I smiled when I carried Teddy into the kitchen and saw Jack at the stove. "Oh, Teddy Bear, your daddy is a goof." I chuckled. "I see you're putting your gift to good use."

He turned and grinned, showing off his dimples as he motioned toward the flowery apron I had picked up for him during my trip to the Mercantile. "I think it might be my favorite."

"I can't wait until Teddy is old enough to be embarrassed by you." I took a seat at the table, settling the baby in my lap.

"Me neither." He winked and turned his attention back to the stove.

"And to think, this whole apron thing started because my Blues beat your Canucks."

I could almost hear him roll his eyes. "It's probably a good thing that we haven't watched another hockey game together since then."

I laughed. "Jack Thornton, it wasn't even that bad. I slept through most of the game, so you didn't have to experience my gloating."

"True, and I got gooey butter cake out of it, so that alone was worth the loss."

I secured Teddy in the bouncy seat and pulled two glasses from the cupboard. "Do you want gooey butter cake for your birthday?"

"Why is that even a question? Of course I want gooey butter cake for my birthday."

"With as much as we talk about it in this house, I wouldn't be surprised if Teddy's first words are 'gooey butter cake.'"

"I was hoping for 'dada,' but I like that better." He met my eyes and laughed.

"So, what are you making?"

"Chocolate chip pancakes."

I licked my lips. "Mm. You sure know the way to my heart." I kissed his cheek before I reached back into the cabinet for plates.

"I keep a list," he joked. "One: Sound of Music. Two: Jane Eyre. Three: purple roses. Four: chocolate chip pancakes."

"You know me well." I grinned. "And I know the ways to your heart are gooey butter cake, the outdoors, the Canucks, and that navy blue dress I have."

"And yet there were some people who thought we got married before we really knew each other."

I stood behind him and slipped my arms around his waist. "We knew enough." I kissed his shoulder. "I love you."

He turned to press his lips to mine. "I love you, too." He flipped the last pancake onto a plate and carried the stack to the table. "Now eat up, so we can get to church on time."

...

I stood in the doorway of the nursery, watching Jack as he dressed Teddy in a collared onesie and khaki shorts.

"Okay, little man, we're going to be quiet while we're at church, right?" Jack looked down at Teddy as he spoke to him. "So if you're feeling particularly talkative this morning, you better get it all out now."

As if he was really understanding Jack, Teddy cooed in response.

"Oh, really?" Jack continued to reply to Teddy's garbled noises.

"What are you two talking about in here?"

Jack lifted Teddy to his shoulder and turned to meet my eyes. "Teddy was just telling me that he's going to be a very good boy at church and that he really hopes you packed a full bottle, because he's expecting to be very hungry later."

Teddy squealed, his lips turning up into a smile.

"Oh, hello to you, too, Teddy Bear." I touched the dimple on his cheek. "You look very dapper this morning. So does your daddy." I stood on my toes to kiss Jack, running my fingers across the collar of his shirt. "We better get going."

Twenty minutes later, we took our seats in the pew beside Abigail, Clara, and Jesse.

"Good to see you all." Abigail smiled. "For a minute there, I thought you weren't coming."

I shifted Teddy in my arms as he started to doze. "Maybe one of these days, I'll remember that it takes longer to get ready now that we have a baby to worry about."

She chuckled. "I remember those days. May I?" She held out her arms, and I passed Teddy to her. "Well, you are such a handsome little man."

He yawned and blinked sleepily.

I noticed Clara brush her hand across her stomach as she watched the baby fall asleep. It wouldn't be much longer before there was another baby around to distract us all during church.

Jack went straight to the kitchen to warm a bottle for Teddy when we arrived at the café after church. I paced back and forth in the dining room with a whimpering Teddy in my arms. I assured him that he would be fed soon.

Eventually, we all settled around the table to enjoy the lunch that Abigail and Clara had prepared. Teddy was nestled in Jesse's arms as he took his bottle. I nudged Jack with my elbow and drew his attention to them.

He smiled. "He'll be a great dad."

"But not as great as you." I kissed his cheek. "You're the best."

...

"Are we crazy?"

"Hmm?" Jack glanced at me from the corner of his eye as he drove.

"Taking two dogs and a two-month-old infant on a camping trip; we must be crazy."

"It'll be great. The dogs will love it. Teddy will love it."

"He won't have any idea what's going on."

"Come on, where's your sense of adventure? Besides, it's just one night."

I turned around and looked in the mirror attached above Teddy's car seat. He was looking around, wide-eyed. "But what if something happens to him while we're out here?"

"Elizabeth, everything will be fine. He's healthy, we have a first aid kit, and we aren't too far from an urgent care."

I sighed as we turned into the campsite. "You're right. It'll be fine."

"It'll be great." He parked the car and leaned across the center console to kiss me. "Love you."

"Love you, too."

"I'll start unloading."

I unbuckled Teddy while Jack started unloading our things from the trunk. "I can help you with the tent in a little bit, babe. Teddy's looking hungry." He was squirming in his seat, sucking on his fist.

"Okay. Take your time."

I took a seat in the car and settled in to feed Teddy. "Okay, Teddy Bear. I need you to enjoy this weekend. Your daddy loves camping, and I imagine we'll be taking lots of camping trips with him in the future. We started this little tradition last year, and we talked about someday bringing our kids camping." I laughed quietly. "We definitely didn't expect to have a baby with us this year. But we're very, very happy that you're here with us, Teddy."

He watched my face as he ate, his golden eyes wide. His eyelashes glinted in the sunlight, impossibly long just like his father's.

I looked out the car door. Jack was setting out the tent while the dogs sniffed around the campsite. He glanced up at me and smiled.

"Goodness, I love your daddy so much. And I love you so much, too."

He pulled away from me, his lips turning up into a smile. My heart melted at his precious face.

"Okay, let's get you burped so we can help daddy."

An hour later, Jack and I were sitting in our camping chairs beside the tent, Teddy settled in his lap. Bronte was curled up by his feet, Rip stretched out beneath a tree nearby.

"This is perfect, this moment right here. Let's just stay here forever."

"I wish we could."

He brushed his thumb across Teddy's cheek. "Little man seems to be enjoying camping so far."

I smiled and nodded. "Just another thing he has in common with you. He's just like his daddy."

...

Jack coaxed the dogs into the tent and zipped up the flap behind him. "Okay, I think we're all in for the night now." He turned toward me. "Elizabeth, what's wrong?"

I quickly wiped my eyes. "Nothing. I'm fine."

He sank down on the sleeping bag beside me. "Hey, you're not fine. You can tell me what's bothering you."

I continued to stare straight ahead, watching our son sleeping peacefully. "It just hit me that I have to go back to work in a couple of weeks, which means I have to leave Teddy. I've never been away from him for more than a couple of hours. I'll be away from him eight hours a day, five days a week."

He slipped his arm around my shoulder. "It was tough for me to go back to work after he was born, and that was just after two weeks. I can't even imagine how much harder it'll be for you."

"It just feels like he's such a part of me. He literally was a part of me for nine months. I'll miss him."

"It'll get easier eventually." He kissed my temple. "Would you feel better if I took off work the first couple of days you're back to stay with him?"

"That might just make me jealous, knowing you're home with him and I'm not."

"Okay, I know we've talked about this multiple times before, but are you really sure that you're ready to go back to work?"

I sighed. "Yes, but also no. I can't imagine ever giving up teaching, but I also can't imagine spending so much time away from Teddy. And I know that I'll need to let him go eventually, but it's just so hard to think about right now."

Jack pulled me to his chest. "Everything will be okay, Beth. You can always change your mind about going back to work. I'll support you in whatever you decide. I know we both want what's best for him, and we'll figure out what that is."

"You're too good for me, Jack Thornton."

He chuckled and pressed his lips to the top of my head. "I'm going to have to disagree with you there."

"Sorry for getting all emotional about this." I wiped my eyes again.

"Hey, don't ever apologize for your feelings." He tightened his arms around me. "How about we get some sleep? We've got an early morning ahead of us."

...

I woke when Jack turned over. The sun was just beginning to rise; I could see the gray dawn through the clear panel on the roof of the tent.

Jack brushed his thumb across my cheek. "Good morning, beautiful."

I met his eyes and smiled. "Good morning, birthday boy. Are you ready for a day of fishing?"

"Or we could just stay right here all day." He wrapped his arms around me, kissing my temple.

"That sounds heavenly, but we really should put all our fishing gear to use since we brought it all out here."

"But it's my birthday." He pretended to pout.

"Oh, don't worry," I kissed him softly, "I have plans for when we get home tonight that will make up for not staying in here all day."

He grinned. "I can't wait."

...

Teddy was wrapped up against my chest as we stood by the water. Jack had waded in a few feet and was waiting for a tug on his line. Rip found a spot under a tree, and Bronte was laying on the bank of the river, her nose breaking the surface of the water. It was so peaceful: the bright sunshine filtering through the trees and reflecting off the water, the quiet sounds of the river flowing over stones.

I had tried fishing for a while earlier in the day, but gave up when Teddy grew fussy and needed my attention.

For now, I was content to watch Jack and snuggle with my son.

I unwrapped Teddy when he started to squirm. "Getting restless there, Teddy Bear?" I carried him over to the water and crouched down. He squealed when his toes touched the cool water.

Jack turned around at the sound. "Having fun over there?"

"Yes, we are. Care to join us?"

He slowly made his way over to us, setting his pole on the grass. He touched my cheek. "Hi."

"Hi." I smiled. "So what do you think of your birthday so far?"

"Perfect. But I'm thinking I'm about ready to go home, cuddle up on the couch with you and Teddy, and then start on whatever plans you were referencing this morning."

Teddy squealed again, splashing both of us when he kicked his feet in the water.

"Or maybe we can let him have his fun before we leave." Jack chuckled as he brushed the water from his face.

...

I rolled over and kissed him. "Happy birthday, Jack."

"Mm, I think this has been the best birthday I've ever had."

"Even though I got all weepy during our camping trip because I don't want to leave Teddy?"

"Honestly, I love you even more for that. I love how much you love him." He shifted until he was nearly on top of me. "But it was also the best birthday because this is the first birthday I've gotten to spend with you—" He cut himself off when he pressed his lips to mine.

I looked at him curiously. "You spent your last birthday with me."

"I wasn't finished." He grinned. "What I was saying is that this is the first birthday I've gotten to spend with you as my wife. Last year on my birthday, I had a fiancée. This year, I have a wife and son. The world's best wife and son, to be exact."

"Jack Thornton, are you trying to sweet talk me?"

"Maybe. But it's also the truth." He kissed me again. "I love you, Beth."

"I love you, too."