(13/11/2018)

CHAPTER 61

During the following week, Elizabeth managed to speak to both Viola and Julie about lunch the following Sunday and their father's new friend. As expected, neither of them were too keen on the idea but Elizabeth did her best to convince them to go easy on William and be accepting of his choice.

"After all, none of us know what it is like to be in Dad's shoes."

That comment convinced both Viola and Julie, since Elizabeth herself had been the closest to that situation with Jack's deployment and subsequent accident. So with Elizabeth's convincing, they prepared to welcome Diane to their family lunch.

On the day, William called when he left home to tell Elizabeth he was still coming.

"Are you still bringing your friend with you?"

"Yes. She's coming. I'm just going to pick her up now."

"Okay. I'm looking forward to seeing you, Dad."

"Me too, Bethie. See you soon."

An hour later, all the kids were playing with Rip in the backyard. Jack, Lionel and Seth were outside supervising them, while the three sisters prepared the food for lunch. Elizabeth heard the car pull up on the drive.

"That sounds like them" Elizabeth said as Julie groaned. "On your best behaviour, Julie. She's just a friend."

Julie nodded reluctantly as Elizabeth went to open the front door. She saw William helping Diane from the car and as she stood, Elizabeth was surprised. The woman in front of her was a vast contrast compared to Grace. She was slim and tall, slightly taller than William with heels on. She appeared to be dressed for a cocktail party rather than a simple backyard barbecue. Her dress was all white and tight fitting, which was surprising, especially considering she would be in her mid sixties. She exuded glamour and wealth.

As Diane approached, Elizabeth tried her hardest to plaster a welcoming smile on her face.

"Hi!"

"Hi Beth." William stepped forward to give her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. "This is Diane" he said as he stepped back.

"Hi. It's nice to meet you" Elizabeth said, offering her hand. Diane smiled nervously and shook it gently. "Come on in. Everyone is out the back."

William took Diane's hand and led her through the house. They stepped outside and there were a chorus of cries from the children.

"Grandpa!"

All six grandchildren swarmed William. Diane took a step back in surprise as he was hugged from every angle.

"Hi Halley, Oscar, Lara, Eve, Gracie, Lucy! Look at you all … you're getting so big."

The kids ran off to play again as the three men approached. They all shook hands with William before he introduced them to Diane.

Elizabeth could easily see that Diane was overwhelmed by everything.

"Dad, why don't you and Diane take a seat and I will bring out some drinks?"

William agreed, taking Diane over to the table. He held out a seat for her and she sat down. Elizabeth rushed back inside. Viola and Julie had been standing inside the door watching and Elizabeth almost bumped into them.

"Get out there and say hello" she scolded them.

"She looks very prim and proper" Julie said.

"Just be nice. It would be very hard to come here today. Go introduce yourselves."

Elizabeth returned with some glasses and some wine and soft drink. Viola and Julie were standing beside their father talking. Elizabeth put the drinks down and poured one for Diane before sitting down beside her.

"Do you have many grandchildren, Diane?"

"Aaah, no."

"None? How many children do you have?"

"None."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought Dad said you had kids. My mistake."

"My husband and I were not fortunate enough in that area" she said quietly.

"I'm sure this mob will be a bit overwhelming for you then. If you need a moment, just go inside. I completely understand."

"Are you the school teacher?"

"Yes, that's me. Dad has told you a bit about us, then?"

"He talks about you all a lot. It's your husband that is in the military then?"

"Yes. Jack. He's the one in the middle over there." Elizabeth said pointing toward where Jack was standing. He flashed her a dimpled grin as their eyes met.

"I thought so. His eyes follow you when you move around" she said smiling.

Elizabeth grinned. "I have three daughters. Halley, Gracie and Eve."

Diane glanced back at the children. "The dark haired girl must be yours. She looks a lot like your husband. Then the younger girl with the auburn hair looks like you."

"That's Halley and Gracie."

At that moment, Eve came tearing up to Jack.

"Daddy!" she screamed. Jack scooped her up in his arms.

"What's wrong, baby?"

"Oscar says Lara and I are too little to play the game."

Jack walked off to speak to the children and sort it out.

"And that is Eve" Elizabeth said with a smile.

Diane smiled as she watched Jack kneeling down talking to the kids.

"Are you retired?" Elizabeth asked.

"No. I still work. I have been working part time for many years."

"In what area?"

"I'm a fashion designer."

"Do you have a label?"

"Yes. I started it when I found out I couldn't have children. It became my baby" she said with a smile. "I can't give it away now. I don't need to work for money but I enjoy the social aspect and the travel keeps me busy."

"I bet it would."

The conversation moved around Diane's work before Elizabeth was interrupted to serve lunch. Jack followed her into the kitchen, his hands wrapping around her.

"When are you going to tell your Dad?" he said as he kissed her cheek.

"I guess I will just pull him aside later."

"Did you tell Julie?"

"Yes, I told her before."

"You realise one of the kids will say something."

Elizabeth turned into him, her arms wrapping around his neck.

"That's fine by me." She leant in to kiss him slowly.

"You're going to kiss me like that when all your family is here?" he asked as he pulled her closer.

"Just something to leave you with for later."

"You are a tease" he said, drawing her closer, covering her lips with his.

Elizabeth heard the back door close and she pulled away from him just before Viola appeared.

"What do you want carried out?" Viola asked.

Elizabeth handed her two salad bowls, which she took and left again. Jack was leaning against the counter, a frustrated look on his face.

"What's wrong, Jack?"

"You."

"What about me?" she said with a smirk.

"It's been a busy week and I've hardly spent any time with you and now you do that."

"Let's just serve lunch. I'll bet the girls will be exhausted tonight after their day. We'll have time then." She kissed him on the cheek. "I promise."

She handed him a tray of barbecued chicken before he could say anything else. He shook his head before heading outside.

After everyone was seated at the table with a plate of food in front of them, the conversation flowed around the table. The children sat at a separate table down on the grass. Rip sat underneath their table waiting for scraps. Elizabeth watched as Eve snuck some chicken to him thinking no one would notice.

"I am so lucky to have six beautiful grandchildren and another granddaughter on the way. That will probably be the last of them though, unless Julie you're considering having more."

Julie glanced sideways at Elizabeth. "No. No more from me but Elizabeth might have another one."

Elizabeth glared at her as Julie made eyes at her, prompting her to tell their father. William saw the look and must have assumed it meant that Elizabeth was not having any more kids.

"Oh, I think the pressure is off Elizabeth."

She felt Jack's hand find hers, squeezing it under the table.

"Actually, Elizabeth and I had something to tell you." He paused waiting for her to follow on.

"Um, yes, actually Dad it looks like you will be getting another grandchild shortly after Viola."

William's eyes almost fell out of his head. "You're pregnant again?"

"Yeah" Elizabeth said, feeling the blush rise in her cheeks. Thankfully Viola and Julie already knew their news otherwise she would have felt mortified. She felt Jack squeeze her hand again, but she didn't look at him.

"Congratulations Beth. I'm sorry, I honestly wasn't expecting that!" William stood up and came around the table to give her a hug.

"Your mother would have so loved to be here for both you and Viola" he whispered in her ear.

The tears immediately filled her eyes. "I know. But she's still watching over us."

William shook Jack's hand before he went and sat back down in his seat. Elizabeth couldn't help the tears that now filled her eyes at the mention of her mother and Jack seemed to notice, moving his chair closer to hers, his hand holding hers tightly again.

"Let's just hope this one is a boy! Poor Oscar is definitely the odd one out" William said with a chuckle.

Everyone's eyes were drawn to the kids table where Oscar sat in the middle surrounded by his sister and cousins.

"I'm sure Jack feels the same way" added Lionel.

"I don't mind if it's another girl. Either way would be fine." Jack looked across at Elizabeth who met his gaze and smiled.

Dessert was served down the centre of the table. Julie had brought a berry and custard trifle to go with Elizabeth's cheesecake and fruit platter. Viola had brought a chocolate brownie as well, mainly for the kids. The men were happy with just a small amount of dessert while the three sisters added a bit of everything to their plates.

William turned to Diane. "They love their dessert just like their mother" he said with a smile.

Diane had a small slice of cheesecake and looked at Elizabeth's plate almost with envy.

"That does look good" she said with a smile.

"You don't need to be polite around here. If you want to try more than one thing, go for it." Elizabeth waved her hand around.

Diane immediately took a slice of brownie and some fruit.

Eve came running over and squeezed herself between William and Diane. She had chocolate brownie all over her face and hands and before Elizabeth could stop her, she put her hands out on either side of her. Her pudgy chocolate hand landed firmly on Diane's pristine white dress.

"No Eve!" Elizabeth said, standing up to stop her but it was too late. Eve looked at her mother, startled but the damage had already been done. She looked at Elizabeth questioning but Elizabeth was already into recovery mode.

"I am so sorry, Diane. I'll go get you a cloth." She ran into the kitchen and came back with wet wipes and paper towel and by that stage Eve was crying.

Jack came around the table and scooped up Eve, carrying her away along with some wipes to clean her face and hands.

"Elizabeth, it's fine. Really. It serves me right for wearing white when there were so many children around. I'm not really used to children, it's my own fault."

"Oh no, I should have seen her coming. I wasn't paying attention."

Diana had wiped off the excess chocolate but there was a permanent hand print engrained into the expensive white fabric.

"Elizabeth. Please don't worry about it. It's just a dress. I have plenty of them. I will know for next time" she said with a little laugh.

For the first time Elizabeth paid attention to Diane and she didn't seem at all fussed with the signature that Eve had left behind.

"Why aren't you fussing over me, Beth? Look at my pants!" William said which caused everyone to laugh as William wiped down his dark navy pants where the chocolate prints could barely be seen.

Elizabeth turned to see Eve still crying in Jack's arms. She felt terrible for reacting so badly. As she approached, she noticed Eve saw her coming and curled closer into Jack's chest.

"Eve, baby, I'm sorry I yelled at you. I was just worried about Diane's dress."

"Daddy said I have to go say sorry" she said through her tears.

"Well that would be the nice thing to do and we all know it was an accident."

"So Grandpa's friend won't be mad?"

"No. She'll be happy to talk to you though. I will come with you if you want."

Eve nodded and climbed off Jack's lap and took Elizabeth's hand and approached slowly. William turned when he saw them.

"Hey Eve. What did you want before?"

Diane turned around too.

"I'm sorry" Eve said quietly, barely audible.

"That's okay, sweetie. It was an accident. Why don't you come up here and talk to me?" William said holding out his hands. She went to him and he pulled her up on his lap.

Elizabeth and Jack took their seats again and watched as Eve told William all about her new kindy and her friends. Diane sat there listening, smiling at her stories.

After the men had cleared up the table and Jack had cleaned up the kitchen, everyone began to go their separate ways. Each family piled into their car and before long it was just William and Diane remaining.

"Thank you, Beth, for having everyone today" William said as he embraced Elizabeth.

"I'm glad to have everyone. It was a nice day."

"It was. And I'm sorry about what I said at lunch. I honestly thought Julie was giving you a hard time about having more kids and I was just trying to protect you."

"It's fine. I know what you meant."

"I'm very happy for you and Jack."

"Thanks Dad."

Diane stepped up then to give Elizabeth a small hug goodbye.

"Thank you, Elizabeth, for everything. I had a lovely time with all of your family."

"I'm glad. It was nice meeting you. Hopefully you can come again next time."

"I'd like that."

William led Diane to his car and helped her in and as they pulled away, Jack, Elizabeth and the kids all stood there waving. Once their car had disappeared, the girls ran back inside leaving Jack and Elizabeth alone.

Jack put his arms around her, wrapping her in a big hug.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. Exhausted but okay."

"That's understandable. Why don't you go have a rest for a little while?"

Elizabeth looked up at him, biting her lip for a moment. "Why don't we both have a rest together?"

"What about the girls?"

"They will probably be in front of the tv zonked out."

As they walked back through the house, they found all three girls zoned out on the couch, staring at the tv screen.

Elizabeth tugged on Jack's hand, pulling him upstairs to their room. Elizabeth pulled off her jeans and sweater and found some comfortable yoga pants and a t-shirt to wear instead but before she could finish putting the t-shirt on, Jack's hands wrapped around her.

"Do you have to put that on?"

"No, but you can't do much anyway. This will keep you in check" she said as she pulled the t-shirt over her head. His hands remained on her hips as the t-shirt covered them.

Jack leant in, pressing his lips against hers. Elizabeth gasped in surprise at the force behind his kiss, his tongue driving into her mouth, forcing her lips to part for him. His hands wrapped around her back, drawing her closer, the warmth of his hands running over her skin.

"Mmm. Wow. What was that for?" she said when he pulled back.

"I've missed you."

She pulled him to the bed, his body sliding in beside hers as she laid down. Their lips found one another again and his hands disappeared under her shirt.

"I love how you do that …" she whispered.

"What?"

"Your hands. On my skin."

"You mean this?" he said giving her hip a squeeze.

"Mmmm."

His hands slid around her waist, hovering over the slight bump that had emerged.

"Well, I love this."

Elizabeth grinned. "I love that too."

He leant in kissing her slowly before he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her toward him, her head rested on his shoulder and her arm draped across his chest. She listened to his steady heartbeat and immediately felt content in his arms. They lay there together quietly and as Elizabeth's mind began to slow too, she fell asleep, exhausted from the long day.