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".
Here's the next one … make sure you didn't miss yesterdays before reading!
(12/8/2018)
CHAPTER 27
When Elizabeth opened her eyes on Friday morning, Jack was staring down at her. She had waited for him to come to bed with her last night, but she suspected he had waited for her to go to sleep. Now she stared up at him, there was no embarrassment about what had passed between them the night before.
"Good morning beautiful."
"Good morning Jack."
"I've got something for you" Jack said, handing her an envelope.
"What is it?"
"Open it and find out."
"A spa booking?"
"Yes. You're going for the day."
"Really?"
"Yes. Happy anniversary Beth" he said as he leant down to kiss her gently.
"Thank you, Jack. Wait, I've got something for you too."
Elizabeth pulled herself out from the bed and went to her chest of drawers and pulled out an envelope.
"Happy anniversary babe." Elizabeth sat down beside him on the bed.
Jack took the envelope and opened it. It was tickets for the whole family to go to Hawaii.
"Wow Beth. That's fantastic."
"I was thinking we could either go in the next school break or just after Christmas."
"That will be great."
"Since you don't remember going there last time, I thought it might be nice to go back."
She leant in and gave him a quick kiss.
"Your appointment is at 9 am so you had better get moving."
Elizabeth kissed him again before she ran into the bathroom.
Jack was glad she was excited to go. Elizabeth ran out of the house and that allowed Jack plenty of time to get the rest of his plans in motion.
"Okay girls. Mommy is gone. Do you remember everything we need to do today?"
"Yes!"
"Okay. Let's hop to it!"
Eve laughed in delight at Jack's phrasing.
Elizabeth was due back at about 3 pm. Jack had already driven toward Lee and Rosie's with the girls. He was waiting for Elizabeth to text him when she was on her way home to set his plan rolling.
E: Hey babe. I'll be home in 10.
Jack waited for 15 minutes before replying.
J: When you get home, check your pillow for a surprise.
Elizabeth walked into the house from her spa session feeling happy, content and oh so relaxed. She expected to be greeted by three rowdy girls but instead the house was empty. Elizabeth checked the garage and sure enough Jack's car was missing.
Elizabeth was disappointed that he wasn't there but then her phone sounded.
J: When you get home, check your pillow for a surprise.
Elizabeth smiled and dashed upstairs to their bedroom. She went over to her pillow to find a white rose on top of a garment bag, along with a note.
Happy Anniversary. Please put this dress on and pack an overnight bag. Be ready by 5pm. Love you, Jack.
Elizabeth grinned when she read it and opened the garment bag to find a long navy blue dress. It had a lace overlay, a plunging back and a slit up the leg. By the style of the dress and the fact that he had given her nearly two hours to get ready, she presumed that they were going to go somewhere elegant.
She went for a shower and washed her hair, all the while with a gigantic smile stuck to her face.
Elizabeth put her makeup on, heavier than she had done in months, and she put loose curls into her hair. When she took the dress out she realised it was a lot more fitted than she had realised but once she had pulled it on, it fit her perfectly.
Elizabeth looked at herself in the mirror. She hadn't been this dressed up in ages. She grabbed some gold heels and put them on with her dress. She went back into the bedroom and pulled out her overnight bag and threw some things into it including a few outfits to choose from for the next day. She couldn't help but be excited as to what this all meant. On thinking about it again, she grabbed a couple of Jack's favourite negligees and threw them into the bottom of her bag. Just in case, she kept telling herself.
By 5 pm she was waiting downstairs, her bag by the door, when she heard Jack's truck pulling up out the front. She peeked through the shutters to see him emerge in a navy blue suit that matched the colour of her own dress. His hair was jelled and he had a bouquet of white roses in his hand. Oh he is gorgeous. He's gone to so much effort, she thought smiling.
Jack approached the door and opened it as Elizabeth pulled herself away from the shutters.
"Were you spying on me?" he said laughing.
"Maybe" she said moving toward him.
"You look stunning!"
"You don't look too bad yourself."
Jack grinned at her, his dimples popping, and Elizabeth couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
"These are for you" Jack said handing her the bouquet.
"Thankyou. I will just put them in water …"
"No bring them with you. Come on" Jack said as he picked up her bag and held out his hand to her.
Jack walked Elizabeth around to her side of the car and after placing her bag on the back seat, he opened her door. Before she could get in though he put his hands on her waist and leant into kiss her, leaning her gently up against the side of the car.
"Mmm what was that for?" she said licking her bottom lip, once he pulled away.
"Just to show you that I love you."
"Well, I better show you too" she said as she kissed him again.
Jack laughed. "You better get in or we're going to be late."
Elizabeth climbed into her seat.
"Late for what?" she asked, clearly hoping he would give something away.
"Oh no. You will have to wait and see."
She pouted at him but all that did was make him lean in and kiss her again.
Jack closed her door and ran around to his own. He started the truck and pulled out, driving towards the lake. Elizabeth was watching out the window curiously, trying to figure where he was taking her.
As they got closer to the lake, Elizabeth thought Jack must have been taking her to a restaurant down by the lake. But just as she thought they were close, Jack turned the truck up the road that led directly to their tree. Elizabeth glanced over at him and saw a smile emerge on his face. He's enjoying this!
As their tree came into view, her mouth dropped open. Waiting there were Halley, Gracie and Eve in matching gold dresses. They had turned as the car approached with big smiles on their faces, each of them holding a white rose. Charlotte stood beside them, with another man that Elizabeth didn't recognise.
"Jack, what …"
"You'll see" he said grinning as he stopped the car.
He ran around to her door to help her out.
"Don't forget your flowers" he said, reaching back into the car to grab them.
Jack took her hand and led her towards the girls who stood in the same place, unmoved.
"Jack, what's going on?"
"We're back in the same place that we got married nine years ago to renew our vows. Since I don't remember that day, I thought it was about time that I recommit myself to you."
"Jack …" she said softly, not knowing exactly what to say.
"This is Frank. He is going to give us a hand."
"Hi Elizabeth."
Elizabeth nodded at him as he opened the book in front of him and began.
"Jack and Elizabeth, today you have chosen to reconfirm your commitment to continue working together to make your marriage grow and blossom for the years to come.
"As you celebrate here today and reflect back over the last nine years together, do you now wish to reaffirm the vows that you took on your wedding day?"
Jack turned to face Elizabeth, taking both of her hands in his. "We do" Jack said.
"We do" Elizabeth followed his lead.
"Okay Jack, repeat after me" Frank said and then whispered the words to Jack as he went.
"Elizabeth, nine years ago I pledged my love and commitment to you. Then there was an accident and I lost that moment in time. On our wedding day, I promised to love, honour, comfort and cherish you. I pledged to be by your side in sickness and in health, for better or worse, for the rest of our lives. You have been by my side as we created a family, a home and a life together. You have supported me as we face this new challenge together. Today, at the beginning of our tenth year as husband and wife, in the presence of God, and our family, I renew my vows to you, pledging my eternal love for you and eagerly await what life may bring us."
Elizabeth couldn't help the tears that now ran down her face. She pulled one of her hands away to hurriedly wipe her eyes so that she could at least see. Then she repeated after Frank.
"Jack, nine years ago I pledged my love and commitment to you. I promised to love, honour, comfort and cherish you. I pledged to be by your side in sickness and in health, for better or worse, for the rest of our lives. You have been by my side as we created a family, a home and a life together. I will continue to support you as we face this new challenge together."
She was getting all choked up now with the emotion of the whole thing. This was nowhere close to what she imagined Jack had planned for their anniversary. Halley stepped forward and handed her a tissue.
"Thanks, sweetie."
"It's okay, Elizabeth" Frank said. "You're almost done. Just take a minute."
Elizabeth took a deep breath and continued. "Today, at the beginning of our tenth year as husband and wife, in the presence of God, and our family, I renew my vows to you, pledging my eternal love for you and eagerly await what life may bring us."
Frank looked back down at his book. "On your wedding day, you exchanged rings as a symbol of the never-ending circle that symbolises the eternal quality of God, unending strength and unending love. You wear your rings as a reminder of your wedding vows to each other and your commitment to continue to live in unity, love and happiness.
"Now, Jack has decided to give you another ring to remind you of the renewal of his commitment."
Jack pulled out a ring that looked identical to Elizabeth's diamond wedding band. Jack held her hand in his.
"With this ring, I renew my pledge of love and commitment" Jack said as he slid the ring on her finger.
Elizabeth couldn't stop the happy tears. She was definitely crying more today than she did on her wedding day. Back then she had just been so excited to get married it was overwhelming but now Jack doing this for her pulled at her heart strings.
"As Jack and Elizabeth renew their vows of marriage today," Frank continued, "they also renew their commitment to be loving and caring parents to Halley, Gracie and Eve, recognising the gratefulness, the happiness and fulfilment that they have brought to their marriage and family.
"It is with pleasure that I conclude the ceremony of renewing the vows of marriage that joined you and forever binds you as husband and wife. Please celebrate this renewal of vows with a sign of affection. Jack you may now kiss your wife."
Jack grinned at her and lent in, kissing her gently on the lips. She could hear Halley, Gracie and Eve clapping and laughing behind them. As he pulled away, Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh at how happy he looked. She hadn't seen him look that happy in a while.
Elizabeth turned to her daughters and leant down.
"You all knew about this and you kept it a secret?"
"Yes Mommy. Did you like your surprise?" Gracie asked giving her a hug.
"Yes, you all did very well. And look at these beautiful dresses! When did you get those?"
"Daddy took us out to buy them the other day" Halley added.
Elizabeth now realised what they had been doing in the store with the helpful saleswoman the other day.
"You all look gorgeous."
Eve and Halley gave her a big hug and kiss too. Elizabeth stood up and greeted Charlotte.
"You were in on this too?"
"Yes" Charlotte said while giving her a hug. "You look as beautiful as you did on your wedding day, Lizzy."
"I'm not sure about that but thank you all the same" she said blushing.
"Alright, we better get moving if we want to make the next part of the surprise" Jack said, as his hand rested on Elizabeth's lower back.
Eve and Gracie began jumping up and down again.
"More. What else could there be?!" Elizabeth exclaimed.
"You'll see" Jack grinned again, taking her hand.
They walked back to the car. Halley and Gracie went in Charlotte's car while Eve wanted to stay with them. Jack put her into her car seat and put her belt on before climbing into his seat.
As soon as he sat down though, he pulled Elizabeth toward him and kissed her again, a bit longer than they had before.
"You are just full of surprises, aren't you?" she said.
"Oh yes."
"I can't believe you did all of this."
"I just wanted to show you how much you mean to me."
"This has been an amazing day so far."
"You're going to have to wait for the end of the day to decide on that" he said with a chuckle.
Jack drove them down to the restaurant by the lake that they had their wedding reception at all those years ago.
"You got a reservation back here?"
"Yes. Is that okay?"
"Well, it seems suitable after what we just did."
Jack jumped out of the car and ran around to her door, helping her out before lifting Eve out of her seat. Frank, Charlotte and the girls followed behind as they walked in to the restaurant. They were directed to a private room and inside waiting were their family and friends. Rosie, Lee, Viola, Lionel, William, Julie, Seth and all the children all cheered as they entered.
"Oh my" Elizabeth said in surprise.
Everyone stepped forward to give Elizabeth a hug and shake Jack's hand.
As the dinner wrapped up and the dancing was well underway, Elizabeth stood swaying in Jack's arms.
"You have really outdone yourself this year. Every other anniversary is going to be compared back to this one now."
"That's okay. I think we both needed this."
"Yes, you're right. It has been beautiful."
"I'm glad you liked it."
"I loved it, Jack" she said looking into his eyes.
"Well, there's still more …" Jack said grinning.
"What more could there possibly be?"
"You'll see" he said.
Lee tapped him on the shoulder. "Jack we're going to have to get going. Sammy fell asleep standing against the wall. Look at him."
Elizabeth and Jack turned around and sure enough, five year old Sam was asleep in the corner of the room with his head leaning against the wall.
Jack started laughing. "He's just like his mother!"
"I heard that Jack Thornton!" Rosie said, coming toward them.
"What? He is! I remember your mother telling me that you used to fall asleep anywhere you could put your head down. Like mother, like son." Everyone was laughing except for Rosie who had a big pout on her face.
Rosie and Lee said their goodbyes which ended up with everyone else calling it a night too. Elizabeth walked outside holding Halley and Gracie's hands while Jack carried Eve. They loaded them all into Charlotte's car.
"Are you sure you will be right with them?" Elizabeth said.
"Of course. Halley is old enough to help me now. You just enjoy your weekend Lizzy" Charlotte gave her a hug. "Make the most of your alone time, dear. The girls will be fine." Charlotte gave her a little wink before getting in the car and Jack and Elizabeth waved as she drove off.
They stood alone in the carpark, all of their friends and family gone. Jack took her hand and walked her towards his truck but before he opened the door, he turned her around and leant her up against it again. But this time he hovered in front of her, not kissing her straight away.
"Should we go to our hotel, Mrs Thornton?"
Elizabeth pulled him to her and kissed him firmly.
"I'm guessing that's a yes."
She nodded and immediately climbed into the truck. Jack grinned.