Two weeks later

Jack and Elizabeth had filed a petition to adopt Dani, thinking everything would go smoothly. Her father had given up his rights a couple years before so she was available for adoption. She said her mother had died when she was eight and she didn't know of any grandparents or aunts and uncles.

However, one day, Abigail contacted Elizabeth with some news.

"Her name is Lillian. She's apparently Dani's maternal grandmother."

"Abigail, what is she asking?"

"Just to meet Dani. She's never met her. Shortly after Dani's mother gave birth, they had a disagreement."

"Is there a possibility of losing her?" Please no. This girl is my daughter, she thought.

"No. Lillian is in a wheelchair and in a nursing home. She can't take care of a teenager who has a baby."

"I can, Abigail. I don't know if I can take losing them."

"Elizabeth, trust me. Do you trust me?"

"Of course."

"Alright. So what you need to do is ask Dani if she wants to meet Lillian. She's sixteen so if she doesn't want to, she doesn't have to."

"Okay."

"Let me know what she says."

"I will. Thank you."

"Mom?" Dani said, walking in the kitchen, Bethanie snug in the baby wrap she was wearing.

"Yeah, sweetie?"

"Do you need help with dinner?"

"Well, not really. Jack is bringing home pizza."

"Oh ok."

"How are you feeling?"

"Pretty much back to normal."

"That's good. Did you decide what company to use for school?"

"Yeah. The one in Arizona. It says that I can graduate early and then take college courses too."

"Ok. That's a great idea."

Bethanie squawked. "Really, bugs? You just ate. Mama's tired."

"I would be happy to hold her. Maybe you can go take a shower or read or…."

"Or sleep?" Dani asked, her eyes smiling.

"Of course. I can take care of her. Carter and Autumn are sleeping right now so this will give me a chance to spend some time with her."

Dani lifted Bethanie out of the wrap and handed her over. "Here's her passy. Let me know if you need me."

"We will be just fine. Enjoy your nap."

Elizabeth took the baby out to the porch swing. Just as Bethanie fell asleep, she heard Carter and Autumn running around the living room. She knew it would only be a matter of time before they came outside looking for…

"Mama! Up!" Carter yelled.

"Shhh, sweetie. Baby is sleeping."

"Up!"

Autumn helped him climb up and then she sat down too.

"Wait…how did Carter get out here?"

"He climbed…out of his crib."

"He did?"

"Yep."

"I guess it's probably time for a toddler bed then," Elizabeth told herself. He was growing so fast.

"Mommy? Where's…Brady?"

"He is with your dad at work."

"Oh."

"Mama, eat!" Carter said, lifting her shirt.

"Hey, it's not night night time yet, Carter."

"Mama," he whimpered. She knew he was just jealous because she was holding the baby but she wasn't going to nurse him right then.

"Do you want a snack?"

"Cheese."

"Okay. Let's go get a snack then."

She took all three into the kitchen. She let Carter climb up onto a chair. "Okay, bud. Sit on your knees, okay?" He nodded but stayed standing up. "Carter, on your knees," she told him again. He finally listened. "I will get your snack."

She took the string cheese out of the fridge and a banana and took it into the dining area. "Carter William, please get off the table," she told him sternly but didn't raise her voice. He looked up and grinned. His dimples were so cute but he was still not where he was supposed to be.

She pointed at the chair. "Off, please." He waited a moment and then scooted to the edge of the table and stood on his chair. "Thank you. Now please, on your knees."

"Whatcha doin, babe?" Jack asked from the doorway.

"Trying to get your son to obey."

"My son, huh?"

"Yep, he's in trouble so he's all yours."

Jack walked over and put Carter in his high chair. Carter didn't like that and started fighting him. "No," Jack told him. "You need to chill, bud."

"No!" Carter yelled.

Jack shook his head and strapped him in and then put the tray in front of him. "What has gotten into you?"

"Mama, eat!"

"He saw me holding Bethanie and got jealous and wanted to nurse. I suggested a snack and then when I went into the kitchen to get it, he climbed on the table even though he knows he isn't supposed to."

Jack made a show of giving Autumn half a banana and a piece of string cheese.

"Mine!" Carter yelled, waking up the baby who started crying.

She headed into the living room, letting Jack handle Carter. Dani came downstairs and sat next to Elizabeth. "What's going on?"

"Oh, you know. Kids."

Dani took Bethanie and snuggled her. "Hi, bugs. You are so soft and smell so good."

"I'm sorry you didn't get much of a nap."

"That's okay. I miss having her in the room with me."

Elizabeth loved the two girls sitting next to her. They were hers. She was scared that meeting her grandmother might somehow take them away from her. She knew she couldn't keep the news to herself but it was tempting.

"Mom?"

"Hm?"

"Is anything wrong?"

She kissed her forehead and smiled. "Not a thing."

Later that evening

"I'm scared, Jack. I don't want to lose them."

"It doesn't sound like Lillian is a threat, hon."

"No, but I just have this feeling."

"You never know. Dani might not even want to meet her."

"Yeah." Elizabeth laid her head on Jack's chest.

"Whatever happens, we will get through it together."

She kissed his jaw, closed her eyes, and said a prayer for patience and wisdom to handle the situation in the best way for everyone.

The next morning, before Brady, Carter, and Autumn were up, Jack, Elizabeth and Dani chatted while she nursed the baby under a blanket.

"We have some news, Dani," Jack told her.

"What's that?"

"Abigail called yesterday. It seems your grandmother Lillian Jackson wants to meet you."

"I don't...I mean, I didn't know I had a grandmother."

"You've never met her. She's your Mother's Mother."

"I don't want to leave. I'm...we are happy here."

"Sweetheart, you're not leaving," Elizabeth told her. "She just wants to meet you."

"What if she wants me to live with her?"

"Apparently she's in a wheelchair and in a nursing home. She wouldn't be in a position to take you in."

"Oh. I still don't know if I want to meet her."

"Okay. You let us know after you think about it for a while."

"What do you think?" she asked Elizabeth.

"I think it's your decision."

"Mom, please. I'd like to know what you and Dad think."

Elizabeth looked at Jack for direction but he just took her hand and nodded.

"Its scares me a bit."

"What part?"

"I feel like you're our daughter and I love you and Bethanie. I just don't want to lose you."

"I'd fight to stay here if anyone tried to take us away." Dani put Bethanie up on her shoulder to burp. "This is our home now."

She thought about it for a few days and then one evening, she knocked on Jack and Elizabeth's bedroom door.

"Come in."

"Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Of course. Come sit here," Elizabeth said, patting the bed.

She sat on the edge. "I think I want to meet Lillian. I know that it scares you but I think I want to get to know her."

"Okay, sweetie. I'll call Abigail in the morning."

"I have a favor to ask. Will you both come with me?"

"Of course we will," Jack told her.

"Thanks."

So a week later, they traveled to Portland to the nursing home where Lillian was living.

Dani ran her hands down her gray nursing dress and breathed. "Nervous?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yeah. But I'm ready."

Jack grabbed the carseat and they walked into the facility.

About ten minutes later, they knocked on her door. "Come in," a small voice said from within.

"Mrs. Jackson?" Jack said gently as he opened the door.

"Yes."

"I'm Jack Thornton and this is my wife, Elizabeth."

Lillian nodded, a smile on her face but her eyes searched for a glimpse of her granddaughter. When she saw her, she covered her mouth with her weathered hand. "Danielle?"

Dani stepped forward. "Grandma?"

"Oh dear me. You look just like Janie."

"Janie?" Elizabeth asked.

"My daughter. Your mother, Danielle."

Dani had questions. So many but she didn't know where to start.

"Go ahead, love. Ask me what's on your heart," Lillian told her.

"Why now? Why haven't you come forward until now?"

"Your mother and I...well, we had a falling out around the time you were born."

"About what?"

"Harry, your father. She insisted on marrying him even though we didn't approve. After that falling out, we never spoke again. I did try but eventually she passed away and it was too late."

"But you could have seen me then. You could have asked to see me," Dani said, her emotions coming forward. She felt abandoned in so many ways.

"I'm sorry, sweet girl. Harry wouldn't allow it."

"He was horrible to me. I needed you." Dani wiped her tears and stared at Bethanie.

"I didn't know he was a bad father, Danielle. Not until I found out you had run away. He had thought you were living with us so he came looking."

Bethanie started moving around. "Dad, can you hand her to me? She's getting hungry."

Jack unbuckled her and handed her over along with a light blanket. He kissed the top of Dani's head. "I'll be back in a bit."

Lillian watched as Dani prepared to nurse. "This sweet child is yours, Danielle?"

"Yes, she is."

"What is her name?"

"Bethanie."

"So much hair. And dark."

"Yes. Like her father." Dani closed her eyes and sighed. "I'm finally part of a family. I have two brothers and a sister and the best parents. I'm going to be adopted, Grandma."

"That's wonderful, Danielle. I'm happy for you."

"You are?"

"Of course. All I ever wanted is for my children and grandchildren to be happy. Are you happy?"

"Yes. I'm happy."

"Then that's wonderful."

"I have one more question."

"Alright."

"If I didn't have the Thornton's and you could, would you take me and Bethanie in?"

"With no hesitation."

After a while, Dani moved Bethanie to her shoulder and burped her as Elizabeth asked about Janie. Jack joined them again and then around lunchtime, they left, promising to visit again soon.

Dani was quiet in the back of the car as they drove home. She was glad she had a grandmother in Lillian and she was even more glad that she wasn't going to stand in the way of the adoption.

"Dani? You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm great."

"Abigail told me something else when I talked to her last week."

"What's that?"

"Your adoption date. September 5th."

*I decided to combine chapter 34 and 35. Here is chapter 35. It takes place six years in the future.*

Six years later

The whole Thornton clan sat in the audience as they watched Dani give her valedictorian speech and accept her college diploma. The last six years had been long and hard but she had passed high school and college with flying colors.

Now she had a degree in Social Work and Bethanie was six going on fifteen.

"Mimi! Look, its Mama!" Bethanie told Elizabeth, pointing and whispering loudly.

"I see, baby. Shhh."

"I never could have done this without the love and support of my parents, Elizabeth and Jack Thornton," Dani said from the podium. "They essentially saved my life and the life of my then unborn child. It didn't scare them away when the social worker showed up on their doorstep with a seven month pregnant fifteen year old girl. They just rolled with it. They supported me and taught me how to be a mother, how to take care of a house, and how to be responsible."

Elizabeth wiped her eyes and smiled. "I love you both and I always will. Thank you for believing in me and helping me believe in myself," she said, stepping off the podium and rejoining her classmates.

The audience clapped loudly, but Jack and Elizabeth clapped the loudest.

The next weekend would be Brady's high school graduation followed by his grad party. He had come out of his shell around age twelve and had become one of the jocks. He played soccer and was on the swim team, earning his varsity letter in soccer. When he started his senior year, he started dating a girl in his class, Brayla Fredericks. In the fall, they were both headed to the University of Maine, Brady to study Business management and Brayla to study early childhood education. Elizabeth was pretty sure they would be married one day.

Autumn was fourteen now, crushing on a sweet autistic boy named Henry in her special needs class. She was in her third year of learning to play piano and had done a handful of recitals. She also liked helping Elizabeth babysit for Julie and Mike's five year old daughter, Caylie after school.

As they watched Dani receive her diploma, Autumn leaned over towards Elizabeth. "Mom," she whispered.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Are we almost done?"

"Probably another hour or so."

"I want to see….Henry today."

"Not today, baby. Today is just family."

"But…I love him."

"Sweetie, let's talk about this later, okay?"

She crossed her arms and looked away. "It's not….fair," she whispered.

Elizabeth leaned forward and looked around Autumn to Jack. Jack wrapped his arm around Autumn's shoulder.

"Pumpkin, later we can talk. This is your sister's special day."

"Dad! I gotta pee!" Carter said way too loudly, jumping up and down next to him.

Jack stood up and took Carter to the bathroom and Autumn moved over to Jack's spot, refusing to look at Elizabeth.

Autumn, being fourteen, was very emotional and definitely had her own opinion on things. In this case, she thought that Henry was the most important thing and wouldn't be letting go of that notion until she got her way, which today, she would not.

They had a special dinner planned at the house for Dani and that included Charlotte and Tom who had come down, Grace and Tim, Julie and Mike and family, and Dani's boyfriend Trace. Autumn was aware of this, but she had a one track mind these days.

After the ceremony, everyone headed back to the house for dinner. Autumn was silent in the back seat.

"Pumpkin?" Jack said, looking in the rearview mirror. She looked forward at him, but stayed silent. "What's going on?"

"Mom won't….let me see Henry."

"Ever?"

"I want to see him…today."

"You know that it's family dinner tonight."

"I know. But, Dad!...I love him."

Jack looked at Elizabeth and sighed. "Autumn, Henry is a nice boy but he isn't family so you can't see him today. Understand?"

"Brayla isn't...family. Trace isn't family."

"Sweetheart," Elizabeth told her, gently. "No Henry today. We need you to just accept that and move forward. Okay?"

"Fine," she said, crossing her arms and looking out the side window.

Brady tapped her leg, getting her to look at him. "You will get to help watch Caylie. That will be fun," he told her with a smile.

"Yeah. I love Caylie."

"Me too and you are so good with her, Autumn."

"I am?"

"Yes you are."

Elizabeth turned back towards Brady and mouthed, "thank you." He was such a good big brother. Both he and Dani had such a love and compassionate understanding for their little sister. It made Jack and Elizabeth so proud.

Before dinner, all the family enjoyed the warm, sunny air outside. Elizabeth's flower garden was in full bloom and created a lovely setting for Grace, Charlotte, Julie and Elizabeth to sit and chat.

Dani, the "woman of honor" that night, stood under the old Maple tree, watching closely as Autumn pushed Caylie on the swing. Bethanie stood with Dani waiting her turn.

"Elizabeth, where's Jack and Trace?" Grace asked.

"I think they went inside to get the meat for the grill. Though it's been a while. Maybe I should go check."

Just as Elizabeth was nearing the house, both men came outside. One looked ecstatic the other looked shell-shocked.

"Hey, Trace."

"Hey, Mrs. Thornton!" he said with a big smile. He carefully carried the tray of meat over to the grill and then headed toward the tree where Dani was.

As soon as little Bethanie saw him, she leapt off the swing and ran towards him. Effortlessly, Trace lifted her up and placed her on his shoulders.

Trace was a good man. The two had been dating for three years now. He graduated the year before with a structural engineering degree. For the past couple years he had worked with Jack on a large subdivision they were building in town. He treated Dani with nothing but love and respect and completely adored Bethanie.

"Babe, you alright?" Elizabeth asked Jack once they were alone.

"It happened."

"What happened?"

"Trace. He just asked me for permission to marry Dani."

"Jack, that's wonderful! Why don't you look more excited?"

"I am excited, I am. I guess I just don't like change."

"I know, but this is a good change. He's a good man. She deserves that. And now Bethanie will have a father, officially."

"I guess there's not much more I could want for my daughter and granddaughter, huh?"

"Nope," Elizabeth laughed. "When will he ask her?"

"Tomorrow night."

"Why not now? Everyone's here."

"He said tonight isn't about them. It's about Dani, and all she's worked so hard for. Trace doesn't want to take away from that."

"That sweet."

"Yeah," Jack sighed. "At least I won't have to give away Autumn anytime soon."

"Oh, I'm not so sure about that. Did you miss her whole fight over Henry today?"

"She's 15!" Jack exclaimed. "I think we need to establish a new house rule after Dani gets married."

"And what would that be?"

"No one's allowed to get married until they're 35."

"Yeah, okay. Good luck with that, babe."

"Hey, it's worth a shot."

Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Jack's waist and the two looked from the deck out into the yard where all their family were.

"We built a good life, Jack."

"We did. And we've come a long way from that run-down house."

"And living in the fifth wheel?"

"Hey now, don't be disrespecting the fifth wheel. That's the first "home" we brought Autumn into."

"That seems like forever ago."

"In a way, it was."

"So what's next?"

Jack gazed lovingly down at his wife. "I don't know. As long as I have you with me, I know it will be great."

"It will be. Especially if you are good with having another baby."

"Huh? Are you serious?" She nodded. "Alright. Something to talk about, I guess."

"We can talk about it, but just so you know, one will be here in about 6 months."

*You never know...there may be a sequel to this story one day. Just sayin.*