A few days before Christmas….

Elizabeth made the kid's beds for her parents to sleep in. The kids were going to sleep on the floor in her and Jack's room for the week that Grace and William visited.

Jack had just gone to town to meet the stage because they were arriving today.

She was nervous. She had even thrown up that morning due to nerves. Or at least that was what she told herself. Thankfully, she had made it outside the back door so Jack had no idea.

It was getting worse. Her headaches were not easing, the crying was still happening, and now she was nauseated. She decided as she made the beds that she would go to see Dr. Shepherd as soon as she could.

"Mama! Dat home!" Helen said, running into the room. "Gumpa here!" Elizabeth smiled as she ran back out and greeted them. Oh, the little ones made her happy. She needed to be around to raise them. To be at their weddings and to meet her own grandchildren.

As she headed to the door, her tears flowed embarrassingly. She dried them just as her parents walked in.

"Hi!" she said with a smile. Her mother immediately noticed something was wrong.

She hugged Elizabeth and whispered in her ear, "Are you okay, dear?"

"Of course. I'm so happy you're here."

After the hugs and hello's Elizabeth showed the kid's bedroom to her parents but offered her and Jack's room as another option. "Jack and I can stay in the kid's room if you would like."

"Of course not, dear. You and Jack keep your room. We will be just fine."

Elizabeth nodded and turned to leave but almost ran into the door. The room was spinning and Grace grabbed her and led her to the bed, shooing William out and shutting the door. "Elizabeth, I know there is something wrong. Now I am going to insist that you tell me what it is."

"I'm fine. I just lost my balance."

"You come to the door in tears, your eyes all red and now you almost faint? That is not nothing. Tell me."

"Mother, I don't know. It's been happening for a long time and I'm scared. I don't want to die. Jack and the kids need me."

"Tell me from the beginning."

"My clothes are tight around the middle and I get so lightheaded and my head aches. I cry all the time. I don't know what's going on."

"Are you throwing up too?"

"I did this morning but I thought maybe I was just nervous that you were coming."

"Sweetheart, I don't think you are sick. I think you are pregnant."

"Oh, Mother. You know as well as I do that I can't be pregnant. Paul and I tried for two years and nothing. It's not a possibility for me."

"When was your last monthly?"

"It's been awhile, but what if this is what Viola had? What if I am going to die too?" She sobbed into her mother's shoulder.

They heard a knock and then the door opened. "Elizabeth?"

"Jack, come in," Grace told him. He walked in and shut the door. "Now, listen. Jack, I want you to take your wife to see the town doctor."

"Why? Honey, what's wrong?" He knelt in front of her and looked closely. "You look so tired. Are you sick?"

"I don't know. I don't feel good, Jack."

"What doesn't feel good?"

Grace got up and left the room, closing the door behind her.

"You've had all those things going on and you didn't tell me? Why not?"

"I'm scared. I don't want anything to happen to me, Jack."

"Then we will go to see Doc." He stood and helped her up and then led her out of the room, wrapped her coat around her, and led her into town.

When they arrived at the clinic, the nurse, Faith, greeted them. "Oh dear. What's wrong, Beth?"

"Is the doctor here?"

"Yes. Just one moment." Faith walked out of the room and returned a moment later. "You can head on back to the examination room."

…..

About twenty minutes later, Dr. Shepherd took them to his office. "So, you are not dying, Beth, contrary to what you think."

"Oh! Thank you, God!" Elizabeth sobbed. "I was so scared."

Jack was so relieved but now he wanted to know what it was that was making her ill. "So what's wrong with her?"

"Let me ask one more thing, Elizabeth. You were married before, right?"

"Yes."

"And you tried to have children?"

"Yes, for two years and then he got sick and passed away."

"Well, I am not sure why you didn't get pregnant before but you are now."

"What?" Jack and Elizabeth said together.

"You are pregnant. About three months, I'd estimate."

"But, I can't….I mean..." she stuttered, looking at Jack who had a huge smile on his face. "Jack?"

"A baby, sweetheart. We are going to have a baby!"

"You're sure, doctor?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Congratulations."

Elizabeth was shocked to say the least. Dr. Shepherd left the room to give them a moment.

Jack turned his chair to face hers. "Elizabeth. This is wonderful." He pulled her to his lap and wrapped his arms around her. "Congratulations, Mama."

….

Needless to say, the house that night was full of excitement. Jack doted on Elizabeth, not letting her lift a finger. He and William made the ham for dinner with potatoes and fresh bread. After dinner he did the dishes allowing her to spend time with her parents and the children.

Once the children were asleep and her parents in bed, Jack made them tea and led her into their bedroom.

Elizabeth changed into her cotton nightgown and joined Jack in bed. She sat against the headboard and sipped her tea.

"What are you feeling?" he asked her. All afternoon she had been so shocked. He was ecstatic.

"I'm…I don't know. Happy isn't enough to cover it. I've always wanted a big family. I dreamed of getting married and having a handful of children and living with my husband until we were old and gray. Then it didn't happen. It was an impossibility. Now, I can't even believe it, you know?"

"Yeah. I'm so amazed. I think that if it's a boy, I want the name Thomas."

"And if it's a girl, Violet in honor of Viola."

He rested his hand on her tummy and smiled. "Either way, this baby is going to smothered in love and more beautiful than any other baby in the world."

Elizabeth smiled, covering his hand with hers. "Why's that?"

"Because you're its mother and I've never seen anyone more beautiful, inside and out, than you."

She put her cup down and slipped down next to him under the covers. "You're not so bad yourself, husband."

"Is that so?" He touched her cheek and smiled as he traced her jaw.

"Mmhm. Your eyes and eyelashes and dimples, not to mention those lips. Good heavens."

He smirked and pulled her closer, kissing her.

"Mm. Sorry, hon. None of that with kids in the room."

"They're sleeping."

"They could wake up. It will only be a week and…."

"A week!" he said a bit louder than he intended. "Good grief. You are a test of my patience, woman."

"I try." She kissed him again and put her head over his heart, her favorite place to lay. "Good night, honey."

"Night, sweetheart. Love you."

"Love you."

…..

With all the joy and smiles the night before, Elizabeth didn't expect to feel anxious and unsure the next day. For some reason, she didn't feel pregnant. Yes, she was nauseated and light headed, but that just made her feel sick.

As she made breakfast that morning, she tried to ignore the gooey, slippery eggs as she cracked them into a bowl and added the last of the milk and some pepper.

"Good morning, Beth," he father said, walking into the room.

"Morning, Father."

As she stirred the mixture into the pan, she looked away, trying not to run outside.

It didn't work. She bolted for the outdoors and vomited. After a few moments of breathing the deep cool air, she came back in to her father stirring the eggs and making her tea.

"So asking how you are probably isn't necessary," he said with a chuckle.

"No, probably not." She sat down and breathed through her mouth and out through her nose.

"I'm very happy for you, Beth. I know you've always wanted to be a mother."

"I am a mother. Helen and Sammy fill my heart. I didn't think being pregnant was going to happen for me. It's such a shock."

William gave her a plate with a slice of bread on it and a cup of tea. "This should help." He kissed the top of her head. "I love you, dear."

"I love you too, Father."

"Mama!" Sammy called, walking into the kitchen.

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Hi."

"Hi," she said with a smile.

He walked closer and gave her a hug around the neck. "Hold, please." He had learned that from Helen.

She picked him up and held him tight. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah. Gotta go!"

He hurried to put his shoes and a coat on and ran outside to the outhouse, causing both adults to chuckle.

"How old is he now?"

"About four."

"About?"

"Well, he was under a year when he came to the orphanage so he couldn't tell us his age and he had no family to tell us either. So his birthday was set for August 10th."

"And Helen?"

"Helen, of course, is Jack's niece so he and Charlotte confirmed her birthday as March 21st."

Jack walked in, Helen in his arms. "Mama!"

"Hi, baby girl."

Jack kissed Elizabeth's forehead. "Morning, sweetheart. How are we?"

"Sick."

"I need to go to work. Will you be alright?"

"Of course. I'm no sicker than I've been. My parents are here so we will be fine."

He nodded and accepted a plate of eggs and bread from William. "Thank you, sir."

"William."

"William," Jack nodded.

Later after Elizabeth was feeling better, she and the kids took William and Grace to visit the orphanage. They wanted to see what had captured Elizabeth's heart after losing Paul.

"Good morning, Abigail," Elizabeth said as she walked into the kitchen.

"Good morning."

"Hi, Miss Abigail!" Sammy said waving.

"Well, Sam Thornton, I think you've grown since I saw you a few days ago," she teased.

"I did?" he asked, his eyes big. "Can I go play, Mama?"

"Go ahead."

"I go," Helen said, following her brother.

"Abigail these are my parents, William and Grace Thatcher. Mother, Father, this is Abigail Stanton. She owns the orphanage and cooks for everyone."

William offered his hand to Abigail. "Thank you so much for being here for Beth. She needed you and this place very much when she came here."

"We needed her just as much, I assure you. Her friendship has helped me through a lot of things and I'm so grateful to know her."

Elizabeth wiped her eyes. "Stop you two. I don't want to cry anymore."

Abigail gave her a hug. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good. Abigail, I'm pregnant."

"You are?! That is wonderful! I knew it would happen."

"You did? I didn't. I hadn't let myself even dream of it because it hadn't happened in the past. I can't even hardly believe it. I would have been happy with Sammy and Helen and maybe adopt another one down the road."

"Speaking of adopting, you will never guess who is finally getting adopted."

"Who?"

"Eli."

"That's wonderful! Who is adopting him?"

"Cat."

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. With her own son grown, she just fell in love with Eli."

"He's a wonderful little guy." She wiped her eyes. "Oh, good grief. These tears."

"Let's talk about something else. Is your sister here too? I would love to meet her," Abigail told her.

"No, she stayed in Alberta. She's been helping out with Charlie since Vi passed."

About an hour later, the kids were all playing in the school room and the adults were having coffee and tea when there was a knock at the door.

Elizabeth opened the door. "Charlotte! It's great to see you."

"You too, dear." Charlotte walked in and gave her a hug. "I just went to see Jack and he told me your news. I'm so happy for you."

"Thanks. I didn't know you were coming but I'm glad you're here. I want you to meet my parents."

After introductions, Charlotte told her own news. "I'm moving to Hope Valley."