(7/10/2018)

CHAPTER 48

Recap …

Elizabeth was waiting by Cassie's car, after moving her to the passenger seat, when Abigail pulled up.

"Elizabeth are you okay?" Abigail asked in a panicked voice.

"Yes, it's my friend Cassie. I have to take her to the hospital. Her son, Bailey, is inside and doesn't know what's happened. Jack should be home soon."

"Okay, go."

"Thank you, Abigail."

Elizabeth hurried to the driver's seat.

"Okay, Cassie. We're going now. Are you okay?"

Cassie groaned in response.

Continued …

Jack walked in the door at home. He pulled his shoes off and went through to the kitchen expecting to find Elizabeth but instead Abigail was standing at the stove. His three children and Bailey were sitting at the table.

"Abigail? What are you doing here?"

"Hi Jack. Did you speak to Elizabeth?"

"No. Where is she? Is she okay?" Jack asked quickly, automatically worried.

"Yes, she's fine. There's been a … situation. Just let me finish this and I will fill you in."

Abigail took the saucepan off the stove and filled four bowls with macaroni and cheese. She placed each of the bowls in front of the kids.

"Now, be careful. It's hot. You need to blow on it."

Once they were all set, she motioned Jack out of the kitchen.

"Cassie showed up in a bad way, covered in bruises. Elizabeth took her to the hospital."

"Who did it to her?"

"I don't know. Elizabeth didn't say. She just asked me to mind the kids until you came home. She tried to call you."

"My batteries dead."

"Well come on, I have some dinner made for you too."

"Abigail, you didn't need to do that."

"Nonsense. You have four kids to put to bed tonight. You need all the help that you can get."

Jack relented and followed Abigail back into the kitchen. He put his phone on the charger before he sat down at the table with Abigail and they all ate together.

When they were finished, Jack helped Abigail clear up.

"I will finish up here and let myself out. You take care of the kids."

"Thank you, Abigail. You've been such a great help."

"You're welcome Jack."

Almost two hours later, Jack finally had all four kids asleep. Bailey had been asking about when his Mommy was coming home, but Jack honestly couldn't answer him.

Jack walked downstairs and checked his phone. He had only just missed another call from Elizabeth so he dialled her back.

"Hi Beth. Are you okay?"

"Yes. Cassie will be here overnight. I'm just waiting for her to come back from x-ray and then once she's settled I will come home."

"Is she okay?"

"Lots of bruises and they suspect fractured ribs, hence the x-ray. The police came and got a statement from me and will be back tomorrow to speak to her. She's not saying who did it but I suspect her ex. She was in such a bad way, Jack."

"You did the right thing."

"I hope so. I hope she's not angry with me tomorrow but she couldn't have gone home with Bailey like that."

"Be careful driving home. I'll wait up for you."

"No, Jack. It could be hours."

"It's okay. I will wait. I love you."

"I love you too."

Elizabeth sat in the waiting room waiting for news of her friend. After another hour of waiting, the doctor came to find her to tell her Cassie was in her room now.

When Elizabeth walked in, she was worried how Cassie would react. She lay flat on her back, a single pillow underneath her head. The bruises looked even worse in the dim lighting.

"Cass?"

She turned to look at Elizabeth. "Hi Elizabeth" her voice croaked.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah. Just sore."

"Understandably."

"Thank you … for everything."

"Sure. I'm sorry but the police came. They will be back tomorrow to get a statement from you."

"The doctor mentioned that. It's fine. You were right, he shouldn't be able to do this to me."

"It was your ex?"

"Yeah. Paul."

"What does he want?"

"Bailey." Her eyes filled with tears. "I am so glad I didn't take him with me. I wouldn't have been able to stop Paul from taking him."

"Does Paul know where you live?"

"I don't think so. My sister knows the vague area but I haven't told any of my family on purpose."

"How was your mom?"

"She was okay. She was in hospital for a heart issue, but they put a pacemaker in and she was doing much better. I had to get back to Bailey so I went to leave but Paul intercepted me in the parking lot."

"He did all of that to you in public?!"

"It was first thing in the morning. There weren't many people around."

"How did you get away?"

"A man called out to him and it distracted him enough for me to be able to get into the car and lock the doors. Paul ended up just running off but I got out of there as quick as possible. I didn't want him being able to follow me back here. It took me forever to get home because I kept thinking he had caught up to me so I would detour trying to make sure I wasn't followed. I was so scared Elizabeth."

"Why didn't you just go to the police?"

"Paul is the police."

"He's an officer and he did that to you?"

"Yes. He filed papers for full custody of Bailey. I fought them but it's still held up in the courts."

"Oh Cass. This is a nightmare" she said as she put her hand on Cassie's.

"I know."

"Okay I will be back here first thing in the morning. Will you be okay until then?"

"Yes, Elizabeth. Thank you."

Jack was laying in bed trying his hardest to stay awake. He had hovered downstairs for a long time but was then worried that if Bailey or one of his girls woke up he wouldn't be able to hear them.

He started sitting on the bed with his sketchpad but as the night wore on, his eyelids kept getting heavier and he was beginning to nod off. He kept startling awake and would slap his face trying to stay that way. However, the early morning training caught up with him and he drifted off to sleep.

Elizabeth walked in to see the bedside lamp on and Jack sitting there, his neck at a bad angle, fast asleep. She walked over to see his sketchpad in front of him, a half finished drawing of Halley and Gracie asleep in the same bed.

Elizabeth looked at it puzzled for a moment and then went to check on the girls. Sure enough, Gracie and Halley were both sleeping in Gracie's bed. She smiled at the sight of them before poking her head into Eve's room. Bailey was asleep on the trundle bed next to her.

Elizabeth went back to her room and took a quick shower before she came to bed. She took the sketchbook out of Jack's hands and laid it to the side. She knew she couldn't move him and his head looked so uncomfortable. She sat on the side of his bed and put her hand on his face.

"Jack, babe" she said softly.

His eyelids opened and his eyes were dark as they stared back at her, trying to make sense of everything.

"Beth. What?"

"You fell asleep. Here let me help you under the covers."

He was half asleep as she helped move him down the bed. He groaned as he moved, a hand going to the side of his neck.

She shut off the light and climbed into the bed beside him, his arms automatically wrapping around her in his sleep. She smiled thinking about how lucky she was.

Even with everything that happened in the last three months, Jack was a kind and loving man who would never intentionally hurt her. He had fallen in love with her again, even though his memory was still absent in many ways. Jack had come back to her over and over despite all the trials that they had faced. It could have been so much worse and for that she was grateful.

When Jack found Elizabeth in his arms the next morning, he was surprised at how she had gotten there. He vaguely remembered her talking to him but that's all. He moved slightly, his hand running over her skin, sliding to her hip and down her leg. He felt her stir against him.

"Hi."

"Hi" she mumbled back.

"Are you okay?"

"Exhausted. But I have to get up." She didn't move though, despite what she said.

Jack reluctantly dragged himself out of bed and checked on the kids. They were all still asleep. He went back into the bedroom, closing the door behind him. He went and turned the shower on before going back to Elizabeth.

"Come on."

"No" she groaned.

"Come on. I'll help you" he said taking her hand.

She let him pull her up and followed him into the bathroom, the shower already filling the room with steam. Jack took his pyjamas off and as she did the same he pulled her into the hot water with him.

She leant up against him, her hands on his chest and his hands wrapped around her. He let the hot water run down her back.

"Are you sure you're okay? How late did you come in?"

"11."

"And you have to go back this morning?"

"Yeah" she said into his chest, not moving. "Will you be able to watch all the kids?"

"Yes. Don't worry about it."

They stood there in silence for a few minutes, making the most of their time together. Elizabeth pulled back, watching him.

"Thank you Jack."

"For what?"

"Just being you." She leant in and kissed him.

She got out of the shower, towelled off and disappeared back into the bedroom. Jack washed his hair before following her. She was sitting down on the end of the bed, with her head in her hands.

"Are you still tired?"

"Yes" she said as she looked up at him. "Looking after four kids for the last week has been exhausting, hasn't it?"

"Yes, but having a boy around has been nice too."

Elizabeth grinned at him. "How did you go on your own last night?"

"Okay but Halley and Gracie didn't think it was fair that Bailey slept in Eve's room again."

"So you let them sleep together?"

"It was the only thing I could think of to get them to go to sleep."

"It was a good idea. We had been going to put them in the same room when they were babies but then we ended up moving here instead."

Jack knew he had to ask, although he didn't really want to bring up the topic.

"How was Cassie when you left?"

"Alright. Her ex was a policeman. That's why she didn't want to go to the police."

"Could he find her?"

"I don't know. The policemen are going back this morning. I'm going back to see if I can help her. I was thinking of calling Dad as well. Apparently Paul, that's her ex, is trying to get full custody of Bailey."

"He might be able to help?"

"He is a lawyer. He might be able to find out what's going on with the case if I can find out who her lawyer is. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"It's worth a try."

Elizabeth stood up and almost fell over had Jack not grabbed her.

"Woah. You okay?"

"Yeah fine. I just got a bit dizzy. I'm alright."

A moment late, she moved away from him, more steadily now to pick up her boots and jacket that she had put next to the chair.

"I'll just grab something to eat. I didn't have much for dinner last night."

Jack and Elizabeth walked downstairs to the kitchen. Jack put the coffee machine on for her, while Elizabeth cooked some toast. They stood there waiting, Elizabeth leaning into his chest.

"Are you still going away tonight?"

"I will just see how things go today. I don't have to go."

"No, that's fine. I will try and be back by lunchtime."

"Beth, don't worry about it. It's not a big deal. You clearly need the rest."

Jack made her a coffee, handing it to her, before he buttered her toast.

"I'll give you a call once I know what's happening."

"Okay."

Elizabeth ate her toast quickly and drank her coffee while standing. She gave him a quick kiss.

"I better go. I'll take your truck so you have all the carseats. Love you." She raced out the door.

No sooner than after Elizabeth had left, Gracie wandered downstairs in her dancing outfit. Jack inwardly groaned. He had totally forgotten about dancing. Not that he didn't mind going, it was more the fact that he had to get four kids ready to go. He looked at the clock. He had an hour and a half before he had to be there. Plenty of time.

An hour and a half later, Jack was just pulling into the car park of the dance studio.

"Ok, girls and Bailey. We need to hurry. Class has already started."

Jack opened the back door of the car and leant over undoing Eve and Baileys seatbelts. He picked up Bailey, worried that he would run away on him. Eve and Gracie stayed close to him as he helped Halley from the back seat. He walked into the dance studio five minutes late. Gracie rushed over to join the class but Eve clung to Jack's side.

"Eve, baby, you have to go."

"I don't want to."

"Why? You were so excited this morning. What changed?"

"There's too many people."

Jack put Bailey down and glanced around, receiving lots of sympathetic looks from other parents.

"Eve, please. Go stand next to Gracie. Look she's having so much fun."

"I'm not allowed. I have to go to the front."

"I'm sure they won't mind if you go next to Gracie at the beginning. Go on."

Reluctantly she went and stood next to her sister. She didn't start dancing straight away but eventually she started shuffling her feet and moving.

Jack sat on a chair at the back with Bailey on one side and Halley on the other. He watched the girls dancing, just as the teacher called Eve out, asking her to come to the front. Eve put her feet firmly on the ground and wouldn't budge. The teacher came and took her hand and led her to the front. Eve went but when she got there, she refused to move, just staring straight ahead instead.

He noticed her turning to find him and when she did, he could see she was crying and searching for him. His heart broke sawing her like that.

"Halley sit next to Bailey. Don't let him go anywhere."

"Yes, Daddy."

Jack stood up and moved to the side where Eve could see him. Her face was red, the tears streaming down her cheeks. Jack waved to her but instead of making her better she turned and ran to him. He picked her up.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't want to do it."

"Okay. You don't have to. Let's go sit back down."

Jack went back over to Halley and Bailey and sat back down. Eve curled up on his lap, holding onto him tightly. She stayed there for the rest of the dance lesson.

At the hospital, the policemen had come back and taken a statement from Cassie. Under Elizabeth's advisement, they didn't put her address on the report.

"She's trying to get away from a policeman. How much protection will she get?" Elizabeth demanded, standing by Cassie's bedside.

"There is a protocol for this type of thing to protect the victim."

"Good."

Cassie gave her statement, while Elizabeth stood by her side encouraging her. When they were done Elizabeth talked to Cassie about the court case, getting all of the necessary details about her lawyer.

"Why do you want to know everything?"

"My father is a very prominent lawyer. I will get him to look into it."

"Elizabeth, I can't afford that. I had to get whatever I could afford."

"Don't worry about that. I will give him a call and see what can be done. Your lawyer will call you though and ask if its okay to discuss the details with him. His name is William Thatcher, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you."

They waited together until the doctor returned. He checked Cassie over again before releasing her. Her ribs would heal on their own and the rest was just bruising. It would all take time to mend.

Elizabeth drove Cassie back to her place and found Jack and the kids all watching a movie. Bailey was asleep on one side of him and Eve was asleep in his lap.

Elizabeth waved to him from the door. He eased Eve off him before coming to see her. He saw Cassie behind her.

"Hi. You're out Cassie. That's good."

Cassie just nodded with a small smile.

"Are you going home then?"

Elizabeth answered for her. "Yes. I'm going to drop them home in Cassie's car. Can you come and pick me up?"

"Absolutely. I'll go grab Bailey."

Jack went back to the lounge and scooped Bailey up into his arms, carrying him past them. Elizabeth unlocked the car for him and Jack put him into his carseat. Elizabeth leant in and did up his belt.

"I will grab his bag. I'll just be a moment."

Jack ducked back into the house. Elizabeth helped Cassie into the car before getting in beside her. Cassie was watching Bailey.

"Was he okay?"

"Yes. He's such a good little boy."

Jack returned, putting Bailey's things on the back seat beside him, before Elizabeth started the car and headed to Cassie's.

When the Thornton's got back home, Halley and Gracie went straight back to their movie.

"You better start getting ready to go, Jack."

"No, I can't leave you tonight."

"Yes, you can. Please go."

"I don't feel right about it."

"I'm telling you to go. I'm just going to put the kids to bed and go to sleep. Nothing exciting."

"No, but I could help you."

"You could help me by going. Truly."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes! Go! Just promise me you will stay with Shane and don't do anything stupid."

Jack looked at her for another moment but could tell that she was adamant.

"Okay, I promise. I will call Shane."

Two hours later, Jack had said goodbye and was on his way to the buck's party in the city. Truthfully, he hadn't wanted to go but Elizabeth seemed to want him to go.

"You ready for a great night, Jack?" Shane said from the driver's seat.

"Yes."

"That didn't sound convincing!"

"I'm a bit worried about leaving Elizabeth. But I'm sure once things start, I'll get distracted."

Jack had already filled him in on what happened.

"You're forgetting our wives are used to being on their own. Sometimes they need the space when we get back."

"I guess."

"First stop, the hotel and then the pub!"

Six hours later, Shane was wandering around the city in a panic. The huge group of guys that had gathered for the buck's party had managed to get separated. Of everyone Shane found, no one had seen Jack. Thankfully, he still hadn't found the guy getting married either, Chad.

Shane had tried calling but Jack wasn't answering his phone. He had called their roommates for the night but they hadn't seen Jack either. He had promised Elizabeth he would watch over him and now Jack was gone. He went back to the hotel room to check that he wasn't there but found Jack's phone on the bed. Well, that explains something.

As Shane went back out on the streets in search of him, Jack was sitting with Chad and his friend Bernie in a pub.

"Come on Jack. Do it with me" Chad said.

"I don't know. I'm worried about how it would look."

"You can pick which one you want."

"Why won't you do it, Bernie?" Jack asked.

"I don't have the money" he said disappointedly.

Jack glanced between Chad and Bernie. "Fine."

Both of the men grinned at him. "Let's go then!"