Chapter 6: Happy Birthday Jack!

The morning had dawned bright and clear. Elizabeth rolled over and snuggled up to her still slumbering Mountie. She watched him for a moment in the morning light—his broad bare chest rising and falling. One stubborn lock of hair fell over his still closed eyes. He looked peaceful and completely relaxed for once—finally off duty.

She resisted for as long as she could—sliding her hand across the five o'clock shadow on his cheek and under his equally stubbled chin. But once she did, his breathing quickly changed, and he leaned into her touch. Her lips met his in a sweet wake-up up call that he didn't quickly let her go from.

"Good morning, Wife." He whispered with his deeper and slightly gravely morning voice. His hand slid around her back pulling her closer still. He rained kisses down her neck and across her shoulder—his lips like fire on the edge of her nightgown.

Little footsteps crept down the hallway that were much louder than intended. Recognizing the sound, Elizabeth let out a defeated sigh as their moment alone ended. She turned in time to see the birthday boy making his grand appearance into their room with his smile a mile wide.

"Good morning Mr. Four-year-old. Is that you, Jack?" Elizabeth teased relishing the way his chest puffed out with the newly earned title.

"Iss ME Mama. Iss my birfday, Daddy!"

Nathan smiled at him as he climbed up into bed and snuggled between them. "Good morning, Jack. I love you, Buddy. Happy birthday." Nathan kissed his head.

Nathan and Elizabeth soaked up a few sweet moments with Jack before the to-do list of Christmas Eve weighed heavily, and they reluctantly climbed out of bed together.

They dressed for the day and headed downstairs to find Allie already up and dressed with a simple breakfast of eggs and toast on the stove.

"Good morning sleepyheads! Happy birthday Jack!" She teased—giving her little brother a big hug to start his day.

Elizabeth set the plates on the table with Jack setting out the silverware. Nathan fed the fire—warming the kitchen further, while Allie dished out breakfast. For only living together for less than a year, the family already functioned well together.

Breakfast was eaten and cleaned up. The plan was for Nathan to head into town this morning and pick up the chocolate birthday cake from the cafe that Jack had requested from Minnie Canfield. Between hosting a birthday party this afternoon, a live nativity tonight, and Christmas tomorrow, it was a request Elizabeth was happy to grant. She even secretly hoped it would become a tradition.

Elizabeth and Allie prepared simple finger sandwiches and a batch of chicken noodle soup for the birthday luncheon. Jack mostly flitted around the house in excitement, but he managed to help with tidying the boots and shoes near the door after his mom's direction.

It wasn't long before Nathan was returning home again. Jack ran to the door to help open it for his dad who would be holding his box of cake, when curiously it opened on it's own. Jack stepped back in surprise to find not his father, but his grandfather smiling down at his shocked little posture.

"Grandpa?!" Jack snapped back to attention barreling into his grandfather's legs. "You come for my birfday?!"

"We did. Happy birthday, young man." William responded with a chuckle.

"Happy birthday, Jack." Grace echoed smiling at the look on his face before he embraced her as well.

Elizabeth and Allie froze in the kitchen at the sound of Jack's question, before running out to the living room to see for themselves. William Thatcher stepped in the door with his wife Grace just behind.

"Father?! Mother?! What are you doing here?! How did you…?" Her hands shook with surprise as her father and mother wrapped their arms around her.

"Hello Beth. It is so good to see you." William hugged his daughter tightly. Elizabeth savored the moment before leaning back to look at them again.

"Oh Elizabeth, look at you. You look beautiful, Darling. My daughter with another child. Well, I'm sorry I missed this the first time around." Grace held Elizabeth's hands as a tear rolled down her cheek.

"You're here now, Mother. I can't believe you're here. When did you get in?" Elizabeth asked in disbelief—still processing the unexpected turn of events.

"Nathan picked us up from the train station just now, Beth. Please don't be angry with him. He had called me a few weeks ago to discuss the end of your mother's letter, giving me permission to move ahead with my idea. That's when we discussed maybe not waiting until next Christmas, but coming this year in person," William explained savoring another warm hug from his daughter.

Allie approached slowly—leaving room for her mother and grandparents to reconnect.

"Oh, Allie! My, you have grown even since last spring. You are every bit a Grant, and you are blossoming into a beautiful young lady." Grace held her hands out to her, but she was greeted instead with one of Allie's warm embraces.

Grace stood stiffly for a moment, before melting into her granddaughter's embrace. It was a gesture that she had missed over the years from her daughters' childhoods. She had raised all three for Society, but she had sacrificed more than she had realized—evidenced by the strained relationships she now held with all three.

Elizabeth and William smiled at the pair, while Jack joined the tender moment between his sister and grandmother. Elizabeth was happy to see that Grace seemed to be content in the arms of her grandchildren. William leaned over to Elizabeth's ear and whispered, "your mother has been worried sick about how this would go. We know we've missed a lot of milestones with you. We hope to change that now and moving forward if you'll have us."

Elizabeth nodded at her father with her eyes brimming with tears. Any stress and anxiety that Elizabeth had at their sudden arrival seemed to melt away like the morning frost on the window.

Elizabeth smiled at the sight of her mother with her children. She was grateful for their time together and for the thoughtfulness of her husband paving the way for this moment to even happen. "Where is Nathan, by the way…"

The back door opened to reveal Nathan carrying two bags, followed by Theodore carrying another set of bags, followed by Marguerite carrying the birthday cake box.

"Someone had to put the horses up…and maybe buy you a little time with your parents before your next surprise visitors." Nathan announced with a lop-sided grin soaking up the look of confusion turned wonder on his wife's face.

"Theodore?! Marguerite?! How is this possible?!" Elizabeth ran through the kitchen to embrace her favorite butler and family chef.

"Oh, Elizabeth, Dear, it is so good to see you again! ….And your baby! Oh, this is wonderful." Marguerite wiped the tears from her eyes and stepped back allowing Elizabeth to hug Theodore as well.

"My dear, motherhood suits you. I have missed you dearly." Theodore hugged her tightly forgoing Society protocols against showing such affection.

Allie and Jack hugged their grandparents before turning and embracing Miss Cookie and Mr. Theodore. The house emanated love at the sweet reunion. It was already a Merry Christmas indeed.

After another round of hugs and the shock of their arrival set in, Elizabeth switched into planning mode. "Oh, where are you staying? Surely you'll stay here, won't you? I can ready the guest bedroom…maybe we can rearrange the nursery…" Nathan placed a hand on her arm.

"Lizbeth, the guest room is ready. I asked Laura to prepare it yesterday. Theodore and Marguerite are staying with the Coulters. They wanted to be a help to Rosemary and Lee while they were here and give us some space with your parents." Nathan's voice was tender and soothing—bringing Elizabeth out of her frantic spell.

Theodore and Marguerite nodded at Elizabeth, communicating their approval of the plan.

"Well then…thank you, Nathan. This is more than I ever could have asked for." She hugged him tightly as her eyes filled with grateful tears. What started as sniffles turned into full blown sobbing as the emotion of their arrival and her raging pregnancy hormones gave way to tears.

The others stood stiffly for a moment—surprised at the sudden change and unsure of what to do. Nathan had become accustomed to the sudden emotional outbursts of pregnancy, and held her close—smoothing her hair back as she sobbed and laughed into his shoulder.

Grace approached and placed a hand on her back. "I remember those pregnancy tears like it was yesterday," she spoke softly. At the sound of her sympathy, Elizabeth unlatched from Nathan and hugged her mother tightly. Nathan smiled and stepped back as Grace enveloped her daughter in a hug—rubbing her back in small circles as if she were a child with a scraped knee.

Tears filled William's eyes as he watched the long-awaited tender moment happening between mother and daughter. Marguerite and Theodore shared an understanding nod with Nathan. Allie seemed transported back to her own moment of reconciliation with Elizabeth over a year ago, and Jack stood smiling—happy to have so many of his favorite people together under one roof.

A knock at the door brought everyone back to the present with party guests arriving. The Coulters were first to arrive, and Allie was happy to claim little Evelyn for herself—which gave Rosemary a chance to mingle and greet other guests while holding Patrick. Lee held a large wrapped gift that made Jack's eyes dance at the sight of it.

Laura Campbell arrived soon after with a gift of her own. She swooped down to Jack's level and gave him a hug. He hugged her back and then gladly took the package off her hands.

She greeted Nathan and milled about somewhat awkwardly while others talked. He took pity on her—recognizing the feeling of feeling out of place. He officially introduced her to each of Elizabeth's family members—both related and chosen.

As she made her way around the room to Rosemary, she asked to hold Patrick. Rosemary happily surrendered him—taking a moment to roll back her shoulders in relief. Laura seemed happy to hold him as well. It had been years since she could hold Jack like this.

Another knock at the door revealed Bill holding a small wrapped package. "Unka Bill!" Jack ran up to Bill and gave him a Jack-sized bear hug.

"Happy birthday Jack! Looks like you draw a big crowd these days." Bill smiled out at the room of friends and family. He was both surprised and happy to see that the Thatchers had returned and were here finally for one of Jack's milestones. There had been many years' worth of holidays and milestones since Elizabeth had moved to the frontier where the only family that was present were friends that were like family and were not technically related.

Elizabeth had set out the finger sandwiches and soup that she and Allie had made earlier before Theodore and Marguerite shooed her from the kitchen and encouraged her to mingle with her friends and family. They promised to make time together later in the weekend with just her after the rush of birthdays and Christmas festivities waned.

Conversations were lively as guests visited and ate. Sensing his opportunity, Jack quietly approached his mother and asked if it was time yet for his birthday gifts. She nodded to him and caught Nathan's eye from across the room to communicate the time.

He joined her side as she addressed the crowd, "Thank you everyone for coming. I can't tell you how much this means to me and my family to have you all together. Thank you for loving our little boy….our big boy." Jack nodded approvingly at her correction.

"Jack is ready to start opening presents over on the settee so please grab your drink and join us there," Elizabeth instructed.

Jack sat proudly—surrounded by an arrangement of gifts that appeared as different as the guests that brought them. Some were opulently decorated with bows and beautiful paper, some were simple brown paper packages tied up with string, and some weren't wrapped at all outwardly. They were still in their postal packaging—likely representing the family still afar.

Eyeing the Coulter's gift, Jack unwrapped a wooden blue truck with a long flat trailer that attached and held a half dozen wooden rods that were painted to look like logs. The truck had "Coulter Enterprises" painted on the side of the truck door in little white lettering.

"Whoa!" Jack exclaimed giving the truck a try driving across the cushion on the settee. "Fanks! I wuv trucks."

"I know you do, Jack. We wanted you to have that." Lee smiled at the boy.

"Where did you find that, Lee?" Nathan inspected the toy, impressed with its craftsmanship.

"There was a wooden toy shop in Edmonton when I was there a few months ago on business. Everything was bare wood though, so Rosie painted it for Jack and made the logs look more…tree-like," Lee relayed.

"More tree-like than wood?" Nathan enjoyed the irony with a mischievous grin that filled his features at the potential Dad-jokes. "You don't cedar that often."

"Daaaaad…." Allie warned with an eye-roll.

"Wood you like me to branch out with my puns, Allie?"

"I'm buying you a joke book next Christmas. You need all the help you can get," Allie sighed in exasperation. Everyone in the room chuckled at the father and daughter pair with the Thatchers especially enjoying the tenacity of their granddaughter.

Jack grabbed the next present which was from his nanny Laura. It was simply wrapped in craft paper with jute string tied around it with a bow. Tearing back the paper, he found a coloring book with a package of twelve brand new crayons.

"Colors!" Jack exclaimed as he opened the top to find all the colors of the rainbow with black, white, and pink added in too. It was every color a boy needed to draw virtually anything that he could dream up.

"Fanks Miss Warwa!"

"You're very welcome, Jack." Laura smiled proudly as she swayed from side to side with a now sleeping Patrick.

Nathan cleared the paper clutter away and handed Jack another gift with a tag that read simply, "From Uncle Bill."

It was a smaller package, but it was wrapped in the distinctive paper from The Mercantile. The paper was primarily white with thin blue lines—a French envelope liner turned gift wrap that Ned had used in a pinch last Christmas. It was so popular that the Yosts now often struggled to keep it in stock.* Based on the neat wrapping, it appeared that Florence had wrapped for Bill this year.

The wrapping paper gave way to a cardboard box that held a small pair of binoculars—perfectly sized for a young boy like Jack.

"Jack, we can watch your birds up close with those." Nathan suggested to the birthday boy. Understanding flooded Jack's face, and a small smile crept across his lips. "Fanks Unka Bill!"

Jack opened present after present getting the hang of this birthday thing. He opened a miniature apron with a handwritten cookbook filled with simple recipes from Theodore and Marguerite. From Allie, he got a new book by Frank L. Baum called "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus." Jack got a hand carved tackle box and a copy of Peter Pan from his parents.

Grandma Ada and Grandpa Archie had sent a knitted cream-colored hat with a stylish pom-pom at the top. It had some practical knit strings that hung down around the ears to tie around his chin—making it harder for a little boy to lose while playing.

There was only one present left that was wrapped in sleekly lined paper with a solid green bow tied on top. The box was slightly smaller than Jack himself. He had been eyeing it longingly for an hour—curious as to what Grandma and Grandpa Thatcher had brought. He was almost afraid to hope. Pulling back the paper, revealed a wooden crate that read, "Thatcher Shipping."

William nodded to Nathan and they both stepped forward to lift the heavy lid. Jack peered in to find a dozen wrapped packages nestled safely in shredded newspaper.

Picking up the largest package, Jack tore back the tissue paper to reveal a jet black steam engine with the number 911 in gold across the side. The black coal car had a bright red crest with white letters that read, "Canadian National."

"A train!" Jack breathed in awe. He gently ran his fingers along the wheels—which moved under his touch. Grandpa Thatcher had delivered the promised train after-all.

Elizabeth was torn between watching the delight in her father who was watching Jack open each gift, and watching the wonder in Jack's eyes as he unwrapped each train car. Both sights were beautiful to behold.

The bottom of the crate revealed dozens of interlocking track pieces, and William practically leaped forward in excitement to show Jack how to put them together. William, Nathan, and Jack laid a quick track that encircled the Christmas tree.

The birthday boy gently placed the steam engine, and four boxcars with black blocky lettering that clearly read, "Thatcher Shipping," across the cars.

Jack gave it a push and the train was off on its maiden voyage around the tree. About halfway around the tree, Jack was delighted to hear his grandfather joining him with the "chugga chugga" train noises and whistle.

Jack rounded the tree to see the whole party smiling and captivated by the grandfather and grandson scene—both young boys in the moment. Nathan and even Lee took turns pushing the train around the track with the birthday boy—with the two men becoming seemingly younger themselves.

Theodore and Marguerite presented Minnie's layered chocolate cake topped with four glowing candles, which grabbed the guests' and birthday boy's attention. Nathan and Elizabeth started singing, "Happy Birthday" and everyone joined in with the echo of friends and family reverberating off the walls.

The cake was cut and enjoyed by all. It was especially enjoyed by Jack who proudly wore what appeared to be a chocolate icing beard—before his mother wiped it clean with a warm washcloth.

Nathan finished all, but the last piece of icing on his slice of cake before his bride caught him in the act. She beat him to the punch and swiped his nose first. The two laughed with a quick peck—minding their guests and young audience.

Before long, guests were leaving and giving hugs before having to prepare for Christmas Eve services tonight. Laura had to head back to the farm to help her father round up the animals requested for the nativity. Bill needed to finish the Christmas cookies he was providing from the cafe. Rosemary and Lee needed to feed and change the babies for their stage debut. The Thatchers, Theodore, and Marguerite would be able to help with clean up before settling in to their rooms and changing their clothes for church.

It wasn't the Christmas Eve that Elizabeth had anticipated this morning. It was already much, much more.

A/N:

*The story about Ned's wrapping paper is a nod to the history of wrapping paper in the US. Starting in 1917, two brothers in their stationary store in Kansas City, MO ran out of tissue paper and improvised with French envelope lining paper at Christmas. It was a hit. I decided to include this when I read on to realize the brothers were Joyce and Rollie Hall from their Hallmark Store. (Mind-blown).

The Canadian National 911 steam engine ran in 1919 in the region. I'll include photos in the Sunday Night Serge Facebook Group.

Yep, Ada Grant knitted the cream winter cap Jack is wearing on the book cover photo. :)