Elizabeth and Jack walked into the thrift store with a list of things to buy. Jack held her hand as they pushed a cart. He was so incredibly proud of her. "Jack?"

"Sorry. What did you say?"

"We need to find a coat for her. I don't know what size though."

"Is she smaller than Elisa?"

"Yes, she's tiny." Jack called Tom.

"Hey, Tom. What size coat does Elisa wear? 4? Ok. Thanks. Oh, and if you can box up some of Elisa's clothes that she grew out of, that would be great." Jack hung up the phone and smiled. "Elisa wears a 4. So if we go smaller, it won't be too bad."

"Thank you."

By the time they left, they had a cart full of things, including clothes and boots, mittens, socks, and a coat, spending less than fifty bucks.

"Let's go to the office supply too, ok?" he suggested.

"Ok, why?"

"You mentioned that she needed school supplies. I want to help too."

"You are wonderful." She kissed him and then smiled.

When all was said and done, the day was emotionally draining but she felt wonderful that she would be able to start to help children that needed it.

Jack stayed at the girls apartment to help Elizabeth brainstorm. He sat on the loveseat and she sat against the arm on the opposite end, her legs on his lap. "I wish I could draw. I need to make a flyer template that we can photocopy."

"I can draw," he offered, grabbing paper and a pencil. "What do you want it to say?"

"I'm not sure yet. We need to come up with a name for the project first."

"What about the "Help Me Program"? Since you are helping all children in the school that need necessities, it makes sense."

"Ok, so maybe spell out Help Me at the top in block letters or script or something. It needs to announce the clothing and food drive and what day we are having it and where it is."

"You are going to meet with the town hall reps and the school board, right?"

"Yeah. I need to use a place in town to collect the items and then I need to make sure that the program is acceptable to the board."

"Elizabeth, tell me when and I will be there. I'm for this program a thousand percent. I'm so proud of you."

"Thank you. That means a lot."

She put her laptop on the coffee table and snuggled up next to him. "Are you hungry? We can have sandwiches or something."

"Yeah."

As they were making sandwiches, Julie walked in with Tom and Elisa and three boxes of stuff. "Uncle Jack! Miss Thatcher! I have three boxes for you."

"Hi, peanut. Thank you so much for helping." Jack picked her up and hugged her.

"You're welcome. What did I help with?"

"These things will go to kids who need clothes and coats and toys."

"Like Haven?"

"Yes, sweetie. How did you know?" Elizabeth asked.

"She didn't have a coat and her clothes had holes in them. Why don't her parents buy her new clothes?"

"Sometimes they don't have the money. Those things are expensive."

"Oh." She hugged Jack harder. "I want to give her my doll, Daddy. Can I?" she asked Tom.

"If you're sure, boo," Tom told her.

"I'm sure. I'll go get it." She grabbed Julie's hand and they both went downstairs to get it.

TOM'S APARTMENT, NEXT MORNING

Tom was making Elisa's lunch when she climbed up on the stool to watch. "Daddy, can I have two sandwiches and two oranges, please?"

"Planning on having a growth spurt today, boo?"

"No, Daddy. I want Haven to have a lunch. She doesn't bring one."

"You absolutely can have two." Tears filled his eyes. "I am very proud of you, Elisa Thornton."

"Thank you, but I don't think it's fair that she doesn't get a lunch."

"You're right, it's not. The good thing is, Miss Thatcher has a plan so no one will have to go without a lunch or a snack."

"How? I wanna help!"

"I'm sure she would love to have you help. Why don't you ask her what you can do?"

THAT DAY AT SCHOOL

Elizabeth was nervous. The day had gone well but she had a meeting with the principal and the head of the school board about her project at 3:30. The only thing keeping her sane was knowing Jack and Elisa were going with her and that she believed in the cause with all of her heart.

At 3:25, Jack walked in the room in his EMT uniform and Elisa in his arms. "Ready, Miss Thatcher?"

"I'm so nervous."

"Miss Thatcher, you don't have to be nervous. Uncle Jack is here and I am here. This is important."

"Well aren't you wise?"

"I don't know. What does that mean?"

"It means you're smart," Jack said as he set her down and grabbed Elizabeth's hand, placing a kiss on her fingers. "I believe in you, Elizabeth. You can do this."

"Thank you."

"We better go," he said as he led them out of the room.

They arrived in the principal's office at precisely 3:30.

"Miss Thatcher, please come in."

"Thank you, Mr. Avery. This is my…um…this is Jack Thornton and his niece and one of my students, Elisa Thornton."

"Jack! Nice to see you again. It's been a while."

"Hi, Bill. Good to see you." The men shook hands as Elizabeth watched.

"How do you two know each other?"

"Bill and my father were great friends. Bill and I somehow lost touch a few years back, though."

About an hour later, the group parted ways and Elizabeth was confident in the reaction of Bill and Mrs. Ramsey, the head of the school board. They were supportive and would work with her in securing a meeting with the town council.

After Jack took Elisa home, he and Elizabeth walked to The Bean. "So, Elizabeth…." He grabbed her hand and squeezed.

"So….Jack." She squeezed back.

"I noticed that you had a bit of trouble defining our relationship earlier to Bill."

"Yeah, I was nervous and I guess I have never introduced you to anyone since we started dating."

"You can call me your boyfriend. I'm good with that."

"Yeah?" He turned toward her and grinned.

"Yeah. It's probably better than "the guy I like to kiss."

"Stop." She poked him in the ribs.

"What? You don't like to kiss me?"

"You're alright." She tried not to smile but was failing.

"Just alright? If we weren't out on the sidewalk, I'd show you better than alright. I might even be able to beat our first kiss."

"You're pretty sure of yourself. However, I don't think anything could beat that one."

"Why's that, Miss Thatcher?" He leaned forward and kissed the tip of her nose.

"Because that was when I fell in love with you. Nothing can beat that feeling."

TOM'S APARTMENT, THE NEXT DAY

Tom heard a knock on the door. "Come in, Jules!" he yelled from the kitchen.

"Who's Jules?" Tom turned when he heard the voice.

"Oh. Riley. What are you doing here?"

"We need to talk. Our daughter filled me in on your plans."

"I figured she would at some point."

"You can't leave the state with her."

"Yes, I can. I have primary custody."

"She's my daughter too. You'd be violating the court order."

"Nowhere does it say that I can't leave the state. I just have to make sure you get her every other weekend. We're only moving an hour away. You'll still get her like you do now." He put the lid on the pot of soup and stared at her. "Honestly I don't see why you care anyway."

"Is Jules your girlfriend?"

"None of your business, Riley."

"If she spends time with Elisa, she's my business."

"What's your boyfriend's name this week?"

"You know, you need to grow up, Tom."

"So you say. Seems I'm the adult in this situation, same as I was in our marriage. I'm taking care of our daughter. You're the one who drank so much she'd pass out in a bar somewhere every night. You're the one who gave up on us and left."

"Babe, I'm here," Julie said as she walked in the kitchen.

"Hey." He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her cheek.

"I'm Julie Thatcher." Julie held her hand out to Riley but she ignored it.

"I'm Riley." Julie withdrew her hand.

"Oh. Um, nice to meet you."

"I see Tom has told you about me."

"A bit, yes." Julie turned and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. "What brings you by?"

"She found out about the move and decided to come in person rather than call. If you don't mind, Julie and I have plans."

"Where's Elisa?"

"Jack is watching her." Tom walked over and opened the door, hoping Riley would take the hint and leave.

"When do you move?"

"One of these days."

"Tom…"

"Just go. I'll see you Friday night, with Elisa, like always."

Once he shut the door, Julie walked over. "You ok?"

"Sure. Dinner is almost ready."

"Tom, do you want to talk about it?"

"No. I just want to enjoy our time tonight."

"I can't believe you're leaving in two weeks."

"Me either. I haven't even started packing."

"I meant because I'll miss you." She kissed his cheek and then hugged his waist.

"I'll miss you too."

THORNTON ACRES

Elisa was coloring at the table so Jack grabbed his phone and sat by the fire in the living room.

"Hey beautiful," he texted.

"Hi handsome. What r u up 2?"

"Missing u. Watching peanut. U want 2 come 4 dinner?"

"Sure. I'll be over in a bit."

"C U soon."

He smiled and went to start dinner.

Charlotte walked in and kissed Elisa's head. "Hi, hon."

"Hi, Nana."

"Hi, son."

"Hey, Ma."

"I'm just stopping in to change and I'll be out of your hair."

"Feel free to stay for dinner."

"No thank you. I have plans."

"Plans? Got a hot date?" He laughed at his own joke.

"Um kind of." Jack turned and looked at her.

"With whom?"

"I'd rather not say right now." Charlotte smiled and then left the room.

Jack went back to cooking and then the doorbell rang. "Peanut, can you let Miss Thatcher in?"

"Sure." A few minutes later Jack heard Elisa yell for him.

"Uncle Jack! Help!" He moved the pan off the burner and ran to the door.

"Riley! Let her go." Riley was trying to take Elisa with her and she was very obviously drunk.

"She's my daughter Jack," she slurred. "Not yours! Now come on Elisa! Time to go."

"Riley, stop!" Jack grabbed his phone out of his pocket and called the sheriff.

"Mommy, you're scaring me!" Elisa somehow got away from her mother and ran up the steps to Jack. "Please don't make me go with her!"

"It's ok, Peanut. You're staying with me." She hid behind his leg, staring at her mom who was trying unsuccessfully to unlock her car doors. "Sheriff Ramsey? This is Jack Thornton at Thornton Acres. I need to report an attempted abduction of a minor. Yes, the suspect is still here. She's intoxicated. Her vehicle is a 2007 Chevy Malibu. License plate BGY 909. She's a 28 year old female, light brown hair, five foot four, about 130 pounds. Riley Thornton. Yes, my ex-sister in law. Hurry please."

"Jack, what's going on?" Charlotte asked from the doorway.

"Ma, take Elisa inside."

"Why is Riley here?"

"She tried to take me, Nana! Don't let her take me!"

"Shhh…it's ok, sweetie." Charlotte picked her up and took her inside.

"Ma, call Tom."

Gratefully, Riley pretty much passed out against the side of her car so when the sheriff and Tom arrived, there wasn't much of a problem taking her into custody.

"Jack! Where's Elisa?"

"Inside with mom." Jack walked down the steps to talk to the sheriff just as Elizabeth pulled in.

"Is everything ok?" She looked frantic. "Is someone hurt?"

"No. We're ok." Elizabeth stepped up next to Jack and took his hand.

INSIDE THE HOUSE

"Daddy! She tried to take me. Please don't let her take me!"

"Come here, boo." Tom picked her up and sat with her on the couch. "Tell me what happened."

"I was coloring and the doorbell rang. Uncle Jack told me to go let Miss Thatcher in so I went but it wasn't Miss Thatcher. Mommy scared me. She grabbed my arms and tried to pull me out of the house. Why did she do that?"

"Elisa, Mommy had been drinking alcohol. When she does that, she drinks too much and that makes her act scary and do things she wouldn't normally do."

"I love Mommy but she scared me."

"I know, boo. You're safe now."

Jack helped the sheriff put Riley in the police cruiser and then he and Elizabeth walked inside.

"Uncle Jack!" Elisa ran over and begged to be held. "You saved me." She wrapped her arms around his neck and cried into his shoulder.

"I'll always save you, peanut. I love you so much." Elizabeth wiped the tears from her eyes and watched him with his niece, falling in love with him all over again. "Peanut, can you go in the other room with Miss Thatcher? I need to talk to your Daddy for a moment."

"I wanna stay with you!"

"It will just be for a minute and then I'll come get you, ok?"

Elizabeth held out her hand when Jack set Elisa down. "Come on sweetie. I'll tell you a story." Elisa allowed herself to be led away, but she looked back at Jack to make sure he was still there. "Honey, its ok. Uncle Jack will be right out here."

Jack sat across from his brother so he could look him in the eye. "Tom, you have no idea how much I blame myself for this."

"Did you tell Riley to come over and kidnap my child?"

"Of course not, but if I had gone to the door instead of.."

"Jack, stop taking the blame for something that is only Riley's fault. She got drunk and she violated her parole and the court order for custody. This is no one's fault but hers."

"But Tom…"

"Jack if you are blaming yourself, then I can blame myself too. If I hadn't told her where Elisa was, she never would have come over here. Or better yet, if I had never married her…"

"Fine. I get your point." He understood the point, but he still had guilt weighing on him.

"At least she's in jail now."

"Ramsey said he can only hold her overnight unless someone presses charges."

"I will. She tried to kidnap her own daughter. Who does that?"