Chapter 18 – Talking it out with Grace

As Elizabeth sat there, she could still sense the hesitation from her mother and a little from her Aunt Agatha, so Elizabeth opened the small bag that she had with her and pulled out a small leather bound book like the Mounties carried. She removed the band that held it closed and removed a number of photos and loose pages. She unfolded a couple of pages and then handed everything to her Aunt Agatha. Agatha started to look at what Elizabeth had handed her.

"I wanted you both to see those." Elizabeth said. "The first photograph is one that Jack took of me and my students on the first day of class in the new schoolhouse. Do you see those twenty-one students? I am the only teacher that they have. The next two photographs are from the wedding. One is of Jack and I and the other should be with our wedding party. The woman standing right next to me is Abigail Stanton, the woman who first took me in when I went to Coal Valley. The other woman is another friend, Rosemary. The first man standing next to Jack is Bill Avery, who I think you have met. He used to be a Mountie and is now the sheriff in Hope Valley. The other man is Lee Coulter, he is the sawmill owner. He does business with Father and is one of Jack's best friends. The other pages are pictures that Jack drew of me. I believe one is me with my students and the other is me in my wedding dress."

"Those are excellent drawings." Aunt Agatha said. "He is very talented."

Elizabeth watched as her mother looked at the photographs and drawings. She couldn't tell what her mother was thinking. She desperately wanted her mother to approve of her life.

"It looks like you really have your hands full with that many students." Grace said. "What is the age range?"

"The youngest was barely five when school started and the oldest three, all boys, are turning sixteen this year." Elizabeth said. "Yes it can be quite the challenge to teach that many students with such a range of abilities, but many of those students couldn't even read or write when I first arrived. I have made such a difference in their lives and them in my life. All the books and materials that you have sent have helped so much."

Grace studied the pictures from Elizabeth's wedding. Elizabeth saw her face soften slightly.

"Where in the world did you get such a lovely dress?" Grace asked.

"Aunt Elizabeth sent it." Elizabeth said. "Then I had one of the ladies in town do the alterations. Aunt Elizabeth also sent the material for the veil and Abigail's daughter-in-law, hand stitched it. I don't know if you can see it in the picture or the drawing that Jack did, but she stitched two interlocking hearts with a "T" in the middle. It was done in a very light blue. She wanted me to have something special that I could pass on."

Grace and Agatha looked at each other and then looked at Elizabeth.

"She did that for you without you asking." Grace said, surprised.

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "Everyone in Hope Valley helps one another. We take care of each other and help each other. After everything that town has been through, they understand the need to help each other. I am sorry about the way that I went about telling you, but I am not sorry about marrying Jack. I hope that you can come to accept my choices. When I was here this past fall, you said that you would always stand by me and support me. Is that still true?"

Elizabeth took a deep breath and then a sip of her tea as she waited for their response. It was Agatha who was first to speak.

"As long as you are happy." Agatha said. "Then I am happy for you. How long are you in Hamilton?"

"Unfortunately." Elizabeth said. "Jack and I have to return soon, but we hope to return this spring. We are also planning on returning for Viola's wedding, that is if both Jack and I are welcome and it works out to get away. There is business that Jack needs to get back to and we only came to deal with Tom and Julie. I have someone covering my class for a few days, but I can't be gone much longer either."

Elizabeth looked to her mother who still hadn't spoken. Elizabeth Rose and Agatha also turned to Grace and tried to get a read on what she was thinking. Finally, Agatha reached over and placed her hand on her sister's hand and squeezed it.

"Grace." Agatha said.

"I am trying." Grace said. "I am still hurt that you would get married without telling me. I do have to admit that you were a beautiful bride. I can see that your eyes have a sparkle in them that I have never seen. You know that your father and I have always wanted the best for you. I still have my concerns about Jack being able to provide for you. I can see that he really loves you and you obviously love him."

"Mother." Elizabeth said. "Jack and I don't care about the money. We make due with what we have and that is more than most in Hope Valley. With both of us working and earning a salary, we are fine. I know that Jack wishes he could buy me fancy things like I used to have, but I honestly don't mind. I am happy with Jack and whatever we have. I have never cared about money. I admit that I enjoyed having things, but it wasn't like I needed them. I have learned what is important and even though Jack and I don't have a lot of money we are very happy because we have each other."

"What happens when he gets a different post?" Grace asked concerned.

"As a wedding present." Elizabeth said. "Uncle Wynn gave Jack an indefinite posting to Hope Valley. Jack will not be moved unless we want to be moved. We both love the town and they love having us there."

"Okay." Grace said. "I will try to talk to your father, but I don't think it will make a difference. Your support and money from us will not change. There is nothing that your father can do about that. He has no say in the matter. As far as what your father does with your trust fund, I don't know. Hopefully he will calm down and not do anything he will regret."

"Didn't you just have a birthday?" Aunt Agatha asked.

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "Father managed to even ruin that."

"How did he do that?" Agatha asked.

"He sent Charles to Hope Valley." Elizabeth said. "To make matters worse, he had promised Charles that I would be willing to marry him and return with him to Hamilton the next day. When Charles ambushed me at the schoolhouse, I was stunned. Jack came in and tried to get across to Charles that I was not a piece of property and my father had no right to promise him anything. When I turned away from Charles to walk out with Jack, Charles wouldn't listen. He grabbed my arm and tried to pull me out of Jack's arms. Jack ended up arresting Charles for assaulting me and allowed him to sit in jail until Saturday, causing him to miss his meeting with Lee Coulter at the sawmill. I told you, Lee and Jack are best friends and Lee knew where Charles was. Jack was the senior officer and left orders that no one was to talk to Charles until they heard from him. Jack figured that it would do Charles good to sit there for a few days and think about his actions. Father didn't want to believe that Charles would do something like that, but I swear to you that it was true."

"Well that was why William was mad at Charles." Grace said. "He was mad when he received the telegram that Charles had missed his meeting. He didn't say anything about sending him out there to bring you back nor did he say anything about Charles proposing."

"Well." Elizabeth said. "According to Charles, you and his mother had already planned the engagement announcement, party and picked a wedding date. And everything was in the works for a wedding and soon from what I understand."

"Charles is lucky." Elizabeth Rose said. "Wynn told William that if it had been him and someone had laid a hand on me or Sophie, he would have shot them on the spot."

"Right." Elizabeth said. "I am sure that the thought crossed Jack's mind, but he showed restraint in just arresting Charles. He didn't even punch him, but I could tell that he wanted to."

"I am sorry." Grace said. "But I didn't know anything about it. Do you really think that I would have gone along with it? I may not be happy that you shut me out of your wedding, but I told you that I wouldn't interfere with your choices. Do you want to stay for lunch?"

"I am sorry we can't." Aunt Elizabeth said. "Beth and I have some errands to run and then she needs to get home and get ready for her date with Jack tonight. He wanted to take her out for their one month anniversary."

"How about we have a small dinner party before you leave?" Aunt Agatha said.

"Can't." Elizabeth said. "Jack and I need to return to Hope Valley tomorrow. We both need to get back to work. Jack can't keep taking time off of work. The Mounties have been very understanding about him taking time off for the wedding and then to travel back here, but we don't think that it is right to take advantage of that. There are other Mounties that had to travel to cover the Hope Valley area while Jack is gone. We didn't even take a honeymoon. We spent a couple days together at home. We were planning on getting away this month, but with coming here I don't see how we can at this point. I know that Jack feels bad that we didn't get to go out of town for a honeymoon, but I understand. I am just glad that we had time together."

"Well in that case." Grace said. "Wait one minute."

Grace left the room and headed down the hallway. Elizabeth thought she knew what her mother was up to, but couldn't be sure. Elizabeth Rose and Elizabeth stood and went to the foyer to wait for Grace. Aunt Agatha joined them and wished both a good time. She reminded Beth to stay in touch and she would also try to work on William. Grace came back to the foyer carrying a few things. She handed Elizabeth an envelope as well as a large velvet case.

"Open it." Grace said point to the case.

When Elizabeth opened it to find a garnet necklace and matching earrings. Elizabeth had never seen them before. She looked at her mother and was stunned. It was a beautiful set, but Elizabeth didn't think that she should accept it.

"I bought this awhile ago." Grace said. "In our family it has been customary for a woman on her twenty-first birthday or wedding to receive a birthstone set. Had I known about your wedding I would have had it sent, but you can have it now. Please accept it. I know that it is fancier than what you typically wear, but you can save it for special occasions."

"Thank you, Mother." Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth handed the case and envelope to Aunt Elizabeth and reached to give her mother a hug. Grace returned the hug, but quickly released her daughter since displays of affections were not common for them. A servant retrieved Aunt Elizabeth and Elizabeth's coats. She then handed Elizabeth the bag that she had left in the drawing room. Elizabeth put the envelope in there and tucked the case under her arm. Before they left, Grace put her arm on Elizabeth and stopped her.

"Please head to the Shoppe and pick out a new dress for tonight." Grace said. "I will call ahead and let them know that it should be charged to me. Pick out something that goes with your new necklace and earrings. I am sure that Jack would love to see you wear them, maybe he will even draw you wearing them. I wouldn't mind seeing more drawings of you. Elizabeth, please make sure that Jack has a good suit to match Beth."

"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I will see if he is willing to share some of them. I know that he has done quite a number of drawings of me. I will also see if he is willing to share some of them with you. He hasn't even shared all of them with me. I didn't realize how talented he was until he did one of the two of us, had it framed and gave it to me."

Aunt Elizabeth and Elizabeth left the Thatcher's house and headed for Grace's favorite dress shoppe to get a dress for Elizabeth. Elizabeth was still unsure about getting a fancy dress, but her aunt reminded her that she should take her mother's gift as a sign that things are getting better. Elizabeth asked about Jack's plans and what he was wearing. She didn't know that he had packed his lovely blue suit. Aunt Elizabeth wouldn't share much about Jack's plans, but did say that he had his blue suit. If Elizabeth got a dress that matched her new jewelry, Elizabeth Rose was sure that Jack could wear one of Dee's black suits. Elizabeth wasn't so sure. Aunt Elizabeth picked up her niece's hesitation, so she came up with another plan, especially since Grace had said to make sure that Jack had a suit.

When they got to the dress shop, Elizabeth Rose asked to use their phone. She called her husband to get Jack's measurements, so she could pick up a black suit for Jack. Wynn said he would do one better and take Jack to get a suit before dropping him off at the hospital. Aunt Elizabeth was pleased with that plan and reminded him to have him get a black suit with a vest and garnet red tie or white if that was better. She was going to leave it up to Wynn. She let Wynn know that Elizabeth had garnet jewelry from her mother and she was going to find a dress to match that. She wanted Jack in black, but the jewelry was a surprise.

It didn't take Elizabeth long to find a few dresses that she loved. The ladies at the shop were rushing around, knowing that it was Grace Thatcher who had requested that her daughter have a dress for that night. They knew that Mrs Thatcher was one of their best customers and they would do everything to make her daughter happy and therefore keep Mrs Thatcher happy. They asked where Elizabeth was going for supper and learned that it was a surprise. Aunt Elizabeth whispered to one of the girls what the plans were and that Jack would be in a black suit. The ladies were happy to find Elizabeth a dress. She loved one, but one of the ladies said that it wouldn't go with the jewelry, but said that they had one in a similar style that would match. Elizabeth agreed to try it on and it fit Elizabeth perfectly. They didn't even have to do any alterations. Elizabeth agreed that she would get that dress, but then worried that she would be overdressed. Aunt Elizabeth sensed her niece's hesitation and assured her that it would be perfect and Jack was taken care of. After they left the shop, they headed to a nearby place to have a light lunch. They also had a few other things that they needed to pick up.