CHAPTER 56
Tom arrived at the school very early, and when Elizabeth showed up there was still an hour to go before classes started; she was amazed to see Tom there, and even more amazed to see that he had already cut all the wood for the winter and lit the stove. The room was already clean and Elizabeth could only praise and thank him.
- You're too early, Tom! You didn't have to get up so early.
- I wanted to get on with the work, and besides, I didn't sleep well last night. Tom said, looking down.
- Tom, and I hope I'm not being too hard on you? I know you're not used to this kind of work, I really hope I haven't overstepped the mark and left you exhausted.
Tom saw all the sincerity and fear in her eyes. That woman was worried about whether or not he was tired, rather than about his wounds and punishing him.
- No, Elizabeth; I didn't get that way because I was tired. And you haven't done anything wrong. You're just helping me find my way back.
She saw that Tom was in trouble, he had it written all over his face, so she asked him straight away.
- Look, I know we didn't get off to a good start, but I feel like you're having a problem. If you want to talk, I'm a good listener.
- I couldn't sleep well because I heard a story yesterday and ended up getting lost. I don't have Jack anymore and I ended up alone.
- What did you hear, Tom Thorton? She spoke seriously, looking into his eyes and with her hands on his hips.
Tom knew that face, his mother was like that when she wouldn't accept a lie or when she was angry with them... He wasn't going to risk it and preferred to tell her everything.
- Last night, Bill was talking to my mother... And so he told her the whole story of his father, of Hargraves, of his mother's attempted rape at the hands of Hargraves, of Bill declaring himself to his mother... And he cried, he cried a lot as he spoke.
Elizabeth just listened; a few times she gave his hand a gentle squeeze, wanting with that subtle gesture to show that she was there to give him strength. She held back her tears at all costs, she didn't want to show weakness to Tom, but knowing about all the suffering her father had gone through gave her more reason to fight against her problems, no woman needed to go through pain like that, and Charlote had gone through it twice, first her brother-in-law and then her late husband's partner, two men who should have respected and protected that woman. She had a similar story to her own. Knowing all that Charles had done and what he had failed to do, but just barely, was shocking, but knowing that he was her former friend, the one she had always known, a person who had been present in her life throughout. She knew what Charlote must have felt, beyond fear, humiliation, she must have been too disappointed to see a man she trusted hurt her.
- Tom, can you tell me if Jack knows about this?
- No. I don't think he knows anything. My brother has a hot head when it comes to the people he loves. If he'd known about Hargraves, he'd have killed that scoundrel with his bare hands. As for Bill... I was very surprised, I think only Bill himself knew about this love and kept it inside him for all this time. And I don't know what Jack would think about it.
- Tom, I'm going to ask you something and I want an honest answer. What do you think of Bill's love for his mother? How do you feel about it?
- I... to tell you the truth, I never imagined my mother with a man other than my father.
- Why? Doesn't she deserve to be happy? Doesn't she deserve to be happy?
- Of course she deserves to be happy. But another man? What about my father? She can't forget him.
- Tom, listen to me. Life is too short for us to make these kinds of rules. Few people have the love that your parents had, a pure and true love, the kind that lasts until death do them part. But look, another man in your mother's life doesn't mean she's forgetting her father, that will never happen, because she has you and Jack, and whenever she looks at you, she'll remember how much like her father you are. If she ever finds someone else... a second love, it's God's doing, giving her another chance to be happy.
- I... hadn't thought of that.
- Bill is a great man, Tom. A father to me, just as I know he's been a father to you and Jack all your life. A man who prefers to hide his love, so as not to confuse your feelings, this man must love your mother and both of you very much. And it's up to Charlote to decide what to do with her life, but you and Jack must open your eyes and your hearts and support her when she needs it.
- Can you do me a favor, Elizabeth? Tom asked softly.
- Yes...
- Jack needs to know, but I have no way of talking to him, and I wouldn't know how to tell him without a bomb going off, because I know that these two issues are going to affect my brother. Maybe you can talk to him nicely...
- Okay. I'll take care of Jack.
She got up, picked up the cow bell and rang the school door. In a matter of minutes, the classroom was full of children.
Frankison had gotten up early and gone out on his rounds with Jack. He needed some fresh air, because his head was thinking too much. This vacation was supposed to be a rest, but his brain was racing and driving him crazy.
- Frankison! Is something wrong? Are you in trouble? Jack asked straight away.
Jack had noticed from the moment they left the police station that he was in trouble. Frankison had the same quirks as Elizabeth when he was nervous. He had fiddled with that lock of hair about fifty times. He moved it back, to the side, moved it again, and even though he had short policeman's hair, he still kept that stubborn lock; it was rebellious hair ria Jack.
- I haven't been able to sleep well for two days or more...
- Still tired from the trip? Or is it because of Elizabeth's kidnapping?
- I think it's a bit of everything, Jack. You can't imagine the dread I felt when I heard she was in Charles' hands.
- We felt it, Frankison. All of us.
- But that's not the problem, Jack. And stopping his horse, he looked into Jack's eyes. It was amazing, how he seemed to see Elizabeth there in that countenance.
- What was the problem? Jack could already see what it was...
- Haven't you noticed how alike we are? Your wife and I... it's like looking in a mirror. And we still have the same quirks, we seem to know what each other is thinking before we speak.
- Frankison, I know you're as confused as me, Bill and even your father, we're all very confused about this.
- We'll figure it out together. But I really agree with you that it's all very strange.
- I need to find out the truth, Jack, because it's eating me up. Now that I've seen Elizabeth, she doesn't leave my mind; and I'm sorry to be blunt, but the love I have for her is not the same kind of love you have. I've loved that girl as if she were my sister since I was born. Before... everyone said that I was putting her in the place of my late Irma, but, in fact, I've always loved her, ever since we were born. You can't imagine how I suffered when we were separated all those years ago, and now I find her and she's...
- Just like you; everyone in town and I were very surprised when we saw how much you look alike. It's unbelievable.
- Don't say anything to her, Jack. We don't know if there's something to this story or if it's just a joke of fate.
- It's a deal. Let's not give her any more reason to worry ahead of time. She's been through enough these days.
