Three weeks later, August
Sawyer also came down with chicken pox shortly after Brennan but both recovered nicely. Ned had consented to Jack bringing both boys. He even suggested bringing Elizabeth but she declined, not wanting to leave the store for two weeks.
One evening, a few days after the boys and Jack had flown to Atlanta, Elizabeth had Julie and Viola over for a girls night. They bought an ice cream cake, chips, and ordered Chinese food. They did their nails, talked about their men and watched cheesy romance movies on the big screen TV.
Just as they were about to dig into their General's chicken and egg rolls, the door bell rang.
Elizabeth got up from the couch and walked to the door.
"Mom? Don?" She gestured for them to come in. "What are you doing here?" she asked, giving them a hug.
"No, Dash!" Julie shrieked. "That's my egg roll!"
"Julie's here?" Grace asked.
"And Vi. We are having a girl's night."
"Beth, your dog ate my egg roll!" Julie told her. "Mom?"
"Hi, dear."
"What are you doing here?" she asked, hugging her too. "Hi, Don."
He nodded. "Hi, Julie."
"Well, why don't you come sit down for a bit. Do you need a place to stay?"
"We do."
"We have plenty of room. The boys and Jack are gone so one of you can take Sawyer's bottom bunk and Julie can stay with me. Vi has one guest room so who ever is left can have the other."
They all sat down after Grace bent down to hug Viola. "Actually, Beth. It's good you are all here. We have news." Grace looked over at Don, taking his hand. He nodded, telling her to go ahead. "Well, girls, we got married."
All three stared at them silently. Elizabeth looked at their hands and sure enough, both wore rings.
"Married?" Elizabeth repeated.
"You eloped?" Vi asked.
"Without us?" Julie wondered.
"When?" Elizabeth asked.
"About a week ago. We were on our way home from Annie's and we just decided we didn't want to wait."
"Who's Annie?" Julie wondered.
"My daughter," Don told her.
"So our step-sister?"
"Yes, that's right. She lives in New York and she's 27 years old."
"My age," Julie whispered.
"I know this is a big surprise to you all," Grace told them. "But its reality. Don is my husband now."
Elizabeth knew the tone and her mother well enough to know that she was asking them to give him a chance and be respectful. "Well, welcome to the family, Don." She got up and hugged him again. "Welcome to my home. Why don't I show you where everything is?" She gave them a tour and ended with the guest bedroom that used to be the master.
"Beth, dear, this is a wonderful room."
"Its very nice," Don agreed. "Is this the master?"
"It was, but the room across the hall is now. It's basically identical in size and has an attached bathroom too. Um, there are towels in the cabinet in there. Let me know if you need anything at all."
"Beth?"
Elizabeth turned back. "Yes?"
"Are you sure you're ok with this? I know its sudden."
"Mom, I know he makes you happy and that makes me happy. Congratulations. I mean it."
Grace nodded as she walked out and closed the door.
….
"Married," Julie repeated again. "I didn't even know they were engaged. Did you, Vi?"
"No."
"Beth?" Beth ate a bite of egg roll. "You knew?"
"Well, sort of."
"Sort of? How do you "sort of" know our Mom was engaged and not tell us?"
"Julie, shh. They are going to hear you. I didn't know they were engaged. He called me when they were in New York and showed me pictures of rings and asked for my blessing. As far as I knew, that was it. I knew it was going to happen, just not when."
"She seems happy," Vi mentioned, putting her hand on her belly.
"Yeah, she is, Vi. She loves him and he loves her and he takes care of her. That's what we all want in our husbands, right?"
"I know that without Steve, I'd be lost."
"Julie?"
"I'm not in love with Blake, but I've come to rely on him more than I thought I would. I mean, we've been together for like five weeks and I can't wait to see him everyday."
"Are you happy?"
"Yeah."
"So am I and I'm very glad that Mom finally found someone again that takes care of her."
"What do you think they're doing in there?"
"Julie!" Elizabeth whispered loudly, throwing a pillow at her head.
"They are newlyweds."
"On that note, this newlywed, is going to bed to call her husband and boys. Night!"
….
"Hi, Mom!" Sawyer said with a wave on her screen. She loved FaceTime.
"Hi, Sawyer! Where's Bren?"
"He's asleep."
"Already?"
"Yeah. We went out on Grandpa Ned's boat today!"
"You did?"
"Yeah! Dad said maybe we can get a boat. Wouldn't that be so cool, Mom?"
"A boat, Jack?"
"Yeah. Honestly I've wanted one for years."
"We will talk about it, Sawyer, but there's no point in getting one this year with fall coming up."
"Aww man!"
"Hey, Sawyer, can you go get your PJ'S on and brush your teeth? I need to talk with your Mom."
"Ok. Love you, Mom!"
"Love you, baby. Sweet dreams."
Jack waited until the door shut and then smiled. "Hi, hon."
"Hi. I miss you."
"Me too."
"Guess who came by tonight, Jack."
"Well, its girl's night so I'm guessing Julie and Vi."
"Yeah but someone else. We were just starting to eat our dinner and the doorbell rang. Mom and Don."
"Really? Wow. Ok."
"There's more."
"He proposed?"
"No, they eloped! A week ago."
"No way."
"Yes. Needless to say we were all shocked."
"Good for them. He seemed like a good match for her."
"Yes, I agree."
"Where are they sleeping?"
"Across the hall."
"What do you think they are doing?"
"Jack Thornton! You and Julie have one track minds."
"Can you blame me? I'm hundreds of miles from my wife of two months. I'm living vicariously through them at this point."
"Ugh. Now I wont be able to sleep. The last thing I need to think about is my mother….doing that."
Jack laughed. "Sorry, babe."
"Twelve days. Think you can make it?"
"If not, I'll see you in a week."
….
"You ok, Gracie?" Don touched her shoulder and rolled her toward him.
"Yeah. I guess I hoped for a better reaction from them."
"Well, Beth was the only one I called to ask for a blessing. She's had more time to process it."
"Annie was so excited for us. I wanted my girls to be too."
He leaned down and kissed her softly. "Just give them time, love. They'll get there."
"I think I'm going to find tea," Grace said before sitting up.
"I'll help."
She could figure out a cup of tea but he liked to be with her wherever she was. She wasn't complaining. There was something extremely comforting about him and his strong, gentle arms.
They wandered out into the kitchen and looked above the Keurig. That seemed the most obvious choice and it was correct.
"Want some, sweetheart?" she asked him.
"No thank you."
"But you like tea. With milk if I remember correctly."
"I do, I just figure we can get back to bed quicker if only one of us is sipping tea." He stepped up behind her and engulfed her in his arms. He loved being able to completely wrap her up like a gift. She was his gift from God and he would spend the rest of his days showing his gratitude.
She popped the Keurig cup into the machine and her mug underneath and then turned around and wrapped her arms around his waist. She buried her face in his chest and sighed. "I love you. Thank you for loving me."
He smiled. "I love you too, Gracie."
Elizabeth was standing in the hall. She hadn't meant to hear their words or see their embrace but she had come out to get some tea. Now, she was even more grateful for the man in the kitchen. He held her mother with such reverence and care, much like Jack did with her. That made her miss him even more.
"Do you want a cup of tea, Beth?" Grace asked from the kitchen.
Elizabeth sighed and slowly moved to the doorway. "How do you do that?"
"Same way any mother does, I suppose. Don't you always know where the boys are?"
"I try. But you are always right." Grace smiled and handed Elizabeth the cup she made for herself.
"Here you go, dear."
"Thanks, Mom. I'll go back to bed now."
"Nonsense. Let's sit. I'm sure you have questions."
"Not really. I love you." She kissed her Mom's cheek and walked back to her bedroom, leaving them alone once more.
"Am I selfish if I'm kind of glad she went back to bed?" Don asked, leaning against the counter.
"Don Leonard, you don't have a selfish bone in your body."
"Oh I do, love. Being a newlywed again has brought out that trait very well. I had forgotten what it's like." He moved towards her slowly.
"Its not being selfish," she whispered, accepting him into her space, readily responding to his smooth, urgent kisses.
"You're so beautiful, Mrs. Leonard," he told her, whispering too.
She grabbed her mug and took his hand as they headed back to bed. If it was selfish to want to be together so badly, she was too.
….
"French toast?" Julie said as she walked into the kitchen the next morning. "With bacon and maple syrup. Gosh, Mom. I missed your breakfasts."
"Have a seat, dear."
Grace popped a coffee pod into the machine and brewed some for Julie as she sat at the counter.
Don emerged from the hallway in his t-shirt and shorts. "I'll be back shortly," he told Grace with a kiss. "Love you."
"Love you too."
"Where are you going?" Julie asked.
"Running. Your mother tends to feed me things like French toast and bacon so I try to offset that as much as possible."
"Its your favorite," she defended.
"It is, love. I'm not complaining, I assure you."
Julie noticed the man was fit, his arms muscular, almost like a man half his age. He jogged out the door.
Dash barked from the deck. "Julie, can you let Dash in, please?"
"I don't know. He steals food."
"He's a puppy."
"That excuses it?" Julie got up and opened the door letting him in.
"It does," Elizabeth told her as she walked into the room. "He is still learning."
"What time are church services, Beth?" Grace asked.
"Ten. But there is another service at two if we can't make the morning one."
"Thanks. I think we will go to the afternoon one. Would you like to come with us, Beth?"
"Yes, I would. I'll drive us. Julie, you in?"
"No, actually I have plans with Blake. Thank you though."
"Well, I'm on my way," Vi announced, pulling her small suitcase behind her. "Thank you for inviting me, Beth."
Elizabeth hugged her and then kissed her belly. "Bye, baby. Aunt Beth loves you."
Vi walked over and hugged Grace. "Its good to see you. Congratulations."
"Thank you, dear. Maybe I'll get Don to drive me back when you have the baby. It's around Thanksgiving, right?"
"Yeah. I'm due the week before."
"I'll see you then. I think Annie will be with us."
"Great, I'd love to meet her."
Julie left shortly after Vi and Don returned from his run about thirty minutes later.
"Service is at two, sweetheart," Grace told him as he walked in the door.
"Ok cool. I'm going to shower and then I'll come eat." He kissed her and winked and then walked down the hall.
Around noon, the three of them headed in to the Sunrise café for lunch and then to church. Then they decided they would stay one more night, leaving Monday morning.
"Do you work Monday, Beth?" Don asked at dinner.
"Yeah. Bright and early."
"I'd love to see your bookstore, wouldn't you, Gracie?"
"I really would. Would that be ok?"
"Of course." It made her nervous though. It was why she moved to Portland, besides leaving memories of Tyler behind. Her mom hadn't shown much interest before so she wanted her to like it, to be proud of what she'd accomplished.
"Don't be nervous, dear. I'd love to see it."
"How do you do that?"
"What?"
"Be careful, Don. She reads minds. Or at least it seems like it. You saw how she knew I was in the hallway last night, right?"
"I'm pretty sure I taught you not to eavesdrop, Elizabeth Grace."
"It wasn't intentional. Anyway, I'm a little nervous, but I guess I just want you to be proud of me."
"I am proud of you. I'm sorry that I gave you the impression that I wasn't. You made a huge change after Ty died and you were raising your son on your own while running a new business. Saying I'm proud doesn't feel adequate but I am."
Elizabeth wiped a tear from her cheek and hugged Grace. "Thank you, Mom."
…
Later…
"Hi, Mom!" Sawyer and Brennan said when she Facetimed them that night.
"Hi, guys. Guess who's here."
"Gran!" they said when she turned the phone. "Hi, Mr. Leonard!"
"Hi, boys. Guess what?"
"What?"
"Mr. Leonard and I got married."
"Cool! So that means we have another Grandpa? What should we call you?"
Brennan wondered.
"Can we call you Papa?" Sawyer asked.
"Sure, Papa is fine."
"Ok, Gran and Papa. I like that!"