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Chapter 28
The Visit - part 2
The next morning Jack and Beth get up. They dress for the day before going downstairs for breakfast. They find Jarrick in the same place as yesterday with her parents! Jack and Beth join them. Their meal is brought to them! Julie and Viola had joined them this morning rather than eating breakfast in their rooms.
After breakfast Beth was asked, would you like to take a walk with me? I would love to, Love! Jack pulls out her chair and extends his hands to her! She raised her hand up his! He helped her up and they walk out the back door. Down the steps to the walkway he leads her, holding her hand! Beth? Yes Love? How did you not turn out like them and give up all this? Love, my heart was pulling me in a different direction! If it hadn't then I wouldn't have met you and Jarrick! You see what my sister's do all day. That's not me! I never could just sit around the house! If I wasn't on the slopes then I was hiking! Anything to get me out of the house! I had the same roommate for all 6 years of college. So the first year she taught me how to cook, shop, manage my money! I think before I went off to college I was just use to spending my father's money that I just didn't know how not to. I knew I wanted to be independent but didn't know how to get away from his money. After my 3rd year I was completely independent. Beth how did you keep that from your father? I let him keep putting money in that one account. He thought I was spending it but I wasn't. I got a job in campus to pay for everything except my books and tuition because I felt he owed me that. I paid for my food and clothes. I'm proud of myself! I'm proud of you to! Love, I know we have plenty of money and that our children will never have to work but I want to instill in them good values and morals like I learned in college. I want them to explore their independence. I want them to spread their wings and try what ever makes them happy! If they fail then I want them to be able to come to us for help and guidance without fear of what we might say or think! Beth you and I think alike! I want the same thing for our children and grandchildren! Beth when we get home I want to start in our new home! By the time they had got through talking they had walked all the way around the pond and back.
Beth was in the kitchen making her peach cobbler and baked beans. Jack was getting the potatoes wrapped to bake in the oven on the grill. He said, you can bring the cobbler and beans out in about 30 minutes. Then we'll put the steaks on as soon as everything else is done. She leans over and kisses him gently on his lips. I love you so much Mr. Thornton! I love you too Mrs. Thornton! Jack leaves the kitchen. Chef Bernard is watching from the doorway from his quarters! He's amazed at the Lizzy before him. He had been the only one to have prepared meals for the Thatcher's. He watches as she cleans up behind herself. Other than the dishes that she had prepared, the kitchen was spotless! He doesn't let her know that he is watching. He turns and closes his door.
After the steaks were done . The table was was set. Everyone was invited to take a seat at the outdoor table. The staff sat at one end and the family sat at the other. The dishes were passed around the table. The staff was in awe that they were invited to share this meal ! Chef Bernard complemented Ms Lizzy and Jack for such a delicious dinner! William and Grace said, here here! Lizzy your cobbler was delicious! William looks at chef Bernard and asked, do you think you can use that grill in the future? Yes sir if Mr. Thornton will show me how to use the pellets? I sure will Chef! After they finished their meal the staff said thank you for the meal and for inviting them to eat with them! The staff cleared the table and excuses themselves. William says, Lizzy that is the first time we've sat and had a meal with the staff. Well father it's nice to let them know that you appreciate them! They have been here ever since I can remember! You don't always have to give them money to show your appreciation! I'm not saying that you have to do it all the time. Once a year is enough! I appreciate you're input! It was nice today thank you Lizzy.
Their last day they sit around talking about the future. William asked, Jack I hear you're going to start building the house in you're land when you get back? Yes sir we are! I'm hoping to be in the house before Christmas! So you won't be home for Christmas dear? No mother. I love an Aspen Christmas! It's so beautiful! But mother you all are always welcome to come for Christmas anyway! We haven't talked about what we are going to do with our cabin yet. So do you know how soon we can expect more grandchildren, William asked? No father, we are leaving that to the Lord! When he's ready then we'll have children! Well I think it's about time for church. Is everyone ready? Everyone rode in the limousine to the Wesleyan Methodist Church at the foot of the mountain. They all sat in the 4th pew as usual. The music was old fashion but lovely! The sermon was in giving and appreciation! When they got back from church Lizzy says, see father even the Lord agrees that you should show appreciation! William chuckles and says, I guess so Lizzy! Jarrick asks, can we go play with the train one more time before we have to leave? Will scoops him up and says, you bet we can! They asked Jack if he was coming? He said, in a bit. I need to help Beth pack first! Beth said, no go ahead. I'll do the packing! There isn't much to pack! So the guys went up to the train station to play! Beth packed their clothes first. She noticed that the maid had done their laundry, stripped their bed and remade it. She sat down at the desk in her room. Pulled out a piece of stationary and wrote a note to the maid thanking her for everything she had done for them! She went into Jarrick's room and noticed the same thing. She packed his clothes. She carried their luggage downstairs and set them by the door. Upstairs in the train station the guys were having the time of their life! Jack looked at his watch and noticed it was 5:30 pm. He says, Jarrick I think it's time to go. We need to get home before it gets to late. Oh daddy, can't we stay here forever? Jack chuckles and says, no bud we live in Aspen! We can can always come back and visit! Ok daddy. Let's go find mommy and see if she's ready! They went downstairs to find her. They found the women sitting out on the back patio talking. Jack leans over and kisses the top of Beth's head and asks, are you ready to go sweetheart? Yeah, I guess so. We need to get this little man home and in the bed! The driver was waiting for them when they came out. He opened the car door and waited for them to say their goodbyes. Everyone hugged and kissed and said their goodbyes! Lizzy was the last to say goodbye to her father. Father I want to say thank you for everything this weekend! I'm so proud of you for coming out of your stubborn shell! Goodbye father! Hope you all come down for Christmas!
They arrived home at 7:00 pm. Beth tells Jarrick it's time for his bath. He gets up and goes to to the bathroom without saying a word. He gets his bath and comes out to say good night. Beth asks, hey little man what wrong? You never go to bed without being told. Nothing, I'm just really tired. I guess I had to much fun up at Grandpa and Nana's! Well ok if nothing's wrong then, good night! We love you! Love you and daddy to! He goes to bed.
Beth fixes 2 cups of coffee and asks, hey Love, do you want to go sit out on the back porch with me? Sweetheart, I would follow you anywhere! They sit on the swing and drink their coffee. Hey Love, do you think Jarrick is ok? He replies, why do you ask? Because he never takes a bath without wanting at least 5 more minutes and never goes to bed without being told, that's why! Well maybe he really is tired, he says. She gets up and says, no I think I better go check on him. He says, ok I'll go with you and we can check on him together. They set their coffee cups down on the bar and head for Jarrick's room. She opens the door and walks over to his bed. She bends down and kisses his head. She turns and looks up at Jack and says, he's running a fever Jack! Ok I'll get the children's Tylenol and the thermometer. Be right back! Beth gets a wet wash cloth for his head. Jack came back and takes Jarrick's temperature. Beth it's 102.4! Get his robe on him and let's take him to the ER now! Beth gets his robe on him and picks him up and takes him out to the SUV. Beth you need to put him in his booster seat. No Jack I'm going to hold him now get in and drive! He knew by the name there was no talking her out of it. He gets in and drives to the ER. They get out, Beth is carrying him in. Hugging him real tight. Jack goes to the nurses station to tell them about Jarrick. The nurse calls them back to a room. Beth lays him down on the gurney. The nurse asks what happened. She tells her everything. The nurse takes his vitals and says, his temp is 103.2. Jack says, it's going up. It was 102.4 just about 15 minutes ago. The nurse steps out for just a minute and comes back with the doctor. Oh hello Mr. and Mrs. Thornton. We need to get some blood tests done to see what's causing the fever. Beth asks, are you going to give him something for the fever? Not right now. I want to get some blood drawn first. He's going to be ok. We're going to check his temp every 15 minutes though. If it gets to high before the tests come back I'll give him something. But for right now I don't want to give him anything! I promise we're going to take good care of him. About 15 minutes later the nurse came back to check his temp. It's 103.6. She says I'll be back in a few minutes. Beth why can't they give him something? He rubs Jarrick's little head. Love they'll give him something just as quick as they can. She runs her fingers through his hair. She starts humming to Jarrick! After about an hour Dr. Huggings came back in and says, he's got a virus. We're going to give a shot of antibiotics and some children's Motrin and you can take him home after his fever breaks. With in 30 minutes his fever started coming down! They got home at 3:00 in the morning. They put Jarrick in his bed and went to bed. They got up every 2 hours to check on their son. He didn't run any fever for the rest of the night. Beth woke up at 8:00 am. Beth gets up and goes in to check on Jarrick. He's running a fever again. She takes his temp. It's 101.6. She gives him his Motrin. She changes his PJs and he never wakes up. She wipes his face with a wet wash cloth. She covers him up with just his sheet. While she's getting dressed Jack wakes up and says, good morning beautiful! Good morning Love! Where are you going sweetheart? I've got to go get his antibiotics filled. He's running a low grade fever. I've given him his Motrin. Wiped him down and changed his Pjs. He's still sleeping so I figured I would go get his medicine. Do you want me to go get it? No Love, I'm already dressed so I've already taken care of him so I'll go get it. Do you want me to bring you something back? No, not that I can think of. Ok I won't be long. Keep an eye out for him! I love you! Love you sweetheart! By the time she got back Jack had fixed them breakfast and had it waiting for her! She gave Jarrick his medicine and he went back to sleep.
Jack and Beth sat at the bar eating their breakfast. Hey Love, aren't you supposed to go to work today? Yeah but I called in for today because of Jarrick. You know you didn't have to do that. I can take care of him. I know you can but I always take off work every time he gets sick. He don't get sick very often. So I don't mind taking off for him. They spend their day talking and taking care of Jarrick. The make all their phone calls to let everyone know how Jarrick is doing.
Jack is sitting at her desk drawing up the blue print for their new house. He asks her for her input. He puts 4 bedrooms upstairs with a bath and a half upstairs. They decided not to put in the 3rd floor. In the first floor he put the master bedroom with a fireplace and a full bathroom with a jet stream bathtub and a double shower. A huge den with entertainment center and a feet large fireplace. A guest bedroom with a full bath. A half bath. A large kitchen with an island. A breakfast nook. A large dining room with a table to seat up to 20. A complete wrap around porch. A 3 car garage. A 6 stall barn. Hey Love there isn't any place for Jarrick's train set. Yeah I know. This shed will be moved over and we can put a smaller one here.
Now that brings up our next decision. What do you want to do with this house, he asked? I want to sell it. We won't need it. Ok then, when I'm about 30 days from finishing we'll put it on the market. I can't wait to get in our new home! It's August3rd. So do you think it will be finished by Christmas? It's my plan. I'm going to have to hire a contractor since I'm back at work even though it's light duty! How is your PT going? It's coming along. Not as fast as I wanted but it is what it is. You'll get there Love!
