Disclaimer: I do not own the characters within this story. All rights and much respect go to Crown Media, Hallmark, Brian Bird, Michael Landon, Jr., the actors, creators, and writers of the show "When Calls the Heart."

Chapter 1- I'd Wait an Eternity

Jack was sitting at a stoplight on his way to meet Lee, Rosie and their 6 year old son, Matthew, at Met Park to watch the farm teams from the New York Mets and the Baltimore Orioles play. He glanced over to the very busy fenced in dog park and was quickly drawn to a woman, whom he initially only saw from the back. It appeared that all of the four-legged occupants were mesmerized by the woman, and he quickly understood why when she turned around.

He had never been so thankful for a malfunctioning stoplight than he was at that particular moment. Her smile drew him in. It was warm, and she appeared to be quite engaging with the animals and people alike. She was wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a teal tank top, with a deep luscious tan, and her long brown hair was held secure in a ponytail as her curls cascaded down her back. He felt his heart skip a beat as he realized that she was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.

She played fetch with any of the dogs that were interested, and if given an opportunity, Jack would have gladly jumped in.

Sadly, he could only assume that she was involved with one of the men also present in the park and he searched to find someone that he found to be a suitable mate for her. He discounted the elderly gentlemen who picked up his small dog and exited the park with the use of a cane; the several middle aged men who he assumed were closer to her father's age, and the disappointedly handsome body builder who tucked his little Chihuahua under his arm, and left the park without uttering a word to the woman. "Someone like her had to be attached, right?" He thought to himself.

He watched her glide across the ground as graceful as a gazelle, until she went left and so did the St. Bernard, quickly taking her to the ground. He wanted to help pick her up, but before he knew it, she was back on her feet, brushing herself off and laughing hysterically. Unfortunately the light finally turned green and horns began to sound requiring him to move along.

Jack drove up one street and then took a right, planning to circle the block, maybe even parking this time. He reached the stoplight again, but this time she was gone. There was no sign of her anywhere, so he disappointedly continued on to meet the Coulters.

Jack was standing in the parking lot at Met Park when Lee and Rosie approached him.

"Hey Jack…Jack? JACK?" Lee repeatedly called out, eventually yelling to get his attention.

"What?" Jack turned his head seeming surprised at his loud tone.

"I called you several times. Where are you?" Lee asked.

"Obviously I'm here, but I..." his voice trailed off.

"Is something wrong?" Lee asked. "What's her name?"

"What makes you think it has to do with a woman?" Jack stated as he attempted to cover up his inattentiveness.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because I've never seen you like this. So who is she and where did you meet her?" Lee continued to push.

"I don't know," Jack stated, obviously preoccupied. "But I'm going to marry her. Well, that is if she isn't already married."

"You met someone; you're going to marry her, and you don't even know her name? Jack, have you lost your mind?" Lee asked.

"I haven't met her. I saw her at the dog park, but before I knew it, she was gone," Jack advised.

"Jack, there are other women out there. I mean, you know nothing about her," Lee commented.

"Maybe so, but I know that I'd like to get to know her," Jack stated disappointedly at his apparent loss. "I don't want a good relationship; I want an extraordinary one, and I have faith that it will happen. I'd wait an eternity for the right woman."

Four Months Later…
The moon was bright and shined down upon the beach and the boardwalk. The bright lights of the strip illuminated the entire area almost appearing as if it were broad daylight.

Jack slipped in behind the silver BMW and flipped on the blue lights on his cruiser, effectively pulling over the SUV. As usual, he cautiously approached the driver's side of the vehicle with one hand on the snap covering his service revolver.

The driver of the vehicle was looking in her purse as the window lowered. She pulled her driver's license from her wallet and looked at the officer who had turned her already horrible day into a nightmare.

"I'm sorry officer. What did I do wrong?" She asked finding herself smiling back at the man in uniform.

She was it. She was the woman he had seen at the dog park; the same woman who had continued to enter his dreams. He had never met her before, but somehow he had memorized her eyes, her pillow-soft lips, and her hair, it was shiny and all he could think about was running his fingers through it. He stammered slightly…

"Are you okay?" She asked.

Jack blinked several times as he tried to remember to breathe. Her image was so strong and clear in his mind. "Uh, no…I mean, yes, I'm fine. Your right turn signal is out."

"Oh, I'll let someone know. Thank you, officer" she stated as Jack allowed her to leave with a promise to have her lighting issue fixed.

Jack was breathing, but felt a little lightheaded as he opened the door to his cruiser, realizing that the oxygen he was inhaling was catching in his throat and couldn't possibly be reaching his lungs. He sat down in his patrol car and then it dawned on him…before now he didn't know who this woman was that he had dreamed about, and in the shock of seeing her he never even asked for her ID, so her identity was still unknown.

He checked his computer, thankful for the license plate on her fancy car. He plugged it into NCIC and waited ever so impatiently for her name and address to pop up on his screen.

"Hertz Car Rental? What?" And with that information, he still knew nothing about her.

Jack pulled out into traffic, oddly comforted by the fact that he now knew that at least this woman he had thought about was real and not simply a figment of his imagination.

Elizabeth pulled into her apartment complex and parked her rented BMW in her assigned space.

"Hey, you're late getting home. WOW, nice ride. Did you trade in the Mustang?" Andi Moroney, Elizabeth's neighbor asked.

"I guess in a manner of speaking I did. It has been a really crappy day, well most of it anyway," Elizabeth stated as she grabbed some items from the car.

She closed the car door and pushed the button to set the alarm, "I was on my way home from work and a teenager hit the gas instead of the brake and rear-ended me. Then I was pushed into the dump truck in front of me, so needless to say, my Mustang looks like an accordion," she explained.

Andi's eyes widened, "Are you okay? That had to have been scary."

"I've had better days; that's for sure, but I'm fine. I got to ride in an ambulance, but I didn't have to stay at the hospital very long. They were surprised that I had nothing but a few bruises," she remarked. "I actually feel worse for the boy that hit me. His land yacht didn't have a scratch, but by the reaction his father had when he showed up, I don't think he'll be driving anywhere anytime soon. And he had his girlfriend in the car with him, so I know he had to be embarrassed," she stated.

"Well, I'm glad that you're okay. So, you got a fancy rental?" Andi asked.

"I wanted something less pretentious, but surprisingly, this was all they had available," Elizabeth attempted to explain what many may have considered a great twist of fate. However, she viewed the fanciness of the vehicle to be unsuited to her girl next door simple life style.

"Well, enjoy it while you have it. It's beautiful and I'm sure fun to drive," Andi remarked.

Elizabeth released a harsh breath that exited her lungs in the form of a soft laugh, "Yes, it's so much fun that I've already been stopped by the police for a blinker light that's out."

"Oh, don't worry about that. Taylor will be home in a little while and he has a whole box of fuses. He'll pop one in for you after dinner," Andi mentioned.

"I appreciate that. I was going back to the car rental place, but I needed to get home," Elizabeth stated. "The officer was…"

"Was what?" Andi asked.

"He seemed distracted…" she began to explain.

"Distracted by what?" Andi prodded.

"I'm not sure. He came up to the window and just looked at me. He never even asked for my driver's license," Elizabeth replied. "I'll tell you one thing…he was certainly good looking," she giggled. "He can stop me any time."

"Well, not that your accident was a good thing, because it certainly wasn't, but you wouldn't have met him if you hadn't been in the rental car," Andi stated as she attempted to put a positive spin on Elizabeth's already disappointing day. "You need to get back out into the dating game."

"He doesn't want to date me, Andi. He was just doing his job, but he was good looking, and had a beautiful smile," Elizabeth replied.

"He smiled at you? Officers don't smile at you when they pull you over. That's weird," Andi remarked.

Elizabeth fiddled with her keys as she replied, "Maybe he was nice to me because I wasn't disrespectful to him. They probably deal with so much ugliness, and they expect people to be rude and angry at being stopped."

"What's his name? You know, Taylor knows a lot of officers," Andi advised.

Elizabeth frowned and simply shook her head, "You know I didn't even look at his name plate. I don't know his name."

"Well, I'm glad that you're okay," Andi stated as she took Elizabeth's hand and squeezed it gently. "If you need anything, you let us know."

"Thanks for the offer and just call me when Taylor has the time to check the blinker fuse. I'm okay and I'm just glad that Snitch wasn't with me; which reminds me, I need to get her outside," Elizabeth stated as she waved goodbye to Andi and headed to her apartment building.

Elizabeth stopped and turned back around when Andi called out to her, "Hey, you aren't dating anyone now, are you?"

"No, and why?" Elizabeth cautiously answered.

"There is a local singles get together on Friday night," Andi advised.

Elizabeth shook her head, "No, I'm not interested in that. It makes me feel desperate, which I'm not."

"Well, just think about it. I'll go with you if you decide to go," Andi offered.

"You're not single," Elizabeth reminded her.

"I'll go as your wingman, or rather your wing-girl. I'm crazy about Taylor, and I want you to find that too," Andi remarked.

"Thanks for your concern, but I'm fine. I'm not really looking for anything serious right now anyway. Snitch and I are fine together. Oh, that reminds me, I need to get her outside," Elizabeth stated as she said goodbye and rushed to her apartment.

Jack finished his shift and headed home. He went through the KFC drive thru before making his way to his townhouse. He went inside, changed out of his uniform, ate his fast food meal, and then went outside to cut his postage stamp size front and back yards.

"Hey Jack," Eric, Jack's neighbor, walked around the hedge and into Jack's yard.

Jack stuck out his arm to shake Eric's hand, but felt a beer being placed in his grip instead.

"Take a break man. You work way too hard," Eric commented.

Jack laughed as they walked up on his porch and took a seat. "Thanks for the thought. I'm just trying to get this grass cut before it gets way out of control and I get forced out of the neighborhood."

"Are you busy Friday night? I mean do you have a date?" Eric asked.

"Eric, you know I'm not seeing anyone," Jack responded.

"That's sad, and I'm hoping that by you saying it out loud, you will realize how pitiful it sounds and do something about it," Eric replied.

Jack finished his beer, crushed the can in his grip and stood up to return to his yard work. "Eric, I know what I'm looking for and I'm willing to wait for her."

"Who…who exactly are you waiting for?" Eric asked.

"I think I've met her; well, not exactly but kind of," Jack rambled.

"Jack, what are you talking about? There are some beautiful women in this very complex, and don't think they haven't taken notice of you," Eric remarked. "There's a singles get together on Friday. I'm going and I think you should too."

"Eric, you're not single," Jack reminded him of the obvious.

"No, I'm separated," Eric replied.

"Separated? When did that happen? I'm sorry. Do you think you and Dana will be able to work it out?" Jack asked obviously concerned by his friend's revelation.

Eric started laughing.

"What are you laughing for? There's nothing funny about it." Jack responded.

"We're fine. Dana is out of town until next Tuesday for work. So, technically, we're separated," Eric explained.

"But why are you going to a singles get together? If you go to the gathering and Dana finds out, you're liable to be single," Jack advised him.

"No, I was trying to get you to go. Dana is worried about you and she said that you need a love interest," Eric stated as he stood up and headed back toward his own yard. "Look, I get it. You aren't interested. I'm just passing along what Dana has been nagging me about. If I have to listen to it, and it's about you, then you should have to listen to it too."

Before stepping back into his own yard, Eric spun around, "Think about it. No one says that you have to get married to anyone you meet there, but you truly may find someone. And just so you know, Dana is the one that suggested that I go with you."

"I'll think about it, but don't count on me," Jack commented. "I'm not a player; I know what I want, and I'm certain that I'll find her."

Jack cut his grass and then headed inside to shower and chill before heading to bed, only to start the whole daily process of living all over again tomorrow. He laid his head down on his pillow, closed his eyes and her image immediately appeared.

Jack had always done well with women, not that he dated around, but he rarely found himself at a loss for words or so distracted by one that he couldn't think clearly. Until her, and he didn't even know who she was.

He tossed and turned most of the night, realizing by the time that the sun rose in the sky that he either needed to move on, or find her.

Friday evening rolled around, and although neither of them wanted to attend the singles get together, they each felt forced to do so. Jack walked in with Eric and took a seat. The one minute introduction sessions were scheduled to start at 7:30, and although Jack was scanning the room and saw many beautiful women, the one he truly wanted to meet was nowhere in sight.

Elizabeth was surprised at the number of people entering the meeting room. She hated feeling desperate, but felt that her presence there gave the indication that she couldn't find a suitable companion on her own. Sadly, she was beginning to think that she couldn't.

She was tired of dating men, whose only interest in her was in how soon they could get her into their bed, choosing never to call her again when she quickly shot them down.

She stood in the doorway and spun around to leave before Andi grabbed her arm and pulled her inside.

"Andi, this isn't for me. I feel freakishly uncomfortable," she stated as she hesitantly walked into the room and took a seat.

The rapid fire introductions began and both Jack and Elizabeth were overwhelmed. The idea was for the women to remain seated as the men hopefully moved in an orderly fashion in one minute intervals. However, there were always participants who did not follow the rules, effectively holding up everyone else.

Elizabeth continued to feel uncomfortable, much like a farm animal being led down the auction line. She wanted to leave; she needed to leave; she had to leave.

Jack tried to be polite; some of the women were over anxious, but still others were overly shy. Then he caught a glimpse of her.

Elizabeth didn't see him, but he certainly saw her, and the line couldn't move fast enough for him.

Jack kept his eye on Elizabeth, much to the disappointment of many of the women who faced him down the line. Try as they might to draw his attention in their direction, his eyes were focused elsewhere. Many of them simply gave up; others placed their hands on the side of his face, forcing him to have contact with them.

Elizabeth smiled politely as each eligible bachelor took the seat before her. The room was a maze of men standing, moving down and then taking the next seat, before quickly talking hoping to beat the sound of the cow bell ringing to signal the next big move.

Many of the men seemed nice, and she told herself that "if that handsome police officer was here," she'd stay, but right now she felt like a slab of meat on display and she needed to leave.

Jack spent most of the evening trying to get over to Elizabeth's table, but the rotation of men down the line seemed to be working against him. He found himself apologizing to the numerous women before him. He meant no disrespect; truth was he initially didn't want to be there, and now he didn't want to leave. He found who he wanted to talk to, but couldn't get her attention.

Jack knew that he had to be getting closer when he found a break in the sea of women in the room, and…

"She's gone?" He stated, not realizing at the time that he had actually spoken the words out loud.

Jack stood up, looking about the room, hoping that he had simply looked at the wrong table, but alas, she was gone. He again apologized and left the room, hoping to run into her outside, but still nothing.

"Jack, what are you doing?" Eric called out from the doorway.

"She was here," Jack replied.

"Who was here?" Eric responded.

"The woman I told you about. She was in the room, but she's gone," Jack stated, the tone of disappointment was quite evident in his voice. "I don't want to stay here. I'm leaving."

Elizabeth walked into her apartment and Snitch quickly greeted her. "I'm not sure why I let Andi talk me into going tonight. It was nothing but a meat market, and that isn't what I'm looking for." She grabbed Snitch's leash and headed for the door, "Let's go for a walk down to the beach."

Jack headed for home, but felt the need to clear his head, so he took the ramp to the interstate and headed for Atlantic Avenue. Sitting at the stoplight at 20th Street and Atlantic Avenue, he found himself staring at the steering wheel, paying no attention to his surroundings.

Suddenly he heard horns blaring and glanced up to see that the light had turned green. He thought to himself that no horns would be beeping if he were in his police cruiser.

He wasn't certain how, but in the midst of the crowd of people he saw her. He wanted so badly to stop, to approach her, to meet her, but by the time he found a place to pull over, again she was gone.

He was now more determined than ever to find her.

As Elizabeth walked along the strip with her faithful dog, horns were blown and cat calls were made in her direction. It sickened her to think that men were so disrespectful toward women. Between this experience and the auction block she felt she had been on earlier in the evening, she doubted that she would ever take the plunge into a relationship with a man.

"We're okay, aren't we Snitch? We don't need a man, especially a rude egotistical one," she stated as they headed home.

"Are you okay, Elizabeth?" Andi called out from her apartment entrance.

"I'm fine, but I just couldn't take it. I'm sorry I left, but you looked like you were having fun with some of the other female participants," Elizabeth stated as she attempted to apologize for walking out without telling Andi.

"I'm sorry Elizabeth. I knew that the atmosphere there probably wasn't for you, but I just want you to find someone. I want you to be happy," Andi explained.

"Andi, I walked Snitch down along the strip tonight and the vulgar things that were being said to me by many of the men down there, makes me want to steer as far away from a relationship as possible," Elizabeth confessed.

"I know that it seems like they're all bad, but they aren't," Andi commented. "Taylor is a good one."

"Yes, but he's taken," Elizabeth remarked. Elizabeth looked around to make certain that the hallway was empty before she continued. "Besides, the men I've dated only want one thing, and then don't call again when I tell them no."

"Well think about it; do you really want them calling you again?" Andi asked.

Elizabeth laughed, "Actually, now that you mention it…No! There's just no good guys out there Andi, and I'm better off staying by myself than dealing with the rude and disrespectful attitudes that I see so much of."

"Hey, there are good guys out there. Taylor isn't the only one. And Elizabeth, we didn't sleep together before we married," Andi admitted.

"You didn't?" Elizabeth asked.

"Don't seem so surprised. I wanted to wait, and he didn't push me. Although I will say that once we got engaged, we moved quickly to the wedding," she stated as both women giggled.

"I just don't think I can tell when it's a good one, but I'm trying to have faith that he's out there." Elizabeth glanced down as she fiddled with Snitch's leash. "But I'd wait an eternity for the right man."

Andi thought for a moment, "These men you have gone out with before; did your heart pound when you were near them?"

Elizabeth took an equal amount of time to think, "No, not that I can recall."

Andi smiled, "Okay, do this for me; the next time you meet someone and you both seem interested in each other…"

"Yes…" Elizabeth was very interested at this point.

"If your heart is beating out of your chest…take the chance," Andi suggested.

"That's your words of wisdom? My heart pounds and I should take the chance?" Elizabeth did not appear convinced. "No promises, but I'll think about it."

Another month passed and school started. Elizabeth spent her weekdays with her students, and her evenings with her dog, and she was happy, at least outwardly so. She wouldn't admit it to anyone but Snitch, but her free time was a bit lonely. However, she had in her mind what she was looking for in a man, and she didn't see herself settling for something other than what she wanted.

The first week of school had come and gone. Elizabeth's single girlfriends were trying to bring back the carefree days of summer by heading to the mountains to tour several of Virginia's most popular wineries.

"You spend too much time alone. We need to hook you up with someone," Jana commented.

"I know what I want and settling isn't in the cards for me," Elizabeth replied. "Besides, I'm sick. I'm on medication; I can't drink, and I would be horrible company. Maybe I'll go next time."

She backed out at the last minute feigning a sinus infection.

She sat on her sofa, a bowl of popcorn on the table, Snitch sleeping on the floor, and a DVD of Sleepless in Seattle sitting in the player just waiting on her to push the button. As the movie came to an end, she wiped her eyes, and thought to herself how things that are meant to happen, will happen. She walked to her bedroom and retrieved her leather bound journal, returned to the sofa where she contemplated her thoughts and feelings.

She opened her journal, flipped approximately halfway in and found the first blank page. She picked up her pen and began to convey her feelings onto the paper…

"Our lives contain a multitude of emotions, dreams, desires, mistakes, misunderstandings, and adventures. Each situation has the opportunity to be exciting or disappointing, but no matter which, it is life altering, and lessons are learned. No matter the stage in life, we are racked by fear; fear of the unknown; fear of embarrassment, and fear of remaining stagnant, knowing what we want, but often we are emotionally paralyzed and unable or unwilling to open ourselves up to the possibilities.

We go through life having in our minds what we want for ourselves. Our dreams, even as children, should never be shot down. However, an adult understands that a small child's dream to be the first person to ballet dance on the moon, may not be realistic, but truly who's to say what is or is not attainable? The same goes for love. Should you try to force it or simply let it occur when or if it chooses?

Do you truly need to be in a relationship with someone to feel complete? Isn't it more important to feel complete within ourselves before attempting to bring anything into a relationship? I'm scared of being alone, but I think I'm more afraid of being hurt. Hindsight is 20/20, so if I had the ability to see into the future, knowing what was going to happen in my life, then opening up to someone would be so much easier. Taking the chance, letting someone in to your life and your heart, requires a great deal of trust and an ability to let go.

Is it possible to really see into someone's soul by looking deeply into their eyes? Can you honestly know that their motives are pure by the kindness and warmth of their smile? Does the pounding of your heart honestly mean that this one may be different? Is the electricity you feel when your skin casually touches theirs mean anything? So many questions and unfortunately everything simply boils down to the fact that you have to take a chance and no matter the outcome you pray that the faith you have will see you through."

Lee opened the door and invited Jack inside. "Jack, this is Gina Bartoli. She's a dear friend of Rosie's."

"Hi Gina, it's nice to meet you," Jack stated as he stuck out his arm to shake her hand.

Gina took his hand, leaned in and whispered, "I've wanted to meet you for a long time."

She kissed his cheek before stepping back slightly and smiling. Jack returned his own nervous smile.

Jack looked around and noticed no one else but Lee and Rosie. It didn't take Jack being a rocket scientist to realize that he had been set up.

Rosie handed Jack the steaks and he and Lee stepped out onto the patio.

"Lee, why did you do that?" Jack asked. "You've put me in a really awkward situation."

"Jack, she's nice, beautiful, and she's a good friend of Rosie's. She's actually been asking to meet you," Lee remarked. "But don't be upset with me, Rosie did this without me knowing."

"I have in my mind the woman I want to meet, and I will find her," Jack replied.

Lee turned the steaks before facing Jack, gently shaking the tongs at him, "Jack, your fascination with this mystery woman has got to stop. I'm not saying that she isn't real, but what happens if you meet her, she opens her mouth and is dumb as a box of rocks. Just think how bad you will feel to have turned away all of these other opportunities."

Jack looked toward the back door before answering, "Something tells me that I will regret it if I don't find her. On patrol, I find myself circling the area by the dog park, but she's never there. I get in the car on the weekends and cruise the strip alone hoping to see her again." He shook his head, "WOW, saying that out loud makes me sound like a pervert, but I can't stop thinking about her."

"Jack this is a huge city. What are the chances that you will ever be in the same place with this woman?" Lee argued. "Even if you do meet her, isn't it a bit weird that you've been stalking her?"

"Stalking her? I'm not stalking her. Every time I've come across her, it has just been by chance. Doesn't than mean something? Like GOD keeps having our paths cross?" Jack felt the need to justify his feelings.

"What are you two talking about out here?" Gina asked as she and Rosie stepped out onto the porch and the men immediately became silent.

He suddenly released a harsh breath, realizing that maybe Lee was right; in such a big city how likely was he to ever find her again?

Even with the awkwardness they had a nice evening. Jack was polite to Gina; he saw her to her car, accepted the kiss she gave him, but made no further plans with her.

Several weeks passed; Lee no longer tried to set Jack up, but encouraged him to get out and meet people. He was invited over for dinner, but Lee had neglected to tell him that the meal would be after Matthew's elementary school program.

"What are we doing? Are we going out to eat?" Jack asked as he stepped inside and Lee, Rosie and Matthew were slipping into their jackets.

"We're going to Matthew's school program; then out to dinner. Lee forgot about the program. Please come with us," Rosie pleaded.

"You aren't trying to fix me up, are you?" He asked.

"Jack we're going to an elementary school program. There's not much fixing up happening there. Most of the teachers are married, or men," Lee responded.

Jack agreed and followed them out to the driveway. Just on the chance that he felt the need to escape, he chose to follow them there in his soft top Jeep.

Jack and Lee took their seats in the audience as Rosie walked with Matthew to the gathering area behind the stage.

"He's nervous, but his teacher bent down and talked to him and it's as if his fear simply disappeared," Rosie stated.

"He'll be fine, Honey," Lee wrapped his arm around Rosie and pulled her toward him. "Don't worry."

"What is this program?" Jack asked.

"The music teacher puts on two concerts a year; this one and then one in the spring. Then we go to the classroom and hear how wonderful Matthew is doing in class," Lee remarked.

Lee and Rosie each pulled their cell phones from their pocket and purse and made certain to capture the precious innocence of the children as they sang several songs.

At the end of the show, everyone jumped to their feet to show the children just how great a job they had done. As everyone filed out of the auditorium, Jack took a seat in front of the main office to allow Rosie and Lee an opportunity to meet with Matthew's teacher alone.

"Excuse me," Jack looked up to see the school custodian standing before him.

"Yes sir," he responded.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but I have cleaned that end of the hall," he stated as he pointed in the direction away from Matthew's classroom. "Now everyone will be leaving through the doors at the end of the hall."

"I'm sorry, but would you mind heading toward the exit so I can continue cleaning? The custodian directed Jack down the hall where Rosie and Lee had disappeared. As he passed each classroom, he perused the bulletin boards, smiling at the originality of many of the pieces of artwork.

He observed husbands and wives exiting the classrooms with their children in tow, and Jack was jealous. He continued walking oblivious to his surroundings. Then… **BAM**

"Oh ma'am, I'm so sorry," Jack stated as he bent down along with her to pick up all the papers she dropped.

"No problem. It was an accident," she replied as she took the papers back from Jack, closed her classroom door and headed for the parking lot.

Feeling slightly embarrassed, Jack continued to the next classroom. He glanced inside and observed Rosie and Lee sitting on one side of the teacher's desk. He stopped, not wanting to intrude, and although he didn't see Matthew's teacher, he could only assume that they were all talking about the Coulter son's progress.

Jack leaned up against the wall and waited for them to finish. He pulled out his cell phone and began passing the time by checking Facebook and Instagram.

Everyone walked out of the room; he glanced up, and every bit of air rushed from his lungs when he saw her. His phone flipped from his hands and fell to the floor. He attempted to casually bend down to pick it up as Lee began the introductions.

"Jack Thornton, this is Matthew's teacher, Ms. Thatcher…"

Jack couldn't take his eyes off of her, "I'm very pleased to meet you." He had never before meant those words more than he did at that particular moment. Elizabeth stretched out her arm to shake his hand, and as soon as their palms touched, the electric current swept through both of them and it was as if time stood still.

Elizabeth glanced down at their hands before looking back into his eyes, "I'm pleased to meet you too. You seem familiar. Have we met before?" She asked.

"He's a police officer. Have you been to jail lately?" Lee joked, but Rosie's elbow in his side helped him to quickly realize how inappropriate the statement came across.

"Well actually…" Elizabeth began.

"You have?" Rosie surprisingly stated.

"No, nothing like that," Elizabeth stated as she blushed before turning to face Jack. "You probably don't remember," Elizabeth stated as she released a breath that escaped her nose and mouth in the form of a soft laugh. "I mean, why would you remember, right? Oh anyway, you stopped me months ago in my rental car for a blinker that was out."

"I did?" He responded, knowing full well that he had, and remembering every second of that encounter. "I hope I didn't give you a ticket."

"No, actually you were quite nice. Not that you care, but I did get it fixed right away," she assured him.

"Did your husband take care of it?" He asked, holding his breath for her answer.

"I don't have one, but my friend's husband handled it for me," she replied.

The custodian continued down the hall, hoping to get everyone to leave so he could finish his work and head home. Lee, Rosie, Matthew, Elizabeth and Jack all walked toward the side entrance, exiting the building and heading toward their vehicles.

Matthew stopped suddenly, spun around away from his mother, and wrapped his arms around Elizabeth as she bent down to meet him at eye level, "I love you Ms. Thatcher. I'm going to marry you when I grow up?"

"You are a sweet young man, Matthew. I wish more men were as kind as you," Elizabeth stated as she stood and continued walking with the group.

Matthew reached up and took her hand. Jack never thought that there would be a time when he would be jealous of a small child. However, at this moment, it was his hand that he wanted her to hold.

As they reached the parking lot, the men watched Elizabeth walk to her car and slip safely inside.

"What's the deal with you Jack? You seem…" Lee began his interrogation.

"She's her. I mean it's her. She's the one I've told you about. Matthew's teacher is the woman I'm going to marry," Jack seemed flustered and rambled unintentionally.

"You are apparently going to have to fight Matthew for her." Lee remarked. "Ms. Thatcher is the woman who you've seen all over but haven't met?"

"Not until tonight. I finally have a name to put with that beautiful face," Jack stated as he glanced over at her still sitting in her car.

"What are you doing here? Go talk to her," Lee verbally pushed Jack.

Jack vacillated between staying with the Coulters and attempting to talk with her further. He had never been nervous before around women, but on this occasion, his feet felt as though there was a bag of wet cement in each shoe.

She didn't know why; after all of her comments to her friends about men only wanting one thing, and her lack of interest in a relationship, there was something about him. She didn't know him, but her heart was pounding, and if she knew Morse code, like Andi suggested, she was certain that it was beating out "Take a chance." She sat in her car pretending to fiddle with something, anything as she subtly watched out her side mirror.

She observed as Jack looked in her direction, but didn't make any moves toward her. Assuming that the interest only came from her side, she started the car engine. Elizabeth suddenly observed Jack moving in her direction. She pretended not to be paying attention on the chance that he was simply passing her vehicle to reach his own.

She looked on the floorboard as if she had dropped something when she heard a knock on the window. Pretending to be startled, she lowered her glass, "Oh hi…" she stated as she felt herself drawn in to the warmth of his smile, providing her own smile in return.

"Did you need something Mr. Thornton?"

"Ms. Thatcher…"

"Please call me Elizabeth."

"Okay Elizabeth, please call me Jack."

"Okay Jack." They remained momentarily silent before she again spoke up, "Was there something you wanted?"

"I know this is going to sound somewhat odd, but…" he began but hesitated.

"But what Jack?" She replied.

Jack swallowed hard, trying desperately to wet his suddenly desert dry mouth. "Are you seeing anyone?" He asked.

"No I'm not," she replied.

"Would you have coffee with me some time? I mean any time that's good for you," he nervously extended the invitation.

Elizabeth didn't know why, other than her heart was telling her to take a chance, so she quickly responded, "I'd love to." She slipped his phone from his hand and inserted her contact information. "Call me," she stated as she smiled warmly before backing out of her parking space and heading out onto the road.

His heart pounded and he smiled as he watched her car disappear, "I will!"

Jack returned to Lee, Rosie and Matthew, each of them noticing the broad smile on his face.

"Whoa Jack, what's going on with you?" Rosie asked.

Lee covered Matthew's ears, "Jack just met the woman he's going to marry."

To be continued…