Author's Note:

Again, this is still their honeymoon.

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!

Chapter 47

The next morning found Elizabeth wrapped in her husband's arms sleeping contently. She found his embrace comforting and relaxing, but Jack thought she just liked his warmth. He laid on his back with Elizabeth's hand resting on his chest and her head nuzzled in his neck. He closed his eyes and prayed a prayer of thanksgiving for all the blessings he has received. He loved being married to Elizabeth. The physical intimacy was truly incredible and beyond what he could have imagined just a couple of days ago, but that wasn't the only part that made him grateful. Somehow, everything that made them a couple was better. The communication was deeper. Their non-communication, that they both always enjoyed, was more intimate too. Their laughter even seemed to be at a new level.

After the hot tub last night, they sat on the couch in silence for over an hour just enjoying their time together. Elizabeth had a few brochures of the local attractions she was looking at and Jack had a couple of magazines he was reading over. In that hour, they may have said twenty words to each other, but it was an intimate time for them both. They didn't hold hands, but she was seated beside him and was leaning slightly into him with her legs curled under her. The evening was perfect in his eyes.

He was lost in his thoughts staring at the ceiling and didn't notice Elizabeth was awake. She shifted enough so she could see his face. She noticed he was lost in his thoughts and watched him for a few moments.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

Jack smiled at her voice knowing he was caught lost in thought. "For you sweetheart, they are for free."

"So, what's on your mind this morning, husband?"

"Is that getting easier to say?"

"A little."

"I was just thinking how perfect this is. Everything is perfect. I wouldn't change a thing."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing! Is there anything you would change?" Jack asked.

"Nothing! This is perfect." She settled back into her spot. Over the coming years, this was truly her spot and how she woke up each morning.

Silence washed over them as they laid in bed enjoying the presence of the other and the early morning breeze coming in from the French doors.

"Jack, thank you for making this perfect."

"Sweetheart, this is perfect because of you."

"Jack, we both know that's not true. This place is magical and you planning it makes it even more magical."

"Sweetheart, this is just a location. We could be in a cabin in the mountains, or we could be on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean, and it would be magical. This is a building, an extremely beautiful building, but you are the ingredient that makes this magical."

She smiled at his response. She found herself doing that a lot when Jack is involved. "Jack, I think it is you. You are the ingredient. The honeymoon has been perfect, and we just started it."

"So…maybe we are the ingredient that makes this magical?"

"I think that is more like it. It's us from now on. We live this life together."

"You are a very intelligent lady, Mrs. Thorton."

"I love my new name."

They laid on the bed for a few more minutes before getting up to begin their search for food. They decided to get ready for the day and walk around the resort and the area just to see what was present. No schedule today and no agendas to follow. Whatever came about, was what they would do. This was a little different for the both of them, but that was ok. After all, this is their honeymoon.

While getting ready for the day, Elizabeth would catch her husband staring at her. "Does this look ok?"

"What?" He was too lost in her to know what she said.

"You're staring. Does this look ok?"

"Perfect. Elizabeth, you are a beautiful woman."

"Jack." She reprimanded him with a little bit of embarrassment in her tone and face.

"Nani, you are a very beautiful woman. I do believe your inner beauty only enhances your outer beauty."

"Jack, you say the funniest things. You didn't think that when you walked into my classroom the first time."

"Well…I did. If you will remember, when I walked in, I stopped when I saw you. You had your hair in a bun wearing a light blue sweater and a pair of nice pants."

"You remember that?"

"Elizabeth, I stopped because you were breath taking and you took my breath. That startled me and I couldn't think to continue walking. As cliché as it sounds, you did take my breath that morning."

"I remember when you walked in thinking you were the most handsome man I have ever seen. Those dimples of yours was dangerous. I couldn't think straight. I have taught that material countless times but couldn't think what I was supposed to say next."

"I thought you disliked me because of your dream?"

"That was next, but I noticed how handsome you were first."

He walked up to her and placed his arms around her waist and looked into her eyes. "Elizabeth, since we don't have a schedule to keep today, may we go back into the bedroom and we could practice some more?"

"Jack, we are already dressed and were about to walk out. I am hungry."

Jack leaned back just a bit and gave her a deep, dimpled grin and pouty eyes.

"Good grief! You know that look isn't playing fair, Mr. Thorton." He had her convinced at that moment, but she wanted to see what he was willing to do next.

Jack leaned in and kissed her neck. Then he nibbled his way from her chin to her ear. He kissed the spot under her ear and then went to the ear lobe. He nibbled and gently sucked on it. Elizabeth squirmed in his embrace loving his attention.

"Mr. Thorton, is it your agenda today to take me back to bed?"

"Well…actually, I was thinking the chaise lounge on the private balcony." He stated in between kissing and nibbling her neck. He recently found out that she enjoyed when he gently nibbled her neck and jawline.

"Jack" She drew out his name. He knew he had her but was also enjoying the game they were playing. ,

"Elizabeth." He drew out her name. She smiled knowing they were both enjoying this new game between them.

"We're already dressed, and we were about to walk out of the room."

"Elizabeth." He stated as he began to play with the bottom of her shirt. "We don't have a schedule to keep today. We are free for the whole day." He continued to run his hand along the bottom of her shirt. His left hand slipped under her shirt, and he felt the soft skin of her lower back.

"Jack." She moaned.

Jack backed her up to the wall and grinned when she moaned at his actions. He leaned into her. After a few more deep, passionate kisses, he began to play with the bottom button on her shirt. He did not immediately unbutton it but toyed with it letting one hand touch the skin of her abdomen. He lowered his head and began lightly kissing her collar bone and slowly working his way up her neck.

Jack noticed her breathing was getting heavier and continued his assault on her neck moving up to his intended target, her ear lobe. His lips moved to her chin. He tenderly touched her lips with his. The kiss was lighter than a butterfly and he noticed she shivered at the light touch. She could feel his smile even though her eyes were closed. She was enjoying his actions.

As Jack made his way along her jawline, she squirmed when he kissed the soft skin just below her ear lobe. She was anticipating his next move. She was expecting him to begin kissing and sucking her ear lobe. However, he surprised her. He leaned back from her just enough to continue his attention on her shirt buttons. As moving and intimate as that was, Jack never took his eyes off of her eyes. She was lost in his eyes. The light touches as he slowly unbuttoned each button was driving her crazy, but it was the intense love in his eyes that moved her to her foundations. The communication they were having without words was so intense that her knees grew weak.

Jack stopped before he unbuttoned the top two buttons. The smile that grew on his face displayed the very dimples that drove her crazy. "Jack." She began.

He picked her up and began the previous assault on her ear lobe. She wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck. While still nibbling her ear, "I would like to try something new."

…

Charlette laid in her bed inside the Hogan's house with her mind racing. The day before with Adam was perfect. They helped Abby for a few hours and enjoyed talking with her. Abby's little one made Charlette ready for a grandbaby. But the time with Adam made Charlette fall deeper. If she was willing to admit it, she was falling in love with him, but she wasn't ready to admit it yet.

Adam was laying in his bed thinking of Charlette. The previous day was different from the other few times they shared together. He saw a side of her he hasn't seen before. She was willing to jump in and help even when she has never done that type of work before. She didn't shy away from what she didn't know and from the dust and dirt. She jumped right in and worked every bit has hard as he did. That impressed him. Then he saw how she interacted with Abby and especially her daughter. Charlette stole a huge chunk of his heart.

His mind was reeling from the previous day. He was falling in love with Charlette. He wanted to know her more, but the thoughts of his wife flooded his mind too. He couldn't stop the two parts of his mind warring against each other. He did what he could only think to do.

"Hello, Pastor Frank."

"Hello Adam. How are you? Did you repair the leak issue for Abby yesterday?"

"I did. Do you have any free time today to talk?"

"Sure, Adam. Would an hour work?"

"Perfect, Pastor. I will be there in an hour."

…

Jack and Elizabeth's love making was new to themselves individually and as a couple. Elizabeth could only compare this to what her girlfriends would share with their experiences. Their experiences were not the best. Maybe that was partially the reason Elizabeth was never in too much of a hurry for intimacy until she met Jack.

Jack and Elizabeth's love making was nothing like her girlfriend's stories. Their stories always were the same. The whole thing was about the guy. His satisfaction and his wants. It was rushed or hurried. Many times, her girlfriends were not happy with their intimate times. They would complain about it and just realized that almost every intimate moment wasn't about them or their desires.

This was not the case with Jack. While their time together was few, each time it wasn't rushed. Their intimate time took a while, nothing was rushed or hurried. She knew Jack enjoyed himself, but it wasn't about him. He paid attention to her and worked to find out what she liked or didn't like. He listened to her body and reacted appropriately. So far, she hasn't felt like it was all about Jack. As a matter of fact, she felt like their time together was all about her.

Their time together was exhilarating and exhausting all at the same time. She loved every moment of their time together and wished they could do it all over again. She couldn't get enough of her husband.

They laid on the chaise lounge completely exhausted; yet, feeling completely in love with each other. They didn't even try to talk. They were too busy trying to catch their breath. When she was able to calm down her breathing, she reached for a towel to wrap herself in and walked to the other side of the patio to the small fridge to grab a bottle of water. After taking a big drink, she handed it to Jack.

"Jack are you sure I am your first?"

Shocked, he looked at his wife. "How could you ask me that? You know I haven't been with anyone before you."

"Jack, how are you so good at that and only have done that a few times?"

He smiled at her and opened his arms for her to lay down with him. After snuggling into his side, he kissed the top of her head. "Elizabeth, I love you. You are the one who makes this so special. I just listen to you and follow your cue."

"Jack, how did you know to do that?"

He smiled knowing she was talking about their time together this morning. "I'm not sure. I just thought of it. I hoped you liked it."

"If you love me, you will do that again soon."

"Well, I remember you wanting to go out today. Why don't we get ready, and we will walk around?"

She gave him a questioning look. He knew he wasn't completely honest with her, but he wasn't sharing his secret. "Fine. Let's go hubby."

…

Adam walked up the Hogan's driveway and saw a smiling Frank sitting at his small table on his porch. As he walked up, Frank stood and offered his hand. Adam took it and shook it. Afterward, Frank gave him a glass of tea. After sitting, Frank smiled to encourage Adam to begin.

"Pastor, I am having a problem I hope you can talk me through."

Frank smiled. He thought he knew what Adam was struggling with and already knew how to approach it since he has already talked to Charlette a few days ago.

"Pastor, I am falling in love with Charlette." Adam decided to blurt out his true feelings.

Frank smiled. "And you are feeling that you are dishonoring Sandra's memory by falling in love with another woman?"

"Wow! You're good at this!"

Frank laughed. "No, I went through the same battle when I meet Abagail. It's natural."

"It is?"

"Sure Adam. You loved Sandra for so long and you loved her so well, you never thought you would fall in love with someone else. If she was here, you wouldn't be falling in love with another woman, but Adam, that's the thing. Sandra has been gone for about fifteen years. I don't think she would want you to be lonely. Do you?"

"We have talked about it before. Just conversation most married couples have I guess. We told each other we would want the other to be happy and if that is with someone else to feel comfortable moving forward."

"Ok. Do you think she was lying in telling you that?"

"No, pastor, she wouldn't lie to me. I just feel like I am being disloyal to her and her memory."

"How so?"

"Frank, I love Sandra with all of my heart."

"Adam, what did you say?"

"I love…"

"And you still do, and you always will. Loving someone else does not erase Sandra from your life or your memories."

Adam thought for a few minutes. Frank had a good point. While meeting Charlette and spending time with her, he still loved Sandra. She wasn't wiped from his memory.

Frank could easily see through Adam's expressions that he was working through his issue.

"So, it may be possible to find two loves in one lifetime?"

"I was blessed enough to have. I loved my wife, and when she died it was very difficult. Then Abagail came to me. I love that woman with everything I am. It doesn't diminish my first wife. I can't imagine Abagail not being part of my life now. She is everything to me."

"Honestly, I find myself falling in love with Charlette." Adam mentioned in a whisper.

"Great. She is a great person, Adam. You can't do any better than Charlette Thorton."

"I know. Now, I just hope she is doing the same." He shook his head.

Frank wanted to tell him that she was, but he couldn't break her trust. Even though it would be a very good thing. "Talk with her, Adam. You may be surprised."

…

After talking with Pastor Frank for a few more minutes, Adam excused himself and wanted to talk to Charlette. As he stood, Frank stopped him from leaving. "Adam, did you forget she is staying with us?"

"Oh, that's right. Is she home?"

"She is. Would you like for me to go and get her?"

"Please."

Both men stood, and Adam stayed on the porch waiting for Charlette to come out. When she did, his smile grew.

"Adam. What are you doing here?"

"I came and talked to Pastor Frank."

"Oh. Well, I hope you have a nice talk." Her smile was big just by seeing him.

"Charlette, would you mind taking a walk with me?"

She smiled at him. "Sure. Let me get my shoes on and I'll be right back."

Frank smiled at Adam. "Adam, be honest with her and listen to her. She is probably going through the same things you are."

When she stepped back out, he extended his arm for her to take. She looked at him and then turned to Frank. She smirked at his smile knowing she would hear about it later. She reached and placed her left hand in the bend of his arm and offered him a smile.

…

Tom and Julie were spending the day at their new house. Since it was Sunday, no work crews were there, and they spend a good part of the day walking around the new home. Julie was making notes on each room. The style she wanted to do in decorating. Tom spent some of the time outside planning the back yard. He was looking forward to getting it the way he wanted it.

Before they left, they sat on the floor of the living room day dreaming about their future in their home. They were both getting excited about their futures together.

"Tom, how settled are you on our wedding date?"

He grew nervous quickly. He was afraid she was beginning to doubt them. "Well, I am looking forward to it. Are you starting to rethink things?" He asked nervously.

"No, Tom. I am not rethinking marrying you. I want to marry you. I was just rethinking our wedding date."

"Well, I guess we can push it back some if you want too." The disappointment in his voice was evident.

"Tom, I want to get married sooner than what we have scheduled. I want to be married now. Not weeks from now."

She instantly saw the relief on his face. "Where you afraid I changed my mind?"

He was, but he didn't want to tell her. "When are you thinking?"

"Well, Elizabeth is part of my wedding party, and they will be gone for two weeks. Would you be ok with getting married in three weeks?"

He grinned and took her into his arms. "Sweetheart, that would be perfect!"

"Are you sure?"

"Would you like to fly to Hawaii and marry tomorrow?"

"No. Jack would kill me if I showed up at his honeymoon."

"That's great because Elziabeth would kill me too."

"Three weeks it is!"

…

After dressing, again, Jack and Elizabeth spent the day walking around the resort and the surrounding areas. They ate lunch at a local mom and pop's restaurant that they loved and promised each other they would be back. They spent an hour sitting on a sea wall watching teens surfing. They laughed when they fell off and applauded when they had a successful run. They did stop at a couple of small shops and bought a few items for gifts. Elizabeth bought a beautiful Hawaiian sun dress. It was yellow with blue flowers on it. The dress fell to her knees and flowed easily in the breeze. The shop would ship the dress to the Westin Resort. Elizabeth was grateful she didn't have to carry it the whole day.

At the end of the day, they were walking back to the resort after a full day walking around. They passed a local seafood place that smelled incredible.

"Would you be ok if we eat here. It smells delicious."

"I was thinking the same thing, Belle."

They ate their fill. They ordered different platters and changed plates halfway through their meal. The meal was like the rest of their day, perfect. During their walk and throughout the day, they held hands or had their arms wrapped around each other. There weren't many times they were not touching.

Once they walked back into their room, Jack excused himself to take a shower.

While in the shower, Jack yelled out of the shower. "Sweetheart, I forgot my shorts. They are in my suitcase. I think they are on the left side. Would you mind getting them for me?"

"I'll get them." She called back.

After walking into the bedroom, Elizabeth lifted the suitcase on the bed and realized how light his was compared to her suitcase. She opened it and started looking for the black athletic shorts. Finding them, she reached for them and her hand found something that was hard. She pulled the item from under some clothes and noticed it was a book. "That's odd." She said, "He packed all the reading material in his carry on bag. She turned the book over to read the title.

Jack was in the shower thinking about him and Elizabeth. He was beginning to think he didn't need the book anymore. She was great giving him cues on what she liked and didn't like. She wouldn't tell him, but her body language screamed it. If he followed her lead, everything was perfect. He couldn't deny he loved their time together, and he felt she was the same way.

Elizabeth was shocked when she read the front cover, The Kama Sutra. "The sex book" She whispered to herself. She has heard of it, but she hasn't read it. She fingered the edges of the book before opening it to the index. She gasped at some of the chapter titles but laughed when apparently Jack crossed out the chapter talking of having an affair. She thumbed through the sections of how to love someone and show that love to them. There were bookmarks in the section of sexual positions and the well being of maintaining your partner's love life.

After the shock wore off, she realized that Jack has been reading certain portions of the book for her. She smiled at the thought of his nerves and his desire to make their intimate life the best he could. She fell in love with him all over again with the thought of his love and care for her. She also noticed that the new thing he did this morning wasn't in the book. "He is ahead of the book. He doesn't need it; he just doesn't know it yet."

As she placed it back into its hiding spot, she smiled. He loved her completely and wanted the best for her, no matter what that meant. She promised to herself that she would never let him know she knew about the book. She grabbed his shorts and headed back to the shower.

"Hey beautiful. Did you have any trouble finding the shorts?"

"No babe, I didn't."

She walked up to him when he stepped out of the shower. "Jack, this morning…"

"You were incredible!"

"It was perfect."

"Do you promise me that I am not pushing you too much?"

"I promise Jack. What I was about to say was…can we do that again? Maybe in the hot tub?"

She didn't wait for a response. She took his hand and led him out to the balcony turning on the hot tub on her way through the door.

…

Charlette and Adam walked a few minutes before walking into the park. She did not release his arm. She enjoyed the closeness. A couple of times her thoughts turned back to Tom, but mostly stayed on Adam.

"Charlette, could we sit for a few minutes and talk?"

"Sure Adam. Is there something wrong?"

"No Charlette. Nothing is wrong."

Adam sat beside Charlette and slipped his hand into hers. He was grateful she didn't turn him away.

"Charlette, I am at a crossroads. I was married to Sandra for so long and I always thought I would love her and only her for the rest of my life. When cancer took her life, I never thought in a million years I would fall in love with another woman."

Charlette gasped at his words "…fall in love with another woman…" is he talking about me? She thought.

"For fifteen years I was ok living the life I carved out for myself after her death. Then one day I volunteered to help some guy I have not heard of because Pastor Frank needed help to unload his moving truck. That day changed everything."

To her credit, Charlette sat and let him speak. She wanted to interrupt him and tell him how she felt, but he needed to say what was on his heart.

"I meet this woman who has been on my mind ever since I shook her hand." He squeezed her hand to let her know he was speaking of her. "For a few days I have enjoyed getting to know you and yesterday was a perfect day for me. But then, I would always have this nagging feeling that I was being unfaithful to Sandra."

Charlette nodded. She felt the same way until she spoke to Frank.

"After talking to Pastor Frank this morning, I feel I need to say something to you."

"You spoke to Frank about us this morning?"

"Yes, Charlie I did."

She swooned at his nickname for her.

"I needed help working through some things in my head. I thought I was cheating on Sandra but Pastor Frank showed me I'm not. I still love her and remember her, but I am finding my heart starting to love you. I don't know if I am in love with you completely yet, but I am certainly falling in love with you."

He exhaled at his statement. He opened his entire heart before Charlette, and he wasn't sure how she would accept everything.

"Adam, I feel the exact same way. I was struggling with my memories of Tom, and I didn't want to throw away those memories, but I can't deny what I am feeling for you."

"May I ask what you are feeling for me?"

"Adam, I am falling in love with you too."

Adam finally smiled. He began to lean in, and Charlette began to become nervous. Not because she would disrespect Tom's memory, but that it has been so long since she kissed someone in a romantic way.

She pulled back from the kiss. "Charlie, I am so sorry. I thought…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to push too far. I was just lost in the moment. I apologize for my actions."

"Adam. I'm sorry. I really want to kiss you."

"Charlie, you have a funny way of showing it." He nervously stated.

"Adam, it has been fifteen years since I kissed a man. I may have forgot how to do it."

"Charlie, I am not trying to replace Tom. I was just…" He exhaled a long drawn out breath.

"Adam, hush and kiss me." She boldly stated. She saw the hesitation in his eyes but hoped he would do it again.

He slowly leaned in again in case she pulled away again. Instead of pulling away, she leaned in at the same speed he did. Gently, their lips touched, and time stood still. Slowly, their kiss deepened, and she opened his lips with her tongue. It may have been years since they had a romantic kiss, but this kiss moved them to the core of their foundations.

They finally broke away from each other but not too far. "Charlie, that was…that was…"

"Perfect."

Both were smiling like teenagers who just kissed their crush for the first time.

"I thought you didn't remember how to do that?" Teased Adam.