"Hey, bud. Wanna help me with Elizabeth's Christmas present?"
"Yeah!" Hunter yelled.
"Ok, but it's a big, very important secret. You can't tell anyone."
"I'll zip my lips!" Hunter pulled his imaginary zipper across his mouth.
"Great! This will help make it a perfect Christmas like you keep mentioning."
"Well, the tree is perfect. Elizabeth said so."
"Yep. You did a good job with that, bud."
"Thanks. So what's the present?"
Jack took a deep breath. As soon as he mentioned it, he couldn't take it back. It would be happening. "I'm going to buy Elizabeth an engagement ring and I thought you might want to help me pick it out."
"What's an engagement ring?"
"It's a ring that I will give to her when I ask her to marry me." Jack kept his eyes on the road, waiting for Hunter's reaction.
"You are going to marry her?" he asked quietly.
"Yes. I love her."
"Me too."
"Are you ok with this, Hunter?" If he wasn't, Jack could wait to propose. Hunter was so important to him and it mattered what he thought.
"You promised that you have enough love for both of us. You do still, right?"
Jack pulled into the parking lot of the jewelry store and unbuckled both of them, pulling Hunter onto his lap. "I need you to know something, Hunter. Really listen, ok?" He nodded, tears in his eyes. "I love you so much. The love I have for you will never, ever go away. I also love Elizabeth. It's a different kind of love and God made all of our hearts big enough so that we can love many different people. Just like you love Grammie and Pop. That is different than how you love me or Elizabeth, isn't it?"
"Yeah. I could love a puppy too!" His eyes lit up at his own suggestion.
Jack laughed and hugged him for a moment. "I'm sure you could. See, it makes sense, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. I think she's going to be real happy when you ask her."
"I hope so. Should we go in?"
"Let's go." They walked in the store hand in hand.
"Hello, gentlemen," the saleswoman behind the counter greeted. "What can I help you with?"
"We are looking for an engagement ring."
"That sounds exciting. My name is Danielle. What type of ring are you looking for?"
"A big one!" Hunter said, jumping up and down.
"Not too big but not too small either," Jack clarified.
"Ok, so a medium sized ring?"
"Yes."
"Ok, come on over here and have a seat. I will pull some medium sized rings for you to look at."
Jack sat down at the lower counter, pulling Hunter onto his lap.
Danielle returned a few moments later with a bunch of rings. "Do you know what shape diamond she likes, sir?"
"You can call me Jack."
"I'm Hunter."
"Ok, Jack and Hunter. Do you see any that you like?"
Jack looked them over. There were a few that resembled the ring from Trevor so he steered clear of those. The rest of them didn't really scream Elizabeth. Until Hunter pointed at one. "Jack! This one! Look, I think she would love it."
"Its perfect," he admitted.
"Your son made a good choice, Jack. It's a 14k white gold wedding set. The engagement ring has a princess cut diamond in the middle encircled by two rows of round diamonds. As you can see, there are round diamonds on the wedding band as well. Together, the set weighs just over two carats."
"You really think she will like it, Hunter?"
"Yes!"
"Ok, you heard the boy. We will take it."
"Do you know what size ring she wears?"
"Her sister says size 7."
"This happens to be a 7 so we won't need to size it. Let me go clean it and box it up for you."
"Thank you, Danielle."
"My pleasure, Jack and congratulations."
THAT EVENING, ELIZABETH'S HOUSEAfter dinner, Jack took a sleeping Hunter upstairs to the guest room. He wanted to spend the night since it was the weekend, so the guest room, which was in the same location as Hunter's own room at his house, seemed like the logical choice.
Elizabeth sat on the couch by the fire while she waited for Jack. She stared at the object in her hands and smiled.
"Hey," Jack said quietly as he joined her, his arm immediately slipping around her shoulders. "What do you have there?"
"Ok, so we talked about Hunter's Christmas present."
"Yeah, I figured the day after Christmas, since you have that day off, we could take him to the shelter."
"Yes, that will be great. I thought that we could wrap this dog toy and put it under the tree so when he opens it, he'll see that we are getting him a puppy."
"Good idea, babe. I knew I kept you around for a reason."
She poked his side making him laugh. "That's the reason? Nice."
"Well, I kind of like kissing you too."
"Oh yeah?"
"Mmhmm." He looked down from her eyes to her lips and back, smiling, before meeting her lips and kissing her slowly.
She slipped her arms around his back and pulled him closer. "I kind of like kissing you too," she whispered as they pulled apart slightly.
He wanted to blurt, "Wanna kiss me forever?" but stopped himself. He did have the ring over at his house but the plan was set. Ten more days and it would be time.
"So we are having everyone over to your house for Christmas, right?" she asked him.
"Yes, my parents are definitely coming and yours left me a message today letting me know they and Julie would be there bright and early."
She nodded and kissed him again, allowing herself to get lost in him.
"Elizabeth!" Hunter yelled from upstairs. The poor boy sounded frantic causing her to jump up and run up the stairs.
"Hunter? I'm coming!"
She and Jack ran in the room. "Elizabeth," he sobbed. "He took me. He came to my school and took me! You said I was safe!"
Elizabeth picked him up and held him tightly, rubbing his back. "Shhh, sweetheart. No one took you. It was a bad dream, that's all. We're right here."
"Don't leave me, please!" He wrapped his arms and legs around her and buried his head in her neck.
"We aren't going anywhere. We will be right here."
Jack was thinking more and more about Elizabeth's natural mothering instincts. Obviously her job was to keep people safe but Hunter also saw her as a person that he could trust and would keep him safe. It warmed his heart to see the two of them.
Jack turned off the light and laid down next to them, his arm around them, keeping them close.
An hour later Jack and Elizabeth woke up at the same time, still wrapped up together, Hunter in between them, snoring softly.
Jack stood up and motioned for Elizabeth to follow him. Elizabeth grabbed a blanket and sat next to Jack on the floor.
Jack had a lot he wanted to tell her and ask her but he needed to be careful to not spoil the surprise for Christmas.
She leaned her head against his shoulder and sighed, her eyes glued to the little boy on the bed.
"Jack, I love him," she whispered. "At first, after meeting you and trying to move on from Trevor and moving, I just didn't let myself stress about what he needed or could be going through. He was wonderful but he needed you and a lot of love and to feel safe. I wasn't sure if I could be that person." Jack kissed her forehead, not wanting to interrupt. "But, I fell hard for him, and I know that I am meant to be his mother. I just know it."
"Yes you are, Beth, and what a blessing you are to both of us." She kissed his cheek and slipped her fingers through his.
"I love you, Jack."
"I love you." After a pause in the conversation, he continued. "You're a good hockey mom, Beth."
They laughed quietly. "I'm trying. At the very least, I get to spend that time with him."
"Did you and Trevor talk about having children?"
"Yeah. Three. Two boys and a girl. He wanted sons and I didn't want to be outnumbered." She squeezed his hand. "You? Did you and Brenna just want foster kids or were you wanting some of your own?"
"It was foster kids all the way. It wasn't that we didn't really want our own, it was just that with Brenna's work in the children's trauma ward, she knew that there were lots of children out there that needed help. She'd seen so many kids come in, needing love, and care. She also knew that it was important to love those children as if they were yours by birth. I started to agree more and more with each of the stories she'd share."
"What about now? Do you want more?" She sat up, faced him, and stared at their joined hands. "Would you want a baby with me maybe, someday?"
He smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear. "Of course. Things are different now. You and I have something unbelievable. I want babies and I want to see you whenever I look at them. Their curly hair or their smile, or their beautiful blue eyes." She leaned forward and kissed him sweetly.
"I'm so glad. I want that too."
TWO DAYS LATERElizabeth waited outside Hunter's school in her car for the little boy. His school day was just about over and they had plans together. Jack had practice after school that Friday, since they had a game the next day, giving her and Hunter the perfect opportunity to complete their plans. Elizabeth and Hunter had recruited each other to finding the perfect Christmas gifts for Jack. Elizabeth was grateful for Hunter's willingness to help because there was no way she could do what she planned without him.
She texted Lee, her other helper in this, making sure everything was all set. As she looked up, she saw kids start to filter out of the main school doors. She hurried out of the car and walked up looking for her boy.
"Elizabeth!" Hunter saw her first and came running, wrapping his arms around her.
"Hi sweetie. Ready for operation Christmas presents?" she joked.
"Yes, Ma'am! Where are we going first?"
She helped Hunter into his booster seat in the back of her car and jumped up front.
"Well Lee's ready to help us now so I figure we'll go get mine started and then we can go wherever you want."
"Okay, but I still don't know where to go," he sighed.
"Hmm, I bet we can think of something together."
Fifteen minutes later, Elizabeth pulled the car into the parking lot of Fairmount Park. It wasn't as big as say, Central Park in NYC, but it was pretty nice. They got out and started walking on the paved path into the park.
"Where are we going?" Hunter asked, holding Elizabeth's hand.
"Looking for Lee. He said he'd met somewhere on this end of the…"
"Yoohoo!"
Hunter laughed, "Look! Rosie's here with Lee!"
"That she is... Do you think she can keep our secret?"
The little boy thought about it. "She does talk a lot, but I bet if we asked her nicely she won't say a word!"
"Good plan!"
"Hunter! Look at how big you are! How many years has it been since I've seen you?" Rosie teased.
"Silly Rosie, it's only been like a week!" he grinned.
"Well then you need to stop growing so fast." She bent down and squeezed him tight. "Hi, Elizabeth, I hope you don't mind I tagged along today. Lee told me about your plan and I thought it was wonderful!"
"Not at all."
"But you can't say nothing!" Hunter shook a finger at Rosie and gave her his best stern face.
"What he means to say is we'd like to keep this a surprise for Jack. Right, Hunter?"
"Yup, so no talking about it, please," Hunter pleaded.
"I think I can manage," Rosie giggled.
Lee walked over just then, fancy camera in hand. "We all set?"
They walked around the park taking pictures of Hunter, and Elizabeth and Hunter together for the next half hour. Hunter was surprisingly enjoying the little photo shoot, mainly in part to Rosie and her "directing".
"Now, Hunter, this time I want you to give Lee your best superhero face!"
"Rosie what does that even mean?" Lee asked, slightly amused and annoyed at the same time.
"I don't really know. Just take a picture and I guess we'll find out."
Lee did as he was told and smiled at the puffed up stance and very serious face Hunter gave him.
"That's great, bud! Jack's going to love these." Elizabeth gave him a high-five as he walked back to her. All that was left was for her to print that and place them in the multi-picture frame she bought.
Just when Elizabeth thought they were finished, Lee had a thought.
"Elizabeth, I didn't take any of just you!"
"I know, that wasn't the plan," she laughed.
"Don't you think Jack would want one of just you?" She shrugged at his question. "I mean, he does love you right?" Lee teased.
"He does! He's going to…" Hunter stopped mid sentence, realizing he was about to give Jacks Christmas present secret away. He tried to cover it up. "Yeah, I think he'd like one."
"I have an idea!" Rosie spoke all excited. "Hunter, let's take a walk and Lee and Elizabeth can take a few more pictures okay?"
"No, that's not necessary," Elizabeth pleaded.
"Trust me, he'll love it." Rosie placed a gentle hand on Elizabeth, trying to encourage her. Elizabeth knew enough about Rosie to know she was fighting a losing battle and gave in.
"Alright… I guess."
Rosie was leading Hunter away when he broke loose and ran back to Elizabeth. "Make a silly face, I think he'd like that."
Elizabeth smiled, "I can do that. Now go and mind Rosie okay?"
"I will!"
Once they were out of ear shot, Lee turned to Elizabeth.
"So what gives?" Lee asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean why didn't you want your picture taken, just you?"
She shrugged. "Hunter's cuter."
"Come on Beth, be serious. You guys seem to be moving right along here."
"We are, yes."
"So, what? Having second thoughts?"
"Never, this is where I'm meant to be. It just seems weird is all, pictures of me." She shrugged again. "It's just me. I'm not some supermodel or something."
Lee laughed. "Trust me, I've seen him look at you. He'll love this, and you're prettier than any supermodel."
Rosie and Hunter walked a little ways to a cart that Rosie knew had the best hot chocolate. She bought 4 and they began their walk back.
"So tell me, are you excited about Christmas, Hunter?"
"Mhmm." He had been quiet the whole walk. Much quieter than Rosie was used to seeing him.
"Is something wrong? You can tell me."
"I need to be careful. I've got 2 secrets and I'm not allowed to tell."
"Are you worried you will?"
"I almost did!" He yelled, making Rosie laugh.
"Come here, let's sit for a moment." They walked over to a nearby bench, Rosie resting the other hot chocolates in their carrying holder on her lap. "What if you tell me? Will that help? We can talk about it and get it all out of your system."
"I don't know… I don't think I'm supposed to tell anyone."
"I promise, I wont say a word."
"Even to Lee?"
"Oh, especially not to Lee!" she teased.
Hunter gave it some more thought. "Okay. Since you promised. I helped Jack with Elizabeth's Christmas present, but I can't tell her. It's going to be so cool!"
"Oh do tell! What is it!"
Hunter wiggled his little finger for her to come closer. "It's a shiny gadget ring," he whispered.
"I'm sorry, a what? A gadget ring?"
"Yeah. It's pretty and silver and has a sparkly rock in the center."
Rosie jumped up off her seat, arms flailing, sending the hot chocolates everywhere.
"He's going to propose at Christmas!"
"SHHHH!" Hunter hushed loudly. "It's a secret, Rosie! That means no yelling!" Hunter rolled his eyes, something Rosie didn't know he knew how to do.
She was giggling up a storm as she accepted the countless napkins from the cart attendant when he ran over.
"Oh this is wonderful news, Hunter! I'm so happy for you three!" She embraced him tightly.
"Um, you're covered in chocolate," he said, scrunching his nose at her.
"True, lets go get a couple more and head back to Lee and Elizabeth."
"Okay. Promise you won't tell them?"
"I won't, your secret's safe with me!"
"Good!" They bought hot chocolates to replace the ones that were spilled and walked hand in hand back. "Hey Rosie, do you think she'll say yes?"
Rosie smiled. "I know she will. She loves you and Jack very much."
Hunter nodded. "I love them too. I want them to be my mom and dad. They're good at it."
"I know they are, sweetie."
Hunter surprised her by letting go of her hand and running off. She was relieved when she saw Elizabeth waving at him. He gave her a big hug when he caught up to her.
"Oh no, Rosie! What happened to your beautiful jacket?" Elizabeth asked, noticing the hot chocolate spill all over Rosie's nice tan pea coat.
Hunter looked wide eyed, afraid she'd spill the beans.
"Oh, silly little mishap. I saw a spider."
"A spider? Out here, in December?" Elizabeth gave Rosie a confused look.
"Oops", Rosie thought. "Yes, that's why it surprised me so much! Spiders aren't out like that when it's this cold!"
"Oh, okay." Elizabeth didn't by it but didn't think of it much any longer. "If you need a good drycleaner, the place that does my uniforms is great."
"Wonderful, I just might take you up on that!"
The four walked back to their cars. Lee grinning at his girlfriend. "So a spider, huh?"
"Shh!" she whispered. "We aren't talking about this. It's a secret between me and my boy Hunter over there."
"Right… You know I'm a police officer. I'm good at solving things."
"Not this one. I'm not saying a word!"
Lee's eyes got wide with excitement as he wondered if he'd solved it. "Does it have to do with Beth and Jack?" he whispered. "Is he going to say ask a question…?"
"Oh be serious Lee. Such a personal decision like that? Do you really think Jack would share such a sensitive thing with Hunter?"
"I guess not." Lee sighed. He wanted to be right. He wanted Elizabeth to finally have her day, to be happy again. He wanted to propose to Rosie too. Time would tell.
After the park, Elizabeth and Hunter decided to go to the bookstore he and Jack always went to. Hunter loved it and he knew Jack did too.
"Hi there! Can I help you find anything?" A sales woman asked as they walked in, dusting the snow off their hats and coats.
Hunter looked at Elizabeth and then to the sales woman. "I need a book for my dad."
Elizabeth wished Jack had been there to hear Hunter refer to him as his dad. It rolled off his tongue as if he'd done that his whole life.
"A book is a wonderful Christmas present! What kind does he like?"
"I don't know. He teaches about old stuff."
The sale woman looked at Elizabeth, needing more clarity.
"He's a high school history teacher," she answered.
"Oh," she laughed. "That's a start. What else does he like?"
Hunter tapped his finger to his lips thinking. "He likes hockey and baseball and making stuff with me."
They were led over to a shelf that had a bunch of project books on it. The woman pulled off two from the top shelf, handing one to Hunter and the other to Elizabeth.
"These are our "Handy Dad" series. Each book is filled with projects for kids to do with their dads. There's Zip lines and forts and catapults, everything."
"What do you think Hunter?" Elizabeth asked, running her fingers through his curls.
"These are so cool! Can we get both?" He looked up, excited.
"Of course," Elizabeth smiled. Saying a silent prayer that everything with the adoption would go through smoothly and Jack and Hunter could spend their summer going through the books together. Maybe she'd be there too. The picture she was drawing up in her imagination seemed too perfect to be true.
"What's next?" Hunter bounced as they left the bookstore.
"Well now we go meet Jack at Abby's for dinner."
"YUM! I want a hotdog and french fries. No, sweet potato fries. Maybe chili on my hotdog. Maybe cheese, or both!"
"Wow, Hunter, are you hungry or something?" she giggled.
"Yup. Jack says I'm a growing boy and a hockey player. We eat a lot." Elizabeth giggled as she helped him buckle up.
Later that night after Hunter was asleep in his own bed, Jack and Elizabeth were in Jack's living room decorating the mantle for the holiday. It was all that was left in the otherwise Christmassy home. The tree was up, filled with lights and store bought or handmade ornaments from the three of them. Now they had just finished setting up a little Christmas village on the mantel and were just running the garland along the edge.
"There we go. Our own little winter wonderland." Jack smiled. He stepped behind Elizabeth and wrapped his strong arms around her waist, giving her neck a soft, short kiss as he gave her a loving squeeze. "What do you think, Beth?"
"I love it. Where'd you get all these adorable buildings?" She wrapped her arms over his and leaned into him, loving the feeling of being held by him.
"They were part of my grandmother's set. When she passed, Mom split the set up between me and my brother. Looks like there may be room up here for a few more pieces though."
"Its great. Maybe next year we can add one."
"Add a new one every year?"
"Sure!" She felt her cheeks grow hot at the conversation. They were talking of a future, together again. She loved it. "So, what's next?"
"Time to hang the stockings, I suppose." Jack turned and reached into the box of Christmas stuff sitting on the floor.
Elizabeth thought for a moment. "You know, I don't think I have a stocking."
"Good."
"Good? Why is that good?" she giggled. "It will be impossible to find a good one this close to Christmas."
"You don't need to worry about that."
"Jack… why?"
"Because, I got one just for you." Jack handed her a beautiful cream colored knit stocking with her name embroidered on the top in red.
"Jack, I love it!"
"I hoped you would. It goes well with the ones I have for me and Hunter too." He took it back and proceeded to hang them up on the mantle.
Elizabeth walked over to sit on the couch, watching Jack as he worked. He joined her a few minutes later, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her in close.
"What do you think now that it's done?" He gestured toward the mantle.
"It's perfect." She stared at his lips, wanting so desperately to kiss him. He must have read her mind. He leaned in with his next breath and took possession of her soft, inviting lips.
His kisses took her breath away. She loved him with all that she was. They allowed themselves to get a bit carried away in each other's love before finally pulling apart.
"Elizabeth Thatcher, I love you." Jack said, barely catching his breath before he began kissing her again.
"I love you, Jack Thornton." They smiled at each other before snuggling back into each other's warm embrace.
Jack let out a contented sigh, "Few more days and this house will be full of people. You ready for it?" He kissed her forehead.
"Yeah. I feel like it's like a glimpse into our possible future. It's exciting."
Jack kissed her head. She was right, and come Christmas morning she'd see just how much.