Saturday morning came and around ten, just like every other day of the week, Jack came in for coffee, of course this time with Sawyer.
"Hi, boys. Happy Saturday."
Sawyer seemed a bit reserved. He didn't go running to the corner to be with Brennan. He stayed next to Jack.
"Hey, Sawyer, you feel ok?" she asked, kneeling in front of him. He shrugged. She touched his flushed cheek and then kissed his forehead. "You feel warm. Does anything hurt?"
"My head I guess."
"Aww. I'm sorry. Would you like some hot cocoa?"
"No thanks."
She watched as he walked away toward Brennan. "He has a slight fever, Jack."
"Yeah, I noticed that this morning too. He may just be coming down with a cold or something."
"Maybe." He loved the concerned look on her face. Such a good mother. The thought brought to mind Sawyer's revelation the previous day about wanting Mrs. Campbell to be his Mommy. "What?" He had been staring.
He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "Nothing. I guess I need my coffee."
Elizabeth kept an eye on Sawyer as she chatted with Jack. Now he was laying down on a soft chair, his hand on his tummy. "Hold on, Jack." She walked over and knelt in front of Sawyer again. "Sawyer, honey, does your tummy hurt?"
"Yeah. I don't feel good." Then he promptly vomited all over the floor and Elizabeth.
"Eww," Brennan said from a few feet away.
Jack rushed over. "I'm sorry, Elizabeth. Where are your cleaning supplies?"
"Closet," she pointed. "Do you feel better now, bud?"
"No, my tummy hurts," he said with a cry.
"Can you show me where?"
He pointed to his right side. "Jack, we may need to get him to the hospital."
He walked over with paper towels and a spray bottle. "It could just be the flu."
"Yes, but it could be appendicitis."
"What's that?" Sawyer asked, tears rolling down his face. "Ooww."
Elizabeth pulled her sweatshirt over her head, grateful she had a tank top underneath. "Something in your tummy needs a doctor to take a look at it. Don't worry, sweetie."
She ran inside her office and shut the door so she could change her jeans and slip on a flannel. When she came out, Jack had finished cleaning the chair, floor and Sawyer the best he could. She handed him a shirt for Sawyer. "Thanks. Stand up, buddy. Let's get this shirt on you and then we will go get you checked out."
"I'm scared, Daddy!"
"I know, but it will be ok."
He slipped the old shirt off and put the new shirt on. Sawyer walked over to Elizabeth and leaned into her hip with his head. "What is it, sweetie?"
"Can you carry me?"
"Sawyer, Mrs. Campbell has to stay here. Her book store is open."
"Please?" he cried. "I need her."
"Of course I will," she told him. She locked the door and put the closed sign up.
As all this was happening, Brennan watched his mom paying a lot of attention to Sawyer. It made him feel left out. He knew he was sick, but why did he have to need his mom?
"Come on, Bren, let's take Sawyer to the doctor." Elizabeth bent down and picked up Sawyer.
They piled into the car and Jack made his way to the children's hospital about thirty minutes away.
Sawyer threw up again, but thankfully in a trash can Elizabeth suggested Jack grab from the store.
When they got to the Emergency room, Sawyer once again asked Elizabeth to carry him and Brennan walked beside Jack.
They walked up to the reception desk. "How can I help you?" the woman behind the glass asked.
"My son is sick. We think it may be appendicitis," Jack told her, taking out his insurance card and ID.
"What's his birthdate?"
"August 5, 2013."
"Full name?"
"Sawyer Matthew Thornton."
"Ok, thank you." A nurse walked up then.
"Ma'am, you can bring your son right in here," she pointed to the triage room.
"Oh, actually, I'm just a friend. This is his dad."
Jack took the now limp Sawyer from Elizabeth and kissed her cheek. "Thank you."
She nodded and watched them head behind the close door.
She took Brennan's hand and headed over to the chairs by the window. Brennan climbed up on her lap and put his head on her shoulder. It was good to have her back.
"Mom?"
"Yes?"
"Is he going to be ok?"
"Yes. He will be fine."
"Daddy came to a place like this and he never came home. Sawyer isn't going to die, is he?"
Elizabeth moved Brennan so she could look him in the eye. "Your Daddy got in an accident. He was hurt really bad. But Sawyer is going to be ok. He might be sick, but the doctors will make him better."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"Are you going to be his Mommy too?"
"Right now Mr. Thornton and I are just friends." Even though she was pretty sure she wanted it to be more.
"I think Sawyer wants you to be his Mommy."
"One thing I can tell you for sure, Brennan. I will always, always be your Mommy. The rest, we will just have to wait and see.
….
Thankfully, it turned out to be just the flu. Miraculously, no one else caught it and he recovered nicely.
One afternoon, the week before Thanksgiving, Jack stopped by the store after school with an older woman and Sawyer.
"Hi, Mrs. Campbell!"
"Hi, Sawyer!"
"This is my Grandma Charlotte."
She came out from behind the desk and offered her hand to the older woman. "Its good to meet you. I'm Elizabeth."
"Charlotte Thornton. Good to meet you too, finally. My grandson talks about you all the time."
"Oh yeah?" Elizabeth's face was red, she could feel it.
"Yeah. Good things, I assure you."
Jack watched his mom heading over to see Brennan with Sawyer. He was so so grateful she hadn't mentioned Sawyer's "Mrs. Campbell is gonna be my Mommy" comment he made that morning at breakfast.
Jack had almost choked on his eggs when he had said it.
"Jack?"
"Yes."
"Want some coffee?"
"Um no."
"So that's your Mom?"
"Yeah. She decided to come visit this morning at breakfast."
"What's up, Jack? You seem different."
"Will you go out with me?" he blurted.
"Like a date?" she asked with a smile, kind of enjoying his nervousness.
"Yeah. I mean, if you're not ready, I'll wait as long as it takes, but after the hospital….and you know we see each other every day I just figured that you might be up for it."
"You're rambling," she told him.
"I'm nervous. It's been a long time since I've asked anyone out."
"Its me. You don't need to be nervous."
He stopped pacing and just stood and waited. "I'm nervous because it's you."
"Where would this date take place?"
"Maybe a movie? Or putt putt?"
"Its kinda cold for putt putt, don't you think?"
"I'll keep you warm." Her eyes got big for a second before she smiled. "I mean, there are ways to keep warm."
"Like a blanket? A fire in the fireplace?"
"I was thinking coats or sweatshirts but yeah, those would work too."
She stepped closer, putting her hand in his. "I think a date is a good idea. Putt putt sounds fun."
"Mom! Mrs. Thornton is gonna babysit so you can have a date! Isn't that great?" Brennan asked.
Elizabeth laughed at Jack. His neck was turning red. "Pretty sure I would say yes?"
"No! I was so nervous, I just wanted to be prepared because I knew one of your questions would be about who would watch the boys."
"You're adorable." She squeezed his hand and went to straighten the shelves.
….
So, they decided that two days later, Saturday, Charlotte would drive through town, pick up Elizabeth and Brennan and take them both to Jack's house where she would watch the boys for the afternoon and evening.
Saturday at one, she closed her store, took Brennan home and got both of them ready.
"Mom?"
"Yes, baby?"
"What's a date?"
She found it funny that he had been so excited to tell her she could go on one and he didn't even know what it was. "Well, it's when two grown-ups go somewhere alone or sometimes in a group to get to know each other."
"But, you know Mr. Thornton."
"Yes, but not for very long. This way we will have the chance to talk without any little Brennans or Sawyers interrupting."
He laughed. "I like Mr. Thornton, Mom."
"Me too, baby."
"He's really nice and he makes you smile."
"He does."
"I think it would be so cool if I had a brother. Named Sawyer even."
She turned and looked at her son. "Is that right?"
"Yup. And a dad named Mr. Thornton."
"Bren, are you packed? Mrs. Thornton is going to be here very soon."
"Yes. I have underwear and PJs and my good jeans and a polo and a toothbrush and a brush."
"And socks?"
"Yup. I'm gonna go watch out the window!"
She smiled and looked at herself in the mirror. She couldn't believe she was going on a date with someone. Two months before, after meeting him, she was not ready, but now she was. This was going to be good.
She took a deep breath, slid her wedding ring off her finger and put it in her jewelry box.
"Ok, Bren. Let's do this!"
….
Jack watched out the window for his mom's minivan to pull in his driveway. He could not believe how nervous he was.
She was right. It was Elizabeth. His friend and now date, Elizabeth. She was beautiful and smart. She was a great mom and they had so much in common. Not to mention they made each other happy. What was there to be nervous about? ***Maybe that if you don't have as much chemistry as you think you do, this might ruin your friendship. Or maybe that it will go perfectly and you'll actually fall in love with her. *** Jack brushed aside his thoughts.
"They're here, Dad!"
He blew his breath out and took another deep breath and did the same. ***You can do this, Jack. You deserve it. She's worth it.***
She certainly was and so was Brennan and Sawyer.
"Hi, Mr. Thornton!"
"Hi, Bren! How are you?"
"I'm good. I hope you have fun on your date."
"Thanks, bud." He grinned and then kissed his mom's cheek. "Thanks, Ma. For watching the boys."
"Yes, thank you, Mrs. Thornton."
"Nonsense. Call me Charlotte and it's my pleasure. Now you two go and have a good afternoon."
"Bye, boys!" Jack called.
"Bye, Dad!" they both said with a giggle. Then they threw in, "Bye, Mom!" for good measure.
Jack led Elizabeth into the garage and unlocked the car, opening her car door for her. "Thank you."
"My pleasure."
As they drove toward the mini-golf place, they chatted like they always did. It felt comfortable to both of them, which was a relief.
"I'm glad we're doing this," he told her.
"Me too. I think our silly boys are more than glad."
"Yeah, they are. I was thinking after golf, we could go to dinner?"
"Sure."
"I made a six o'clock reservation at DiMillo's On the Water. Have you ever been?"
"No, but I'm up for it."
"Great."
He turned his palm up on the center console hoping she would indulge him. She did. She slid her hand into his, intertwining their fingers. He noticed she had removed her wedding ring. It had been there the day before, he was positive.
He looked at her quickly, then returned his eyes to the road. "You took it off?"
"It was the right time. I'm ready, Jack. This feels perfect."
He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "I agree."
…..
An hour later….
"No way! You cheated, Jack Thornton. I saw your boot block my ball." She stood, her hands on her hips, one eyebrow up.
She probably had no idea how adorable she was when she did that. "I have no idea what you're talking about." He grinned as she walked over and pointed.
"Look down. Your boot is still covering the hole."
"Ok, you got me." He stared into her eyes and fell deep. "Hook, line, and sinker."
"So it's a tie?"
"It's a tie." He kissed her temple and smiled. "We should go. We have thirty minutes before our reservation."
They returned their balls and clubs to the front building and then walked to the SUV.
"I'm getting lobster, I already decided," she announced.
"I'm getting prime rib. It's been so long since I've had a steak that someone else cooked. I can't wait."
"Maybe we can each eat half and then switch. Like surf n turf."
"Ok. I'm up for that."
They walked into the restaurant, which was an old former car ferry. The sun was setting so the atmosphere was definitely romantic.
They were seated by the window. "I'm Gretta, I'll be your waitress this evening. Can I start you off with some wine or a beer?"
"Do you want wine, Elizabeth?"
"Yes, maybe a merlot?"
"Very good. Here are your menus. I'll be back soon to take your orders."
Jack took her hand across the table. "Do you want to get an appetizer?"
"I don't know. Did you see the prices? I'm ok with just a bowl of soup. I don't need lobster."
"Elizabeth." He squeezed her hand gently so she would make eye contact. As soon as she did, he continued. "This is our first date. I planned for it to be special and I want you to get whatever you want. Forget the prices."
"But, are you sure?"
"Get the lobster. And I think the bacon wrapped scallops sound good for an appetizer, don't you?"
"They sound amazing."
So they got all of that, including the best blueberry cobbler either of them had ever had. Three hours later, they decided they better go.
"I don't know if I've ever been this full," she said as he held her car door open for her. "But it was so good. We need to come back again. Maybe bring the boys mini golfing and have lunch here."
"Good idea. In the summer before we head to Atlanta, we should definitely do that."
When they pulled up to her apartment, he once again hopped out and opened her door.
"Do you want to come up for some coffee or tea?"
"Do you have decaf?"
"I do."
"I'll have a cup, sure."
Elizabeth had enjoyed every single minute of their date. Now though, she was about to show him her apartment. A side of herself that he hadn't seen yet. It made her nervous.
"Jack, it's small. It's nothing fancy."
He sighed as they reached the top of the stairs. "Elizabeth, I want you to know something."
"What?"
"It doesn't matter to me that you live here. Or that it's small." He held both of her hands in his. "What matters is that you are an amazing mother and you are so strong and independent and smart. You made it through one of the hardest things anyone has ever gone through and you only got stronger. I am so proud of you and I am so grateful that I know you."
"That is probably the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you."
"I meant every word."
She squeezed his hand and opened the door, thankful she was a neat person.
"This is it."
"Its perfect for two people."
"Yeah." It was really all they needed, even if she wished it had nicer furnishings or appliances. "Thank you for tonight, Jack. It was perfect."
He stood in the kitchen while she used an old fashioned drip coffee maker. "No Keurig up here, huh?"
"This is cheaper, plus I think it tastes better."
"What are your plans for Thanksgiving?"
"Viola invited me but I think we may just do it here. Just me and Bren."
"Is that what you want?"
"No, but Viola and her husband still act like newlyweds and right now, I don't want to feel like a third wheel."
"You and Bren could spend it with me and Sawyer at my parents house."
"I don't want to impose."
"Mom suggested it and I would love to have you there."
She stepped close to him, resting her hands on his waist. "I would love to be there."
"Good." He sighed as he wrapped his arms around her, her head tucked against his neck. At this point, he couldn't even fathom why he had been nervous before. All he felt now was peace.