Slowly, But Surely
Part II
This is a Fan Fiction story about Jack and Elizabeth of When Calls the Heart on the Hallmark Channel. All rights to the show and characters belong to Hallmark Crown Media.
A short while later, Jack and Elizabeth walked into the church and Pastor Frank was getting ready for services the following day. "Jack, Elizabeth, what brings you here this afternoon?"
Jack and Elizabeth looked at each other and smiled. They both turned to Pastor Frank and said simultaneously, "We want to get married!"
Pastor Frank smiled, "That's wonderful, you two. Congratulations! As you can see, I'm getting ready for tomorrow. Why don't we speak about it after church tomorrow?"
With a panicked look on their faces, Jack asserted, "We want to get married today!"
"Today? Are you sure about this Jack and Elizabeth?"
Jack and Elizabeth both sighed. Elizabeth responded, "We have never been so sure of anything, Pastor."
Jack added, "I waited far too long to ask this beautiful woman to marry me, and we don't want to wait any longer."
Pastor Frank said, "Well then, let's sit down first and talk about a few things." Jack and Elizabeth sat down beside each other in the first pew and Jack put looked at her and put his hand on top of hers. Frank pulled up a chair and sat in front of them.
Pastor Frank began, "Jack and Elizabeth, I first need to know if you understand the importance and the sanctity of marriage? Ephesians states, "Husbands love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her. Are you prepared to do that, Jack?"
"Yes, Pastor, I am," Jack replied firmly.
Pastor Frank continued, "Elizabeth, are you prepared to submit to Jack as the spiritual leader of your home, knowing that he will provide a loving, selfless, compassionate role model for your family?"
"Yes, Pastor, I am," Elizabeth responded.
Pastor Frank carried on. "A Christian marriage is a lifelong building project that begins on the foundation of God's Word. Each role in a family is important and should be respected. Jack and Elizabeth, are you committed to this?
Jack and Elizabeth both looked at each and said, "I am."
Pastor Frank asked, "Jack, how long have you two known each other?"
"About three years, Pastor," Jack responded.
Pastor Frank looked at Elizabeth, "How long have you and Jack been courting?
Elizabeth looked and pursed her lips, in deep thought. "Probably about two and a half years, Pastor."
"Jack, how did your relationship begin?" Frank asked.
"From the beginning of our courtship, or from when we met?" Frank asked. Jack smiled. "Honestly, Pastor, Elizabeth and I didn't see eye-to-eye when we first met. I didn't want to be stationed here and I thought she was a princess," Jack replied. Elizabeth looked at Jack smiling and nodding her head. "But she proved me wrong, Pastor. Did you know that she along with the other women in town, went into the mine before it was closed, in order to save the widow's homes? Did you know that Elizabeth went into that mine alone one night in order to look for Rosaleen who was lost?" Jack looked over at Elizabeth lovingly. "Although she's beautiful like a princess, she is also tough, and caring, and an amazing teacher, and…" Jack kept going on and on until Frank laughed and interrupted him.
"Ahem…I think I get the picture, Jack. Elizabeth, when did you first know that you loved Jack and wanted to spend the rest of your life with him?"
Elizabeth's face turned red. Looking down, then at Jack, she answered, "Well, I guess I knew that I loved him from our first meeting. When he looked at me and shook my hand, I somehow knew that we were meant to be together. Is that possible, Pastor, that you can know that from your first meeting with someone?"
Pastor Frank smiled, "Yes, Elizabeth, I suppose it is. Love is a mystery and sometimes it's really hard to understand how it all comes about. Sometimes it's instantaneous and other times it takes years to develop. It's different for everyone. When you get to heaven eventually, you may want to ask the Lord about that. I believe that He sets it all in motion and we may choose to act on it or not."
Turning to Jack, Pastor Frank asked, "Jack, do you feel the same way? When did you first realize that you loved Elizabeth?"
Jack looked at Elizabeth. "Pastor, I feel that I've loved Elizabeth my whole life."
Pastor Frank continued, "Well, I see that you both love each other. Since you've been courting for two and a half years. why is it so important that you get married today?"
Jack stood up and walked over to the window and looked out. "Pastor, for the past two years I've thought about marrying Elizabeth. Frankly, I didn't have the courage to ask her or to do it. With our different backgrounds and differences, I was always concerned that I wouldn't be enough for her, that she would wake up one day and realize that she made a mistake." Jack walked over to Elizabeth and reached for her hand, and looked at her. Jack stated, "But I know better now. Elizabeth, as I said earlier, I feel that I have loved you all of my life. You are such a part of me already. I don't want to wait another day for us to begin our lives together as husband and wife. Time is so precious and you have saved my life in so many ways! Why I didn't ask you sooner was wrong. I'm so thankful that Abigail…" Jack hesitated.
"Abigail…what, Jack?" Elizabeth asked.
"I should have told you, Elizabeth, but Abigail spoke to me about all this. She questioned why I hadn't asked you to marry me. I thought about it and realized that I had been a fool and that I couldn't wait any longer. Well, I did wait another day," Jack smiled.
"Jack, none of that matters anymore, it only matters that we love each other and that we both agree that we don't want to wait any longer to get married." Turning to Pastor Frank Elizabeth asked, "Will you marry us tonight in this church? This church that Jack built for us? I do still need to speak with Abigail and ask her if she'll stand with me," Elizabeth added.
"Well, I have no doubt that Abigail will stand alongside you. But I still have a couple more questions for you both. Do you want children?" Pastor Frank asked.
Jack and Elizabeth looked at each other and smiled. "Yes!" they both declared in unison.
"How many children do you want to have?" Pastor Frank asked.
"Two!" replied Jack.
"Three!" replied Elizabeth.
"Well, I guess three it is!" Jack smiled.
Frank stated, "My final question: How will you deal with disagreements, fights, etc. You will have them, you know."
"Well, Frank," Jack said, "we've already had a few disagreements." Jack and Elizabeth smiled. "We've dealt with the differences in our families, our upbringings, her fear of my job, Billy Hamilton…" Jack responded.
"Rosemary LeVeaux!" Elizabeth added, then smiled. "But Pastor Frank, we worked through all of those things and they made our relationship stronger. That's why it took so long for us to get to this point. You ask how we'll deal with these things? The Lord tells us not to let the sun go down on our anger. I will work hard to follow this each and every day…"
Jack placed both of Elizabeth's hands in his and responded, "Me, too, Pastor."
"Well, Jack and Elizabeth, I guess we have some work to do this afternoon if you're going to get married tonight!" Jack and Elizabeth stood up and embraced each other.
Frank, Jack, and Elizabeth immediately walked into the back of Abigail's Café. "Abigail, Abigail?"
Abigail walked in from the main room. "Oh, Frank…Jack…Elizabeth…what's going on? What are you all smiling about?" Elizabeth flashed her left hand in front of Abigail.
Abigail looked at Jack and smiled, "Jack! You did it! Elizabeth! I'm so happy for you. I'm so happy for you and Jack."
Elizabeth quipped, "Did you have anything to do with this, Abigail?" They all laughed.
"Nope! Slowly, but Surely Jack came to that conclusion all on his own! So, when do you plan to get married?" Abigail asked.
In unison, Frank, Jack, and Elizabeth all said, "tonight!"
"Tonight? Where? When? Tonight?"
Frank piped up, "Let's all sit down and discuss this." So the four of them sat down and came up with a plan to have the wedding at 7:00 p.m. and to go to Abigail's afterwards for dinner. Ironically, Abigail was in the midst of preparing a pot of Italian Wedding Soup and she had just baked some fresh bread. The only thing left for her was to bake a wedding cake and put up a few decorations. The four of them hand wrote a few wedding invitations for their closest friends. The plan was to hold a wedding reception for them upon return from their honeymoon.
On the way to the mercantile to wire the RNWMP, Jack ran into Bill Avery. Jack shared what was going on and asked him if he could watch things in Hope Valley over the next week until his return. Bill was happy to oblige.
Jack and Elizabeth planned to spend the night at Elizabeth's house and leave the following day for Victoria Island. They were hopeful to find vacancy at one of the hotels there to spend their honeymoon. Ironically, it took almost three years to agree to get married. But they were able to plan a wedding and a honeymoon within a few hours! It all felt so right.
Jack arrived at the church about 6:45 P.M. Elizabeth was already there in Frank's room and Abigail was helping her get ready. Abigail shared, "You know, Elizabeth, I'm a traditional person…you know, something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. You're already wearing something old, your dress from your first official date with Jack. You look beautiful. Here is a new barrette for your hair that I've never had a chance to wear. And here are my blue sapphire earrings for you to borrow...they match your blue eyes. Jack will love them! I think we have everything covered."
"Oh, Abigail, thank you so much for this barrette, it's beautiful. And thank you for loaning me your blue earrings. You are such a wonderful friend. Where would Jack and I be without you?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well, I suppose that Jack would be in Cape Fullerton…and you'd be in Hamilton?" They both laughed. "Oh, Elizabeth, I have waited for this moment for you and Jack for a very long time. You are meant for each other. I'm so happy to finally see this all happening…and so fast." They both laughed at that."
Frank walked in the room and asked Elizabeth if she was ready. He said that he had an anxious groom eagerly waiting to marry his beautiful bride.
At 7 p.m. exactly, the music began and Abigail walked down the aisle first. Jack looked to the back of the church and couldn't believe his eyes…Elizabeth looked stunning and she was about to become his wife! All of his angst and emotions over the past several months suddenly seemed to fade away. He smiled as she made his way toward him. This would be the best day of his life.
As Elizabeth made her way to the front of the church, the few in attendance stood and gazed at her beauty. Both Jack and Elizabeth were beaming…so in love…and so finally ready for this act of love! Jack reached for her hand and took it in his. He turned to her and took the other hand in his as Pastor Frank began the ceremony, "We are gathered here today…"
After the vows, Pastor Frank stated, "Jack, you may kiss your bride now." Jack reached his hands around the back of her waist and pulled Elizabeth close to him. He kissed her ever so sweetly in front of their friends. "I'd like to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Jack Thornton." There wasn't a dry eye in the church as everyone believed in their hearts that Jack and Elizabeth were meant to be together…and they got to witness it firsthand.
After the ceremony, they all went to Abigail's and enjoyed a meal together and the wedding cake. Jack and Elizabeth hugged everyone and said their goodbyes and went home to Elizabeth's. Jack helped Elizabeth out of the buckboard and walked her up to the house. He picked her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs and into Elizabeth's home…now their home.
Inside, Jack put her down gently and they he poured each of them a glass of champagne that had been chilling on the table. He turned the phonograph on and walked over to Elizabeth and handed her the glass, "I love you, Mrs. Thornton. Would you dance with me?"
"Mrs. Thornton," Elizabeth repeated. "I like the sound of that." They took a drink and put their glasses down and began to dance.
Jack whispered, "you know Elizabeth, there's something wrong with that wall over there. I think we need a re-do…"
"The wall? A re-do?" Elizabeth asked. She was confused. Why would he be bringing the wall now…on their wedding night.
Jack led her over to the wall where months before, as she was scrubbing the wall, he had told her there were other ways to stay warm. "That day, Elizabeth, when we stood here together, that was all wrong. Let's get this right." So Jack gently guided Elizabeth back against the wall and pressed himself against her and began kissing her passionately.
After a few minutes, they came up for air. Elizabeth whispered, "I like how you keep me warm, Jack. I guess I won't need all that wood out back. Oh, and there's something else wrong, Jack. I need a re-do, too." Elizabeth led Jack up to her bedroom…their bedroom. Jack took off his jacket and placed it on the chair. He walked over to Elizabeth and pulled her into his arms and began kissing her passionately. She pulled back slightly and began to unbutton his shirt. But this time, Jack didn't stop her…he couldn't stop her…he wouldn't stop her.
Although things began slowly, but surely for Jack and Elizabeth, they were making up for lost time right now...