Chapter 150: A Most Important Day Part I
Thursday, the day everyone had planned for, came bright and early to the Thatcher Household and their visiting family.
Up until now everyone's time at the Thatcher Estate had been mostly family time with everyone coming and going as they pleased.
But today was heavily scheduled for all.
And what a Thursday it was going to be.
If everything went according to their plans that is…
Nathan, the early riser that he was, got up and dressed for breakfast at 6 A.M.
He filled the time till breakfast quietly reading while allowing Elizabeth to get some extra sleep.
At 7:30 A.M., he did a little gentle nudging to wake his wife since their breakfast was to be served promptly at 8 A.M.
"Good Morning, Sleeping Beauty!" he whispered.
She opened her eyes and sleepily kissed him, but her eyes seemed far away.
"You have a half-hour to get ready, Love."
She sighed heavily, then slowly got up, as though it took a huge effort.
"Darling, are you feeling okay," asked a concerned Nathan.
"Of course," she answered with a wane smile, although not convincingly. "I only threw up once yesterday. That's a record!"
Although he was happy she hadn't been as sick yesterday, something told Nathan not to press her. He knew something completely different was bothering his wife. However, she clearly wasn't at all ready to talk about it.
His instincts told him to wait and give her time to process whatever it was that was bothering her.
And so he did...
With the exception of Elizabeth, everyone gathered in the Conservatory on time and in a jovial mood, for their breakfast!
Amid lots of happy chatter and laughter among all three generations, sometimes with conversations crossing each other, everyone was feeling good about their day, and excited for the flurry of activity that would come tonight when the Ball began.
However, Ball or not, Breakfast was rapidly becoming the Thatcher-Grant-Townsend's favorite time of day.
"Breakfast is absolutely perfect this morning, Godfrey! Thank you," smiled Grace. "Everything is delicious! Please tell Cook for me."
"My pleasure, Madame!"
'Morning Mood' from Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt, wafted throughout the Conservatory, as several under butlers stood at attention, ready to take care of the slightest whim. (*123)
The timbre of the solo flute was deeply relaxing for all, effortlessly passing to the oboe.
The thought crossed Nathan's mind that he had never heard a more relaxing way to start the day.
Little Jack was on his lap, but Nathan noticed Bertie was still standing close by, just in case.
Elizabeth hadn't seemed to feel well last night so he hadn't mentioned anything, but Godfrey and Bertie had just smiled at each other again, across the Conservatory.
"Grace, I think this Fruit Compote is the best I've ever had. I'd love for Cook to put this on our regular rotation, Dear, if at all possible."
"I'll see to it, William. Consider it done!" smiled Grace most graciously, happy for her husband to be pleased, even in such a small way as this.
The Thatcher Sisters were seated close together toward the end of the table and were seriously involved in hysterical chatter reminiscing about their childhood, leaving Nathan and Anthony in deep conversation on horsemanship, a common love, on the opposite side.
By now, Madelyne and Grace were chatting like old friends do, with their granddaughters sitting next to them listening intently to every word they said, while 'Will' and 'Arch' were talking about the weather.
It was sweet to see how easily Grace and Madelyne drew Allie and even the much shyer Arabella into their conversation.
As Nathan 'chatted' with Anthony, which consisted of mostly listening, something Nathan preferred over speaking, he expertly fed Little Jack, who was still sitting on his lap, much to Bertie's consternation.
Her disapproving looks from the sidelines could not be missed, but Nathan chose to ignore them, determined to feed his son himself.
Needless to say, Little Jack was thrilled and had grown to expect sitting in his father's lap at breakfast.
Since Elizabeth and Viola were already dressed for her appointment, they were only drinking hot Chamomile Tea in order to not risk losing their food prior to seeing Dr. Jenkins.
"Viola, when should we leave to see Dr. Jenkins?" asked Elizabeth innocently, unaware of the chaos that was about to ensue.
"I'd like us to leave by 9:30 A.M. so we won't be rushed in case there's traffic. Godfrey's already arranged for our car."
Across the table Anthony stopped mid-sentence, leaving Nathan puzzled until he glanced at his wife and sisters-in-law, who were chatting on and on about 'their' upcoming appointment.
"Viola, I thought," started Anthony, but then he paused, as his voice waned away.
"What were you saying, Anthony?" asked Viola curtly. "Speak up!"
"I thought since we're here in America, that I'd go with you for your appointment, Dear."
"Absolutely not! That is not at all proper, in fact, it's crude, Anthony and, you of all people know it! Elizabeth will accompany me, and I'll be fine. This is one of those areas that don't involve you in the least!"
Her words came out even sharper than Viola had intended, and suddenly there was silence around the table, with only the soft music playing in the background.
Nathan got her point loud and clear, implying he was untitled and crude for escorting his own wife to her appointment, but he wasn't in the least concerned about that.
Right now, his worry was for this brother-in-law, who didn't deserve to be spoken to like that.
Anthony was crushed, looking down at his plate, then as the British do, he looked up with a stiff-upper-lip and continued where he had before broken off mid-sentence in his conversation with his brother-in-law, and finished it as though nothing had happened.
Grace noticed what her daughter had done, and she was not at all amused. Child or adult, there would be none of this at her table. Viola had to be dealt with.
To everyone's shock, but most of all Viola's, Grace spoke in a very firm but calm voice that meant business.
"Viola, you owe your husband an apology."
Viola was fuming, but even she didn't dare question her mother.
There was silence at the table, with no apology and a whole lot of tension.
Even Little Jack knew not to speak, as he watched his Auntie Viola.
That was when Viola decided to make her grand exit, still without an apology.
She rose from her chair and stretched to her full height, with her nose held high in the air.
"Please excuse me, I have to get ready for MY appointment."
Anthony especially heard her emphasis on the word 'my!' But truthfully no one sitting around the table had missed it. Nor had the Staff, standing mortified, but without reaction around the room.
William just lowered his head, ashamed of his daughter's outburst, and broken-hearted for his son-in-law.
No one deserved this treatment, and most certainly not in his house.
Viola had been raised better.
But for once in his life, Sir Anthony Townsend spoke up in his soft, gentrified voice before his wife turned to leave.
"Viola, you are correct, my Darling, the appointment is yours, but the child is mine as well."
Viola was apoplectic, turning to run as soon as she could control her contorted and glaring facial expressions.
"Was Mama rude, Daddy?" asked a scared Arabella.
Grace stepped in.
"I'm afraid Mama's not feeling well, Arabella. And I'm ashamed to say that sometimes, Darling Girl when that happens, we don't always remember our manners as we should. Perhaps as her mother, I am the one to blame. I would be most grateful if you all would continue your meal, while I have a talk with my daughter. Excuse me, please."
Then she rose, as regally as anyone could have done so.
Godfrey was there in a flash to proudly hold the chair for the Lady of the House, whom he was always proud of, but particularly so, right now at this moment…
Having prayed the whole way while walking to her daughter's room, Grace knocked on Viola's bedroom door with a heavy heart.
No answer.
But she could hear her daughter softly crying.
She knew this outburst was about much more than her daughter just being her usual imperious self.
She paused, then quietly opened the door to enter the bedroom where Viola's head was buried in her pillows.
Grace didn't say a word but instead quietly moved to the bed and sat down by her daughter.
She moved her right hand to gently, but firmly start rubbing Viola's back, without saying a word.
She continued to do so, till Viola turned with horrible puffy, and now, very red eyes.
"Don't you dare lecture me!"
"I haven't said a word," Grace replied calmly, without even looking at her daughter's face.
Right now, that was too difficult of an endeavor.
Grace felt lost, and so she prayed again silently for help, for wisdom on how to help her troubled daughter.
And so, she did as she was instructed.
She was still.
She sat quietly, without moving, looking straight ahead.
"Go on and just get it over with," yelled Viola.
Grace looked straight ahead, ignoring her daughter.
Viola screamed to the top of her lungs, shaking violently.
Her mother only reached to hold her and hold her she did, till Viola collapsed in her mother's arms.
"Mama, I don't know what to do!" sobbed Viola.
Grace just let her sob, but held her the whole time, using her fingers to caress her hair, which Viola had pulled half-back, with most of it left hanging long.
She had planned to have her maid style it into a beautiful updo coiffe, before leaving for her appointment, as Viola was always perfectly turned out.
But now, that was the last thing on her mind.
Viola's sobs finally lessened.
"What am I going to do, Mama?"
"I can't tell you, Viola. Only you can figure that out. I can only tell you that the moments of your life that are hurtful are not meant to destroy you. God's plan may not make sense to you right now as it happens, but His plan, whatever it is, is always meant to prosper you. To help you be better, content, and most of all happy in life."
"Mama, I married Anthony for his title and his money. I didn't love him."
"But the important question is do you love him now?"
"I think so."
"Viola, a man needs much more than thinking so, he needs to know without a doubt that you love him. And your Anthony is a good man, titled or not, wealthy or not. It pains me to see you so unhappy. You've given me a beautiful granddaughter, and you're about to give me a grandson."
"I am?" asked a shocked Viola. "What do you mean?"
"Your baby is a son, Viola. Don't ask me how, but I just know it. You are having an heir for your titled husband."
"Mother, Anthony would be thrilled!"
"Is that important to you, Viola? That he be happy about this pregnancy?"
"Of course, it's important to me! That's the most important thing ever for the lineage to continue for our home to pass to a son."
"But is it important because Anthony is a titled Lord, or is it important because you love your husband?"
"I don't know."
At least she had answered honestly.
"What do you know, Viola?"
"I know until you said I'd have a son, I've been terrified that I would fail again."
"Fail who, Viola?"
"The Townsend Family."
"Is that all? Does it not matter to you what you think or want or what your husband thinks or wants?"
"I guess it does. I mean I want Anthony to have a son."
"Let me ask you this. Are you happy, Viola?"
"I don't know how to be happy. Elizabeth is the only one who knows how to be happy."
"Really? That's funny that you would say that. Because the Elizabeth I know has been grieving for three long years."
"For Jack?"
"Yes, for Jack, the husband who was so cruelly taken from her."
"But she married Nathan. And she's madly in love. Everyone can see it. You can see their love and even feel their love!"
"Yes, now you can. But she fought him, or at least his love, for a very long time by pretty much keeping him at a distance and sometimes even hurting him. She would let him in a little, then push him out. But he loved her enough for the both of them. She finally opened her heart again, even though it was painful. Can you do that, Viola? Can you open your heart?"
Viola started sniffling again.
"I want to, Mama. I want to open my heart to Arabella and this baby. I really do."
"But all that's for naught if Anthony doesn't count. Viola, did you notice Little Jack sitting on Nathan's lap?"
"I suppose so, you can hardly miss it. Nathan seems pretty good with Jack."
"Yes, he is. Every child deserves a loving father, Viola. Nathan's holding another man's son, yet, he found it in his troubled heart, even when Elizabeth ignored him, to love this little boy as his own. Love is a choice, Viola. It's that simple. Nathan chose to love Jack when my grandson needed him most and his mother wasn't thinking straight because of her grief. But now you can see it in Nathan's eyes, he would move heaven and earth for that little boy and not even hesitate. Little Jack is now his and will be forever, and Nathan does this all without excluding Jack Senior! He even tells Little Jack stories about his birth father. I overheard the two of them one day."
"But that's what I want! I do want love! I truly do."
"Then choose it, my Darling. Choose to love, and if you can't love your husband, you need to end this sham of a marriage. That display this morning toward Anthony was reprehensible and unforgivable. I simply won't have it in this house. I want you to be happy Viola, even if that means you can't be with Lord Townsend, do you understand me? God does not honor a loveless marriage. You'll only destroy each other. Make your choice, but make sure your choice includes love. Then work at it. Work hard. Because love is work each and every single day you wake up together. It doesn't just happen, Viola."
Grace kissed her daughter and got up to leave.
"But aren't you going to say anything else? Aren't you going to help me? And tell me what to do?"
"'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.' Choose love, Viola, always choose love. That is what your Maker and your Mother want for you." (*124)
Then Grace turned and walked to the door.
"Mother, wait! Did Father ever go to the Doctor with you?"
"Yes. Once."
"When?"
"When I was hemorrhaging in my seventh month and came awfully close to losing you, Viola."
Her mother rushed out of the room, unable to stay any longer...
Tears sprung to Grace's face as she closed the door behind her and leaned against it, not wanting her daughter to see, still praying with all her might that God would finish the work she had so valiantly tried to instill in her beloved Viola.
What she hadn't told her daughter was that she, too, had almost died along with her baby.
But William never once left her side, day nor night, praying and practically willing his wife and their first child to live.
And that was when Grace knew without a doubt that her busy, and sometimes, often negligent husband loved her and his child with all his heart…
"Anthony, would you like to come 'play' with Jack and me in the Garden? We do a mean hide and seek! The more, the merrier!"
"Thank you, Nathan. I appreciate the offer, but I think I need some alone time before we ride. Just give me a call when you're ready."
"Of course!"
Nathan, carrying Jack, turned around to go to the gardens but stopped and turned back to Anthony instead.
"Anthony!"
"Yes?"
"For what it's worth, you didn't deserve any of that outburst this morning!"
"Thank you for saying so, Nathan. That's most kind of you. I'll see you later."
Nathan watched as Anthony climbed the grand staircase, feeling sorry that he felt so bad.
Viola had done her best to break her husband, but Nathan suspected Anthony was stronger than that and much stronger than Viola knew.
"Daddy, is Unca Atny sick?"
"No, Son! He's going to rest so we can go horseback riding later. Now, how about a great big old game of Hide and Seek?"
"I hide, Daddy!"
"You're the best hider! But I'm going to find you," he tickled Little Jack into gales of laughter, using his monster voice. "Let's go, Son!"
"Ride me, Daddy!" which meant 'Pick me up, Daddy!'
"Are you ready?"
"Es, Sir!"
Nathan grinned as he saluted Jack and lifted his boy high up on his shoulders, both singing an old Mountie song Nathan had taught Jack, as they tried to find the door closest to the Garden...
Phillippe, the chief gardener, and one of the older employees of the Thatcher Family, had been quite negative toward the children being here. But as he stood in the dark hallway, watching this kind man and his son, the old crotchety man couldn't help himself as his face broke out into a soft smile.
The man's own father had been an alcoholic.
There had been no shoulder rides for him, nor games in a Garden either. In fact, there had been no love, no fun, no kisses, no togetherness, no touching, and most of the time very little food.
Yet this Mountie was the opposite of all that, obviously, a tough man to encounter if you were on the wrong side of the Law, but totally gentle in his personal life, pouring out his love to this adorable little boy.
And yes, he was a loving man, in general, the chief gardener had noticed that.
They even shared the title 'Chief,' although they were 'Chiefs' of very different things.
Oh, how Phillippe longed to have had that kind of love with his own father. However, it was not to be. His birth father, for you, could hardly call him anything more, had died when his abused liver could take no more.
But that didn't mean that other little boys should live the same horrible childhood as him.
'Maybe I should go out to the garage and find that old wagon the girls used to play with,' mused Phillippe.
Graying, and fighting bouts of arthritis, this elder man with a constant sad expression on his face, slowly moved to the garage.
Nathan and Jack didn't yet know it, but they just might have changed the course of this man's life.
One down, two more to go as far as charming the Staff.
It was still early, but the day had already brought something negative and something positive; some things planned, and some things unplanned.
And the day was just beginning…
"Ninety-seven, ninety-eight, ninety-nine, a hundred! Ready or not I'm coming to get you, Jack!"
Nathan looked around at the gorgeous, refined gardens. Each planting had been done so meticulously. And it was obvious that constant and very talented loving care was responsible for this living work of art.
But then he heard little giggles very close by, so he pretended to 'find' Little Jack elsewhere, which only brought more giggles.
After five or six pretended attempts to find his son, looking behind trees, behind hedges, and behind a patch of extra-tall flowers, Nathan circled back, and came from behind surprising Jack under his bench!
"Got you!" called Nathan, grabbing the little tyke from behind.
"Daddy!" he shrieked, as happy as he had ever been.
"I found you, Son! You know what that means! Now you have to be 'It' and find me!"
Nathan led Jack to the center of the garden where they had started this game.
"Okay, Jack, your turn!"
"I cwose my eyes, Daddy. One, Two, Free!"
"Hold it! Count again Jack!"
"One, Two, Free! I fine you, Daddy!"
Nathan was standing frozen like a mime beside some garden tools, that were on a worn cart.
And Jack ran straight toward him, laughing!'
"I fine you, I fine you! 'It,' Daddy, 'It!'"
Nathan picked Jack up and swung him around to the little boy's utter delight.
That was when both spied a beautiful shiny wagon, that looked very vintage.
"Ride, Daddy! Ride!"
Phillippe watched in secret, as his garden came alive with Nathan pulling Jack with gusto, both laughing as they raced through the Thatcher Gardens, in the morning sun.
The old Gardener's heart softened as soon as he heard Jack's squeals of delight and saw his wide eyes and his overall, uncontained excitement.
Suddenly the Garden that Phillippe had worked so hard to develop and maintain was more important than it had ever been before.
Perhaps having children on the Estate wasn't such a bad thing, after all…
At his Company headquarters, William led Archie on a tour of his main Offices.
William proudly noticed that Archie thoroughly enjoyed the tour, and was especially affable with the people he met, who seemed to be instantly charmed.
It wasn't until they arrived back at William's Office, that William was the one who began to feel nervous.
William's Personal Assistant, Theo, followed them inside to serve the two men Coffee.
"Thank you, Theo. Please see that Mr. Grant and I are not disturbed."
"Of course, Sir!"
As soon as Theo left, the two men chatted effortlessly. William seldom let his guard down, but with Archie, he was his true self. And the longer they had been together, a real friendship had formed.
William, was normally very pragmatic, as most good businessmen are. He was a straight shooter. A sharp negotiator who always got what he wanted.
But this morning, he was floundering.
He was even apprehensive.
Which wasn't like him at all, and especially not so with Archie.
This was different though because he needed to finally broach the business arrangement that had come to him and wouldn't leave his mind. He knew Archie would have insight he simply didn't have. In William's mind, this wasn't at all about charity, although he knew Archie might perceive it as such.
It was just that the more he learned of Archie Grant's history, William couldn't reconcile his prison term with the man who stood before him.
And William Thatcher was a solid judge of character.
He found himself wanting to help Archie, not that he needed it financially, as by all counts the Ranch was doing well. No, it went deeper than that. Much deeper.
William Thatcher wanted Archie Grant to see himself as the man William saw. Honorable. Likable. Successful.
He wanted more than anything for Archie to feel self-pride again.
And he believed a new business venture might just be the very thing to put Archie's past truly in the past once and for all.
Unexpectedly, it was Archie who broke the silence.
"What is it, Will? We've toured this whole building, and I've never seen a boss so respected and in charge. So why are you nervous now? Have I done something wrong? Said the wrong thing? Done the wrong thing?"
"No, no, not at all," answered William, now more nervous than ever. "It's me, Arch. There's something I want very badly, yet I fear my proposal will be refused."
"Then wait till you know it won't be."
William laughed.
"Sage advice, but in this case, I'm afraid waiting isn't going to make a difference."
"Then go for it. Go make your proposal and cut your losses. I'll wait here. Who knows, you may not only get what you want but even more."
"Archie, I don't need to go anywhere. May I ask you a deeply personal question?"
"I think we've earned that right with each other."
"Do you see yourself as a good man?"
"I see myself as a flawed man."
"I knew it! And that's exactly what has been troubling me. When I see you, I see a good man, an honest man, a strong man, and most of all, a loving man. You're no longer flawed. You've been forgiven. The past can be an awful thing, Arch, but thank God, it doesn't define us."
"I did some awful things. But I have done my best to make my amends, William. I can't change the past. Am I ashamed? Absolutely. But can I erase all the bad? No, I can only do my best to make amends to Madelyne and Nathan, the two people I love most in this world, but also the people I hurt most in this world. That's a hard thing to reconcile. I've had to learn to be forgiven and accept that forgiveness even when I didn't deserve it. That's not an easy thing for a man's pride, William."
"No, I imagine it's not. But you've just admitted you've accomplished that. Which is to be highly commended, Arch."
"With God's help, I have. You know my biggest regret? That I didn't get a chance to set things right with my daughter. My beautiful Colleen. All I can do is pray she forgives me and love her daughter the way I should have shown my love to her, but was too busy gambling. I hope she knows how very much she means to me."
"Oh, I believe Colleen does know. I want you to feel proud again, Arch. And I know it's within your reach. I have a proposition, not to someone else, but to you. One that will help me and I hope will help you in whatever ways you want it to."
"A proposition? To me? Oh, no William! Whatever it is, I'm not your man."
"Won't you even listen to what I've been thinking?"
Archie sighed heavily. He was not about to take charity, and this stunk of it. He wasn't insulted, just resigned.
But William continued despite Archie's obstinance.
"You see, I've worked with an exporter of leather goods in Italy over the last ten years. Their leather quality is the very best, but they had a manager that wasn't very analytical or even very business-minded. They ended up unable to pay their debts to me, so I am now the very hesitant owner of a leather company located in Italy, no less."
"I'm glad you at least were able to salvage the goods and especially the company. Have you chosen a new manager?"
"Not yet. Arch, the company's main focus is the Equestrian market. Something you know more about at the ground level than I ever could."
Archie listened, his interest piqued, but he was still resigned to not get involved, except to maybe help his friend by answering his questions.
"They manufactured handmade saddles and bridles, as well as some riding wear. Top-quality, too. You have a Horse Ranch, and you are a great Horseman. Who better than you to consult for this company? Who better than you to come up with new ideas for improvement?"
"I can't, Will. I'm sorry, but I can't, and won't…"
(*123) "Morning Mood," Part of Edvard Grieg's Peer Gynt, Op. 23, Written in 1875 as incidental music to Henrik Ibsen's play of the same name, and also included as the first of four movements in Peer Gynt Suite No., Public Domain
(*124) Jeremiah 29:11, The Holy Bible, King James Version, Public Domain