Present Day

For the first time in his life, Jack Thornton wasn't ready. Marrying Elizabeth Thatcher twenty-seven years prior didn't compare to what he was about to do. Jack sighed as he looked down at the photos and memorabilia on the kitchen counter. He picked one of the pictures up and to his surprise tears formed in his eyes. Abigail Grace born December 3, 1993. She was so small, Jack thought. She wasn't supposed to grow up. But she did. And today was the day she had always dreamed about and the day Jack always dreaded. The day he would give her away.

Jack picked up Abby's faded baby book and leafed through it. A picture fell out, no doubt because glue had dried up. It was a picture of Abby and her namesake, Abigail Stanton Hogan. The original Abigail became a second mom to Elizabeth while Jack and Elizabeth were newlyweds in Colorado Springs. When the Thornton's moved to Colorado, they decided to move to a smaller town outside the bustle of the Air Force base Jack was stationed. The first place they stopped was Abigail's cafe where she warmly greeted them with her famous spaghetti and meatball dinner. They learned that she had been recently widowed and had also lost her son. Despite her terrible losses, Jack and Elizabeth witnessed her great faith and strength through even the most troubled of times. A couple of years later, she married Pastor Frank Hogan who had also been widowed. And as only God could bless, they fostered and eventually adopted two children— Becky and Cody.

Abigail wasn't just a second mom; she became the Thornton's best friend. Abigail had been there as a rock for Elizabeth during the ups and downs of Jack and Elizabeth's relationship. She was there for Elizabeth during Jack's deployment to the Middle East. She was the first to arrive at the hospital when Elizabeth went into labor. Abigail had been there for the Thornton's through thick and thin and Jack couldn't be any more thankful for her. Jack thought back to the day Abby was born.

—

December 3, 1993

At the start of one of the worst blizzards of Colorado, Elizabeth's water broke. Of course. Good thing the hospital was only a five-minute drive from their house. Abigail met them at the hospital with a basket of food for Jack.

"I can't eat," Jack said to Abigail as he watched Elizabeth rest. It had been four hours since they arrived at the hospital.

"You're going to need your strength later. This is the easy part." Abigail said with a smile. "Why don't you try calling Elizabeth's parents again. I'll stay with her."

Jack walked into the hallway, found a pay phone and dialed the Thatcher's number again. He had tried to get ahold of them earlier, but the connection kept dropping.

"Hello?"

"Grace!" Jack said relieved.

"Beth's in labor isn't she," Mrs. Thatcher said knowingly. "Oh, I knew I should have booked an earlier flight! And now with the blizzard-William! Beth is in labor!"

Jack could hear excited commotion in the background from Mr. Thatcher and then Elizabeth's younger sister Julie.

"Grace?" Jack tried again.

"Jack!" Julie had apparently stolen the phone from her mother. "Dad is trying to find the next flight out to Denver! I'm so excited! Is it a boy or girl? Oh, I'm going to be an aunt!"

Before Jack could correct her or say anything else, Grace had taken the phone back. "Are you alone with Beth?"

"No, Abigail is with us."

"Oh, wonderful. Please tell Abigail that she is a saint. Jack, we will be there as soon as we can get a flight out."

Jack felt helpless as he watched Elizabeth go through contractions. He rubbed her back, held her hand, and tried to encourage her hour after hour. The nurse would come in and check Elizabeth's progress. Four centimeters became eight centimeters. Jack groaned inwardly as he wouldn't dare display his impatience. Only eight centimeters?! It had already been twelve hours and still no baby. Jack continued to watch Elizabeth. He was amazed at the strength she had. If he were being honest, she had more strength than he did. Officer Candidate School was nothing compared to watching one's wife in labor.

A couple hours later, Elizabeth said, "Jack, something's different." The nurse was called and declared that little baby Thornton was about to make his or her debut. In minutes, the nurses and Doctor flew into the room.

"Elizabeth, breathe." Abigail coached. Jack stood on the other side of Elizabeth. Watching his wife labor was terrifying. He squeezed Elizabeth's hand and tried focus solely on her.

"You can do this, Elizabeth." He coached. Twenty minutes later, they heard a beautiful cry.

"Congratulations!" The doctor said as he held up the crying baby as he handed the baby to the nurse.

Jack kissed the top of Elizabeth's head and all he could muster was "Wow."

"Do we have a boy or girl?" Elizabeth asked. "Don't joke around!" She put her scary teacher "I-just-went-through-eighteen-hours-of-labor" face.

The doctor laughed. "You have a," he paused and looked at Jack first, "baby girl."

When the nurse placed their little daughter in Jack's arms, his heart burst with excitement and sheer terror at the same time. He had a daughter. A little girl he could twirl around and dance with. A girl who he'd wipe her tears away. A little girl who would be wrapped around his little finger. "Hi, little one," Jack whispered. He gently brushed her cheek with a soft kiss. The baby gurgled and opened her big blue eyes to look at her daddy. It was that moment when Jack melted into a pile of mush. This was his girl. His baby girl.

Abigail graciously offered to leave the couple and their new baby girl, but Elizabeth stopped her.

"Abigail, please, if you can, stay with us."

"I wouldn't want to impose. This is your special moment." Abigail smiled as she peered at the baby laying in Elizabeth's arms. "Your daughter is just beautiful."

"There's something we want to tell you," Jack said. He looked at Elizabeth who grinned.

"We're naming her Abigail. Abigail Grace." Elizabeth stated. Abigail's mouth dropped open.

"Are you sure?" was the only thing she could muster.

"Yes," Jack said. "When we were discussing names, while we couldn't agree on a boy's name, we immediately agreed on a girl's. We couldn't name her after anyone better."

"It's true," Elizabeth said, smiling through the tears that were falling down her cheeks. No other words were needed. Elizabeth and Abigail had such a close-knit kindred bond between them, no words had to be said. Abigail's own eyes were tearing up and she gently hugged Elizabeth and Jack.