March
Elizabeth dropped the dogs and kids off at Pop and Mom's house before driving to Billings to surprise Jack for dinner and a night at the hotel for their fifth anniversary.
He got off work at five so she planned to get there slightly before. She had dressed in a deep blue maternity dress and low heeled black dress boots. She wore her hair down because he loved it that way and she brought him a pair of dress pants, a button down and shoes.
When she walked in the ER, she looked around. She was happy not to be there as a patient. She looked into the nurses area behind the check in and saw Jack standing there, making notes on a computer.
"What can I do for you, ma'am?" the beautiful dark haired nurse asked her.
"I'm here to see my husband." Jack turned when he heard her voice.
"Elizabeth? What are you doing here? Give me one moment." He finished his notes and then came out the side door. "Are you ok?"
"Of course I am."
"You look beautiful."
"Thanks."
The nurse cleared her throat. "Sorry to interrupt, but Jack aren't you going to introduce me?"
"Oh, um, Sandy, this is my wife, Elizabeth. Hon, this is Sandy."
"Nice to meet you," Elizabeth said, feeling self conscious as the nurse stood with her thin waist and nice figure that looked beautiful even in scrubs.
"Finally. Jack talks about you but I thought he must be exaggerating. He wasn't."
"What do you mean?"
"He always mentions how gorgeous you are and sweet and…well, you are those things. What are you all dressed up for?"
"Its our anniversary. I'm taking Jack out to dinner."
"You are? I thought we were celebrating this weekend."
"Surprise."
"It is. My only thing is, I need a shower and I'm in scrubs. Hardly dinner attire."
She lifted the garment bag. "I have your clothes. Do you have showers here?"
"Yeah, we do. Okay, I'll go get cleaned up and be out soon." He started to walk away but came back and kissed her, drawing attention to them. "Mmm. I'll be back."
She blushed and decided to head to the waiting room to sit down but Sandy stopped her. "Oh, Elizabeth, why don't you wait in the lounge? You don't need to be catching anything since you're pregnant."
Elizabeth smiled and followed Sandy through the doors and into a kitchen. "Thank you."
"Five years, right?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"Like I said, Jack talks about you and Fin and Joe all the time."
"Oh." It was a relief because she knew Sandy knew he had a wife and kids.
"Well, enjoy your evening."
"Thank you."
About ten minutes later, Jack showed up. "There you are. I'm starving. Where are you taking me?"
"Athena's."
"Mmm. Greek. Sounds great."
When she stood but looked down and smoothed her dress over her rounded tummy instead of following him, he stopped.
"You look gorgeous, honey." Every pregnancy she had moments of insecurities over how she looked and he tried his best to wipe them away.
"She's pretty."
"Who?"
"Sexy, even in scrubs." She looked toward the door and tried not to cry.
"Are you talking about Sandy?"
"Her hair is so shiny and her waist is like…"
Jack shut the door and stepped toward her. "I need you to stop, Elizabeth Thornton. You are my wife and I only notice you. Sandy is like a sister, maybe less, and I've made it abundantly clear to her that my heart is with you and our kids." He wiped the tears that had fallen from her eyes and then hugged her. "I love you so much and I love everything about how you look." She nodded and tried to smile. "Do you believe me?"
"Yes." How could she not?
"Good. Now I'm pretty sure if I wait much longer to eat, my stomach is going to eat itself." Elizabeth giggled and reached up to kiss him.
"You look good," she said, flirting.
"Thank you."
He walked toward the door and offered his hand. She took it and proudly walked out of the room with him.
…
"I'm full," she said after taking one bite of the bougatsa Jack had ordered for dessert. The combo of buttery phyllo dough and custard was good, but too rich for her.
"More for me, I guess." He popped one in his mouth and smiled. "Thanks for dinner, babe. This was a nice anniversary."
"Oh, it's not over yet, cowboy."
His eyebrows shot up. "Do tell."
"I got us a room for tonight."
"Yeah? Wow, ok. That's sounds great."
"We need to check in about thirty minutes from now."
He signaled for the waiter and asked for the check. When it came, she snatched it up before he could look. "My present, remember?"
They left the restaurant and drove their vehicles to the hotel. After checking in, they walked to the elevator and pushed the 2nd floor button and waited as the elevator climbed briefly.
Once they swiped their door key and walked into the room, she took off her boots and put their bag on the bed. "I'm going to go change." He nodded, thinking whatever she was changing into must be something special so he changed in the room.
She walked out in a blue babydoll nightgown that fell mid thigh with a matching robe. "Hey."
"Hi, beautiful." He took her hands and smiled before kissing her softly. "You look amazing." The sight of her carrying his child always made him fall deeper, further in love with her. "Thank you for surprising me."
….
End of July
Elizabeth folded the new baby sleepers Julie had brought. Gray and green and navy would work for either sex even though Jack insisted it was a girl.
"Mama?"
"Yes, sweetheart. I thought Daddy was reading you a story before bed."
"He did. But I wanted to say goodnight to you."
"Oh, ok." She put down the tiny socks that would cover the baby's feet within the next few weeks and gave Fin a hug.
"Whoa!" Fin felt a big kick when she hugged her. "He kicked me."
"Yeah. You think it's a boy?"
"Yeah. Another brother would be good."
"You don't want a sister?"
"Never had one," she said with a shrug. "I have a brother and he's ok I guess."
Elizabeth smiled and kissed Finny. "I love you, baby. Time for bed."
"Ok, night, Mama."
"Night, Fin."
Elizabeth finished folding clothes, putting the navy sleeper, matching hat, and a pair of white socks in the hospital bag along with her items she knew would be necessary.
She looked in the mirror, turning to the side. As she turned, her whole belly shifted as the babe inside tried to get comfortable. "Wow, little one. Sorry it's so cramped. You can come out whenever you want. I'm ready to meet you."
Jack walked in as she tried to get comfortable on her side in the bed. "Hey, sweetie."
"Hey."
"Jack we really should come up with a boy name."
"No need."
"I just have a feeling that since you think it's a girl, it will be the opposite."
"I still like Drake." He new she disliked the name, or had the last time he brought it up.
"How about if this baby is a girl, you name her, Jack. On the off chance it's a boy, I name him."
"I thought you wanted Hadlie Charlotte?"
"I love Hadlie but we are still having two more kids after this one. So just pick a girls name that goes with Charlotte and I'll use Hadlie later."
"Ok."
….
A week later, in the middle of the night, when Jack was at work, he got a phone call at the nurses station.
"Nurse Thornton," he said, answering the phone.
"Jack, this is Mom. I'm dropping Pop and Aubrey at your house and bringing Elizabeth in. She's in labor."
"Really? Ok, has her water broke?"
"Yes, about an hour ago and her contractions are coming fast."
"I knew I should have stayed home. She seemed more miserable than usual."
"Should be there within an hour. See you soon."
"Thanks, Ma."
He told Sandy what was happening and that as soon as he got the text, he was heading to 3rd floor L & D. She agreed and told him to have a nice week off as planned.
Thankfully it was a slow night in the ER so he headed upstairs the moment his Mom texted they had arrived.
He met them in triage. "Hey, sweetie," he said, kissing her hello.
"Hi." She breathed through a contraction, holding his hand and squeezing.
Charlotte stepped out of the small room and went searching for a coffee shop down the hall.
Elizabeth was taken to a room and hooked up to fetal monitors and then they waited for her OB.
"Well, if it isn't the Thorntons," he said as he walked in.
"Hey, Dr. Brocker. Good to see you," Elizabeth said, smiling.
"How are you feeling?"
"Oh, tired but ready." The doc examined her for progress and watched how she and the baby handled the contractions.
Jack watched his face as he watched the monitor. Jack knew a bit, but not enough. "Doc? Something wrong?"
"Well, as Elizabeth contracted, the baby's heart rate dipped quite a lot and stayed there longer than I like to see. She's about seven centimeters. I'm going to sit here a few minutes and watch through another contraction."
A nurse came in and watched and then slipped an oxygen mask over Elizabeth's nose and mouth. "This should help get the baby a bit more oxygen," the nurse told them.
Jack squeezed Elizabeth's hand and nodded. "Its ok, honey." He could see the worry in her eyes.
After the next contraction the doctor and nurse helped her lay on her side and kept the oxygen mask on her.
Another while later, the doctor checked her progress and she was still at seven. "Jack, Elizabeth, I'm not seeing enough improvement in your baby's heartbeat. I think a Caesarean is your baby's best option. It's not handling labor well and you aren't progressing fast enough to deliver naturally."
Jack saw a tear escaped her eye. "Can you give us a minute, Doc?"
"Yes, but we need to do this soon."
The nurse stayed back giving them a moment. Jack leaned over her and kissed her forehead. "I love you, sweetheart." She nodded and took her mask off to kiss him.
"I'm scared, Jack. I can't lose this baby."
"We aren't going to. That's why we need to let them get him or her out. I'm going to scrub up and get a gown and then I'll be right in there with you."
"Promise?" He nodded, kissed her again, and put her mask back over her nose and mouth.
The next few minutes flew by. An anesthesiologist came in along with a few nurses and the surgeon. She was given an epidural and then wheeled away very quickly. Jack shot a quick text to everyone, including her parents and then got ready to join Elizabeth in the operating room.
….
Jack marveled over the speed with which the surgery happened. Within five minutes of getting in the room, he heard his baby boy cry. Both he and Elizabeth were relieved when they heard him and then saw his perfect face.
"A boy," he told her with a laugh. "You were right, sweetheart." He kissed her softly and then gratefully accepted his six pound five ounce son from the nurse after they checked him out.
"He is breathing well on his own and he's healthy, folks. Congratulations. What's his name?"
Jack looked at Elizabeth. "You picked, right?"
"Jacob William Thornton."
"Good name. Congratulations again."
Jack held Jacob up to Elizabeth's face. "Hi, honey. Mama loves you so much. I'm so glad you're ok." She kissed his soft cheek and let her tears flow. He opened his eyes and looked at her and then gave a loud cry making her smile. "Its ok."
Thirty minutes later Elizabeth was in recovery and dozing while Jacob slept in his bed next to her.
Jack was in the waiting room chatting with his Mom and Grace and William who had called, showing pictures.
"So they are both ok?" Grace asked.
"Yes, both doing fine."
"Would it be ok if we came to visit? I assume she will need help for awhile."
"Of course, Mom. I'm sure Beth would be glad to have as much help as possible. When we should we expect you?"
"Will said we will fly out tomorrow. So about mid-day."
"Ok, see you then. I'll send some pictures."
"Good. Love you."
"Love you too, Mom."
….
Elizabeth opened her eyes when she heard Jacob cry. Within a moment, her nurse was there to pick him up. "Wanna try nursing? He's probably hungry."
"Yes, of course." The nurse moved his bed across the room and waited for Elizabeth to lower her gown. Elizabeth reached for him. "Hi, Jake. Are you hungry, baby?" His little lips trembled and he let out another good cry. "I guess that's a yes." She kissed him and then gently held him to the side. She had never fed a baby in that position before but it seemed necessary with a sore belly.
"How's your pain level?"
"Its maybe a three."
Elizabeth adjusted Jacob and smiled when he finally latched on correctly. "There you go, sweet boy. Good job." She wiped a stray tear that was always present and stroked his soft cheek with her thumb.
Jack peeked in. "Hey, Mom's here. Can we come in?"
"Sure."
They came in and Charlotte smiled. "Oh, he's wonderful, sweetie."
"Thank you. He is." Charlotte kissed the top of her head and then hugged Jack, hiding her tears. "Did you talk to my parents?"
"Yeah. They'll be here tomorrow."
"They're flying in?"
"Yeah. Your mom wants to help take care of the kids since you'll be recovering for quite a few weeks."
Elizabeth burped Jacob a few moments later and since he had fallen asleep, she handed him to Charlotte so she could sleep too.
Jack kissed her goodnight and shut off the light right above her bed. "I love you," he whispered.
"Love you more."
****Two more chapters to go folks! Let me know what you like about this story. I'd appreciate specifics if possible. Thanks!***