Disclaimer: I do not own the characters within this story. All rights and much respect go to Crown Media, Hallmark, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr., the actors, creators, and writers of the show "When Calls the Heart." Any real people or places noted in the chapter are just there for storyline purposes.

Chapter 9- Let the Competition Begin…

NOTE: Hey everyone, if you are not already a member of the When Calls the Heart fan fiction page, you should most definitely join. Many of us post visuals that coincide with our chapters, and they seem to bring the stories to life. So, do yourself a favor and check it out!

Also, if you are not yet reading stories by TeresaLyn, you should most definitely check them out. She is a great writer, and has several Jack and Elizabeth stories working right now…oh, and she updates regularly.

Now on with our story…

Raleigh-Durham International Airport…

Jack finally landed in Raleigh, North Carolina, but actually wasn't certain how he'd made it there. He thought about Elizabeth during the entire hourlong flight, realizing that although he needed to talk with her, he was fairly certain that she needed some time to cool off, think about their time together and understand that she'd misunderstood what he was saying, or trying to say, meant to say, or actually wanted to say.

There was also no doubt that he needed to have a talk with her father immediately. However, given the way things ended only hours before, he wasn't certain that a conversation with Mr. Thatcher in and of itself would really resolve anything. However, it would remove that obstacle between them.

Unfortunately, he still had no idea what to say. It was one thing to meet the boss's daughter at a party or other function and begin dating, but it was quite another to be hired as her pilot and personal security during one of the lowest times in her life, only to return as her boyfriend.

Although, as Elizabeth drove away, he was certain that she didn't see him as her boyfriend, friend, or even acquaintance, for that matter, and he was most likely sharing her gutter list with Ryan.

Jack taxied over to the hangar, secured the jet, went inside and put on a pot of the strongest coffee imaginable.

Elizabeth's house- Charlotte, North Carolina… (3:30am)

Elizabeth walked into her house, and the first thing she observed were empty spaces once occupied by Ryan's belongings. She dropped her bag and purse beside the coffee table and walked to the sofa where she seemed to collapse.

Grabbing her bag from the floor, she reached inside and retrieved her journal, feeling an intense need to explode, her words needing a safe place to land.

Opening her journal, Elizabeth read through several prior entries, some pertaining to Ryan and others about Jack. There was a different feeling about the 'Ryan' entries, maybe not as she was writing them, but certainly now that she was able to look back at their journey. There was a change in him, an urgency to move outward and upward that she didn't hear, or pay attention to, and as things turned out, now it all made sense.

Flipping to the next blank page, Elizabeth thought about her life, her choices and the mistakes she'd made. If nothing else, she'd enjoyed her time with Jack, even if it was meant to be short-lived. He'd taken her surfing, and made her feel good about herself. He'd danced with her under the stars, and unlike Ryan, or other men she'd dated, Jack seemed interested in her as a person…not simply as a woman to bed.

Interestingly enough, Elizabeth remembered in the past being angry that the men she dated generally had only one thing in mind, and it had nothing to do with getting to know her. Well, that's incorrect; they wanted to get to know her, but generally only sexually. She had to admit that Jack was different, but she was even more confused, because although they shared romantic kisses, he made no attempt to make love to her, even turning her down when she suggested it.

Maybe it was just meant to be a short-lived fun time for each to reset themselves, something that would allow them to move forward in life, marking off another adventure from their possible 'things to enjoy' list, and nothing more than that. The fact was, neither one outwardly verbalized that this would be forever…so, she couldn't blame him that it ended as it had, although it would have been nice to have parted at least as friends. Not only had she lost Jack, but Bella was now seemingly gone from her life as well.

Elizabeth closed her eyes, took a deep breath and prayed that she could release the anger, while maintaining any good feelings for Jack that she still held inside, realizing that she was refereeing a battle within herself, and sadly, she had no idea who would win…

"I don't think most people understand what true love is. It's not the cheesy 'couple goals' pictures that are posted on Instagram. It's not the dates at fancy restaurants, sharing drinks during happy hour, or spending time when it's convenient. It's not the expensive gifts, or words spoken in haste, hoping to get you into bed, and it most certainly isn't him, laying on top of you, holding you down as his hot breath in your ear repeats over and over that "you want this…"

To me, true love is either one, waking in the middle of the night to sit beside the other on a cold, hard, bathroom floor, with a cool, wet washcloth in their hand, as their partner, for reasons of illness, or overindulgence, worships the porcelain throne, simply because they don't want them to be alone.

To me, true love is having someone to vent to, or a shoulder to cry on. It is knowing that without a doubt, this special someone will always be your biggest cheerleader, but you can also count on them to be your toughest critic.

To me, true love is putting your needs aside, wanting nothing more than to see that the needs of the other are met, and when confronted with your selflessness, you promise that all you want in life is the other's happiness. I know that this one is definitely not healthy, as each person needs to feel fulfilled in a relationship, but there is something so beautiful in knowing that just like I will want his happiness above all, so shall he feel about me, as well.

To me, true love is making time for the other even when it isn't convenient; when a request to talk doesn't come a distant second to cutting three acres of pastureland with a push mower.

To me, true love is honesty, consideration, respect for the other and a willingness to compromise. It's the ability to look at each other on a spiritual level so deep that you ache when they are gone.

To me, true love doesn't mean spouting 'I love you' when you are looking to justify poor behavior or decisions you now regret, or when the sentiment will get you what you want. To me, true love is the feeling you give to another person that says, 'no matter what happens, I'm here, and I will always put you first.'

To me, true love means so many things, and I'd assume possibly different things to different people. For me, I want it to be unconditional and I want to be his first thought in the morning, and his absolute last thought before he closes his eyes at night. I want us to give to the other without reason or expectation; I want to trust him without question, and I want to know that he will hold my heart as carefully as I will always hold his.

Jack, I would never imply that we feel the same about each other, or that it goes as far as being true love. However, I will say that what I feel for you did not materialize simply because we were in paradise. You interested me; you captivated me, and you easily held my interest from the moment I met you. You are the epitome of a gentleman, my dream man and fantasy all rolled up into one gorgeous package. You gave me respect, when others haven't; to you my feelings mattered, when others couldn't care less, and until that last moment at the airport, I felt completely safe with you. Maybe it was me who walked, or I guess drove away, but I could see the uncertainty and possibly fear in your eyes. I am in love with you, and I believe I knew you were special from the moment we met. However, I would never want to push you or will you into feeling as I do, nor would I ever try, so I do wish you well, and I pray that you find that special woman you are looking for. I can't help wishing that things had turned out differently…but then again, if wishes were horses…

Maybe it's just not my time. Maybe I'm meant to experience more of life before meeting my one true love. Could he be someone I already know, or more likely someone I've never met? I believe we'll cross paths when it is least expected, but whatever the case may be, I hope when our eyes meet, I'll be smart enough to realize that he is the one."

Elizabeth closed her journal and held it close to her chest as she initially leaned against the back of the sofa. Pulling her phone from her purse, she glanced at the screen but there were no voicemails, texts or calls awaiting her attention.

Elizabeth opened her bag, slipped her journal inside, and placed her phone on the coffee table. She stretched her body out, resting her head on the fluffy arm of the sofa. Settling her body into the soft comfy cushions, she wanted nothing more than to hide from the world. How could he tell her that she was important to him, only to back away at the end of a beautiful vacation, leaving her again to question her apparent lack of judgment? Why couldn't he have kept his distance, not been so wonderful and honorable, leaving her no choice but to fall in love with him? And then there was Bella, sadly, it felt as though she'd been ripped from Elizabeth's life once again.

Elizabeth pulled the blanket from the back of the sofa and covered her body, leaving no skin exposed. As she thought about her fight with Jack, her tears flowed, much more so than they ever did over Ryan. She honestly believed the words he spoke, and she found it hard to accept that his lips were lying when they pressed ever so gently, yet passionately against hers. But then again, she wouldn't be the first woman who assumed things were going well, only to find out that the feelings weren't mutual.

Thatcher household- Raleigh, NC- 6:15am

"Who are you calling so early his morning?" Mrs. Thatcher asked her husband as she entered the kitchen and found him pressing buttons on his phone.

"Well, you wouldn't let me call Elizabeth while she was gone, so I'm doing it now…"

"Do you have any idea what time it is; hang up that phone and let her get some rest."

"I just need to hear her voice and know that everything is O…" he stopped talking as Elizabeth answered the call. "Hey honey. How are you doing?"

"Daddy, what time is it?" Elizabeth asked having just managed to fall asleep less than two hours ago.

"It's 6:15… were you asleep?"

"I was, but what did you want…is something wrong; are you and mom okay?"

"Nothing is wrong, and yes, your mother and I are fine. There is a problem, though."

"What's the problem, daddy?"

"I have to tell you, I've never gone this long without talking to you, and your mother wouldn't let me call while you were gone…"

"God bless mom…" she muttered.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. Is that the only reason you called?"

"Well, I know your trip wasn't exactly what it was supposed to be, but I just wanted to check in with you. Did you get some time to relax?"

"Yes, sir. The weather was beautiful; the water was bluer than blue, and I have a tan…"

"So, what is you impression of Captain Thornton?"

"Excuse me…?"

"What did you think of him?"

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean, it was his job to fly you down to Fiji and be there to help you if you needed anything. Did he do his job?"

"Daddy, that may be what your words are saying, but I know what you're really asking. To answer your question, the captain was a perfect gentleman, very professional, and with the weather we ran through going down there, his flying skills were perfect."

"Was he respectful of you?"

"Daddy, I know you worry about me, but I am a grown woman, and I can and will make decisions regarding my relationships without your input, okay?"

"Does that include Captain Thornton?"

"Daddy, it includes anyone I may be interested in, but don't worry, Captain Thornton was available when I needed help, but nothing more…You should be very proud of him. He's not interested in me, we're just friends, if it even goes that far."

"Well, did you at least have a nice time?" he asked.

"I did, but it's time to return to the real world," she responded. "Things aren't always the way they seem, and I guess my judgment of people needs some help."

"What does that mean?" her father asked.

"Just that I thought Ryan was one way, and obviously I was wrong, and then…" she stopped and took a breath, "never mind. Thank you for letting me use Gator; you know it's my all-time favorite jet."

"No problem; it's always available to you, and as for your judgment issue…that's why I'm here to help," he reminded her. "I only want the best for you."

"Is that your best, or my best?" she asked.

"What do you mean, honey?"

"It's just, when you say you want the best for me, who decides what's best, you or me?"

"Honey, you have a great head on your shoulder. I know that things have been hard recently, and I'm glad that you had a nice time in Fiji, but I was just concerned that you might get lost in the magic of Fiji and move into another relationship too soon."

"What does that mean, daddy; are you implying that something happened while I was gone?"

"Certainly not, but I know you were hurting, and I just think you need to take some time to…"

"To what, daddy…?"

"Elizabeth, I think you need to take this time to enjoy being alone and figure out what you really want. You don't need to rush into anything, and I mean any…thing, you know, work or a relationship," he advised. "But you are always welcome here at Thatcher Industries, you know that, and I'd love to have you back."

"Daddy, believe me, I have no intention of involving myself with anyone right now, but please don't push me to work for the company. That's the type of work you crave, but it's not for me…at least not right now."

"Okay; go back to sleep and I'm sure your mom will want to talk to you later," he stated, breathing a sigh of relief. "I'm glad you're home, honey…"

"I'm glad to be home, too."

Mr. Thatcher hung up the phone and turned his attention toward his wife. Observing the expression on her face, he asked, "What…?"

"Why did you hang up; I wanted to talk to her."

"Aren't you the one who said she needed sleep?"

"I did, but you had already disturbed her. I just wanted to know how everything went," she quickly responded. "So, what did she say, and what is with the smirk on your face?" she asked.

"Your attempt to throw our daughter at Captain Thornton didn't work."

"William, I didn't throw our daughter at Captain Thornton as you so crassly call it, but she needed people around her who were her own age; she needed people that she could have fun with. If something happened between them, then fine, if not, that's fine, too."

"Well, according to Elizabeth, he was a perfect gentleman."

"Hmm, I guess I'm confused. Would you have expected him to be otherwise or would it have pleased you if he weren't a perfect gentleman?"

"Well…no, but I also wasn't expecting to hand over my heartbroken daughter to him either."

"William Thatcher, first of all, she's our daughter, and secondly, I didn't hand her over to him. I believe we decided many years ago that the girls' relationships were my domain, and your area of expertise was in helping them with their education and employment plans."

"Yes, we did decide that, but Elizabeth always seemed to come to you for everything. I've always felt left out."

"William, I'm going to say this with the utmost love in my heart…honey, you get a little pushy, and Elizabeth, well, actually each of the girls, like to make decisions on their own."

"I do that…?"

"Are you serious; you know you do?"

"Honey, I'm just concerned about Elizabeth," he placed his cup down on the table. "But in this case, I think my concern is warranted," he stated as he eyed the coffee pot, feeling the need for another cup.

"How do you figure that?" she asked.

"Grace, Elizabeth was hurt, and some man could just come in and swoop her up without her even realizing what's going on. She's not thinking straight right now."

"My Lord, William, swoop her up? Do you not have any faith in her judgment?"

"Honey, I was just worried, nothing more than that."

"So, may I ask, since Elizabeth said Captain Thornton was a gentleman, wouldn't he be someone you'd want Elizabeth to be with, or at least get to know better?"

"Apparently, they got to know each other and are only friends. So, I'm just saying your little matchmaking attempt failed."

"Did she have fun?"

"She said she did."

"Well then, the trip with Captain Thornton was a success…and it was not a matchmaking attempt."

"Grace, you need to stay out of our daughters' love lives. Let them find their own way."

Grace laughed, practically spitting out her mouthful of coffee onto the table, "Now isn't that the pot calling the kettle black. William, if I recall correctly, you thought Ryan was an ambitious young man who was perfect for Elizabeth. Isn't it possible that his ambition clouded your judgment?"

"If you had let me vet him out like I wanted to, then maybe…"

She interrupted, "So, what happened is my fault?"

"Absolutely not, and I'm sorry if it sounded like I blamed you. I don't, but I just didn't want to see Elizabeth fall for another man in hopes of getting over Ryan."

"Well, apparently she didn't, so will you give her credit for knowing what she wants?" she asked.

"Grace, I'm doing my best, but you know the girls have always been my weak spot. I can't help worrying about them, but I promise I'll try to let them make their own decisions."

"I'm holding you to that…"

Leaning over, William kissed Grace's forehead. "I love you and I'm sorry. I don't like arguing with you, especially when I have to leave."

Taking a sip from the cup of coffee he'd fixed for her, she asked, "Are you going to be home tonight?"

"Absolutely. You know I don't like to spend a day away from you," he responded, a comment that put a broad smile on her face.

"Even though you know this conversation is not over…" she advised him.

Having been married to Grace for over thirty-three years, and knowing her, cover to cover like a book, he was well aware that she wasn't finished with him. "Absolutely, but please remember, I, like you, only want the best for Elizabeth, Julie and Viola."

"I know that, and I love you dearly, but we have to let our girls live their lives the way they see fit."

"I don't care how old they get, it's hard to let go…" he responded as he pulled Grace in for a hug.

"I love you. Fly safe, and I'll see you when you get home," she stated as she walked with him to the front door, and kissed him goodbye. As he walked toward the car, she called out, "No more coffee when you get to the hangar…you've already had one cup," she called out before he slipped inside his car and drove away.

Thatcher Industries Hangar, Raleigh-Durham International Airport- 7:38am…

Raleigh, North Carolina… (Twenty-two hours after takeoff from Fiji)

Sitting in the elaborate kitchen of the Thatcher Industries jet hangar, Jack took a sip from his sixth cup of coffee. He was exhausted, having touched down at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport at 3:27am. He chose not to drive home, knowing that after the fight he and Elizabeth had upon landing in Charlotte, sleeping would be far from his reality.

"Good morning, Captain Thornton. I didn't expect to see you this early," Mr. Thatcher remarked as he entered the kitchen.

"Good morning, sir. Uh, if you have some time, I'd like to talk with you," Jack responded.

"Is it about the jet?"

"No sir…"

"Well, I'm flying up to DC this morning, but I have a little time," Mr. Thatcher advised, as he motioned Jack to come with him.

"Do you need me to fly you there, sir?"

"No, Captain Cole is coming in," he replied. "You take some time off and rest. I'm sure that flight back was a long, rough one."

"You have no idea," Jack whispered under his breath.

"Captain Cole isn't here yet, and I know you have something to talk about, but actually I want to talk with you, too," Mr. Thatcher stated as he walked out into the hallway.

Jack followed Mr. Thatcher down the hallway toward the small, private office he maintained in the hangar to be used while waiting on his flights or transportation home upon his arrival from out of town.

Stepping into the office, Mr. Thatcher took a seat behind his desk, while Jack sat in a leather office chair across from him.

Mr. Thatcher began, "I'm not sure if you have anyone special in your life right now, so maybe you won't understand this."

Jack shifted in his seat, trying to find a comfortable position, but realizing that his nerves would likely prohibit that from happening.

"My wife actually thinks she rules the house, and in some things she does," Mr. Thatcher admitted. "I pulled out my phone at least once daily to call you or Elizabeth to see how things were going, but my wife shut me down each time, threatening World War III if I did it behind her back. So, I totally felt in the dark, and whether it be in business or my family, I have a need to know what's happening."

"I understand…but, sir…"

"Wait, Captain…before I give you the floor, I need to thank you."

"Thank me; for what…?" Jack asked as he placed his hands on his knees hoping to steady his shaking legs and stop his toes from tapping on the floor.

"For watching over Elizabeth," he responded with a tone of sincerity and relief. "I have to be honest with you; I was strongly opposed to you making this trip with Elizabeth."

"May I ask why?"

"Captain, it's nothing against you, but…well, I vet all of my employees before hiring anyone, and, believe me, I know everything about your career as a pilot. Your talent as a pilot is quite impressive and I was pleased to have you join the company. But, my daughter, actually all three of my daughters are very special to me. Maybe I'm closer to Elizabeth, because she is the most sensitive, and as her father, I feel the need to protect her more."

"Yes, sir…" Jack understood, feeling as though they now had something in common.

"So, I hired you as a pilot, and my daughter and her heart were not part of the deal," Mr. Thatcher advised as he reared back in his chair.

"I understand, sir, but I…" Jack tried to cut in, but Mr. Thatcher continued with his praise of him as a man and a pilot.

"I actually made arrangements with Captain Cole to fly her down to Fiji and he and his family were planning to stay down there so he'd be available if she needed anything. I was comfortable knowing he wouldn't let anything happen to her."

"Oh…I didn't know that Captain Cole was supposed to make the flight, sir."

"To be completely honest with you, I didn't vet you out as a potential suitor for my daughter. Don't think I wouldn't if I thought that was the case. Unfortunately, I took Ryan at face value, and well, we know how that turned out. So, I want to thank you for watching over her, getting her there and home safely, and not taking advantage of her situation while she was in such a vulnerable state."

"Sir…?"

"Captain, Elizabeth is a beautiful woman, and I have to admit that I wasn't happy with my wife when she changed plans on me, but she felt that Elizabeth needed people around her that were her age that she could have fun with," Mr. Thatcher stated through an obviously frustrated breath.

"Mr. Thatcher…"

"Captain, I just talked to Elizabeth, and she advised me that you took your responsibilities as a company pilot very seriously; you acted appropriately, very professional, and as Elizabeth put it, you were a perfect gentleman," Mr. Thatcher stated as a thankful breath passed through his lips. "She also told me about the bad weather going down to Fiji and that you are a talented pilot, which I already knew."

"I don't know what to say…" Jack muttered.

"Well, as a father, I was worried that…" Mr. Thatcher leaned forward in his desk chair, folded his hands together and rested them on his desk. "You know, as a businessman, I handle multi-million-dollar deals and don't blink an eye. When I talk about my daughters, my words don't always come out right. But Elizabeth assured me that although you two spent time together, there was no romantic intent on either part, so again, thank you for being the professional man that I hired you to be."

"Elizabeth said that?"

"Yes, and it was certainly a glowing report. I know you had something you wanted to talk to me about, but I just wanted to say that I know a lot of men, some of whom I've previously employed, who would have taken advantage of Elizabeth, and I just want you to know that I am more appreciative than you will ever know that you kept everything professional."

Jack was fairly certain that he was experiencing stroke symptoms. Although he could see Mr. Thatcher, it was as if the visual of him was getting farther and farther away; he couldn't feel his arms or legs and words seemed to evade him.

"Well, I've expressed my thanks for you watching out for my little girl, but what was it that you wanted to talk about?"

What Jack wanted to say was, 'She's not a little girl; she is a beautiful woman…the most perfect woman I've ever known. The truth is, I'm in love with your daughter, but I promise that I didn't take advantage of her.' However, having been awake for over 24 hours, what actually passed through his lips was, "I…uh…um…"

Before Jack could shake the cobwebs from his brain, Captain Cole knocked on the door, "The jet is fueled and ready to go, sir…"

"Good morning. I didn't even know you were here," Mr. Thatcher replied when Captain Cole stepped into the office.

"I knew you were talking with Captain Thornton, and I didn't want to interrupt," turning his attention away from Mr. Thatcher, he said, "Good morning, Jack. Welcome home. I hope you had a nice time in paradise."

"It was great, thank you…"

"Well, Captain Thornton, I need to get up to DC, so maybe we can talk when I get back," Mr. Thatcher suggested.

"Yes…yes sir…"

Captain Cole started to back out of the office before stopping, "I'm fixing a cup of coffee to take, would either of you like one?"

"No thanks; I had my one cup that my wife allows me at home this morning…" Mr. Thatcher advised.

"No, I've already had six cups this morning," Jack admitted.

"I guess that's the reason you look like you're about to jump out of your skin…" Captain Cole joked. "What time did you get in…?"

"I'm not sure; I think I touched down around 3:30 this morning," Jack responded.

"Well, I haven't made that flight in years, but I do remember…it's a long one," Captain Cole remarked before slipping out of the office and heading for the kitchen.

"Well," Mr. Thatcher stated as he stood, and Jack followed, "I want to thank you again for taking care of Elizabeth, and the professionalism you've shown. I was right to hire you. You are an asset to this company. Thank you," he stuck out his arm to shake Jack's hand. "Oh, a nice firm handshake, another sign of a good man."

Mr. Thatcher stepped out into the hallway with Jack close behind, "Jack, go home and get some rest."

Jack felt sick. He knew he hadn't taken advantage of Elizabeth, but if her father found out how he felt about her, would he see it that way? Also, Elizabeth was now furious with him, so angry that she advised her father that there were no romantic feelings between them. Was she simply trying to protect him, or did she truly have no feelings for him? Now more than ever he knew they needed to talk but would she ever agree to see him again?"

After the Thatcher jet took off, Jack grabbed his jacket, bag, his seventh cup of coffee, forced an angry Bella to climb into the truck and they headed home.

Jack's apartment- Raleigh, North Carolina…

Jack had no intention of keeping the large house in Charlotte, having purchased it, using military retirement funds primarily as an investment. However, right at this moment, he wished he was sitting in that huge, lonely den, at least he'd be closer to Elizabeth.

He pulled into the parking lot of the apartment complex, parked his truck and sat with the vehicle still running. Jack had never felt so lost before. Elizabeth was the woman he'd secretly loved for years. She was everything he'd wanted in a partner, and eventually, a wife. But now he was faced with a dilemma, and it truly had nothing to do with his employment with Thatcher Industries, and everything to do with her putting her anger toward him aside.

The truth was, Jack loved flying, and the jets at Thatcher Industries, being state of the art, would be any pilot's dream to handle. However, he was a pilot, a damn good one, at that, and leaving Thatcher Industries for employment elsewhere was always a possibility. There was no doubt, his feelings for Elizabeth far exceeded anything he could ever feel for a job, but the question now weighing on his mind was this, 'could he make things right with her?'

He opened the door to his small apartment, walked inside, followed closely by Bella, dropped his bag on the floor and headed for the bathroom. He turned on the shower, stripped down and stood under the showerhead as the steady stream of hot water ran down his body.

Jack tried inhaling deeply through his nose, and exhaling through his mouth, doing his best to release the tension that seemed to flood his body. With his eyes closed, images of Elizabeth filled his mind, and as anger at the way he handled the situation consumed him. But just as quickly, disappointment and confusion at the report she provided her father had him wondering if, in fact, it was he who was actually the biggest chump who'd ever lived.

Jack was exhausted, both physically and emotionally, much too tired to sleep. He lay in bed, rolling from side to side, eventually finding himself tangled tightly in his bedding.

11:30 am rolled around and Jack was still wide awake. His mind was spinning rapidly with his letter of resignation being written in his head many times. He would give up his job in a heartbeat, but even if he did, would she talk to him? If she would simply listen, how could he prove to her that his words were more than just letters thrown together? They were honest, sincere, and he came closer to saying 'I love you' to her than he'd even come before, and would have admitted his feelings if she hadn't recently gone through a breakup.

Jack sat up in bed, thankful to have Bella snuggled in beside him. He grabbed his phone from the bedside table, and scanned any calls he may have missed, disappointed when Elizabeth's number didn't flash up on the screen as one of them.

He tapped out a text…

"Bella misses u. Can we talk…?" he pressed 'send' assuming that she'd be more likely to agree if he threw Bella into the mix.

Elizabeth's house- Charlotte, NC…

Having been unable to sleep following the call from her father, Elizabeth was busy rearranging each room in her house, hoping to remove any semblance of Ryan from her home.

Hearing the ding on her phone, she muttered softly, "Come on, Daddy. I've already said everything I'm going to tell you. Please, just let me be miserable in peace…"

Glancing at her phone, she realized that the text was actually from Jack and not her father. Part of her was excited to see his name flash up on the screen, but then anger and embarrassment took over, leaving her feeling disappointed, humiliated, ashamed, and foolish… "Bella misses me?"

She held her phone, yelling at the screen as if it were actually Jack. "WHY COULDN'T YOU BE REAL? I THOUGHT YOU WERE SO DIFFERENT…SOMEONE I COULD FALL IN LOVE WITH;" she dropped her phone on the table, and collapsed on the sofa, whispering, "Someone I did fall in love with." Feeling used, she responded with the following text…

"Jack, I think we said evrythng that needed 2 b said, don't u…? Give Bella a kiss from me…" feeling disappointed, she pushed send.

Jack's apartment- Raleigh, NC…

While waiting on her response, and hoping that it would be favorable, Jack closed his eyes. He released one deep breath and before he knew it, he was sound asleep.

"DING…" Jack's phone sounded an alert signifying the response he was waiting for. Unfortunately, he was sound asleep, and wasn't likely to budge for hours.

Elizabeth's house- Charlotte, NC…

When an hour passed and Jack hadn't responded, Elizabeth became even more certain that, to Jack, she was nothing more than a fling. Assuming he was simply trying to make himself feel better, basically leaving no casualties behind, and was just interested in returning to his life as before, Elizabeth decided to remove the temptation to call him. In anger and without further thought, she blocked his number, and deleted his contact information from her phone.

As she watched the information disappear from her screen, Elizabeth felt both relief and sadness. Two weeks before, her life seemed to spin out of control, only to come together again in Fiji, basically because of Jack. Although unexpected, she had a wonderful time on her 'honeymoon' without Ryan, only to feel the ground subsequently pulled out from underneath her, also by Jack.

She decided it was time to put men…all men, out of her mind and throw herself into her work, hoping that the station would grant her the necessary input into the selection of her next cohost. Maybe another female to share the set with would be agreeable to the powers that be.

Jack's apartment- Raleigh, NC…

Jack slept through the day, night and well into the next morning, eventually waking and immediately grabbing his phone. Reading the message left by Elizabeth, he frantically tapped out a response, unaware that she had blocked his number.

"U may have said wat u needed 2, but I haven't. Please meet me somewhere. I'll drive down to Charlotte…is that OK…?"

Disheartened by her lack of response, Jack waited until an appropriate 'phone call making time,' and dialed her number. Reaching her phone mail, he left the following message, "Elizabeth, I don't know how it happened, but things have gotten all turned around. I'm sorry that I wasn't clear and that things were left so badly between us. Of course, I know you, and I'm well aware of who your father is. But you need to understand that I didn't lie to you. Everything I told you is true…how I feel about you, is true. The fact is, I was enjoying my time with you…you, Elizabeth Thatcher, not the daughter of my boss, and I put that information so far back in my mind and it didn't hit me until I sat down in the cockpit and saw your dad's name on a plaque at the controls. I guess I just wasn't sure what I was going to tell your dad. It had absolutely nothing to do with a choice between you and my job. I did ask to talk with him yesterday morning, but after he told me that you said there was nothing romantic between us, I guess I'm at a loss as to how you feel. I hate doing this by phone mail, so please ca…"

"BEEP… you have exceeded your time and the message will be deleted."

Feeling quite disappointed in the fact that everything seemed to be going against him, he climbed out of bed, dressed and took Bella for a run around the apartment complex lake.

Ordinarily, once or twice a day, depending on his schedule, Jack would take Bella for a run once around the perimeter of the lake located behind his apartment complex. Each lap around equaled approximately one mile, and although Bella was exhausted, she managed to keep up with Jack.

On this occasion, however, they circled the lake, and instead of stopping at the picnic tables that sit at the beginning of the path, Jack continued. Bella sat, waiting on Jack to realize that she was no longer following him. Forty yards down the path, Jack glanced down and not seeing Bella, he stopped and turned around.

Apparently involved in a standoff, both Jack and Bella stood still, each one staring at the other. When it was evident that Jack was not coming back to get her, Bella begrudgingly stood and slowly trotted up to join him.

Once back home, Bella practically consumed her entire bowl of water before taking her spot on the sofa curled up against Jack where she quickly fell asleep.

Throughout the day, Jack checked his messages, text and Facebook, looking for something, anything from Elizabeth, but there was nothing.

Thatcher home- Raleigh, NC…

Mrs. Thatcher waited until late in the day to call Elizabeth, feeling certain that she needed time to rest and unpack, both her suitcases and her emotions.

"Hey honey, are you busy?" her mother asked.

"I'm never too busy for you, mom. What's up?"

"I just wanted to call and get the rundown on your time away. Did you enjoy yourself? Did you meet anyone?"

Elizabeth smiled, knowing what information her mother wanted, she simply stated, "I had a really nice time, mom."

"What did you do?" her mother asked.

"I laid on the beach, met a veterinarian who took me to dinner, and I went surfing."

"Tell me about this veterinarian; is he nice; what's his name?"

"Mom, we had one dinner, that's all. He's very handsome, but he wasn't the man of my dreams, or even close to what I'm looking for. Captain Thornton ended up punching him out, oh, and did I mention I went surfing?"

"What; why did Captain Thornton have to punch him?" she asked, clearly concerned.

"Well, I was handling the situation, but I guess he thought I was being man-handled."

"What happened, honey?"

"Mom, I'm fine. Most men just seem to think of one thing, and just because he buys me dinner, doesn't mean he owns me for the night," Elizabeth replied.

"Are you sure you're, okay?"

"I'm fine, mom." Elizabeth released a hard breath before continuing, "Unfortunately, so many men nowadays seem to feel that sex on the first date is appropriate, and I guess it acts as payment for dinner and dancing."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, honey. You know, when you find that special man, you know, the one who gives you butterflies, he won't do that. He'll put your needs above his own, and he'll treat you with so much respect. From what you've said, it sounds like Captain Thornton was trying to look out for you."

Initially thinking she'd found that special man in Jack, Elizabeth felt tears forming. "I was a job, mom…nothing more, and I know what you're saying. You've told me about how daddy was so different from other men you dated, but well, I think the good ones are hard to come by, and maybe something that special isn't meant for me…at lease not right now," she responded. "Can we talk about something else?"

Sensing something more to this story, she didn't want to drop the subject, but assumed it was best to let it go for now. "How about surfing; now that's something I never thought you'd do?"

Elizabeth smiled, "Me neither. Jack…I mean Captain Thornton talked me into it. I mean, I rode in on my stomach, but I was on a surfboard…so that counts."

"Of course, it counts. I'm proud of you, honey," her mother's voice was soft and comforting, without knowing why she needed to be. "Did you and Captain Thornton get along okay?"

"Why are you and daddy asking so many questions about Captain Thornton? He was great. He's a talented pilot, and he did exactly as he was instructed to do."

"Elizabeth, I don't really recall a lot of instructions being given," Mrs. Thatcher responded. "I just thought maybe you could use some people close to your age to have some fun with, so that's why I switched pilots."

"You did that?"

"Honey, I know you love Captain Cole and his family, but you needed people your own age to do things with. I just thought Captain Thornton would be perfect for that. I'm sorry if I upset you…"

"No mom; I'm not upset, and as it turned out I know you had been trying to get us to meet…"

"Honey…"

"Mom, don't deny it."

Hearing a lift in Elizabeth's voice, she admitted her hope that they'd meet, and then continued to listen as Elizabeth talked.

"It's funny, because he has a dog…"

"Yes, I remember him telling me."

"Well, do you remember the black Labrador that I was planning to adopt?"

"Yes…"

"Well, I actually met Captain Thornton…Jack, at the animal shelter when we both arrived to adopt the same dog. After I heard his story, I couldn't take Bella from him. Then I actually saw him a few more times at the park and with, I assumed, his wife at the Cocktails and Candy Canes Ball."

"WOW, it is a small world. So, he is eligible?" her mother asked, but already knew.

"Well, he isn't married if that's what you're asking."

"So, what do you think of him?"

"Mom, I know you mean well, just like daddy, who would be happy if I never dated anyone, but I think I just need to navigate my love life by myself, okay?"

"Honey, I don't mean any harm, but I didn't even know your connection, and I saw in him a man who would be perfect for you."

"It's not going to happen, mom. I think we both got caught up in the tranquility and beauty of Fiji, but once it was over, it was over…"

"Honey, don't you think…"

"Mom, please, just leave it alone."

Not certain what happened between them, but determined to find out, she decided to give Elizabeth more time to process her feelings, and as her "Mother's Intuition" kept screaming, to realize that she missed him. "Okay, honey, we'll drop the subject of Captain Thornton for right now."

Once they ended their call, Elizabeth released a hard breath and wiped away a few relentless tears, wishing that she lived in Raleigh, for she could surely use a hug from her mother at that moment.

Raleigh, NC…

As each day passed, Jack continued to call, each time reaching Elizabeth's phone mail. With each call, he left her a message pleading his case, unaware that she had blocked his number and had no idea he had called.

Charlotte, NC- WBTV…

A week passed. Spending most of her 'waking thought' time spent on Jack, what went wrong, and why she didn't see them apparently spiraling out of control, Elizabeth had heard nothing from him since the text he'd sent, and she'd responded to. Having forgotten that, in her anger, she'd blocked his number, she viewed his silence as even more indication that they were over.

It was now time to put everything, but work, aside and return to the land of the living. Ordinarily difficult to get back in the swing of things following a vacation, this was even more stressful, since she wasn't certain that WBTV was where her heart lie, or frankly, that the powers that be would even want her back.

The powers that be part would be easy; either she would be welcomed back with open arms, or fired…nothing she could do about that. However, on the flip side of the coin, whether or not she wanted to be there could be a bit more disconcerting. As a result, she made the decision to allow her viewers, and the comments they made on the station's website, be the judge of her next move.

The morning started off great as she received a warm welcome from each staff member, beginning with the doorman, all the way up to the CEO who happened to be in the building for a meeting. Riding up in the elevator together, he apologized for any actions on the station's part that may have led her, and Ryan being pushed together. As the door opened and he stepped out, he thanked her for sticking around as "the station has some exciting things planned."

The many words of support were nice, initially making her first day back at work less embarrassing. However, the hushed whispers behind her back when others weren't aware she was there had her wishing that she was still at home, curled up in bed, the feel of Bella's soft fur and warm body snuggled against her.

Then the image of Bella disappeared, and she could feel Jack's arm around her waist as they snuggled together on their last morning in paradise. Although she refused to outwardly admit it, she missed him.

With each person who caught Elizabeth in the hall or stopped into her office, she found herself repeating over and over again that she was fine, actually owing Ryan a debt of gratitude, for they truly were not suited to be man and wife.

"Elizabeth…" Andrea Pullman, director for "The Morning Brew, called out as she stepped into the office. "Hey, welcome back…"

"Thank you."

"We have a lot of exciting things planned for the show…are you ready?" Andrea asked.

"I've heard, but what kind of plans; please tell me that you aren't hoping for another wedding?"

"No, and we're all sorry about what happened, but the surprise is that we're going to be introducing several new co-host possibilities, and you will have input as to who you want to work with."

"So, if I say 'No' you won't hire him or her?"

"Well, it will be a 'him' since we do need a male perspective on the show, and you will have input, but that's all I can say right now."

"So, when does it start?" Elizabeth asked.

"Next week, but this weekend everyone is going to Myrtle Beach for a short and quick getaway, just to give you an opportunity to meet the candidates."

"This weekend? I was planning to go to Raleigh and visit my folks for the weekend," she stated. Although the plan was to visit her parents, if she were completely honest with herself, she would admit that she hoped to see Jack. A part of her still wanted to be proven wrong; to realize that she'd misread him and to realize that his intentions were actually honest and pure.

"You can put that off for a little while, can't you? We already have the hotel reservations and trust me, getting schedules to mesh for a dozen people is no easy feat."

"Okay, I'll change my plans around, but please don't blindside me with anything, okay?"

"No intentional blindsiding being done here. I will tell you that we have some real interesting candidates. Some of them you'll love, some you may not, but I believe that your next cohost will be in the mix somewhere…"

"Love…?"

"I'm sorry…like, I meant, like," Andrea quickly changed the verb she'd used to describe some of the candidates.

Elizabeth was thankful that she hadn't promised her mom a trip up to Raleigh, knowing how disappointed she gets when plans prevent their visits.

As the weekend quickly approached, Elizabeth's reluctancy to attend the 'meet and greet' in Myrtle Beach grew by leaps and bounds. Although she wanted input and an honest vote in who was selected as her new co-host, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that somehow the surprise was going to be on her.

Sitting at her desk, her phone rang…

"Hey mom; how are you?"

"I miss you. I was calling to see if you could come up for a visit this weekend," she asked, her voice sounding more like a plea. "There is a bazaar at one of the local churches that I thought we could go to. And before you have an excuse, the jets are parked, and I could get Captain Thornton to fly down and get you."

"Mom…"

"Honey, I just want to spend some time with you. I want to talk like we used to; I want to catch up on things in your life…I just want to make sure you're okay."

"Well mom, I'm fine. I'm well over Ryan, if that's what you're worried about, although I will say that having to explain to everyone what happened is exhausting," Elizabeth admitted.

"Elizabeth, you owe no one an explanation."

"I know, really I do, but somehow I still find myself explaining that we just weren't right for each other; that I owe him a debt of gratitude, blah, blah, blah…"

"Do you really feel that way, or are you just trying to make me feel better?" Mrs. Thatcher asked.

"Mom, I'm always honest with you. Besides, like you've always told me, when I find my one true love, I'll know. Just like when you met daddy. I really thought Ryan was him. I thought he was the man I was destined to spend the rest of my life with, but I was wrong. Boy, was I wrong! I could never feel for him what I feel for…oh, never mind, apparently it doesn't matter now," she responded.

"So, when can you come visit?"

"Mom, I really was planning to come this weekend, but the station is working on finding my new co-host, and they have several guys lined up for on-air interviews."

"What does that have to do with you coming home for the weekend?"

"Actually, I was planning to drive up for a visit this weekend, but the station set up a Myrtle Beach getaway for the potential co-hosts and me to meet and get to know each other. They're planning to film some promo shoots while we're here to play the day before each guy appears on the show. They are hoping to excite the audience into a frenzy, and get an idea of who they want as a co-host."

"Honey, when you made the comment that you didn't feel for Ryan what you felt for, and then you stopped, who were you referring to?" Mrs. Thatcher asked, but her mother's intuition had already provided her with an answer.

"Mom, it doesn't matter. I thought there was something there and I was wrong. Who knows, maybe love isn't in my cards, and if it isn't, I'll be okay, so please don't worry about me. But I will tell you this, I'm thinking seriously about getting a dog."

"So, are you missing Captain Thornton's dog?"

"I've missed her since I first met her. She's a great dog, and so smart…"

"Maybe Captain Thornton will let you borrow her for a weekend…"

"Oh right, mom. Like he's going to turn his dog over to me… I don't think so," she responded before remembering that Jack had actually offered to let Bella spend some time with her in Charlotte. "I think that ship has sailed, mom. I'm better off getting my own dog. Don't worry about me; I'll be fine. I'll let you know before I get one."

"Well, if you want a dog, then I'm all for it. But as for not worrying…too late, honey. You are my daughter, and I will always worry about you."

There was an awkward silence, quite uncharacteristic for them. Mrs. Thatcher took a breath and forged forward, "I want to ask you something, and I need you to be completely honest with me."

"Mom, you know I'm always honest with you. What do you want to ask?" Elizabeth held her breath awaiting her mother's question.

"What kind of dog do you want to get…?"

Elizabeth pulled the phone away from her head and looked at the earpiece as if she could stare deep inside and see her mother. Putting it back against her ear she asked, "Seriously…that's what you want to know?"

It wasn't, but before she asked if the person Elizabeth had been referring to in their conversation was Jack, she decided that question was better for a different time. "Yes, I just want to know."

"Oh…o-kay. Well, the truth is, I haven't thought that far ahead. Bella is a Labrador, and I do love that breed, so it may be a yellow or chocolate Lab."

"You don't like the black ones?" her mother asked.

"I love the black ones; actually, the black ones are my favorite. I just don't want to get a black one and compare him or her to Bella all the time. Does that sound stupid?" she asked.

"Of course, not. Now that the dog thing is settled, when will you come for a visit?"

"I'll do my best to make it soon, mom…"

Myrtle Beach…

Elizabeth made the three hour, twenty-minute drive down I-485, from Charlotte, through Florence and into Myrtle Beach alone. She wanted to have access to her own vehicle just in case a fast getaway was deemed necessary.

She checked in on Thursday night and following breakfast on Friday morning, her day was spent in private conversations with each potential co-host.

There was Jamal Spencer White, a former professional baseball player making a switch to talk show host, following a career ending injury. At first glance, he was extremely handsome, with an immaculately trimmed beard, an athletic build and eyes that the audience could easily get lost in.

The second candidate was Randy Abernathy, a transplant TV personality from the ABC affiliate in Houston, Texas, looking for a move to the east coast to be closer to his fiancé. He seemed more relaxed in front of the camera, which was understandable given his prior years of experience. He was also quite handsome, and possessed a confidence that Elizabeth greatly appreciated.

The third man vying for a seat beside Elizabeth was Phillip Rosenthal, a young man who basically received anything he wanted by riding on the coattails of his philanthropic parents. Although Elizabeth always had access to the company's jets, she never abused the privilege. However, she was fairly certain that Phillip would not take this job seriously when he flew into Myrtle Beach International Airport on his father's jet, and instead of renting a car to make the seven-minute drive, he was chauffer driven to the hotel.

Number four in line for Ryan's old job was Stephen Chandler, a local lawyer, several years older than Elizabeth, extremely handsome, with impeccable taste in clothes.

During their short initial conversation, Stephen admitted to Elizabeth that he viewed this opportunity as a way to advance his budding political career. It was evident that during their talk, he held a wealth of knowledge in many areas, but he left her wondering how long he'd stick around.

She saw potential in Jamal, and Randy; the jury in her head was still out on Stephen, and she was fairly certain that Phillip could head back to the airport and leave on the jet plane he'd only arrived in a few hours earlier.

Following the initial "Meet and Greet," Elizabeth pulled Andrea aside, "Is this the complete pool to choose from?"

"Why, don't you like any of them?"

"I don't know them well enough to say, but I think some may be more suited to co-hosting than others," Elizabeth responded. "So, are these the only candidates?"

"As of right now, they are," Andrea replied.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Elizabeth asked.

"Just that we're hoping the new co-host will be in this group of men, but if not, our feelers are still out there looking for the right personality," Andrea admitted.

"Remember, you said that I would have a say in who the new co-host is," Elizabeth reminded Andrea.

"I remember what I said…"

"Well, since you remember that, so far I think Jamal and Randy would be the best fit, and actually, Randy has a lot of experience."

"Well, we'll see what happens after we film them," Andrea responded before excusing herself.

Thatcher Industries- Raleigh, NC…

With Captain Cole willing to take on the company flights that were scheduled for the week, Jack took some time off to 'get his head straight, practice his speech to Mr. Thatcher, and hopefully reconnect with Elizabeth. Two out of three isn't bad. He'd done a great deal of thinking, practiced what he wanted to say to his boss, but, in his mind the most important component, setting things right with Elizabeth was proving to be more difficult than he'd anticipated. As time passed, and she refused to either take his calls, or return his texts, Jack was becoming keenly aware that the longer they were apart, the more likely they would remain that way. After hearing what Elizabeth told her father about their time together, he wasn't even sure that she wanted to try to work things out…but he certainly did.

In the hangar, occupying his time going over 'Gator,' the jet Jack was always thankful to pilot, he waited on Captain Cole to land following a trip to the West Coast.

Once on the ground, Jack's attention was drawn to the door, awaiting the appearance of Mr. Thatcher, his boss, and hopefully his opportunity to 'start the ball rolling' and get his life back on track.

Jack observed Mr. Thatcher as he made his way through the hangar to his car after a two-day trip to Seattle where he met with businessmen from across the country. Unfortunately, before Jack dropped his clipboard and made his way into the office, Mr. Thatcher was already in his car, in a hurry to return home, not used to being away overnight, let alone two.

Jack stood outside. It felt like déjà vu as he watched another member of the Thatcher family drive away and his heart sank as he observed the taillights disappear. Again, he made a phone call to Elizabeth…

"Elizabeth, I'm not going to give up. I know you said you didn't want to see me again, but I truly don't believe you meant that. We do need to talk, because everything has been turned upside down, and we need to correct this. Please call me back…"

Again, his call went to voicemail with no notification to Elizabeth that he had called.

Later that afternoon, Jack was sitting in the hangar going over mechanical reports on both jets, and if he were being totally honest, waiting on a call from Elizabeth. His phone rang, causing him to jump. Excitedly grabbing his phone, he had to admit that he was slightly disappointed that it wasn't a call from Elizabeth. Observing his mother's number on the screen, he quickly answered…

"Good morning, mom…um, I mean good afternoon," he stated. Hearing her crying on the other end, he immediately asked, "What's wrong?"

"Ava fell during the night on her way to the bathroom. Jack, she's in the hospital with a broken hip, and surgery is scheduled for later today…"

"Mom, what can I do? Do you want me to call Rachel?" he asked.

"I've already called her, but she won't be able to come home for a few days. I'm scared, Jack. You know what they say about the elderly when they have a fall, many end up dying from pneumonia."

"Mom, you and Aunt Ava are far from elderly," Jack responded.

"I know, honey, but Ava has health issues that may compromise her recovery."

"Let me make a few calls, I'll swing by the house and get a bag and Bella, but I'll drop her off at Lee's. I'll be there this evening."

"Honey, that's okay. I just wanted someone to talk to; you don't need to come here."

"Mom, I'll be there this evening, and I'll plan to stay until Rachel arrives."

"Thank you, Jack…"

"No need to thank me, mom. I wouldn't want to be any place else," Jack responded; however, it was one of the few times in his life that he'd ever lied to her. He knew his place was with his mom and aunt, but he would truthfully rather be in Charlotte with Elizabeth.

Contacting the corporate office, Jack advised that he needed to be away for several days, but possibly as much as a week on a family emergency. He swung by his apartment, grabbed a bag and Bella and headed for Lee and Rosie's place in Charlotte.

To be continued…

NOTE: CHAPTER 10 IS DONE, AND I PLAN TO POST IT ON FRIDAY...