Six months later…
Annie relaxed in the co-pilot's seat of the Cessna 152 that Tom borrowed from Nico. It was their six month anniversary and he was flying her to Boothbay Harbor for the evening. He had booked a suite at the Tugboat Inn right on the water. They had agreed on the stay in a suite because there was a bedroom and a pullout bed so there weren't any expectations.
"Annie, look over to the right," he told her in their headsets.
She looked over and smiled. "It's beautiful." The coast was gorgeous. Boats dotted the water and lighthouses stood tall. "I want to always live here, Tom. I will never get tired of this."
"And seeing it from the air puts everything in a different perspective, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it does."
She thought back to the first time she flew with him. It was a week after their first date and he just took her up and flew her around to let her get a feel for it. She had been super scared but he had been kind, not taking any huge turns or dropping altitude or anything.
"Annie?"
"Yeah?"
"I love you."
"I love you too," she said, reaching over to kiss his cheek. She hadn't planned to fall for him, but from that first cocoa date at Starbucks, she felt her heart accepting him. It was scary at first. Now, she trusted him completely. She knew he was never going to cheat on her, so when he told her he loved her after three months, she returned the sentiment.
Now, she imagined them marrying, flying to Hawaii for their honeymoon, having babies, growing old together.
"Tom?"
"Yeah?" he asked, concentrating as he flew through the clouds.
"Marry me."
She felt the plane drop a bit, making her scream which in turn hurt his ears. "Huh?"
"I think we should get married."
"Um, aren't I supposed to ask you?"
"I don't think that's a rule. It's just tradition that most people follow. I'm not one for following tradition." She smiled, waiting for his answer.
"Okay. Yes, I will marry you."
"Great." She looked back out the window like she hadn't just changed their lives forever. "I will let you buy me a ring if you want. You don't have to but I can agree with that tradition."
"I already did," he told her, that silly grin on his face.
"When?"
"Last time I went to Hawaii. I found it in a shop there. It made me think of you so I got it." He paused a moment and brought the plane back under the clouds. "See that bag there?" She looked down at the bag between their seats. "The pocket inside. There's a ring box."
"Tom! You brought it with you?"
"Of course. My plan was to propose at dinner tonight." He shrugged. "I guess plans change."
"I'm sorry. I ruined your plan."
"You didn't. You took the heat off me. I'm good with that."
"How long before we land?" she asked.
"About twenty minutes, why?"
"Because this ring is gorgeous and I really want to kiss my fiancé right now."
…..
Back in Portland, Jack and Elizabeth's house,
"Mom! Leah just knocked over my tower!" Brennan tattled using the nickname he had given his sister.
"Sweetie, she's a baby. She is just learning to crawl. If you don't want her to touch your stuff, don't play with it on the floor."
"But I always play on the floor."
"I know but you may need to change that."
"It's not fair."
"Why don't you let Dad and Sawyer play with Leah and you can come help me make cookies."
"No, thanks." He walked back into the living room and sat down. Every so often, she heard the baby gurgle or say something in baby talk and Brennan sigh. "I'm going outside with Dash," he told her.
"Okay, thanks for telling me."
She heard the door shut and then Jack brought Maleah in the kitchen. "This little girl needs a diaper change and a bottle."
"There should be a bag of milk in the freezer. I can warm it up if you tackle the diaper."
"Deal." He bent down and kissed her and then headed to the nursery with Maleah.
"Mom!"
"Yes, Sawyer?"
"Brennan got hurt!"
"What?"
She rushed out of the house and onto the deck where she found a sobbing Brennan on the steps, Dash licking his face.
"Bren? What happened?"
"I hurt my arm, Mom. It hurts so bad!" He sniffled and cradled his left arm in his right hand.
"Can you wiggle your fingers?"
She watched as he tried and the fingers moved slightly. "Ok, baby. Let's tell Dad that we are going to the doctor."
It turned out, he had fractured his wrist when he tripped over Dash in the backyard. So the poor guy was going to be wearing a cast for the next six weeks. Thankfully, he was right-handed so his schoolwork wouldn't be affected.
When they got home, it was nine pm and Elizabeth could hear Maleah crying in the bedroom. She knew that she was wanting to nurse and that she had probably refused a bottle so Jack was probably at his wits end.
When he walked in, she found Jack and Sawyer on the bed trying to keep Maleah happy but it wasn't working. Jack looked up, relief in his eyes. "Thank goodness, Elizabeth. She will not take a bottle."
"I'm sorry, Jack. Thanks for staying with her." Elizabeth sat in the rocker and started feeding her, silencing her cries. Instead they heard her gulping. "Shh, calm down, sweetie."
"How's Brennan?"
"He fractured his wrist. He has to wear a cast for six weeks."
"Poor kid. I'm going to go see him."
"Okay."
About fifteen minutes later, Maleah was asleep and in her crib. Elizabeth went to make tea and then was going to take a bubble bath.
Jack found her in the kitchen. "Hey."
"Hi. Would you mind starting a bath for me?"
"Sure. You doing alright, hon?"
"Yeah. I'm ok." He kissed her forehead and gave her a hug.
"You can tell me anything, you know?"
"I know. Vi called and said she had another miscarriage."
"Oh no. That's horrible."
"Yeah. I'm so glad she has Rylie because they decided they aren't going to chance getting pregnant again. It's too hard."
"I can't imagine losing a child. I don't know if I could handle that," Jack admitted.
"Me either."
"I guess we need to remember them in our prayers and be grateful everyday and every moment for our children and each other."
She nodded and hugged him again. "I love you, Jack."
"I love you."
….
Tom led Annie to their suite, so proud to have her on his arm. The day had been amazing. The second they landed and got out of the plane, Tom slipped her ring on her finger and accepted the kiss she had mentioned before. When they found a cab, they went to the Inn where they were going to stay for the night.
Next, they went on a boat tour, seeing numerous whales and seals and lobster boats. It was very romantic and they enjoyed themselves immensely. After the boat tour, they headed to Ports of Italy, a restaurant on the harbor.
After dinner, they walked a bit and ended up back at the Inn.
Once they were inside, Annie kicked off her shoes. "This was the perfect day, hon," Annie told Tom, giving him a hug.
"I agree." He just held her for a few moments, loving her, grateful. "I love you so much and I can't believe you proposed," he said with a smirk.
She smacked his arm and laughed. "You must not have minded. You said yes."
"Nah. I didn't mind. No matter who asked, we are going to be together in the end."
She hugged him again and blurted, "I want babies."
"Now?"
She laughed again and kissed him. "No, not now. You're a silly man, Tom Thornton."
"That's why you love me."
"Very true but seriously, children are important to me and I know they are to you."
"Yes, they are. I want children too, Annie."
"And I want my dad to give me away. It's so important. When my mom died he was my rock. I need him there."
"Sweetheart," he said, grabbing her hands. "I would never ask you to get married without him there. Whenever you want to do it, tell me when. I'll be there."
"Hawaii for our honeymoon?"
"Absolutely."
….
The next morning after feeding the baby and placing her in her crib, Elizabeth headed in the bathroom to take a shower.
She took her time and then came out into the bedroom wrapped in her towel to get dressed. Maleah was still asleep so she walked over to the closet.
"Morning, beautiful," Jack mumbled from the bed.
"Morning, handsome."
"Hey, can you come here a moment?"
"I'm getting my clothes, just a second."
She found a pair of jeans and a "My kids are my life" t-shirt. That about summed it up.
She sat down on his side of the bed. "What did you need?"
"You." He pulled her clothes gently out of her hands and put them on her side of the bed. Then he sat up and gently kissed her soft, slightly damp shoulder. "I need you." Then his lips found their way to her collarbone. "You smell so good."
"Babe, the kids will want breakfast soon. We don't have time."
"Its about thirty minutes before they need to get up. We have time."
"I'm sorry." She got up and grabbed her clothes. "I'm just not feeling romantic this morning." She dressed and threw the towel into the hamper before leaving the room.
He got up, put a t-shirt on, grabbed the baby monitor and headed to the kitchen. "Elizabeth, what's going on? Are you sad because of Vi?"
"Yes, I am, but that's not it." She opened the sliding door for Dash to run out and the resumed making her tea. "Jack, do you realize how long its been since we went on a date? And then came home and spent time together, just us? Four months. The last time was four months ago."
"We could have spent time together a few minutes ago but you weren't in the mood," he pointed out.
"I'm not just talking about being intimate. I miss you, Jack. Talking to you and or taking a bath together or watching a movie and holding your hand. We need to make it happen, because honestly, I feel like we are in a rut."
Sawyer and Brennan walked out then, ending their conversation. Elizabeth heard Maleah on the monitor so she walked away with a sigh.
"Ok, boys. This weekend, who do you want to stay with? Gran and Papa or Grandma and Grandpa?"
"Gran and Papa!" they said in unison.
"Okay. I'll make the arrangements."
…
Two days later, Jack ordered a bouquet of red roses and had them delivered to the house while he was working in the city.
Elizabeth smiled when the deliveryman asked for "the most beautiful woman in the world."
"I'm sorry?"
"The name on the card says "The most beautiful woman in the world.""
"I'll take them. Thank you," she said, her cheeks turning red as the roses in her hands.
She pulled out her phone and texted Jack. "I just got an interesting delivery. Not sure they r 4 me tho."
"No 1 else deserves the title, love."
"What's the occasion?"
"B cause u are my wife and I love u."
"Thank u. I love u 2."
"B ready 2 go by 6pm."
"Go where?"
"Out. Kids will be with your parents overnight. Even Maleah."
"She needs me to nurse her b4 bed."
"U will. I got a plan. Trust me."
"Ok."
So she spent the afternoon doing her normal things but she included packing a bag for Maleah and getting dressed up for her outing with Jack.
When she opened her top dresser drawer to take something out, she found a small silver box that said "Open Me" on top.
She opened it and gasped. Inside was a diamond eternity band, that fit perfectly with her wedding ring and engagement ring. It was gorgeous.
Sweetheart,
I love you with all of my heart. I can't wait to spend the evening with you."
Jack
"I can't wait either, Jack."