June 3

Elizabeth drove Jack from the airport in Hartford to their Bed and Breakfast where she had secured the newlywed cabin, set behind the inn next to the small lake.

It was gorgeous and serene. She instantly felt peace. It was their first anniversary and so much had happened in the year. She wanted them to have time alone to reflect on the year and what the coming one would bring.

"Its nice here, baby," he whispered, stepping up behind her, holding her close.

"Yeah. Its beautiful."

"You're beautiful," he said, nuzzling her neck.

"Let's check in," she told him. "I have a present for you."

"A present, huh? I have a few things up my sleeve too."

She smiled and led him inside to check in and then out back to their cabin.

"This is great!" Jack told her. "I think I'll let you plan all our vacations."

She laughed and put her suitcase on the edge of the bed. She unzipped it as he checked out the bathroom. "Babe! This bathroom has a jacuzzi. I love jacuzzi's!"

"I know."

She took out a box and put it on the bed and then moved the suitcase. "Honey, can you come in here for a minute?"

"Yep. I'm coming."

She nervously sat waiting. "What's up?"

"This is my present for you."

He sat next to her and opened the box. "A photo album? Nice. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

He opened it and smiled. "Good grief, you took my breath away," he told her, marveling at her in her wedding dress. "I felt so lucky. I couldn't believe you were my wife. Still can't."

She leaned her head against his shoulder and watched him go through their journey. The next picture was a selfie they took on their honeymoon in Cabo as they were about to go zip-lining. Their smiles couldn't have been bigger. The love they had in their hearts beamed from their lips.

Next was her standing in front of the farm house in Riverton the day he told her he bought the house. She had a look of nervousness and yet trust in her eyes.

"I still can't believe you bought the house without me," she told him with a laugh.

"I wanted to surprise you."

"You certainly did that."

Next were pictures of the camper they called home and a picture he didn't remember. "When did you take this?"

"Just one night. You weren't next to me in bed so I rolled over and there you were, at the table, reading your bible. You looked so peaceful and handsome. I had to take it." She kissed his warm lips and smiled. "I love that you are a spiritual man, Jack, and that you are taking the initiative to teach our daughter about God."

He kissed her forehead and turned the page. "Pumpkin." He traced the picture with his fingertip. "The first time I saw her…I loved her. She radiates joy and love. I'm so grateful for her."

His tears flowed as he continued on. The next picture was Autumn sleeping, cuddling Grace in her arms, her pink blanket covering her small form. "One of the few times she slept alone in that camper," Jack mentioned.

The next pictures showed the house finished and then the day that Mercy came. They stayed quiet as they each

remembered.

Then Autumn playing in her very pink room and then the day the twins came. Next was when Annie the pup was dropped off on Christmas and Autumn's complete happiness over her.

Another photo Jack didn't remember was of him and all three kids. He was sitting on the floor in the nursery reading a book to them. He had a twin on each leg and Autumn reading and watching over his shoulders.

"That is my favorite," he told her.

"Mine too." He had such joy and love while doing such a simple thing. Addy was looking up at him as he read and Aiden pointed at something on the page.

He turned the page again and there was a picture of Autumn and Brady playing tea party, Autumn's tiara on his head. She had said their names and they both grinned at her. "He is a good kid," Jack said quietly.

"Yeah. He is coming out of his shell." She smiled at the next picture where Brady was reading a book to Autumn on the couch, Autumn sitting almost on his lap.

"She loves him," Jack mentioned.

"I think the feeling is mutual."

The last picture made him gasp. "Babe?"

She smiled. It was a picture of her in a navy blue tank top with the word "preggers" on the front, a huge smile on her face, her hand on her tummy.

"You're pregnant?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Happy Anniversary."

"Oh my goodness." He put the book down, stood up, and pulled her into his arms. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I took four tests and they all said I was. Then, I got a blood test and it confirmed."

"How far along?"

"Eleven weeks." She lifted her t-shirt and revealed her slightly rounded tummy.

"Wow. Eleven weeks."

"As far as I can calculate, I'm due beginning of December."

"This is so amazing. What a wonderful gift."

He wrapped his arms around her and just held her. Both of them. His wife and unborn child were in his arms.

….

A few days later, Elizabeth and Jack picked Autumn up from Grace's and went home but they didn't mention the pregnancy to Autumn yet. They wanted to wait another week or two to make sure the baby was safe before she found out.

So their life went on as usual. The next weekend, Brady was apparently sick so he didn't come. Elizabeth was worried. Abigail wasn't sure what was wrong so she couldn't give them any information.

When the following weekend came along, Elizabeth was at thirteen weeks. They figured it would be safe to tell Autumn. So at breakfast on Saturday morning, Elizabeth and Jack put a gift for Autumn on the table by her chair.

When she came downstairs, she ran over and climbed up to see what was waiting. "A present?" she asked, clearly entranced by the pink sparkly wrapping paper and bow.

"Yep, just for you, pumpkin." Jack was wearing his "Soon to be a Daddy" t-shirt and Elizabeth had her "preggers" tank on. "Open it, sweetie."

She needed a bit of help but when she finally got the box open, she smiled. "I like pink," she said, not fully aware of what the shirt in the box meant.

"Sweetie, let's see what your new pink shirt says," Elizabeth told her. Elizabeth pointed at each word and slowly read them. "I'm the big sister."

"Do you know what that means?" Jack asked.

"What?"

"That means Mommy is going to have a baby. So you are the baby's big sister!"

"Baby? Where?"

Elizabeth stood next to her and put Autumn's hands on her tummy. "In my tummy."

"Baby is…in Mommy tummy?"

"Yes and in a few months, when the baby is big enough, it will come out."

"Live here?"

"Yes. Forever and ever."

"I keep baby?"

"Yes, this baby will be a Thornton just like you, pumpkin."

"Yay!"

They helped her put her shirt on and then they set the timer on Jack's phone and propped it up so they could take a photo of them in their shirts. That would be their announcement to the rest of the family.

"Say cheese!"

….

After that announcement, Autumn wanted everyone she came in contact with to know that Mommy was having a baby.

The grocery store clerk, Dr. Shepherd, the lady at the book store and of course Brady.

Brady looked up at Elizabeth and down at her stomach. He was stunned. They for sure wouldn't want him now.

He had heard Abigail Stanton telling his foster parents that he was up for adoption. Then he heard his foster parents say that they weren't ready for that step. To him, those words meant he wasn't good enough to fit in their family. He had heard them before and then he would be moved to another family.

His last hope had been the Thornton's. They acted like they wanted him anyway.

He kept quiet and ran up the stairs to the bunk bed room and laid down, shutting out the world.

"I'm worried about him, Jack. He won't talk or eat or anything," Elizabeth told Jack once he got home from work.

"I'll try talking to him."

She nodded and put his plate of food in the microwave to heat up.

Jack knocked on Brady's door. "Brady?"

He received no answer so he walked in the room. It was dark but he could see there was a Brady sized lump under the covers. "Bud, what's wrong? Elizabeth and I are worried about you."

"Nothing."

"Aren't you hungry? Elizabeth bought stuff so we can make our own bagel pizzas."

"Bagel pizzas?" Brady turned his head and looked at Jack, his eyes clearly red and puffy from crying.

"Yeah. You can choose pepperoni or chicken or sausage and there's like three different kinds of cheese and olives and onions…"

"No thanks," he said quietly, turning back over.

"I want you to know, if you change your mind, you can always talk to us. Tell us what's bothering you."

He was met with silence so Jack walked back downstairs.

"Anything?" Elizabeth asked, worry etched on her face.

"I thought I'd get him with the bagel pizzas but he said no."

"Mommy?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Bath?"

"Yeah, its bath time. Go pick out your pajamas and meet me in the bathroom."

Autumn hurried upstairs leaving them alone. "I wish I knew how to help him. I wish he would talk to us."

"Maybe he doesn't feel well."

"I think it's more than that."

It was more but he didn't know how to tell them so he kept it inside. By the time he left their home, he had barely spoken a word but he had eaten a meal. That made Elizabeth and Jack feel a little better.

Another two weeks passed and they were preparing something fun for all of them to do. Since it was summer, they were going to go to a water park. Autumn was super excited so by extension that made Jack and Elizabeth excited too.

"Honey, I need your honest opinion,"

Elizabeth said as she stared in the mirror.

"I'm always honest."

"Yes, but you color the truth with the fact that I'm your wife and you think I'm beautiful."

He put his book down and gazed at her from the bed. "To clarify, I think you're more than beautiful and that's because you are. You are truly gorgeous. What's your question?"

"I'm not sure about this bathing suit. I'm not used to having "sweet pea" visible for all to see," she told him, turning to the side. "Do I really look alright?"

"Yep. Really."

She turned to him, hands on her hips. "Is that all you have to say?"

"I didn't want you to think I was "coloring the truth"."

"Jack."

"I've never seen you pregnant before this year and I never understood the whole "glowing" thing that people say pregnant women get. Now I get it. The glowing is happiness and health and "sweet pea" is alive and well. You're perfect."

"Alright." She took one last turn in the mirror and then pulled on a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. "Let's go see if Brady is here yet."

"Do you believe me?"

"I believe you."

He turned her and stood behind her as they looked in the mirror. "He or she is safe in there and I think you are the sexiest when you are carrying my child."

She blushed and rubbed her belly. "Thank you."

"Mommy! Brady….home!"

However when they got to the door, Abigail was the only one standing there.

"Have you seen Brady? Is he here?"

"No," Elizabeth told her. "Is he missing?"

"Yes. His foster parents said his bed hadn't been slept in last night. Any idea where he might have gone?"