Almost done Hearties. Thank you for all your love and support up until this point.
"Are you ready to go and meet the rest of the Hope Valley children?" Elizabeth cooed as she diapered William. She quickly finished dressing him, her heart swelling when he gave her a large, toothless grin, "Mommy can't believe you're already a week old!"
Jack walked into their bedroom but stopped to observe his wife talk baby talk to their son. Elizabeth had taken to motherhood very well, but considering how much she loved the children at school, Jack had had no doubts that Elizabeth would love being a mother. He walked over to her and kissed her temple, "How is the new mother?"
Elizabeth smiled as she lifted William into her arms, "Fine other than the fact I haven't slept much the past week because someone is always hungry. You know, for a little body, you have your Daddy's appetite," said Elizabeth to William.
Jack chuckled and took William, "Well us Thornton men have to have strong appetite in order to keep Hope Valley safe, right buddy?" asked Jack. William yawned and licked his lips in response. He turned his head clearly looking for Elizabeth, "Okay um, I don't what we're doing here, but I think he wants you for this activity."
Elizabeth chuckled and took William from Jack, "See what I mean, you just helped prove a point for Mommy." Elizabeth sat in the rocking chair and settled William into her arms as he began to nurse, "We can go as soon as he's finished."
Jack nodded, "Okay. I'll be downstairs working on some paperwork." He kissed Elizabeth's forehead and left the room. Elizabeth rocked back and forth and smiled at the adorable suckling sound William always made whenever she fed him. She still couldn't believe she had a child of her own. She had always loved working with children, which was one of the reasons she became a teacher. But of course, she had always imagined her Prince Charming sweeping her off her feet, marrying her, and eventually making her mother. And of course, her life might not have turned out exactly as she had panned, she wouldn't trade her life for anything, "Okay baby boy, almost time to go," she said as she burped him. She quickly readied herself again, grabbed a few extra diapers for William, and headed downstairs to join her husband. Both the Thatchers and the Thorntons were supposed to arrive in Hope Valley lthe next day so they could all meet William for the first time.
"How is Daddy's little Mountie?" asked Jack when Elizabeth came down the stairs.
"Hopefully he'll be okay until later," said Elizabeth, "You have a lot of my students who have been waiting to meet you."
The couple made their way down to the schoolhouse, where Florence was trying to finish up the lesson plan Elizabeth had helped her create. Jack entered the room and cleared his throat, gaining Florence and the students' attention, "Mrs. Blakely, everyone, if we could interrupt this lesson."
Florence and the rest of the students turned around to face Jack and all of the students smiled. They knew the reason Jack was interrupting class, "Mrs. Thornton and I have someone we would like you all to meet."
Elizabeth stepped into the classroom with William in her arms and all of the students immediately began oohing and aweing over him, "Class, someone very special wants to meet all of you."
All of the students quickly left their seats and ran over to Elizabeth so they could admire the baby, "He looks exactly like Mountie Jack," said Opal.
Elizabeth chuckled, only now realizing how much William looked like Jack, "He's got my eyes though," she said.
"He also has your smile Mrs. Thornton," said Gabe.
"He's adorable Elizabeth. I'm sure he will become the main attraction at church on Sunday," said Florence.
"Oh we're sure," said Jack.
"What's his name?" asked Emily.
"William Thomas Thornton, after my father William and Jack's father Thomas," answered Elizabeth.
Opal went back to her seat and grabbed Brownie before coming back over to Elizabeth. She handed Brownie to Elizabeth and said, "I want William to have him."
Elizabeth took Brownie and looked at Opal, "Opal, are you sure? You love Brownie."
"Yeah I'm sure," she said, "William needs someone special to love him."
Jack smiled and took Brownie from Elizabeth, "Well Opal is you ever need to visit Brownie, our door is always open."
"And I'll be back at school in another few months so Brownie can visit you sometimes then too," said Elizabeth.
Opal nodded, "Take care of Brownie for me," she said to William.
Elizabeth smiled as she watched the rest of the children interact with William and allowed the older children to hold him. She missed them all dearly since she was on maternity leave even though she was quite busy taking care of William. She also observed her husband interact with the children, proudly showing off their son to them and the other Hope Valley residents that had arrived. Frank, Abigail, Rosemary, and Lee sat down next to Elizabeth, "William is an absolute doll, Elizabeth," said Rosemary.
"Thank you Rosemary," said Elizabeth as Jack handed William back to her, "Oh and Abigail." Abigail looked at the couple, "Jack and I want you to be the Godmother."
"Me?" asked Abigail surprised.
"Of course, you've been the one that supported us from the moment we started courting all the way through the birth," said Jack.
Abigail smiled humbly, "Well, I accept," she said and took William from Elizabeth, "Hey William, did you hear that? I get to be your Godmother."
"Speaking of courtships, Lee and I have something we'd like to announce," said Rosemary. All eyes landed on the two of them before she said, "We're courting."
Everyone in the room cheered and Elizabeth said, "Congratulations!"
"Thank you," said Lee meekly.
"Frank and I have something we'd also like to announce," said Abigail.
"We're courting as well," smiled Frank.
Another round of congratulations came about before everyone slowly made their way back home with their children. Abigail handed William back to Elizabeth and turned to Frank, "See you for dinner tonight?" Frank nodded and Abigail left the schoolhouse.
William started to cry and Elizabeth started rocking him, "I think he's tired of all of the attention," chuckled Frank.
"That, and he has Jack's appetite," said Elizabeth, "We better get home so I can feed him."
Jack nodded and helped elizbaeth gather William's things before turning to Frank, "Have a nice evening Pastor."
"You both too," said Frank. The couple turned to leave before Frank said, "Children really are God's greatest blessing aren't they?"
Both Jack and Elizabeth warmly smiled at their Pastor and then looked down at William. The little life that they had created together, the physical proof of their love for each other; right now, there was no greater gift for them, "Yeah they are," said Elizabeth and Jack agreed.