AN: Thanks for your kind words! Another chapter for you!
"Abigail, thank you so much for helping get everything set up for Julie and Tom. Here's another time that I'd be lost without you." Elizabeth laughed as they put sheets on the bed in one of the vacant upstairs room.
"Well I could hardly leave you to do it yourself." Abigail smiled at her, and pulled the quilt from a basket. "A good friend doesn't leave her sick, pregnant friend to set up a bedroom alone."
"Still. You didn't have to." Elizabeth said. "You've been spoiling me for three days now."
"Well, I've never had any nieces or nephews of my own before, so having an honorary one will be wonderful. It's been awhile since there's been a baby for me to spoil and play with." Abigail grinned and ran her hand over the well made bed.
"I still can't believe that I'm having a baby. I'm having Jack's baby."
"I should hope it's Jack's." Abigail smirked, and Elizabeth gaped at her. "Well, we've got some time to kill before the stage gets here...I know! How about some muffins? I've been meaning to make you this cinnamon apple recipe I found."
"Cinnamon and apple? That sounds heavenly." Elizabeth sighed dreamily.
"Come on then Mrs. Thornton." Abigail smiled and walked out the door, down the steps to the kitchen. "Is Jack upset that you've been up and about?"
"A little. But it couldn't be helped since Julie and Tom will be here this afternoon." Elizabeth explained. "And it's not like I'm doing anything reckless or strenuous. I'm cleaning and cooking, and sitting whenever possible."
"Well, you look wonderful. You do have that glow about you." Abigail said as she pulled out various tools and ingredients from various cabinets.
"I feel fat. When I got dressed this morning, I could barely pull the buttons closed over my chest." Elizabeth groaned. "I'm going to have to get some new clothes I suppose."
"Yes, that tends to happen when a woman is expecting. I remember when I was pregnant, I busted the seams on my favorite dress trying to get it to button." Abigail laughed. "And you needn't worry Elizabeth, You're hardly showing. I wouldn't be able to tell at all if I didn't know what to look for."
"Well, I suppose it doesn't matter much. With all the people who were here when Jack and I found out, I wouldn't be surprised if all of Hope Valley already knows." Elizabeth sighed, and reached for the bowl that she knew Abigail would want to use.
"Ah-ah. Sit right down Elizabeth, no lifting or work of any kind while I'm here." Abigail insisted. Elizabeth rolled her eyes, but didn't protest overmuch. She wouldn't do anything to jeopardize the health of her baby- of Jack's baby.
"I can help you know Abigail. I'm pregnant, not an invalid." Abigail rolled her eyes then, but set the bowl of apples and a knife in front of her.
"Peel and slice six of those then."
"See, compromise." Elizabeth laughed, and got to work on an apple.
"Knock Knock Knock!" Rosemary called as she poked her head in the kitchen.
"Rosemary?"
"I knocked on the front door, but no one answered, so I just let myself in." Rosemary chirped and came into the room. "Elizabeth, I just had to come and see you right away! I saw Jack in town today, and he told me that there's a little Thornton on the way? Is it true?"
"No, Jack lied about me expecting, just as a joke." Elizabeth tried her hand at sarcasm. Rosemary's brow wrinkled and she took Elizabeth's hand.
"Really?"
"No! Rosemary, Why would he do that?" Elizabeth laughed.
"Oh! That is so exciting! A new baby in Hope Valley! And a little Thornton! Oh, I can't wait to see them! You know, Jack's brother Tom was adorable as a baby. The Thornton's have good blood!" Rosemary clapped. "You have to let me throw you a baby shower- it's the latest thing! I went to one in New York, and it was lovely!"
"Woah, Rosemary, I think you might be getting a little ahead of yourself. I'm only a little over two months- I wouldn't have told anyone yet if it hadn't been for the little...fainting incident in the woods." Elizabeth sighed.
"Well, Alright. But as soon as you start showing, we're going to have the loveliest little shower!" Rosemary insisted. "I'm so excited that Tom and your sister are coming to visit! It's been so long since I've seen little Tommy Thornton. And I'm so looking forward to meeting your sister!"
"Yes, I'm sure that Julie will be pleased to meet you as well." Elizabeth smiled.
"I hope she's not as big a fuddy duddy as your other sister- Viola was it? She was so quiet and serious all the time, It was like I hardly knew how to talk to her!" Rosemary sighed, and grabbed one of the apples. "Let me help you with these!" Elizabeth just smiled tightly at her, and continued to slice the apple she was holding. Rosemary kept chatting in their ears, and Elizabeth and Abigail nodded and commented quietly as they continued on. "And don't even get me started on her the shoes she recommended I order! Uh, I'm shuddering just thinking about it!"
"My. It sounds like you've had a trying day." Elizabeth sighed, and put the last of her diced apples in the mixing bowl. "Is that enough Abigail?"
"Plenty!" Abigail said with a smile, and got to work incorporating the apples into her batter. "And I lit the stove. These should be ready before too long."
"That's good, because I'm starving." Elizabeth laughed, and put a hand on her stomach.
"You've got to be careful what you eat Elizabeth. You don't want to be one of those women who doubles their weight during pregnancy. That can cause serious problems in the romantic aspects of life." Rosemary said seriously, and Elizabeth gaped at her.
"Oh, now, Elizabeth is too skinny as it could probably benefit from a few extra helpings now and again." Abigail said with a wink. "And a few of my muffins never killed any one."
"Mmm. They do smell wonderful already- Abigail, what is your secret?" Rosemary asked.
"Cinnamon?" Abigail suggested, and Elizabeth laughed.
"Of course! Cinnamon! What a lovely ingredient!" Rosemary sighed. "Well, I do wish I could stay and chat, but I told Lee that I would meet him for lunch, so I've got to run! I'm so looking forward to meeting your sister Elizabeth! I'll see you both tomorrow! Au revoir!" And she vanished as quickly as she had appeared.
"Sometimes I don't believe that woman." Abigail sighed as she put the muffin tin into the oven.
"Do you think I look fat?" Elizabeth asked, looking down at herself. Her earlier concern over the tight buttons on her chest resurfaced full force.
"Absolutely not! Elizabeth, you look beautiful! You really do have that glow about you." Abigail assured her. "And honestly, what does Rosemary know about the romantic aspects of a marriage?"
"I guess you're right. It's just that sometimes I see her, and it makes me so…Crazy!" Elizabeth shook her head and let out a steadying breath. "I'm being a bit irrational, aren't I?"
"No." Abigail shook her head quickly, and Elizabeth grinned at her.
"I know you're lying. But I'm glad you did." Elizabeth smiled, and put her face in her hands. "I think I scared Jack half to death last night. We were in our sitting room, and I was reading, and I just suddenly started to cry, and cry, and Jack just didn't know what to do. I didn't even really know what I was crying about."
"Having a baby makes you emotional." Abigail shrugged, and yet conveyed a spirit of kind understanding. "It's part of the fun."
"Then the next seven months are going to be a hoot." Elizabeth rolled her eyes. Abigail smiled and went to check on her baking, and Elizabeth heard the front door rattle. "Hello? Jack?" She called out.
"I'm home." He called back,and Elizabeth held on to the table as she stood up. "Hey now, what do you think you're doing?"
"Standing to say hello to my husband?" Elizabeth laughed as Jack put his hands on her hips.
"I think someone is supposed to be staying off of her feet." Jack said seriously. Elizabeth rolled her eyes, and stood on her toes to kiss him. "Hi Abigail- thanks so much for coming to help Elizabeth today."
"It was no trouble at all Jack. I'm always glad to spend time with Mrs. Thornton." Abigail said with a smile.
"I thought you were going to wait for Julie and Tom in town?" Elizabeth asked as she straightened out his collar.
"I was. But I thought you might like to meet them at the square." Jack said. Elizabeth half smiled, and brushed her hands over his arms.
"I would. But I thought you wouldn't like me walking around town when I'm supposed to be on bed rest."
"You're right. That's why you're not going to walk. I borrowed a wagon from the mill. Thought we could get their things in it too." Jack explained.
"My, someone's thoughtful." Elizabeth laughed. "Well, then, we should get going- we don't want to miss them!"
"You two go on, I'll stay here and finish these dishes, maybe start something for dinner." Abigail said with a shrug.
"Oh Abigail, you don't have to do that-"
"No, but I want to." Abigail assured her friend. Elizabeth smiled and felt tears in her eyes again.
"Oh! You are the best friend a person could have!" Elizabeth cried, and went forward to wrap her arms around her friend. "Not that I don't love Jack, because I really do, but you're just so wonderful! No offense darling, you're wonderful too!" Elizabeth said and brushed away tears that had begun to fall down her cheeks. Jack stared at her, a bit flabbergasted by her sudden change in emotion, and looked to Abigail for aid.
"Thank you Elizabeth- now, you're going to want to get going! You don't want Julie to get in on the stage without a welcome party, do you?" Abigail asked. Elizabeth shook her head, and wiped her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I'm not sad, I don't know why I'm crying!" Elizabeth insisted, and reached out a hand. Jack took it, and pulled her to him. He pressed a kiss on her forehead, and she let out a long sigh. "I'm fine. I'm better now. Come on, let's go meet Julie and Tom!" She said cheerily, and walked out of the kitchen. Jack looked to Abigail with his mouth agape, and she smiled at him.
"Having a baby makes you emotional." Abigail shrugged. "You'd better get used to it, Constable Thornton, she's going to be that way for the next seven or eight months." Jack half smiled, and rubbed his hand over his neck. "But, it'll be worth it in the end."
"I know." Jack grinned now.
"Jack, we can't be late!" Elizabeth called, and Jack jumped slightly.
"Well, go on then!" Abigail laughed, and Jack smiled at her again, and went quickly after his very emotional wife.
AN: Thank you so much to those of you that review! Your kind words always make my day!