The next weekend

Elizabeth made brownies for dessert. She was excited because Brady was coming for the weekend again.

"Brady home, Mommy!" Autumn announced.

"Alright, let's go say hi." They walked to the door and opened it.

"Hi!" Autumn said with a grin as she hugged him.

"Hi," he said, a small smile on his face, his hand patting her back awkwardly.

Once he was inside, Elizabeth gave him a small hug. "Welcome back, Brady. I hope you're hungry."

"Yeah."

"I made enchiladas and then we will have something fun for dessert once chores are done."

"Will you play…with me?" Autumn asked.

"I'm not good at games," he told her.

"Please?" she begged sweetly.

"Okay."

"Yay!" Autumn pulled him by the hand into the living room.

Abigail smiled at them. "He is really looking forward to this. He chatted with me all the way here. How you took him to the bookstore and bought him books and how Jack made him go to bed at a certain time and set the table."

"Those things are true. We treat him like he is always here. Autumn does chores and so does he."

"Its good for him. I get the idea he'd be content hiding away and reading."

"Very true. He really would."

"I'm proud of you, Beth. You and Jack have had some losses with Mercy and the twins, but you keep opening your hearts. A lot of people might give up."

"We did want to take a break. Well, Jack did. I just sort of didn't tell you."

"I bet that didn't go over well."

"No, but in the end, Autumn convinced him to give it a shot and we are all glad she did."

"I am too." Abigail gave her a hug. "I need to get going. I'll see you Sunday night."

"Thanks, Abigail."

Elizabeth headed to the kitchen and started chopping up veggies for a salad to go with the enchiladas. As she chopped, she sang along to the music in her head.

Come stop your crying

It will be alright

Just take my hand

And hold it tight

I will protect you

From all around you

I will be here

Don't you cry

For one so small,

You seem so strong

My arms will hold you,

Keep you safe and warm

This bond between us

Can't be broken

I will be here

Don't you cry

The verses didn't stop her own tears however. Then she caught sight of her charm bracelet and it hit her harder. Mercy and the twins… Abigail was right. Her heart had opened wide for them and broke into many pieces.

"Elizabeth?"

She startled and looked at Brady. "Yeah?"

"Are you alright?"

"Of course." She wiped her cheeks.

He was clearly uncomfortable but also concerned. He had only ever seen her smiling.

"I promise. I'm alright. What game were you and Autumn playing?"

"Tea party. She made me wear a tiara!"

Elizabeth burst into laughter now. "Well, that means you're definitely an honorary Thornton."

"A tiara? She couldn't give me a baseball cap or something?"

"Brady?" Autumn called. "Tea…ready!"

He rolled his eyes but he headed back to play with Autumn anyway.

….

Dinner was good and Elizabeth was proud when Brady set the table with Autumn without being told. He didn't complain or anything. He just knew what was expected and that was a good thing.

After the three of them did the dishes, Elizabeth put a brownie in three bowls and scooped vanilla ice cream on top. Then she added pink sprinkles to Autumn's and hot fudge and whipped cream to hers and Brady's.

"Alright, guys. Look what I have."

"Yum!" Autumn said, her eyes big.

Jack came home as they were finishing up their desserts. "Anyone home?" he called.

"Daddy!" Autumn got down and ran to see him. "Daddy…Brady home."

"Is he? That's great."

"Yeah. He played…tea party with me."

"Interesting."

"He was…princess."

Jack laughed. "That was nice of you to share your tiara, pumpkin."

"I good."

"Yes you are."

They wandered into the kitchen where Elizabeth and Brady were washing the dessert dishes. "Did you leave any for me?" he teased.

Elizabeth gave him a kiss. "Hi, sweetheart."

"Hey, babe." He then stuck his hand out to shake Brady's hand. "Hi, bud."

"Hi, Jack."

"Hungry, Jack? I made enchiladas and we had salad too and then brownie sundaes for dessert."

"Yes please, to all of the above."

"Alright. Take a seat and I will dish it up for you."

Later, after Autumn had her bath and was asleep in her room, Brady climbed the stairs and took a shower, again without anyone telling him to.

When he walked into the bunk bed room where he slept, he found new underwear, pajamas, socks, and a shirt on the bed. He hadn't had new things in a while.

After he changed, he laid in bed awhile. Then he heard a knock. "Come in."

Elizabeth peeked her head in the door. "Did you find your pajamas and things?"

"Yeah. Thank you."

"Of course. I hope you like them."

"Yeah."

"Okay. Well, I just wanted to say goodnight."

"Night."

"It's okay with me if you read for a while, Brady. Tomorrow is Saturday, after all."

"Okay."

As she walked out, he spoke again. "Elizabeth?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you. For the books last time and the clothes. And for being so nice to me."

"Of course. I'm glad you're back."

"Me too."

He turned his light off when she left and laid there, staring at the ceiling. After about a half hour, he got up and headed down to the kitchen. He was hungry believe it or not.

Jack was at the counter. "Hey, Brady."

"Hi."

"Hungry?"

"Yeah. Are there any more enchiladas?"

"Yep. They're in the fridge."

He grabbed a plate and a fork and dished more food onto his plate and then put the remainder back in the fridge.

"Something bothering you?"

"I guess I just have a question."

"Shoot."

"Earlier I heard Elizabeth singing and then I saw her crying."

"Yeah?"

"She said she was okay but…is she?"

Jack thought about how to explain what was likely going on.

"Have a seat. I'll explain. She, well, both of us, have had a rough time the last couple months."

"What do you mean?"

"Shortly before we adopted Autumn, we had a little girl come and stay with us. Her name was Mercy."

"Wait, you adopted Autumn?"

"Yes. Last year. Mercy needed a place to stay so Abigail asked and we accepted. Mercy was with us a couple months and then we had to give her back to her family."

"So Elizabeth misses her?"

"Yes. Then, just before Christmas, twins Addy and Aiden came to stay with us. Then, six weeks later, they went back with their mother."

"If it hurts so much, why do it?"

"Because there are children who need homes. We knew that it could be hard to give them up but we want to help as many as we can."

"Like Autumn?"

"And Mercy and Addy and Aiden and you."

He finished his meal, keeping his eyes on his plate. "What happened to Autumn's parents?"

"Her mom was really young when she had her. Because Autumn has certain challenges, she didn't think she could take care of her so she gave her up."

"Autumn's lucky you adopted her."

Jack thought about that statement long after Brady washed his dishes and fork and went to bed. He could feel the need Brady had to be adopted too. He really hoped that if it wasn't him and Elizabeth, that it would be someone really kind and who loved him.

….

Six weeks later…

Jack had finagled things with Abigail so that Brady would be able to join them for Mother's Day weekend.

As soon as he sent Elizabeth off to the spa on Saturday with Grace and his own mom, he, Brady, and Autumn started setting things up around the house.

First, they cleaned until the house was spotless. Then, they made her favorite meal, pot roast, potatoes, and asparagus.

Next he took a few pictures of Autumn and Brady, printed them, and then added them to a large picture frame with pictures of Mercy and the twins. The frame was black and it said "Home is Where Mom Is" across the bottom. Then he hung it on the wall in the living room.

Then they got dressed up for dinner.

Elizabeth returned home just as the three of them had come downstairs.

"Mommy!" Autumn said, running to her.

"Hi, sweetie. Don't you look pretty?"

"Daddy said…I am."

"Daddy is right." Elizabeth gave her a hug and a kiss and then walked up to Brady.

"You look so handsome." She gave him a hug and smiled when he returned it, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Happy Mother's Day," he said quietly.

"Its my first one. I'm glad you're here to share it with me."

He smiled. A full-blown, not holding anything back smile. She hugged him again and she couldn't stop the tears.

"Are you sad?" he wondered.

"No. Not even one little bit."

Elizabeth then saw Jack, standing a few feet away, dressed up as much as the children were, taking her breath away.

"Wow. You look good. I'm feeling underdressed." She looked down at her jeans and t-shirt.

"There is something waiting for you on the bed."

She gave him a kiss and then headed upstairs. As she lifted the long pinky peachy sundress off the bed she marveled at her husband's taste.

"Do you like it?" he asked from the doorway.

"Its so gorgeous. I love it so much."

"Good, I'm glad."

She put the dress down and gave him a hug. "You're the best husband and father. You just wait until Father's Day."

He gave her a kiss and smiled. "Why don't you change so we can have dinner with the kids?"

"Alright."

As they sat down to dinner, Jack made sure Elizabeth felt pampered. He pulled her chair out for her, laid her napkin on her lap, dished her food out and poured her water.

Then he said a prayer, thanking God for such a wonderful wife and mother for Autumn and whomever might come along.

Elizabeth squeezed his hand and smiled. He meant Brady, she was certain, but what he didn't know was she had a secret of her own.

After dinner, Autumn took her over to the wall and pointed. "Look, Mommy. All…your babies."

She stared for a long time at each picture, remembering so many good times. Then, to see Brady there too…it just filled her heart.

He had been spending every other weekend with them and she missed him when he was gone. She was just waiting for word that he could possibly be up for adoption but nothing yet.

"Babe? Do you like it?"

She took his hand and brought him next to her and then reached for Brady. "It has all the children of my heart. How could I not love it?"

As the evening progressed, they changed into their pajamas and ate ice cream while watching movies.

The kids fell asleep on the floor as they watched so Elizabeth took Jack's hand. "Honey?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you so much for tonight."

"You're welcome."

"I want you to know that I'm planning a trip for us for our Anniversary."

"You are?"

"Yeah. Mom will be watching Autumn and we are going away for a long weekend."

"Great. Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

"No hints?"

"Nope. Just make sure you take June 3 through 7 off."

"Done."