"Thank-you for the wonderful dinner, Mrs. Stewart," Grace said as Chuck escorted her from the dinning room to the living room of his childhood home.
"I am glad you enjoyed it, Grace," Tess replied. Despite her desire to embrace the idea of Grace marrying Chuck, Tess did not feel quite at the place to ask the young woman to use a less formal address. Hopefully she would get there, preferably before their wedding, but Tess knew they had some ground to cover first.
Tonight's confession was going to be a huge hurdle. If Chuck and Grace were still talking to her after tonight, then Tess would start working up the nerve to suggest that Grace call her Tess.
The trio took seats. Tess had asked Hank to take Fred out to the barn and keep him occupied for a half hour or so. Fred did not need to know about what she was about to say.
With Chuck and Grace seated on the settee, Tess sat down in an arm chair. Though Chuck was at ease, his arm rested protectively across Grace's shoulders. Grace meanwhile was clearly nervous. She sat stiffly, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
Tess knew the information she was going to reveal would not make Grace any less nervous. However, getting it over with quickly would probably be best, especially as they had already been making polite small talk during dinner.
"I have a bit of a confession to make to the two of you," Tess told them, picking up the folder with the report from the private investigator from where it was sitting on the small table next to her chair. "When the two of you started seeing each other, I was not too keen on the idea."
"That is no confession," Chuck commented. "I think all of Brookfield was aware of that."
Grace elbowed Chuck in the side.
"That was not the confession part. My confession is that along with trying to set Chuck up with Lucy, I also hired a private investigator to look into Grace's past."
"You did what?" Chuck asked, a tinge of anger in his voice.
Beside him, Grace went pale though she remained silent.
"This is the report the man gave me. He dropped it off to me not long after Grace had left for England. I was hoping to use its contents to keep the two of you apart when Grace returned. However, after seeing how Chuck felt during your absence, Grace, I realized that nothing in here could change the way he felt about you."
"That is for sure," Chuck replied. "I already know that Grace grew up in orphanages. She has told me about running away from several of them and doing odd jobs for food during those times until she was old enough to get a job. Perhaps the fact that she grew up that way bothers you, Mom, but it doesn't bother me. The way I see it, it just means that she tried that much harder to make something of herself even though she got dealt a rough hand."
Tess nodded. The report did document all the orphanages that Grace had lived in and the fact that she had ran away from several of them. "There is something else in that report that you have not mentioned," she told her son.
"I do not care what anyone says, I did not take that money," Grace stated, her eyes and voice strong and firm though the color had not returned to her face.
"So you know about the allegation," Tess commented. With the information provided in the report, she had wondered if Grace was even aware of it.
"What allegation?" Chuck asked, looking from Tess to Grace.
Tess held her tongue. If Grace was going to tell Chuck about it, then she would let the girl put it in her own words.
"Apparently the night I ran away from my last orphanage two hundred dollars went missing," Grace replied, looking over at Chuck. "I was not even aware of it until the inspector from the children's society showed up that day you came out to help fix the roof. His information said there were no criminal charges but that if there are any infractions found against me it could cost us our license to run New Hope Orphanage." Grace switched her gaze from Chuck to Tess. "I will tell you what I told him then. I did not take that money."
"Then that is the end of it," Chuck said before Tess could reply. He pulled Grace protectively against him. "Grace said she did not take it and I believe her."
Tess nodded. "I believe her too."
"You do?" Grace asked, clearly surprised.
Tess smiled. "Yes. If you were a thief, you would not be waiting tables trying to make ends meet for the kids at the orphanage. You also would not have had to bargain shop for a cow."
Grace blushed a little at that memory.
"I can't change what I did. I had the investigation done and I know what I know," Tess said. "What I can do is ask forgiveness from the both of you and hand over the report to you, Grace," she said, holding the folder out to the young women.
Grace reached out with a shaky hand to take it.
"Just throw that thing in the fire," Chuck suggested.
"I thought about doing that myself," Tess admitted. "However, it will not change the fact that the information is still out there. Grace might be better off knowing exactly what the investigator found because if he found it, others could to."
"Just like the inspector did," Grace said, looking down at the folder.
"I am sorry about hiring the investigator. I was not ready to accept you as a daughter-in-law then Grace. I was hoping to find a way to keep you and Chuck apart but I have come to realize, I cannot do that. Nor do I want to any longer. I have come to accept that I need to let Chuck make his own choices and respect those choices whether I like them or not."
"I forgive you," Grace told her. "I think I need to because I love Chuck, and I know he loves you too. I do not want to come between the two of you."
"Thank you," Tess replied. She looked at her son. Chuck's expression was still steely and Tess could see his anger. "What about you, Chuck? Can you forgive your mother for trying to meddle in your life again?"
Chuck sighed. "I do not like what you did," he told her. "However, I do love you, Mom. I want you to be a part of my life but like accepting the fact that I am a vet and not a rancher, I need you to accept that I am marrying, Grace. I do not want to choose between the two of you but if I am forced to, then I am choosing Grace. I love her and want to spend my life with her."
"I have figured that out," Tess assured him. "I am done trying to come in between the two of you. I promise."
"All right, then," Chuck replied. "If Grace can forgive you for this, I can to. I still say we just throw that folder in the fire and be done with it."
Grace shook her head. "No. Your mother has a point, Chuck. If her hired investigator and the children's society inspector found the information, others could too. I at least want to know what is suspected of me, even if it is not true. I want to at least look at this before I destroy it."
"If that is what you want," Chuck acquiesced. Leaning in, he pushed some of Grace's hair behind her ear he kissed her cheek. "Nothing in there will change the way I feel about you. I will stand by your side through anything," he promised her.
Grace looked over at him, a sad smile on her face. "Thank-you," she told him quietly.
Tess got to her feet. "I am going to go get Fred and give you two some time alone. If you need my help with anything, let me know. Other than that, as far as I am concern, what I read in that report does not matter. You say you did not take the money and I believe you, Grace."
"Thank-you," Grace replied, grateful for her future mother-in-law's belief in her now no matter what had transpired before.
In town, Gabriel and Billy were having dinner in their small apartment. Gabriel let some casual conversation take place before he brought up the subject of Randy MacEntire. Trying not to sound accusatory toward the boy, Gabriel asked Billy to tell him more about the situation with the bully.
"You promise you will not go to Randy's father? I know all that will do is make Randy angrier."
Gabriel shook his head. Even if Abraham MacEntire was not as unpleasant as he was, Gabriel knew there was truth in the words. It was why his own father had told him he needed to stand up to the bullies himself.
"You and I are going to figure out the solution of this together," Gabriel told the boy. "However, I need to know the situation so I can help."
"Randy is not very nice to any of the kids. I kind of feel bad for him because he isolates himself from everyone. Christian says he use to give him and the others from the orphanage a hard time until he stood up to him."
Gabriel nodded, having learned that much from Lillian.
"Well, Randy has been calling me a sissy because you drop me off at school and either you or Miss Maggie pick me up and I usually stay inside at recess."
"Why do you stay inside at recess, Billy?"
"I don't feel comfortable playing with the other kids. They like to play tag, or dodge ball or throw snow balls. I don't like those kinds of games. Playing tag up at Miss Walsh's with the kids is okay because everyone tags gently because of the younger kids being involved. The boys at school get a bit rough sometimes."
"Yes, boys do tend to play rough at times," Gabriel consenting thinking of his own school days.
"I do not like that. It brings up too many bad memories and I do not want things thrown at me no matter what the reason."
"I can understand that."
"Christian, Vincent and Timmy do as well. They have offered to do other things at recess with me but I do not want to ruin anyone's fun. So, I stay inside. Sometimes I draw. Sometimes I use the time to do some studying so I can catch up to the others my age."
Though Billy was with the other kids his age with reading, he was behind in the other children in other subjects because of the lack of proper education at the second orphanage and the year on his own. As the boy had expressed interest in wanting to catch up, Miss Peterson was working with the boy to do just that.
"Christian and Vincent usually make sure that Randy has already gone outside before they head outside themselves. However, one day last week Miss Peterson kept Randy in at recess for tying Susan's braid to the back of her chair with twine. When Susan went to get up to do a math problem she couldn't because her hair was tied to the chair."
Though Gabriel was guilty of untying a few hair ribbons of the girls sitting in front of him while in school, he had never tied their braid to anything. The girl's braids came unraveled at most, which while it annoyed the girls didn't cause any pain. He had stood in the corner on more than one occasion for his antics though. Even the time he had done it to his own sister, Angela. He had also gotten in trouble at home for that one. As for Alicia's hair ribbon, his first crush, he had managed to obtain one of her hair ribbons without anyone realizing it. Alicia had thought it fell out at recess while she was Red Rover. When he had started courting her a year later, he had confessed and they had shared a laugh over it.
"That was a good reason for Miss Peterson to keep Randy in from recess." Gabriel commented.
Billy nodded. "It was. However, every time Miss Peterson would go to the back door to check on the kids outside, Randy took the opportunity to give me a hard time. At first he was just throwing paper balls at me and I tried to ignore it. I guess he got tired of being ignored, because when Miss Peterson went to call the other children in, Randy came over and told me that the next chance he got, if I was going to be such a sissy then he would give me a reason to be a sissy. I didn't tell anyone about it until today. I am afraid he will follow through though. He has before."
"Billy, you have had a rough childhood so far. If you do not like the rougher games the boys play, there is nothing wrong with choosing not to participate. Real friends will respect that choice."
Billy nodded in consent.
"However, when a bully sees what they perceive as an easy target, then that is the person they are going to pay attention to, no matter what age they are."
"I know that very well," Billy informed him.
"So, what we need to do is make sure you are not an easy target. Not being caught alone is one such strategy."
"If Miss Peterson punishes Randy again by keeping him inside at recess, I will go out."
"That is a valid solution. Avoiding a confrontation is always the best route to take if you can manage it. Sometimes though, there is no way to avoid a confrontation. Sometimes you are going to have to stand your ground when someone threatens you."
"Fighting is wrong," Billy said. "Everyone that fought at the orphanages ended up having to miss a meal."
"Yes, fighting is wrong. There is never a good reason to fight. However, not everyone believes that. I never want to hear about you starting a fight, Billy. There are always other ways to resolve an issue. However, that does not mean you should just let someone beat on you because they want to solve their issues with their fists."
"So what should I do?" Billy asked.
"I want to teach you some self-defense techniques. Techniques that will allow you to block and subdue someone who comes at you looking for a fight."
"But I am smaller than Randy. I am smaller than a lot of the boys at school."
Gabriel shook his head. "Most differences in size will not matter if you learn about leverage properly, at least not with other kids. However, you need to promise me that you will not start a fight Billy and you only use what I teach you to defend yourself."
Billy nodded. "I promise," he told him. "Will you still drop me off and pick me up at school?"
Gabriel smiled. Reaching out, he placed a hand on Billy's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I will do that for as long as you want me to," he assured the boy.
"Good," Billy stated and then went back to his dinner.
Gabriel and Billy finished their meal and shared the task of cleaning up. Having done his homework while at the infirmary with Maggie, Billy sat down at the table with his tablet of paper and the jar his colored pencils were now in. Before he could start working though, Gabriel came out of the bedroom with the box that had come in the mail for him.
"I have something for you, Billy," Gabriel said, coming over to the table. He placed the box on the table and picked up the two instruction books he had kept out. "While we were in Hope Valley I asked Mrs. Grant to see about getting you some art books as she has family in a city further east. Mrs. Grant passed the request onto her younger sister who is an artist."
"I saw a couple of paintings Miss Thatcher did while at the Grants," Billy said.
"Well, Miss Thatcher sent the two books that I requested. They came today," he said holding the books out to Billy.
Billy's eyes lit up when he saw the books. He took them and then looked up at Gabriel. "You have already done so much for me," Billy began.
Gabriel shook his head, cutting off further protest. "I told you before, I want to encourage your talent. Hopefully, those books will teach you to be a better artist."
"Thank-you," Billy told him.
"You are welcome," Gabriel replied. "However, that was not all Miss Thatcher sent. She wanted to help out a young artist herself so she sent a few more things for you," he informed the boy. He tapped the box. "They're in here. Come open it," Gabriel told him, stepping aside.
His face aglow with excitement, Billy got to his feet. Standing in front of the box he pulled open the top. "This is mine," Billy whispered, looking in at the other two books and the supplies.
"It is," Gabriel told him. "Miss Thatcher just asked that you send her a sample of your work at some point."
Billy reached in and pulled out the pastels and water colors. "I have never seen so many colors," he commented.
The boy looked at the things a few moments. Billy then placed the things on the table. As he turned, Gabriel saw tears in the boy's eyes before Billy wrapped his arms around Gabriel. Hiding his face against Gabriel, the boy cried.
Reaching down, Gabriel loosened Billy's hold on him enough so that he could crouch down. He then pulled the crying boy into a hug, the fingers of one hand finding their way into the boy's hair.
"Billy, what is wrong?" Gabriel asked, not understanding the reaction. He had been so happy a few moments ago and now the boy seemed upset.
"I know I shouldn't be crying," Billy said. "I should be happy. When my parents died, it seemed like nobody wanted me. I was simply a burden to people. Now you have me shelter and a home. Miss Walsh keeps extending kindness toward me, despite me not reciprocating. The Wolfs gave me clothes which though used, are much better than any I ever had at the orphanages. You bought me new shoes and church clothes and now this stuff. Judge Avery made it possible for me to stay with you despite me not wanting to cooperating. He got me the picture of my father. Miss Thatcher never met me and she has been nice to me, just like the Grants, and Mr. Moody and even Mrs. Stewart though I have not met her. I haven't been a very likeable person but everyone keeps showing me kindness. I feel ashamed for my behavior."
"Billy, there is no reason to be ashamed for your behavior since coming to Brookfield."
"But I bit you. I stole."
"You were hungry and scared," Gabriel commented. "You have confessed what you did and asked forgiveness. Mr. Moody and I have forgiven you."
"And Miss Walsh and Judge Avery. I haven't been very nice to them despite them showing me kindness."
"Judge Avery understood your reaction to him as does Miss Walsh. Neither one of them expects any further apologies nor explanations from you. The best thing you can do, is just to start showing them that you trust them, like you did on Valentine's Day. You gave me and Miss Walsh a nice surprise and you even gave her a hug. Things like that mean a lot. Just like this gift from Miss Thatcher means a lot to you."
"Calling her Miss Lillian would help too, wouldn't it?" Billy murmured.
"Only when you are ready for that," Gabriel told the boy, not wanting him to feel pressured. "I know it has been a long time since you have had people in your life that care about you, Billy, but you do now. Miss Walsh, Constable Grant and his family, Judge Avery, Mr. Moody, Miss Maggie and I all care about you. You are important to us and I know you need to get use to that feeling again but know that we understand your misgivings. We understand that after what you have gone through, it takes time to trust again. Don't feel bad about struggling to trust after the pain you have gone through."
"I don't deserve that kind of kindness."
"Yes you do, Billy," Gabriel told him. "Every child deserves to feel safe, supported and loved by those in their lives. I know you lost that for a while, but you are finally finding it again. All you have to do is let yourself feel it."
Billy held onto him for a few moments, still crying. Eventually though the tears stopped and Billy pulled away.
"I am going to make Miss Thatcher a thank-you card with some of the supplies she sent me."
"I think she will appreciate that," Gabriel told Billy.
"Then maybe I will make one for Judge Avery as well." Billy said. "Thank him for the picture and for wanting to actually help me when the other judges did not really care."
"That sounds like a good idea," Gabriel told him. "I need to go out and chop some wood, so I will be right outside."
"But it is dark outside," Billy stated.
"It will not be the first time I have chapped wood by lantern light," Gabriel told him. "It will not take me long," he assured the boy.
As Billy went back to his art supplies, Gabriel went over to the coat hooks. Bundling up against the cold, Gabriel grabbed two lanterns and stepped outside to spend some time making sure the wood supply for himself and the office was replenished while he had some time.