Chapter 207 – A Subdued Lunch
"First of all." Faith said. "I want to assure you Jack is okay. We found the source of pain in his hip. There was a foreign body and we removed it. He has four stitches just on the backside of his hip at the top of the bone."
Faith touched Elizabeth in the same spot so she knew.
"We are going to have to watch him for infection." Faith continued. "That includes taking his temperature three times a day and Jeremiah doing an additional treatment. He will be cleaning several areas with an Epsom salt solution. He will explain those when he does them.
For now, I have given Jack a half a dose of morphine and also used a local anesthetic near the cut. It will probably be painful as the anesthetic wears off. I would hold off giving him any additional morphine unless absolutely necessary. He might fall asleep this afternoon given the morphine and just the stress of everything."
"Thank you for explaining it to me." Elizabeth said. "I will help keep an eye on things. Please let me know if there is anything else I can do."
"I will." Faith said. "How are you doing? I know that this can't be easy for you and want to make sure that you and the little one are doing okay."
"I am okay." Elizabeth said. "A little stressed, but okay."
"I know I just saw you on Wednesday." Faith said. "But if you need me for anything, you know I will be there."
"I know." Elizabeth said. "I am pretty sure I felt the baby move. Jack was talking to him or her and I felt the fluttering feeling that my cousin described. It was right under my ribs and it happened a second time when Jack was talking."
"That is exciting." Faith said. "If the baby is sitting high like that, it could be another reason that you were measuring a little bigger. I would also guess you are closer to sixteen weeks then the twelve I originally thought."
"You mean this little one could come in September, instead of October?" Elizabeth asked.
"That is looking more likely." Faith said.
Elizabeth just rubbed her baby belly and stared off. Faith gave her a moment before putting her hand on her arm and speaking.
"I thought you would be excited about that." Faith said.
Elizabeth shook her head.
"Yes and no." Elizabeth said. "I was supposed to travel back to Hamilton for my sister's wedding at the end of August."
"At this point." Faith said. "Unless you go in mid July and stay until the baby is born and you are recovered enough to travel, I would have to advise against it."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I want to be here and Jack can't take that much time off. I want my baby born here where we live. There is no way that I could be in Hamilton that long at this point."
"Then don't worry about it." Faith said. "I am sure your family will understand. Now I will leave you to enjoy your family. Unless either you or Jack need something like, I won't be back, but will see Jack in the office next week."
Elizabeth knew that her family would be anything but understanding. She was sure that her sister would find a way to blame Elizabeth for ruining the wedding. Elizabeth was so over the whole wedding. Viola hadn't asked, just demanded that she be there. She refused to see that Elizabeth had her own life.
"Thank you again." Elizabeth said.
Faith nodded. Elizabeth opened the door and led Faith back out. When they stepped out, Jacobs was waiting to walk Faith back. Jack was settled in an armchair, but you could tell he was feeling the morphine. His eyes looked a little glassy.
"Sorry to interrupt your day." Faith said.
She stopped at Jack and knelt down.
"Don't forget to rest." Faith said. "Unless you need something I will let Jeremiah take care of you."
Jack just nodded.
"Thank you Nurse Carter." Wynn said. "Please make sure that all of Jack's bills are sent to the Mounties."
"I will." Faith said.
Without speaking to the others Jacobs and Faith left the row house and headed back to town. Elizabeth looked around and saw that Dee was back.
"Jack is probably going to fade pretty fast." Elizabeth said. "Is lunch almost ready? Maybe we can eat, then get Jack settled and then talk some more."
"I am fine." Jack said, but his speech was slurred.
Elizabeth just patted his shoulder.
"Yes." Elizabeth Rose said. "Lunch is ready. I have put the apple crumble in and the roast is resting on the top of the stove. We just need to set the table."
"I can so that." Dee said.
"I will help." David said, jumping up.
"Me too." Andrew said.
The three guys went over to the kitchen. Wynn and Elizabeth Rose just looked between Jack and Elizabeth. They knew that something had happened, but they weren't sure what was going on. They could tell that Jack was not alright.
"Faith had to give Jack a little morphine." Elizabeth said. "It wasn't a lot, but as you can see it had an effect."
"Why did she have to give him pain killers like that?" Wynn asked standing up.
Wynn was concerned because he thought that Jack was getting better. The last thing that he expected when Faith arrived was for Jack to be given morphine.
"I will explain later." Elizabeth said. "Let's just have a nice lunch."
Elizabeth Rose and Wynn nodded. Elizabeth looked over and saw that the table was almost set.
"Jack." Elizabeth said. "Let's get you settled over at the table."
Jack blinked a few times, but his eyes wouldn't focus on Elizabeth. He looked like he was just staring off into space.
"How about we get him settled in bed." Wynn said. "I don't think that food is as important as rest right now. Jacobs said he would be back at three to check on Jack, so if he is hungry, he can eat then."
Elizabeth took another look at Jack and realized that her uncle was right.
"Dee." Wynn said.
Dee came over to his father.
"Help me get Jack settled in bed down here." Wynn said.
Wynn and Dee helped Jack to the bedroom. They basically had to carry him because he was so out it. As they did that, the rest of them got washed up and sat down at the table. Dee and Wynn came out, quickly washed up and took a seat.
"Sorry about that." Elizabeth said. "I didn't realize that Jack was that far gone."
"It is alright." Elizabeth Rose said. "I will save him a plate for later. There is plenty of food. Wynn, how about leading us in a prayer."
Wynn nodded. Everyone bowed their heads.
"Heavenly Father." Wynn prayed. "First and foremost, we offer a prayer for Jack. You know what he needs right now, so please be with him and touch him with Your healing hand. Please be with us as we spend time together as a family this afternoon. Guide our conversations and help us to speak as You want us to. Finally, bless this food to our bodies and bless the hands that prepared it. Amen."
"Amen." Everyone echoed.
Once everyone was passing the food around, Elizabeth looked at her uncle and aunt.
"Faith had to open a wound and remove a foreign body." Elizabeth said. "Because Jack was already in so much pain, he asked for the painkillers. She gave him a half a dose and used a local anesthetic. She said Jack will be in pain as they wear off. We are going to have to watch him closely for infection but she is positive that he is on the road to recovery."
"What happened?" Dee asked.
"I have told what I know." Elizabeth said. "Faith said it was a foreign body and he has four stitches on his hip area. That is all I know."
"Thank you for telling us." Wynn said. "The important thing is that Jack will recover."
"Yes." Elizabeth Rose said. "I am just glad they caught whatever it was."
"Me too." Elizabeth said. "How about we talk about something else."
Wynn nodded.
"So Beth." Andrew said. "You were serious about me running your father's company for you."
"Yes." Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth took a deep breath and looked around the table while one hand rested on her baby bump. She knew that she needed to move forward with the conversation, but she had hoped that Jack was there to be a part of the conversation. She realized that Jack would have been in no shape for a serious conversation that day, but they needed to continue forward. With one more look around before she looked down at her bump, Elizabeth was ready to talk.
"I was very serious, Andrew." Elizabeth said. "Even more I want David there to be your partner in the endeavor."
Both Andrew and David started choking on the food in their mouths. Dee was quickly on his feet to help them. Once they were both breathing safely again, they looked at her.
"You want us to run a company?" David asked. "You barely know me. Why would you want me?"
"According to my uncle Henry." Elizabeth said. "You are the best numbers guy he knows. When I made this decision, I knew I was going to need someone who was a whiz with numbers and someone who could navigate the legality of things. After much prayer and asking who was the best numbers guy in Toronto and/or Hamilton, I was sure that you two were the best men for the job."
"Your father is William Thatcher of Hamilton Shipping and the controlling member of Thatcher Industries." David said in disbelief.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "Is that a problem? Nothing will happen until this fall. I fully believe that once Viola is married she will make a move for the company to hand over to her new husband. However, I was the first heir married and therefore legally the company is mine if I want it. If Viola goes for the company, I want you two to be ready to stake my claim and then take over for me. You would report to me directly, but would have full legal right to run the company as you saw fit."
"You are sure this is what you want?" Aunt Elizabeth asked.
"Absolutely." Elizabeth said. "Jack understands that it will come with other issues, but he is in agreement that we can't allow Viola to have control. Andrew, you know why. It is my birthright and I won't let her steal it to fund the British royal family."
"You are right, Beth." Andrew said. "It is yours to take. It would be in better hands with you in charge."
"But I won't be in charge." Elizabeth said. "Technically, you and David would be in charge. Besides, I never thought it was fair that Sophie and Dee were excluded as rightful heirs to Thatcher Industries. So with my plan, it corrects what I see as several wrongs."
"I want to say yes so badly." Andrew said. "But a decision like this. I have to speak to Sophie first."
"And I have to speak to Melissa." David said.
"Of course." Elizabeth said. "By all means. You can discuss it when you get home and if they are in agreement, you can wire me a positive response. Then you can set about figuring what needs to be done to take over."
"Then before I leave." Andrew said. "We will need to draw up some papers giving me power of attorney for you. That will allow me to pull documents and records we would need to take over."
"I will gladly sign those." Elizabeth said. "I am sure that there will be other paperwork that will have to go back and forth. But I am committed to doing this and I need your help."
"As long as Melissa is on board." David said. "I would be honored to do this."
"I am sure Sophie will jump at the opportunity." Andrew said. "I agree with David. I would be honored and we will make you proud. This is really going to shake things up."
"I knew that you two were the right men for the job." Elizabeth said. "The last thing that I will say about this at this point is one of your first directives will be to remove the Kensington and Monclair families from Thatcher Industries. That will include all who are loyal to them. I want them as far from anything Thatcher related as possible."
"With pleasure." Andrew said. "If we are lucky, the Kensingtons will be spending the rest of their lives behind bars."
"I was going to ask if you knew anything about that?" Wynn asked.
"What are you talking about?" Elizabeth asked. "Are there more charges than what you and Jacobs brought against Charles?"
David and Andrew both laughed.
"Sorry." Andrew said. "Whatever charges you brought against Charles Kensington III are the least of his problems. He and his father are on the verge of being indicted for illegal gambling, money laundering, illegal manufacturing and distribution of alcohol as well as their ties to at least two murders, one of whom was a Mountie."
"I am sure that the indictment is a mere few days away." Andrew said. "In all honesty when I heard Charles Kensington III was arrested I thought that the indictment had already come down. An inside source at the courthouse in Ottawa informed me the morning I left that it was going down probably before I got back."
"I don't understand why I didn't know more about this." Wynn said.
"Sir." David said. "From what I have been able to gather, especially since I have been a part of the auditors that found the money trail, this was a Commissioner's investigation that he personally oversaw and hand picked everyone involved. I suggested involving you several times, but was told you had your hands full with Dee's recovery and another huge investigation that you were involved with."
"Thank you." Wynn said. "You are right. Between what happened to Dee, moving back to headquarters in Hamilton and overseeing the Pacific Northwest investigation, it has been busy."
The rest of the meal was spend talking about what everyone knew about the different pieces so that they were all on the same page moving forward. They talked more about why Elizabeth wanted the Kensingtons and Monclairs out, what everyone knew about those families and how they were going to move forward. Elizabeth had also suggested to David and Andrew that they get in touch with Sir John MacDonald and Honorable Jonathan MacDonald as they had been lawyer's for her grandfather. Andrew agreed he would go meet with them as soon as he returned east.