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".
(4/8/2018)
CHAPTER 23
Continued …
"So you evicted us from your own apartment?"
"Yeah. Julie won my father over and he bought it off us. You found a place on base for us so it worked out well. You were closer to work once we had Halley."
"When did you eventually tell them?"
"It took a while."
Rosie and Lee ended up getting engaged on Christmas Day. On New Year's Eve, Lee and Rosie held a massive party. At first everyone had thought it was just a party but at 9 pm, Lee got everyone's attention and Rosie announced their news. Everyone was ecstatic with cheering and applause.
Rosie made her way straight to Elizabeth and asked her to be her Maid of Honour. Elizabeth was a bit apprehensive but said yes. Rosie looked at her oddly.
"You don't want to?"
"No. Of course, I do. When is the wedding going to be?" she asked, hoping that it would be after June.
"30th May. I've already booked the venue."
"This year?" Elizabeth said uncertainly.
"Yes, of course. Beth is there something wrong? You don't want to, do you?" Rosie frowned, the deep creases appearing on her forehead.
"Rosie, you are my closest friend and is Lee is my cousin. I definitely want to. I'm just not sure that I can" Elizabeth said uncertainly. She hadn't wanted to overshadow Lee and Rosie's engagement announcement.
Right at that moment, Jack and Lee came over.
"Did you ask her yet?" Lee said, putting his arm around Rosie's waist as Jack did the same to Elizabeth.
"Yes and she doesn't want to" Rosie said frowning at Elizabeth.
"Rosie, I didn't say that. It's just the timing is … tight. I don't want to wreck your big day."
"Tight? What does that mean?" Rosie threw her hands up in the air.
Elizabeth looked across to Jack, who was just grinning.
Lee caught on immediately, glancing down at Elizabeth's stomach.
"Oh my goodness! Congratulations! When?" Lee said shaking Jack's hand and hugging Elizabeth.
"Early June" Elizabeth said.
As he stood back, Rosie just stood there looking between the three of them. She had no idea what was going on.
"What's early June?" she said getting frustrated, pouting at them.
"When the baby comes" Elizabeth said smiling.
Elizabeth watched as the cogs turned.
"Oh!" Rosie said, her mouth forming a perfect "o". At first she didn't do anything else. "A baby? You and Jack are having a baby?" she said quietly.
"Yeah" Jack said still holding Elizabeth's waist.
Then Rosie was squealing and jumping up and down, hugging Elizabeth, then Jack, then Elizabeth again.
"Why didn't you just say so?!"
"We didn't want to take anything away from your engagement party."
"Nonsense! I'm honoured to share it with your baby" she said excitedly. "So you are due early June, but you should still be okay to be my Maid of Honour."
"Are you sure, Rosie? I won't be offended if you want to pick someone … thinner" Elizabeth said.
Rosie just laughed. "Nonsense. I want you and now your baby can be in the bridal party too!"
Elizabeth was really happy that Lee and Rosie had been so excited. She had been worried for a moment but Rosie had definitely exceeded her expectations.
A week after the failed dinner plans with her parents, Rosie had asked Elizabeth to go dress shopping with her into the city. When Rosie pulled up out the front of Elizabeth and Jack's place that morning, Elizabeth walked over to the car and pulled her coat off before sliding into the passenger seat.
"Whoah" Rosie said turning to her.
"What?"
"Look at you Beth!" she said in amazement.
"What?" Elizabeth looked down, her hands automatically gliding over her small belly. She would admit it did look a lot bigger today, but she was wearing a tight white top.
"You look amazing. How far are you now?"
"18 weeks."
"Have you told your parents yet?"
Elizabeth had been constantly filling Rosie in on the failed attempts to tell her parents over the last three weeks.
"No. I spoke to Mom yesterday and she proceeded to tell me how hard everything is for Julie because she's pregnant. You would think Julie is the first pregnant woman in the world." Elizabeth hated how jealous she sounded but the subject of Julie took over every conversation she had with her family.
"You have to just tell them. Just call your Dad and tell him to pass it on."
"I wanted to do it in person but I'm running out of time."
"Beth" Rosie said putting her hand out to gently touch Elizabeth's stomach. "You've already run out of time."
"I guess you're right."
"Don't worry about it today. Let's go dress shopping!"
Rosie drove into the city and they parked the car. They found the bridal shop and they spent most of the morning fitting on dresses. Rosie found her dress almost immediately but they spent some more time fitting on bridesmaid dresses. They finally stumbled on a dress that would accommodate Elizabeth's growing belly and two more in the same colour that should work for Rosie's sister and cousin that were also in the bridal party.
They left the bridal shop and decided to go to a nice restaurant for lunch. After all they had left the whole day free but were finished early.
Elizabeth followed Rosie into the restaurant. They took their seats, Elizabeth leaving her coat on the back of the chair.
They ordered their meals and as they sat there, Elizabeth recognised her father come into the restaurant with some other men.
"Oh no."
"What is it? Do you feel okay?" Rosie said, immediately.
"I'm fine. My father just walked in."
Rosie turned around and immediately, William noticed Elizabeth. He left his friends and made his way toward them.
"No time like the present" Rosie whispered across the table.
"Beth, darling" he said as he approached.
"Hi Dad" she said still sitting.
He came closer, waiting for her to stand and say hello. Elizabeth glanced back at Rosie, who nodded to her.
Elizabeth stood up and hugged her father. He must have sensed something was different because he immediately pulled back and looked down.
"Elizabeth. Did you have something to tell me?"
"Yes Dad. Jack and I are having a baby."
"I can see that" he said quietly.
"I've been trying to tell you for two months" she said looking down at her stomach.
"How far along are you?"
"18 weeks."
"You're in front of Julie."
"Mmm hmm" she nodded slowly.
William looked back down at her again.
"You didn't tell us because of Julie, did you? That was what the dinner was about last week."
"Yes. I told Mom I booked for just the four of us …"
"Oh Beth. I'm so sorry." He said, hugging her again.
"It's fine, Dad" she said, tears welling in her eyes. "Can you tell Mom?"
"You don't want to?"
"Of course, I do but I don't really get the chance."
"I have to get back to my friends but how about we come and have dinner with you and Jack next weekend? Just us."
"Sounds good. Thanks Dad."
That weekend Jack and Elizabeth were expecting William and Grace for dinner. Elizabeth had cooked a baked dinner but was now sitting on the end of their bed nervously.
"Babe, your Dad already knows. It will be fine" Jack said as he sat down beside her, his arm around her shoulders. He pulled her in and kissed her forehead.
"She's going to be upset that I didn't say anything. The baby has just grown a lot in the last week or so" she said rubbing her tummy.
"You don't need to tell me that. You look beautiful, Beth."
He could always make her smile at the moment.
Elizabeth was in the kitchen when her parents arrived. She heard their voices and immediately she heard Julie's name mentioned and she groaned.
She heard her father immediately. "You promised not to talk about Julie tonight, dear."
"Oh yes. Of course, William."
Elizabeth came out of the kitchen and was immediately wrapped in a big hug from her father.
"How are you feeling, Beth?"
"Fine, thanks."
She turned to her mother who had still been talking to Jack. Grace quickly kissed her cheek and then made her way over to their lounge.
"Mom, I had to speak to you for a moment."
"Yes Beth, what is it?" Grace said turning to her as she sat down. Grace did a double take. She slowly stood back up.
"Beth, are you … pregnant?"
"Yes Mom."
"Oh my goodness" she said, a broad grin on her face. "But how far along are you?"
"19 weeks."
"Elizabeth, you're almost halfway! Why didn't you tell us?" Grace looked at William who was smiling at them both. "You already knew?"
"Yes. I told you I ran into Beth last Saturday."
"But why?" Grace said turning back to Elizabeth.
"Julie announced her pregnancy very early and Jack hadn't returned yet. After that there was never an opportunity."
"Because of Julie" Grace said but Elizabeth didn't reply. "I'm so sorry Elizabeth. I didn't think."
"It's fine Mom."
Grace came toward Elizabeth, her arms outstretched. She hugged Elizabeth tight.
"No, its not. You've been hearing me babble on about Julie for the last couple of months and you didn't feel like you could tell me. I feel terrible." Grace still held onto Elizabeth.
"No, Mom. Don't worry about it. You know now. It's fine."
Grace stepped back taking a good long look at her daughter. "You look beautiful, Beth."
"Has Julie always stolen the limelight?"
"Pretty much."
"And you don't get upset?"
"Not usually. I think the pregnancy hormones didn't help at that particular time. Julie didn't really grow up until well after she had Lucy. It was a good couple of months before Julie finally realised that someone else was now the priority and centre of attention."
"So you get along much better now?"
"Yes. She's still a space cadet but I think that's just Julie."
Jack laughed.
Jack, Elizabeth and the girls walked into the restaurant to find William already waiting for them.
"Grandpa!" Their daughters tore across the restaurant to hug William. He seemed quite happy to see them.
"Hi Dad" Beth said as she gave her father a hug.
William turned his attention to Jack. Jack held his hand out.
"William" he said as the two shook hands.
Jack pulled Elizabeth's chair out and made sure all the girls were okay before he took his seat beside Elizabeth. The conversation revolved around the girls to start until their meals came out and while they were quiet Elizabeth turned her attention to her father.
"How have you been Dad?"
"Oh fine. Work has kept me busy which is good. I'm not sure what I'm going to do as I get older but that is the advantage of being your own boss. I can keep going forever" William laughed.
"Maybe not forever, but close" Elizabeth smiled.
"How are things going at home?" William asked.
"Okay. Jack is getting there" she said turning to him. His hand still held hers under the table. "He has had some progress but it is still slow" she said as she looked at Jack.
Jack turned to his father in-law. "It's only been a month but it things will hopefully come back eventually."
"But you don't remember …" William cocked his head at Halley who was sitting beside him. She was too busy eating to realise to notice.
"No. I've remembered a few things regarding Beth but they've all been quick snapshots so far."
William nodded. "Oh well, I hope things start falling back into place soon. When do you go back to work?"
"Another two weeks. I don't remember much of my training either so its going to be an even slower process at work."
"You might surprise yourself. Your job was very routine oriented after all. Perhaps that will be the perfect place for you."
William had a point.
As they were leaving the restaurant, Jack carried Eve and held Gracie's hand as they walked out to the car. They said goodbye to William and Jack helped the girls into the car. As he shut the door and opened the drivers door, he heard William speaking to Elizabeth.
"Sometimes you just have to walk away."
"Dad, I really don't think that applies in this situation."
"Trust me, Beth. It will be for the best."
"Just move on? That's your answer."
"You know it deep down. There are so many memories there that just hurt too much."
"I suppose you're right."
"You know I am."
William hugged Elizabeth tightly before letting her go.
"Bye Jack" William called out before turning to walk toward his own car.
Jack stared after him. I don't believe it. He just convinced Elizabeth to leave me.