A few days passed and Rosemary still hadn't had the chance to tell Jack and Elizabeth that her children knew about her and Jack's previous engagement. Friday morning arrived and Rosemary figured it was time to tell them; quite honestly, she had been avoiding the conversation for as long as possible for fear of how they would react. Lee and Aaron left for the mill and since Lilly was off, she offered to take Violet to Abigail's for breakfast. Rosemary finally mustered the courage to go next door and knock. Jack answered a few moments later, "Rosie?"
"Hey Jack, is Elizabeth here?" she asked.
Jack shook his head, "No, she went to Buxton with Mary and Charlotte to pick up school supplies. William had to make a trip to Cape Fullerton to take care of some paperwork now that he's completed his training, so it's just me right now."
"Oh. I'll come back later then," Rosemary turned to leave.
"Rosie," Jack stopped her and she turned to face him, "Was it something important you wanted to discuss?"
"Kind of," Rosemary admitted, "But I think it's best if Elizabeth is here to hear it too."
"I can always tell her," said Jack.
Rosemary finally couldn't take it any longer. She needed to tell someone, "Fine," Rosemary succumbed.
Jack let her into the house and asked, "Did you want coffee, tea, water?"
"Just a glass of water, thank you," Rosemary answered. Jack obtained the desired beverage and sat down next to her on the sofa.
"What's going on, Rosie?" he asked gently.
Rosemary sighed, "My kids know, Jack," she whispered, her answer barely audible.
Jack looked confused, "Know about what?"
"About us, Jack!" Rosemary stood and began to pace, a nervous habit of hers, "They know more than just that we grew up together. They know more than just we're close friends. They know that we were…a couple, engaged, involved romantically," she blurted.
"Well, how did they find out? Did you tell them?" he asked.
Rosemary sat back down on the couch and sighed, "Not specifically. Lee and I were talking about Lilly's date with William and Violet overheard us and you know she can't keep a secret if her life depended on it. She told Lilly who confronted us, so Lee and I had no choice but to tell them. We told all three of them a few days ago."
"Wait a minute? William went on a date with Lilly? When?" questioned Jack standing.
"Monday evening," Rosemary stood as well, "You didn't know?"
"I knew William and Lilly were having dinner at the saloon together, but I didn't realize it was a date," said Jack, "Are you sure?"
"He kissed her, Jack," Rosemary replied.
"Oh," Jack crossed his arms over his chest, "Like father, like son, I guess. Living up to the Thornton family tradition of kissing a girl on the first date."
"I thought that was LeVeaux family tradition," Rosemary joked and they both laughed a little, "But seriously, you might want to tell your kids that way they won't hear it from one of mine."
"Okay," Jack ran his hand through his dark, brown locks, "I'll explain the situation to Elizabeth and we'll let them know."
"Explain what situation to Elizabeth?" Elizabeth asked, raising an eyebrow. Mary and Charlotte were behind her.
"Sweetheart," Jack gave his best fake smile, "What are you doing home so early?"
"There was no traffic," answered Mary.
"Hi, Aunt Rosemary," waved Charlotte.
"Hi Elizabeth, Mary, Charlotte. I better go. Excuse me," Rosemary hastily rushed out the door.
Elizabeth nodded as Rosemary left. Jack turned to his family and asked, "Girls, would you excuse your mother and I for a few moments? I need to talk to her."
He quickly pulled Elizabeth up the stairs and closed their bedroom door behind him, "Jack, what's wrong?" Elizabeth asked her husband.
Jack began to pace the bedroom, a nervous habit of his as well, and said, "Rosemary's kids know about our relationship."
Elizabeth's eyes widened, "How? We've worked so hard to keep it a secret from their kids and our children."
"Violet overheard her and Lee talking about William and Lilly's date and you know Violet when it comes to keeping a secret," Elizabeth nodded her understanding. Violet was a very sweet girl but she could be a bit loose-lipped at times, "And of course, our son took Lilly Coulter on a date and we didn't even realize it."
"I realized it. YOU didn't realize it," emphasized Elizabeth.
"I just…the thought of our son in a courtship is one thing, but the thought of our son in a courtship with the daughter of our closest friends is quite another," Jack stopped his pacing, "If this gets serious, I would hope…no, I would EXPECT William to ask for Lee's permission to court Lilly. I mean, I know I don't have the best track record of asking permission, but that's only because Rosie's father had passed away by the time we started courting. And with you and me, we started courting so fast…."
"JACK!" Elizabeth shouted to get her husband's attention, "Listen, I know this is a very frightening time, but I would say we need to tell our children about you and Rosie that way they hear it from us and not one of the Coulter children, and then we need to have a conversation with William and see if he is seriously considering courting Lillian Coulter. He's only nineteen, Jack; he doesn't know everything even though he's an adult."
"Right, of course," Jack scrubbed his hand over his face, "I guess we'll talk to them after William gets back from Cape Fullerton."
Elizabeth nodded, "I think that would be a good start at least."
Jack sighed, "What would I do without you?" Jack came over to her and hugged her.
"I don't know," she chuckled lightly, "But at least we have each other."
Jack leaned out of her embrace and kissed her, "Even after twenty years of marriage, my heart still skips a beat every time I look at you."
"And after twenty years of marriage, I can't believe that line of yours still works," she smiled. She kissed him again, "I love you, Jack Thornton. So much."
"I love you too," he smiled.