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 20- Speak the Truth

Jack pulled into Bayside Elementary School and slipped into a parking space. He put the truck into park, released his seatbelt and opened his door.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"I'm going inside with you," he responded as he closed his door and walked around to the passenger side.

She giggled, "Jack, I'm not a baby. I can walk into school on my own." She kissed him goodbye and started for the door.

He stood by the truck watching her walk away. "Elizabeth," he called out as she reached the sidewalk.

She turned around and smiled. That beautiful smile was the same one that from the first time they met could cause him to go weak in the knees.

He jogged over to her on the sidewalk, "I love you. Are you sure you don't need me with you?"

She kissed his cheek, "Jack, I always need you, but I'll be fine."

He stood on the sidewalk and watched her walk into the building, followed by other teachers and staff. He was worried about her and prayed that her co-workers would be kind.

Elizabeth checked in at the office and headed down to her classroom. She smiled politely to the women she passed in the hallway, but felt the "eyes" of everyone upon her as she walked by.

She settled in her room, pulling out her lesson plan book to catch up on things that she had recently let slip by. Teachers, men and women alike passed her room, glanced inside and provided her with either the "I feel sorry for her," or the "Can you believe she could kill someone" look.

She eventually got up from her desk and walked over to close the door. The door was barely closed before she heard a group of third grade teachers walking down the hallway, and their comments were scathing…

"It's sad. He was so handsome. If she didn't want him, she didn't have to kill him."

"Did you see the new one she has? What a looker…"

"She sure does date around. She knocks him off and starts dating another guy…"

"He better watch out. She may kill him too…" as several of them laughed.

Elizabeth leaned her back up against the wall. She didn't want to hear their comments, but couldn't tear herself away. She heard others coming down the hall and several members of the second group challenged the accuracy of the first group's information.

"I can't believe you guys. First of all, her class is right here, but secondly, did you see the news this morning? He raped her. He obviously wasn't a great guy…"

"She isn't in her room. She can't hear us…"

"No, I don't watch the news. Too much depressing stuff there…"

"Did you see the marks on her…?"

"That changes things. I feel so sorry for her. No woman should have to feel so helpless. WOW, I had no idea. He seemed so nice…"

"I wonder what happened. Do you suppose that maybe she was sleeping around with that other guy and he got mad…?"

"I can't believe you; all of you. We know Elizabeth. We need to provide her with our support, not accusations…"

"Did she come in today…?"

"I think I saw her in the office earlier…"

Elizabeth heard their voices slowly disappear as they walked down the hallway. She moved back to her desk and sat down. She thought about what was said; how they were making assumptions about what happened without having all of the facts; how they were questioning her character, and how they drew Jack into their ugly accusations.

She felt sick to her stomach at the thought that people were watching her, pitying her; thinking poorly of her, and talking about her behind her back. "I wasn't raped, but I almost feel as if I were," she whispered.

She pulled out her phone and sent a text to Jack…

"I love you and wish we were still in the mountains…"

She sat and watched the screen on her phone but there was not reply.

Jack had been out of the office for a week and had a day filled with meetings and playing catch up. As a result, his cell phone sat on his desk unattended.

"Welcome back, Jack. Did you have a nice vacation?" Stacy asked. However, before he could respond, "Shut up…Jack, are you married?"

Jack smiled, "I sure am."

"Congratulations," she stated enthusiastically as she hugged him quickly. She turned around and called down the hallway, "Hey everybody, get out here…Jack Thornton is married."

Everyone rushed out of their respective offices as the men offered their "condolences," and the women, both married and single offered their disappointed congratulations.

Anthony grabbed Jack by the arm and pulled him into his office. "Hey, you don't have to answer me, but did that Carson guy really assault Elizabeth? I saw the news this morning, and I didn't remember his name, but I recognized his face. I mean, I remember when we got inside and her clothing was torn. Is she okay?"

Jack released a harsh breath, knowing that her emotional trauma was just beginning. "He did attack her, but she shot him."

"Yes, I know she shot him. I was there with you," Anthony replied.

"No, I know that. I mean he would have assaulted her, or killed her if she hadn't pulled the trigger. She did what she had to," Jack remarked.

"You'll get no argument from me. I heard her yelling at him to stop. Is she okay?" He asked. "Oh, by the way, congratulations; she's a beautiful, sweet woman," he added.

"She's also married…to me!" Jack reminded him.

"Jack, have you forgotten, I'm happily married?" Anthony reminded him.

"Sorry. I still can't believe that I found her again, and that we're married. I know I'm lucky," Jack admitted.

Several agents stepped into Anthony's office, "Hey, we're taking you out for drinks after work. We'll go to Red Bones, okay?"

"Red Bones is a dive, but I can't tonight. I need to pick up Elizabeth from work. Her Explorer is in the shop," Jack stated.

"Okay, but one night this week we're taking you out," Sammy DeLuca stated.

"I appreciate the offer. We'll see," Jack responded.

Anthony jumped in, "Guys he's a newlywed. He may be a bit busy."

The guys laughed, as Mark DeNardo blurted out, "Hey when you get tired of…oh who are we kidding, we'll never see him again!"

The guys all laughed, as did Jack. However, he had to agree that he would much rather spend his free time with Elizabeth than at the bar with the guys drinking.

"I'm going back to my office," Jack stated as he turned the corner and headed down the hall.

"Agents in Task Force 2 report to Meeting Room #1," the announcement over the intercom grabbed Jack's attention before he reached his office, causing him to turn around and head down a different hallway.

Elizabeth glanced back at her phone. Realizing that she had not yet received a response from Jack, she sent a second text…

"I love you. What time are you picking me up…?"

Still no response but she assumed that he was busy and would respond once he had the time.

Elizabeth placed her head on her desk and didn't hear the door open.

"Elizabeth is something wrong," her co-worker, Melissa called out as she approached her desk.

Elizabeth raised her head and although there were no more tears, her eyes were red.

"What's wrong?" Melissa asked again. "I've missed you. Why were you out last week?"

"Did you see the news this morning?" Elizabeth asked.

"No, I was busy with a sick child. Oh no, what happened?" She asked as she pulled up a chair and caught a glimpse of bruised face and her rings. "What happened? Are you okay? Wait, you're married? When? How? Who? You broke up with Carson recently, right?"

"Do you not ever watch the news?" Elizabeth asked, surprised that she was completely in the dark.

"Jimmy does, but I only watch the Hallmark Channel. They don't scroll the local news there. So, what is it? Tell me everything…" Melissa rested her elbows on Elizabeth's desk as she leaned in intently listening.

By the time Elizabeth finished her story, Melissa didn't know whether to hug Elizabeth or cry, so she did both. "Are you okay?"

Elizabeth heard the buzz on her phone indicating a text. Before looking down she immediately assumed it was Jack. "I'll be fine. I just think I need to do something."

"Do something? Like what?" Melissa asked.

Elizabeth took a deep breath and told her of the horrible comments that were made, "They have no idea what they're talking about. They have no idea how traumatizing stalking can be. All they saw was how handsome he was."

"I'm so sorry that you heard them talking," Melissa reached over and squeezed her hand.

"It made me angry and sick on my stomach at first, but…"

"But what, Elizabeth?" Melissa asked.

Elizabeth looked up and smiled weakly, "It has shown me that people close their eyes to this sort of abuse. They act like the woman asked for it; she led him on, and some people think that she got what she deserved."

Elizabeth pulled a tissue from the box on her desk and wiped her eyes, "You know, I'd venture a guess that there is at least one woman here who is experiencing abuse in some aspect of their life. I just have to do something."

"I have to get back to my classroom and finish up some work before lunch," Melissa stated as she stood up, hugged Elizabeth and started for the door. "A group of us are going out to lunch. Would you like to go?"

"I appreciate it, but I don't think I can sit and eat while their eyes of pity are focused in on me," she replied.

I'll check back with you," Melissa stated as she walked out the door and closed it behind her.

Elizabeth forgot about the text she received as she got up from her desk and removed the items from one of her bulletin boards. She pulled the paper from her closet and changed her board over for Valentine's Day. She wrote each student's name on construction paper hearts and placed them in various places across the board.

Melissa went from grade level to grade level as she relayed the information she had received from Elizabeth. By the time she finished expressing her disappointment in the staff, many of which Elizabeth had included as her friends, there was not a dry eye in the bunch.

"We didn't know," Ashley Proctor stated.

"I'm so sorry. What can we do to help?" Nadine Dickerson asked.

"I feel sick. Is she okay?" Baylee Marks inquired.

"You want to do something to help?" Melissa asked. "Provide her with support. Don't make accusations regarding something that you know nothing about."

Melissa walked out the classroom door on the 4th grade hallway, but turned back to make a few final comments, "She just got married. She knew Jack in high school and college. They broke up and found each other again recently. This should be one of the happiest times of her life. Let's not add to her stress, okay?"

As Melissa spoke to each grade level, she observed expressions flip from perturbed to astonishment, to embarrassment and finally settling on acceptance. Almost everyone realized that if placed in the same situation, they would have reacted in the same way. As she left each grade level room, the tone was hushed, disappointed in themselves for reacting as they did.

Melissa rushed back to her classroom hoping to get some of her necessary work done before lunchtime.

"Are you ready to go?" A group of 15 or more teachers and support staff were standing at her door ready for lunch.

Melissa closed her planning book and slipped it into her desk drawer. "I told Elizabeth that I would check with her and see if she wanted to come with us. I have to be honest with you guys, she heard all the talk earlier, and I don't think she wants to be with us."

Ashley Proctor spoke up, "There's another group at her classroom now talking to her. We're all so sorry."

The women made their way from one side of the school to the other and found another group of twelve or more teachers and office staff, both men and women, in Elizabeth's classroom apologizing. The men looked nervous as the women found it difficult to refrain from crying.

Melissa stepped into the room, "Okay, let's turn this around… Congratulations Elizabeth. I know I speak for all of us when I tell you how happy we are that you finally got married."

Everyone laughed at Melissa's attempt to bring a bit of levity to a tense situation.

Elizabeth grabbed her purse and was surrounded by the group as they headed out into the parking lot. They broke up into multiple groups with Elizabeth riding in the car with Melissa, Ashley, Tori Jenkins (Assistant Principal) and Matthew Jennings (PE teacher).

The school employees walked into Golden Corral and were directed to the back meeting room where they each found a seat. Everyone chatted, laughed, and enjoyed their meal, and no mention was made regarding Elizabeth's recent trauma.

Following lunch, they all returned to school to finish out the day. Elizabeth walked into her classroom and found her cell phone sitting on her desk. Suddenly she remembered receiving a text and smiled as she looked forward to seeing Jack's profession of love to her in print.

She clicked her phone on, and pushed the message button. She saw no message from Jack professing "I love you." What she saw was a text from Terri Ann Mobley, a news reporter, asking for an interview. What she felt was conflicted; putting herself out there for everyone to see would be embarrassing, but then again could she help someone, maybe keeping them from the trauma she's experienced?

She dialed the number and asked for Ms. Mobley. She agreed to an interview and was advised that they would obscure her image, which Elizabeth immediately refused.

"I'm very sorry for what happened. I cared about Carson Shepherd, but he took advantage of that," Elizabeth spoke from her heart.

She took a deep breath and continued, "He stalked me, threatened me, and hurt me in ways that people just don't understand. I did what I did not to hurt him, but to save my life. For that I won't apologize; I won't be embarrassed, and I won't hide from the world."

Ms. Mobley pushed to get the interview in quickly, "You need to strike while the iron is hot so to speak."

"I understand what you're saying, but that may not be the best way to put it," Elizabeth suggested. "I don't have a vehicle today; mine's in the shop, so…"

"I'll interview you there at your office," she suggested.

"No, absolutely not. Once I get my vehicle back I'll contact you, okay?" Elizabeth asked.

"I have a better idea," Terri Ann pushed, wanting the interview before Elizabeth changed her mind. "I'll come pick you up and we can go somewhere for coffee and just talk. We'll talk like two old friends. Then I can take you home."

"Okay, I can leave school at 3:15," Elizabeth advised.

"I'll be there at 3. I'll be in my personal vehicle; it's a red Toyota Camry," Terri Ann stated.

Elizabeth disconnected her call after verifying that she would see her in a few hours. She checked and still no text from Jack.

Elizabeth called his office to leave a message for him.

"FBI Headquarters, Marci speaking. How may I direct your call?"

"May I speak with Agent Thornton please?" Elizabeth asked.

Marci placed the call on hold but returned a few moments later, "He's in a meeting. May I take a message?"

"Yes, this is Elizabeth Thatch… uh, I'm sorry. This is Elizabeth Thornton, Jack's wife. Would you please let him know that I have a ride home from work, and he doesn't need to pick me up?"

"I'll be glad to. Have a nice day Mrs. Thornton," Marci stated before hanging up the phone.

Elizabeth continued working, but found it difficult to concentrate. She knew that what she had to say, and how it was said would possibly impact those who heard it. She reached into her bag and pulled out her journal. She was well aware of the fact that writing down her thoughts and feelings went far when it came to putting things into perspective.

She opened her journal, flipped through the previous entries and settled on the first blank page she came to…

"Physical abuse may leave outward signs, but mental, emotional and verbal abuse leave inward scars that often take longer to heal. Speak your mind but never do so out of anger, hate, or jealously. Our words should be tempered with compassion, empathy and encouragement. Speaking quickly and without thought rarely gets the point across that we desire, and when anger rages, silence is best.

Living in fear keeps you silent; a voice inside too afraid to cry out, stand your ground, or speak your mind. Remain silent and things stay as they are. Speak out and we are able to talk for those who are unable to do so for themselves.

I belong to no one. My thoughts and feelings are my own. I am obligated to answer to no one but myself. No one has the right to threaten me, terrorize me, or put their hands on me. I am a person, valuable in every way, and I deserve to be treated respectfully."

Elizabeth closed her journal and slipped it back into her bag. Though nervous, she knew that by being a voice for those individuals who were too afraid to speak, she would hopefully help them and heal herself. She sat back, closed her eyes and prayed that Jack would understand why she needed to stand up and be counted.

To be continued…