Chapter 51 – Processing Before Bed
Tommy just looked between Nathan and his mother.
"What does he have to do with security?" Tommy asked.
Charlotte just gave Tommy a glare.
"Because I was hired by your father." Nathan said. "To protect your brother, Elizabeth and Doug while they are up here. Dealing with your spoiled ass was not exactly part of the deal."
Tommy huffed.
"This changes nothing." Charlotte said. "Nathan is still an adult and you will listen to him. That and no one will stop him from taking you to the ground if he feels it is needed."
"Char." James said. "I spoke with a Molly back at your house. She has agreed to take care of things there."
"What are you talking about?" Tommy demanded.
Jack looked between his mother and grandfather. He then looked at Nathan, who gave him a small shake of his head.
"Fine." Charlotte said. "You want to know. Everything is being removed from your room at home. Only items that you earn back here will be there when we return. Additionally, a camera and motion sensor are being installed in your room. Finally, the staff will have new instructions when it come to you when we return to the city. They will not be at your beck and call. They will not clean up after you and they most definitely will not give you anything that your father and I haven't approved. There will be no bullying them into doing what you want. There will be no allowance. There will be no going anywhere unless you have an approved chaperone and you have earned the privilege of leaving the house. These rules will be in effect until you can show some respect and responsibility. Your father and I will also being choosing a school for you this fall as I have said. You will have no say in the school we choose."
"This isn't fair!" Tommy yelled.
"Enough." James said. "Tommy you brought this on yourself. You had plenty of opportunities to change your behavior, but chose to continue acting like you were better then everyone else. You will do what you are told or I can have you stay in staff quarters and trust me, they won't care what your last name is. Now, I suggest you go to your room. You have a long full day of chores tomorrow. Don't even think about trying to go upstairs. I locked the guest room."
"Also don't think of trying to come into my room." Jack said. "You know what happened last time."
"Fine!" Tommy huff.
Nathan let him go and watched him head downstairs.
"You aren't really sending him away to school." Jack asked.
"Yes." Charlotte said. "This had been a long time in the works. If you father would have had his way, Tommy would have been away at school for at least the past year."
"Mind me asking where you are thinking?" Nathan asked.
"Thomas has already gotten him enrolled in three." Charlotte said. "We have until July 15th to make a final choice. He is also on the list for two others."
"Where?" Jack asked.
"McQuid Jesuit in Rochester." Charlotte said. "Storm King in Cornwall-on-Hudson and Oliverian in Pike, New Hampshire. He is also on the list for St Lawrence Seminary High School in Mount Calvary, Wisconsin and Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee."
"Wow you are serious." Jack said.
"Can I make a suggestion?" Nathan said.
"Go ahead." Charlotte said.
"Let's sit." James said.
They group went over to sit on the couches.
"What did you want to say?" Charlotte asked.
"If I were you." Nathan said. "I would go with McQuid as my first choice. It is an all boys school and they are strict. My second choice would be the one in Wisconsin and my third choice would be Oliverian in New Hampshire. Baylor is a good school, but lots of rich kids. I think Tommy needs to get away from that. Storm King is good, but I think it might be too close. It might be too tempting for you to just pop up there to see him."
"Thank you for sharing." Charlotte said. "How do you know so much about boarding schools?"
"I may not come from money." Nathan said. "But that didn't mean that I don't know people who did. While I was attending community college, I worked as a personal security for a family. Two of their three were in boarding school. One was up at McQuid for a time and the other was at Baylor, before they both ended up at Baylor. The younger one was a bit like Tommy. He was doing well at McQuid, but his mother didn't like having the boys so far away from each other. She thought they they would be better together. I didn't agree, but it wasn't my place to say. They learned first hand that the boys were better off apart."
"Well." Charlotte said. "McQuid is Thomas' first choice because it is Catholic and all boys. Oliverian is his second because it is more isolated. As a mother, I have been looking at schools closer to the city."
"Ma." Jack said.
"Yes." Charlotte said.
"That is what Tommy is counting on." Jack said. "He is counting on you caving in like you always do. I am sure he thinks he will get to go to the bonfire and the charity event."
"He is right, Char." James said. "I know it won't be easy, but you need to be strong with this."
"James is right." Nathan said. "If you cave, it will teach Tommy nothing and he will be worse. It is not going to be easy, but Thomas will be here and so are your parents. I will also do what I can to support you, but you need to be the one that holds the line."
Charlotte let out a harsh breath.
"I know." Charlotte said. "But it is not easy. Tommy is my baby."
"But that is part of the problem, Ma." Jack said. "Tommy is far from a baby. Well, mostly. He never got past that spoiled two year old stage. I have watched for years as you gave in every time he threw a fit or put up a stink, just like when he was a toddler. So you wonder why he still acts like one. He thinks that he puts up enough of a fit or fight that you will just give in. And until today you have. Even when Dad has punished him, you turned a blind eye when he bullied and threatened the staff to give him what he wanted."
"That bad." Charlotte said.
"Yes." James said.
"I guess I owe you all an apology." Charlotte said.
"It is fine." Nathan said. "But like my mother would say – do better. You can do better by sticking with this. It will not be easy and you will need to stay on Tommy, but …."
Suddenly Nathan's phone chimed again. He pulled it out and looked at.
"What?" Charlotte asked.
"Tommy left his room." Nathan said.
"I will go see." Charlotte said. "It is time for us all to turn in anyway. You are right it is going to be a long week."
Charlotte stood and gave her father a hug before heading downstairs. Nathan and Jack wished James a good night before heading down as well. When Nathan and Jack got downstairs, they heard Tommy.
"I hate you!" Tommy yelled as Charlotte escorted him back to his room.
She pulled his door shut.
"Have a good night boys." Charlotte said. "I will see you in the morning."
"Night, Ma." Jack said giving her a kiss on the cheek as she went past.
"If they hate you." Nathan said. "You are doing something right. It is hard, but it will be better in the long run."
"Thank you." Charlotte said.
Nathan went to the room he shared with Jack while Jack knocked on Elizabeth door.
"Hey." Jack said.
"Hey." Elizabeth said.
"You okay?" Jack asked.
"I am okay." Elizabeth said. "I just figured that it would be better to stay out of the way. Let you guys deal with Tommy. I don't like the yelling. It reminds me of being at home with my sisters and parents."
"I can't promise that there won't be more yelling this week." Jack said. "But if you are uncomfortable, no one will fault you for walking away. I am sure that you heard that at least Doug will be here tomorrow with Dad. Him and my father will add another layer to buffer things from you."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "Have a good night."
"You too." Jack said.
Elizabeth waited and watched Jack walk to his room, before turning and shutting her door again. She took a deep cleansing breath. She then said a prayer for everyone in the house. She prayed for strength for Charlotte and Thomas that they would be able to follow through with the punishment. She prayed for strength for James and Gran as they helped support Thomas and Charlotte. She prayed for safety for Jack, Doug and Nathan as they jumped and worked with the horses. She prayed for strength for herself that she would be able to help where needed and to keep her mouth shut when needed. She also prayed for Tommy that he would have a change of heart and see how much he was hurting the people around him with his actions. Finally, Elizabeth prayed for peace to come over the house. She hated the tension that had been building and finally exploded today. She was glad that she was away from her parents and with people that truly cared about her, but also wanted the peaceful time that Jack had told her about. Done with her prayers, Elizabeth crawled into bed. She drifted off to sleep thinking about the foals that they had seen that day as well as thoughts of her and Jack tending foals for years to come.