Chapter 3

James

His hand slid across the smooth surface, and was fascinated with the fact there was not a single imperfection. For his wedding gift, Helen had bought him a new desk. He had been complaining that his old one was falling apart.

They had been out shopping one day and he had seen a desk he liked. He expressed his interest in the desk, and she had listened. He had totally been surprised. Helen had waited until he had gone on a mission before have the old desk removed and the new desk delivered.

When he returned home, he saw what she had done and a influx of feelings hit him. He loved the desk, but felt bad that he didn't have something for her. He had yet found the perfect wedding gift for his love. He wanted to get the prefect gift. She deserved nothing less, but he had yet come up with what that would be.

It was two days before the wedding and he still had not found the perfect gift for his soon to be wife and mother of his child. He was sitting at his desk, tapping his fingers on the smooth surface of his new desk thinking, when he felt a pair of eyes staring at him. He looked up to see his little angle staring at him, "Father, you ok?" she asked him.

James motioned for her to come sit in his lap and she ran happily to him. Elizabeth was about to have her third birthday, but had the vocabulary and understanding of a six year old. She was growing into a beautiful little girl. Her hair was a dark brown, and full of beautiful curls. She, like her mother, had soft milky white skin that was smooth to the touch as well as soft, loving blue eyes. Besides Helen, James thought she was the most beautiful girl in the world; but he was her father so his opinion didn't really count.

Elizabeth climbed into her fathers lap and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "What's wrong father?" she asked. James looked into his little girl's eyes and said, "Nothing princess. Your father was just trying to think of what to get your mother for a wedding gift." Elizabeth smiled up at her father and said, " Well… There was a necklace mother and I saw shopping the other day and she had expressed and interest in it. She thought it would go perfect with her dress."

James smiled, bent down and kissed the top of her head and asked, " Do you remember what store it was?" Elizabeth nodded her head. Then he asked, " If I took you with me, would you be able to show me the necklace?" She nodded her head again, jumped down and started for the door. " I'll go get my coat and meet you in the foray in five minutes," she stated while running out the door.

James hung at his desk for a minute then got up to find Helen and inform her that he was going to take Elizabeth shopping. He walked out of his office and down the hall to Helen's office. When he reached the door, he stood in the doorway for a couple of minutes watching her.

Helen was sitting at her desk with her head buried in the seating arrangements for the wedding. The wedding was this weekend and she was still fussing over who was sitting where and next to whom. James knocked one the doorframe and entered the room. "Darling, how's it coming?" he asked.

Helen looked up from the chart, saw her soon to be husband and smiled. "Oh, I finished yesterday. Was just doing one final check. What are you up to?" she responded.

" Wanted to let you know that that Elizabeth and I are going out shopping for a while," he said kissing the top of her head. "Do you need anything while we are out?" he asked.

Helen shook her head and replied, "No, there is nothing I can think of. You and Elizabeth have a good time and try not to spoil her!" James smiled at her, gave her a passionate kiss goodbye. As he was leaving he said, " I love you." Helen smiled and said, " I love you too."

Shopping

James approached the foray to see his daughter waiting, whit her coat on and little purse in hand. Any time she went shopping she had to have her purse, just like her mother. James and Helen had bought her the purse for the second birthday, mainly because she was always walking around with Helens. He smiled at her and said, " Well, I see that you are ready!" He grabbed his jacket, putting it on, took her hand and led her out the door.

It took them twenty minutes to get down to the shopping district. Elizabeth loved to shop. She expressed to James that she wanted to get her mother a gift too. James promised her that while they were out, they would find her something to get to her mother and she smiled happily.

They were walking by Tiffany's, and Elizabeth stopped. In the window display, there was a very simple but elegant necklace with a single diamond and pearl. The chain was dainty, but very simple and totally Helens style. Hanging off the chain was the diamond and attached to the diamond was the pearl. Elizabeth had been right; it would look perfect on Helen. He didn't know if it would go with her wedding dress, sense he had not been allowed to see it, but if Elizabeth said that her mother liked it, it was good enough for him.

James look down at Elizabeth and said, " Princess, you were right. That is the perfect gift for your mother. How about we find a bracelet for her from you while we are here?" Elizabeth smiled up at her father and said, " Mother would love that." She took her fathers hand and they walked into the store together.

Elizabeth had never been in Tiffany's before. She took in everything that she saw. She was very observant for a little girl, and her mother was always saying that she had an eye for detail just like her father. She noticed that for the size of the store there was only one employee working. With her hand in her fathers, they approached the employee.

He looked down at her and gave her a smile, and then looked up at James and said, " Welcome to Tiffany's I'm Stanley, How may I help you." Elizabeth spoke before he did. "We would like to get one of the necklaces in the window display and we are looking for a bracelet that will match."

The gentleman looked at her and said, "Well young lady, if you will show me which necklace you are interested in, I can show you some bracelets that will match." Elizabeth smiled and walked over to the window display. " That is the necklace we would like to get," she said looking up at the employee.

"You said that you would like a bracelet to match, right?" he asked Elizabeth. She said, "Yes sir, please. Its for my mother." Stanley looked as the little girl for a minute, and then raised his eyebrow and said, " Little one, I believe I have just what you are looking for over here." He motioned for them to follow him. He walked behind the counter and removed one of the pallets.

"Father, its perfect don't you think?" Elizabeth said turning to face James. James looked at the bracelet on the pallet. It was beautiful. The bracelet was made of the same dainty chain as the necklace. There were no diamonds or pearls on the bracelet, just the chain but it was a perfect match.

James looked at the old man behind the counter and said, "We'll take both please." The old man nodded his head and took the bracelet off the pallet, and put the pallet back into the case.

Elizabeth asked, " Do you put them in special boxes?" Stanley looked at her, smiled and said, " Yes we do little one. If you would like, we can also wrap them for you." She smiled and responded, "Yes please!"

Elizabeth watched as Stanley put each item in a very special velvet box. Once he had everything in place he showed both of them the box, looking for approval. James looked at the box and felt something was missing. He looked down to Elizabeth and stated, "Do you think maybe we should get her earrings to match?" She smiled and said, "I think mother would really like that. Do we go with diamond earrings or pearl earrings thought?"

Stanley spoke up at that very moment, " Well, we have a pair of earrings that have both the diamond and pearl. They go with the necklace, would you like to see them?" James and Elizabeth at the same time responded, "Yes please." He walked back to the window display and came back with a pair of earrings in hand.

He added the earrings to the box and again showed them the items. James said, "Perfect. Thank you sir, we will take them." Elizabeth was standing next to her father smiling. She couldn't wait to get home and give this gift to her mother. He finished wrapping up the jewelry, put it in a little bag, walked around the counter, knelt down and handed the bag to Elizabeth. As he handed her the bag he said, "Here you go sweet heart. You have good taste, and I hope that your mother loves her gift."

Again Elizabeth was smiling and said, "Thank you sir for all of your help, and I know that my mother will love them." She curtsied, John bowed in thanks, and he took his daughters hand and left the store.

Sanctuary

It had been two hours sense James and Elizabeth left to go shopping and Helen was starting to wonder if everything was ok. She was still sitting at her desk, working on some paperwork, when Nikola knocked on the doorframe. "Hey, was wondering what you wanted to do for dinner tonight?" he asked. She looked up from her work and said, "I do not know, James and Elizabeth went shopping. I was just waiting for them to return to decide."

While in the car on there way back to the Sanctuary, James and Elizabeth discussed when the best time was to give Helen her gift. They had decided at desert time, after dinner was the best. James had called Nikola before leaving Tiffany's, asking him to find out what Helen wanted for dinner and to have the cooks start making it.

Nikola looked at Helen and said, "James called to inform us that they were on there way home, and he wanted to know what you wanted to do for dinner, that is why I came and asked." Helen though about it, and looked up from her paperwork saying, "Roasted Chicken, potatoes, and corn sound good to me." Nikola nodded and left her to her paperwork.

Not long after Nikola left, Elizabeth came running into Helens office. "Hello Mother," she said. Helen looked up, smiled, and turned her chair so she could catch her running daughter. She gave Elizabeth a hug and a kiss, and then put her down. "Did you have fun shopping with you father, darling?" she asked. Elizabeth nodded and said, "Look what father bought me." She stuck her foot out showing her mother her new shoes.

"He also got me a new pair to go with my dress for the wedding," Elizabeth said excitedly. At that moment, James walked in holding his daughters bags. He smiled at Helen and she smiled back. She look at Elizabeth saying, "Darling they are beautiful." She stood and walked over to James and kissed him. "I though I asked you not to spoil her," she said with a smile. James chuckled and said, "When have I ever been able to tell our princess no."

Helen chuckled at his response wrapping her arms around his neck and kissed him. "Never," she replied between kisses. Elizabeth stood by her mother's desk, giggling at her parents. They heard her little giggles, and turned to her. Helen motioned for Elizabeth to join them, and she ran into the arms parents. James and Helen kissed her at the same time, making her giggle even more.

Nigel poked his head in the door wondering what all the giggling was about. He saw Helen and James holding not only each other, but also Elizabeth. Nigel smiled at the happy family. He was back at the Sanctuary for their wedding, James had asked him to be the Best Man and he had accepted.

Elizabeth saw Nigel standing in the doorway and yelled, "Uncle Nigel!" James and Helen turned to see their life long friend standing in the doorway. They let her down and she went running to him. Nigel bent down to pick her up. "Wow. You are getting to be such a big girl," he said as her hugged her. "Yep, I know," she said in response.

Nigel put Elizabeth down and walked over to Helen and James. He hugged and kissed Helen on the cheeks, and then turned to shake James' hand. "How was your trip my old friend," James asked. "Long, but well worth it. Jeanette sends her love and best wishes and it sorry that she could not attend," Nigel responded. Helen stated, "We are sorry she could not be here as well. When you go home you will have to giver her our best wished on getting well."

Nikola entered at that moment saying, "Nigel, its about time you got here. How are you doing, how's Jeanette doing?" Nikola took Nigel's hand in a friendship grip, shaking his hand. "Nikola, always a pleasure. I am well and Jeanette is home resting. Thank you for inquiring," he responded.

"Nikola was there something you needed," Helen asked. Nikola looked at her and nodded, " Oh ya. I was told to inform you that dinner was ready." "Nigel old friend, I hope your travels have made you hungry," James stated patting him on the shoulder. The two men walked out of the office toward the dinning room, with Nikola following behind them.

This left Helen alone with Elizabeth for a short time. Helen smiled at her little girl and asked, "Are you hungry sweetie?" Elizabeth nodded her head and said, "Yes im-starving mother. Shopping really works up an apatite." Both of them laughed, then Helen took her daughters hand and walked toward the dinning room.

Dinner

The table in the dinning room was one of the last pieces of furniture Helen had from the house she grew up in. Her father had bought it for her mother as a wedding gift when they had been married. She remembered all the meals they had had at this table, before her mother had passed away.

Everyone Helen loved and cared about was sitting around this table, except for John. Helen had not seen John sense the mission in Carentan, and often wondered if he was still alive. She remembered the look in his eyes when he saw her and James holding onto each other. She knew that it hurt him, but she deserved to be happy, and she really was.

All of a sudden she felt a hand tighten on hers. James had reached over and taken her hand in his and squeezed a little squeeze. He knew she had been deep in thought and that the thoughts were of John, and he wanted her to know it was ok. This action brought her back to the present conversations. The boys were remaining over old cases they had worked together, and they were having a good time.

Normally, Nikola and Elizabeth would sit next to each other, and Helen and James would sit across form them. Nobody ever sat at the heads of the tables, mainly because it put them to far away from every one else. Tonight was different thought.

James was sitting at the head of the table, Helen was to his right and Elizabeth was seated next to her. To his left were Nigel and Nikola. They had chosen one end of the table so they could all be close together and chat during dinner without having to yell across the table.

After dinner, Helen took Elizabeth off to take her bath and get into her night gown. While in the bath Elizabeth asked, "Mother, who is John?" Elizabeth had been listening to all their conversations throughout dinner, and had wondered who this John guy they kept mentioning was.

Helen look at her daughter, with sad eyes, and said, "John was a friend of ours back at school." That was all she could manage to say without breaking down into tears. Just the mention of Johns name made her heart hurt. Even though she loved James and Elizabeth more than life, she still had a place in her heart that belonged to John.

Helen finished giving Elizabeth her bath, got her dressed for bed, and they both when to the study so she could say goodnight to everyone. She ran in the room and went straight for James. Jumping on his lap, she whispered in his ear, "Father, may we give Mother her gift now?" James nodded. She jumped down and ran to her room.

When she returned she was holding the Tiffany's bag. She went to James, took his hand. "Father, you have to give it to her with me." "Ok, princess." James stood up and they both walked over to where Helen was sitting.

Elizabeth handed her the bag. "Mother, this is a gift for you from Father and I. We love you and hope that you like it." Helen took the bag, leaning in to kiss the top of her little girls head. Then she opened the bag. Inside she saw the black velvet box, and removed it. She looked lovely into James' eyes and then looked back down at the box. She opened it and gasped, "Oh… My… Gosh… There Beautiful…"

Helen had tears running down her cheek. "Mother, why are you crying?" Helen couldn't manage any words; she just put the jewelry down, picked up her daughter, and hugged her. After a while, she put her down, stood up and walked over to James.

Still with tears in her eyes, she wrapped her arms around his neck. James wiped a tear off her face, wrapped his arms around her waste, pulled her closer and kissed her. Elizabeth stood watching her parents kiss, and giggled.

"There your wedding gift from me and Elizabeth," James said between kisses. "Thank you." She was ecstatic. She had been regretting not having bought that necklace when she had seen it, but now she was glad that she didn't. It was the perfect wedding gift. "I love you so much." She gave James one more kiss and then let him go.

She turned to Elizabeth and opened her arms. Elizabeth ran into them and hugged her. "Thank you, princess. I love my present very much." She kissed her daughters soft cheek. "It's time for bed. Go give everyone hugs and kisses," Helen said as she put Elizabeth down.

Elizabeth went to Nikola and Nigel, hugged them, gave them each a kiss and said goodnight. Then she went to her father, who picked her up. "Good night my princess." He kissed her cheek, gave her one big squeeze and then put her down.

"I'm just going to put her to bed, then I will be back," she stated, taking Elizabeth's hand. They turned, hand in hand, and walked toward the bedroom.

Helen tucked Elizabeth into her bed. "Mother, do you really like your gift?" Helen had a shocked look on her face. "Oh, darling, yes I love it very much." She knew that Elizabeth had told James about the necklace and he had decided it would be the perfect gift. That must have been what they went shopping for today, she thought.

She went and got Elizabeth's favorite story and laid on the bed next to her daughter. She read until her little girl was sound asleep. Helen had always read to her before bed, even when she was just a baby. Reading always seemed to sooth her, so she always did it. She kissed Elizabeth's head, said "Sweet dreams," turned out the light and left the room.

"Wow, James those are gorgeous" Nigel, stated. "Elizabeth said that Helen had stated that the necklace would go perfect with her dress, but had not bought it." James told his two life long male friends the story of taking Elizabeth to Tiffany's and purchasing the items.

Just as he finished the story, Helen walked back into the room. "She's sound asleep." Smiling, she walked over to the couch and sat next to James. The four of them sat, drank brandy and talked about past times, laughing most of the time.

All of a sudden Nikola asked, "Does John know?" The conversation they had been having suddenly stopped. Nigel and James shot Nikola looks of "I can't believe you just asked that," and Helen just looked shocked.

James all of a sudden could see the pain flash across her eyes. He knew that even though she was the mother of his child, and they were getting married in a couple of days, that there was a part of her heart that still belonged to John. He tried to not let it bother him, but sometimes he was incapable of hiding the pain it caused him.

Helen stood, and without saying anything walked out of the room. James waited for her to come back to the group, and when she did not return he decided to go find her. He found her standing in Elizabeth's doorway watching there daughter sleep and crying. James reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder, letting her know he was there, and she turned to face him.

"How could he ask such a question?" she wanted to know what would have compelled him to ask. Her mind raced with questions … Did Nikola know where John was? Had he been contacted recently? Did John know about Elizabeth? Did John know about the wedding? Would he just show up and ruin her special day?... James could see all the questions in her eyes and understand because he had the same questions.

"Darling lets not worry about that tonight. You know Nikola has no common sense or decency. Let's head to bed and we can deal with our questions and response to Nikola in the morning," James said kissing Helen. She kissed him back and hugged him for a minute. She had not realized how tired she was until her head was resting on James shoulder.

James pulled away from her. He then took her hand, raised it to his soft lips, and kissed it. He reached for Elizabeth's door and closed it. He still had hold of his love, and started moving in the direction of their room, gently pulling at her hand to get her to follow. Helen could feel sleep slowly taking over. She would deal with Nikola later, right now all she wanted was to curl up in the arms of the man she loved and sleep.