Chapter 124 – House Plans

When Dee got back to the house, everyone looked at him.

"Dad will be along in a bit." Dee said.

"What happened?" Jack asked.

"Drunk men fighting over a card game." Dee said.

Dee had barely sat down and his mother placed a plate in front of him.

"So what were you all talking about before I came in?" Dee asked.

"Jack and Beth were telling us about the house that he is going to build." Aunt Elizabeth said.

"Is that the spot you showed me at Christmas?" Dee asked.

"Yes." Jack said. "It really is beautiful."

"Well." Dee said. "I can't wait to see what you do."

"Wait a moment." Elizabeth said. "Dee knows where the house is going and you won't tell me where we are going to be living."

"Well." Jack said. "Actually, you have been to the spot a couple of times. I just never said anything."

Elizabeth scrunched up her nose and shook her head at Jack.

"I wanted to surprise you." Jack said.

"Fine." Elizabeth said. "But how am I supposed to pick out things when I don't know where we will be?"

"You know what the house will look like." Jack said. "You don't need to know the rest to pick out paint and fabric colors."

"Wait." Charlotte said. "Are you going to actually let her pick out paint colors?"

"Maybe." Jack said. "I might have to overrule her if she gets out of control. Then again, she made some very specific requests and I have included those in the house, so maybe I will let her."

"So what does Beth want in the house?" Dee asked in a teasing tone.

"Well." Jack said. "Lots of bookshelves, hence why we have a very large library with a connected office that can be closed off with pocket doors."

"Figures." Dee laughed.

"Hey, I am not the only one with books." Elizabeth said.

"True." Jack said. "But the amount I have and the amount you have are vastly different."

"Jack." Charlotte said. "You do have a lot of books. I mean I think there are two whole trunks at the farm of your books."

Aunt Elizabeth and Dee just laughed.

"What is so funny?" Charlotte asked.

"Beth has an entire library." Dee said.

"Really?" Charlotte asked.

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I do own my own library. If I had all my books here, it would fill the extra room down here with just books and there wouldn't be room to walk. I only brought my favorites and the ones that I knew I had a second copy of so I could share with my students."

"So how many books are we talking about?" Charlotte asked.

"Several thousand." Elizabeth said.

"Better get building, son." Charlotte said.

"So we have established that Beth gets a library." Dee said. "What else did she want in her house, because I remember she had a very specific list growing up."

Jack just looked at Elizabeth.

"What?" Elizabeth said. "I knew what I wanted."

Turning back to Dee, Jack shook his head.

"So what was on this list?" Jack asked. "Because she didn't tell me there was another list."

"You should know that Beth loves lists." Aunt Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth scrunched up her nose again and shook her head. Dee and Aunt Elizabeth both laughed. Jack just looked at Elizabeth before leaning over and placing a kiss on her temple. Dee smiled as he watched the two.

"Well, let's see." Dee said. "There was a large feather bed."

"Check." Jack said. "I knew about that one."

"Fireplaces." Dee said. "She likes to curl up and read in front of them."

"Check." Jack said. "There are currently three. One in the large sitting room. One in the library and one in our bedroom."

"A writing room." Dee said.

"Check." Jack said. "Well, it is part of the large office that we will share."

Dee just shook his head.

"I think that there was something about a large kitchen." Aunt Elizabeth said.

"Wasn't there something about a double oven as well?" Dee said.

"That is right." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I never understood why, Beth never wanted to learn to cook."

"Hey." Elizabeth said. "I am not completely helpless in the kitchen."

"We have a large kitchen." Jack said. "We also have a very large dining room and sitting room that will be mostly open with some pillars. I don't have doors between the kitchen, dining and sitting rooms. I like how it is all open."

"It will be easier to keep an eye on the children." Elizabeth said.

"True." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I was going to ask you, Beth. Are you going to continue teaching after the little one is born?"

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I think I might take off until after Christmas, but I want to go back."

"Good." Aunt Elizabeth said. "Just let me know if there is anything that you need, when the time comes."

"I will." Elizabeth said.

"So what color is this large house going to be?" Dee asked.

"I don't know." Elizabeth said. "I was thinking about a blue, but there is a very specific blue that I want and I don't know if we will be able to find it."

"Well." Aunt Elizabeth said. "Where did you see this shade of blue? If there is a clear reference, I think that they might be able to make something close."

Elizabeth blushed slightly. Jack saw it and looked at her.

"What?" Jack asked.

"You have seen the shade of blue that I am thinking." Elizabeth said. "I just don't know how to describe it."

"Well where did I see it?" Jack asked. "Maybe I can describe it and then I will know what you are talking about."

Elizabeth leaned over closer to Jack.

"You saw it as part of your birthday gift." Elizabeth whispered.

It was Jack's turn to blush.

"I love that color." Jack said. "But I don't know if I want the house that color."

"What are you talking about?" Charlotte asked.

"Elizabeth is talking about a dark blue." Jack said. "Kind of like my jodhpurs, but it has more of a smokey undertone. I have seen a similar color but I don't know what it is called. If I had to describe it, I would say it looks like a cross between a dark gray and a blue flame. The gray is what adds that smokey undertone."

"I think that might be a little dark for a house." Dee said.

"What if you went with the same theme?" Aunt Elizabeth said. "But in a lighter shade. I have seen this beautiful robin's egg blue. You could also add a light gray to that if the robin's egg is too bright."

"I might like that as well." Elizabeth said.

"I wouldn't mind that." Jack said. "As long as we are not talking bright red or yellow. I think a blue house would blend in nicely. I also don't want a stark white house."

"Me either." Elizabeth said.

"We might just have to make a trip to Union City this spring and look at things." Jack said.

"I would love that." Elizabeth said. "Maybe we could make it a weekend. I could let the children have a Friday off."

"We will have to see." Jack said. "But I was thinking something similar. I even talked to Lee about borrowing his car. That reminds me, we should talk about getting a car as well."

"Oh." Elizabeth said. "That would be nice. We will talk about it, I don't know how to drive. Well that isn't true. Father's driver showed me, but I have never done it alone and only once with Father's driver on the grounds. I mean I know how they work and the basics, but I would need to learn the specifics."

"I can teach you." Jack said.

Aunt Elizabeth smiled, but she knew that the conversation was getting sidetracked.

"What are you going to do about stuff for the baby?" Aunt Elizabeth asked.

"I don't know." Elizabeth said. "I am sure that several of the ladies will want to do something. I have asked Jack to make a cradle, but I don't mind buying the other things."

"A cradle in your room is a good idea." Aunt Elizabeth said. "They can stay there for at least a couple of months. So you don't have to rush to get the other things for the baby."

"I know." Elizabeth said. "I would however like the baby's room done so we don't have to worry about it later."

"So you didn't really say." Aunt Elizabeth said. "But when is Baby Thornton expected to arrive?"

"Faith wasn't sure." Elizabeth said. "I think I might have it narrowed down. I am thinking that it is going to be late September or early October. I would be surprised if it is before that."

"So you have plenty of time." Charlotte said. "It also makes sense why you would want to take off until after Christmas."

"Do you think that you will come to Hamilton for Viola's wedding at the end of August?" Aunt Elizabeth asked.

"I don't know." Elizabeth said. "I haven't heard anything about it. I never even saw the engagement announcement."

"Well." Aunt Elizabeth said. "The festivities start on Friday the twenty-fifth of August and the actual wedding is Friday the first of September."

"I really don't know." Elizabeth said. "I will need to talk to Faith and see what she thinks."

"That is awfully close to when the baby is expected." Jack said. "I know I said I would go with you if you wanted to go, but I don't know if I feel comfortable with you traveling that close to the time. Another thing, with having to take more time off now, I don't know if I am going to be able to take over two weeks off in August. Don't forget we have Lee and Rosemary's wedding in the middle of September. I am going to have to take a few days off as I am the best man."

"Dad will give you the time if you want." Dee said. "The men don't need to be there the whole time, so I am sure that he wouldn't have a problem with you working at headquarters for part of the time."

"I don't know." Jack said. "We will just have to see. I don't want to take advantage of the relationship. It is really going to come down to what Faith says about Elizabeth being able to go. The last thing that I want is for something to happen on the train."

"I understand." Aunt Elizabeth said. "There is time to decide. I have a copy of the engagement announcement at the house back in Hamilton. I can send it to you when I get back home."

"I don't know." Elizabeth said. "It still hurts that they didn't send it to me themselves."

"Your pictures were in the paper the week before her announcement." Aunt Elizabeth said. "You know how Viola can be. She was probably pouting that you upstaged her again."

"Still." Elizabeth said. "If she wants me there, move over and want me to stand up with her, she should make an effort."

"Beth." Dee said. "Not only is she probably pouting about you upstaging her, but your pictures show a couple deeply in love. The two of her and Sir Lionel look like a couple of stiff mannequins."

"Winston Nathaniel." Aunt Elizabeth hissed.

"What?" Dee said. "What, it is the truth."

"I taught you better than that." Aunt Elizabeth said.

"Aunt Elizabeth." Elizabeth said. "He is probably right. I haven't seen the pictures of Viola, but you have to admit that she does come off a bit stiff at times. I mean the short time that I was there, I never saw them hold hands or even kiss each other."

"Not everyone is like you two." Charlotte said.

"I think that there is more to it." Dee said.

Aunt Elizabeth glared at her son.

"But at this moment." Dee said. "I will keep my opinions to myself."

Elizabeth looked at Dee. She really wanted to know what he was thinking. She also made a note to talk to him about it later.

"Do you want to wait for Wynn before we have dessert?" Elizabeth asked.

"I think so." Aunt Elizabeth said.

"He should be along shortly." Dee said.

"Then we will wait." Jack said. "I also think that we have other things to talk about."