Chapter 35 – More Sharing
Elizabeth pulled the first suit she found. It was a tiny black with floral print one. It had straps on the sides holding the piece together, it also had straps that wrapped around her upper torso. It covered her, but didn't leave anything to the imagination. Elizabeth debated for a second before she quickly changed into it and then pulled on a pair of very short black shorts. She also grabbed the cover up that Katie had gotten her. It was white with black crochet edging and it had tassels as well at the elbows, waist and where it tied at the top. Elizabeth was wondering what Gran would think about her outfit. She knew it showed a lot more skin then maybe Gran was used to. Elizabeth headed upstairs and found Gran waiting for her. Gran gave her a quick look but didn't say anything. They headed past the kitchen and then up a staircase hidden from view. Gran led her up the staircase. When they got to the top, Elizabeth saw a small room that had various instruments in it. She also saw the French doors near the corner of the room.
"What a great little room." Elizabeth said.
"It is one of JP's favorites." Gran said. "He would come up here and play guitar. There is another level, but we go outside here. Besides, the only one that goes up there anymore is JP."
"Oh." Elizabeth said.
"Nothing bad." Gran said. "It just became his place to be after everything with Laura. If he wants to be alone, that is where he usually is. We as a family respect his need for a space of his own."
"That is nice." Elizabeth said. "I would like to see it, but I will ask Jack."
"You do that." Gran said. "Now let's go get comfortable and watch them jump."
Gran led Elizabeth outside where they found a couple of lounge chairs. They moved them over to where they could see the ring better.
"Now tell me about when you met JP." Gran said.
"Well." Elizabeth said.
"It is okay." Gran said, putting a hand on Elizabeth's leg. "Just tell me what you feel comfortable with."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "As you know Jack and his friend, Doug stepped in to help me at Central Park. When I ran to Jack. Well …. I don't really know but a calm came over me at that moment. I instantly felt safe as he held me behind him, keeping himself between me and the boys. When they ran off and I collapsed crying, Jack held me. I was upset, but felt safe with Jack. I don't know any other way to explain it. After talking with Doug's father, Jack offered to have them take me home instead of an officer. We talked a little as we walked to Jack's Jeep, but we really talked as Doug drove us to my house.
It was like I had known Jack for years. We were easily able to talk about many things and shared a lot about each other on the ride home. I told him about my family. He mentioned Tommy. We talked about likes and dislikes. Before we knew it, we were at my place. Jack even stood up to my father when he questioned what happened. No one had ever done that for me. He made sure I felt safe with him leaving. Both Jack and Doug made sure I had their numbers before they left. They also let me know to call them for anything, any time."
"So he didn't tell you about the money?" Gran asked.
"Nope." Elizabeth said. "His name sounded familiar, but I couldn't figure out why and it didn't matter to me. I figured I would ask him about it later. I have never really been one to keep up on the gossip or society pages. I am sure that my sister, Julie, would have known who he was right away."
"Okay." Gran said. "You said you felt safe. Can you tell me more about what you were feeling?"
"It is hard." Elizabeth said. "It was like something I didn't know was missing was found. I know that Jack said something similar, but it is true. I wasn't/am not looking for a relationship and I know that I have to work through some stuff before we can really have one, but I have never felt the way that I feel when I am with Jack. I want to be with Jack and I don't know if either of us can deny our feelings for much longer. Don't get me wrong, we know that there are issues, but we also can't deny the connection that we feel or the love that we feel."
"Yeah." Gran said. "JP said pretty much the same thing. I am glad that you realize that you have to work through some things before you can commit to being in a serious relationship with JP or anyone. But …."
"I knew it." Elizabeth said. "I knew that there was a but in there."
"But." Gran said. "I will say the same thing I said to JP last night, slow down and think about things. I don't want you to make a mistake that you can't recover from."
"I know." Elizabeth said. "I am sorry, I overheard what you said to Jack last night. I had gotten up to get something and heard you talking. When I heard Jack say he loved me, I froze. I couldn't move. I didn't want to listen, but I couldn't move either."
"You are forgiven." Gran said. "Just be careful. I have said that there have been lots of girls who have been after JP and that is true. But he has never brought anyone here. He also has never done what he has done for you. I just don't want you to feel like you owe him."
"I understand." Elizabeth said. "We have talked about that. We both understand that we need to be careful and work through the feelings that we have and see where things go. We just can't deny this connection that we feel."
Elizabeth debated for a moment if she should tell Gran what she felt at church, but she decided that she would talk to Jack about it first.
"As long as you understand that." Gran said. "Now tell me more about your family. I know that you said you had a younger sister. Any other siblings?"
"Yes, Julie is younger." Elizabeth said. "I also have an older sister, Viola. She is almost six years older than me. She will be twenty-four in August."
"Tell me about her." Gran said. "What does she do? Where does she live?"
"I am not sure she does anything." Elizabeth said.
Gran just looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders and nodded her head.
"She did exactly what father wanted." Elizabeth said. "She married the son of a business associate. They live in Boston. He is a junior partner at a prestigious law firm there."
"Did Viola go to college?" Gran asked.
"Sort of." Elizabeth said. "She went for two years at NYU, then she got married and moved to Boston with him. Now she is a young socialite wife. Her husband, Lionel, comes from a wealthy Boston family."
"What did she study?" Gran asked.
"Fashion or design or something like that." Elizabeth said with a roll of her eyes and wave of her hand.
"I take it you don't approve by your tone." Gran said.
"Viola and I were never very close." Elizabeth said. "Maybe it had to do with the age difference, but I never understood why she would waste money going to school if she wasn't going to do something with it. I mean it wasn't like we were poor, but we didn't have access to unlimited amounts of money. Each of us girls had an education fund that was set up, but I am sure that it will not cover everything at Columbia for me."
"Okay." Gran said. "That I understand. So does she have any children."
Elizabeth couldn't help it, she laughed.
"Sorry." Elizabeth said. "I doubt that children are part of Viola's plan. She has always been more concerned with how she looks. She is a few inches taller than me, about the same height as Jack. But she is probably two sizes smaller than me. Because she is so thin, people say that she should be a model. I don't know. Viola would definitely love the attention."
Gran just looked at her.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "So you see, why I laughed. I can't even imagine Viola pregnant."
"That is sad." Gran said. "Children are wonderful."
"Oh, I know." Elizabeth said. "As much as I want to teach small children, I also want to be a mother. I have always wanted a large family."
"That is a good plan to have." Gran said. "JP loves children. So do you have aunts, uncles, cousins?"
"My mother has one sister, Agatha." Elizabeth said. "She is married to Henry, but then never had any children. Father has one brother, Edward. I have met the man twice in my life. He lives in Alaska. I think he is married, but I don't think that there are any children. Before you ask, I never knew my mother's parents or my father's mother. They were all gone before I was old enough to remember them or before. My grandfather lives in Arizona and I have seen him maybe once or twice in the last ten years."
"So sad." Gran said. "Family is important."
"So." Elizabeth said. "I know that Jack has at least two cousins. Tell me about your family."
Before Gran could answer she noticed the boys were in the ring.
"Looks like they are getting ready to jump." Gran said. "I will answer your question, but I want to see how JP does."
They watched as Jack circled the ring and lined up for the first jump. Gran shook her head when she saw Jack go over he first jump.
"Come on, JP." Gran whispered. "You are better than that."
They then watched him clip the rail on the second jump. Again Gran shook her head. They watched as Nathan went over to Jack and talked.
"Looks like Nathan is going to ride Bandit." Elizabeth said.
"Good." Gran said. "JP looked like he was in his own head. Nathan must have seen it also. Let's see how Nathan does."
They watched Nathan line up for the first jump and sail over. Then they saw Bandit act up again and again. Then Jack walked over with Honey. Before either Gran or Elizabeth could figure out what was going on, Jack took the horses out of the ring.
"Well." Elizabeth said. "Looks like they are looking for something."
Before either could say anything else, they saw Jack storm out of the ring and start yelling. Elizabeth's eyes got huge.
"Wow." Elizabeth said. "I have never heard Jack yell."
"He doesn't." Gran said. "Well, at least not often. Something must be seriously wrong."
"Think we should head over there?" Elizabeth asked.
"No." Gran said. "Looks like James and Char are headed that way. They will figure out what is going on. They will tell us later or I will make sure to ask."
"Okay." Elizabeth said.
Gran stood and went to the railing. Elizabeth followed. They stood there watching what was going on down at the jumping ring. They saw everyone talking and then went off. It looked like Nathan and Jack headed to the stable while Charlotte went back into the ring. After a few moments, James headed to the stable as well.
"Looks like he figured out whatever was going on." Elizabeth said.
"Looks like it." Gran said. "But I doubt that will be the end of it."
"So what happens now?" Elizabeth asked.
"I think the boys might go jump at the arena." Gran said. "Because it looks like there is a problem with the jump that JP messed up. See Charlotte over there looking at something."
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I wonder what is going on."
"We will find out later." Gran said. "I am sorry that you won't get to see JP jump this afternoon. Do you still want to sit up here and talk or head back into the house?"
"If you don't mind." Elizabeth said. "I wouldn't mind staying up here, it is so beautiful."
"I don't mind." Gran said. "And you are right. The views are amazing. This is one of my favorite spots to sit when it is nice."
When Jack and Nathan walked into the stable, the young man had cross clipped both horses, but they were still tacked. Jack walked over to the young man.
"I am sorry I yelled." Jack said.
"It is okay." The boy said.
"What is your name?" Jack asked.
"Carlo."
"Nice to meet you Carlo." Jack said. "My name is Jack and that is Nathan."
"I know who you are, Sir." Carlo said.
"Please call me Jack." He said. "So you must be new here."
"I am just working with my uncle this summer." Carlo said.
"Who is your uncle?" Jack asked.
"Marco." Carlo said. "I am visiting and Mr James was kind enough to give me a job helping with the horses. I was out there because I wanted to see you jump. I have seen videos of you. I wish I could jump like you. I can ride. Uncle Marco taught me. He arranged it with Mr James so that I can ride some of the trail horses when my work is done."
"Well." Jack said. "I have a couple of other horses that jump. Talk to your uncle and I am sure that he can give you some lessons. I will speak to him and let him know that it is okay if you use one of my other horses."
"Really?" Carlo said.
"As long as your work is done." Jack said. "You also have to follow the rules about riding, including wearing a helmet and not jumping alone."
"Yes, Sir." Carlo said.
Jack just looked at him.
"I mean Jack." Carlo said.
"I will talk to your uncle." Jack said. "I know that he will be coming with us to Sugar Creek in a few weeks, so maybe you can come with him and see us both jump."
"Thank you, so much." Carlo said.
"Okay." Jack said. "We are going to ride these two up to the arena and jump there for now."
Jack and Nathan lead the horses out of the stable and headed for the arena. They hadn't gone far when Nathan put his hand on Jack.
"That was nice of you." Nathan said.
"What?" Jack said.
"You didn't have to apologize or arrange so he could jump." Nathan said. "You had a right to be upset about the snake. As far as jumping he could have just asked his uncle."
"I felt bad about yelling." Jack said. "As far as the jumping, I thought a little encouragement might help."
"Most definitely not spoiled." Nathan said.
Jack just grinned and continued on toward the arena.
