Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. All rights go to the actors, writers and creators of the show "When Calls The Heart".

Two chapters today and the next one is almost there!

(28/07/2018)

CHAPTER 15

Jack woke up in the middle of the night when a small figure tried to climb into the bed between him and Elizabeth. Elizabeth had welcomed him back to their bed the night before and curled up close. He still lay close to her back, his arm wrapped protectively around her.

That was until Eve appeared. She clambered up Jack's back and pushed herself in between them. Jack had no choice but to move away from Elizabeth and allow Eve to squeeze her little body down. She moved around until she was comfortable, which involved flinging an arm across Jack's neck, before she settled. Jack smiled in the dark. At least she was feeling better.

At breakfast, after seeing that Eve seemed to be mostly recovered, Elizabeth considered whether they should go to Lucy's party or not. She knew Jack wasn't really up for seeing that many people but she didn't want to leave him here on his own.

"Jack?"

"Mmmm" he looked up from his breakfast.

"I was thinking maybe you should stay here with Eve today and I will take Halley and Gracie to the birthday party."

She saw the look of concern immediately.

"Are you sure? I thought you said Julie's ex was a bit of a problem."

"I don't think he will be there. Plus Lee, Lionel and my father should all be there. They will keep an eye out for us ladies." Elizabeth tried her best to sound unconcerned and make it not about just her.

"Um, okay. If that's what you want. You don't think Eve is well enough?"

"I think she's fine but I don't want her to pass anything on to all the other kids. Just in case, you know?"

"Okay. I don't mind staying at home, so long as you will be alright."

"Great. Thanks, Jack."

She cleaned up the kitchen and went to get ready for the party. She still had to blow dry her hair and put some loose curls in it. She emerged from her bedroom in a white short skirt and a navy blue top. She walked back downstairs and felt Jack's eyes on her.

'Are you wearing that to the party?" Jack asked as she came down the stairs. The skirt was short and showed off her toned, brown legs perfectly. The blue top hugged her figure, accentuating her tiny waist and full bust.

"Yes, why?"

"Um, no reason" he said.

She walked toward him and he felt his gaze drifting to her cleavage as she got closer. Look up. Look up. His eyes met hers. He could feel his face going red, the heat creeping up his neck.

"Are you okay?" she said looking closely at him.

"No" he said and she immediately looked concerned and lifted her hand to his forehead. Straight away his eyes dropped down.

"You're a bit warm" her hand drifted down and rested on his neck. She must have felt his pulse racing. "Maybe you should sit down."

"I don't think so" he said before leaning forward and kissing her. She made a noise, indicating he had surprised her, before she melted into him. His hands rested on her hips holding her tight.

She pulled back. "Jack, I'm going to be late" she said, her eyes searching his. "Stuff it" she said before pulling him back in toward her. He didn't need to be told again, his tongue ran along her lips and found them parted, inviting him. He held her tight, as he explored her mouth. She moaned into him, which just drove him crazier. He lifted her up and leaned her against the wall and he felt her legs wrap around his waist. He wanted to take her back upstairs right now, but his daughters were just in the other room getting ready for the birthday party. He had one hand on her hip running along the edge of her underwear. How did it get there? He swore sometimes his body had a mind of its own.

"Mommy, what are you and Daddy doing?"

Jack couldn't see her, but he suspected Gracie had been behind them watching.

Elizabeth pulled back from him slowly, her eyes sparkling at him. "Daddy was just showing me something."

Elizabeth put her legs down and Jack set her back on the floor before he kissed her again quickly.

"What?" Gracie asked

Elizabeth smiled at him.

"Just that I need to change my clothes." Jack grinned at her and nodded. Elizabeth turned to Gracie. "Are you ready to go, baby?"

"Yes, Mommy."

"Okay, we're going to be late. Go get your sister. Maybe Daddy can help you into the car. I will be back in a moment."

Elizabeth disappeared back up the stairs, while Jack walked Halley and Gracie out to the car and helped them into their seats and did up their belts. Jack opened Elizabeth's door and waited for her to return.

She reappeared in a navy and white summer dress with gold strappy sandals. She had pink, swollen lips and red cheeks which were a new addition from before and her wavy hair fell over her shoulders.

"Better?" she asked eagerly.

"No" he said and watched her face fall. "Do you want me to change again?"

"No, of course not" he grinned at her.

Elizabeth hurried over to him with her handbag and the birthday present in colourful wrapping in hand. He held her door open for her as she put her things on the passenger seat before she stood back up and kissed him again over the car door. She lingered slightly, as if trying to tell him where she would rather be going right now. He smiled back. She backed the car out of the garage. He waved to his three girls before closing the garage door and going back to find Eve.

As Elizabeth drove she noticed Halley was talking excitedly on their way to Julie's while Gracie was unusually quiet.

"What's wrong, Gracie? Aren't you excited?"

"Yes."

"Then what's wrong?"

"What was Daddy showing you? If he wanted you to change your clothes he would have just said that."

Elizabeth's mind went blank. What was she supposed to tell her six year old?

"Oh Gracie, I didn't mean to confuse you. Daddy was just showing me how much he misses me, that's all."

"And you miss him too?"

"Yes, of course."

"Why were your legs around him then?"

"Um … that's just part of a Mommy missing a Daddy" she had to change the subject fast. "Who's looking forward to seeing Lucy? We haven't seen her in a while, have we? Will and Sam will be there with Uncle Lee and Aunt Rosie, as well as Oscar and Lara with Aunt Vi and Uncle Lionel."

Elizabeth and Jack never normally let their affection stray from the bedroom but it had been getting intense in the last few days. Elizabeth made a mental note to be way more careful when the girls were awake.

Elizabeth pulled into Julie's street and saw the heap of cars out the front of Julie's house. There were pink balloons tied to the letterbox. Elizabeth was only fifteen minutes late but it looked like they were one of the last ones to arrive. She parked the car and Halley walked ahead with the present while Gracie clung to her hand.

"Hey, you aren't going to be shy, are you Gracie?"

"Just a little."

They walked through the gate to the yard and were surprised to see a jumping castle and giant tables covered in food and presents. Julie had outdone herself. There were balloons and streamers everywhere. Halley put the present down and straight away was running off to find Lucy or Will amongst all the kids that were there. Gracie clung to her side.

Elizabeth saw Lee talking to Billy on the far side of the lawn, so automatically walked in the opposite direction, toward the house. Elizabeth went into the dining room and put her bag down before heading for the kitchen.

"Beth!" Rosie exclaimed, giving her a hug. "Where's Jack?" she was automatically looking behind her.

"At home with Eve. She came down with something yesterday."

"Oh, that's a shame."

Julie and Viola both came and kissed her hello while on their way out to the yard with platters of food.

"Come on Beth. Let's go find a seat outside in the sun" Rosie said taking her arm. Elizabeth held Gracie's hand as they went back outside and found some seats.

Rosie and Elizabeth sat down while Gracie stood next to her looking around at all the kids on the jumping castle.

"Do you want to go jump, Gracie?"

"Yes, will you come with me?"

"Uh huh" she walked her over and took her shoes off before helping her up. Once she saw her sister close by, Gracie happily bounced away.

Elizabeth moved back to her seat beside Rosie.

"How are you Beth?"

"Okay."

"You seem a bit quiet."

"Honestly, I would have preferred to stay home with Jack."

"So things are going better then?"

"Yeah. He's had a few memories come back now so that's promising."

"That's fantastic!" Rosie said in a loud voice, almost jumping out of her chair.

Viola must have heard from the other side of the lawn because she came straight over.

"Has Jack remembered something?" she asked eagerly.

"Yes, he's had a few things come back. Only minor at the moment, but at least its something" Elizabeth said before Viola pulled her up into a hug. She noticed Lee and Billy watching from a distance and immediately felt self-conscious.

Viola took a seat next to her and between her and Rosie, Elizabeth felt like she was being interrogated for some terrible crime as she answered all their questions.

"He remembered you playing the piano at my wedding?"

Elizabeth nodded at Viola. "Only the two things so far."

"And how is everything else going with him?" Rosie asked.

Elizabeth felt more than uncomfortable at that moment. She was worried that someone would overhear their conversation so she kept it as vague as possible.

"Everything is fine. I've been telling him a lot. I told him about our engagement the other day and then of course Viola's wedding so we've been working through things slowly. I just wait for him to ask me a question and then I tell him as much detail as I can remember."

"What about the other stuff?" Rosie pushed.

"Fine" Elizabeth said.

"Fine? I doubt its fine!" Rosie said. "You must miss him."

Right at that moment Gracie returned.

"Daddy misses mommy too" she added.

"Of course he does, honey" Rosie said sympathetically.

"Daddy was showing Mommy how much he misses her before the party. That's why we were late."

Viola spat her drink out and Rosie began laughing hysterically.

Gracie looked at them puzzled, before turning and running back to the other kids.

Elizabeth closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She couldn't help but smile, waiting for the onslaught to begin. She opened her eyes again. Rosie was too busy laughing like a hyena, dragging in deep breaths before doubling over again, and even Viola was laughing now. Elizabeth just shook her head.

"In my defence, that came out all wrong." That just made Rosie laugh harder.

"What's so funny, Beth?" Lee asked as he approached. Elizabeth stood and gave him a hug hello.

"You do not want to know."

"Yes" Rosie managed to let out. "He does."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes.

"She will just tell me anyway. May as well get it over and done with."

"Fine." Elizabeth filled him in and he too was laughing. "Wait until Jack hears that one!"

"Yeah, I'm sure he will find it hilarious" Elizabeth said sarcastically. "I'm going to get a drink. Do any of you hyenas need one?"

Rosie nodded. She had almost recovered her laughing fit until Elizabeth had told Lee and then she had started laughing all over again.

Elizabeth walked over to the drinks table. She set some cups out and began to pour from a bottle when she felt someone standing close beside her. She looked up into Billy's eyes. He was standing really close to her. Too close.

"Billy" she said in greeting.

"Hi Beth. Where's this husband of yours?"

"He stayed home with my youngest daughter, who's sick."

"That's too bad for him. He misses out on all the fun" he said as he put his hand out to graze her arm.

She pulled away. "I don't know. I think Jack and Eve will have a nice time just the two of them."

She continued pouring the drinks trying to hurry up.

"Julie told me he lost his memory."

Elizabeth could never count on Julie to keep her mouth shut to Billy. Julie told him everything even though they were separated.

"Yes, its coming back though."

"Doesn't it upset you that he's forgotten you? All the times that you were together? You're right back at the beginning now."

"Yes, but he has already been remembering things. It might be slow to start but he will get better."

"It must be hard on you though. After not seeing him for so long and then him not coming home as your husband."

Elizabeth couldn't believe he would comment on her married life.

"Sorry, but my private life is none of your concern. Which girl did you bring today? Another poor innocent victim?"

"No. I heard you were probably coming alone."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Come on Beth. What happened between us all those years ago was just the start of something special."

"Yeah, it led me to Jack."

"No, I'm talking about us."

"There is no us. There was you and Julie and there is me and Jack."

"There was you and Jack. This is a sign Beth. We are supposed to be together."

"I'm married to Jack. It's always going to be Jack. Even if his memory never comes back, it will only ever be Jack" Elizabeth said adamantly.

"Beth, you okay?" Lee asked from behind her.

Elizabeth picked up a cup and handed it to Lee, before grabbing the other two and moving to Lee's side as they walked away.

"What was that about?"

"He thinks there is supposed to be something between me and him. Jack's loss of memory is apparently a sign that Jack and I are over" Elizabeth said, annoyed.

Lee turned around before Elizabeth could even react.

He threw the cup of drink that he was holding to the side and went straight up to Billy and punched him in the face. knocking him out.