"An extra bed? Tonight I do, but only because Brennan isn't here. Where are you?"
"Downstairs."
"You're serious? Please come up here. You must be frozen." Elizabeth hung up the phone and opened her door. "Ready to meet Julie?"
"She's here?" Jack looked as an auburn haired woman, about twenty five or so, walked in the door and hugged Elizabeth.
"Beth! It's good to see you!"
"You too. What are you doing here?"
"Oh! You must be Jack." She looked him up and down, as if trying to appraise his value, making him a bit uncomfortable but mostly amused. "Just as handsome as you told me, sister."
Jack looked away, feeling the heat creep up his neck. "Yes, I'm Jack. Nice to meet you. I should probably go."
"Oh, you don't need to go, Jack. I'll just go camp out in Brennan's room."
"That's ok. It's been awhile since you have seen each other. I'm guessing you need to talk." He walked over to the door and put his coat on. Elizabeth met him there.
"I'm sorry. I'm not sure what's going on."
"Don't be sorry." He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss. "Let's meet for breakfast at Sunshine. Then we will go to church."
"Eight?"
"Yeah." He kissed her again. "I love you."
"Love you too."
Elizabeth walked into the kitchen and poured both of them a cup of coffee. Knowing Julie liked hers black, she didn't bother adding anything to it.
"You two were pretty dressed up," Julie mentioned, sipping her coffee.
"Its Valentine's Day, Julie."
"Oh! Of course. I'm sorry. And Brennan's not here. I interrupted. Were you two getting ready to turn in?"
"Turn in? No, Julie. Yes, you interrupted but he wasn't sleeping here."
Elizabeth sipped her coffee and prayed for patience.
"What's that on your finger?" Julie squealed.
"Its an engagement ring. He also proposed."
"That's amazing. That is one gorgeous ring! Probably set him back a pretty penny."
"Julie, can you just tell me why you are here?"
"Lost my job. Lost my boyfriend which means I have nowhere to live."
She sighed and took Julie's hand, pulling her into her bedroom so she could change. "How did you lose your job? I thought you said it was a sure thing."
"It was and then the lawyer got sued and we had to shut down."
"The lawyer got sued? Wow."
"Yeah. Thankfully I had enough money saved for a plane ticket and to take a few weeks. But I need a job. Any chance I could work for you?"
"I can barely afford to pay myself, let alone an employee."
"What about Jack?"
"What about him?"
"Your ring…the suit he was wearing probably cost about $500, and putting two and two together, I'm guessing that was his Land Rover out front? Maybe he can help with your expenses so things aren't so tight."
"I'm not asking my fiancé for money so you will have a job. How about I help you draw up a resume so that you can look for one?"
"I'd have one thing on my resume. No one is going to hire me."
"Everyone starts somewhere."
….
The next morning, Elizabeth showered, dressed, grabbed her bible, and walked down to Sunshine Café to meet her boys for breakfast. She gazed down at her engagement ring, sparkling in the bright February sun. She still could hardly believe it.
"Mom!" both boys said excitedly as she walked in the door.
"Hi, boys." She kissed their heads and then sat next to Jack, giving him a quick kiss. "Morning, sweetie."
"Morning, beautiful."
"So are we gonna move, Mom?" Brennan asked.
"In August, yes."
"That's a long time! Can't we move now? Dad bought us new bunk beds and I get the top, Sawyer said."
"That's sounds fun. But we can't move until the wedding."
"Why?"
"Because that's how it works."
"Why?"
Elizabeth sighed. How to explain something like this to a five, almost six year old, she had no idea. So she went for simple. "Because Dad and I have decided not to live together until we get married."
"Oh. Ok." He shrugged and went back to coloring on his paper placemat.
"So no Julie this morning?" Jack wondered.
"Aunt Julie's here?!" Brennan asked. "I want to see her."
"You'll see her today sometime."
"What can I get you folks this morning?" Abigail, their waitress asked. "I'm Abigail, by the way."
"Pancakes, please," Sawyer said.
"Blueberry or plain, young man?"
"Blueberry and can I have bacon too?"
"You sure can!"
"Thank you."
"Can I have waffles?" Brennan asked.
"Sure. Bacon or sausage?"
"Sausage, please."
"You got it." Abigail then looked at the boys parents, who were only paying attention to themselves. "And for the lovebirds?"
"Hmm?" Elizabeth said, tearing her eyes from Jack. "Oh, I'm sorry. Um, can I have French toast with potatoes and bacon, please?"
"Absolutely, and for your husband?"
"Almost," he said with a kiss to Elizabeth's temple. "I'll have two eggs, over easy, sausage, and sourdough toast, please."
"You got it, folks. Coffee and then milk for the boys?"
"I want orange juice, please," Sawyer told her.
"I'll have milk," Brennan confirmed.
"We'll take coffee." Abigail smiled and walked off to the kitchen.
Elizabeth kissed Jack's cheek. "I liked her calling you my husband."
"Me too. You know, August is so far away."
"When are you going to Atlanta?"
"June. As soon as school gets out. We are going to stay about two weeks."
"So what if we got married in July then?"
"That's a little better. July 1st?"
"Sure."
….
That afternoon, the boys had fallen asleep in their new bunk beds so Jack and Elizabeth talked.
"I made a list," Jack said.
"A list?"
"Yeah. Merging two households requires a lot of planning and details."
"True."
He slid the list in front of her. "1. Children," she read. "The ones we currently have or new ones?" she asked with a smile.
"New ones." He reached for her hand and moved his fingers between hers. "What do you think?"
"I would love to have a baby with you."
"Yeah?"
"Maybe two."
"Good. I want that too. How long would you like to wait?"
"No specific amount of time. Just whenever it happens."
"Ok."
"Number 2. Cars. What about them?"
"You need one."
"I will by July but I don't now."
"It would make things easier if we got it sooner rather than later."
"I suppose. I guess I just know that getting one is expensive. Gas, insurance, car payments."
"I will pay cash for it, so no monthly payments. Adding to insurance will actually save money because I'll get a multicar discount. Gas, well, that's what this is for." He handed her a credit card. "I only use this for gas. Then I pay it off every month. This one is for you." She took the card, holding in her frustration. "You are going to be my wife, honey. That means what's mine is yours."
"Jack, this is hard for me." She stood and made coffee. "I'm not used to having luxuries, like a free car."
"I don't consider it a luxury if you need it to help care for our family." He watched as she stirred in creamer and then rejoined him at the table.
"Ok. But I don't want a Land Rover or a Mercedes or a BMW. I want something practical that will last years."
"We can go car shopping next weekend. It will be a date. Maybe your sister can watch the boys."
"Ok. Number 3. The bookstore. What about it?"
"I think because it's in the city, you should have an alarm system."
"I agree. Number 4."
"Wait. You're ok with that?"
"Yep. I've wanted to do that since I opened. I guess it's a blessing to know a handsome security officer person guy," she said with a laugh.
"You're my blessing," he told her, pulling her to his lap.
She touched his slightly rough cheek, loving the stubble that had grown since he shaved that morning. She loved his lips and his eyes. She loved the tiny freckle under his left one. She loved everything about him.
"What are you thinking about?" Instead of answering, she lowered her head and pressed her lips to his, taking it slow. "Mm. You taste like chocolate."
"Mom?" Sawyer called.
"In here, sweetie." She would never tire of hearing him call her that, even if she had been enjoying kissing Jack. She stood and then opened her arms. "Did you have a good nap?"
"No. I had a dream." He buried his head in her stomach, wrapping his arms around her.
"Wanna talk about it?" He shrugged. She picked him up and sat down at the table and rocked him back and forth, her hands slowly rubbing his back. "You can tell me."
"You won't get mad?"
"Of course not. It was only a dream."
"Dad was getting married. But you weren't there. It was my first mom, I think."
"Do you miss her, Sawyer?"
"I don't remember her."
"You have that picture by your bed."
"Yeah but I want you to be my Mom. I don't know why it was her."
"Sweetie, its ok. She will always be your first mom. I bet you were thinking about Dad getting married and you saw that picture before you went to sleep. Our brains do that sometimes. It doesn't mean anything."
Jack stood and left them, partly to start dinner, but mostly because their conversation was killing him.
It killed him that Sawyer didn't remember Katie but on the other hand, it was a blessing too. It made it easier for Sawyer to accept Elizabeth. The middle of July it would be three years since they lost her. By that time, Elizabeth would be his wife and Brennan his son. Would that make it easier on Sawyer? He believed it would.
"Dad?"
"Hey, Bren. Wanna help me cook dinner?"
"Yeah. Are you sad?" Brennan must have been watching him for a moment and had seen him wipe his eyes.
"A little, but you make me feel better."
"Do you need a hug?" He raised his arms and Jack picked him up.
"Yeah, bud, that's absolutely what I need."
….
"Number 4," Elizabeth said when they finally tucked the boys in bed after giving in that Brennan and Elizabeth were sleeping over. Yes the next day was Monday so work and school was necessary, but Jack promised to take the boys to school and her to the store on time. And she was going to sleep in the fancy guest room that was almost as big as her apartment. "Pets."
"Yeah, so, Cher is pregnant and I know that the boys would love a puppy…"
"The size of a Buick?"
Jack laughed. "Oooh. Let's get you a Buick, babe. Very practical. A Buick Enclave can fit seven people."
"We will look. Now, you want to give the boys a Great Dane puppy?"
"Yes. What do you think? Cher is about ready to pop so a few months from now, we should be able to get it."
"Ok. I guess it's a good way to teach them responsibility."
"True. And I have a fenced in yard so that will make things easier."
About an hour later, he took her to the guest room. "How does this big of a bedroom even exist? I mean, is this the master?" It even had a nice bathroom attached.
"No. I'm across the hall. You want to see it?"
"Yes." So they walked across the hall. "Welcome to the master suite, Elizabeth."
"It's the same size."
"Pretty much." She wandered into the bathroom.
"Holy moly," she muttered, gasping at the large jacuzzi soaker tub, the shower big enough to fit six people that had two shower heads. The skylight, and two sinks with marble countertops. The thought that she would be sharing this room with him one day blew her mind.
"What do you think?"
"Its beautiful."
He took her hand and led her to the closet. "You only use half?"
"Yep. The other half is for you."
The closet was huge in itself, with enough room for all her clothes, shoes, and purses too.
"What are you thinking?"
"Something sad that I don't really want to ask."
"You can ask."
"How long did it take you to move Katie's things out? I still have a few of Tyler's things and…" She shook her head, regretting her question.
"I did it after about six months. It just made me too sad to see them, to walk past them and smell her scent." He pulled her into his arms and sighed. "Can I ask you something?"
"Yeah."
"Why do you keep his things? For Brennan?"
"No. Honestly, I don't know. I know I need to get rid of them. Maybe Julie will help."
"Will it be too weird for you to sleep in here with me after we get married? We could move to the guest room. It's the same size, like you said."
"I don't know. You wouldn't mind?"
"Of course not. New life, new surroundings, right?"