Chapter 32

It's Good to be Home

Elizabeth woke up feeling refreshed and it was all from sleeping in her own bed at home. She had slept wel,but realized that it was still kind of early to go downstairs. There was probably going to be no one downstairs pulled out her cell phone and decided to fulfill her promise that she made to Jack before she left. She went to google and looked up to see w if she could find Jack's brother,Tom. Jack had told her that he lived in an apartment complex called Rosy Oaks. She found him on her phone but wasn't sure that it was him. Should she call him? Would a text be ok? She decided to wait an hr when it wasn't so, early to call him.

At about 8:00, she decided that it was a much better time to call Tom so she dialed his number and listened to it ring. A guy she assumed to be Tom answered on the 4th ring. She asked him if she had reached the right number and person and he told her that she had.

"Hi there! My name is Elizabeth Thatcher and I'm a friend of you brother, Jack. I live in Hope valley,Oklahoma too, and I'm the teacher there. We are really good friends and he asked me to tell you that he said hello."

"Wow! That's so awesome that you know my big brother. "How is he doing?"Tom asked had wanted to visit his brother but had never gotten the Tom was a representative for a department store here in town. They chatted for a few minutes and Tom asked

"Hey can I interest you in going to dinner with me tonight so we can catch up on things and you can tell me all about the trouble that my big brother has been ha ha?" She thought about it quickyly and accepted. Tom told her that he would pick her up at 6:30. Elizabeth told him where she was staying and gave him the address. He said that he would see her tonight. She went downstairs and found her mother sitting at the dining room with a newspaper.

"Your father is out,he will be back with Charles this afternoon."Grace let her mother knew how she felt about Charles and knew that Elizabeth was not looking forward to seeing him.

"Oh goodie,I can't wait."Elizabeth rolled her mother looked back at her with a look of disapproval on her face.

"Now now,I know that you don't feel the same way for Charles as he does for you,but we have to still need to be cival to him. He works for your father,so William doesn't see this."her mother tried to explain that she understood how she felt but also how she thought her father felt as well.

"Yeah I don't know why either,"she walked away shaking her head. She really didn't want to see Charles but she knew that it would make her father angry if she didn't at least make an appearence. She wanted to go out into town and go shopping,but of course she didn't know when her father would be home. Along with him would be the one person that drove her nuts the last time that he was with her,and she was positive that he would annoy her again this time. It's not that he was a bad person,he just wouldn't take no for an had a thought and turned to go into the living room where her mother was now sitting.

"Mom, would you like to play cards with me?"Grace nodded with excitement and she told her that it had been awhile since she had shown Elizabeth who the queen of cards was:) They decided to play Gin usual, her mom beat pants off her.

"Well, I do believe that Martha has lunch ready. Let's 's so good to have you home with us till tomorrow evening. She is cooking your favorite tonight for you,meatloaf,mashed potatoes, roasted broccoli and with a salted caramel cheesecake for dessert." Grace was happy that she could please her girl.

"Oh but Mom,I'm not going to be here for dinner tonight. I'm actually going out to dinner with a friend." she wasn't sure how her mom would feel about Elizabeth going out with someone that she never met before,but she was an adult and could make decisions like this on her own. A look of disappointment filled her mother's face. They continued to eat for a couple minutes.

"I didn't realize that you had plans for dinner tonight dear. I guess I can tell Martha that it will be just the 2 of us for dinner."her mother said sadly.

"Make that 3! Charles is going to be eating with us. William came into the dining room where Elizabeth and her mom were still eating lunch. Charles and I have some work to do this afternoon so he'll be staying for dinner. Beth,did I hear you correctly,that you aren't going to be here with us on your last night?"he didn't look to happy.

"Yes,you heard right Dad,I'm going out to dinner with a friend."she told him.

"Just what am I supposed to tell Charles young lady? He's out parking the car,but will be inside in a minute. We do have things to do but I know he would like to spend some time with you."he actually was raising his voice and was obviously making her feel guilty.

"I'm sorry,I will say hello and even talk to him until I have to leave but that is all." She could see the steam coming out of her father's ears and knew that he was not happy at all. Elizabeth turned to go upstairs for a few minutes to write in her journal. Just as she expected,a few minutes later,was called down to socialize with someone that she didn't enjoy spending time with.

"Beth,someone is here to see you."her father called her and she just groaned.

She came downstaries and he stood there staring at her. She looked at him all fancy in his suit and his hair was all slicked back. He looked like he dressed to impress someone,probably her. He smiled and said.

"Elizabeth,would you like to go out with me tonight?"