The week between Christmas and New Year's flew by. Jack had taken some time off so he could spend time with Elizabeth while she was on winter break. He surprised her by planning a trip to Cape Fullerton, where he booked a hotel suite with a separate sitting room and bedroom. The bathroom had a heart shaped bathtub, which they enjoyed several times. He also made reservations at a fancy restaurant, then took her to the theatre to see "Romeo and Juliet". It had been a wonderful mini-vacation.
Now they were back in Hope Valley and it was New Year's Eve. Rosemary and Lee were throwing a party. Elizabeth and Jack knew it would be a grand affair, remembering what she did for the New Year's celebration when she won the contest in the paper. Elizabeth had bought herself a new dress for the party while in Cape Fullerton. That is she bought several new dresses since her clothes were starting to get tight. She also bought some new lingerie that fit her changing figure very nicely. She was going to wear a new camisole and panties set that she would put under her new dress.
"Elizabeth? Are you ready to go?" Jack called from the living room.
"Be right out!" She answered as she took a final look at herself in the mirror. She walked out to join Jack and watched his face when he saw her. She was wearing a dress in midnight blue with a sweetheart neckline covered in lace. He could just make out her tiny baby bump.
"Elizabeth!" he whispered. 'You look exquisite! I love that color on you. It really brings out the color in your eyes." He leaned over to give her a kiss.
"Thank you, Jack. Are you ready to go?" As she took her winter coat out of the closet.
"Hmmm?" He didn't seem to hear her at first as he was totally mesmerized by her beauty. "Oh, yes. I am ready to leave." He took her coat and help her put it on. "Have to keep you and our baby warm." He gave her a quick kiss on her cheek, then opened the door and they walked to their buggy. As they drove away, they did not see a man come out of the shadows, watching them.
The Coulter house was fully lit up and they could hear music as Jack and Elizabeth approached. They smiled at each other, knowing this was typical Rosemary. When Jack pulled the buggy to a stop, Gabe approached the. "Good evening, Mountie Jack and Mrs. Thornton." He held out a hand to help Elizabeth down. "Would you like me to take care of the buggy for you?"
"That would be great, Gabe." Jack said as he smiled and handed the young man a dollar. Gabe thanked him then jumped into the buggy. Jack held out his arm for Elizabeth and they made their way to the door.
Lee opened the door just as they approached. "Jack, Elizabeth! Welcome to the Coulter New Year's Party!" He ushered them in and took their coats. "Rosemary is waiting for you in my study. We have something we want to tell you privately." Jack and Elizabeth exchanged glances, then followed Lee into the study.
Rosemary was staring out the window when they walked into the room. She turned when she heard footsteps, then rushed forward to give Elizabeth a hug, followed by Jack. "Thank you both for coming tonight!" There was excitement showing in her eyes and Elizabeth felt it had nothing to do with New Year's Eve.
"Of course! We have been looking forward to this since you gave us the invitation." Elizabeth said.
"We have something we are going to announce to everyone later, but we both wanted to tell you first. Jack, despite what happened when I broke our engagement, you are like family to me." She squeezed his hand before turning to Elizabeth. "Elizabeth, I know things were strained, to say the least when I first arrived in town. I apologize for that. I have come to find you to be one of my closest friends here in Hope Valley. There are times when we talk that I feel like a sister, a sister I never had and always wanted." She gave a shocked Elizabeth a quick hug. "It is because I, I mean we, wanted to tell you this privately." She said as Lee put his arm around her. "Jack, Elizabeth, Lee and I are going to have a baby!"
"What? You are?" Elizabeth exclaimed. She threw her arms around Rosemary and gave her a big hug, as Jack shook Lee's hand and patted him on the back. "This is grand news. Our children will be close in age and can be best friends!"
"Exactly what I was thinking." Rosemary agreed. She pulled Elizabeth away from the men so they could talk, just the two of them. "I know you probably haven't given this much thought yet but I had an idea. If you wanted to go back to teaching, I wouldn't mind watching your little one during the day being as our children will only be a couple of months apart in age."
"Oh, Rosemary, that is so generous of you, thank you. You are right, I haven't give much thought to teaching yet. Jack and I will need to sit down to discuss it, but I will remember your kind offer and tell him."
"You're welcome, Elizabeth. I am so excited about the baby and the fact that he or she will have a playmate."
"Me too, Rosemary." They walked back to their husbands and then followed the hosts to the party. Rosemary stopped the music to make her big announcement. The whole town burst out in cheers at her news.
Great food and fun times were to be had by all at the Coulter New Year's party. Shortly before midnight, everyone bundled up and went outside to watch fireworks. As they counted down the seconds, Jack put his arms around Elizabeth and placed them on her bump, pulling her as close to him as possible. He whispered "Happy New Year" in her ear as the fireworks lit up the night sky.
Back at the Thornton house, the man in the shadows had entered the home shortly after the happy couple had left. He walked the house room by room, stopping in each one to look at photographs and collectables. He paused at the photograph of Jack and Elizabeth on their wedding day. He glared at the picture, thinking how that should have been someone else looking happy with his arm around the beautiful bride. He continued looking at the pictures of the happy couple throughout the home, some taken by camera and some drawn by Jack. When he heard the fireworks begin, he left the home but lingered in the yard.
Shortly after the fireworks display had finished, everyone returned to the house to enjoy some hot chocolate or hot toddies, whichever they wanted. As she sipped her hot chocolate, Elizabeth motioned to Jack to come over to her. "Jack, I am tired. Would it be ok if we said our goodbyes and went home?"
"Of course, Sweetheart! You need your rest and besides, I am tired too." He took her cup and set it down on a table, then went looking for Rosemary and Lee, saying goodbye to their other friends on the way. Soon they were heading home. Elizabeth rested her head on Jack's shoulder and put a hand on her belly. When they arrived home, Elizabeth pulled Jack to their swing on the front porch.
"Jack, I want to sit out here for a few minutes before we head in."
"I would love to, but let's not stay out too long. It is cold and I don't want you to get sick." He sat down next to her on the swing and put his arms around her, to keep her warm.
"I'm fine, Jack." She replied and gave him a quick kiss. "I keep thinking about what is to come for us in this New Year. In June, we will celebrate our first anniversary and over the summer, this little one will arrive." She took one of Jack's hand and brought it to her belly. She held his hand there for a couple of minutes while they both thought about seeing their baby for the first time.
"I can't wait to meet our baby, Elizabeth. I hope it's a little girl and she has your beautiful blue eyes." He said. "But if the baby is a boy I will be just as happy."
"I know. I imagine a little boy with your dimples but I will be very happy with a girl." She giggled after she said that.
"What's so funny?" Jack looked at her with a silly grin on his face. He was thinking maybe they would have twins.
"The thought just came to my mind that maybe we will have twins, one of each."
"I was just thinking the same thing!" He leaned over and kissed her. He noticed that her nose and cheeks were cold. "We should head inside. Your face is cold."
"All right, but Jack, I am suddenly not so tired anymore. Would you like to take a warm bath with me before we go to bed?"
"I am not so tired either and I would love to take a bath with you. If we are still awake after, we can just cuddle in bed." He said as he stood, then helped Elizabeth off the swing.
"That sounds heavenly." Elizabeth kissed Jack then headed for the door.
After the door was closed, the man from the shadows quietly walked onto their porch and watched their silhouettes kissing in the window. His anger returned as he thought about how someone else should have been kissing Elizabeth. He clenched his fists and dug deep into himself to control the urge to break into the house right at that moment and kill both of them. He had a plan and he needed to stick to it. He walked off the porch and headed to the cabin he had moved into while he waiting to implement his plan of revenge.