Chapter 85 – Bonfire Prep

After Marcus left, Jack looked at Nathan again. Jack still saw the sadness that he had seen before, but he also saw that Nathan was trying to mask it. Jack walked over to Nathan, tapped him on his arm and motioned to the front room. Nathan followed Jack away from the group.

"Are you okay?" Jack asked.

"I will be." Nathan said. "Marcus had some bad news for me."

"If you need to go." Jack said. "I will understand."

"No." Nathan said. "There is nothing that I can do. Just my brother-in-law being an idiot."

"Is your sister okay?" Jack asked.

"Yes and no." Nathan said. "I talked to her, she said she was okay, but I just don't know. I can tell that something more is going on."

"Well." Jack said. "You are her brother, you know her. Just let me know if it changes. I promise I will understand if you have to go."

"Thank you." Nathan said. "She is more than my sister. She is my part of me, literally."

Jack looked at Nathan confused.

"We are twins." Nathan said. "So we are closer than just regular siblings. We even have our own language. I know that there is something that she isn't telling me, but I just can't figure it out."

"I will pray." Jack said. "Feel free to call Father Mark if you need."

"I will." Nathan said. "He called while I was on the phone to Colleen. He left a message, I haven't listened to it."

"I know." Jack said. "He called me when you didn't answer. I just said that you were in a meeting and that you were doing okay."

"Thank you." Nathan said.

"What do you want to do this afternoon?" Jack asked.

"I don't know." Nathan said. "Does Gran need more help?"

"I don't think so." Jack said. "She said something about taking a nap."

"I think a nice quiet afternoon is what we all need." Nathan said.

"A movie?" Jack asked.

"Let's talk to the rest." Nathan said.

Jack and Nathan headed back to the kitchen to talk to everyone else.

"What is the plan for this afternoon?" Nathan asked.

"Everything is ready." Gran said. "I am going to go lay down. We will need to take this stuff down to the site about six thirty. But otherwise you are free to do what you want until then. Nathan, did you talk to security about Tommy?"

"Yes." Nathan said. "Brandon will sit with him and then Adam is coming back early so Brandon can go down to the fire for a bit."

"Thank you." Gran said. "Don't forget that you need to head into town in the morning. You have an order to pick up at Primal and also three stops at the farmers market. I have the list of people that you need to talk to and what they should have for us. You will need to pay them, I will make sure that you are paid back."

"Credit or cash?" Jack asked.

"Either." Gran said.

"Nathan." Jack said. "Can we leave early enough to run through the bank?"

"Sure." Nathan said. "Who is all going in the morning?"

"I want to go." Elizabeth said. "Gran went over things with me."

"Me too." Doug said.

"I will go if I am up." Lee said.

"No problem." Jack said. "I figured that we would all go and then work with the horses when we got back. I can have a couple of hands feed and turn the horses out."

"We can do chores before we go." Nathan said. "The farmers market doesn't start until eight."

"Okay." Jack said.

"So back to this afternoon?" Nathan asked.

"Movie?" Doug asked.

"Sure." Elizabeth said.

"I will join you." Nathan said. "But I might read."

"Fine." Jack said. "You can do what you want."

"Have fun." Gran said. "There is popcorn if you want."

"We should be okay." Jack said. "But thank you."

"If you don't need anything else." Gran said. "I will be back up and ready at five."

"Have a nice rest." Elizabeth said. "We will be fine."

Gran headed to her room and the others headed downstairs. They decided to see what was on TV first and were able to find a movie that they all agreed on. Nathan sat on the end of the sectional with a couple of books and his laptop. Elizabeth cuddled into Jack's side. It didn't take long and Jack, Elizabeth and Doug were all asleep. Nathan got up and covered the three of them with a couple of blankets. Lee motioned that he was headed to the room to lay down. Nathan nodded, indicating that he was staying where he was. Nathan quickly set an alarm on his phone for five before turning back to his book.

Nathan was startled when the alarm on his phone went off. He quickly found it and silenced it. He looked around and realized that he must have dozed off. He quickly picked up his stuff and took it back to the room. He looked around and didn't see Lee, so he went out and woke the group on the couch.

"Jack." Nathan said, shaking his leg.

Jack's eyes fluttered and then opened. It took Jack a moment to realize where he was and then he looked down and realized that Elizabeth was using his chest as a pillow. After making eye contact with Nathan, Jack motioned to Doug. Nathan quickly woke Doug. Jack tried to wake Elizabeth, but she just wanted to snuggle into him.

"Elizabeth." Jack said. "You need to get up. We have to get ready for the bonfire."

Elizabeth mumbled something that Jack couldn't make out, but he tried to move her again. That time the movement startled Elizabeth and she bolted awake, with a wild look in her eyes.

"Elizabeth." Jack said. "It is okay, you are safe. We are right here."

Jack held out his hand to Elizabeth and she slowly realized where she was and that she was safe.

"Sorry." Elizabeth said softly.

"It is okay." Jack said. "Are you okay? We need to get up and get ready. It is after five."

"Yeah." Elizabeth said. "I just need a minute."

"Okay." Jack said. "I am going to grab a button up and a sweatshirt. Then I will be upstairs. Come up when you are ready."

"Okay." Elizabeth said.

Nathan helped the two of them stand. Elizabeth quickly released Nathan's hand and headed to her room. She was embarrassed and didn't want to face them. Jack went to go after her, but Nathan stopped him.

"Give her a minute." Nathan whispered. "She is probably embarrassed. Let's get ready and she will join us when she is ready."

Jack nodded. He waited until Elizabeth's door was closed before going to his room and getting what he needed. Nathan and Doug headed upstairs. Jack quickly joined the group upstairs where they found Lee. Jack went and grabbed the guitars, along with the notebooks of music. He brought them into the house.

"How are we taking stuff down there?" Jack asked.

"I figured that you guys could take the truck." Gran said.

"How are you getting down there?" Jack asked.

"I was going to make sure that Thomas and Charlotte were set up." Gran said. "Then I was going to drive down."

"Who is going to be down there to make sure everything is set up?" Jack asked.

"Your Grandfather should be down there." Gran said. "But Maria was going to make sure that things were set up. There are large tables for the food. We have ice for the stuff that needs to stay cool and warmers for the hot food. Kathy should be down there soon. She was helping with the food and we are using some of her equipment."

"Okay." Jack said. "We will load the truck and take things down there. I am taking the guitars. Is there anything else that I will need."

"I don't think so." Gran said. "Oh, this was dropped off."

Gran pointed to the package on the table. Jack looked at it and knew exactly what it was. He wondered when Father Mark had been there.

"Looks like Father Mark dropped off his camera for Elizabeth to use." Jack said.

"That was nice of him." Doug said.

"It was." Jack said. "I still feel bad about her not having her camera."

Gran looked at Jack and debated whether or not to say something. Before she got the chance, Elizabeth came up the stairs.

"Elizabeth." Jack said. "Father Mark dropped off his camera for you to use."

"That is nice." Elizabeth said. "I have my phone as well, but I will be able to take better ones with this. I will have to look at it when we get down there. So what do we need? I grabbed a sweatshirt, so I should be warm enough."

Nathan and Lee had started loading the coolers with what Gran was pulling out of the fridge. Once they had all three coolers loaded as well as an additional crate of items, they loaded them into the back of the truck. Jack set the guitars in the bed of the truck. Jack went back into the house to double check that they had everything. He found Gran sitting at the counter.

"Gran." Jack said. "Everything okay?"

"Yes." Gran said. "I was just going over my list again. I am not sure what your parents are going to do. I guess it sounds like they might not come down. I hadn't planned anything for supper."

"Gran." Jack said. "If they don't want to come down, they can fend for themselves. You have worked hard, they knew about this. Tommy is covered, so they can have a night to themselves or they can go out. Either way, you shouldn't have to worry about it."

Gran looked at Jack.

"I guess." Gran said. "You know that I will always support you, but it is hard when I see you fighting with your parents."

"I know." Jack said. "But they also need to learn that I am an adult and I am quite capable of making decisions about my future. I am sorry that things happened the way they did, but I am not sorry that I stood up for myself. It has been a long time coming. I have been making adult decisions for a number of years and as they let Tommy run wild, they just kept piling more and more on me. I can't live like that anymore. I need to do what I have to.

You realize I have made most of the major decisions with Grandpa John about Thornton Thoroughbreds since I was fifteen years old. With the help of one of dad's financial advisors, I have been buying and selling stocks since I was fourteen, and I have done very well. Not only that, but I also have other things in the works, especially with Grandpa John some of which you know. I promise I will still go to school, but it will not be law school. That is not what I want. I have never wanted to be a lawyer."

"I know." Gran said. "Your heart is with the horses and well, Elizabeth. I understand that you need to do what makes you happy. I also understand that you have had to grow up a lot faster than most and that isn't fair to you."

"You know what?" Jack said. "Tell dad that you are headed out, then come down with us. You should be down there or you are not going to be happy with things."

Gran sat there for a moment.

"Fine." Gran said. "I will be right back."

Gran walked down the hallway. She let Thomas know that she was leaving and then she grabbed a sweatshirt and followed Jack back out to the truck. Elizabeth slid out of the back seat when she saw Gran. Jack helped Gran climb in and then climbed in after her. Elizabeth sat on Jack's lap, then Lee climbed in. Doug sat in the front seat with Nathan. Nathan smiled and nodded before pulling out. Gran directed him around to where they could pull in close to the spot that was set up for the bonfire. When the group got there, there was a lot going on. There were hands setting up tables and chairs. There were also tables that had benches that were already set. The grills were already going. James spotted the truck and waved them over. After Nathan parked, they set about unloading the things that they had brought. Soon all five of them were helping to get things set up under the direction of Gran and Kathy.

By six thirty, they had everything ready and people were just starting to show up. Elizabeth stayed close to Jack, but he didn't mind. As people came, they grabbed a cold drink and mingled. At about ten to seven, James stood up and clapped his hands getting everyone's attention.

"Welcome." James said. "I know that it is usual for us to have this on a weeknight, but with the way that things were this year, it was just one of those things. I want everyone to have fun, but please remember that there is work tomorrow. That said, I want to thank everyone that helped set things up and those that helped with the food. Let us bow or heads and say grace."

James waited a moment as people took off their hats and bowed their heads.

"Heavenly Father." James prayed. "Please be with us as we gather tonight. We ask You to bless this time of fellowship. Please bless this food to our bodies and the hands that prepared it. Please keep everyone safe as they head back to their homes tonight. In Your Name we pray, Amen."

There was a chorus of amens from the people gathered. Maria then stood up.

"We have pulled pork, burgers and hot dogs." Maria said. "We also have grilled pork chops. Please let those with little kids and those that are going to be providing music go first. There is plenty of food for everyone. The only other thing that I want to say is that even though it is a party, please be mindful that there are children here and watch your language and drinking. Enjoy."