Made For Each Other

Chapter 2

The next morning, Elizabeth was still asleep when Jack came running in for his morning snuggle time with Mama. She tried to open her eyes, but they were far too heavy, so simply cuddled Jack close as she fell back to sleep. After a time, little Jack wiggled his way out from under her arm and went off to amuse himself with toys and books.

Elizabeth dreamed Jack was rowing her in a boat on the pond in the early morning mist. Then as she saw a spider and was throwing herself into Jack's arms her dream was abruptly interrupted by a crashing sound and scream from little Jack that propelled her out of bed to see what was happening!

As she rushed down the stairs calling "Jack are you ok?" she came upon the scene of Jack standing on a chair looking down at a broken jar and muffins scattered on the floor.

"Sorry Mama" came Jack's little voice. " I am not hurt."

"It's ok Jack, Mama fell back to sleep, and you were probably hungry! But please don't get down from the chair until I pick up the broken jar, ok sweetie, Mama doesn't want you to get cut."

Once she had swept up the broken jar and muffins off the floor she set Jack at the table and gave him an apple to keep him occupied while she started coffee and made some scrambled eggs. A knock on the door reminded her that she wasn't dressed and hadn't even grabbed her robe. She called just a minute and ran up the stairs, then came back down with her robe on and opened the door.

Lucas looked surprised. "I thought we were going for a ride this morning? But when I waited on you at the stables for a half hour and you didn't come I decided to check on you."

"I am sorry Lucas, I didn't sleep well…then I overslept…Jack broke the jar I had muffins in…and I just got him sat at the table and fixed him some scrambled eggs." Elisabeth explained in a tumble of words.

"I am sorry Elisabeth, I can see your morning didn't go as planned," said Lucas. Elisabeth could sense he wasn't happy. "Now we wouldn't have time to go as I do have to get to the Queen of Hearts as it's Saturday and the hotel is full. Plus, I am still training and going over everything with Mick and Gustave so they can run everything while we are away on our honeymoon. So, I guess I will not see you until our dinner tonight."

Elisabeth found herself feeling guilty for putting Lucas out. though she knew she really couldn't have helped it. So she simply said "I'm sorry, but I will be ready when you come to pick me up", trying to be positive. Then she leaned in to give him a kiss, although it wasn't long or passionate.

Shutting the door she took a deep breath before telling Jack. "Finish your eggs while Mama goes and gets dressed."

"Aren't you going to eat with me mama?" asked Jack and she found she couldn't say no to that sweet face. So, despite not feeling very hungry she dished up some eggs and poured herself a cup of coffee.

Before she was able to finish her coffee and head upstairs to get dressed, she heard yet another knock on the door. "Who is it?" she called out.

"It's Rosemary," came the reply.

When Elizabeth opened the door Rosemary was taken back at seeing her still in her robe and said "Oh, my you aren't sick are you? With the wedding only a week away we still have a lot to do and you being sick could certainly be inconvenient, not to mention totally miserable for you!"

"No Rosemary, I'm not sick, I just had a hard time getting to sleep last night. Then I overslept, Jack tried to get the muffins for himself as I wasn't up to make him his breakfast, then the jar broke and I ran downstairs with a start. I just got the mess cleaned up and fixed Jack breakfast when Lucas arrived to see why I hadn't come to the stables to go for a horseback ride with him. Then Jack wanted me to eat with him."

When Elizabeth finally stopped for a breath Rosemary said. "Oh dear, you have had quite the morning haven't you." Looking around at both Jack and Elizabeth still in their nightclothes and the dishes on the table she then added "Well I suppose your wedding dress fitting can wait for another day.

"I am sorry Rosemary, I totally forgot we had plans to do the dress fitting while Goldy had her morning nap."

"It's okay Elizabeth this will work out just as well. After all, we need to do a quick fitting with Abigail and Julie when they get here, so if we don't get to yours before that we can do it all together. It was mostly just to make sure the adjustments I made after the last fitting turned out right, but I have made enough alterations on your dresses before that I am sure it should be perfect."

"But" Rosemary continued, "we do still have the hair appointment this afternoon to decide how you want your hair done at the wedding and….", Rosemary paused for added dramatics, "don't forget facials with Fiona and Mei Sou.

"I will be ready", answered Elizabeth, smiling at how excited planning things always made Rosemary.

"Oh, and Lee said he is fine taking Jack to get ice cream and for a walk around town with him, so you don't have to get a sitter!" Rosemary added as she headed out the door.

When Elizabeth looked at the clock, she was surprised to see that it was already 10 o' clock so she hurried up the stairs to get dressed lest someone else should decide to pay her a visit and find her still in her robe.

The rest of the day went more to plan than the first part had. And Elizabeth spent time grading papers and working up the final examinations the students would need to complete for the end of the school year. It was hard to believe there were only three days left. And really, just two as Wednesday was more of an end of school celebration than a true school day.

At 4 o'clock Elizabeth and Jack walked into town with Rosemary and baby Goldy in the carriage to meet Lee who would take Jack for ice cream. Lee told Rosemary to leave the baby with them too as he could push her and take Jack for a walk at the same time. Rosemary wasn't sure but he promised her that he would come find her if the baby needed anything and that it was his gift to her so that she could truly rest and enjoy her time of relaxation. "Go, go" he said, shooing her towards Nickels and Dimes.

Fiona showed them hairstyle options and of course thought that Elizabeth should try one of the new modern shorter hair styles. Elizabeth wasn't sure if she was ready for that just yet, but she did find a couple of choices she thought she would like. Both Rosemary and Elizabeth truly enjoyed the chance to relax as the ladies applied the clay masks to their face, with Elizabeth thinking that the cucumbers over her eyes felt especially refreshing after the lack of sleep the night before.

They got a message from Lee saying he was walking the kids towards the row houses, so Rosemary and Elizabath headed home together.

Rosemary had offered to feed Jack at her house so that Elizabeth could go to dinner with Lucas. The dinner went well but by the time she got home and put Jack to bed and then got into bed herself she was exhausted and went straight to sleep, thankfully with no repeat of the night before.

A note to the readers.

Despite Elizabethe's unexpected and unsettlingly thought the night before. Motherhood, life and schedules can often work wonders at keeping us from taking the time to really stop and deal with difficult things, especially when it comes to something that we have already made a commitment to.

I will also note that the idea behind this Story is based on my own personal journey in a similar situation. So have no fear the idea of "Made For Each Other" will definitely come back up in both large and small ways as we see what this final week before the wedding has in store for Elizabeth.

Thank you so much for reading and I always enjoy you feedback.