Some of the places are not correct for the time. I couldn't find the name of a fancy restaurant in 1913. I know they didn't have mini cones back then but thought it fit. So please just go with it. After all it is fictional! Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 31
The Perfect Evening, Until It Wasn't
Jack and Elizabeth walked down the stairs and met everyone in the sitting room. She kissed her mother and father but asked, how did you wear him out? Father chuckles and looks at his wife. Her mother replies, Beth you all should have seen it? You're father played on the slide with him for awhile, then Jarrick wanted on the swing so you're father swung with him on the swing for a bit. Then Jarrick started running as fast as his little legs could run and yelled, Nonno, get me! We laughed so hard! You're father took out after him until Jarrick said, no me get ou! It was so precious!
We were in the park for awhile then we took him for ice cream! That boy! Mother, I didn't see anything on his clothes. No they gave him a mini cone and I kept wiping his little face. He kept saying, tank ou Nonny every time! Jack, Beth you are raising an amazing son! He's so polite! Thank you mother, they both replied! They say goodbye and headed for their evening out.
Tom and Jack open the car door for them and climbed in after. There was plenty of banter between them on the way to the restaurant. The car pulls up in front of the restaurant and the driver opens their doors. Jack and Tom step out and extend their hands to their lady. Jack walked Elizabeth to the door with his hand on her low back, Tom did the same with Julie. Before they got to the door, it opened and a gentleman stepped out and said, welcome to the Wilmington! They ushered the ladies in and was ask, reservation name, please? Thornton, Jack replied. Yes, Mrs. Thatcher called and made the reservations. Please follow me! They followed the hostess to a table back by the window over looking Lake Ontario.
Julie and Elizabeth had been here before but it was a first for Tom and Jack. They stood at the large window admiring the view. The ladies both put their arm around their man and stood admiring with them. Elizabeth cleared her throat, Jack says, yes, let's take our seats. They both pulled out their lady's chairs and pushed them forward. They take their seat next to them.
Tom, you worked here, did you know about this place? I've only drove past it but I've never been inside. He laughs quietly and says, it's to rich for my blood brother! Their waiter came to take their drink order. Jack and Tom agreed on a bottle of red wine. The waiter walked away.
Jack and Tom looked at their menu. Jack asked, do you want an appetizer before our meal, Bella? Julie and Elizabeth nod at each other, Elizabeth leans over and quietly says, hon, it's appropriate for the men to do the ordering in here. Jack just looks at her and she nods. He whispered, is there anything on here you don't like? She just shakes her head no. Julie was having the same conversation with Tom. The guys order the appetizers and their meal with dessert. After the appetizers.
Jack stood and asked her if she would like to dance. She nods and takes his hand. Tom and Jack lead them out to the dance floor. They danced to a few songs and went back to their table. Elizabeth and Julie excused themselves to the ladies room. The ladies returned and the guys stood and held their chairs.
During dinner Jack got the feeling that they were being watched but soon decided that there was no way it would happen in a place like this. He laid it to him and Tom were out of their element. They enjoyed they're meal and danced again. After a few more songs the ladies were lead back to their table.
During dessert Jack couldn't shake this feeling. There was a small commotion at the bar that he had caught but said nothing. There was a man sitting at the bar staring in their direction. He finished his drink and slammed the glass back down onto the bar and walked out. Jack saw it and saw who it was. He just picked up Elizabeth's hand kissed it just before the glass slammed. Jack wanted the man to know that she was with him and loved.
At the cloak room the guys retrieved his ladies wrap. They walked out because Priscilla had the bill sent to William. Before getting into the car Elizabeth takes Jack's elbow and asks, can we take a walk through the park before we go home? Jack looks at her and says, for you Bella, I would love too! Tom and Julie followed them into the park.
The ladies asked, do you have any change? Tom and Jack pull some loose change from their pockets. They opened their hands to them to take what they wanted. Elizabeth and Julie both turn their backs to the fountain and tossed their coins over their shoulders and made a wish. They opened their eyes and asked, did our coins go in the water? Tom and Jack both chuckled and said, yes they did!
The ladies take their man's elbow and start walking again. Tom asks, ok, are you both going to tell us what you wished for? Julie replied, not on your life Tom Thornton. If we tell you then it won't come true! Ok,ok, he said.
As they got closer to the end of the park there was a big boom. Both guys jump and ask, what in the….fireworks explode in the sky. They all stand watching one after another exploding in the sky. After about thirty minutes it was over and they walked back to the car. The driver had opened their car doors before they got to it. Elizabeth leans over kisses Jack and says, I've had the best time tonight hon.
Tom kisses Julie and whispers in her ear, I had a really good time with you tonight but I hope you aren't disappointed that I can't do this for you? She just squeezes his hand giving him his answer. She says, I love you Tom, not for what you can or can't give me. Elizabeth looks at her sister and chuckles, ok, what did you do with my sister! Julie sits up straight and replies, she has been gone for a very long time Bethie!
At the house the guys step out of the car and help their lady out of the car. The driver drives around to the garage. As they were stepping up the steps to the front door Jack sees something out of the corner of his eye but says nothing.
They go inside and to the library where mother and father are reading and having a cup of tea. Elizabeth asked, how was our little man after we left? He was fine dear. He woke up saying, pody, pody! I was just across the hall so I went in and took him. He was a little sweaty so I changed his clothes and we had dinner. He sure has a good appetite! He does mother, it's just like Jack's. Jack chuckles and says, he's a growing boy mama! That he is daddy!
Elizabeth and Julie sat down on the sofa. Jack leans over the back of the sofa and kisses her, he says, I'm going to get out of these clothes, I'll be right back. She says I'll come with you hon. No, you stay and tell Mother about our evening. She gave him a look but sat still. He looks at Tom and motions for him to follow. Elizabeth and Julie had already started telling about their evening.
William caught the motion and followed the guys out. Jack and Tom were at the top of the stairs when he caught up with them. He asked, what's going on? Jack tells them what he saw and makes the plan. Father, go to your study and call Headquarters and ask for backup. Tell them that Sargent Jack Thornton is on the scene.
Tom let's get changed and meet me back here. Tom nods and goes to change. William and Tom came back and met Jack. Father, I need you to keep the ladies in the library and please don't let Elizabeth go outside, Jack asked.
Tom, you and I will go out the back door. You will go around to the right end and I'll go around to the left end. The shadow is in the left corner in the bushes. Jack, do we need a gun, Tom asked? No we can do this without them. We are just going to hold him until the Mounties get here. Ok let's do this.
William went back to the library with his wife and daughters after he made the call to headquarters. Jack and Tom went in the direction according to the plan. Tom snuck around the front corner of the house and saw the shadow move in the bushes. He decided to follow the front wall and cross over the driveway in the dark so he wouldn't be seen. He saw Jack come around the corner towards the shadow. They both got to the shadow at the same time and grabbed him.
In the library Elizabeth asks, where did you go father? Oh Jack and Tom just wanted to thank us for tonight. She starred at him for a moment and asked, father what is going on? I know something is because I can see it in your eyes. Father hung his head and blew out his breath. He told her what was going on outside but didn't tell her about the restaurant. She stood but he took her hand gently and said, Jack said not to let you go outside Beth. I'm not father but I am going to look out the front window.
As Jack wrestles the man to the ground the man shouts, you stupid Mountie, you will eventually die and leave her a widow and that son of yours fatherless! She should've married me! You're going to break her heart!
The Mounties showed up and William came outside. He was shocked to see it was Charles. Charles, what the hell have you done? Mr. Thatcher, sir, you promised that Elizabeth would marry me! You promised! Charles, I'm so sorry but I've learned that I can't promise something that isn't mine to promise. Constable Greenwood asked, sir do you want to press charges? No I don't. Jack went to say something but was stopped when William raised his hand to stop him. No I don't but I do want you to keep him over night so he can sober up. I'll be down in the morning to file for a restraining order, I want it for five hundred feet instead of one hundred feet. Yes sir, I'll have it ready for you to sign in the morning. Jack says, I want one for the same for my wife Elizabeth Thornton as well. Yes sir it will be ready as well. Greenwood solutes Jack and he returns it. They go back into the house.
Jack explained everything that had happened up to this point even what happened at the restaurant. Elizabeth wrapped her arms around Jack and held him tight. He wrapped his arms around her and said, it's ok Bella. I will protect you and our family, that includes mother, father, Ma, Tom, Julie and our son at all cost! She looks at him and says, I know you will Hon! All I ask is that you be careful and always try your best to come back to me! I will Bella, always!
Julie side hugs Tom and asked, what made you put yourself in danger Tom Thornton? I wasn't in any danger Jules, I promise. Jack took him down. I was just there as backup. Julie hugs him tight and he returns it.
Priscilla speaks up and demands, William you will fire that man on Monday! Cilla, I think it would be best if I keep him close. That way I'll know where he is pretty much all the time. I won't send him anywhere close to where they are. Sir your restraining order will not allow him to work with you anymore, Jack said. Son, I'm on the top floor and he's on the third floor. I have a private elevator and parking. Ok sir but just don't go around him. You need to tell your security that he doesn't come to your floor.
Tom and Julie left on Sunday after church and lunch, they lived in Toronto. Tom worked at the quarry and Julie worked at a dress shop. She had an apartment above the dress shop and Tom had a room at BnB down the road from the quarry. Their lives were going really well.
She designed and was making her wedding dress. She wasn't a princess but had always wanted a fairytale wedding. Father was paying for it but Tom said that he was paying for the honeymoon and it wasn't going to be extravagant or expensive. She agreed.
They had started pooling their money just after they got engaged. They kept enough to get by with. Her dresses only cost what the fabric cost but father was paying for it. She made Tom's shirts and some work pants along with dress pants for church. They always ate breakfast and dinner together. The lady who owned the BnB was teaching her to cook. She was catching on pretty fast. She still had some trouble keeping an eye on it sometimes but Tom had bought her a timer so if she got sidetracked it would remind her.
She had made four negligees, a red one, a green one, a cream one and a pink one with matching robes. They were all boxed and put away. She had made all new undergarments and had purchased a new white corset to wear under her wedding dress.
Her mother had bought her new white dress shoes for her wedding. She had made Tom four new shirts and two new pairs of pants. She had purchased Tom's wedding gift, it was tucked down in her traveling trunk so she didn't forget it.
Back in Hamilton Elizabeth and Jack were out shopping. Jack what should we get Tom and Julie for a wedding gift, she asked? I don't know, I've been trying to think of what they might need. I've asked Tom if they were all set, he said he thought they were. He's going to move into her apartment because it has a kitchen, living room, dining room, bathroom and one bedroom.
Hon, why don't we have a quilt made for them? Well I guess you can never have too many, you know Ma has the quilt she made from Pa's clothes. Yeah, but that is basically for Tom. Or we could get them a comforter and some sheets, she said.
Bella, do you think that our quilt from Ma is more for me? I do hon because I never met him. He was your Pa not mine. I don't even know what he looked like. Ma doesn't even have a picture out of him. When I ask, she just says to look at you and I'll see him but it's not the same. The quilt will be passed down to Jarrick. It doesn't mean that I don't appreciate it because I love it.
Jarrick was running through the house yelling, Nonny….Nonny….Nonny, w'ere ou at? In here Sweetie! She picked him up and set him on her lap and said, you are just like your mama! She used to yell for me just like you! She kisses the top of his head and said, Nonny is going to miss you so much! Nonny…I no go…I here as he points to his self. She chuckles and kisses him again!