Slowly, But Surely
Part III
Fortunately for Jack and Elizabeth, the Stagecoach wouldn't be leaving until the afternoon. They simply could not get enough of each other as husband and wife. About 9 a.m., Elizabeth lay there in bed alongside Jack until he woke up. Softly, he said, "Good morning, Mrs. Thornton. Did you sleep well?"
"Better than I've ever slept in my life, Mr. Thornton. How about you?"
Jack sighed. "Elizabeth, I never realized how good sleep could be. If I had, we'd have gotten married a long time ago. Last night was amazing. It meant so much to me. You mean so much to me. And the best part is waking up with you this morning and realizing this is all real and not a dream. For the record, I won't ever need a re-do for last night."
Elizabeth was embarrassed but she asked Jack, "was it everything you imagined? I hope that I didn't disappoint you."
"Disappoint me? Elizabeth, last night was perfect, it was more than I could have ever imagined. But I will say this, Mrs. Thornton: I won't need a re-do, but I'll definitely want a re-peat! We have a license now, and I don't believe there is a statute of limitations on that!" Jack laughed.
"Jack, maybe we can just lie here a little while longer? I feel so at home in your arms. We will need to get ready soon, though, we have a honeymoon to get to!" Elizabeth responded.
"When I'm with you, Elizabeth, I am home, no matter where we are. I love you very much," Jack shared softly. One thing led to another and…
After a couple of hours, Jack and Elizabeth arrived in town to catch the stagecoach, and practically everyone they knew showed up to wish them well and see them off. As they were saying their goodbyes, Elizabeth overheard a few comments, "I wonder how much sleep they got last night…Look how he's looking at her…I bet they were making up for lost time…" and she tried to ignore them. Deep down, though, the comments bothered her.
Fortunately, no one else got on the stagecoach from Hope Valley so Jack and Elizabeth had it all to themselves. After a few minutes of silence, Elizabeth turned to Jack, "that was so embarrassing, Jack, did you hear all those comments at the station?"
Jack smiled. "What comments, you mean how I was looking at you…how we spent our time last night?" Jack laughed.
"Jack! Why are you laughing? That whispering…those comments really bothered me."
"I'm sorry, Elizabeth, I'm not laughing at you. It's just that we're married and that's what married people do. Especially newlyweds. Weren't those statements true?"
"I suppose, Jack. I guess I'm being silly. So what would you like to do on our honeymoon?" Elizabeth asked.
"What were we just talking about?" Jack smirked.
Elizabeth smiled. "Well, yes, but we can't do that all day long…"
"Who says we can't?" Jack quipped…and then laughed.
Hours later, they reached their destination and Jack surprised Elizabeth by securing a honeymoon suite at the Empress in Victoria, a real feat given such short notice. This grand hotel had hundreds of rooms and it had only been built a few years before. "Jack, before we go to our room, I think we should wire our families and let them know we're married and that we're on our honeymoon," Elizabeth said.
"Are you sure we can't wait until after our honeymoon to let them all know?" Jack smirked. But when he saw Elizabeth frown, he relented, "okay, let's wire them before we go to our room."
The Bellhop escorted Jack and Elizabeth to their suite and opened the door for them. "I hope you'll find these accommodations well suited for your needs, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton," he said. As soon as Jack tipped the Bellhop and he left, Jack scooped Elizabeth into his arms and carried her over to the couch.
"I have been waiting all day for this. Do you know what I'd like to do, Mrs. Thornton?" Jack asked Elizabeth.
"I think I have a pretty good idea…but I'll play along…what would you like to do, Mr. Thornton?" Elizabeth asked.
"I'd love for you to sit right here on my lap and kiss me..." Before long, their clothes were almost off and Jack scooped Elizabeth up and carried her over to the large bed. "I'd like a re-peat, Mrs. Thornton…"
In the morning, Jack reached across the bed for Elizabeth but she wasn't there. He smiled once he heard Elizabeth humming in the bathroom. He looked inside and there she was, his beautiful wife, yes, his wife , enjoying a bubble bath in this giant tub and she was humming a tune. Ahem, "enjoying yourself Mrs. Thornton?" Jack asked.
"The water's warm, Mr. Thornton, would you like to join me?" Elizabeth asked.
"That's an invitation I could never turn down, Mrs. Thornton," and Jack climbed into the tub behind her. Is this all a dream, Jack thought to himself. He thought that he'd died and gone to heaven.
They spent the afternoon strolling nearby Victoria Park, speaking very little but basking in their newfound love for each other. Jack asked Elizabeth, "how would you feel about going to the dress shop at the hotel to buy a fancy new dress? I have made special plans for us this evening."
"Is this what being married to you is going to be like, Jack? If so, then yes, please!" Elizabeth smiled excitedly.
Jack sat on a chair watching Elizabeth as she tried on a number of dresses. She didn't seem very satisfied with the first three she tried on…too tight, too short, too long. She then tried on an ivory dress that gathered in the front and had beautiful cap sleeves. She walked out of the dressing room and Jack exclaimed, "Wow, let's take that one!"
"Jack, don't you think it's too clingy?" Elizabeth asked.
"That's the best part!" Jack responded.
"Jack! Do you really want other men looking at me in this dress?"
"Other men? Why would other men be looking at you in that…oh…your're right…let's keep looking. But maybe they have some lingerie like that…"
Elizabeth finally settled on a simple but elegant royal blue dress that gathered beautifully in the front but hung nicely in the back. This dress really brought out the depth of her blue eyes. Elizabeth managed to sneak in a few other items that she knew Jack would love, also.
Later that day, Jack was wearing a black suit with a white shirt and tie when Elizabeth came out of the bathroom dressed in her beautiful new dress. "You are breathtaking, Elizabeth. I don't know if I want to share you with anyone else tonight. How about we order room service?"
"Jack, we spent all afternoon looking for this dress and I want to show it off. Can't we go have dinner at least?" Elizabeth asked.
"Of course, Elizabeth. But I would like to have at least one dance with you, too, Mrs. Thornton," Jack responded. Elizabeth smiled and nodded yes.
As they were finishing their elegant dinner, Jack asked Elizabeth, "may I have this dance, Mrs. Thornton? I do believe this will be our first dance as husband and wife!"
"Of course. I would love to dance with you, Mr. Thornton." They stayed for a short while and Elizabeth whispered to Jack, "You know, I'd rather dance with you in our room. We don't need an audience. Besides, I have a surprise for you." So, they left the ballroom and on the way to their room, Jack stopped to ask the desk clerk if the hotel had a phonograph he could borrow for their stay.
"Mr. Thornton, there's already one in your room along with a wonderful selection of music. Perhaps you've been too busy to notice?" smiled the desk clerk.
Jack smiled back and thanked the Desk Clerk. He and Elizabeth headed up to their room. Once inside, Elizabeth kissed Jack and thanked him for a lovely evening. "The dinner was delicious, the dancing was delightful, and my dance partner was out of this world!"
Jack kissed her and whispered, "Well, since you seem to like your dance partner, I'm going to turn on the phonograph and pour us a glass of champagne. I distinctly remember saying that you'd rather dance with me in our room."
They danced slowly for a while, stopping periodically to take a drink of champagne. "I love you, Jack. Would you like to have your surprise now? Jack nodded yes. "I'll be back soon, Jack. Make yourself comfortable."
Jack took off his suit jacket and tie and waited patiently for his surprise. Elizabeth changed into some lingerie that she had purchased earlier in the day. She walked out of the bathroom and Jack's jaw dropped. He just stared at Elizabeth. "Are you kidding me? You take my breath away, Elizabeth. Is that clingy little silky dress my present? Thank you for my special gift," Jack said softly as he pulled her over to him and began kissing her passionately…
The next morning, Jack and Elizabeth ordered room service for breakfast. They simply enjoyed spending time together…as husband and wife. At midday, Elizabeth asked Jack to go for a walk and they got cleaned up and went to a nearby park. They did want to see some things outside of their hotel room. They were, after all, on Victoria Island and had many sightseeing opportunities.
On the fourth day of their honeymoon, as they were returning to the hotel to get ready for dinner, they were walking through the lobby and to their right stood William Thatcher. "Father?" Elizabeth asked.
"Elizabeth, Mr. Thornton, is there a place that we can talk privately?"
"Yes, father. What are you doing here? Let's go up to my…our room." They were all quiet on the way up to the room. Outside of the door, William gave Jack a dirty look as he was about to enter the room with Elizabeth and himself.
"Excuse me, Mr. Thornton, but I'd like to speak to my daughter alone," William stated curtly.
Elizabeth wouldn't stand for that. "Father, you obviously know that Jack and I are married now and I want him to be with us. Anything you have to say to me, you can say to both of us!" Elizabeth responded. "And please call my husband by his first name…Jack!" All three of them walked into the room.
"Well, Mr. Thor…ahem…Jack, and Elizabeth, I don't know that either of you will want to hear what I have to say. But I'm going to say it. You first, Elizabeth. Your mother is so upset that you didn't include her as part of your wedding. How could you do that to her? And Jack, did you not realize that it was customary to ask me for Elizabeth's hand? What do you two have to say for yourselves?"
"Mr. Thatcher, I can accept that you're not happy with how Elizabeth and I got married. But you knew how I felt about Elizabeth when we were in Hamilton. And you made it very clear that I wouldn't be accepted into your family unless I came to work for you. Do you expect me to believe that you would have said yes if I asked you for Elizabeth's hand?"
"Honestly, Jack, I don't know how I would have responded. But you should have asked me anyway! That would have been the right thing to do!" William said matter-of-factly.
Elizabeth began crying and William started to walk towards her. Jack held up his hand to William, "Mr. Thatcher, this is my wife and I will console her, not you. I know that you are Elizabeth's father but she is not a child anymore and she gets to make her own decisions. I am her husband and I am her protector now. I prefer she not be any more upset than she already is so I ask you to leave. Perhaps we can discuss this further tomorrow once we've had a chance to think about your concerns," Jack stated. "Goodnight, Mr. Thatcher," Jack stated as he escorted him to the door.
William looked sternly at Elizabeth and then at Jack, but he left without saying another word.
Elizabeth tossed and turned all night…and Jack didn't sleep any better.
William left a message for Jack and Elizabeth to meet him for breakfast at a café near the hotel. William was already sitting at a table when Jack and Elizabeth walked inside.
"Good morning, Mr. Thatcher," Jack stated.
"Good morning, Father," Elizabeth said.
"Well, I hope it is Elizabeth, Mr. Thorn…I mean Jack. Please join me." Jack and Elizabeth sat together across the table from William Thatcher. "Will you be having breakfast this morning, Elizabeth? Jack?"
"Just some coffee and toast for me, Father," Elizabeth replied.
"Yes, sir. I'll have some coffee and an order of the blueberry pancakes with sausage," Jack responded.
"Well, I guess that's one thing we have in common, then…breakfast."
They were all quiet until after they finished eating their breakfast. "Mr. Thatcher, let me first say that I was wrong for not asking you for Elizabeth's hand in marriage. She is your daughter and you deserved to be asked. But I hope you realize how much I love Elizabeth and I would do anything for her…to protect her…to cherish her. I love her very much, sir."
"Jack, it's not necessary to defend our…" Elizabeth interrupted.
"Yes, Elizabeth, it is. I thought about this last night when I couldn't sleep." Jack placed his hand on hers and looked at her intently. "Elizabeth, I imagined that if and when we have a daughter, I would be very protective. I'd do anything to protect her and do what I thought was best for her. However, I would hope that we'd have a good enough relationship with her young man and that he would feel comfortable approaching me."
"That's just it, Jack. Father, you did not make it easy for me…for Jack and me. You made it very clear when we were in Hamilton that you didn't see Jack as fitting into our family very well. Did you realize how uncomfortable you made it for him at our dinner party? Why did you push Charles into proposing to me? Father, I love Jack. And he is the man for me. He would make a better husband to me than any other man you would push my way. Don't you see? Money isn't important to me. The most important thing to me is how we are to love one another…how Jack and I love each other.
Father, I have learned so much by living in Hope Valley. Father, look at me, please." William turned and looked at Elizabeth. "But do you know how, Father? I learned from you and Mother. You gave me the most wonderful foundation to love and the greatest opportunity to give back to society. Didn't you teach me that love was the most important thing in the world? I'm not interested in being someone in society…but to give back to society." Elizabeth turned to Jack. "The only name I want to make for myself is Mrs. Jack Thornton, both for Jack and for the students in Hope Valley. Knowing that I've loved Jack with all of my heart and soul will be all that I need. Knowing that I'm teaching my students to the best of my ability will be more than enough."
"Excuse me, Jack and Elizabeth, I need to get some air." William walked outside of the café.
Soon thereafter, Elizabeth asked, "Jack, do you mind if I go speak with him?"
"Of course not, Elizabeth, he is your Father. Please go," Jack said.
Elizabeth found her Father sitting on a bench outside the café and she sat down beside him. "Father, look at me. Let's talk about this."
William looked at Elizabeth with tears in his eyes. "Oh, Elizabeth, when you came out west, I told you that I hoped you would find what God had shaped you for…and I thought that would be teaching. I'm sure that you're a wonderful teacher. But I can also see that God shaped you for that Mountie sitting at that table in there. And God shaped him for you. I'm so sorry, Elizabeth. Please forgive me?"
Jack walked outside to find William and Elizabeth sharing this tender moment together.
Once William realized that Jack was standing there beside them, he stood up and faced Jack. "Please forgive me, Jack, for everything. I was wrong about you…about you and Elizabeth belonging together. I can see how you love each other very much. How can I be upset with a man who loves my daughter the way that you do? Welcome to the family!" William reached out to shake Jack's hand. "And Jack…please call me William."
Elizabeth jumped up and hugged Jack and then her father. "Thank you, Father. But what will Mother say about all this? About Jack? About not being at our wedding?"
"Don't you worry about your mother, dear. I'll take care of her. If you must know, from the first time your Mother saw you and Jack together…she knew you'd get married. What is it they say about true love? I have no doubt that she is happy for you both. How about we plan to visit you two sometime in the near future? I'd love to see where you live and I'd love to meet those students of yours..."
"That sounds wonderful, Father. Thank you."
Jack reached out to William and shook his hand. "Thank you, William. You have made us both very happy." Jack stuck his arm out for Elizabeth to take. "Shall we, Mrs. Thornton? William, Elizabeth and I were going to go to the beach today, would you like to join us?"
"Heaven's no, Jack. You two are on your honeymoon and you have better things to do than to have me tag along. Enjoy yourselves. Grace and I will come visit you in Hope Valley soon. I promise." William reached out and shook Jack's hand and winked at him. William turned to Elizabeth and embraced her. "I love you, dear. Be well. See you soon."
Jack and Elizabeth were so happy as they headed back to the hotel to change into more appropriate clothes for the beach. Of course, the beach would have to wait a little while longer…