Chapter 61 – Learning to Trust
After everyone else had headed inside, Nathan looked at the four adults that stood before him. Both James and Gran gave Nathan a sorry look. He understood that they didn't have a problem with him and it was Thomas and/or Charlotte that had the problem. Nathan turned to Thomas.
"Is there a problem, Sir." Nathan asked.
"I don't know." Thomas said. "You tell me."
"I am not sure what you are talking about." Nathan said.
"It has been brought to my attention that you may have trouble remaining objective." Thomas said. "It was also suggested that you crossed a professional boundary at least once, maybe more."
"Can I ask who complained?" Nathan asked.
"You can ask." Charlotte said. "But I am sure that you know."
"So do you want to know what happened." Nathan said. "Or are you just going to take the word of someone that had no idea what was going on nor was close enough to hear what was actually being said."
"Please explain." Thomas said.
"Can I safely assume this is about Sunday afternoon?" Nathan asked.
Thomas gave a slight nod.
"Well, then." Nathan said. "Elizabeth was upset. She had had a nightmare on Saturday. I woke to a noise and when I realized that it was Elizabeth crying I woke Jack. Not wanting to upset Elizabeth further, we made the decision to wake Margaret."
Thomas looked over to Margaret who nodded.
"So." Nathan continued. "After an emotional Church service, a tense lunch complete with a confrontation with Lacy Pennybaker, Elizabeth was at her emotional limit. She asked to speak to Jack and I. So we stopped at a little park after a quick stop at Walmart. Adam and the other security guy stayed in their car, over two hundred feet away. Elizabeth was pacing back and forth upset that she had woke Jack and I the night before. I sensed that there was something more to what was going on, so I stood and stopped her pacing. When she looked at me, I felt like she needed a hug. I asked her and she gave me permission. When I wrapped her in a hug, she further dissolved into tears. I calmed her like I would have calmed my sister when she is upset.
After a few moments, I led Elizabeth back to the table so that she could talk to Jack and I a little more. After some more questions from both of us, we got to the bottom of what was really going on. We talked and mostly were able to work things out. We all knew that there was stuff that still needed to be dealt, but we had reached a good outcome. Once Elizabeth was feeling better, we headed back. When I got to the car, Adam asked if he needed to be worried about me objective. I told him to mind his own business and do his job and I would do mine."
"What were you talking about?" Charlotte asked.
Nathan took a deep breath and slowly blew it out.
"To be honest." Nathan said. "Unless it effects my ability to keep Jack and Elizabeth safe, I don't feel comfortable sharing what we talk about. If she wants to talk to you about her past and what she is going through then that is one thing, but I don't feel that it is my place to report everything that Jack and Elizabeth share with me to you. Nor is it my responsibility to tell you everything that they say and do. I am not going to betray their trust that they placed in me by sharing things."
Charlotte looked Thomas and shook her head. Nathan could tell that Charlotte wasn't happy that he wouldn't tell them everything that they talked about. He also knew trust was a big thing with both Jack and Elizabeth.
"Let me ask you a question." Nathan said.
"Okay." Thomas said.
"In all the years that Jack has had a security detail." Nathan said. "How long before he tries to ditch them and do what he wants?"
Thomas looked at Charlotte with a raised eyebrow and motioned for her to answer.
"Usually less then a day." Charlotte said.
"Do you know why?" Nathan said.
"He likes to be difficult." Charlotte said, as if it was obvious.
"Actually, no." Nathan said. "He ditches security because he doesn't trust them. He didn't want them to report back everything that he said and did to you like has happened in the past. He understands the need for security and if he had been able to trust them, then he might not have ditched them so easily."
Charlotte and Thomas shared a look and Nathan knew that he was speaking the truth.
"Has Jack once tried to ditch me?" Nathan said.
"No." Charlotte said.
"Right." Nathan said. "Because he trusts me and part of the reason that he trusts me is because he knows that unless I feel that there is something that you need to know, anything that he tells me will not be repeated. Also he said something about me not being as uptight and rigid as some of his previous security."
"Nathan is right." James said. "JP has never liked security because he has been afraid that they will tell you everything he says and does. Trust me when I say he understands the need for security, but he also wants to have the freedom to be a young man. All he ever wanted was to be able to make a mistake or have a little fun without having to worry about what you were told by people that he didn't trust to hold his horses reins, much less keep a secret like who he liked or what he was thinking about or who he wanted to talk to."
"Personally." Nathan said. "I think that there are members of your security team that are jealous that I was brought it to be close protection for Jack and Elizabeth when they have been with you longer. That is not my problem, but it is yours. I told you when you hired me that I would do everything in my power to keep them safe and I have done that and more."
Thomas looked at Nathan like he wanted to ask a question, but wasn't quite sure what to ask.
"For example." Nathan said. "When we found the snake in the sand ring. Jack was upset and yelling. When we got to the arena to jump, I refused to let him get back on a horse until he calmed down and got out of his own head. Or how about on Sunday when I stepped in to try and diffuse the situation with Lacy when Jack looked at me to help him. I could have just signaled Adam to come over or call the cops, but I tried to handle it without making a scene."
"Thomas." James said. "He is right. It was Lacy that was determined to make a scene. I also heard from Marco that Nathan has more then once stopped JP when he was getting in his own head while riding."
"Sorry." Thomas said. "I shouldn't have assumed that you crossed a line."
"Forgiven." Nathan said. "Just don't do it again. I like Jack and Elizabeth. Jack is like a little brother that I never had and Elizabeth reminds me of my sister. I promise that I will keep them safe. Like I told Jack, even when this assignment is over, I would like to still be friends. He liked that idea as well. He even thought that we could go riding. He was a little disappointed when he found out that I was a student at NYU and not Columbia. He knows that he will probably have to have security at least in part into the fall and was hoping that I would stay on."
Thomas gave Charlotte a pointed look.
"Again." Thomas said. "I am sorry about this. We have never had the situation that we are in. We have always tried to keep security separate. Not that we don't value and appreciate our employees …."
"It is just that they have always been employees first." Charlotte said.
"And that is part of the problem." Nathan said. "Jack treats people like people first and employees second if at all. Whether it is one of the stable hands or the cashier at Walmart. He learns people's names and calls them by their name. He has never made me feel like I was less then him just because I technically work for you guys."
"I am sorry." Gran said coming over to Nathan.
"You have nothing to be sorry for." Nathan said looking at her. "You have been wonderful."
"Thank you." Gran said.
Nathan gave Gran a kiss on her check and she squeezed his arm before stepping back to stand with James.
"Thomas." James said. "You were the one that told us to treat him like one of JP's friends. I have done that. Maybe you should have made it clearer with the rest of your security team that your choice was what you felt was best for JP and Elizabeth. It wasn't anything against them."
"I guess I could have handle things differently." Thomas said. "I am in uncharted waters. So, Nathan, again, I am sorry and can we start over. They are right. I chose you because I wanted someone that JP wouldn't mind having around. The fact that you ride and are Catholic were bonus."
"Like I said." Nathan said. "You are forgiven. But like I told Charlotte, my mother says – do better."
"I will." Thomas said. "From what I could see tonight, I was right about you. JP has included you and I know that he is safe with you."
"Thank you." Nathan said. "Like I said, I can see us being friends. I like Doug and Lee as well and like I said Elizabeth reminds me of my sister."
"I will talk to Adam." Thomas said. "And other security. I will tell them that if they don't like the way that I run things that they are free to leave, because you are right. You are the first security that JP hasn't tried to get rid of since he was old enough to figure things out and that was when he was seven or eight."
"If there is nothing else." Nathan said. "It has been a long day and it sounds like it is going to be a long week helping plan a show as well as training."
"Goodnight." Gran said.
"Goodnight." Nathan said. "James, thank you for allowing me to jump for Coal Creek. I don't remember if I told you or not, but I appreciate it."
"Your welcome." James said. "Have a goodnight."
"Night." Nathan said.
Gran and James headed inside. Charlotte and Thomas stood there for another moment.
"Was there something else?" Nathan asked.
"Yes." Thomas said. "I just wanted to say thank you for your help with Tommy. I am sorry that it had to come to that, but I was glad that you were here."
"Not a problem." Nathan said. "Like I said, I have seen kids his age and something needed to change. I have encouraged Charlotte to be strong and hold to the punishment. I have also talked to Jack, Doug and Lee to help as much as possible. We understand that you are the ones that need to do it, but we will be there to help."
"Thank you." Charlotte said. "I am ashamed that I let things get that bad."
Nathan wasn't sure that Charlotte was being sincere. He has seen it before that people could say all the right things, but didn't always mean it. Charlotte came off as one of those people to Nathan.
"You know." Nathan said. "You are trying to correct it. It will not be easy, but you can do it. Now goodnight."
Nathan turned to head into the house. Thomas pulled Charlotte into a hug.
"I told you everything was fine." Thomas said.
"Adam has worked for us for years." Charlotte said. "I still don't like how close that they all have become, but …."
"And Nathan is right." Thomas said. "We have always kept employees at arms length, so having one as JP's friend is new to all of us, but I do trust him to keep JP and his friends safe. Nathan is also right, I should have been more clear with the rest of the security. When Devin approached me with the idea, I wasn't sure, but he explained that it would a lot easier to keep JP and everyone else safe. I was even more surprised when Devin had hand picked a half a dozen young men that he had worked with in the past. Nathan was the first profile that I saw and I knew that he was the right man for the job. I guess I didn't think what it would look like to other members of the security team. My only thought was keeping everyone safe."
"I guess that is the most important." Charlotte said. "Keeping JP safe. You know I don't like the Kensingtons, but still …."
"Yes." Thomas said. "Now let's head in. It has been a long day."
Thomas and Charlotte headed inside and when they got to the door, they heard JP and Doug laughing.