Jack smiled at the framed drawing Elizabeth had given him for Christmas a few weeks before. It was of Bren and Sawyer and it was great. She said that she loved to draw but didn't do it often. In his opinion, she could make some extra money doing it with her talent.
Money seemed to be a serious and touchy subject with her. He knew that she struggled to make ends meet and that she seemed to take it personally when he bought Brennan gifts because it wasn't something she could afford, even if she wanted to. So he respected her requests and always consulted her first.
So when he sat down this night in mid-January, he thought about whether she would want to choose her own engagement ring or if he should do it. He certainly was planning on pulling out all the stops. He planned to do it on Valentine's day, at DiMillo's On The Water because that was where their first date had been. He had the reservation all set, had told the manager that he wanted extra candles around their table and that he was having a dozen roses delivered there for the occasion.
He dialed Viola for advice. "Hi, Jack."
"Hi, Vi. Do you have a moment?"
"Sure. Need me to pick up Sawyer for you this afternoon?"
"No, not today. I need some advice about your sister."
"Beth?"
"Yes. Can I count on you to keep this quiet? I don't want Bren to somehow find out and spill the beans. This is going to be a huge surprise."
"You're going to propose! Oh my goodness!"
"Yes, on Valentine's but the advice I need is about a ring. You know her better than anyone. Would she prefer to pick it out herself or should I do it?"
"You definitely. My sister would go for the smallest or most simple ring. With Tyler she only wanted a plain gold band. I think you should go all out."
"But knowing her, she wouldn't want anything huge."
"No, so I'd say nothing bigger than two carats."
"Do you know her ring size?"
"Same as mine. Six and a half."
"Ok, thanks, Vi. Remember, keep it to yourself, please!"
"Jack."
"Yeah?"
"I'm so grateful for you. You and Sawyer brought her back to life. She's happy."
"So am I."
"Congratulations, Jack."
"Thanks, Vi."
….
"Now what am I supposed to wear? Out for Valentine's? I've always stayed in on that night."
"We could go shopping."
"Vi, I'm putting my extra money towards Brennan's birthday gift. I don't have more."
"I have a dress you can wear. You will look amazing."
"Can you bring it this afternoon when you drop off Bren?"
"You got it."
"Thanks." Elizabeth felt a bit better. When Jack asked her to go out to dinner on Valentine's with him, she grew nervous. They really had only gone out the one time alone. Valentine's had a huge hype associated with it and she didn't know what to expect. Thank goodness for Vi.
She showed up two hours later with a gorgeous burgundy, lace, off the shoulder dress with three quarter length sleeves. "Vi, this is beautiful."
"And you are going to stop traffic. Here's some shoes too."
"You're a life saver."
"Nah. What are sisters for?"
"Is that for your date, Mom? Jack is gonna love it."
"Yeah. I hope so."
"Can I have a snack?"
"Sure, baby. I have some pretzels in the office."
He ran off and Vi made herself a cup of coffee. "Don't be nervous."
"I'm not….how did you know?"
"Oh, your frantic phone call about what to wear tipped me off."
"Its only our second alone date."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I mean we eat dinner at each others houses but the kids are there. We have gone to the movies with them and out for ice cream, that sort of thing. But alone, this is the second one."
"Well, its Jack. You love him, yes?"
"Very much."
"And he makes you happy. So nothing to overthink. Nothing to be nervous about. Just enjoy yourself."
Elizabeth nodded. "Of course."
"So, what are you going to do with your hair?"
….
As it turned out, she had thought about it and decided Vi was right. There wasn't a thing to be nervous about.
She was able to do her own hair, getting it to look romantic in an easy up-do. She did her fingernails and toenails, and added a pair of diamond earrings her sister had lent her.
She turned to check out the back of her dress. "Not bad," she said to herself.
She heard her door buzzer and took a deep breath. Time for some romance.
She walked to the door, opened it, and lost her words and her breath. He looked devastatingly handsome. "Jack."
"Hey, beautiful. You look amazing," he told her, kissing her softly.
"So do you. Wow." She appreciatively let her eyes roam his suit.
"Really?"
"I've always liked the no tie look." She winked and grabbed her black dress coat from the hook.
"Allow me, sweetheart," he said, taking her coat and holding it for her as she slipped her arms in.
"Thank you." His term of endearment made her feel all gooey inside. "Where are we headed tonight?"
"It will be a surprise but I know you'll love it."
"Chances are good since I'm with you."
He offered his hand and led her out the door and waited for her to lock it.
A few moments later they were in the SUV and headed south. "I was so nervous."
"About tonight?" he wondered. "Why's that?"
"Its only our second date."
"We've been on lots of dates."
"Not alone. The kids are always with us, which is totally fine, but I just…this is still new."
Now he was worried. New? They were going on five months of knowing each other. They saw each other every day. Talked on the phone every night. It wasn't new. Not to him.
"Jack?"
"Yeah." She saw his jaw clenching as he drove.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." He couldn't tell her.
"Tell me. You seem upset."
"Not upset. Confused."
"About what?"
He pulled into a parking lot and put the SUV in park. "I don't understand. This, us, it's not new. It's been almost five months. We love each other. Sawyer calls you Mom. How is this new?" Sawyer had started doing that in the last week. It made her so happy.
She grabbed his hand and held it tight. "Loving you isn't new. Loving Sawyer isn't new. Dating, going out and eating alone…I just meant it's something I'm not used to."
He looked at her. He loved her so much it was almost overwhelming. She was gorgeous and he cherished every single memory they made together. He wanted tonight to be another one of those.
"Jack? Tell me what you think. Please." She touched his cheek, stroking with her thumb.
"I love you, Elizabeth. More than I could ever express to you. I need you in my life, by my side. Sawyer needs you."
"I'm not going anywhere, Jack."
"Tonight is Valentine's but it's also the night I planned on asking you to marry me."
Elizabeth gasped as he took the ring box out of his pocket and opened it. "Jack, that is the most exquisite ring I have ever seen."
"Please, marry me, Elizabeth. Be my wife. Be Sawyer's Mommy so I can be Brennan's Daddy."
"Of course I will." She reached over and kissed him, tears falling down her cheeks. "I love you so much."
He smiled and slipped the ring on her finger. "It looks good."
"I can't believe this is happening."
"We should get going. Our reservation is soon."
"Are we going to DiMillos?"
"Yes."
"Perfect." Elizabeth couldn't wipe the smile off her face. Five months before, she couldn't have imagined falling in love and being engaged with anyone other than Ty. Now, she can't imagine being those things with anyone other than Jack. Jack and Sawyer completed her heart, healed it. The one that had been broken and crushed by death.
"Jack? I want to get married in August. The boys will be off school, so they can stay with your parents and I can close the store and we can go somewhere."
He squeezed her hand and smiled. "That sounds good, but do you really want to close the store for a bit?"
"No, but I don't know what other choice I have."
"We have lots of time to figure that out."
"Six months. Yeah."
They had a lot of things to figure out. Money situation, where would they live, getting her a car, more children… The list went on. But tonight, he didn't want any more worrying. He just wanted them to enjoy a rare night alone.
….
Partway through their delicious meal, Jack suggested they call his mom and the boys because otherwise Charlotte would be calling him.
"You told her?"
"Yes. And Vi knows too."
"Conspiring with my sister?" She smiled and kissed his cheek.
"I needed advice. She knows you very well."
"She does." Jack pulled up Skype and rang his mom.
"Hey, Ma."
"Jack. Hi, Elizabeth."
"Hi, Charlotte. Are the boys being good?"
"Of course. They're angels."
"Spoken like a true Grandma," Jack said. "Are they nearby?"
"Yes. Boys, Dad and Mom are on the phone."
After a bit of wiggling around Charlotte got all three of them in the picture.
"Hi, boys!" Elizabeth said with a wave. "Dad and I have news."
"What?" Sawyer asked.
"We are getting married."
Jack quickly turned down the volume on his phone so he wouldn't disturb the other people in the restaurant with the cheering from their boys. "So I take it you're happy?"
"Yes!"
"Congratulations, you two," Charlotte told them. "Now go enjoy the rest of your evening."
"Ok, night boys. Bed soon," Elizabeth told them.
"Ok, Mom!" they said, laughing loudly.
….
On their drive to her apartment, she blurted, "Jack, does it bother you that I can't cook very well?"
"Of course not. I have had your omelets though and they were very good. If you want though, I could teach you. Might be kind of fun."
"Sure. That would be fun." Could be romantic, standing next to him as he showed her how to cut veggies in uniform shapes, or when to stir the soup or how long to cook a steak.
When they pulled up to her curb, he got out and assisted her from her seat, reaching for her roses. The night had not gone exactly as planned, since he had proposed in the Land Rover instead of the restaurant, but the only thing that really mattered was she had said yes. She was going to be his wife.
He followed her into the apartment and watched an she set the roses on the counter, removed her coat, and kicked off her shoes.
"Coffee, sweetie?" the endearment rolling off her tongue easily.
"Sure. Thank you."
She put the decaf grounds in, poured water into the top, and then smiled as he pulled her close, back against his chest. "I love you so much," he whispered, his arms settling around her waist securely.
"I love you too, Jack."
"We have so many details and things to talk about. Do you want to come to church with us tomorrow and then we can talk after?"
She still had not gone to church with him and the boys. It had now become habit to not go when she knew it should be the opposite. It was time for a change. "Ok. Where is your church?"
"About halfway between here and my house."
"What road?"
"Camper St."
"There's a bus that could drop me right there. Perfect," she said looking at her phone.
Her phone started buzzing a moment later. "Its Julie." She pushed the button to answer. "Julie?"
"Hey, Beth. I need a place to stay. Do you have an extra bed?"