Wedding day…
Elizabeth woke up to sunshine pouring in her window of the guest room. "Thank you," she said in a quick prayer. "Thank you for this day and for our families. Thank you for every little thing we don't deserve, but that you in your love provide. Thank you for second chances. Through Jesus' name, Amen."
She looked at the empty pillow next to her. No more sleeping alone. Tonight, they would finally be together. She had missed being married.
She got up and double checked her suitcase to make sure it was packed for their honeymoon and then she wrapped her robe around herself and walked out to get some coffee.
"Morning!"
She stopped. Charlotte, Julie, Vi, and Grace were all staring at her. Charlotte handed her a mug of coffee. Julie filled a plate with scrambled eggs, hash browns, and fresh fruit and then handed it to her. Vi pulled out her chair and kissed her cheek as she sat down. Grace smiled. "Happy wedding day, dear."
"Thank you! All of you. Thank you sharing this with me."
"Where else would we be, Beth?" Charlotte asked.
That said it all. They were there because they were family and she was eternally grateful for them.
"Ready to be Elizabeth Thornton?" Julie said with a grin.
"Yes," she said simply. She was definitely ready.
…
At the Bed and Breakfast…
"Dad! Let's go get married!" Sawyer said, jumping up on the bed, Brennan right behind him.
"Its not time yet. We still have five hours, bud."
"Five?! That's forever."
"Tell me about it," he mumbled as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed and looked at his boys. He grabbed each of their cherubic faces and kissed their foreheads. "I love both of you."
"We love you too! Now let's go see Mama," Brennan said, pulling on his hand.
"No can do. We can't see her until she's walking down the aisle towards us."
"What's an aisle?"
"It's the path a bride walks down."
"Oh. Why can't we see her?"
"Those are the rules, Bren. Let's get some breakfast."
"Rules aren't fun."
"True, but usually there's a reason for them."
"A reason for what?" Tom Sr. asked from the large dining table.
"Rules, Grandpa! Dad says we can't see Mom until she's walking down the path but I don't get it. After today I won't see her for a whole week!"
"Ah yes. But you will be at our house playing with Sonny and Cher and the puppies."
"That's true!" Brennan felt happier at the mention of the puppies. He still couldn't believe they were gonna get one of their own. They already picked him out and named him Dash, their favorite character from the Incredibles.
Tom dished up pancakes for the boys while Jack grabbed two cups of orange juice and a mug of coffee.
His thoughts were of course occupied by his beautiful bride. He wondered if she was awake yet. He put the juice on the table and walked onto the wraparound porch of the B&B with his coffee. He sat on the swing and took out his phone.
"U awake, babe?" he texted.
"Of course. Had my coffee, now I'm in a vanilla scented bubble bath."
He groaned and then took a deep breath, imagining how good she would smell later.
"U still there?" she texted again.
"Yes. I got distracted by u in a bubble bath."
"Maybe we can take 1 later."
He almost dropped his phone. "Yes please." He definitely missed being married and all the perks that went with it.
"Gotta go. Got lots of things 2 do 2 get ready. Don't forget 2 pack 4 our trip."
"Will do. Love u, almost wife!"
"Love u more."
….
About five minutes before they needed to leave, Jack couldn't find her wedding ring. It had been safely in his suitcase since they left Portland. Now, gone.
"Boys!" he yelled, walking out of the room.
"Yeah, Dad?" Sawyer asked, looking like a mini-Jack in his navy suit.
"Did you get in my suitcase?"
"No."
"Are you sure? I won't be mad."
"No, I didn't, Dad, I promise."
"Brennan?" He walked out in his matching navy suit.
"Yes?"
"Did you get in my suitcase?"
"No."
"Well, then I lost your mom's wedding ring." Jack started to panic. This was terrible.
"No, I saw Uncle Tom with it."
"You did? When?"
"Last night. He wanted to put it with his things so you wouldn't forget it."
"Tom!" Jack knocked on his door.
"Yeah, bro! Ready to get hitched?" He stood there, looking great as the fourth in their group of navy suits.
"Only if you say that you have Elizabeth's ring."
"I do. Safe and sound," he confirmed, patting his pocket.
"Thank goodness. Remind me to kick your butt later for going in my suitcase without telling me."
"Sorry about that."
"No fists!" Brennan said.
"Right. No fists," Jack said.
"Bus is leaving!" Tom Sr. yelled from outside.
Jack grabbed his suitcases and headed out. "Come on boys. Let's go get married."
"Yay!" they both yelled, pumping their fists.
….
Elizabeth stared at herself in the mirror. Her ivory and lace dress had taken her breath away when she first saw it. It was modest but still sexy. It was floor length and her chest and shoulders were covered with lace, but her arms were bare. In the back, it showcased her curves and she absolutely adored the diamond shaped cutout that ended about two inches above her thin belt.
**Knock knock**
"Who is it?"
"Its Charlotte."
"Come in."
She walked in and smiled. "Oh my, sweetheart. You are gorgeous."
"Thank you."
"The boys just arrived."
"Good. How do they look?"
"Sawyer and Brennan look adorable in their suits."
"And Jack?" Elizabeth felt a bit anxious to begin and they still had fifteen minutes.
"He's…" her voice broke as tears filled her eyes. "I'm so happy he found you and Bren." Charlotte hugged her carefully, not wanting to wrinkle anything.
"I'm happy we found him too." She kissed her mother-in-law's cheek. "And you and Tom."
**Knock knock**
"Who is it?"
"Mom and Brennan."
"Come in."
They walked in and Brennan immediately hugged her waist. "Hi, baby. Don't you look handsome?"
"You look so pretty, Mama."
"Thank you." She bent down and kissed his cheeks.
"How long?" he asked.
"Five minutes."
*Knock knock*
"Come in."
Tom Sr. stood there, tall and fatherly in his gray suit. "Ready? I know that boy of mine is."
When Tom offered to walk her down the aisle the week before, she had burst into tears. "I know your father isn't here, dear, but I'd be honored to walk you down the aisle. You are an answered prayer to Char and me," he had said. Her eyes teared up as she took his arm.
"Bren, let's go get married."
….
Brennan and Sawyer preceded Viola and Tom down the flower petal covered aisle, each carrying a pillow with a ring on it. Then they stood next to Jack and watched.
Viola and Tom took their spots on either side of Jack and the boys and everyone turned to look at the bride.
The intimate setting was perfect and exactly what they wanted. Just having their families and a friend or two was all they needed because the goal was just to bring the families together to make one larger one.
As the music changed, Jack's breath caught in his chest. The boys looked up at him and smiled.
She quite literally made him forget to breathe for a moment. When she arrived in front of him, Tom kissed her cheek and took his seat next to Charlotte.
Jack grabbed her hands and stepped closer, not wanting to wait another moment to touch her. "You are stunning, Elizabeth."
"Thank you." He looked beyond handsome. She didn't even have words.
"Friends we are gathered here before God and these witnesses…" the pastor began.
Jack listened while he looked deep in Elizabeth's blue eyes. He loved her with everything he had inside of him.
"Who gives this woman to be married to this man?"
"I do," Grace said, her voice wavering.
The pastor smiled and nodded. "Jack, do you take Elizabeth to be your wife, to have and to hold from this day forward…"
Elizabeth fought to keep her tears in her eyes. Looking at Jack being emotional just about did her in, but she squeezed his hands and smiled. "I do," Jack said, squeezing her hands back.
"Elizabeth, do you take Jack to be your husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer…."
Jack felt a tear escape his eye as he listened to the enormity of the words the pastor was saying. No matter what came their way, they would handle it together for at least the next fifty years. It was profound and it meant everything.
"I do," Elizabeth said, wiping her cheek before taking his hand again.
"May we have the rings?"
The boys stepped forward in perfect timing and held up their pillows. Brennan gave Jack's ring to Elizabeth and Sawyer, Elizabeth's ring to Jack.
"Thanks guys," Jack told them with a grin. They were the cutest ring bearers he had ever seen, that was for sure.
They stepped back and watched the rest of the ceremony.
"Jack, place the ring on Elizabeth's finger and repeat after me. This ring is a symbol of my unending love and faithfulness."
"This ring is a symbol of my unending love and faithfulness," Jack repeated, his fingers holding Elizabeth's gently in his.
"Elizabeth, place the ring on Jack's finger and repeat after me. This ring is a symbol of my unending love and faithfulness."
"Jack, this ring," she began. Her tears fell softly down her face as she slipped the ring over his knuckle. "..is a symbol of my unending love and faithfulness."
"Friends, Jack and Elizabeth have agreed to their vows and have symbolized their union with rings. With the powers vested in me by the state of Connecticut, I now pronounce that they are husband and wife. What God has yoked together, let no man pull apart. Amen. Jack, you may kiss your bride."
Jack and Elizabeth grinned, just staring at each other for a second. They were finally married!
"Kiss her Dad!" the boys said together. Everyone laughed, including them.
"You heard them," Elizabeth told him. Jack pulled her close and kissed her slowly, enjoying the feeling of his new wife's lips on his, ignoring the clapping that was happening in the audience.
As they pulled apart a moment later, the boys ran forward and hugged their parents and then everyone else came up too, offering congratulations.
After a few moments, they sneaked in the kitchen door and then into the guest room.
"Well, we did it," Jack whispered, as he gathered her close, pressing his forehead to hers. "You are so beautiful." He kissed her forehead and then her cheeks, wiping away her tears. "I love you so very much, Elizabeth Thornton. With all that I have."
She buried her face in his neck, letting herself cry the tears of happiness that were bubbling up to the surface.
"You ok?" he asked, concerned as he felt her shaking against him.
"Never better. I'm just so happy." She leaned back and laid her palm against his cheek. "I love you too." She kissed his lips, lingering there for a moment before stepping back.
"We should go out back. The boys…"
"Mom! Dad?"
"Will come looking for us soon," she finished with a laugh.
"Coming!" Jack told them.
…
Jack and Elizabeth softly swayed on the grass as their song started to play.
("It's amazing how you can speak right to my heart
Without saying a word you can light up the dark
Try as I may I could never explain what I hear when you don't say a thing
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
Now you say it best when you say nothing at all
All day long I can hear people talking out loud
but when you hold me near you drown out the crowd
Old Mister Webster could never define
what's being said between your heart and mine
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
Now you say it best when you say nothing at all
The smile on your face lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes saying you'll never leave me
A touch of your hand says you'll catch me if ever I fall
Now you say it best when you say nothing at all")
Jack leaned down and kissed her as the song ended. "Are you hungry?" She nodded and let him lead her to the food that was set out under the small white tent. He handed her a plate and took one for himself.
"Mom!" Sawyer said as he walked over.
"Yes, honey."
"Can we have cake now?"
"What did you eat already?"
"Fruit."
"That's it?"
"Yeah. Well, and the lollipops that Mr. Leonard gave to us."
"I need you to eat real food before you get anymore sweets. Do you want me to get you a plate?"
"Yes," he told her with a roll of his eyes.
"What was that?"
"I mean, yes ma'am."
"Thank you." She placed chicken, macaroni salad, and some broccoli on his plate. "Eat all of this and come back and see me. Where's your brother?"
"With Gran."
"Did he eat?"
"No."
"Tell him to come see us, please."
"Ok. Thank you, Mom."
Jack smiled, loving his family immensely right then. Elizabeth had a plate similar to Sawyer's ready when Brennan showed up a minute later. "Here you go, baby. Eat this or no cake."
"Aww man. Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Jack turned to her and grabbed her plate. "You lead the way, wife. I'll follow."
She smiled and kissed his lips. "Thank you."
The reception kept going until the evening. At around six, Jack started to gather people so they could say their goodbyes.
Don walked up and handed his keys to them. "Take my car to the hotel and I'll get someone to drop me off in the morning. What time is your flight?"
"Nine." Jack told him.
"Ok, so around seven, I will take you to the airport."
"Thank you, Don! So much. It was wonderful to meet you."
"You too. Congratulations to both of you." He kissed Elizabeth's cheek and walked away.
"Let's say goodbye to everyone and head out," he whispered.
She nodded and took his hand.
"Everyone!" Jack shouted, causing everyone to stop and look. "Thank you for joining us today to celebrate. It's time for us to head out now so we are going to say goodnight."
Everyone clapped and came over to give them hugs.
Brennan and Sawyer clung to them as everyone else said goodbye.
Once it was quiet, they looked down at the boys. "Hey, guys. We need to go now."
"Please don't go!" Brennan told them tearfully. "What if you don't come back?"
They walked over to the deck and they all sat down, one boy on each lap. "Bren, we will only be gone a week. You are going to have so much fun playing with those puppies," Jack told him.
"Not fun without you," he said, laying his head on Jack's chest.
"We need both of you to be brave. We are a real family now and Dash will come home with us when we get back. And then we will have your birthday party, Bren."
"Ok, now hugs and kisses," Elizabeth told them, a smile on her face. Both boys hugged them really tight and then switched. "We love you so much. Make sure you have fun with Grandma and Grandpa. Play on the beach and have s'mores and fly kites and play with those puppies. Promise."
"We promise!" they said in unison.
….
A few moments later, they collected their suitcases and put them in Don's Lexus.
"Whoa, nice car, Don," Elizabeth muttered as they drove off.
"He was a surgeon," Jack mentioned. "For like thirty years."
"Wow. He seems very nice."
"Yeah and he cares about your mom. I can tell."
"She really likes him too."
"You're ok with that?"
"Yeah. I want her to be happy," she said, putting her hand in his. "She deserves a second chance."
"Like us?"
"Yes." Her stomach rumbled. "I'm hungry, Jack. Think we should grab some food?"
"Well room service is included with our suite."
"It is? What else is included?"
"Mmm, Jacuzzi in the room, big screen tv, which we will not need. King size bed, which we will make very good use of…" She laughed and blushed deeply. "I love it when you do that," he whispered, kissing her hand.
"Watch the road, hon."
"Sorry. You're just so incredibly distracting."
"Mmhm. Try to put off becoming distracted until we are out of a moving vehicle that costs more than yours does."
"Good point."
The ride only took ten minutes. As soon as he put the car safely in park, he reached over the middle console and kissed her deeply. "Now is it safe to be distracted?"
"Maybe we should check in first," she told him and then kissed him back. "Yeah, let's do that."
He walked around the car and opened her door, offering his hand to assist her. As she stood, she slipped her arms under his suit jacket and kissed him again, unable to help herself. Something about him standing there looking amazing made her lips have a mind of their own.
He grinned at her, his dimples in full view. He didn't say anything, he just wrapped his arm around her, grabbed their bags and led her inside.