"I love him, Dad. He's my puppy," Ace said, holding the little dachshund close.
"Alright. What's his name?"
"I don't know yet."
"Fair enough. Happy Birthday, Ace."
"Thank you so much, Dad." Ace wiped his eyes and hugged Lucas with his free arm. Ace was overwhelmed. He had never gotten a birthday gift before and to get a puppy? Wow.
Lucas squatted down to eye level. "You alright?"
"I've never had a birthday present and he's perfect."
"You deserve all the happiness, Ace Bouchard. If this little guy brings a smile to your face, that's good for everyone."
"Can Miss Elizabeth come see Beans tonight?"
"Beans?"
"Yeah. It fits him I think."
"Well, lets go take him to her house."
"Okay. Then Amie and Nora can see him too."
Lucas also wanted to support her with her parents' visit so this would allow her to meet Beans and have a shoulder to lean on.
About thirty minutes later, Lucas drove to Elizabeth's cottage, looking back every so often in the mirror at Ace. Beans had curled up in Ace's lap and gone to sleep. Ace was stroking the little pup's ears and feet and back, clearly in love.
Lucas wondered what Ace and Amie were like as babies or at Nora's age. Lucas didn't know much about babies but maybe one day, he and Beth could experience that together.
"Ace, bud, we are here." He had dozed off too. "Did you have bad dreams last night?"
"Yeah."
"You didn't come to sleep in my room."
"I know. I just turned my light on and it helped."
"I'm so proud of you, son. So very proud."
When they arrived at the front door, Lucas could hear Nora knocking on the door and calling for him.
"Daddy! Come in!"
He chuckled at her sweet innocence and opened the door slowly knowing she was likely standing right there.
"She calls him Daddy?" William said as he stepped inside.
"She thinks that's his name," Amie chimed in with a giggle.
"Miss Elizabeth, look at what Dad got me!" Ace said walking in the room.
"Oh my goodness, Ace. He is adorable. What's his name?"
"Beans!"
Elizabeth stood up and walked over to pet him. "That's a good name."
She kissed the top of Ace's head and then gave Lucas a smile. He smiled back, gave her a peck and then walked over to William and Grace.
"I'm Lucas. You must be William and Grace?"
William nodded and thankfully shook Lucas' hand.
"That's a nice vehicle you have there," he mentioned.
Lucas had driven his Cadillac SUV because he had a dog cage and various supplies in the back.
"Thank you, sir."
"What do you do?"
"Dad."
"Listen, Beth. You are still my daughter even though you say you don't need my help. You said you are serious about this man so as your father, I think it's only fair that I get to ask."
"I own a real estate company."
"You must do well to afford…."
"Dad, really?"
"I do well, sir. I make my own way, I provide for my children and we are comfortable."
He was downplaying his financial situation a bit but William Thatcher didn't need specifics. He was being protective of his very independent, capable daughter.
"Beth, maybe you could learn something from your boyfriend here."
"I beg to differ, sir," Lucas said, putting his arm around Beth. "I learn so much from your daughter every single day. She is remarkable and successful and I am blessed to know her."
"Me too!" Amie said, frowning at William.
"Me three!" Ace said loudly, stepping right next to Beth. "She is the best. I want her to be my mom. Amie and me…we don't have a mom but Miss Elizabeth does stuff a mom does and she takes care of Nora real good. And I think she loves Dad."
Elizabeth cried and laughed at the same time. She cried both because of the frustration from her father's lack of support and because of the huge amount of support by the kids and Lucas. She was the blessed one. Truly.
Amie walked over to Beth and hugged her waist. "I love you, Miss Elizabeth. You're awesome!"
"I love you too, Amie Lynn."
"Beth, I think…"
"You don't know me, Dad. You and Mom think you know what I've accomplished and think you know what's best for me but you've forgotten that I am an adult who makes her own decisions. I'd love to have your support but I don't expect I will ever get that."
"What are you saying, Beth?" Grace asked, finally speaking.
"I'm saying, thank you for coming over and meeting your granddaughter but let's just keep our visits to Thanksgiving every year. I believe everyone will be happiest that way."
"You are just as stubborn as your father," Grace told her.
"Maybe so but hearing how I don't measure up to Thatcher standards constantly makes me feel inadequate."
Lucas kissed her temple. "You are not inadequate, babe."
"I know I'm not but when someone tells you something negative about yourself enough, you start to believe it, even if only on the surface."
Nora reached for Beth and popped her thumb in her mouth. It was time for her nap. "Ready for nap, buggy boo?"
"Nap, book, pease. Daddy."
Lucas took her back. "Ames, do you want to hear a story too?"
"Okay."
"I'm proud of you," William said quietly.
"I'm sorry. I don't believe you."
Elizabeth sat down on the couch and Ace did too, Beans on his lap. Ace leaned his head on her shoulder.
"I push. I know I do."
"You always have, Dad. B's weren't good enough. They had to be A's. My first car that I bought with my money was too old. My job couldn't possibly support myself. Guess what, Dad. It does support me. I am successful."
"I just want you to have everything in life. That's the only reason I pushed you and your sisters."
"I need time to think, Dad. Lucas and the kids are here and I want to spend time with them." She looked at Ace and smiled. He had dozed off against her shoulder. Sweet boy.
"So that's it then? We won't see you for a year?"
"For now, yes, that's the plan."
"I see. Very well. Let's go, Grace."
Grace walked over and stood right in front of Elizabeth. "Regardless of what you think, we do love you, Elizabeth."
"That's good to know. Thank you, Mom. I love you too."
"You need to hug," Ace mumbled.
"What, sweetie?"
"When Amie and me are mad, Dad makes us hug."
Elizabeth sighed, knowing that was a wise suggestion. Elizabeth stood and walked over to her mom.
Grace and William Thatcher weren't huggers but they would if initiated by someone else. So she opened her arms and gave her mom a hug. As soon as Grace felt her daughter's arms around her, she shuddered as she started to cry.
"I miss you, darling. I hope we can figure this thing out because I don't want to miss anymore of your life. Or Nora's or whomever you choose to spend time with."
"We'll be in touch," she assured her, not knowing how but knowing it was necessary.
"Beth, do you love him?"
"I do and I can trust him and he treats me like a woman should be treated. He's a great father and I love his kids too."
"Very good."
William stood next to Grace, stiff and tall and stubborn. Elizabeth took a moment and then wrapped her arms around him, knowing that Ace was watching.
"I'm sorry, Beth, that you have felt like this for so long," he said, briefly touching her back. "I'm sorry that I caused you unhappiness."
"Thank you, Dad. See you soon."
After they left, Elizabeth sat down on the couch and cried. Ace put Beans down and hugged Elizabeth. "Good job, Miss Elizabeth."
She hugged him back and then kissed his cheek. "Thank you, Ace."
"Uh oh," he said.
"What?"
"I smell something…"
Elizabeth started laughing and pointed at tiny beans and the present he left on the floor.
"Oh no! I'm sorry, Miss Elizabeth."
"Its okay. He's not trained yet. Come on, I'll show you where my cleaning supplies are."
"Okay." Ace wiped his eyes and looked away.
"Ace, honey? Why are you upset?"
"Please don't leave me. I didn't mean for him to poop. Maybe I'm not old enough to have a puppy."
Elizabeth knelt down and looked him in the eyes. "I need you to hear me, Ace."
He looked up and nodded.
"I will never leave you. At the very least, I will always be your friend but I hope for more one day soon. You're not in trouble for your puppy's accident and I think eight is the best age for a puppy."
"Really? You're not mad?"
"Not one little bit."
"Good," he sniffled. "Because I need you and I need Beans."
She hugged him and they cleaned up together and then took the puppy outside too. Then Beth turned a movie on for Ace and went to find Lucas. Nothing could have prepared her for the huge amount of love she experienced finding him laying on her bed, snuggled up with Nora and Amie, asleep.
She took a picture, wanting to always remember how perfect the scene looked. In addition, she knew that their life would potentially be filled with moments like this.
To be a family with Luke and their kids was what she wanted and needed for herself, even if her parents and she never fully reconciled.
….
Lucas woke up a bit later, leaving the girls asleep on Beth's bed. He could hear Ace giggling, which was rare but he wasn't surprised that Beth was the one making it happen. Ace constantly talked about Beth and how much he needed a mom, which meant Amie did too.
He loved the idea but was fully ready to get married again? He trusted Beth completely. They got along well, they both loved all three of their kids and were settled in their careers.
"What's so funny in here?"
"Hi, Dad! Miss Beth and me are making pancakes."
"You are? That sounds fun." He stepped over, pressed a kiss to Ace's hair and then one more to Beth's lips. "Your parents…?"
"They left."
"You alright?"
"I made Miss Elizabeth and her mom and dad hug."
Lucas raised his eyebrows at his son. "Made them?"
"He told us that when Amie and he get mad, you make them hug."
"I do."
"So, I hugged my parents for the first time in years."
Lucas saw the tears in her eyes so he hugged her, rubbing circles on her back.
"Thank you, Lucas."
"For…"
"Your support, for loving me. For so many things. And you, Ace Bouchard, thank you for being you. You are wonderful and sweet and so smart. I love you both."
As the next week went on, Beth finalized Ace's party, confirming Sam would be there to sleepover but also Vi's youngest 3 boys. In addition, Uncle Lee and Rosemary were coming and Vi and Charles too.
They would make pizza and homemade ice cream in the newly purchased Ice cream maker Lucas had bought. They would watch movies and play games and when it got dark, they would surprise the boys with s'mores by the firepit, also a new purchase, and sparklers.
On the afternoon of the party, Lucas was out assembling the fire pit with Lee and Charles.
Ace and his guests were running around in the freshly fallen snow. It was December after all.
The doorbell rang so Rosie took over making burger patties so Elizabeth could wash her hands and get the door.
"Welcome," she said with a smile, letting Martin and Helen inside. She and Lucas decided to invite them early. Yes, they would be there the next week anyway so that Lucas and Elizabeth could go to Vermont and would be staying through Christmas but what was a few more days?
"Hi there, Elizabeth," Martin said. "It's good to see you again."
"You too, Martin. Helen, its good to see you as well."
"Nana!" Amie yelled, running in with Nora right behind her.
"Nana!" Nora yelled too, of course copying Amie.
Both girls tackled Helen and they all laughed. Helen would forever be "Nana" to Nora, regardless of how many times they tried to correct her.
"Ace is gonna be so excited, Nana!"
Amie hugged her Grandpa and then ran off.
"Mom, Dad," Lucas said, walking over and hugging them. "So glad to see you."
"I'm going to go cut up the veggies and meat for the pizza," Elizabeth told them.
Lucas made sure his parents were settled in the guest room and then walked out to see Beth who was now alone in the kitchen.
"Need any help?"
"Sure. If you want to knead the pizza dough, then cut it into four equal pieces."
"You got it."
She chopped peppers and onions and then moved on to ham and pepperoni.
"Thank you for doing this, Beth. Once again you hit the kid's birthday out of the park."
"It's fun and he means alot to me. Well, you all do."
"Wanna help me?" Lucas asked.
"You need help kneading?"
She stepped between him and the counter. He kissed her cheek and nuzzled her ear, making her shiver. "Mm."
He put his hands on top of hers and using both sets of hands, they kneaded slowly.
"Six days," he mumbled, his lips on her neck. Goosebumps sprung up all over her body, making her shiver again.
"Yeah." Honestly, she wished they were there now. This man drove her nuts. "I can't wait."
"Me either." She turned her head just as he leaned down, covering her mouth with his, the kiss deepening and escalating quickly.
She slipped her fingers out from under his and turned in his arms, their lips still joined in a dizzying dance.
"Um, son?" Martin said, amusement in his voice.
Elizabeth buried her face in Lucas' shirt, trying not to laugh but failing. Yeah, next weekend couldn't come fast enough.
Lucas just held her a moment. "Yes, Dad."
"Sorry, um…the kids are hungry. They want s'mores."
"We haven't had dinner yet. Um, I will get the burgers on."
"I'll do it." Martin grabbed the platter of meat and walked out the door.
Lucas cupped her face, neither of them thinking of the dough on his fingers and hands. "I love you, Beth. I cannot imagine my life without you." He kissed her again and decided to go outside.
"I love you too." She pulled him back. "Can we talk later?"
"Absolutely."
"Okay."
Lucas left the house and Rosemary, Helen, and Vi walked in.
"Whoa? What happened to you?" Rosie asked with a laugh.
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked innocently, though her cheeks were deep red.
Vi walked around the island, brushing her cheek. "Um, I think maybe my dear sister here and Lucas were making pizza and got a little carried away."
Elizabeth turned around and grabbed a few things from the counter. "No one got carried away."
Rosie burst out laughing. "Um, I think you should maybe take that back. You have flour um…on your backside…that suspiciously looks like handprints."
Elizabeth gasped, snuck a look at Helen and ran upstairs.
Vi followed Elizabeth upstairs and joined her in the bathroom.
"I can't believe this," she muttered, trying to wipe off the flour on her butt.
"I can. You are in love, Beth. He's a good man. You're going on a romantic trip to Vermont and that's a serious step."
"I know. I just wish his mom hadn't been standing in the kitchen or that his dad hadn't walked in on us. I'm so embarrassed."
"Everything will be fine. Now, pull yourself together. That sweet eight year old boy is bragging about how you are the best cuddler and he wants you to be his mom one day."
"I'd love that. He's so special."
"Let's go downstairs and we can make sure that he never doubts that."
Elizabeth nodded, checked out the flour situation one more time and followed Vi down the stairs. Yes, this day was about Ace.