Chapter 10 – Fallout (long)
As soon as Jack and Elizabeth left, Grace called her husband at the office and asked him to come home. She told him that they needed to talk. William was worried about his wife, he knew this situation with Julie had caused her stress which wasn't good since she was still recovering from those heart issues from the previous fall. William gathered his things and headed home from the office. Twenty minutes later, William's driver pulled into the courtyard. The driver let William out and then headed to the garage to park the car. William entered the house and immediately inquired about his wife. He was informed that she was still in the sitting room. He asked what happened and learned that Jack and Elizabeth had just left a few minutes before Grace called him. William set his briefcase down and headed to talk to his wife.
"What happened?" William said as he entered the room.
"A lot." Grace said.
"Are you alright?" William asked.
"Yes, physically." Grace said. "Have you heard from Charles?"
"No and apparently he missed a meeting yesterday." William said. "Why are you asking about Charles?"
"Something that Elizabeth said." Grace sighed.
William took a seat near his wife and tried to calm himself. He wanted to know what had happened. He wondered what could have upset Grace so much. He knew that she had been upset about Julie, but not like she was at the moment.
"Grace, dear." William said. "Talk to me. What happened this morning?"
Grace took a couple of deep breaths. She then took a sip of her tea and then looked at her husband. William waited until she was ready to talk. He knew that his wife liked to calm herself before she spoke. When she was ready, Grace relayed almost everything that Jack and Elizabeth had said. She told her husband about what the Mounties said about Julie and that Tom wouldn't face charges and if he didn't back off, it would be Julie that would be in trouble. Grace also told William how Jack was arranging for a job out town for Tom so that he would not be around. Grace left out the biggest piece of news, but knew that she would have to tell him. Grace just wanted to deal with Julie before William got too upset. William stood up and started pacing the room. He was muttering and Grace couldn't understand what he was saying. Finally he walked out of the room and talked to a servant before returning to the sitting room.
"William dear." Grace said. "Please sit down and talk to me."
"I will not allow this to continue." William said.
"Don't do anything that you will regret." Grace said.
"Do you believe what Elizabeth told you?" William asked.
"I don't see her making this up." Grace said. "Apparently, Jack and Elizabeth met with Wynn before they came and talked to me. Please just drop this with the Mounties. I don't want anything to happen to Julie, I have already lost one daughter."
"What do you mean?" William said, spinning around facing his wife.
Grace could see that William was very upset, but she had said too much. She knew that she would have to tell him. She had hoped that he would calm down before she talked to him about what Jack and Elizabeth did. William could tell that his wife was stalling, so he walked over to her.
"I asked you what you were talking about." William said. "I want answers right now."
"Well apparently Elizabeth was upset that you sent Charles to Hope Valley." Grace said. "Especially since the reason that she refused to come home for the holidays was that she and Jack got married."
"Absolutely not!" William bellowed. "I will end it and that is enough of this foolishness. She is coming home and that is the end of things. Where are they?"
"All Jack would say is that Wynn and Elizabeth know how to get a hold of them." Grace said.
William was furious. He was back to pacing the room. He was on his third trip when he noticed the servant that he had talked to at the door. He motioned for her to enter and speak. When he was informed that Julie refused to talk to him, he became even more angry. He wanted to speak with Julie, but he also needed to deal with what Elizabeth had done. He knew that he was going to have to go talk to his sister and brother-in-law, but he wanted to hear from Julie first. William stormed out of the room and up the stairs. He stopped in front of Julie's door.
Jack pulled into the hospital parking lot and found a spot. He waited for Elizabeth to exit the car and they walked hand in hand into the hospital. Since Jack knew where Tom's room was, he led Elizabeth to the stairs. When they got to the floor where Tom was, he saw Faith.
"Faith." Jack called out.
Faith turned and saw Jack there with a beautiful woman. She walked over to them.
"Faith." Jack said. "I would like to introduce you to my wife, Elizabeth Thornton. Elizabeth, this is Nurse Faith Carter. She has been taking care of Tom."
"Nice to meet you." Faith said.
"Same here." Elizabeth said. "Jack, I think I will wait out here while you go talk to Tom. I have had enough family drama for one day."
"If you are sure." Jack said.
"I am." Elizabeth said.
Jack let go of Elizabeth's hand and walked toward Tom's room. He knocked and then entered. Elizabeth found a magazine to look through while she waited for Jack. Elizabeth could feel the eyes of most of the staff on her, but she tried to ignore it. She figured that many of them recognized her from when she used to grace the society pages.
"Tom, we need to talk." Jack said when he entered the room. "I have turned your statement into the Mounties. Right now there is nothing that they can charge you with. Although, I need to impress upon you, that I can't keep cleaning up your messes here. I am working on arranging a job somewhere else far from here for you and it would be in your very best interest to take that job and leave Hamilton."
"And what if I don't want to leave Hamilton?" Tom huffed.
"Well." Jack said. "Then any trouble that you get into in the future will be all yours. There will be nothing that I can do to help you. You are better than this Tom. You are letting an overgrown spoiled child lead you around by your nose and get you into trouble. You need to grow up. I understand that you haven't had the easiest time of things, but enough of this crap. You are not a kid anymore. You are an adult and it is time that you start acting like one."
"You are one to talk." Tom huffed. "You have always had it easier. School, girls, everything came easier for you."
"Tom." Jack said. "Enough. You are almost nineteen years old. Most men your age, either are attending school or working full time. Many are married and have children to care for. You need to learn to take responsibility for your actions. I can promise you that if you stick around Hamilton, William Thatcher will make your life difficult. I agree with some of the senior Mounties, the best thing for you will be to leave town and start over with a job. If you really love Julie, then make something of yourself, then you can talk about a future together. I will always be your brother, but I can't keep bailing you out of trouble."
"So where is this job?" Tom sighed.
"In Port McNeil." Jack said. "You would be working at a shipyard. It may not be a glamorous job, but it is honest work and there is a chance for you to make something of yourself."
"Port McNeil?" Tom said. "Are you serious? That is on the opposite side of the country."
"That was kind of the point." Jack said. "No one knows you out there and you can't get into much trouble and if you do, then you need to own it."
"What if I don't want to go?" Tom said.
"I love you." Jack said. "But there is nothing that I can do for you and will be on your own. I will let Me know everything that happened and that I tried to help you but you refused my help. I will not be coming back to bail you out any more. You leave Hamilton and make something of yourself or there is nothing more that I can do."
"You wouldn't." Tom said.
"I would." Jack said. "Ma and I spent the holidays together and she understands my life in Hope Valley. She approves of my life in Hope Valley. More importantly, she understands that there is a very limited amount of help that I can offer you and not have it affect my job."
Before Tom could speak again, there was a knock at the door. Jack turned to see Elizabeth had stuck her head in.
"Just wanted to see how much longer?" Elizabeth asked.
"If that is Elizabeth, she can come in." Tom said.
"I don't want to intrude." Elizabeth said.
"We were just finishing." Jack said. "I haven't told him, so come in for a moment."
Elizabeth stepped into the room and Jack wrapped a protective arm around her.
"Tom." Jack said. "There is something else that I need to tell you. This is part of the reason that Ma spent Christmas with me this year. Elizabeth and I got married."
Tom just looked at them.
"Do you want to talk about things?" Jack asked.
"I am tired." Tom said. "I think I will rest."
"Think about what I said about the job." Jack said.
Without another word, Jack and Elizabeth left Tom's hospital room and headed out of the hospital. By the time that they got to the car, Elizabeth was shaking. Before Jack helped her into the car, Jack pulled her into a familiar embrace. He kissed her temple and tried to calm her down. He held her close for a few minutes, before speaking.
"Do you want to go out for lunch?" Jack asked.
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "Nothing too fancy, since I am not dressed for it."
"You look amazing." Jack said. "What do you suggest? I am not as familiar with Hamilton."
"I think I know a place." Elizabeth said.
Jack helped her into the car and then started it before asking for directions. Elizabeth told Jack where to go. He pulled out of the parking lot and headed to the restaurant that Elizabeth told him about. He found a parking spot and went to help Elizabeth out of the car. They walked the short distance to the restaurant. They found a place to sit and quickly placed their order. Jack was still worried about Elizabeth, but he knew that he couldn't push her.
"I just want to make sure that you are okay." Jack said.
"I don't know anymore." Elizabeth said.
"Please talk to me." Jack said. "I know that it was stressful talking to your mother, but what happened at the hospital. I thought that you were fine when I left you in the hallway."
"I just couldn't take the people looking at me anymore." Elizabeth said.
"What do you mean?" Jack asked.
"People recognized me. Then they would look at me and whisper." Elizabeth said. "It never bothered me in the past. Usually because it only happened when I was out shopping and then I was with Mother or one of my sisters. I am sure people are talking about why I am dressed so plainly and what I am doing with you, especially after you introduced me as your wife. I am sure that I am going to be the talk of the town and the gossip is going to go crazy – Thatcher princess married below her station."
"Is that what you really think?" Jack asked.
"No." Elizabeth said. "You know that I love you, but I … you need to understand that people love to talk about my family and others in society. Mainly because most of our lives are lived out on the society pages. People know that there wasn't an engagement announcement nor was there a high society wedding. So when I show up married, people start to talk about the reason. I am sure that they will jump to the same conclusion that Abigail did right away."
"Oh Elizabeth." Jack said. "I am sorry. I didn't realize how hard this would be for you. What can I do?"
"Right now." Elizabeth said. "I just want to eat and then go back to Wynn and Elizabeth's."
The waitress brought their food. Jack and Elizabeth didn't talk much as they ate. When they were finished, they paid for their meal and left. Jack had wanted to do something that afternoon, but based on the way that Elizabeth was feeling, they just headed back to the Delaneys. Jack didn't mind spending a quiet afternoon with his wife. He wanted more than anything to take her from this place and make feel better.
"Julie Ann Thatcher." William called out. "You better get out here and talk to me right this instant. I am sick of this childish behavior. This is still my house, I will not tolerate this disrespect that you have shown me and your mother."
Julie knew that her father was mad, but she knew that the longer that she avoided him the more angry that he would be. She had hoped that Elizabeth would have talked to him. She had heard Elizabeth's voice earlier, but apparently she didn't make the situation better. Julie climbed from her bed and went to the door. She opened it and looked at her father.
"Downstairs now." William ordered. "We need to talk."
Julie reluctantly stepped out of her room and started down the hall. William followed close behind her and when they got to the bottom of the steps, Julie headed for the sitting room. William followed Julie into the room and continued to pace as Julie sat down. Julie didn't look at her father and only glanced at her mother. She knew that she was in trouble, she just wished that they would get over it. She didn't know what the big deal was and why they were so angry with her.
"I want the truth." William said. "I mean it and I want it right now."
"Whatever do you mean Father." Julie said.
"Fine." William said. "Want to play that game?"
"Julie dear." Grace said. "Your father and I are worried about you. We want to help you, but you need to tell us what really happened with the car."
"I told you." Julie said.
"Well that is not what the Mounties are saying." William said. "Apparently, according to them, you were the one that was driving and caused the accident. Now were you driving?"
"What is the big deal?" Julie said. "I asked Tom to teach me, if he wouldn't have yelled at me then none of this would have happened."
Julie still wasn't telling them the truth, but at least they were getting closer to what happened.
"Julie." William said. "This is a very big deal. You were driving without a license and this is not the first time and the Mounties know that. Also the fact that you caused an accident, hurt someone and then tried to blame someone else. This is not the story that you told me when I came and picked you up. I reported to the Mounties what you told me about Tom taking the car and forcing you to go with. Because of that, both of us could be in big trouble."
Julie waved her hand and sighed.
"You can make it go away." Julie said with a flippant attitude. "You always do."
To emphasize her point, Julie flipped her hair while she was talking and planted a fake smile on her face. Grace saw that Julie wasn't taking what they were saying seriously and realized that things needed to change.
"Maybe Elizabeth is right, William." Grace said. "Maybe we just need to let her face the full consequences of her actions. If Julie doesn't want to tell the truth and take responsibility then maybe we should let the Mounties deal with it. Believe me when I say I don't want this, but maybe it is the best thing."
"Mother, how can you say that?" Julie huffed. "You don't care about me, you never have. Stop treating me like a child."
Julie stood and stomped her foot before heading out that door.
"If you walk out of this room." William said. "I will not help you anymore. You will be on your own. I will not pay for anything – no more shopping, no more fancy restaurants, no more money period. No trust fund until you can prove that you can act like a responsible adult."
Julie returned to the couch with a huff. She sat down, crossed her arms and pouted like a petulant child. She hated how her parents treated her like a child, but she knew that she couldn't survive on her own, at least not at this point. William and Grace watched their youngest throw a minor tantrum and just shook their heads. William continued to pace for a few more minutes, he needed to think and he wanted his thoughts in order before he spoke. Grace just watched her husband and worried that he would do something rash. The longer that she watched him, the less concerned that she became. She realized that his anger had subsided. She waited for him to speak. She knew that she had already pushed him that day. It wasn't that she was afraid of her husband, but she was concerned because sometimes he got angry and didn't always think things through. That was especially true when it came to his daughters and the life that he had planned for them. He would forget that they were people that were capable of making choices and living their own lives, to an extent. It appeared as if Julie was making poor choices and needed direction, but when it came to Elizabeth, she was a capable adult who had a job, a home and could take care of herself. Finally, William stopped pacing and sat down across from Julie. He looked at her for a few more moments before speaking.
"Julie." William said. "Until further notice, you are not allowed to leave this house unless you are accompanied by myself or your mother. You will also come downstairs and eat meals in the dining room like a normal person. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Julie sighed. "Is there anything else?"
"Not right now." William said. "I am sure that there will be more later, but that is enough for now."
"What am I supposed to do all day?" Julie huffed.
"There is plenty that you could do." William said.
"I can arrange lessons for you." Grace said. "There is music, voice, art or dance. But whatever you choose, I will be supervising your activities until you can show that you can be trusted. Also there will be no shopping for the sake of shopping until you can prove that your behavior has changed."
"The last thing that I am going to say." William said. "This is your last chance. If you cross your mother and I again, I will have no choice. I can and will cut you off. No more sneaking out, no more lying. You are out of chances. I can still arrange for you to go stay with your Aunt Agatha and I know that is not what you want."
"I agree." Grace said. "I know that you don't want to stay with your Aunt Agatha because you have never liked her rules. But I am not going to allow you to continue on this path that you are on."
Julie looked at her parents and was going to say something, but instead just closed her mouth. She waited to see if either was going to say anything else. When neither spoke, she stood.
"May I be excused?" Julie asked.
"No." William said, looking at his watch. "Lunch should be ready and you will eat with your mother and I."
As if on cue, the butler entered the room and let them know that lunch was ready in the small dining room. The three stood and went to have lunch. Not much was said during lunch. As soon as she was finished, Julie excused herself and went to her room. She hated being stuck inside, but at least she could hide in her room for a while. She thought about sneaking out, but figured that her father would have alerted the staff to keep an eye on her. She really didn't think that her parents would send her to stay with her Aunt Agatha, but then again, they have never spoken to her the way that they had just spoken to her. When William was finished eating, he stood and left the dining room. He quickly spoke to a couple of the staff, before he grabbed his briefcase and waited for his driver to pull the car back around. William had planned on heading back to the office, but knew that he needed to deal with something else first.
