodded and poured him a glass of milk.

"What kind of consequences?" Brady wondered.

"We will figure that out if the time comes. If not, no worries."

"Would you hit me?"

"Of course not. I would never hurt a child."

"My dad did."

"I'm sorry about that."

Brady shrugged as he ate bite after bite and cleared his plate and drank all his milk.

"Hey, guys," Elizabeth said, walking into the room. "Anyone want a cookie?" She tilted the cookie jar toward Jack and then Brady who each took one.

Jack stared at Brady again. "Thanks," the boy said.

"You're welcome."

"Alright, Brady. Time for a shower and then bed," Jack told him.

"Its only nine PM."

"Yes. Its nine. Bedtime is 9:30 for you."

"I don't have a bedtime and I don't need a shower."

"Your choice is to shower tonight or in the morning. Bedtime at 9:30 either way."

"Where's the towels?" he grumbled.

"I'll show you," Jack told him.

Elizabeth made herself some tea and went to sit in the living room to wait for Jack.

When he joined her a couple minutes later, he turned off all the lights, letting the fire cast its glow on them. He slipped his arm around her and kissed her temple.

"You did good with him, Jack. Giving him choices but standing firm in your boundaries. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks. I think underneath his rough exterior, he just needs to be valued and loved like everyone else."

"You're the perfect one for that job, Jack."

"I can't do it without you."

"And you will never have to."