The next day
Tom took Charlotte to the Sunny Side Up Diner on Main. It was a different name but it was where they met for breakfast on their first date. He asked the hostess for the table in the back by the window.
Charlotte smiled. The same restaurant and table. Now if he were to remember what she ate that day, she'd really be impressed.
When their waitress came to take their order, he ordered oatmeal for himself and scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese and onions, sourdough toast and a side of sausage, links, not patties, for her.
"You remembered that?" she asked, completely blown away.
"Of course I did. I was so taken by you, I committed everything to memory in case you were a figment of my imagination." He reached across the table and squeezed her fingers. "Char, I know we've had some close calls but I'm so grateful that God has given me so many years with you."
Her eyes filled with tears and she squeezed his hand. "Thank you. You're so wonderful."
"Oh, I didn't mean to make you cry, sweetheart." He stood and moved his chair next to hers. He wrapped his arm around her and kissed her temple.
"It's ok. It was just a ruse to get you to move over here," she said with a laugh.
"Oh, is that right?" He knew she wouldn't want him to, but he turned her face toward him and kissed her soft lips.
"Tom…"
"I'm sorry, couldn't help it."
"You're not sorry."
"Not in the least." Public displays of affection were not something she enjoyed herself. She viewed them as something to be shared in private but she would never discourage anyone else from doing so.
Tom however, mostly listened to her wishes but sometimes, he had to show her what he felt, at that moment. And at this moment, he loved her more than he could express in just words.
After they ate, they took a walk to the park, another thing they did on their first date. He offered his hand and they walked slowly, enjoying the April weather.
….
As the next couple months went on, Tom, Julie, and Beth all graduated and wedding details were in full swing for Tom and Julie. By June 15th, a week before the wedding, everything miraculously had come together.
Beth was also 20 weeks along and ready to go in for her sonogram to find out the sex of the baby. Jack didn't want to know but she did, so she asked Julie to go too and Jack would step out when it was time to reveal.
"Are you sure you don't want to find out, babe?" she teased. She knew he didn't want to but she couldn't imagine having to wait four more months to find out. She was impatient.
"Yep, I'm sure." He reached over and placed his hand on her belly. She had felt the baby move a few days before and he wanted to feel it so bad. She covered his hand with hers and kept it there as they drove the short distance.
"You guys know that you are sickeningly cute, right?" Julie wondered from the back seat of the Jeep.
"Yep, we know," Jack and Beth said in unison, laughing.
"Do you also know that a car seat will probably not fit well back here?"
"Yep, we know that too."
"So, are you going to just drive the kid around in the police cruiser?"
"There's an idea," Jack said, a gleam in his eye.
"We saved some money for a down payment on a car," Beth told her. "And we will be trading the Jeep in too. Basically we are getting a really good deal and will barely owe any money on it."
"That's great."
They parked in the lot and got out, Julie almost getting stuck on her way out of the Jeep.
"Next time we take my car."
Beth took Jack's hand and then they all headed inside. "Good morning, Thornton's!" Tina the nurse greeted. "Today's the big day!"
"I know! I'm so excited," Beth told her. "This is my sister Julie. She is going to be in there when you tell me. Jack doesn't want to know."
"Willing to wait for the surprise of a lifetime. Good man! Patient man," Tina told them. "If you'd all have a seat, we will call you back."
"Did Tom tell you where you are going on your honeymoon?" Jack asked Julie.
"No and he swore our Dads to secrecy." William and Tom paid for their honeymoon too. Jack had dragged it out of his brother. Hawaii was a paradise and perfect for a honeymoon.
Jack stayed in the room to see the ultrasound and to listen to the baby's heartbeat. It still amazed him that his son or daughter would be here in just a few months. It still felt weird to say he was going to have a son or daughter.
"Ok folks. I understand Daddy wants to be surprised about gender. Is that correct?" the technician asked.
"Yes," he said. "Is that my cue to leave?"
"Yes, sir."
"Ok." He stood and kissed Beth. "I'll see you in a few." She nodded and watched him walk out while Julie moved to where he was seated.
"Alright ladies. It appears that you are going to have a…"
….
Beth had a smile on her face for the rest of the day. It was a challenge to say "the baby" or "it", instead of giving away the gender.
Jack watched her as she did laundry and as she folded the laundry. A grin on her face because she knew. He knew that he would be happy whichever gender the baby was but she was happy because it was whatever it was.
"What?" she asked softly as she caught him staring at her.
"Nothing."
"Uh huh. Why are you staring?"
"Because you are beautiful and the smile on your face makes you even more beautiful."
"You're pretty nice to me, husband. Maybe I should reward your good behavior."
"What would that reward be?" He walked over behind her at the counter and moved her soft curls away from her shoulder so he could have access to the soft skin on her neck. The moment his warm lips touched her…
"Sickeningly cute!" Julie said as she walked in the room.
"Julie, doesn't your son need you?" Jack asked, knowing his question sounded slightly rude.
"Nah, my parents and Tom are watching him." She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and sat down at the bar. "So, what are you two up to?"
"Before we were interrupted, we were…"
"Figuring out what to do for dinner," Beth blurted.
"Dessert, maybe," Jack mumbled as he let go of Beth's hips and left the room.
"Jules, I don't want you to take this the wrong way…"
"You want me to go? I get it. I'm not completely clueless. Of course I'll go. Now you are still coming to help me set up Lane's room tomorrow, right?" She and Tom had just put a security deposit and first month's rent down on a two bedroom apartment and she wanted to finish getting it set up before the wedding.
"Of course I am. Thank you for understanding."
"Like I said, I know how things work. I was only teasing him because…well, mostly it's just fun." Julie hugged Beth. "Thank you for letting me in on the secret," she whispered. Julie bent and kissed her belly. "Bye, baby. Aunt Julie loves you."
"Bye Julie. See you tomorrow."
Julie shut the door and Beth turned. "You can come back in now, babe. She went home."
"Is she mad?" he asked as he walked back in and lifted her up on the counter.
She smiled and rested her arms on his shoulders as he stepped between her knees, his arms around her back. "No, she gets it."
"Did I mention that you're beautiful?" he mumbled as his lips met hers.
"Sorry, forgot my purse!" Julie ran back in and grabbed her purse and then ran back out.
Beth laughed as Jack stepped back. "Good grief." Jack walked over, locked the door and set the perimeter alarm before helping Beth down and leading her upstairs.
"Where are we going?" she asked, laughing.
"I want my dessert first."
….
"So did you have a good evening?" Julie asked the next morning as they unpacked Lane's room.
"Yeah," Beth said, that smile still on her face.
"Good. Five more days and maybe I'll get to have some of those good evenings myself."
"Maybe? Well, on your honeymoon you'll have good mornings, afternoons and evenings," she said with a laugh.
Julie giggled. Her mind unwillingly went back to her prom night when she had lost her mind. She knew that her stupidity had cost her the joy of her first time involving actual love. However, Lane was truly a blessing and she couldn't regret him. She did love Tom though and she knew that the experience with her husband, whom she loved, would be completely different.
"Julie?"
"I'm a bit nervous."
"About your honeymoon?"
"Yeah. I know that with Tom, it will be amazing but I guess I find myself wishing he was my first. Don't get me wrong, Lane is my heart, but…"
"Julie, it's may not be your actual first time, but it's your first time with your husband, who you love and who loves you back. Its going to blow your mind how much he means to you. How much you'll need just to have him in the same room."
"You still feel that way? After a year and a half?"
"Absolutely. I mean yes, it's a little different than immediately following the wedding, but I don't want to be away from him. He makes me whole."
"Babe?" Julie heard Tom and Lane come in the front door.
"Mama!" Lane yelled.
"In Lane's room!"
Lane toddled in and attacked her knee. "Mama!"
"Hi, sweet boy!" She picked him up and kissed his cheeks. "How are you?"
Tom smiled and kissed her hello. "Hey, can I talk to you?"
"Sure."
"Here, come to Auntie Beth, big boy. Let's try out your crib."
Tom took Julie into the kitchen. "Babe, when I tell you this, I need you to stay calm."
"Tom, nothing good starts with that sentence."
"Well, maybe you should sit."
"Good grief, please just tell me. That's even worse."
"Um, the park where we were supposed to get married is unavailable and the hotel where we are supposed to stay on our honeymoon lost our reservation."
"How can the park be unavailable? We cleared it with the city and reserved it. And our honeymoon? Now what are we supposed to do?"
She sat on the floor since they didn't have a table or chairs yet and put her head in her hands, trying not to hyperventilate.
"We could get married at your parents house."
"Fine but our honeymoon. We need that time, Tom. I need to be with you, somewhere else. I can't even believe this is happening."
"Mama!" Lane said as he walked into the room.
"Sorry, he got away from me." Beth looked at Julie sitting on the floor. "What's wrong?"
"No wedding venue and no honeymoon," Julie said quietly.
"Why? What happened?"
Tom told her and sighed. "I suggested getting married at your parent's house."
"Yes. All we need to do is let the florist and the chair rental place know about the new location," Beth told them. "I'll call them and then Mom and Dad. This will be fine, Jules, don't worry."
"I'll take care of the honeymoon," Tom told her. "Beth's right. This can happen. Don't worry, babe."
Julie nodded and kissed the top of Lane's head. "Ok."
….
Jack offered his arm to Beth and they walked down the aisle toward the flower arch where Tom and the minister stood.
"You look beautiful, babe."
"Thank you." She felt beautiful. She was five months pregnant but her dress embraced that instead of hiding it. Walking down the aisle again with her husband definitely felt different than walking with her father toward her fiancé. "I love you, Jack," she whispered as they separated and stood in their places.
As Jack watched his brother marry Julie, he kept his eyes on Beth. At one point, their eyes met and held. "I love you," he mouthed and she winked back at him.
"May we have the rings?" That was his cue. He handed both rings to the minister who gave them to Tom and Julie.
A few moments later, Julie Thatcher was Julie Thornton and they were headed back down the aisle.
….
Tom stared at his wife. She looked amazing and smelled amazing and he just wanted to get away from everyone and be alone. But there was cake and a first dance and….
"Honey?" She walked up close and touched his hand. "You ok?"
"Of course. I just wish…"
"We could go somewhere?" she asked, finishing his thought.
"Yeah."
She grabbed his hand and led him to her old room and shut the door. "Is this a little better?"
He nodded. "Perfect." He smiled and pulled her close, his eyes taking in everything about her. "I love you." His fingertips grazed her collarbone making her shiver. "I can't believe we finally did it." Someone knocked on the door. "Can we have a few moments?" he asked, rather impatiently.
"Sorry, but the photographer wants pictures and Lane is crying for you and Mom and Dad are asking where you are," Beth told them. "I tried to hold them off."
"Thank you, Beth," Julie told her. She gave him a kiss and smiled. "Tonight, hon. You and me. No interruptions."
He couldn't wait.