New Years Eve, 11:35 PM
Tom sat on the floor by the fireplace, Julie leaning back against his chest. He glanced around the room. Jack was sitting on the couch with Beth who was sleeping against his shoulder. Lee was on the chaise part of the couch, Rosie curled up next to him, asleep as well.
They were all chatting, talking about work and kids and life. It was low key and comfortable. Inside Tom, his emotions were running a marathon. He was nauseated and nervous.
He kissed Julie's temple, holding her closer, loving the feel of her body against his. The woman was amazing and he absolutely wanted her to be with him forever. If he could just make it through the next fifteen minutes.
….
11:50 PM
Tom nodded at Jack and then nodded toward the kitchen.
Jack followed him in there. "What's going on, bro? It's almost time," he whispered.
"Yeah. She's gonna say yes, right? I mean…"
"Tom, relax. She will not say no. In about eight minutes, you will be ringing in the new year with your new fiancé."
Another minute later, Tom held his hand out to Julie. "Wanna move to the deck? It's almost time." She accepted his hand and slipped into her coat and scarf, and then added her boots, completely oblivious to what was about to occur.
About four minutes later, the other four bundled up, Jack with his camera, and joined them on the deck.
"Its beautiful out here," Julie said, snuggled into Tom's arms.
He smiled and kissed her nose. "You're beautiful. You're everything to me Julie and I don't ever want to be without you." He knelt down and she gasped.
"Tom!"
"I need you by my side, babe, supporting me and traveling the world with me. I love with every piece of my heart." He opened the box that seemed to have magically appeared. "Will you be my wife, Julie Thatcher?"
"Yes. Yes, of course!" He stood and slipped the ring on her finger and then kissed her.
"Happy New Year!" Lee and Rosie yelled as the fireworks started and Jack took pictures, stopping for a minute to kiss Beth.
"Happy New Year, Beth."
"It is, Jack. It absolutely is."
….
Elizabeth had to work the next day so she got up and went through her morning routine. After, walking on the treadmill, eating eggs and toast and keeping it down, she took a shower and began to get dressed. Thankfully she could still button her uniform shirt and pants at this point and her gun belt had to be loosened one notch to keep it comfortable, but all in all, she still looked the part.
She walked in the station and sat down, turning on her computer.
"Hey, Beth," Lee said, squeezing her shoulder.
"Hey."
"How are you?"
"Let's see, these babies are growing fast so I'm going to need a new uniform soon and new regular clothes. But on the upside, my morning sickness is pretty much gone."
"Excellent. I'm going to head to get coffee. You want me to pick you up some tea?"
"Yeah. I need to get my reports done."
"Ok. I'll be back soon."
Elizabeth ordered two more uniforms, one for each of her next two sizes hoping to buy herself time before she gave up the uniform all together. Then she started typing her reports and inputting data.
Jack and Hunter showed up to take her to lunch at Abigail's diner. She needed time with her men and she was weirdly craving a juicy burger and French fries.
When they sat in the booth, Abigail walked up. "Hey, it's my favorite family! How are you?" She quickly caught sight of hunters crutches. "Oh dear! What happened?"
"I got hurt playing hockey. Wasn't my fault! Now I can't play."
"Well that's a bummer! You know I feel as if its been forever since I've seen you three. How's life other than this?"
"Great!" Hunter said before either of his parents could get a word in. "I'm going to be a big brother, Miss Abigail."
"You are?" she looked at Elizabeth and immediately teared up. "Can you get up so I can hug you, please?" Elizabeth stood and accepted her friend's hug. "Beth, I'm so happy for you. A baby…"
"Two, actually."
"Two? Oh my!" She gestured to Jack for him to stand. "Jack, the two of you, actually, the three of you, deserve this so much." Abigail dried her eyes. "Oh my." Then she walked away.
"Do you think she realizes she didn't take our order?" Jack said with a laugh.
"Probably not."
"Ok, I completely forgot your orders," she said, rushing back. "Beth, what can I get you?"
"Cheeseburger, French fries, and ice water, please." Everyone looked at her. "What? The babies are hungry."
….
A week later, life went back to normal for everyone. Christmas break was over and Hunter and Jack were both back at school. Jack had his coaching responsibilities and poor Hunter and a lot more free time due to his injury. Thankfully he was getting used to his crutches and getting around well on his own except for the stairs. Jack carried him up to bed each night and back down the next morning.
Elizabeth felt overwhelmed with work, family and the gender reveal party for Rosie. Jane did what she could to take as much of the weight off her as possible.
Saturday rolled around and all the pieces came together for Rosie and Lee's party. They'd rented out a private room at an Inn just outside of the city. The room had half a dozen round tables with white table cloths. One long table in the front of the room had a large gold letter balloon that said "Oh Baby!" There was an easel with a board where everyone could write their name suggestions and two baskets of ribbons. One blue, one pink. Each guest was to pick what they thought and wear it for the duration of the party.
"We did it!" Jane squealed. "This place is so Rosie!"
"Yeah, but is it Lee?" Jack smirked from the corner where he was playing a game with Hunt.
Elizabeth smiled and rolled her eyes. "Lee said to make Rosie happy, so I think we'll be fine."
"Fair enough."
Elizabeth adjusted the cake on the food table. She smiled as she heard her in-laws enter the room.
"Hey! Mom! Dad!" Jack hurried over to see them. "Glad you made it."
"Of course we did!" Charlotte smiled. The Thornton's were stepping up as grandparents on Rosie's side since both her parents had passed. It wasn't hard for them. They truly loved her and cared for her as their own.
"Where do you want this thing, Lizzie?" Tom Sr. pushed the fancy new grey and black stroller toward her.
"Oh that's perfect! We have a sheet to cover it with right here. They're going to love it."
"We saw some good ones for twins too you know. Just tell us which one and we'll take care of it."
"That's really sweet of you." Her parents had already decided to get them a crib and rocker, things were starting to feel real.
Tom and Julie arrived with the playlist and hooked it up to the speakers in the back as the rest of the guests arrived.
"Hello, hello!" Lee called into the room as he, Rosie and his parents entered.
Rosie gasped at the sight before her, tears filling her eyes. "Ladies, this is amazing! Oh my goodness!"
Jane leaned in towards Mike and squealed, "Success!"
He pulled her closer to kiss her temple. "You did great, honey."
An hour into the party, Elizabeth, with Jack's help, stood up on a chair and called out to get everyone's attention.
"Everyone gather around!" Once everyone moved towards her, Jack helped her step down. "On behalf of myself, Jane and, of course, the Coulters, we'd like to thank you for joining us in celebration of Baby Coulter!" Everyone clapped and cheered. "Now, let's review the top voted for names we've collected this afternoon!"
Jack grabbed the board with the list of names and brought it over.
"Just so you know," Lee interjected. "Just because a name's on there doesn't mean we're using it! We've got our own ideas too." Lee took a closer look at the board. "Gowan? Really, Beth?"
"Wait, how'd you know that was my suggestion?" She laughed.
"Gown is our boss. Who else would do such a thing?"
She laughed. "Well, I thought it was funny, but since you don't like that suggestion, we've got Able, Joel, Blane for a boy. Jamie, Ella and Susan for a girl."
Rosie giggled. "Not bad, but this baby is more concerned with getting cake than a name! Is it time to cut into it?"
"Yes!" Elizabeth laughed. "Everyone, it's time for the big reveal!"
They all crowded in front of the food table where the three layered cake sat. It was covered in white chocolate frosting with blue and pink flowers.
"Beth where did you get this?"
"Actually, with Jane's help, I made it!"
Lee stood back from the dessert with a look of shock.
"Don't give me that look, Coulter! I've learned a lot in the last year!"
"That's true! My apologies." He laughed. "Alright guys, before I put myself even more in the dog house with my partner, let's see who's joining the Coulter family!" Lee and Rosie both placed their hands on the cake knife and carefully cut into the cake. Placing the piece on a small plate and holding it up in the air for all to see.
"Pink!" Rosie cheered, tears filling her eyes. "Lee, it's a girl!"
He kissed her lips sweetly. "I'm a lucky man."
Off to the side, Jack stood with his arms wrapped around Elizabeth. His hands lightly resting on her belly. "What do you think, Beth? Boys, girls, or one of each?"
Elizabeth smiled up at him. "As long they're happy and healthy, I'm great with whichever."
"Me too."
…...
After helping clean up from the party, Mike drove with Jane and Mikey and spent the evening with them. It had become a daily return of the past few months. On the few days that something had come up and they couldn't meet up, he'd call, but miss their presence terribly.
After a dinner of homemade chicken and biscuits and a board game as a 'family', the boy asked Mike if he would tuck him in that night. Mike gladly agreed. They had just finished reading two chapters of the 6th Magic Treehouse book.
"Dad?"
"Yeah, Mikey?"
"I want to talk to you."
"Oh really?" Mike smiled. "Go ahead."
The little boy cleared his throat. "When are you going to stop saying goodbye at night? I want you here with us all the time. Like a family."
He curled up next to Mikey and held him tight. "I love you Mikey, your mom too. You're right that it's time. I just wanted to make asking her perfect."
"Why? I bet she'll be so happy she'll cry if you just say 'hey, let's go get married.'"
Mike laughed. In the boy's mind it was so simple. "You've brought up a good point, but I think I can do one better. Tell you what, you fall asleep and I'll have answers for you in the morning."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Good. I love you, Dad." He wrapped his little arms around Mike, making his eyes water.
"I love you too, Mikey. So much."
As he exited the boys room, he quietly closed the door behind him before heading down the stairs. At the entryway, he reached into his jacket pocket hanging on the hook.
"Hey, babe, he go down okay?" Jane asked as she finished loading up the dishwasher.
"Like a champ. We had a good talk too."
"Oh really? What about?"
Mike was busy on his phone. "Us." He hit play on Spotify before placing his phone on the counter.
"What are you up to Mr. Hickam?" Jane's face broke out with a bashful grin as he took her hand.
"Dancing with the love of my life." He held her close as their foreheads rested against one another. The slow Keith Urban song played in the background.
"Well I know there's a reason
And I know there's a rhyme
We were meant to be together
And that's why,
We can roll with the punches
We can stroll hand in hand
And when I say it's forever
You understand"
"I love this song."
"I know. It was playing in the car a little while ago and you quietly sang along. I wanted to remember every beautifully sung word. You just amaze me, Jane."
"You amaze me too, Michael Hickam."
"That you're always in my heart,
You're always on my mind
But when it all becomes too much,
You're never far behind
And there's no one that comes close to you
Could ever take your place
'Cause only you can love me this way"
"This feels nice," he whispered. "We fit perfectly together."
Jane's eyes watered. She was in heaven and completely in love with the man holding her in his arms. He was a romantic too. She had never known a love quite like that. She had loved Mikey's father, but it was different than this. She said a silent prayer that the moment would never end as he spun her around the kitchen.
"I could have turned a different corner
I could have gone another place
Then I'd of never had this feeling
That I feel today, yeah
That you're always in my heart,
You're always on my mind
But when it all becomes too much,
You're never far behind
And there's no one that comes close to you
Could ever take your place
'Cause only you can love me this way
That you're always in my heart,
You're always on my mind
But when it all becomes too much,
You're never far behind
And there's no one that comes close to you
Could ever take your place
'Cause only you can love me this way."
As the song ended, Mike dropped to one knee.
"Oh, Mike!"
"Mikey asked me today when I was going to stop saying goodbye at night and live here. He wants us to be a family. I want that too. More than I want anything else in this world. I wanted to make proposing to you grand and exciting. Something you'd never forget."
"Oh I'll never forget this…" she whispered.
He opened the blue velvet box to reveal a simple yet elegant white gold ring with a large diamond in the center and two smaller ones on either side.
"Jane, would you do me the greatest honor, of becoming my wife? I will love, cherish and honor you and Mikey for as long as I live."
"Yes," she whispered at first. "Yes!"
Mike stood and slipped the ring on her finger. "Perfect fit," he grinned.
"Finally!" Both adults turned to find 7 year old Mikey standing in the hallway.
"Bud! We had a deal," Mike laughed. "You sleep, and I'd talk to you in the morning."
"But I'm not stupid! I knew you were up to something."
Jane buried her face in her new fiancé's chest as she laughed.
"Alright then," Mike laughed. "What do you say we all celebrate with some hot chocolate? Then back to bed, little man."
"Deal!" Mikey ran to the cupboard to grab their mugs.
"I love you, soon-to-be Jane Hickam."
"I love you too, Mike Hickam."