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 … I couldn't post Ch17 without Ch18 because I was worried I would get some hate mail :) Don't panic! We're aiming for a happy ending!

(30/07/2018)

CHAPTER 18

The tension in the Thornton house was palpable. Elizabeth was so short with Jack and she knew she was being horrible but she couldn't get past it. She knew the girls had noticed that something was wrong. One night when she was putting Halley to bed, the questions had come flying out of her mouth.

"Are you and Daddy fighting?"

"No, sweetie."

"Why aren't you talking to him then?"

"I haven't had much to say."

"Why don't you hug him anymore?"

"It's nothing for you to worry about, sweetie. Go to sleep now."

"Taylor's parents started fighting and then her Daddy moved out."

"Your Daddy is not moving out. He belongs here with us."

"But Daddy sleeps in his room and you sleep in your room. Mommy's and Daddy's are supposed to share rooms."

"Not all the time, sweetie." Elizabeth was desperate to change the subject. "What do you want to do tomorrow? Do you want to go get ice-cream?"

"Yes!"

"Okay, we will do that. Goodnight Halley."

"Goodnight Mommy."

Halley hugged her extra tight that night. That little girl was always so intuitive, she fascinated Elizabeth.

Elizabeth left her room and went to her own bedroom, not realising that Jack heard the entire conversation.

Jack had a few more memories come back to him that week. He wasn't sure what provoked them. He was in the car when he remembered their wedding day, he was dancing with Elizabeth on the dance floor. She looked stunning in her dress, he still couldn't believe he was so lucky.

He was standing in the hot sun when he remembered laying on the beach in a hammock with Elizabeth pressed up to his side.

He remembered sitting in a house he didn't recognise, holding a letter in his hand, while Elizabeth sat beside him crying.

He had a glimpse of walking through a sea of uniforms to see Elizabeth in a red dress, running toward him, a big grin on her face.

Finally he remembered standing next to a big tree at the lake with Elizabeth, wrapped up in their winter coats and he felt deliriously happy as he held her.

All he could do was draw everything in as much detail as soon as he saw it in his mind. He began writing his feelings beside them or what prompted the memory if he knew. He pinned them all up on the basement wall.

Jack went and saw Frank for another session. He was almost going to mention the relationship problems he was having with Elizabeth but it turned out Frank had news.

The other officer that had been through something similar to Jack was willing to meet with him. Terri had allowed Frank to pass on her number to Jack. Frank ended up calling her during the session with Jack on speaker and organised her to meet him for coffee on Friday. Jack was looking forward to speaking to someone who understood his perspective fully.

On Friday, Jack got ready for his meeting with Terri. He called out to Elizabeth as he left.

"Beth, I'm heading out to meet Terri."

Elizabeth assumed that Terri was in fact a male Terry.

"Okay. Bye."

That was typical of the length of their conversation over the last few days.

Jack met with Terri at a local café that Terri had recommended. Jack walked in and a young blonde woman waved to him.

"Terri?"

"Hi Jack."

"How did you know it was me?"

"I was in your squad for a few months some years ago."

"Sorry, I …"

"Don't remember. Of course, you don't have to apologise. I understand better than anyone."

It turned out that Terri had lost almost two years of memories and forgotten her own son. She remembered being engaged but the rest had been blank. It had only taken two months, but all of her memories had returned.

"Slowly at first? Or did you wake up one morning and they were all back?" Jack asked.

"I was just getting snippets every now and again and then they flooded my brain. It's really confusing at the beginning because you remember images and feelings but not the actual event. After that it was much better. I could remember entire sections of time."

"That would be good. I am looking forward to that happening. So far I've only remembered a few images, almost like photos. Not enough to really go off though."

"How is your wife coping?"

"She's struggling. I don't remember her much at all. I thought I was still with my ex-girlfriend when I woke up. My three daughters have been great though. They aren't phased by anything" he said with a smile.

"It would be so hard for her. At least I remembered my husband. I didn't remember our wedding, but he was the same person at least."

They talked for ages. Jack felt so comfortable with Terri. She told him things that helped her to remember. He told her about his drawings. She was so open with him and he was so appreciative of it.

When they came to say goodbye, Terri stepped forward to give him a hug.

"It will be okay Jack. Elizabeth will come around. She's probably just really scared about the future. My husband, James, was concerned too, but your situation is much more complicated."

Jack nodded. "Thank you, Terri, for everything."

"You have my number Jack. If I can help with anything, give me a call."

"Thank you."

Jack sat back down, taking a few moments before he left the café.

Elizabeth was sitting at home with the girls on the lounge watching a movie. Her phone buzzed and she looked down to see two photos and a text come through from Sarah.

Hi Beth. Don't want to cause trouble but I saw Jack today. I'm sure it was nothing but I just thought you should know if he didn't mention it. I'm sorry for intruding. Sarah.

Attached were two photos of him with a woman. She was gorgeous. Tall, slim and tanned with long blonde hair. In one photo they were just sitting opposite one another in conversation. The other photo made her look closer. They were embracing one another. It seemed to be a very friendly hug.

Elizabeth shut her screen off and threw it away on the lounge, the fury inside her building like a volcano about to erupt.

Jack didn't want to go home. Honestly he didn't want to face Elizabeth's anger again. He didn't know how to break through the protective shield that she had put up. It was solid.

Now that he had a car, he drove back to his mother's place. He didn't have a key so he knocked on the door.

"Jack? Where's your key?"

"No idea" he said as he walked in. "What are you up to?"

"Not much. Just about to have dinner."

"Its 5 pm!" Jack exclaimed.

"So? I'm an old lady and I go to bed early. Do you want some dinner?"

"No, I'm good."

"What are you doing here, Jack? On your own nonetheless?"

"I just met up with someone who my psychologist recommended for me to speak to. Terri. Went through something similar to me a few years back but only forgot two years rather than ten."

"How long did it take Terry to get his memories back?"

"About two months."

"You're almost up to a month Jack."

"Yeah but she said it was like a waterfall. A few random memories here and there. Then things picked up until it all came flooding back. Plus, mine seemed to be a more severe injury than hers."

"Hers?"

"Yeah, Terri is a woman."

"Right. How's everything else going? Where are Lizzie and the girls?"

He shrugged. "Home."

"Why aren't you with them?"

"Just came to see how you were."

"Jack, I can read you like a book. What's wrong?"

"I'm in the dog house, so to speak."

"What did you do?"

"I thought I was doing the right thing but it appears I have really offended Elizabeth. She's not talking to me."

"Oh Jack. That's bad. You and Elizabeth never fight."

"I figured as much. But she is furious with me. Like off the charts."

"But you know what you did? Then just set it right."

"If only it was that easy."

"Jack, you have to fix this and fast. Your wedding anniversary is in two weeks. You cannot be at odds on your nine year wedding anniversary."

"We had just got to a really good place and things were progressing between us and I pushed her away. I didn't do it intentionally but its like it just set something off in her."

"Lizzie is such a patient person though. There must be something more beneath the surface."

"I think she's worried that I don't love her anymore. I don't remember her from before but I know I still love her. She came home the other night after a few drinks and I thought she was drunk. I think she just tripped over in hindsight. When I pulled away it was like all these alarm bells went off. She realised I don't know her very well and doubts my feelings for her. The fury in her eyes has not subsided since. I try and talk to her but she just shuts me out."

"Jack you have always been a hopeless romantic. You always brought her flowers or a bottle of wine or her favourite ice-cream. You used to put music on and dance with her after the kids had gone to bed. You used to sit down and watch her favourite movie over and over again, just because you knew she loved it. You used to play the guitar for her and sing together. You used to go on date night every second Saturday when I would come and watch the girls. All of that has been wiped from your memory. She is probably just worried that all of those things you did together are gone indefinitely. You two have always loved each other fiercely and now she probably feels just as alone as when you were deployed, raising those girls with a stranger in the house."

"I'm not a stranger to them."

"You may as well be Jack. Hey, I am on your side through thick and thin. Always will be. I am just saying this is hard for both of you. You are essentially living someone else's life. I can't comprehend the difficulty of that. But she is hurting too. You need each other to get through this. I can try and talk to her if you want."

"No."

"Then why don't you book a dinner reservation at Luigi's tomorrow night and I will come and babysit and you two can get out of the house and try and talk?"

"Okay Ma. Thank you."

"Now get home to your family before they get worried."

"Okay. Bye."

Jack dropped off at a store on the way home and grabbed a bunch of flowers and a tub of Ben and Jerry's cookie dough icecream, as instructed by his mother.

He walked in the door to chaos. He went into the kitchen to put the flowers down and ice-cream in the freezer and followed the noise of the disturbance. Halley and Gracie were fighting, pulling each other's hair and Eve was sitting on the couch crying.

"Hey! Hey!" Jack yelled angrily and both girls froze. "What is going on?!"

"She changed the channel!"

"Her time was up! Mommy said ten more minutes!"

"Cut it out! Stop fighting."

Jack handed the remote to Eve. "Eve, your turn." She took it and flicked it onto some cartoon. Halley and Gracie both groaned.

"It stays on that channel until I get back. Do you hear me?"

"Yes" they all said in unison and sat down quietly.

Jack went looking for Elizabeth but he couldn't find her anywhere. The bedrooms were empty. He checked the basement and checked the rest of the house. The last room he looked in was her study. Her laptop screen was on but she wasn't there. He glanced at it to see the browser still open. The search topics were still listed.

How do you know your husband is cheating?

How do you know when he no longer loves you?

Ten things to check for if there is another woman.

Jack recoiled. She thinks I'm cheating on her? What the hell Elizabeth?! I've lost my memory not my mind.

He raced back through the house before checking the yard. "Elizabeth!" he yelled.

"Yeah" he heard her voice answer quietly from outside. He pushed the door open to see her sitting on one of the recliners.

"Elizabeth, what are you doing? I've been looking everywhere for you!"

"Calm down. I'm right here." He could see she had a glass of wine in hand.

"The girls are inside fighting and you didn't do anything about it."

"They will sort it out."

"Elizabeth …"

"Jack …" she mocked him, using the same tone.

"Why are you out here drinking?"

"Because I wanted to. You've been out all afternoon. When do I ever get a break?"

"Beth …"

"It's a glass of wine Jack. Go arrest me."

Jack shook his head.

"Where've you been, Jack?"

"Nowhere."

"Lies. Number 3" she muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing. You used to tell me everything Jack. We don't have secrets between us."

"I still tell you everything."

"Fine. Where have you been then?"

"I had the meeting with Terri and then I went to visit my mother."

"Where was your 'meeting'?"

"At a coffee shop down the street."

"Right" she said sarcastically.

"And what advice did Terry have to impart? Any special words of wisdom."

"Not really."

Jack heard a kitchen timer go off inside.

Elizabeth shook her head at him and stood up. She carried her wine glass inside and went straight to the oven. She pulled out some homemade pizzas and slid them onto chopping boards. Jack quickly picked them up and carried them to the table, then went and called the girls.

"Enjoy" she said before leaving the room.

She didn't even notice the flowers he had bought her.

He put them into water before the girls sat down. He served up their dinner and tried to talk to them happily about their day. Apparently everything was going fine until midway through the afternoon movie.

"Then Mommy got real mad and went to the study to do some work" Halley said.

"I don't think she was mad. I think she just felt sick. That's why she's not eating dinner" Jack said. "Guess who I saw today?"

"Who?" Gracie said.

"That is not guessing."

"Poppy?"

"No."

"Grandma?"

"Yes. Grandma misses you all and she is going to come over tomorrow night to look after you. How does that sound?"

"Good."

"But you have to be good between now and then. No more fighting."

"Are you taking mommy out on a date?" Gracie asked.

"Yep."

The girls were all excited after that.

Jack cleaned up from dinner and helped them all get ready for bed. He read one bedtime story before tucking them all in. He went back to his room and waited until they were all asleep before he went to Elizabeth's room. The door was closed but not locked, thankfully. Her room was dark and she was already in bed.

He went and sat down beside her and ran his fingers through her hair gently. Her eyes opened slowly and after a moment he saw the anger had return.

"Beth? Why do you think I'm cheating on you?" he asked softly.

She shut her eyes closed again and didn't answer. He sat there quietly, continuing to run his hand through her hair.

"Beth, please talk to me. I can't defend myself if I don't even know what I'm accused of."

"You lied to me" her eyes remained clamped shut.

"About?"

"Terry."

"What about her?"

Her eyes snapped open. "You never said Terri was a she."

"Oh, well I didn't realise it was important." Jack said, realising his blunder.

Elizabeth picked her phone up from her bedside table, flicked to something and handed it to him.

Jack looked at the screen to see a photo of him hugging Terri at the café.

"Well, that looks worse than it was. Terri and I hit it off ..."

He saw Elizabeth's eyes shift.

"Not like that! Just she understands what it's like. Her husband and son were in the same place as you and the girls are now, except her memories erased from after her engagement. Her husband just seemed to be her fiancé when she woke up."

"So she's married too? And you're not having an affair?"

"No! Of course not Beth. I love you. Haven't you been listening to anything I have said."

"Well, sometimes actions speak louder than words and your actions contradict your words."

Jack noticed the dig at him from last Friday night.

"Beth, come with me."

"Where?"

"Downstairs. Come on."

Jack pulled her out of bed and dragged her by the hand downstairs. He switched the basement light on and tugged her hand again as they walked down the lower staircase. He pulled her into the basement across to a wall.

Then she saw them. About fifty drawings covered the space. Most of them had her in them.

There was a picture of her fingers on the piano keys, or her face smiling back at him, or their hands intertwined together.

There was a picture of her on their wedding day; another of her lying next to him on a hammock on their honeymoon; one the day when he got his deployment letter; one of her running to him on the day he returned from his second deployment; another of the day she told him they were expecting Halley.

She put her hand out to touch the tree in the photo. That was their tree beside the lake. The one that they had got engaged next to, married beside and she had told him about each of their pregnancies. It had begun appearing in his drawings.

She didn't know what to say. She felt like an idiot. Here was proof that he remembered her. Around the pictures were words. Happy. Excited. Elated.

Elizabeth turned toward Jack. "I …"

Jack leant in and kissed her deeply. She kissed him back.

"There's your action, Elizabeth. You are the only woman that I think about. I love you. I promise."

"I love you too. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry too. No more fighting. I can't take much more of that."

"Me either." She smiled at him and he kissed her again.

"Come on. I had a surprise for you."

"What is it?"

"Your fairy godmother told me you like ice-cream?"

"Really? What flavour?"

"Come see."

He took her hand and went back to the kitchen. He pulled the ice-cream out of the fridge and brought a spoon over to the couch where she was waiting.

Jack handed it to her.

"Oh, my fairy godmother knows me too well."

She stuck the spoon in and sighed when she took a bite.

"So good. Here."

She held the spoon to his mouth and he ate it.

"That is really good."

Elizabeth took another bite, leaving ice-cream on her lip but before she could lick it off, Jack leant in and kissed her. His warm lips removed the cold sensation and the ice-cream was soon forgotten.