Jack walked in just as they were finishing dinner. He sat down and put some chicken and potatoes on his plate.
"I'm sorry there's no bread or butter."
"Its fine," he said quietly.
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Sam?"
"Can we go for a walk after supper?"
"Of course we can. We can go outside and watch for shooting stars. I used to do that with my brother when we were a little older than you."
"You have a brother?"
"I did, he was Helen's Daddy. He passed away."
"Oh. Like Mama's sister?"
"Yes."
"That's sad. I think my first Mama and Daddy passed away too."
"Yes, they did, Sam."
"I don't remember. I'm glad you are my Daddy now. And I'm glad Miss Beth is my Mama."
Elizabeth sniffed and wiped her cheeks. "We are glad too and we love you so much," Elizabeth told him.
"And me?" Helen asked.
"Yes, and you, Daisy girl," Jack told her.
After the dishes were soaking in water and the chicken was in the icebox, Jack helped the kids put on their shoes and coats and hats while Elizabeth grabbed her shawl and slipped her own shoes on.
They headed out behind their house to the small meadow. Jack put two blankets on the ground and the kids laid down on one and he sat on the other. Elizabeth stood for a moment and looked up toward the moon.
"Sweetheart, will you sit here so we can talk?"
She nodded and sat next to him. "I'm sorry, Jack. I'm sorry I made you angry. I didn't mean to."
He scooted closer and took her hand. "Can I be honest?" he asked her.
"Please."
"It hurt that you wouldn't talk to me but you talked to Abigail. I've tried to be there for you through this hard time and truthfully it was a little hard for me too. I lost someone very close to me not very long ago and seeing you and your family in the same situation brought those feelings back."
She hadn't thought about how hard it must have been for Jack. "Are you doing alright, Jack? I'm sorry. I was so wrapped up in my own grief."
"No, sweetheart, I didn't mean you should have paid attention to me. I just….I mean, we have this huge, sad thing in common and we can help each other through it. I wanted to help you."
"But then I talked to Abigail instead." He nodded. "Jack, its been awhile since I had a husband to lean on. Its been two years. I was used to relying on myself and then Abigail once I moved here. I guess I forgot that I need to communicate with you and not her. Please forgive me."
He slipped his fingers behind her neck and gently pulled her forward until their lips met. "I love you, Elizabeth. Of course I forgive you."
She smiled and gave him another kiss. "Good. Do you think that you could draw us a bath after we put the kids in bed?"
"Both of us?" he asked with a smirk.
"Yeah."
"Let's go."
….
About two weeks later…
It was Thanksgiving and Jack was hunting for turkeys. He needed at least two according to Elizabeth. They had extra children this year at the orphanage for Thanksgiving along with them, including Pastor Avery.
Thankfully, they also had two large hams and a lot of potatoes, beans, bread, and pies. No one would starve, that was for sure.
After three hours of hunting and only getting one turkey, Jack gave up. Then, he saw a rabbit. He took aim and got it with one shot. "Yes!"
He walked back to the orphanage feeling proud, even though he wasn't entirely successful.
He walked into the kitchen. "Alright, ladies. I got a turkey."
"Just one?" Elizabeth asked. "I don't know if that's enough."
"And a rabbit!"
"Oh! That will be good."
"Thank you, Jack," Abigail said, kissing his cheek. "This is wonderful. Elizabeth would you clean the rabbit?"
"Uh…can't he do it? He shot it."
"Come on, sweetheart," Jack prompted with a laugh. "I'll teach you how. You never know when you'll need this particular skill."
"Do I have to?" she asked, hesitating.
"You sound like Sammy. Yes, you have to."
"Fine." She followed him outside and watched and listened as he removed the fur. It was disgusting and she never planned on skinning a rabbit herself.
"There. Next time you can do it."
"Hey there, Thorntons!" Pastor Avery called out, toting a chicken in his hands.
"Hi! More food! Great, Abigail is in the kitchen. You'll make her day, Pastor," Elizabeth told him.
"That's the plan," he said with a wink.
When they walked in a few moments later, they stopped. Elizabeth looked at Jack and raised her eyebrows. Pastor Avery and Abigail were kissing. It was sweet and she was happy for her friend.
"Ahem," Elizabeth cleared her throat. "Sorry to interrupt but we have the rabbit ready."
"Oh, um, thank you," Abigail said, blushing and stuttering. "Elizabeth would you help me dress this chicken and the turkey?"
"Of course." She gave Jack a kiss and walked over to help.
….
That evening after Jack, Elizabeth, and their kids went home, Bill helped Abigail in the kitchen.
"Abby, are you angry?"
"At what?"
"I kissed you. I'm sorry that I didn't ask if it was okay first. I've been wanting to kiss you for months and I couldn't help myself."
"Bill, I'm not angry. I'm a bit confused. We aren't courting and usually I don't just kiss someone if we aren't in a relationship."
"What if we were? Am I wrong about how you feel? I thought we were on the same page. We eat dinner a few times a week and lunch after church service."
"We eat dinner here, Bill. With about eight little chaperones not to mention Mary and Cat. And lunch on Sunday is always with someone else too."
"If I asked you to eat at the café, with just me, would you go?"
"Yes."
"As a clear act of courtship?" he asked.
"I'm not sure, but I will eat with you alone and then see what happens after that."
He nodded and took the wet dish from her hand to dry. He was rusty at this courting thing and he was probably doing it wrong but the strong, kind lady standing next to him was intriguing and if he wasn't mistaken, she hadn't pushed him away when he kissed her. In fact, he was pretty sure she had kissed him back.
….
"Did you know about Bill and Abigail?" Jack asked as they slipped under the covers.
"Know what?"
"Well, they kissed. That must mean something."
"It means one or the both of them are attracted but as far as I know, they aren't courting." Elizabeth kissed his jaw and then snuggled up to him, laying her head on his chest. "I liked it when you were courting me. It made me feel needed and special."
He reached up and covered her hand with his and kissed her forehead. "I do need you and you are very special to me."
"I know and I need you too."
"I love you, sweetheart."
"I love you too."
As he felt her breathing slow and her body relax against his, he closed his eyes and thought about resuming courting her. He always wanted her to feel needed and special. She deserved that.
In the morning, Jack got up and made eggs, sausage, bread with butter, and coffee. Then he carried her plate and coffee into their room and put it next to her on the table.
"Mmm. That smells great," she mumbled opening her eyes.
"I made breakfast for you, Elizabeth." He leaned down and gave her a kiss.
"That's very sweet of you." She sat up and tucked her curls behind her ear before accepting his hand for the blessing.
"Dear God, thank you for this food and our family and friends. Thank you for helping us get through the rough patches in our life and please help us to always remember to talk to each other and rely on you and each other in the future. Please forgive us our shortcomings. Through your son Jesus' name, Amen."
"Amen." She reached out and hugged him for a moment, appreciating the thoughtful prayer. He wanted their life to be happy and carefree but he acknowledged the fact that it wasn't always going to be and that they needed to rely on God first and then themselves to get through it. "You're a good man, Jack. I love you."
"I love you too." He handed her the plate and got up.
"Aren't you going to eat with me?"
"I need to get a plate ready for the kids because they…."
"Dat!" Helen said walking in their room, her little bare feet slapping on the floor. "Cold!"
He scooped her up and held her in the warmth of his arms. "Well, where are your socks, Daisy girl?"
"Don't know? Potty."
"Ok. We need to put socks and boots and your coat on so that we can go outside."
"Cold!" she snuggled into his embrace and shivered.
"Let's hurry then."
Elizabeth smiled as he hurried to the kids room and got her ready. She ate slowly hoping he would come join her but instead, she heard him chatting with both kids in the kitchen while he gave them food.
As she dressed she said a prayer of gratitude for her family and for Charlie and Charles back home in Alberta.
….
Alberta…
Julie tucked Charlie into his bed and nearly bumped into Charles as she walked out of his room.
"Oh! Sorry."
"That's ok."
"Did you need something?"
He needed Vi back but he wasn't going to say that. It had been almost a month and the pain still stole his breath. He tried to work, knowing he needed to provide for his son but he didn't feel like it. The saddest part was he wasn't remembering good things about Vi. All his brain seemed to recall was the image of her lying in bed, pale and weak. It recalled the moments where she begged him for one more kiss before she gave up and her heart stopped.
"Charles?" Julie touched his arm, concern filling her. He was crying and it was so hard to see him like that.
"I'm sorry." He walked away but she stopped him.
"Charles, wait. Are you ok?"
"No. I don't think I ever will be again."
"You will. I know it. But it's only been a month. You can't expect to feel better right now."
"How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Keep yourself from bursting into tears or getting sad."
"I don't. I try not to cry while I'm with Charlie because it confuses him. I try to save it for when I'm alone." She walked up and wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged. It took a moment but eventually he wrapped his arms around her too. "I'm here if you ever need to talk."
He let go and nodded and then walked away.
…..
About a week later…
"Beth, you have a letter," Jesse told her, pulling it from the cubby behind him.
"Oh, thank you, Jesse." She put it in her pocket and went on looking at the yarn. She wanted to knit scarves and mittens for the kids and a scarf for Jack as well as Christmas presents. She had saved a bit of money from her pay to purchase it. Now, Christmas was three weeks away and she was running out of time.
She added the yarn to her basket along with chocolate, butter, milk, flour, and sugar. She was going to make cookies with the kids later.
"Can I help you carry that basket?" she heard from behind her.
"Hi, Dr. Shepherd. I think I can handle it but thank you."
"You're welcome, Mrs. Thornton. How is the family?"
"Doing well," she stated right before she got lightheaded and almost fell over.
Jesse and the doctor rushed over and held her upright. "Are you ok?" Jesse asked, giving her a chair to sit on.
"Yes. I'm not sure what happened."
Dr. Shepherd put his fingers around her wrist and took her pulse. "Maybe you should come over to the clinic."
"I'm fine. I promise. Maybe I just need to eat something."
After a few moments she left the store, refusing Dr. Shepherd's offer to walk her home and promising him to come see him if she still felt poorly.
She didn't want to go see him. She was scared. She had noticed her clothes getting tighter and she wasn't feeling well most days, getting lightheaded and having headaches. She told no one but she worried that she was suffering from something like Vi had. The last thing she wanted was to be sick and for Jack and the children to lose her. She wanted to live with them for years and years.
Then the tears started. She couldn't stop. A lot of times, she would slip out of bed at night and cry in the living room, convinced she was still grieving or maybe just going crazy. Now put together with all the other symptoms, she was worried.
When she got home, she dried her cheeks and pasted on a smile. "Who wants to make cookies?"