2 weeks later…
Elizabeth sat in her living room surrounded by mountains of boxes. She had been so busy with work lately, taking extra shifts to allow for time off for the move. The closing on the new house was in 6 days and she was just now starting to pack. Luckily reinforcements were just pulling into the driveway.
Grace Thatcher pulled up to her daughters house with a car load of empty boxes. Julie pulled in just behind her, jumping out of her little car.
"Hi, Mom!" She ran to her mom giving her a big hug. "Good to see you!"
"You too, dear. How's work?"
"Oh, same as always. Keeping busy."
"That's good." Grace's eyes traced every detail of the current house. She could remember moving Elizabeth into this home a few years back. Back then her daughter was happy and excited for the future. Nothing like what she'd seen in the past 18 or more months. Grace hoped this next move would help with that.
"How does Beth seem, Julie?" she asked as they walked up to the house.
"The same, but better I think."
"Oh?"
"Yup. I mean Lee finally talked her into getting out and now she's moving. She's still struggling but I think she might actually want to move forward now."
"Well, that is something."
Julie nodded and opened the front door.
"We're here!" Julie sang into the house as she and Grace walked in. "Oh dear, Elizabeth, are you here in this mess?" she teased.
Elizabeth raised her arms up over her head from her perch on the floor.
"I'm here! Sorting through books. Who knew I had so many books." she sighed.
"I did," Grace laughed. "I believe I moved them into the house."
"Mom! It's good to see you!" Elizabeth stood noticing her mom and went to embrace her joyfully, surprising Grace.
"You too, dear!" Julie was right, Elizabeth was changing a bit. She seemed a bit less burdened down by the weight of her grief. Though there was still evidence of it in her eyes. That was to be expected, especially now.
"So where do you need us?" Julie asked, looking over a few of her sisters books trying to figure out which ones she should borrow.
"I see you eyeing my books, little sister, so how about you finish here?" she laughed.
"Oh, good! Mind if I set a box aside for me?"
"As long as it's packed, do as you please. Just leave me a list so I know what you have."
"Can do!"
"And Mom, could you pack up the kitchen? If I do it, most of my dishes are going to end up chipped or in pieces."
"I can certainly do that."
Elizabeth put some music on and the three busied themselves packing. An hour and a half later, Grace left the kitchen and headed down the hall to Elizabeth's room. She stood in the doorway watching her daughter sitting cross legged on the bed, staring at one box in particular. Her eyes glistening with unspilled tears.
"Beth? You alright?"
Elizabeth looked up, giving her mom a weak smile. She held up a picture to her mom. "I made a "Trevor box."
"I see." Grace walked over and sat next to Elizabeth on the bed, wrapping a loving arm around her. She looking into the box. To the average person it looked like nothing more than a hodgepodge of things. To her daughter, it was evidence of another life. One of love and joy that had been taken from her.
"I went through the house and put all the things that really reminded me of him in this box. I wanted to keep it safe during the move but…" she sighed.
"But you don't know that you want it all out in the open again?"
"Right."
Grace had an idea, "Be right back, dear."
She came back a minute later with a sturdy decorative small box in hand.
"I saw this in the other room. Its empty."
"Huh, yeah I've had that for years. Not sure I've ever really used it, though."
Grace placed the box next to the big one on the bed. "Here's what I think you should do… take some items from the big box and place them in here. This little box goes with you to the new house."
"Mom, I can't get rid of the rest of it! I'm not ready!" she said, overreacting a bit.
"Oh sweetie, I'd never ask you to do that. I'll take the bigger of the boxes home with me. It will be safe in the closet of your old room. Anytime you want to come go through these things, you can. The house is always open to you, you know that."
Elizabeth thought about her mom's offer. It made sense. It was hard, but maybe it was something she needed to do. As she thought about it, she felt the desire to call Jack and ask his opinion. The thought surprised her, making her smile slightly and shake her head. Perhaps it shouldn't have. Since their dinner, they'd talked every couple of days via text or phone. Even bumped into each other at Abby's Diner, where they ended up enjoying a cup of coffee together. He was becoming a person she felt safe with, which was rare these days.
The change in her demeanor didn't go unnoticed by Grace.
"What is it, Beth?"
"Nothing, I'm fine."
"You can tell me, dear."
She looked up at her mom and nodded. "It's nothing really. I have this new neighbor, we've become friends." Grace nodded, listening intently. "He's gone through this before. Losing someone."
"Who'd he lose?"
"His wife. Car accident."
"How old is he?"
"Just 3 years older than me. He's a good guy, or so he seems anyway. He's got this adorable foster son who's also been through a lot. He's so good with him."
Grace watched the soft smile form on Elizabeth's face as she talked about this new guy.
"How much time have you spent with him?"
"Oh, not a lot. We met in a passing a couple times." She decided not to mention that she pulled him over and some of the other details. Not wanting her to get too excited. "Lee sort of… tricked me into going on a double date with him."
Grace laughed, "You were tricked?"
"Yes! He knew I wouldn't say yes otherwise, I guess," she shrugged. "It wasn't the worst night ever."
"We'll glad to hear that. I've always liked Lee."
"He's a good one. Patient."
Grace nodded, before a thought struck her. "Is this young man…"
"Jack?"
"Jack. Is Jack the one Julie mentioned you had dinner with? She didn't give details but now I'm curious."
"Oh, well… um."
"That's a yes then," she smiled.
Elizabeth's mind traveled back to that night. She blushed slightly as she remembered the kiss he'd given her on the cheek when she arrived, and again when she left. She wasn't ready for anything more than friendship now, but she couldn't deny he had an affect on her.
"I'm happy for you, sweetie."
"Mom, don't get too excited here. He's just a friend."
"I know, but you're meeting people, stepping back out of your comfort zone. You still have so much life to live, Beth. I was afraid you'd miss out on all the joy there could be."
"You and everyone else," she groaned.
"We push because we love you. Remember that."
"I will, Mom, thank you." She looked back down at the boxes. "And I think you're right. Take this box home with you. Just, please be careful with it?"
"I will, I promise!" Grace left the room to give her daughter a few moments alone to sort through the memories.
She grabbed a charm bracelet, a dried flower, a few movie and concert ticket stubs, and pictures, placing them in the small box. Elizabeth felt the ring around her neck. She wasn't ready to take that off yet, and she didn't need to be.
"I love you Trev, but I have to do this." She brought one of the pictures to her lips before placing it in the box.
6 days and many cups of coffee later she was ready. Everything was packed and labeled, and loaded into the truck.
Elizabeth made one final walk through of what had been her home, the home she thought she would have been sharing with Trevor.
Her faithful friend Snowball rubbed her sides against Elizabeth's leg, purring gently.
"Hey girl, ready for our little adventure?" She smiled as she picked up her fluffy friend and placed her gently into her crate. Elizabeth and Snowball were staying at Julie's for at least the weekend while Elizabeth cleaned and painted the new place.
She dropped Snowball off and headed into the city for a day of reading contracts and signing papers with Flo. It was long and exhausting, but worth it in the end.
"You did it!" Flo stated ecstatic as they left the office. "How does it feel?"
"Good. This feels right. Thank you for everything. Being patient while I found my place, and selling mine so fast too!"
"It was my pleasure, now go! Enjoy your next chapter!"
"Thanks," Elizabeth smiled. "I think I will."
…..
Elizabeth stood in her new home, staring at the bare walls and feeling overwhelmed at the seemingly blank canvas. There was so much to paint, she almost didn't know what to start with. Then she got an idea.
She picked up her phone and called Jack. "Hey, neighbor."
"Hey, do you have plans today?"
"Well, I just dropped Hunter off at my parent's house. What did you have in mind?"
"Let's just say, I can fix a leaking sink and lay tile in a bathroom but I have no clue about painting. Are you good with a brush?"
"Brenna insisted on painting every single room in this house, and I did it, so I am passable."
"Any chance you want to come help me? I will feed you and I have beer."
"You can cook?"
"Uh, no. I said I will feed you. I am great at ordering takeout."
Jack laughed. "Maybe you should have taken that cooking class with Rosie."
"No thanks. I've managed to keep myself alive this long. I don't need to go get it rubbed in my face that I burn water."
"When do you want me to come over?"
"Now?"
"Ok, I'll be over in a minute."
Elizabeth watched through her kitchen window for him. When she finally saw him, he had a pile of something in his hands and a few brushes.
She raised her eyebrows at him. "Drop cloths. I am assuming you don't have brushes?"
"Good assumption."
After he made one more trip for his ladder from his garage, he looked at her. "Where's the paint?"
"I don't have any. I told you I was clueless." Honestly, she had not even thought about it. The whole idea of moving and then selling her other house and packing with her mom and sister, had distracted her to the point of not thinking of the simplest things. Like paint to paint her walls.
"Well, let's go to Home Depot."
"I'm sorry, Jack. I feel like I am wasting your time."
"Let's go, I have all day." He didn't mind spending time with her in the least. He had all the time in the world.
She walked over to his house with him and got in his hatchback. "Is that a necklace?" she pointed toward the gear shift.
"Yeah, it was Brenna's. I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it. It's not worth a lot but it meant something to her."
She touched her engagement ring. "That's worth so much, Jack. Believe me, I understand holding on to something for sentimental reasons."
He looked over at her. "Hey, Elizabeth. You moved to a different house and you went on a blind date. That was a good start."
"I know. I just still feel….sad."
"It took me awhile too. Just be patient with yourself." She nodded, a small smile gracing her lips. "You have curly hair?"
Her hand went up to her hair, realizing he had only ever seen her with straight hair or with it pulled back in a bun. "Yeah."
"It looks nice." It was beautiful really. Nice dark curls, hanging just past her shoulders. It looked soft. Hopefully one day soon he would find out.
"Thank you." She blushed at his compliment.
"Do you know what colors you are looking for?"
"No, something other than white or tan."
After looking at dozens of color swatches, she finally decided on two different shades of blue for the kitchen and living room and a burgundy for her bedroom.
AN HOUR LATER
"Ok, so the first thing we need to do is put tape around the windows, doors, and baseboards, and then cut in," he told her.
"What in the world does that mean? I know what it means in regard to dancing, but not painting."
"I'll show you."
He walked her through the process. "So that way when you use the roller, you won't accidentally get the paint on your molding."
"Ok. It's logical."
"But…?"
"Its seems like a lot of work when you could just go slow and be careful."
"If you have unlimited time, sure. I personally don't want it to take a whole day to paint a room when I could do multiple rooms correctly."
"Aye aye, Captain," she said with a mock salute. "You're the expert."
Jack turned on his Spotify app on his phone and pressed play. "Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay," started playing, and Jack started singing along.
"You have a nice voice," she told him when the song ended.
"Thank you." The next song was "Ain't no Mountain High Enough."
After a few more old songs, Ed Sheeran's song, Perfect, filled the room.
Jack wasn't sure why, but he put his brush down and walked over to Elizabeth, holding out his hand.
"What?"
"Dance with me, neighbor."
His use of the word neighbor made her feel like he wasn't pushing her to be something other than that. So she accepted his hand and stepped into his arms as he sang to the music.
I found a love for me
Darling just dive right in
And follow my lead
Well I found a girl beautiful and sweet
I never knew you were the someone waiting for me
'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love
Not knowing what it was
I will not give you up this time
But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own
And in your eyes you're holding mine
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When you said you looked a mess, I whispered underneath my breath
But you heard it, darling, you look perfect tonight
Well I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know
She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home
I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets
To carry love, to carry children of our own
We are still kids, but we're so in love
Fighting against all odds
I know we'll be alright this time
Darling, just hold my hand
Be my girl, I'll be your man
I see my future in your eyes
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful
I don't deserve this, darling, you look perfect tonight
Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms
Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song
I have faith in what I see
Now I know I have met an angel in person
And she looks perfect
I don't deserve this
You look perfect tonight
Elizabeth stepped back and wiped her eyes at the end.
"What's wrong?" He touched her hand for a brief second and then stepped back further.
"Nothing really. Honestly, that song…it makes me feel like I want to feel again. It's how Trevor was. He stood in the rain, his mouth open to the sky, just because he wanted to and I'm grateful for that, for him."
Jack nodded, liking that she felt comfortable enough to tell him that. He saw a bit of letting go, a bit more peace in her expression. He was proud of her.
He kissed her forehead and squeezed her hand. "I'm proud of you," he whispered.