Happy 4th of July to my fellow American Hearties and Happy late Canada Day to all of the Canadian Hearties following this story. Enjoy!
"Head's up!" Jack shouted as he finished cutting down the tree. Elizabeth quickly jumped out of the way to make sure the freshly cut evergreen didn't hit her. Jack walked over and made the tree upright, "Well what do say Mrs. Thornton? Shall we bring this home and decorate it?"
Elizabeth giggled, "That would've been a lot of work for you not to bring it home now wouldn't it?"
"Maybe I was just trying to prove my strength to you," said Jack picking up the tree. It wasn't the biggest heaviest tree so it was light enough for him to carry home by himself.
"I wouldn't live you any less whether you were strong or weak," said Elizabeth kissing him on the cheek. The couple slowly made their way back to their house. Elizabeth held open the door for Jack and he brought the tree into the house. He sat it in the corner in the living area. He backed up and stood next to Elizabeth, wrapping his arm around her and resting his hand on her abdomen, "So what do you think?" asked Elizabeth.
"It looks a little bare," admitted Jack honestly.
Elizabeth smiled, "Well I think I've solved that problem," she said pointing to a box in the corner. Jack raised his eyebrows, "I had Bill Avery help me bring it home."
Jack walked over to the box and opened it, finding many different ornaments inside the box, "Elizabeth how did you…?"
"My students and I spent the day making Christmas ornaments. They all made some for their trees and since it's our first Christmas together, some for our tree.
Jack looked through the box happily and there were many different types of ornaments. Some were of Santa, some were of Jesus or a nativity, some were Christmas trees, candy canes, present boxes and many others, "Elizabeth, the children all have such artistic talent."
Elizabeth smiled and said, "Well let's see how good they look on the tree?"
"Yes mam," said Jack helping his wife put the many ornaments on the tree. Jack finally put the star on top of the tree and stood back next to Elizabeth and admired the tree, "Looks pretty good doesn't it?" asked Jack.
"Well it does look pretty, but I think it's missing something," said Elizabeth with her hands behind her back. Jack looked at Elizabeth and she smiled as she revealed what she was hiding. Jack took the object from her and she asked, "What do you think baby?"
"I think it's perfect for the one empty spot towards the top of the tree," said Jack. He hung the ornament Elizabeth had made, which was a heart with a 'J' and an 'E' painted on it.
"And there's room to add the first letter of a certain someone's first name next Christmas," said Elizabeth. Jack hung the ornament on the tree and then walked back over to Elizabeth and laid his hand on her growing belly, "Oh by the way, I heard from Mother and Father about Christmas."
"And?" and Jack.
"Well, since Viola's wedding is a few days after Christmas and the fact that there life is in Hamilton…"
"And the fact that they don't want to stay in the middle of nowhere," said Jack.
"Yeah, probably that too," Elizabeth chuckled lightly, "But they were wondering if we could go to Hamilton Christmas Eve through after the wedding. I even convinced them to allow your mother and brother to come with us."
"How? How did you manage to do that?" asked Jack in surprise.
"Because Daddy can't say no to his little girl. He says he can, but he can't in reality," Elizabeth said with a gleam in her eye, "Kind of like another man I know."
Jack rolled his eyes and chuckled. He had always been unable to say no to Elizabeth from the moment they met. The couple figured he'd be worse with the baby, be it a boy or a girl, "I'll let Mother and Tom know about the invitation."
"Good," said Elizabeth, "Just to let you know Christmas with the Thatchers involves Christmas Eve services followed by dinner, presents the next morning followed by Julie's awful rendition of 'Happy Birthday' to Jesus."
"Isn't she a little old for that?" Jack chuckled following Elizabeth to the couch and sitting next to her.
Elizabeth nodded, "I think it's more to drive Viola and I nuts at this point. Not that Jesus doesn't deserve recognition, He just deserves recognition by someone who can sing."
"Wow, I can't believe this is the first time I'm celebrating Christmas in forever," admitted Jack, "And most definitely my first Christmas in the city."
"And your first Christmas with the woman you love and her crazy family and…" stated Elizabeth only to be stopped when Jack kissed her.
"My beautiful wife who's going to give me the best Christmas present of all in twenty-four weeks," said Jack.
"Jack," Elizabeth sighed.
"What nothing will be more beautiful than a little human that's a combination of me and you," said Jack. Rip whined a little and jumped up on the couch between Jack and Elizabeth. He laid his head in Elizabeth's lap and his rear on Jack's lap. Jack chuckled and said, "Yes, we'll still love you too buddy."
Elizabeth began petting Rip's head and said, "I guess we'll have Abigail feed him while we're away because there is no way my parents will let a dog in their house."
"I guess so," said Jack, "Although I can't imagine what you and your sisters were like growing up."
Elizabeth chuckled lightly, "More often than not, it was Viola disgusted at Julie's and my antics. Only difference is Julie is the only one of us that does the antics now."
"I figured," said Jack. Rip jumped off the couch and Elizabeth moved closer to Jack snuggling her head against his chest. He kissed the top of her head and they stayed that way until Jack realized Elizabeth had fallen asleep. Jack pulled the blanket over top of them and they both stayed that way until morning.