Elizabeth checked Sawyer's seatbelt and her own as the plane prepared to take off. She looked across the aisle where Jack and Brennan sat. Brennan loved to fly and he was talking Jack's ear off about how the cars on the road looked like ants when they were flying above them.
"Mom?" Sawyer asked, breaking into her thoughts.
"Yeah, babe?"
"I'm nervous. I don't like flying. What if we crash?"
She held her hand out, palm up for him to take. He put his small hand in hers, weaving his fingers between hers. "Everything will fine. We will be safe."
"Promise?"
"I promise. Now, why don't you practice reading your book to me?"
"Two days, Mom. Then you'll really be my mom. Forever, right?"
"Yes, honey. Forever and ever."
She looked over at Jack and smiled. "Hi," he mouthed.
She winked at him and reached for his hand across the aisle. He gave hers a squeeze. She could hardly believe they would be getting married in two days. He and their two boys were her world. She had nothing if they were not with her. The bookstore meant nothing if they weren't there.
"Hey, squirt," Julie said to Sawyer from the seat behind them.
"Hi, Aunt Julie."
"You doing ok?"
"Yeah. Mom made me feel better. She's the best."
"You're right. She is."
"Thanks guys. You're both the best too."
"Hey, what about me?" Viola asked from the seat in front of them.
"Eh, you're ok," Julie piped in.
Sawyer giggled and Elizabeth snorted.
Viola's husband Steve just shook his head and laughed while Jack enjoyed listening to it all. Inheriting two Thatcher sisters and a brother-in-law in Steve Raymond just made the deal sweeter.
….
That night after dinner, Jack and Elizabeth snuggled on the porch swing, enjoying the quiet summer night. The boys were asleep in the living room and Julie was helping their mom clean up.
"Are you ready for this, Elizabeth?"
"For what?"
"Being Mrs. Thornton? Sawyer's Mom?"
"I've never been so ready for anything, honey."
"Good."
"Are you ready?"
"Yeah. I'm ready. In fact I wish we could skip right to Saturday at 1pm."
"Me too."
"Tomorrow, Tom, Steve, and my dad and I will be over super early to make sure the backyard is ready."
"I'll have coffee ready and Mom said she's making waffles and sausage for "the big strong men.""
He chuckled. "Sounds great."
The porch light turned on. Elizabeth knew it was her mother. Then it flickered off and then on again. "Loose bulb?"
"My mother." She turned and saw her through the window. "You realize I'm a grown woman, right, Mother?"
"Is it past your curfew?" Jack said with a laugh.
"I'm twenty nine! No one has a curfew at twenty nine."
Jack laughed again. "It is late. I should go."
They both stood and walked over to his parent's Tahoe. "See you in the morning?" she asked.
"Bright and early." He kissed her forehead. "I love you, Elizabeth." The light flickered again.
Elizabeth figured if her mother was going to watch her through the window, she might as well give her something to look at. She turned to confirm she was there and then she grabbed Jack's shirt and pulled him in for a long, deep, breath stealing kiss.
"Holy moly, Elizabeth."
"Goodnight, Jack." She winked and headed inside.
"Really, Mom?" she said, shutting the door.
"Really what?"
"I'm not in high school anymore."
"Yes, dear."
Elizabeth looked at her mom, deciding to change the subject. "I'm glad you are ok with having the wedding here."
"Of course I am."
"He and those boys are my world and I want you there."
"I will be there." It wasn't that she thought her mom might not come, but there was always that nagging doubt in her mind that it was out of her comfort zone so she might not show. "Beth, I promise you. I have been leaving the house on my own, did I tell you that?"
"No. You have?"
"Yes. Sometimes Don from next door lets me borrow his car if I need something in town."
"Don?"
"Yes. He's my friend. He's a kind man and he is a good listener."
"That's good, Mom. I am glad you have a friend like that. Is he maybe more than your friend?"
Grace looked away and poured herself another cup of tea. "Your father, Beth…he was the love of my life."
"I know. That doesn't mean that you can't love someone else. Look at me and Jack. It would be a good thing if you opened your heart again."
"I don't know. I made that promise to your father. Our vows meant everything."
"They do, but it is "until death do us part." Dad would not want you to be lonely or unhappy. He would want you to love someone again."
Grace looked at her with tears in her eyes. "Do you really think so?"
"I know so. In fact, I think you should invite Don to the wedding as your date."
"Date? But we are just friends. I can't just ask him to be my date."
"Sure you can. You're a brave woman." She kissed her cheek and headed down the hall to the guest room.
…
The next morning…
After an amazing breakfast by Grace, the men went out to mow the yard, weed the garden, plant more flowers, and set up the flower arch where the vows would be said.
Elizabeth and her sisters went to get their nails done and do some shopping, leaving the boys with the Grace and Charlotte.
Grace watched out her window at the activity in her yard. Then her attention was caught by motion out of Don's home. He walked over, tall and handsome as ever, and introduced himself to all the men and then started helping them. She watched him smile and laugh at something the boys said. It made her smile too.
Her heart beat fast when he noticed her in the window and waved. She waved back and smiled. She wondered if she had enough guts to walk out there and ask him to be her date.
She didn't need to wonder long. He finished trimming a bush and then walked in through her kitchen door. "Hi, Gracie."
"Hi, would you like some lemonade?"
"That would be wonderful, thank you. You know I never say no to sweets from you."
She knew he was flirting. He did it a lot but she didn't usually reciprocate. "So you met the men?"
"I did. They all seem real nice."
"They are." She met his eyes and then looked away, seeming almost embarrassed.
"Got something on your mind, Gracie?"
"Yeah. You." His eyebrow quirked above his deep brown eyes.
"Is that right?"
"Yeah. I…"
"Gran?"
Sawyer walked in the room. "Yes, dear?"
"Can I have something to drink?"
"Of course you can. Would you like some lemonade?"
"Yes, please."
"Mr. Leonard, this is my very soon-to-be grandson Sawyer. Sawyer, this is Mr. Leonard."
"Hi!" Sawyer greeted with a wave. "Tomorrow, Gran."
"That's right, sweetie." She handed him a glass of lemonade.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome."
Once they were alone again, rather than risk another interruption, she led him onto the porch in the front. "Ok, before I lose my nerve, Don, will you be my date for the wedding tomorrow?"
"Yes. I was hoping you'd go out with me someday. I'm glad that someday is tomorrow." He leaned over and kissed the apple of her cheek. "I guess I better get back to work."
She watched him walk away. There was something about him that made her want love again. He was a successful man, about five years her senior. He retired from the medical profession where he had been a surgeon for thirty years. He had been married and he too had lost his love in death but due to cancer. He had one child, Annie, who lived in New York city.
At first, he had intimidated her. She, being a homebound person, didn't know what to make of the six foot three inch man with skin the color of mocha that visited her and helped her with her yard without asking. She quickly learned he liked to stay busy and he was a bit lonely. She also needed more friends so it made sense for them to get to know each other.
He helped her come out of her shell, so to speak, and she was grateful for that.
As she walked back in the house, Charlotte winked at her and smiled. Grace barely knew Jack's mother but she hoped they would also be friends after this weekend.
A few hours later, Elizabeth, Viola, and Julie returned in time for lunch.
Jack had picked up sandwiches from a nearby deli and was setting them out on the counter in the kitchen.
"Hi, honey," Elizabeth whispered, moving up close to him.
"Hey." He leaned down and kissed her hello. "I missed you today."
"Me too." He wrapped his arms around her for a nice long hug.
He loved the way she felt in his arms. She was his other half. She belonged right there for always. He felt himself getting emotional and sighed.
"Honey?" she pulled back and cupped his face with her palm. "What is it?"
"I just love you. I'm so grateful you love me and Sawyer." Her thumb flicked a tear away.
"Oh, baby, I love you too." His lips found hers, sweet and soft. "Twenty four hours." The clock had just turned to one o'clock.
"Thank goodness," he whispered. He hoped it went fast.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," Grace said, walking in.
"That's ok, Mom."
"I wanted you to meet Don."
"Oh! Yes." Elizabeth smiled at the handsome gentleman standing next to her mother.
"Don Leonard, my daughter Elizabeth. Beth, Don Leonard."
"Its nice to finally meet you, Elizabeth. Congratulations on your wedding tomorrow."
"Thank you. It's nice to meet you as well."
Don smiled down at Grace. "I hope you don't mind, Elizabeth but Gracie here invited me to the festivities."
Elizabeth smiled, meeting Jack's eyes. "That's wonderful. We would love for you to celebrate with us."
"Great."
"Mama!" Sawyer ran in, tears in his eyes.
"Sweetie? What's wrong?"
"Brennan won't share with me."
"Share what?"
"I wanted to play Legos and he won't let me touch them. He said Gran bought them just for him! Mama, that's not fair."
"What has gotten into the two of you? Did you forget that you're best friends? And that you'll be brothers tomorrow?"
"I don't think he likes me anymore," Sawyer said with a pout.
"Well, maybe we should have a talk."
…
Jack and Elizabeth sat on the couch and stared at their boys who refused to look at each other. Both had frowns on their adorable faces and crossed arms.
"Brennan…"
"Mom! Gran bought them for me!"
"If that was true, why does that mean you can't share with your brother?"
His eyes flicked to hers. She could see he knew that was true. "I don't know."
"Brennan, you and Sawyer both lost one of your parents and now you're both going to have that again. You are best friends and tomorrow you are officially going to be brothers. Did you forget how much you've both wanted this?"
"Sawyer," Jack began. "Brennan, both of you, come here," he said holding his arms out. The boys stood and walked over. "Look at each other." It took a moment but they finally glanced in each others direction. "Now look at all of us. This is your family now. Brennan, I'm your dad. Elizabeth is your mom, Sawyer. This is how it's going to be now. We all love each other and the four of us are going to be together through good times and not so good. We need to remember how much we love each other." The boys looked at each other but didn't move. "Bren, what do you say?"
"I'm sorry, Sawyer. I love you." He held his fist out to his brother who instead hugged him hard.
"I love you too."
"Wanna build a barn with me?"
"Yeah! Do we have horses?"
Elizabeth smiled, tears in her eyes as they watched them walk over and start playing together like they always had before. Jack leaned toward her and kissed her. "We sure are lucky, don't you think?"
"Absolutely," she agreed.