Chapter 206 – Bombshell Request
"Uncle Wynn and Aunt Elizabeth." Elizabeth said. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes." Wynn said. "Why?"
"We trust you." Elizabeth Rose said. "But right now, I am worried about you. Why are you talking like this. You normally have been so straight forward."
"Because you are going to think I am crazy." Elizabeth said. "I want to tell you everything, but after earlier, I am afraid that you won't understand. Jack and I know without a doubt that we were meant to take the Russell girls. But what I have to say ties into it as well. I just don't know how to talk about this and have everyone take me serious."
Wynn let out a harsh breath and then looked at his niece.
"Elizabeth Grace." Wynn said with a warning tone.
"Please just hear me out." Elizabeth said. "I haven't exactly talked this through with Jack, but I think he will agree with me. We have talked about it to a point and he told me it was my decision to make and he will trust that I do what is best for our family and everyone else. We will all have to sit and talk later, but since Jeremiah told me about the possibility of taking over and staying hands off, I have known who I wanted to take over. I just didn't think everything would come together so fast.
I am certain that Viola is getting married for the wrong reasons and is going to make a play to try and take over the company. I am not going to let that happen. So I have a few months to get this plan in place. I just hope that you all can see why I am doing this and I honestly truly want the best for everyone. Viola and I may not see eye to eye, but I don't want to wish her harm. I am however concerned about her motives towards things. I also believe that that Father might realize what she is up to and if so, he might also know that I know that I can take over the company. If that is the case, we need to get things in place fast and be ready to make a move the moment we know that there is a shift."
"Elizabeth." Aunt Elizabeth said. "You are talking in circles and I don't understand what you are trying to say. You know that I want what is best for you."
"I am listening." Wynn said. "You have the floor, we will all listen and then ask questions, lots of questions."
Elizabeth nodded. She knew that she needed to get the point. She figured that the only way that they would get what she was trying to do was to just come out and say it.
"Honesty, I want two people to take over the company." Elizabeth said. "I think that they will be a good duo and will take Thatcher Industries far into the future."
Elizabeth turned and faced Andrew, giving him her full attention.
"Andrew." Elizabeth said. "I know from Sophie that you love Ottawa and love your job, but you have said that you would do anything to make her happy. She has also told me how now that she has a little one that she wishes that she was closer to her Mom and Dad. Given all those factors, would you and the person I have in mind be the face of Thatcher Industries? You would need to move to Hamilton and I know that it might be difficult, but you would have months to do it before officially taking over."
Andrew, Wynn and Elizabeth Rose all sat there staring at Elizabeth stunned. They couldn't believe that she wanted Andrew and another person to take over the company. Wynn honestly believe that she wouldn't do anything unless William pushed the issue. Wynn's head was spinning. He was thinking of all the things that he was going to have to ensure and do to make sure that Jack was safe and was still able to do his job. Wynn knew that by Elizabeth taking over the company that Jack would be forced into more of a desk job then he probably wanted. Wynn was thinking how he could do that and still keep him in Hope Valley.
"Me." Andrew finally squeaked out.
Andrew speaking in a squeaky voice followed by him clearing his throat brought Wynn's thoughts back to the present. Elizabeth smiled and nodded.
"You want me to take over your father's company." Andrew said.
"You and another person." Elizabeth said. "I even have someone in mind for you to ask."
"Who?" Wynn asked.
Of all the questions in Wynn's head the only question that he could voice was who did she want Andrew to work with. Wynn looked at his niece and saw how calm she was, eerily calm he would call it. It was like they were talking about the weather, not making major life changes while in the midst of other major life changes. Wynn took a moment to wonder if he had underestimated his niece. She had obviously given the matter a lot of those.
Wynn wasn't the only one that was having a hard time wrapping their brains around it. Andrew never thought that he would be asked to take over one of the largest companies in all of Canada. He knew who he wanted to work with, but he wondered who Elizabeth wanted him to work with. Andrew was hoping and praying that she didn't ask him to work with a Kensington or Monclair. He didn't trust those people and if he was honest thought that the company needed to distance themselves from those families quickly and as far as they could.
Before Elizabeth could answer, there was a knock at the door.
"Hold that thought." Elizabeth said.
She quickly got up and answered the door.
"I was looking for Wynn and Andrew." The man said.
"You must be Andrew's brother David." Elizabeth said. "We haven't been formally introduced. Elizabeth Thatcher Thornton."
"Yes." David said. "Nice to meet you. I have heard a lot about you. Don't worry, all good. Sophie loves to go on about her cousin who is taming the wild west."
The two of them shook hands and then Elizabeth stepped back to let David come in the house.
"I vaguely remember you from the wedding." Elizabeth said. "Please come in. I don't know about that, but maybe just my little corner of it."
Elizabeth ushered David in and he took a seat next to his brother.
"Tea?" Elizabeth asked.
"If you have some ready." David said. "Don't make it on my account."
"The water is hot." Elizabeth said.
"Then, yes I will take some." David said.
Elizabeth went to the kitchen and came back with a tray with cups and the teapot. She took a moment to let it steep.
"Forgive me." Elizabeth said. "Nurse Carter and Sergeant Jacobs are upstairs with my husband Jack. They were concerned and wanted to make sure he was alright. They should be down shortly and then we can all finish speaking."
"Yes." David said. "I have heard your husband was injured rescuing a child and has had a couple of setbacks."
"Since this is in such an odd spot." Faith said. "I don't think I am going to cover it, so I need you to be careful."
"Okay." Jack said.
"It is at the top of your hip." Faith said. "Just to the backside. Jeremiah, maybe when we rewrap him, we might be able to figure out a way to cover that spot."
"We can see." Jacobs said.
Faith moved her instruments and the pillow behind Jack's back.
"Jack, can you roll on your back for a moment." Faith said. "I want Jeremiah to see the bruise."
Jack did as he was asked. He carefully kept himself covered as he rolled back. Faith showed Jacobs the bruise. Despite Jack's embarrassment, she showed Jeremiah how it didn't go down into the groin, but stayed more across the top of his hip bone going to the middle of Jack's abdomen. After seeing it, Faith covered Jack back up with the sheet to try and lessen his embarrassment. By that point, Jack realized that there was no way around it, it was embarrassing and he was just going to have to get used to it. He had a feeling it would get worse before it got better. He just wished he could control the color that rose in his cheeks when he was in an embarrassing moment.
"That is a lot more red than I thought." Jacobs said.
"I know." Faith said. "But it doesn't follow a vein, so I don't think that it is from the foreign object. We are just going to have to watch it."
"I would feel better treating that area with Epsom salt three times a day." Jacobs said. "It looks too much like an infection. I know that we can't have him soak because of the stitches, but I can put the Epsom salt in a cloth and wet the area. It won't be comfortable, but it might be the only way to get ahead of an infection brewing."
"I can't hurt." Faith said. "We also need to watch him for fever or any other signs of increased infection. I hate to say it, but I think the aspirin and tea that he has been using might have been masking a fever. I will trust you to know how best to deal with that. I will be around if you need me for anything, but are you able to handle it?"
"It is possible that the tea and aspirin have been masking a fever." Jacobs said. "I will be watching more carefully for the next few days, including taking his temperature three times a day. And to answer your question, yes I can handle it. I will let you know if I see any signs of an infection."
"I am not a child." Jack groaned. "I can take care of myself."
"We aren't treating you like a child." Jacobs said. "We are concerned how you were cut with what appears to be wire."
Jack groaned again. He didn't think that they were listening to him. Here he was laying with only a towel and bit of sheet covering him. He was beyond embarrassed and they were talking about him like he wasn't there or worse a child that didn't understand.
"Can I see it?" Jack asked. "The wire."
Faith showed him what she removed from his hip. Jack touched it and immediately knew what it was.
"That is from a guitar string." Jack said. "Dee must have restrung my guitar. The model that I have has steel wire strings. It was one of the first of its kind, which was why it was so rare."
"That makes sense." Faith said. "But how would you have gotten it embedded in your hip?"
"He probably restrung the guitar on his bed downstairs." Jack said. "Thinking he had all the pieces, he didn't think to warn me. I had a nightmare Tuesday morning and was thrashing in the bed. One of the cadets had to come and wake me up."
"That is probably what happened." Jacobs said. "We still need to watch for infection."
"Let's get you sitting up." Faith said. "I want to listen to your lungs and check the bruising on your torso while I am here."
"Can I slip my underwear on, please." Jack asked.
"Yes." Faith said.
Jack pointed to the chair. Jacobs grabbed them and Faith turned around. Jack quickly slipped them one, but you could see the blush creep across his face, again.
"Ready." Jack said.
Jacobs helped Jack sit up and move to the edge of the bed. Once Jack was seated Jacobs and Faith quickly and expertly removed the wrapping on his torso. Faith took her time and documented each of the bruises as far as location, size and color. She also noticed the mostly healed scratch on Jack's chest by his shoulder. She took a few moments to clean it and make sure it was healing. There was a couple on his back that she also took the time to make sure were healing and not infected.
Once satisfied she had checked Jack and documented all of his injuries, Faith grabbed her stethoscope and listened to his lungs. She had Jack take several deep breaths and he only had one coughing fit, which Faith continued to listen through. She agreed that his lungs sounded better than he had on Easter and even on Wednesday when she had seen him.
"Do you want us to rewrap your torso?" Faith asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "I have noticed it really makes a difference. It doesn't hurt as bad if I have a coughing spell."
"Alright." Faith said. "Can you stand for that, it will be easier."
Jack nodded and stood up. He put his arms out like he was used to. Faith stood on one side and Jacobs on the other. Together they wrapped Jack's torso from his armpits all the way down past his navel and over the tops of his hips, folding and placing a little extra padding over the stitches. Jack stood there completely embarrassed as Faith had pushed his underwear down a bit so they could wrap him further down. Once they were finished, Jack sank back into the bed.
"Since we are going to do the Epsom salt." Jacobs said. "I would like to do that on some of the bruising on your torso as well. It will mean extra time on your treatment a couple times a day, but in the long run I think it will be better."
"As if I have a choice." Jack said, dejected.
Faith and Jacobs exchanged a look. Faith went about cleaning up everything and Jacobs grabbed the chair, turned it around and sat down facing Jack.
"Jackson Thornton." Jacobs said. "We just want what is best for you. We both want you healthy and back to work. I get it that you are embarrassed and feeling out of control. But you also are smart enough to know that nothing we have suggested is not true or what you wouldn't do if it was one of the townspeople. I haven't shared this story with many people but the week after I graduated from the Depot, I was injured. I broke my leg and ended up in the hospital in Regina. I couldn't stand or do anything for six weeks. I had to have help with everything and I mean everything if you know what I mean."
Jack blushed, as he understood.
"The only good thing about being laid up was I finished the work for my barrister license." Jacobs said. "I was in a wheelchair when I went to take the test but it didn't matter at that point. Sixteen weeks after I graduated, I finally got to go to my first assignment and haven't looked back.
So I understand being laid up. At least you can move about and are home with your wife. So enough of this feeling sorry for yourself. You have plenty to look forward to – you are going to be a father and you have an entire town looking forward to your return."
"You are right." Jack said. "But it still feels like I am being treated like a child."
"That is because as a guy." Jacobs said. "I know that you are going to want to try and push things. Wynn knows and Dee knows it. That is why everyone has been on you about taking it easy. We also all know how much you have to look forward to."
Jack didn't say anything, but nodded.
"Now, how about I help you get dressed." Jacobs said. "Then we can go downstairs. You might fall asleep given that Faith gave you some morphine and that spot on your hip might get pretty sore as the anesthesia wears off, but I thought you were having a family lunch."
"Okay." Jack said. "Yes, Elizabeth planned a family day."
"Jack, do I have your permission to speak to Elizabeth?" Faith asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "We will be down in a minute."
Faith left and Jacobs helped Jack get dressed again in his jeans and henley. When Jack stood up to head down Jacobs noticed he was a bit woozy.
"Woah." Jacobs said. "That is the morphine. So we are going to go slowly."
Jack had closed his eyes to regain his equilibrium, so just nodded. Jacobs wrapped his arm around Jack and slowly they headed down.
Faith was the first one downstairs.
"Elizabeth." Faith said. "Can I speak to you privately?"
"Of course." Elizabeth said. "Please excuse me everyone."
Elizabeth got up and motioned for Faith to step into the downstairs bedroom. They stepped into the room and Elizabeth closed the door.