Chapter 179 – Afternoon Tea Gone Wrong
Elizabeth was almost done with her tea when there was a knock at the door. She quickly opened it to see Charlotte, Aunt Elizabeth and Patty there. Elizabeth stepped back and let them in. She then went to check on Jack.
"Give me five more minutes." Jack said.
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "It has only been about ten anyway. Is the water still hot enough?"
"If you have more, it could use more." Jack said.
Elizabeth quickly poured more boiling water in the bowl for Jack. He put his head back down and continued to breathe the steam with eucalyptus. Charlotte just looked at the two of them, but didn't say anything. Once Elizabeth had Jack situated, she went back to her desk.
"How was your afternoon?" Aunt Elizabeth asked as she made herself and Patty some tea.
"Good." Elizabeth said. "My appointment with Faith went well. She also agreed that Jack is doing better. We got home, I got supper in the oven and then we took a nice nap. We just came down a little before you got here. Before you ask, I had one of the guards help Jack up and down the stairs."
Jack was glad his head was down and covered, because he blushed when he heard how Elizabeth said 'nap'. He smiled as he thought of their afternoon together and he couldn't wait to be with her again.
"Good." Patty said. "I wasn't going to say anything."
"Neither was I." Aunt Elizabeth said. "You know your limits."
Elizabeth wanted to change the subject before they started asking too many questions about the appointment or after.
"How were the kids this afternoon?" Elizabeth asked.
"They were good." Patty said. "Lots of work done on their science projects. There are some really cool ones."
"That is good." Elizabeth said. "I can't wait to see what they are all doing."
Charlotte settled at the table and was talking to Jack, but he was only giving one and two word answers. Aunt Elizabeth and Patty settled in the sitting area once they had their tea. Elizabeth joined them there after refilling her tea. When Jack was done, he sat back in the chair and tried to take a deep breath which led to him coughing. Charlotte immediately slapped him on the back which led Jack to cry out in pain. Elizabeth was immediately over at Jack's side. She glared at Charlotte.
"Jack, sweetheart." Elizabeth said.
Jack had his eyes closed tight and his face scrunched up in pain.
"Jack, slow down." Elizabeth said. "Open your eyes and look at me."
Slowly Jack opened his eyes and looked at Elizabeth.
"It is okay." Elizabeth said. "I have you. Look at me and take slow breaths."
Elizabeth breathed with him until she saw his face relax a little.
"Do you need a pain pill?" Elizabeth asked.
Jack just nodded. Elizabeth got up, got a pain pill for Jack and some water. Once he had it, he looked at her again.
"I need to lay down." Jack rasped.
"Why don't I have Patty help you upstairs." Elizabeth said.
"Please." Jack rasped.
Patty immediately came over and waited until Jack was ready.
"I can help him." Charlotte said.
"You have done enough." Elizabeth snapped. "Why would you slap him like that? We told you that he was bruised and sore."
"That is what you are supposed to do when someone is coughing." Charlotte said.
Jack just glared at his mother.
"Ready, Patty." Jack said.
Patty nodded and offered her arm to Jack to help him stand. Once he was on his feet, she wrapped her arm around his waist and he leaned on her while she helped him to the stairs. Once Jack was heading up the stairs, Elizabeth stood with her hands on her hips glaring at Charlotte. Aunt Elizabeth realized that Elizabeth was preparing for a fight, so she went to her niece.
"You need to slow down as well." Aunt Elizabeth said, standing in front of her niece.
Elizabeth let out a harsh breath. She closed her eyes and counted to ten.
"Can you check on supper?" Elizabeth asked. "I am going to check on my husband."
"I can do that." Aunt Elizabeth said. "Anything I need to do other than the roast."
"We need a vegetable and some rolls." Elizabeth said.
"I will do it." Aunt Elizabeth said. "You put the roast in when you got home?"
Elizabeth nodded.
"Then it should be almost done." Aunt Elizabeth said. "The guys should be here at about six thirty. Go, I will deal with things down here."
Elizabeth nodded, turned on her heel and headed up the stairs as Patty came down. Patty went back to the sitting area and picked up the tea and brought it to the kitchen.
"What?" Charlotte said. "I was trying to help."
"I know that." Elizabeth Rose said. "But from what I know that is the first time that Jack has taken a pain pill since he came home from being at Abigail's since he was first injured."
"Oh." Charlotte said.
"From what my husband has told me." Elizabeth Rose said. "Jack's entire torso is covered in a multitude of bruises in various stages of healing. I am talking from his collarbones to his hips, front and back. They were worried he had cracked ribs because he had been coughing so hard."
"I didn't realize." Charlotte said.
Patty wanted to say something, but she kept her mouth shut as she went about the kitchen.
"I get that you needed a little space and that is why you took off." Elizabeth Rose said. "But you aren't the only one that is dealing with a lot around here. We all are. It is not easy and you pushing Jack to talk is not helping. I love that you are here to help in the classroom, but you need to give Jack and Beth some space. They are going to make the choice that is right for them and we all need to respect it.
I know about the girls and you not being happy about it. I don't know what the problem is and I don't care. Either way, you don't get a say. It is their choice what they do and we need to adapt. I know that Jack and Beth were counting on your support given how her father and sisters are acting. Now, unless you are going to help grade papers or help with supper, you can find something else to do until supper."
"I think I am going to head into town then." Charlotte said.
Elizabeth Rose didn't say anything else, but went to the kitchen and pulled things out to make rolls for supper. Charlotte grabbed her things and left the house.
When Elizabeth got upstairs, she immediately sat on the bed near Jack.
"How are you really doing?" Elizabeth asked.
"Very sore." Jack said. "Pain pill helps."
"Good." Elizabeth said. "I am sorry that it happened."
"Not your fault." Jack rasped.
"Shhh." Elizabeth said.
She reached forward, ran her hands through Jack's hair and behind his ear. She kept doing that as she watched Jack. Jack opened his eyes.
"As much as I love when you do that." Jack said. "Please stop."
"Why?" Elizabeth asked.
"Because I don't have the energy to finish what you are starting." Jack said.
Elizabeth pulled her hand away and blushed. Jack leaned forward and kissed her nose.
"It is okay." Jack said. "I just thought I would stop you before I got too far.
They sat there for a few moments, just looking at each other. Finally Jack leaned back and closed his eyes.
"Go back downstairs." Jack said. "I just want to rest."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "If you are sure."
Jack nodded. Elizabeth stood up and leaned down to kiss Jack's temple. When she did that, Jack reached out and put his hand on her baby bump.
"Take care of the little one." Jack rasped.
"I will." Elizabeth said. "You rest."
Jack nodded and Elizabeth left him alone. As much as Elizabeth wanted to stay there with Jack, she knew he needed his rest, especially after their afternoon activity.
After a few moments, Patty looked at Elizabeth Rose.
"You alright?" Patty asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth Rose said. "Sorry about all the drama. Sometimes I just have to say something. I love Charlotte, but she doesn't always think things through, especially when she thinks she is right."
"So I have learned." Patty said. "Don't worry about the drama, you forget who my family is."
Elizabeth Rose laughed and looked at her friend.
"You are right." Elizabeth Rose said. "Your brothers have caused plenty of drama."
"My sisters as well." Patty said.
The two women laughed knowing they were both right.
"When this is all done here." Patty said. "I think I am going to have to head back with you and go see that grandson of yours. I bet you miss him."
"I do." Elizabeth Rose said. "But I know that I am needed here. It was Sophie's idea that I come out here for a few weeks. Then all this happened with the protection. She knows that I would want to be with Wynn during this."
"As it should be." Patty said.
"I agree." Elizabeth said coming down. "Thank you for helping and being here. I wish I could get away and go see Sophie and the baby."
"Maybe next summer." Elizabeth Rose said. "You can bring your little one for her to meet as well."
Elizabeth rubbed her bump and smiled.
"I would love that." Elizabeth said. "I was going to ask you something."
"Sure." Elizabeth Rose said.
"Do you think …." Elizabeth said. "I mean I need to talk to Jack about it and we both need to talk to Pastor Frank, but do you think that Sophie and Andrew would want to be godparents if we can have more than one of each."
"Absolutely." Elizabeth Rose said. "They were debating asking you and Jack for little JT, but decided to go with Andrew's brother and his wife. The official baptism and naming of the godparents will be at the end of May. He was baptized right away in the hospital since he was early and they didn't know if he was going to be alright."
Elizabeth smiled, but then thought about it for a moment.
"I would have loved to be godmother." Elizabeth said. "But I am guessing distance had something to do with it. But the telegram said they were fine."
"Yes." Elizabeth Rose said. "Andrew's brother, David, is in Toronto. When I sent that, they were. Because of Sophie's condition and trouble finding his heartbeat toward the end there they weren't sure what was going to happen. They had the pastor right there at the hospital and Andrew held him while the pastor baptized him when he was about ten minutes old."
"Oh." Elizabeth said.
"It is okay, you didn't know." Elizabeth Rose said. "We didn't know right away either. Andrew called later that night and let us know. The next morning the doctors said that little JT was fine and only kept Sophie and him two days in the hospital. It probably helped that she had a nurse at home, but still."
"So is it officially JT?" Elizabeth asked.
"For now." Elizabeth Rose said. "I am sure when he gets older, it might change."
"I love it." Elizabeth said. "Jack and I have talked a little more about names. We agreed to each make a list of names that mean something to us and then we will compare lists."
"So I bet that book Sophie sent is a big help." Elizabeth Rose said.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I haven't even shown it to Jack. You know me and my names, I want to know what they mean."
"I know." Elizabeth Rose said. "Sophie remembered as well. She told me when she was editing that one, she kept thinking of you. She talked to the publisher and got an advance copy for you."
"You mean that book is not available yet?" Elizabeth asked.
"Not for a couple of months yet." Elizabeth Rose said.
"I am going to have to write a nice letter to Sophie to thank her." Elizabeth said.
"What are you talking about?" Patty asked.
Elizabeth got up and went to her bookshelf, picked up a book laying on top of others and brought it back.
"Sophie packed this in the trunk she sent." Elizabeth said.
"A Collection of Names with Their Meaning and Origin." Patty read.
Patty wiped her hands and took the book from Elizabeth. She flipped through it and stopped to read several entries that were marked.
"Looks like you have been busy." Patty said.
Elizabeth blushed.
