Chapter 3: Waiting and Wanting

The next evening, Elizabeth, Julie, Mrs. Thatcher, Aunt Agatha, and Charles were in the drawing room having cocktails before dinner. Julie turned to Aunt Agatha and asked, "Is everything set for the funeral tomorrow?" Aunt Agatha nodded. "Yes. I told the Pastor to expect a full house – all of Hamilton society will be coming."

Mrs. Thatcher said quietly, "I wish Viola and Lionel could be there." Aunt Agatha replied, "We discussed this, Grace. Viola and Lionel just got back from their Grand Tour of Europe, and Lionel has too many responsibilities with his estate in England right now. They promised to come for a visit this summer." Mrs. Thatcher nodded sadly.

Julie turned to Elizabeth and asked, "Have you heard from Jack? Do you have any idea where he is?" Elizabeth shook her head and replied, "His latest telegram just said he was still trying to make his way to Hamilton. I'm sure he's doing everything he can to get here."

Mrs. Thatcher consoled Elizabeth, "I'm sure he is too. I'll be so pleased to see Jack again. The last time we spoke was last summer." Mrs. Thatcher paused. "That was a happy time – celebrating two weddings." Mrs. Thatcher brought her handkerchief to her eyes to dry her tears.

Elizabeth and Julie both reached over to comfort their mother. Elizabeth assured her, "I know it doesn't seem like it now, but there will be happy times for us again one day. I'm certain of it." Mrs. Thatcher nodded her head, but seemed unconvinced.

The butler came into the room and announced that dinner was ready to be served. As everyone stood up, Charles said, "Mrs. Thatcher, I'm not able to stay for dinner tonight, but I will see you at the funeral tomorrow." Mrs. Thatcher nodded at Charles and replied, "I understand. Elizabeth, please see Charles to the door – we'll wait for you in the dining room."

Elizabeth walked with Charles to the front foyer. "Thank you, Charles, for being here the last few days – it's been really helpful for my mother," Elizabeth said warmly. Charles raised his eyebrows, "And for you too?" Elizabeth smiled and admitted, "Yes, me too." Charles looked at Elizabeth meaningfully and was about to say something else when, suddenly, Elizabeth frowned and started looking around on the floor.

"What is it?" Charles asked. Elizabeth pulled her skirt up a bit and kept looking on the floor. Elizabeth said anxiously, "I can't seem to find the gold bracelet I was wearing tonight. My father gave it to me as a gift for my debutante ball. Maybe it fell off in the drawing room." Elizabeth rushed back to the drawing room, Charles following her. The two of them walked back and forth, searching the floor.

"Maybe it fell under the furniture," Charles proposed, getting down on his knees and looking under the sofa. Then Charles felt behind one of the sofa cushions and cried out, "Voila – here it is!" Charles held up the thin strand of gold victoriously. Elizabeth, relieved, reached out for it. Charles suggested, "Why don't you sit on the sofa and I'll put it on you." Elizabeth sat down and held out her arm.

Charles sat next to Elizabeth and gently clasped the bracelet around her wrist. Charles fingers rested on Elizabeth's wrist a few moments, as he ostensibly admired her bracelet. "It's very beautiful . . . just like you are, Elizabeth," Charles intoned, looking into Elizabeth's eyes meaningfully. Elizabeth stared back at Charles in shock, and started to pull her hand out of his grasp. "Charles, please . . . ," Elizabeth stuttered.

Before either of them could say another word, the butler appeared at the entrance of the room and announced formally, "Mr. Jack Thornton." The butler moved aside and revealed Jack, taking off his coat and gloves, breathing hard from coming in from the cold. "Jack!" Elizabeth jumped up and ran over to him, "You made it!" Elizabeth cried out, almost knocking Jack down as she fell into his arms.

Jack embraced Elizabeth warmly, as she buried her head in his chest. Over Elizabeth's shoulder, however, Jack stared at Charles and said curtly, "Hello, Charles." Jack had seen Charles lingering – inappropriately, in his view – over Elizabeth's wrist, and was none too pleased. Charles rose from the sofa and hastened his retreat. "Jack, I'm glad you could make it - I was just leaving. I'm sure I'll see you tomorrow at the funeral."

Charles strode out of the room by the side door, giving the couple a wide berth. As he retrieved his coat and hat from the butler, Charles glanced back to see if Elizabeth was looking at him, but instead saw the couple engaging in a deep, passionate kiss. Charles caught his breath and looked away, chiding himself, once again, for continuing to pine for Elizabeth. Charles left the house as quickly as he could.

After their welcome back kiss, Elizabeth excitedly pulled Jack into the dining room, to the delight of the female family members waiting there. Jack went around the table hugging everyone, and spent extra time with Mrs. Thatcher to offer his condolences. The conversation at dinner was a welcome distraction as Jack related his latest adventures patrolling the Northwest Territories.

During dinner, Jack turned to Julie and asked, "How are your nursing classes going?" Julie replied happily, "Very well. I'll be graduating this summer, and hopefully starting a job somewhere as a real nurse, not just a volunteer." Jack nodded and commented, "Your nursing skills will always come in handy – half the work I do involves fixing people's injuries."

Aunt Agatha cut in, "Julie is dating a doctor now." Jack looked at Julie with raised eyebrows. Julie shrugged her shoulders and replied, "Yes, his name is Jonathon. He'll be at the funeral tomorrow. He's very nice and very good at what he does." Elizabeth teased, "Is he courting you?" Julie rolled her eyes and said, "No, no . . . we've just been out to dinner a few times." Elizabeth was enjoying teasing her sister about her love life, rather than the other way around!

Julie hesitated and then asked, "And how is Tom doing? Have you heard from him?" Jack answered, "The last I heard he was still working at the quarry at Fort McNeil and doing well there. I think he may have even gotten a promotion." Mrs. Thatcher offered, "Maybe after the funeral you could try to visit Tom. It's important, Jack, to stay in touch with family." Jack nodded in agreement; Jack appreciated that Mrs. Thatcher was willing to speak about Tom at all, considering that Tom had tried to run away with Julie the previous year!

During dinner, Jack noticed that Elizabeth was barely eating anything, and appeared thinner than usual, and pale. Jack knew it had been a rough year for Elizabeth, between the miscarriage, Jack being away, and now her father dying. Jack had always considered Elizabeth to be a strong person, but reasoned that recent circumstances might be making Elizabeth frailer than usual. Jack resolved to be as solicitous of Elizabeth as he could.

During the dessert course, Mrs. Thatcher turned to Elizabeth and suggested, "Elizabeth, dear, if you and Jack want to skip after-dinner drinks tonight, that's fine. You look tired, dear, and I'm sure Jack is tired too from his trip." Elizabeth asked, "Are you sure? Don't you want us to spend more time with you tonight?" Mrs. Thatcher assured her, "I'm probably going to head up early tonight anyway. I know it's going to be a trying day tomorrow . . . ."

Elizabeth rose from her seat and went over to hug her mother. Elizabeth whispered, "I love you so much." Mrs. Thatcher patted Elizabeth's arm and replied, "I love you too."

Later that evening, as Elizabeth and Jack were getting ready for bed, Jack heard Elizabeth sigh as she was brushing her hair, seated before her vanity. Jack walked over to Elizabeth and put his hands on her shoulders. "What are you thinking about – do you want to talk about it?" Jack asked.

Elizabeth put her hairbrush down, looked up at Jack, and started unburdening herself. "Oh, Jack, I feel so guilty about not having seen my father in months, and now . . . he's gone, and I'll never see him again." Elizabeth started weeping. Jack knelt down before Elizabeth and gathered her in his arms. "Elizabeth, it's natural to feel that way. No matter what we do, we're always going to feel that we didn't do enough for the people we love. But your father was proud of you, and all that you have achieved teaching in Hope Valley."

Elizabeth looked up at Jack and added emphatically, "And marrying you – I know he was proud of that too. He told me at Viola's wedding he knew you were a good man - a man of honor and integrity. He said he could tell we were very much in love, and he told me how happy he was for me . . . and for us."

Tears came to Jack's eyes hearing Elizabeth's words, and he admitted, "I appreciate hearing that, Elizabeth. I wish I had gotten to know your father better. I know how much you admired him."

Elizabeth stood up and let Jack embrace her in a big bear hug. Elizabeth enjoyed the feeling of being enveloped in Jack's arms, and the heat of his body against hers – she had been missing that since his departure for Fort Smith six weeks ago. Elizabeth looked up at Jack and pleaded, "Will you make love to me tonight?" Jack caressed Elizabeth's face, and answered, "Of course, I would love too. I just didn't know if you were up for it."

Elizabeth started to rub Jack's back. "I need you, Jack. I need to be with you . . . in that way. I want to feel alive again – I feel like I've been numb for weeks." Upon hearing those words, Jack immediately leaned down and kissed Elizabeth with his own pent-up desire and passion, which had now been unleashed.

The couple made love as if they were trying to make up for six weeks of lost time. Afterwards, they both fell asleep, sated for the time being.

In the middle of the night, Elizabeth tugged at Jack to wake him up. "Jack, I have something to tell you." Jack grunted, "Umm," in a sleepy daze. Elizabeth announced quietly, "I think I'm pregnant." Jack was silent for a moment as he took in those words. "You can tell that . . . already?" Jack asked hesitatingly. "No, silly," Elizabeth laughed. "Not from tonight - I think I'm six weeks pregnant, from before you left for Fort Smith." Jack, more awake now, acknowledged, "Oh . . . okay, that makes more sense. "

Elizabeth giggled, and then laughed, and then started to laugh hysterically. Jack at first tried to shush Elizabeth, but then fell victim to Elizabeth's contagious laughter, and began to laugh himself. The two of them put their pillows over their faces to try to muffle the noise, but that only made them laugh even harder.

Elizabeth finally calmed down and said, "Wow. That was the first time I've laughed in days." Jack sat up and caressed Elizabeth's arms and kissed her hands. "This is such great news," Jack said, overcome with emotion. Elizabeth frowned and warned, "But let's not tell anyone this time. I mean, with the shock of my father's death, I might lose this baby too."

Jack shook his head and countered, "No, no . . . don't say that. The baby will be fine, I don't want you to worry." Elizabeth pressed her lips together and repeated, "Well, I still don't want to say anything to anyone for another six weeks at least. I want to be sure this time." Jack asked, "Is that why you weren't eating at dinner?" Elizabeth nodded and replied, "I haven't had much of an appetite for weeks, that's how I guessed that maybe I was pregnant again. And other things."

Elizabeth started to giggle again, and teased Jack, "Did you really think I could tell I was pregnant just a few hours after we made love?" Jack chuckled and said, "I didn't know what to think – I thought maybe it was your female intuition." Elizabeth continued teasing Jack. "You don't know much about making babies, do you – what happened, did you miss class that day?"

Jack grabbed Elizabeth playfully and pinned her to the bed. "Well, I suppose I need to take makeup lessons from you then, teacher." Elizabeth laughed and admonished, "As long as you don't think that each time we make love, we make another baby – you know it doesn't work like that, right?" Jack answered jokingly, "Yes, I know that, but I wouldn't mind if it did. I'd be happy to make lots of little Thorntons with you." Elizabeth's eyes went wide and she was speechless at the thought. Jack took that opportunity to kiss his wife's sweet but sassy mouth, pleased that their teasing was now turning to a subject he liked even more - lovemaking.