Chapter 80 – A Long Thursday part 1
Thursday morning, it was actually, Elizabeth that was up first. She found Nathan on the sectional and since he was sleeping so soundly, she just covered him with a throw blanket and headed upstairs. She had heard a little of what had happened the night before, but she mostly tried to block it out as she didn't like the yelling. She thought about asking Jack about what happened, but she figured that if she was meant to know that she would be told. Elizabeth wasn't really surprised when the boys weren't upstairs.
"Morning." Gran said. "Nathan asked for pancakes. I have everything ready, I am just waiting for the boys."
"Nathan was sleeping on the couch downstairs." Elizabeth said. "I covered him with a blanket. Jack isn't up yet?"
"No." Gran said. "You are the first person up. I mean James is already gone, but other then that, you are the first up."
"Oh." Elizabeth said. "Then again, I guess I did go to bed before everyone else."
"We didn't keep you up, then?" Gran asked.
"No." Elizabeth said. "I mean I heard some of the yelling, but I wasn't sure what it was about. So I put my headphones back on and tried to not listen."
"Okay." Gran said. "I am sure that you will hear about it."
"Is everything okay?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes and no." Gran said. "I am not sure. But all I can do, it be here and say a prayer."
"Good plan." Elizabeth said.
As Elizabeth was pouring herself some coffee, Thomas and Charlotte walked into the kitchen area. Neither greeted Elizabeth, so she figured that they had fought some more about her. She wasn't going to let them push her away.
"Tommy up?" Charlotte asked.
"Nope." Gran said. "None of the boys are up."
Charlotte didn't even pour her coffee, but turned and went downstairs. She first woke Tommy and told him he had five minutes to be upstairs. She then woke Jack and his friends. As she was heading back upstairs, she saw Nathan on the couch and woke him. She was rude to them all and Jack was seething from the moment he opened his eyes. Charlotte then headed back upstairs.
"They are up." Charlotte said. "I told Tommy he has five minutes."
"I will start the pancakes." Gran said.
While Gran was making the pancakes, the boys started to wander upstairs. Doug and Lee were first. They each grabbed some coffee and started another pot. They then sat down and Gran put a plate of pancakes on the table. Neither Doug or Lee even greeted Thomas or Charlotte.
"Where is Tommy?" Charlotte asked.
"I don't know." Doug said. "Not my turn to babysit him. He is your kid, you figure it out."
Charlotte just glared that Doug for a moment, but didn't respond. Thomas walked to the stairs.
"Tommy if you want to eat, you better get your butt up here." Thomas yelled.
There was no response, so Thomas went and sat back down. He dished up his breakfast and started to eat. Elizabeth noticed the tension around the table, but didn't say anything. She was waiting for Jack to eat. She was fine with just her coffee. Doug and Lee finished first. They cleared their plates, gave Gran a kiss and then stopped at Elizabeth.
"Jack should be up soon." Doug said softly. "I hope you slept okay. Please let Jack know that Lee and I headed to start chores."
"I did." Elizabeth said. "And I will. Thank you."
Doug squeezed her shoulder and then he and Lee were gone out the back door. Charlotte finished next just as Tommy was coming up the stairs.
"Let's go." Charlotte said. "I am ready."
"I haven't eaten." Tommy whined.
"Then you should have come up when you were told." Charlotte snapped.
Gran took pity on Tommy and handed him two pieces of buttered toast.
"Go." Gran said. "You better not keep your mother waiting."
Tommy pulled on his boots. Charlotte and Tommy took off as Tommy quickly ate his toast as he followed his mother. Thomas looked over to Elizabeth, but didn't say anything to her. He wasn't sure what to say. He knew that he needed to talk to her about some things going on with the Kensingtons, but he wasn't sure that she wanted to talk to him. When Thomas finished, left his plate, but went to the kitchen to get more coffee.
"Please have Jack and Elizabeth come to the office before he goes to the stable?" Thomas asked.
"I will tell him." Gran said. "You need to clear your plate to the sink. I am not your maid."
"What is it about?" Elizabeth asked coming over to Gran.
"Kensingtons." Thomas said.
Thomas glared at Gran and she matched his stare. Finally, Thomas relented and went to grab his dirty dishes. He walked them back to the kitchen without saying another word.
"We will be there." Elizabeth said.
Thomas left to the office without acknowledging Elizabeth. Gran gave her a sympathetic smile. Elizabeth cleared everything to the counter for Jack and Nathan. She was just wiping the table when they came up.
"Have a seat at the counter." Elizabeth said. "I will sit with you. Everyone else is done."
"Morning." Jack said.
When Elizabeth walked back to the kitchen, Jack stopped her and pulled her to him. He gave her a quick kiss before giving her a grin.
"Sorry we are late." Jack said.
"No problem." Elizabeth said.
"Do you know who covered me with a blanket?" Nathan asked.
"I did." Elizabeth said.
"Thank you." Nathan said.
"Your welcome." Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth poured them each some coffee and then took a seat next to Jack.
"Your dad wants us to stop by the office before you head out." Elizabeth said.
"Why?" Jack asked.
"Kensingtons." Elizabeth said.
Jack let out a harsh breath and shook his head.
"Okay." Jack said.
"Enough talk." Gran said. "Here you three eat."
"Thank you." Nathan said. "This looks good."
"Shall we pray." Jack said.
"I will." Nathan said. "Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. We ask You to keep us safe as we ride. We give You thanks for the beautiful horses that You have given this family. Please bless this food to our bodies and bless the hands that made it for us. Amen."
"Amen." Jack and Elizabeth both said.
The started eating in silence. Gran took the last seat at the counter where she had been before. Nathan leaned over.
"Thank you." Nathan said. "I am sorry we kept you waiting."
"It is okay." Gran said. "You needed your sleep. It is going to be another long day. I might even take a nap this afternoon."
"I think I might as well." Nathan said.
"What time is everything tonight?" Jack asked.
"Food is served at 7." Gran said. "The music will start after everyone has been through the line. They will light the bonfire about 8:30 or 9."
"Okay." Jack said.
"I am looking forward to some fun." Nathan said.
"Me too." Gran said. "I like listening to you two play. James and I will stay down there until maybe ten or so, we will see how the day goes. Most people will leave by midnight."
"Okay." Nathan said.
The three finished their breakfast. Jack and Nathan rinsed the dishes and loaded the dishwasher while Elizabeth helped Gran clean up the other stuff. When they were done, the three of them headed down to the home office. Jack grabbed Elizabeth's hand and squeezed it to reassure her or was he trying to reassure himself. Either way, it helped. Jack knocked on the door.
"Come in." Thomas said.
The three went in and took a seat.
"Nathan doesn't need to be here." Thomas said with a dismissive tone.
Jack looked back at Nathan who nodded.
"I say he does." Jack said. "If this is about the Kensingtons, then it is about safety and Nathan needs to know. Besides there isn't anything that you can't say in front of him."
"Fine." Thomas said.
"So what is going on?" Jack asked.
"Apparently." Thomas said. "The Kensingtons and Elizabeth's family haven't back down from their demands. They are demanding that she be returned to them. They have also stepped up their social media assault. Then there is this."
Thomas handed a piece of paper over to Jack. Jack took one look at it before handing it to Nathan.
"What is that?" Elizabeth asked.
"Kensington is offering a reward for your return." Thomas said.
"Oh more then that." Nathan said. "According to this, he wants Elizabeth returned so they can be married on September 1st."
"I am not marrying him!" Elizabeth yelled.
"You don't have to." Jack said. "You are an adult and no one can force you to do anything."
"They are trying." Thomas said. "They are saying that it was an arranged marriage and they have a legally binding contact saying that Elizabeth was promised to Charlie Kensington and that Elizabeth agreed to the arrangement."
"I did no such thing." Elizabeth said.
"Last time I checked." Nathan said. "Arranged marriages weren't legal."
"Technically." Thomas said. "They are allowed as long as all parties are consenting."
"But I don't consent." Elizabeth said. "So it is a moot point."
"They are going to argue that we forced you to say that." Thomas said. "I honestly don't see a way around this. I can try to talk to the judge, but I don't know if my argument is going to be compelling enough."
"I … will … not … marry … Charlie … Kensington!" Elizabeth said forcefully. "Not now, not ever!"
"I won't let that happen." Jack said pulling Elizabeth to him.
Elizabeth started crying and Jack wrapped her into his arms, holding her close. Jack was seething before, so he had to take a calming breath, so that he could think straight and deal with this. If Jack wasn't pissed at his father before, this sure made him.
"What happens if Elizabeth doesn't go back?" Nathan asked.
"I don't know." Thomas said. "The judge hasn't ordered her to return, but then again, I have never had something like this."
"Do they have a marriage license?" Nathan asked.
"No." Thomas said. "As far as I can tell, not yet. They have to wait, if the 'wedding' isn't until September 1st, then they can't get it until July 2nd at the earliest. They are only good for sixty days."
Nathan and Jack looked at each other and both understood what the other was thinking. Jack nodded and Nathan gave him a nod back. Thomas didn't notice the unspoken conversation that happened right before him.
"Elizabeth." Thomas said. "I need you to sign some documents. They are to keep the restraining order and hopefully this will put an end to the Kensington's demands that you be returned."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I don't want him near me and I am afraid of what is going to happen if he does try."
"We will keep you safe." Nathan said.
Jack picked up the papers and read though them. Elizabeth was waiting to see what Jack would do. She was also trying to calm herself down. Finally, Jack looked at Elizabeth.
"Go ahead." Jack said. "Everything seems to be in order."
"Thank you, again." Elizabeth said giving Jack a small smile.
Nathan put his hand on Elizabeth's back for support as she signed the documents that Thomas had pushed across the desk.
"Now." Thomas said. "I can't tell you what to do, but I think that you need to talk to you parents and tell them … I don't know …."
"As long as they are siding with the Kensingtons." Elizabeth said. "I don't want nothing to do with them. I have told them to leave me alone, but they keep calling. That is why I have turned my phone off and am not answering it. I have exchanged a few messages with my best friend and told her that I am safe and I would like some time. She said that she would be there whenever I wanted to talk, but will leave me alone until I contact her first."
"I think that your silence is fueling some of this." Thomas said.
"What are you suggesting?" Nathan said. "That she subject herself to more hurt, because I hope you are not. I wouldn't advise that. She has asked to be left alone and they refuse to honor her request. She doesn't need to explain anything to anyone she doesn't want."
"It is up to you." Thomas said. "But something from you might calm some of this. I was thinking of drafting a statement to the press, but I can't do that without your consent."
Elizabeth looked at Jack and he saw the fear in her eyes that he saw when he went to get her from her house.
"Absolutely not." Jack said. "Elizabeth and my life are not media fodder. I will not allow a statement. She is terrified of Kensington and her father. You want to give them a road map to her. I will not allow it."
"I agree." Nathan said. "No statement to the media. However, I do suggest that Elizabeth try talking to her best friend again. She might be the person that we need to help us."
"I can do that." Elizabeth said. "No statement."
"Okay." Thomas said. "I will do what I can with the judge, but I can't promise much."
"You do your job." Jack snapped. "If I find out you are doing anything less then your best, I will report you myself."
Thomas just looked at him.
"I have never not given a client the best." Thomas said.
"Well." Jack said. "This is a pretty open an shut case of assault and stocking, so I don't see a problem. Just fix it."
"You are free to go." Thomas said waving his hand and going back to his paperwork.
The trio left, but didn't head out to the stables. They stopped in the library for a moment.
"Elizabeth." Jack said. "Are you okay?"
"I don't know." Elizabeth said. "I am scared that they are going to force me into a marriage with Charlie."
"You can't be forced." Nathan said. "Besides, as long as I have breath in my body, I will not allow Kensington anywhere near you."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I should let you go. You have to go deal with horses."
"Doug and Lee can handle things." Jack said. "I want to make sure that you are alright."
"I just don't know what to do." Elizabeth said.
"I do." Jack said. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes." Elizabeth said.
"Good." Jack said. "Then just trust that nothing bad is going to happen. I promise you won't have to deal with Charlie Kensington."
"How?" Elizabeth asked.
"Please just trust me." Jack said. "When the time is right, I will tell you."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I will trust you. You are the only person that I want to marry."
"That was just what I wanted to hear." Jack said. "And you are the only person that I will marry."
Elizabeth gave him a confused look, before leaning in and kissing his cheek.
"Go ride." Elizabeth said. "You have a show to win this weekend."
"Yes, ma'am." Jack said.
Jack gave Nathan a look.
"I will meet you in a moment." Nathan said. "I need something from the room."
With that, Nathan excused himself and headed downstairs. Jack stood and pulled Elizabeth up and into his arms. He looked at her for a moment and then he kissed her like he had been wanting to since he had walked upstairs that morning. When he pulled back breathless, he leaned his forehead on hers.
"I love you." Jack said.
"I love you." Elizabeth said.
"Please help Gran." Jack said. "This bonfire is actually a lot of work."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "Take it easy today. I know that you all had a late night last night."
"We will." Jack said. "I have to go."
"I know." Elizabeth said.
Jack leaned in for one more kiss before leading Elizabeth back to the kitchen area.