Story of the Heart Challenge. Enjoy
Jack Thornton Jr. looked in the mirror. He was having trouble with his tie. There was a knock on the door.
"Come in." Jack said.
The door opened. It was his stepfather, Nathan Grant.
"Almost ready?" Nathan asked.
"I can't seem to get my tie right." Jack said.
"Let me help." Nathan said with a smile. Jack let go of his tie and let Nathan take the tie.
"I'm nervous." Jack said.
"Every man is nervous on their wedding day. But Rebecca is a wonderful woman." Nathan said.
"Were you nervous on your wedding day?" Jack asked.
Nathan smiled.
"I wore three shirts underneath my suit because I kept sweating profusely." Nathan said with his grin.
Jack remembered when his mother married Nathan. They were married just outside the church. The whole town was there.
"There." Nathan said as he finished the tie.
Jack looked at his tie and smiled.
"Thank you, Dad." Jack said.
"You're welcome. I have something to give you." Nathan said as he reached in his pocket and took out a small bag and gave it to Jack.
Jack opened the bag. They were cufflinks with the letter "T" on them.
Jack smiled at Nathan.
"Let me help you put these on." Nathan said taking the cufflinks from Jack.
"Are you mad that I never took your last name?" Jack asked.
"Jack, I stopped worrying about last names the day I adopted Allie. Last names don't matter to me. You are my son." Nathan said.
Jack knew that he was Nathan's son. He never treated him any differently than his brothers and sisters.
"Are you disappointed that I didn't become a Mountie?" Jack asked.
Nathan laughed.
"Is this what you want to talk about on your wedding day? Of course, I'm not disappointed that you didn't become a Mountie. It wasn't your calling." Nathan said.
After Jack came home from college, Hope Valley started its own police force. That is how he met Rebecca. There was a broken window at the school and Jack took a statement from Rebecca.
"I'm proud of the man you have become." Nathan said. The two hugged.
There was another knock on the door. His mother stepped in.
"There are my men." Elizabeth said with a smile.
"Just helping Jack get ready." Nathan said.
Elizabeth smiled.
"Do you mind if I have a minute with our son?" Elizabeth asked Nathan.
Nathan nodded, kissed Elizabeth on the cheek and left.
"I hope I have a marriage like yours." Jack said.
"Me too. But your marriage is your own. You will love each other differently." Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth looked at Jack up and down.
"My little baby is getting married." Elizabeth said. She took a Kleenex out of her pocket.
"Ma! You can't cry yet! The ceremony hasn't even started" Jack said.
"I know. Weddings make me emotional." Elizabeth said.
"I know." Jack said with a smile.
"When you smile like that, I can see your father." Elizabeth said.
"I wish he was here." Jack said.
"Me too. He would be so proud of the man you have become." Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth brushed Jack's hair.
"But you have his smile and eyes and that's good enough for me." Elizabeth said. Elizabeth noticed the cufflinks.
"Your dad was excited when he found these. He found them when he was in Union City for work." Elizabeth said.
Jack smiled.
"Thank you for choosing him." Jack said.
"Don't thank me. He was the patient one. He waited until I overcame my fear of losing him. He is a good man" Elizabeth said.
Jack nodded.
"I just wanted to see you before you became someone's husband. Rebecca is a lucky woman. I love you." Elizabeth said.
"I love you too." Jack said. They hugged and his mother left.
Jack let out a big breath. Jack looked around his childhood room. Jack smiled at his toys. He sat on his bed. On the end table was a picture of his father who had passed before he was born. Jack never knew his father except for stories that Nathan collected from those who served with Jack and the people of Hope Valley. There were times that he felt like he was chasing a ghost. That he needed to live up to the name. But with the help of his mother and father, he realized that he was his own person and didn't have to live up to anyone.
"I'm getting married today. Right outside in the back." Jack said to the photo. He picked it up and held it.
"You would love Rebecca. She is sweet, kind, funny and understands me. She is my best friend. I wish I could have met you but I guess we will one day when I take my last breath. I grew up well." Jack said with a smile.
He put the picture back on his nightstand and decided it was time to go live the rest of his life. As Jack was heading to the door, he was something red outside the corner of his eye. A cardinal had landed on the tree just outside his bedroom window. Jack smiled. He knew that when a cardinal was here, a loved one was near. He looked at the picture of his father.
"I love you too." Jack said.