CHRISTMAS EVE DAY
Elizabeth spent the morning thinking of her boys, just across the yard where she wanted to be. She woke up, smiling about Hunter. What a wonderful boy he was and how much she loved him. As she made coffee, she chuckled about the fact that Jack liked his coffee with cream, no sugar and she teased him that she liked hers with flavor. Sugar free Caramel Macchiato creamer was heavenly. As she drank her coffee by the fire, she petted Snowy and thought about how the cat might react to a puppy.
After coffee, she sat at her dining room table and wrapped her two presents for Jack, and Hunter's present for him as well.
Wrapping them brought tears of love and happiness that she was so grateful for. In three short months, she was more than ready for a husband and family after mourning Trevor for the better part of two years. She had made great strides in letting him go and moving past him so she could be happy again.
That was the whole honest truth. Jack Thornton and Hunter Wade made her immensely happy.
Her phone dinged signaling a text. "Hey, babe. Want to come over for breakfast and lunch and dinner and then stay for breakfast tomorrow?"
"Yes. Give me thirty minutes, love."
"C U then."
AT JACK AND HUNTER'S HOUSE
"She's coming, bud."
"Yes!" Hunter pumped his fist in the air as he sat under a blanket on the couch watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Jack whipped up his fluffy Belgian waffle batter, adding chocolate chips at Hunter's request. "Elizabeth loves chocolate," he had told him.
As he heated the waffle maker, he cut up strawberries for the top and took out the maple syrup and whipped cream. His mouth was watering just thinking about them.
"Jack, can you make bacon?"
"I'm sure I can but I didn't hear the magic words."
"Will you please make bacon, please, please?"
"Sure can, bud."
"Yes!" He pumped his fist again.
"Anyone home?"
"Elizabeth!" Hunter paused the movie and ran over to hug his favorite guest. "Merry almost Christmas, Elizabeth."
"Merry almost Christmas to you, sweetheart." She picked him up and hugged him, feeling at home as soon as he laid his head on her shoulder.
Elizabeth walked into the kitchen where she smelled the bacon cooking. "Good morning, love," she said to Jack, Hunter still wrapped around her.
"Good morning." He leaned down and kissed her twice. "You look beautiful."
"Seriously? I'm not even dressed. Yoga pants and my Philly PD sweatshirt are my standby clothes. My hair is up in a messy ponytail and I have no make up on."
"Beautiful," he repeated. He couldn't wait to wake up to her looking like that every morning for the rest of his life.
Hunter lifted his head and smiled. "Wanna watch Grinch with me?"
"Absolutely! Let's go." She chuckled as he scampered off and hopped on the couch.
Jack washed his hands and dried them and then hugged Elizabeth. "I'm glad you're here, Beth."
They held each other for a few moments before Hunter interrupted from the couch. "Elizabeth? Are you coming?"
"Patience, bud," Jack told him. "You got to hug her first, now it's my turn."
"There's plenty of me to go around," Elizabeth said with a laugh. She kissed him softly and smiled. "I love you."
"I love you." He watched her walk away and then returned his attention to the waffles and bacon.
He laughed as they started singing at the top of their lungs, "You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch!" He joined in on the second chorus and then asked Hunter to pause it so they could pray and eat while the food was hot.
After breakfast, Elizabeth took her bags up to the guest room to get settled.
"You do know you're only staying for one night?" Jack teased from the doorway.
"Yes, smarty. This bag has presents. I need to put them under the tree."
"Something for me in there?" He stepped really close and put his hands on her slim waist.
"Maybe. I guess you will need to be patient." She rested her hands on his arms and smiled as he bent down and kissed her, his lips teasing hers. "Mm..you taste like strawberries and syrup." He kissed her deeper and longer, making her lose her train of thought. "Mmm..whipped cream."
He laughed and went to kiss her a third time. "Um, if you kiss me like that again, I might not be able to stand up properly," she told him quietly, just before his lips touched hers again.
"Good thing there's a bed behind you then," he told her, his eyes flitting from her eyes to her lips. The last thing he wanted was to stop kissing her but maybe this wasn't the time with Hunter downstairs. "I, uh….I'll put the presents under the tree." He kissed her once more, just a peck, and picked up the bag of presents.
"I'll be downstairs soon."
The rest of the morning and part of the afternoon, they watched movies, ate popcorn, and drank hot chocolate.
"Let's build a snowman," Hunter suggested.
"How about a snow family?" Jack suggested with a sweet kiss to her temple.
"Yes, let's go!" Hunter said, running to put his snow pants and gloves and hat on.
Elizabeth hadn't built a snowman since she was a child so it ended up being a lot of fun.
"We need something for eyes," Hunter told her.
"How about we use yours?" she asked him, chasing him around like she was going to steal his eyeballs.
"No!" He laughed and giggled as she chased him around the yard. "We should use Dad's!"
Jack froze in mid-roll of his snowwoman's body. Hunter had called him Dad. It sounded so natural coming out of his mouth he had almost missed it.
"What?" Hunter asked. "Why did everybody stop?" Elizabeth had stopped too.
Jack walked over and knelt down in front of him, not caring that his jeans were going to get wet. "I love you, Hunter."
"I love you too, Dad." Hunter hugged him tightly around his neck. Jack cried and Elizabeth cried watching them.
After a moment, Elizabeth realized she was frozen. Her yoga pants did not block cold or wind very well. "Alright, my loves, let's go inside and get warm. We can finish this tomorrow."
"Why? I want to finish now," Hunter told her.
"We can tomorrow. I'm freezing."
"Me too," Jack told her, his knees and the front of his legs wet from snow.
"You two are wimps," Hunter told them with a laugh.
Jack laughed and picked him up, throwing him head first over his shoulder, carrying him in by his legs. Hunter just laughed.
…..
After Hunter was settled on the couch under a blanket and the fire was lit, Jack checked his phone.
"Beth?"
Elizabeth stood and walked into the kitchen. "Jack?"
"I have a voicemail from Faith," he whispered.
"What did she say?"
"I'm scared to listen to it."
"If it was bad news, she would wait until after the holiday, don't you think?"
"Good point." His fingers shook as he stared at his phone.
She stepped up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I'm right here . Just listen to it."
He nodded and finally pushed the button. "Hey Jack! It's Faith. I wish you had answered because I want to hear your reaction. He's yours, Jack! The judge is granting the adoption. Court date to finalize will be sometime in late January. Have a perfect Christmas with your new family, Jack. You all deserve it."
Jack cried then. He cried with extreme happiness and joy. He cried with relief, and he cried because the best little boy in the world was now his son and no one could ever take him away.
"Jack?" She hadn't heard the message but it freaked her out to see his reaction to it. "What did she say?" He pushed the button to replay and handed the phone to her as he blew his nose and wiped his face. Elizabeth, of course, burst into tears again too. "When will you tell him?"
"Tomorrow.
Elizabeth put the phone down and ran to Jack, wrapping her arms around him. He lifted her off the ground and spun her around, both so full of joy.
"I'm so happy for you Jack. This is wonderful."
"What's going on?" Hunter asked, seeing their excitement.
"Nothing bud, we're just so excited we get to all spend Christmas together."
"Oh. Me too!" Without thinking more of it, he turned his attention back to his toys.
Elizabeth pulled Jack into the other room. "How are you going to tell him?"
"It's funny, I sort of planned for this. I was so afraid I was going to jinx it but somehow I just knew, you know?" She nodded. "At the beginning of the season when we ordered all the new jerseys and jackets for the team, I ordered one for Hunter."
"Right, he's worn it to all the games and loved it."
"Well, I ordered him another one too. One that says "Thornton" on the back."
"Really? Jack that's perfect!"
"You think that will be okay? I think I'll wrap it up and tell him when he opens it."
Elizabeth smiled as she looked back into the living room at Hunter. "An adoption and a puppy all in one Christmas. That boy's not going to know what hit him!" she whispered with a giggle.
"It's certainly going to be a Christmas for the record books," Jack grinned, thinking of his own surprise for Elizabeth.
Her phone buzzed in her back pocket. "Huh, it's my dad. Hey Dad, everything okay?"
"Hey Beth, yeah everything's great."
"Tell her what you did!" Grace called in the background.
"Dad, what is Mom talking about?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Dad..."
"Okay, okay. So I may have gone a little overboard on Hunter's Christmas present."
"Dad, I said to get him Legos," she whispered as she ducked out of hearing range from Hunter. "What did you do? Buy him 10 sets?" she laughed.
"No, just one."
"Tell her what else you did, dear." Grace said laughing.
"I'm gonna tell her, you just relax," he sighed. "So did you know they have these special little tables made just for Lego building? They even have storage for all the pieces."
"I have seen them yes. Oh Dad, did you really?" She laughed. "I said Legos! Not furniture!"
"I know, but it was so neat, and all I have are granddaughters, you know. It was just so much fun shopping for a boy!"
Elizabeth was still laughing, "I'm going to let Jack handle this one, Dad. Hold on a second." She waved for Jack to come over. "Its my dad. Forgive him, he did it out of love."
Jack took the phone, a little confused and curious. William explained to him the situation.
"He's yours Jack, so if you think its too much I'll just bring the Lego set and leave the table at our home for when he visits. It was just too neat not to get it for him. It's dark wood, but if that doesn't match I can run back now and exchange it for a different shade.
Jack was laughing now too. "Dark wood is fine William. It will actually fit right in here."
"So we can give it him?" William sounded like a little boy.
"Yes, thank you for thinking so much of him. He will love it."
"Of course Jack! He's a wonderful boy. Hey, is my daughter still there?"
"No, she went into the living room with Hunter. Want me to get her?"
"No, actually I want to ask, you all set for your big gift?" William and Grace knew of Jack's idea to propose and they were both ecstatic.
"Yup, all set. I'm glad you guys are coming."
"We wouldn't miss it! Alright, we'll see you tomorrow!
"Sounds great. Hey, tomorrow just pull up to the garage and we'll unload the table there until it's time."
"Can do. See you tomorrow!"
Once he was off the phone, Elizabeth walked back in the kitchen to Jack.
"Should I be apologizing for my father?" She laughed.
"Na, it's okay. It's kind of neat actually. He already loves Hunter. Can't deny that makes me happy."
"Well good. He really did seem excited. "Finally a boy to shop for."" she said mimicking her dad's deep voice.
After an early dinner they got dressed up and drove to church, meeting Jack's parents and Rosie and Lee for the Christmas Eve service. Hunter spent the first part of the service up front as one of the wise men. The kids all walked in as the choir sang. He waved happily as he saw Jack and Elizabeth, warming their full hearts.
"Picture time!" Charlotte sang as they all gathered after the service. Every year they'd take pictures in front of the beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the church sanctuary. First it was Hunter, Grammie and Pop, then Jack handed the camera to Rosie to join them, taking Elizabeth with him.
"Are you sure?" she asked, looking to both him and Charlotte for confirmation.
"Of course Lizzie! Come!" Charlotte was more than happy to have Elizabeth join them.
Next, Tom asked someone passing by if they'd take a picture of everyone, Rosie and Lee included.
As they gathered their coats to leave, Jack made a point to invite Rosie and Lee over for part of the Christmas festivities the next day. Rosie was so thankful that even though Jack was moving on, he wasn't forgetting about her. After all, he was the only family she had left now. It was easy for Jack, he considered her part of his family. His parents felt the same, thinking of her as a daughter.
"Oh, Jack, I almost forgot! I have your Christmas Eve presents!"
"Christmas Eve presents?" Elizabeth asked.
"Every Christmas, Grammie give us something to open." Hunter wiggled his finger for her to come closer and whispered, "It's always PJs."
Charlotte handed Jack and Hunter theirs and then handed the last to Elizabeth. "I even have one for you, dear."
"Oh that's so sweet, thank you."
She handed two more to Rosie and Lee. "Okay, everyone open!"
Sure enough, Jack, Elizabeth and Hunter were gifted matching red plaid PJ pants and grey sport shirts to go with them.
"Thanks, Grammie! Look, Elizabeth! You'll look just like us!"
"I will, you're right!" she giggled.
"Oh, Charlotte thank you!" Rosie and Lee smiled at each other after opening theirs. "Looks like we'll all be matchy-matchy in our beds tonight!"
Charlotte and Tom hugged everyone and turned to wink at Jack. "See you in the morning."
Back at home, the boys joined Elizabeth in a Christmas Eve tradition of hers. They curled up on the couch under a big blanket with Hunter in between them to watch the Muppet Christmas Carol with a big bowl of popcorn and some eggnog.
When Elizabeth was a child, she used to imagine doing this with her own family. She never imagined she'd find it after all the heartbreak she endured, but in that moment she couldn't imagine her life any other way.
Hunter fell asleep just before the end credits rolled over the screen. After they'd cleaned up the downstairs, Jack carried Hunter up to his room, tucking him in for the night before going back downstairs.
"Do we need to do any Santa stuff?" she asked.
"Nope. He doesn't believe in that."
"No? I thought most kids did."
"I think it's hard to when you're a foster kid. Enough Christmases go by that you get little or nothing, you kind of realize there isn't a man in a big red suit bringing you loot."
"Oh …"
"He's been with me so long I guess I could have done it with him, but I never knew if he was going back or not. I didn't want to set him up for more hurt."
"It's a rough life out there for them, isn't it?"
"It is. But not for this guy anymore. God's entrusted him to me. I'm going to make his life a good one as best I can."
"I know you will. He's so lucky to have you."
"Lucky to have us both."
"Yes, us both…" She lost herself in his deep green eyes. Seeing all the love she felt reflecting back at her. She leaned in, hoping for a kiss. He did not disappoint as he leaned in, expressing to her in his kiss the love that was stronger than anything either of them had felt in so long.
They pulled back a few moments later, still feeling a strong pull towards one another as they caught their breath.
"I should walk you to your room. Hunter will be awake and excited before we know it."
"True." She took his hand as he led her up the stairs. Making a quick stop to watch their little man sleeping soundly in his bed.
Jack closed the door and lead her down the hall towards their rooms, stopping just outside hers.
"This is me," she teased.
"I had a wonderful day with you."
"I did too. Thank you, Jack. For everything."
His lips quickly met hers again with a fire so strong, he feared it would consume them both. He wanted their life together to start now. He wanted her, no more goodnights, no more goodbyes.
Without thinking, he wrapped her in his arms, carrying her just through the doorway, out of the line of sight from the hall as they continued sharing their deep affections for one another. He wouldn't let it go further, he couldn't. Not yet.
"Jack," she gasped for breath as she pulled back ever so slightly, she rested her head against his. "If you don't go soon, I may not let you."
"Do you want me to go?" he whispered back.
"No, but yes." They laughed under their breath. "Jack, I've never, I mean I'm not one to…" She sighed. "I've been waiting."
"You've never been with anyone?" he asked gently.
"No. It's something you wait for." She looked down, a little embarrassed. Jack tilted her chin up with his finger.
"Don't look embarrassed. There's no need. I waited too. And I'll wait again, for you."
"You will?"
"Of course. I know when it's our time, everything will be perfect and well worth the wait because we will be together." He kissed her lips sweetly. "You're worth it, Beth."
In Elizabeth's mind, the conversation couldn't have gone better. She knew it would come up at some point, it just hadn't. Hunter played a pretty good chaperone in their relationship. Things had been changing lately, as they acted more and more like a family. It was now harder than ever to keep those deep yearning feelings at bay.
They kissed a little while longer, lingering a bit each time. Jack looked into Elizabeth's eyes as he pulled back, seeing the same torment he was feeling in her.
"I should be good and head to my own room," he grinned. "Goodnight, Beth." He kissed her hand and took a few steps backwards out the door, not taking his eyes off her just yet.
"Goodnight, love."
CHRISTMAS MORNING
Elizabeth woke up the next morning and stretched in bed. She was surprised to find she wasn't alone. Laying right there, curled up at her side, was Hunter, snoring away. She smiled down at him as she ran her fingers through his mess of dark curls.
"Merry Christmas, my sweet boy," she whispered, kissing the top of his head.
Clutched in his hands was an old brown beat up stuffed dog, she assumed was from his previous home. He looked so content, she closed her eyes and rested there with him.
It wasn't long, however, before Hunter woke up. He sat up and looked around the room.
"Elizabeth, wake up. It's Christmas morning! Wake up, wake up." He shook her awake again.
"I'm awake now, I swear," she giggled sitting up. "Should we wake up Jack and start breakfast?"
"Yeah!" Hunter dove out of bed and took off down the hall. "Dad! Wake up! It's Christmas!"
Elizabeth wiped a small tear from her cheek, "Thank you Lord, you've blessed me abundantly this year." She got up and met her boys in the hallway.
"Merry Christmas, Beth." Jack gave her a kiss on the cheek as Hunter pulled him down the hall.
"Merry Christmas, love."
Before they knew it, the house was full. First Tom and Charlotte, then William, Grace and Julie. Everyone meshed together well. As they finished breakfast, Tom and William sat at the kitchen table sharing glory day stories of playing high school football. Grace and Charlotte cleaned up in the kitchen while Julie hung out in the living room with Jack and Elizabeth as Hunter arranged his presents in the order he wanted to open them.
"I could just eat that boy with a spoon!" Julie whispered. "He's so adorable!"
"I know it!"
Hunter walked over to Elizabeth, "Is my gift to your parents here? Julie's too?"
"Yup, everything is under there."
He gave her a thumbs up and went back with Jack by the tree.
Soon everything was clean and a fresh pot of coffee was ready. It was present time! They all gathered around the tree in the living room. First was the stockings. Hunter's eyes glowed as he counted the amount of chocolate and Swedish fish in his. Jack had filled Elizabeth's with perfume, her favorite hand lotion, and her number one weakness, Oreos.
"Jack, aren't you going to open yours?"
"Yeah, sorry. I was just having fun watching you two."
Jack dumped his out on the floor and laughed. There was beef jerky, a bag of his favorite coffee, gum, and his weakness, sour patch kids.
"There's one more thing!" Hunter told him. Jack fished through the pile and laughed again. In his hand was a new sports whistle. "Your other one is too quiet, the team needs to hear you."
"Great idea, buddy. You and Elizabeth did great, thank you!" He hugged Hunter and kissed Elizabeth's cheek. "Who's ready for presents?"
"ME!" Hunter and Julie both yelled.
It didn't take long for most of the presents to be opened. Hunter loved his new bike from Grammie and Pop and his Lego table from William and Grace. Julie had gone Black Friday shopping and gotten him a large set of Nerf guns and extra darts.
Hunter ran under the tree grabbing the gifts from him and Elizabeth to the rest of the family and with a little help, passed them out to everyone.
"Okay, Dad, you open yours first!" Hunter said from Elizabeth's lap.
Jack would never tire of Hunter calling him Dad, "Alright, here I go!" Jack playfully ripped open the paper, his eyes watering as soon as he saw what was inside. "Wow, this is really something."
He held up a picture frame that held three 4x7 photos. The one in the center was of Hunter and Elizabeth together, the others were of them each by themselves.
"My two favorite people in one frame, this is perfect."
"There's another thing in there," Elizabeth said sweetly.
Jack looked again and saw a small photo album. Opening it he found the rest of the pictures from that photoshoot, along with others Elizabeth had collected on her phone.
"This really is perfect, thank you, guys." Hunter jumped up and hugged Jack tight, "I love you, Dad."
"I love you too, Hunter." Jack hugged him back. Everyone was fighting their own tears now. "Okay, who's next?" Jack asked wiping his eyes.
"Oh yeah!" Hunter said. "Everyone else, open them!" The family laughed as the each unwrapped their own collection of pictures, each treating them as a precious treasure.
"Hey Hunt, looks like you have a couple more." Julie said, tossing him a small box.
"That's from me and Elizabeth, bud."
He ripped it open fast but was confused when he saw it. "What the... "
"It's called a Kong." Elizabeth said, trying hard to hold in her laughter at the boys seriously confused face.
"Okay… what do I do with it?"
Jack picked him up and set him in his lap. "Well you fill it with peanut butter and dog food and the dog plays with it to get the food out."
Hunter's eyes darted around the room. "I… I'm…. I'M GETTING A DOG!" he yelled as everyone laughed.
"Yup! We'll go tomorrow and pick one out, sound good?" Elizabeth asked.
"Sounds awesome! I'm getting a dog! I'll be good and take care of it and love it, I promise! Best Christmas ever!" He danced around the room as if he was the happiest boy alive.
Jack looked over at Elizabeth, "Should I give him his big gift now?"
"I think now's perfect, Jack." She kissed his cheek just as he got up to grab it.
"Hey Hunter, come here for a sec."
"Okay Dad." He hopped over and took a seat in Elizabeth's lap. "What is it?"
"Here, open this first." Hunter took the packaging and opened it as everyone watched.
He held the jersey up, looking only at the front. "A new jersey? I have one just like it," he giggled, thinking Jack was being silly.
"This one's different. Turn it around."
He did as he was told. "It says Thornton… That's your name."
"It is."
"But it's on my jersey."
"Yup."
Hunter stared at the jersey, tears welling up. "It's my jersey?"
"Yes, it is. Bud, Mrs. Faith called me with some news."
Hunter looked back at the jersey as Jack's words began to make sense. "I get to stay?" he whispered.
"Yup. Hunter, I get to adopt you. You and I are going to be a real family. That okay with you?"
The tears welling up in Hunter's eyes spilled over as he hugged Jack, "Yes."
The room was full of tears of joys and hugs.
"Elizabeth, I get to stay! No one's going to take me away!"
"I know sweetie! It's wonderful!" She hugged him tight. "I'm so happy for you, Hunter." Wiping her eyes again she turned back to Jack.
"I guess now's a perfect time for my next gift for you, Jack." She grabbed a small box and handed it to him. "Here you go."
He opened it, letting out a sigh of contentment. "It's a mug. It say's "World's Best Dad."" He showed it to everyone.
"Yay! I like that!" Hunter giggled. "You can take it to work."
"That's a great idea, Hunter!" Elizabeth said, giving him a high-five.
Hunter gasped, and turned back to Jack, "Jack, we need to give Elizabeth her gift."
"Right now, bud?" Jack laughed.
"Yes! Right now!"
"Well, the boy says." Everyone laughed as Jack reached from behind the tree, pulling out a big box.
"Wow, that's for me?!" She playfully squealed as she tickled Hunter.
"Yup. Just for you." Jack signaled for Hunter, who was now wearing his new "Thornton" jersey, to come sit with him, giving Elizabeth a moment to open her gift.
She pulled off the first layer of paper and opened the box. Inside there was a ton of white tissue paper and another wrapped box. This one the size of a large shoebox. It was wrapped in red paper with a note attached. She pulled off the note which was in Jack's handwriting and read it aloud.
"Things I love about you: your smile, your eyes, the way you love us." She giggled and unwrapped the next box and opened it. "Another box?" she laughed, pulling off the second note. This one in Hunter's handwriting.
"I love that you play with me and that you make me feel safe."
"You give great hugs too." Hunter added with a smile.
"Thank you, sweetie, but I think yours are the best."
After unwrapping and opening that box, she found the last note. "Stand up? Really?"
"Yes! Stand up!" Hunter giggled.
She did as she was told "Alright, I'm standing now what?" She gasped as she saw Jack and Hunter down on one knee in front of her, a beautiful ring in his hand. "Jack…"
"You are amazing Elizabeth. My heart came alive again the day you pulled me over for speeding." Their family laughed. "As I got to know you more and more, it became so clear to me that God had sent an angel into my life. Yesterday I got the news that this little guy and I are a family. The only thing I can think of to make my life better is to have you with us forever."
"Jack…"
"So, Elizabeth Marie Thatcher, would you marry us?"
"Please!" Hunter added.
"Yes," she whispered, wiping her tears. "Of course, I'll marry you!"
The whole room cheered and clapped, as Jack wrapped Elizabeth and Hunter in his arms.
"Congratulations, you three!"
"Thanks, Dad." Elizabeth smiled as Jack slipped the ring on her finger.
"I love you, Beth" Jack whispered into her ear.
"I love you." She looked down at her ring and at all the family around her. "This is the best Christmas ever."