Chapter 181 – Making a Plan for the Russell Girls
"The plan is to write out a list of concerns to the Russells." Elizabeth said. "A nanny is on there. Security and trust funds as well as the girls taking our last name."
"Would you leave Russell and just add Thornton?" Dee asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "Elizabeth, I know that we didn't talk about it, but I don't want them to feel like we are trying to erase their original family."
"No, I agree." Elizabeth said. "Another thing that I added to the list was contact with Andy's sisters and visits with them if they want. I don't want to keep the girls from them if they want."
"Good idea." Wynn said.
"I would also maybe have them each write out a family history for you." Dee said. "Maybe also letters to give to the girls when they are older and can understand."
"I like that idea." Jack said. "I also want them to be able to have things that they had when they lived with Andy. So favorite toys, pictures, blankets, whatever."
"Good, good." Dee said.
"Do you plan to hire a maid/cook?" Elizabeth Rose asked. "Or are you expecting the nanny to do some of that."
"I think at least to start." Jack said. "The fewer hired help we have the better. People are going to talk and I don't want it to look like we are putting on airs."
"I agree." Elizabeth said.
"So a nanny that can cook." Elizabeth Rose said.
"Good plan." Wynn said. "Just understand that you need to do what is right for your family. If it requires you to hire someone else to help keep the house and cook, so be it. You talk to your close friends, so they understand and the rest can just deal."
"I hear what you are saying." Elizabeth said. "It is hard. I know that several of the mothers are expecting me to leave teaching now that I am married. I want to be able to teach, even if I have to take time off for the baby."
"You can teach as long as you want." Jack said. "If you want to stay home with the children, we will be fine. The choice is completely yours."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I would like to teach, if for no other reason, because I love it."
Everyone around the table nodded.
"Jack." Wynn said.
"Yes." Jack said.
"I know that you wanted to build the house yourself." Wynn said. "But given everything, I think it is best if you hire a crew to get the house done."
"I am thinking that as well." Jack said. "I know it wasn't what I wanted, but we also need a stable, a guest house for you guys and/or security. I am realizing that I can't do it all."
"Speaking of." Dee said.
Dee got up and went to grab his messenger bag.
"I have something for you." Dee said. "I went to check out the property again. I got dimensions and with some help drew up some plans. I have shown them to Lee and he just needs to know which you want. The ground is dry enough that they can start on the foundations."
Dee handed the two sketches to Jack. Elizabeth scooted over to see as well.
"Which one do you think?" Elizabeth asked.
"I think one is what I asked for." Jack said. "But it doesn't feel right."
"I agree." Dee said. "Two is my choice."
Jack and Elizabeth looked at sketch two a little closer.
"Yes, I agree." Elizabeth said. "Two is better."
"I like two." Jack said. "It has everything that I asked for and we have the privacy that I wanted."
"Then two it is." Dee said. "I will get that to Lee and he can hire the crew to get moving. They might even be able to stake things out this week, yet."
"I guess I am going to have to sit down and talk to Lee." Jack said.
"We are also going to have to get him a check." Elizabeth said.
"I can always write him a check." Wynn said. "Then you can pay me back until we get you better access to your trusts. I have talked to the accountants and we can access the one that your grandfather set up without any problem. The one from your dad might be a bit harder. I like his advice of just leaving that one since it is the smaller one of the two."
"Then do that." Elizabeth said. "I still want to set up an account in Union City. We can have money deposited there and then get a checkbook to write off that account."
"I think that is a good plan." Wynn said. "Once Jack is up to it, I think a trip to Union City is a good idea."
"Yes." Jack said. "We have time, but it would be easier. I also have an account here."
"I think that the account here." Wynn said. "That can be your day to day account."
"Like Abigail did." Elizabeth said.
"What?" Jack said.
"Noah didn't want to keep large amounts of money here." Elizabeth said. "So they set up an account at the bank where Abigail's cousin works in Union City. That is where they had their large savings account and a second checking account. They kept one here in town for expenses, but the majority of their money was in Union City. Abigail explained it to me when Gowen accused Noah of being reckless because he was in debt."
"That is what you were talking about." Jack said. "I only caught part of that conversation."
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "It is where the money for the cafe came from."
"I think you should do something similar." Wynn said.
"I agree." Jack said. "We can put our paychecks into this account here and use that for our regular expenses. We can put money from Elizabeth's trust in Union City and use it for larger purchases that we need."
"What about the girls's trust funds?" Wynn asked.
"What do you mean?" Jack asked.
"Each Little Beth and Sarah come with substantial trust funds." Wynn said.
Jack looked at Wynn.
"Oh yeah." Jack said. "Forgot about that."
"Jack." Elizabeth Rose said. "Watch the tone."
"Sorry." Jack said. "I didn't mean it like that. I just figured if we were taking the girls, we would take on the expense of them."
"I understand that." Wynn said. "But do you think that you can pay for a nanny and maybe security on what you are making right now, as well as cover your other expenses."
"I guess I didn't think about it." Jack said.
"Can I make a suggestion?" Dee said.
"Sure." Jack said.
"Maybe talk to the Russells." Dee said. "But maybe you could get a small stipend from their trusts to help cover the additional expenses like the nanny and security."
"That is probably a good idea." Elizabeth Rose said.
"If I know Andrew Russell." Wynn said. "He is going to insist on paying for a full-time, live-in nanny at least until Sarah is school age. Then maybe depending on your own kids, you can hire someone to be with the little ones while Elizabeth teaches. By that point, I am sure that there would be a young lady who could be hired.
At this point though, I would agree to let Andrew Russell pay for whatever he wants. Just explain to him that you prefer simple and low key. I am sure that the girls have several dresses that would be impractical to have here, so you will need to explain what they need and what you expect. He has the money and it will be one less thing that you have to worry about. Let him do this, as much as he knows he can't raise the girls, he feels like he is abandoning them."
Jack closed his eyes and rubbed his brow.
"Jack." Elizabeth said. "Please look at me."
Elizabeth waited until Jack looked at her.
"He is either going to pay for it or set it up so that we get a payment every month." Elizabeth said. "Wynn is right, he is going to insist on doing it one way or another. Nanny, security, new clothes or whatever, I say we let him. Those girls' trust funds are probably already as big as mine is now."
"Wow." Jack said as his eyes got huge.
"And they will only increase with time." Elizabeth said. "They probably have more money than their kids or grandkids can spend. I don't know how the estate will be split, but Andy was the rightful heir to most of it."
"Then I am not going to argue." Jack said. "This money is still hard to wrap my head around."
"Just don't think about it unless you have to." Dee said. "At some point you are going to have to sit down with the accountants in Hamilton and learn the finer points, but for the most part, you don't have to think about it. Just read the reports they send you and then file it away."
"I agree." Wynn said. "Next trip to Hamilton we will get you set up with the accountants."
"Oh goodie." Jack sighed.
Which earned him a smack on the arm from his wife and a glare from Aunt Elizabeth. Wynn and Dee shook their heads.
"I think we have talked enough." Elizabeth Rose said. "We can't make all the decisions tonight and it sounds like Jack and Beth have a good plan moving forward. May I suggest that you write out a letter with your questions and concerns, sign the paperwork and get things moving. You can talk about an actual time frame for the girls coming out here once you have a better idea about the house. Just explain that to them."
"Sounds good."
Wynn looked at his watch.
"Jacobs and Patty should be back soon." Wynn said. "Let's get Jack going with the steam while the rest of us clean up from supper. Beth you sit with Jack."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I am not going to argue over help."
Wynn got Jack set up as Dee cleared the table and Elizabeth Rose started the dishes. It was about ten minutes later that there was a knock at the door. Wynn went to get it and wasn't surprised to see Patty and Jacobs.
"Good." Jacobs said. "You got Jack going already. We would have been here sooner, but we were in the middle of a card game."
"Who won." Jack asked.
"I did." Patty said with a smile.
Jacobs laughed.
"What?" Patty said.
"Yes you, technically won." Jacobs said. "But I don't think I have ever seen two women so determined to win. You may have had the most chips, but Charlotte wasn't giving in. If Bill hadn't insisted on calling the game, you both would still be sitting staring at each other."
Wynn, Elizabeth Rose, Patty and Jack all laughed because they knew it was true.
"Fine." Patty said. "But even you admitted that I had more chips."
Jacobs just shook his head and sat down with Jack. Patty went to help in the kitchen.
"I want you to be honest." Jacobs said. "How was this afternoon? Any problems? Just so you know I had a conversation with Nurse Carter."
Jack was glad that he still had the towel over his head, because it hid his blush when Jacobs asked about the afternoon.
"Not bad." Jack said. "I definitely feel more congested now than I have been the last few evenings. I had one bad coughing this spell when Elizabeth and I were laying down."
"Were you able to get through it okay?" Jacobs asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "Elizabeth helped me sit up more, it took a few minutes, but it passed."
"Anything else?" Jacobs asked.
"Yes." Elizabeth said.
Jacobs looked at Elizabeth. She then proceeded to tell him about what happened with Charlotte and her slapping Jack's back and he needing a pain pill. Jacobs turned back to Jack.
"How is the pain now?" Jacobs asked.
"Not bad." Jack said. "I took a pain pill I had left from when I was shot earlier this year."
Elizabeth got up and showed Jacobs the bottle of pills.
"Try not to use those too much." Jacobs said. "I don't want you to get hooked on them."
"I know." Jack said. "It is the first one that I took."
"Okay." Jacobs said. "Do you want me to do the treatment tonight given what happened?"
"Even though I know it will hurt." Jack said. "I think I need you to do it. I still have a dose of the medicated tea that I can have this evening."
"Okay." Jacobs said. "When you are ready, we will do it. I also want to redo the Vicks. We are going to try only doing two treatments tomorrow and see how you do. Remember, you can do the steam every couple hours if you want."
Jack nodded and finished with the steam. When he was ready, Dee took a seat next to him with the two buckets and Jacobs went to work. Between coughing, sputtering and being sick, Jack grunted in pain several times. Jacobs made a mental note of where his hands were when that happened to check those spots closer, but he didn't let up. Finally, Jack slumped back in the chair. It took a few minutes for Jack to open his eyes as his face was pinched in pain. It was hard for Elizabeth to watch Jack in so much pain. Aunt Elizabeth had the kettle ready so when Jack was done, she could immediately give him the tea.
"Ready for this next part?" Jacobs asked. "I brought fresh bandages to put on."
"Right here." Patty said, setting them on the table.
