Chapter 239 – Friday After School
"I think we should decide what we are doing for supper." Aunt Elizabeth said.
"There was a delivery this morning from the butcher." Doug said. "I am assuming that was meant for supper. I put it in the icebox."
"Yes." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I had a dozen pork chops sent out as well as a roast for the weekend."
"I guess I will leave." Charlotte said.
"Ma." Jack said. "Please stay and have supper with us."
Charlotte didn't say anything else, but left the house in a fit.
"I will go try and talk to her." Patty said.
"Don't." Jack said. "It won't do any good. She has her mind made up and there is nothing that you can do at the moment. She will either come around or not. Talking isn't going to change it at this point."
"Are you sure?" Patty asked.
"I am." Jack said.
"Then I will help in the kitchen while you all relax." Patty said.
"Thank you." Elizabeth said.
Jack and Elizabeth each took a seat on the settee. Doug, Patty and Aunt Elizabeth headed to the kitchen to get supper going. Elizabeth Rose knew that Wynn and Dee would be along shortly.
Jack looked at Elizabeth and saw the tears in her eyes. He reached up and thumbed the one that had slipped from the corner of her eye. He then leaned over and kissed his temple.
"It will be alright." Jack said, softly.
"I want to believe that." Elizabeth said. "I know that we are meant for each other. But why do our families have to be so difficult?"
"I don't know about your parent." Jack said. "But Ma has always been difficult. She grew up in very hard times and then lived the semi-nomadic life of a Mountie. She had to work hard and fight hard just to get a teaching certificate. She said she always wanted a way to provide for herself. From what I understand, her and her brother went hungry many times because there just wasn't food. When Ma got old enough, she would fish and hunt, just to have food. I think that the fact that we have more money than she can wrap her head around is hard for her."
"I just don't understand it." Elizabeth said.
"I am sure you don't." Jack said. "I don't mean to sound mean, but you have never had to wonder where your next meal is coming from. Ma and I have. The fact that I can walk into the mercantile and order whatever I need is hard for her to grasp. She has always fought to have enough. They grow or hunt for most of the food on the ranch. They will do without if it means feeding the horses and cattle."
"I guess I don't understand." Elizabeth said.
"I think Ma's biggest fear is that the money will change me." Jack said. "That I will forget what it was like to struggle and I will become like your father or something."
"You could never be like Father." Elizabeth said. "You have a kind heart."
"But you see why she is worried." Jack said. "She is worried we will spoil the children and they won't understand why she doesn't have the same things that we do."
"We could send her money if it is that bad." Elizabeth said.
"She would never take it." Jack said. "Besides, you are missing the entire point."
Elizabeth looked at Jack.
"You offering her money is the exact opposite of what she wants or needs." Jack said. "She needs us to understand and teach the children that just because we can have everything that doesn't mean we need everything."
"I understand that." Elizabeth said. "I have never cared about the money. I was nice to have, but I would rather help other people. I see how little others have and I know how blessed I am. I have always seen that. Why do you think I used to buy toys and insisted that Gabriel or other staff make sure they get to children in need. As I got older, Gabriel or one of the butlers would take me to the hospital and let me give the toys out myself. Mother and Father never understood why I did that. They would give money to various charities, but were very hands off in the actual work."
"You did it because you have a kind heart as well." Jack said. "I will try talking to Ma again, but I have a feeling that she will leave in the morning before I get the chance. So I will write her a long letter and send it to my uncle in hopes that she will get it."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I know that it was not easy for you to stand up to your mother."
"Oh standing up was easy." Jack said. "Knowing she heard me is a different matter."
"If she won't change." Elizabeth said. "Are you going to be okay with family being what we make it."
"You are my family." Jack said. "As long as I have you and the children, I will be fine."
Elizabeth leaned her head on Jack's shoulder and put her hand on his heart. Jack pulled her closer and just held her. He knew that the constant tension was starting to wear on her. He also wondered if something didn't happen at school. She wasn't as excited about things as when she left that morning. Then Jack thought that maybe she was just tired.
Wynn and Dee were walking back to the row house when they saw an angry Charlotte storm by them. Dee turned and tried to get her to stop, but she just pushed him away.
"Charlotte Ann Thornton!" Wynn said in his most authoritative voice.
Whether it was he used her whole name or the tone of his voice, she stopped, turned and looked at me. Wynn calmly walked over to her.
"Either apologize or you can spend a few more hours in a jail cell." Wynn said. "Just because you are pissed at the world because you didn't get your way doesn't mean you get to treat people like this, especially a Mountie and more importantly my son."
Charlotte stood there fuming for a few moments but then looked at Dee.
"Sorry." She said. "Just not in the mood to deal with more people trying to talk to me. God, Jack is stubborn and refuses to listen to reason."
"Gee." Wynn said with a slight smile. "Wonder where he gets that from."
Charlotte just glared at Wynn.
"I … am … not … stubborn." Charlotte ground out.
"Thomas used to say he would rather poke an angry bear than reason with you, especially when you thought you were right." Wynn said. "Don't believe me, ask Bill."
"Why are you so angry?" Dee ventured. "Because Jack is an adult and is doing what he believes is right for his life and family."
"I AM his family." Charlotte said.
"You are his mother and always will be." Wynn said. "Elizabeth and their children are his family. It is what happens when our children get married. Their spouse and children become the most important people in their life."
Charlotte huffed a couple of times.
"Do you think it was easy for me to see my daughter get married and move out?" Wynn asked. "Seriously."
"Probably not." Charlotte finally admitted.
"Right." Wynn said. "And as much as I love Sophie, it has been hard to let her live her life, especially with what happened. Jack is a very capable young man. He is smart and can take care of himself. He is a well respected Mountie and Thomas would be proud of Jack. He would also be proud of Jack for stepping up for those little girls."
Charlotte deepened her glare.
"Don't look at me like that!" Wynn admonished.
Charlotte scrunched up her face.
"When did you ever know Thomas to not stop and help a child in need?" Wynn said.
Charlotte closed her eyes. She knew Wynn was right, but she didn't want to admit it.
"So what is your problem with these two girls?" Wynn asked. "They have been through a horrible event and who better to raise them than someone who knows their pain. Not only does Jack understand their pain, he is upholding the Mountie values of being there for a fallen brother."
"He is right." Dee said. "You know it, so what is the problem?"
"The Mounties were there for you and the boys after Thomas." Wynn said.
"That was different." Charlotte huffed.
"How?" Wynn challenged.
"Thomas was injured by criminals and he died as a result of those injuries." Charlotte said.
"And Andy was killed for access to his money." Wynn said. "He was a Mountie and in uniform, actively trying to protect his daughters when he was brutally stabbed to death in his own home. He had used his own body to shield the youngest from the men. She was then ripped from his arms as he lay there dying. Unknowingly, it was Jack who saved those girls from God knows what. So tell me how it is different? Please, I want to know. Because I had to tell two parents that their son was dead and I had no idea where their granddaughters were or what happened to them."
Charlotte stood there slack-jawed just looking between Wynn and Dee.
"I didn't know." Charlotte finally managed to say softly. "Jack just said he died and the mother was unfit so the grandparents had custody."
"He didn't know all the details." Dee said. "But he knew the father had been killed in the line of duty and the mother was party to it."
"So again." Wynn said. "What is your problem with those two little girls?"
"I bet I know." Dee said. "Not that you will ever admit it to us."
"Winston." Wynn said, sharply.
Dee just threw up his hands and headed toward the row house. Wynn waited a moment and then turned back to Charlotte.
"You are walking a fine line right now." Wynn said. "I suggest that you figure out what your problem is and try to make it right with Jack before you lose your son all together. I know my niece. She will not tolerate mistreatment of those she has deemed hers. She will cut you off and because Jack loves her more than life itself, he will back her up."
"I am leaving." Charlotte said.
"Fine." Wynn said. "But if you don't fix this, you will regret it. Be safe traveling. You know how to reach me if you need something."
Wynn finished speaking and headed after his son. Charlotte was left there wondering if they were right, she didn't think Jack would actually cut her off. They had been at odds before and he always came back, but there was something about the way he looked at Elizabeth.
When Wynn got to the house, he saw Dee leaning against the house, his eyes closed and breathing rapidly. Wynn hurried over to his son. He looked at him and then at Morin. As if reading his commander's unspoken question, he shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. Wynn nodded that Morin didn't know anything.
"Dee, look at me." Wynn said.
Dee just stayed where he was and continued to breathe rapidly. It was like he didn't hear his father. Wynn wasn't sure what to do, so he stayed there to make sure nothing happened to Dee. He started to look for injuries, but couldn't find anything. He then went over to Morin.
"Tell me everything that happened from the moment he arrived." Wynn said.
"He didn't say anything." Morin said. "He just immediately went back to lean against the house and it was like he couldn't catch his breath. I tried to ask him if he was okay, but he wouldn't respond to me. I thought about coming to get you, but wasn't sure about leaving my post."
"My wife is inside?" Wynn asked.
"Yes." Morin said. "Patty and Doug as well."
"Go knock on the door and get my wife." Wynn said. "Just ask her to step outside."
Morin nodded and went up the steps. He knocked and Doug answered. When pressed, Morin told Doug what was going on. Doug nodded and said he would be out in a moment. Doug then shut the door and went over to Elizabeth Rose. He whispered something to her and she looked at him and he nodded. She excused herself and they two went outside. Jack noticed and was going to ask, but he saw the look on Doug's face and decided to wait. Instead, Jack just closed his eyes and said a quick prayer.
Doug was the first to reach Dee. He immediately recognized what was going on. He closed his eyes and said a quick prayer. He then focused all his attention on Dee.
"Dee." Doug said. "Open your eyes and look at me."
As if Doug's voice had finally broken through the fog, Dee's eyes fluttered, but didn't open all the way. When Wynn called his name, he scrunched his face up and closed his eyes tight again. Realizing that whatever was going, his father's voice was making it worse, Doug made a decision he hoped he wouldn't regret later. He turned to Wynn and looked at him with a stern face and his most authoritative, yet calm Mountie voice spoke.
"You are not helping." He said. "Let me handle this."
Doug then turned back to Dee and again tried to talk to him. Wynn was going to step in when his wife stopped him.
"Let Doug handle it." Elizabeth Rose said softly. "Dee had seemed to respond to him. I don't know what is going on, but please."
Wynn looked at his wife and nodded. It was the look on her face that cut through him. It was the same look on her face when they had been in the hospital in Cape Fullerton. Doug seemed to be getting through to Dee, but couldn't break the cycle he was in. He was trying to be calm, but was starting to panic on the inside, knowing that if Dee couldn't get his breathing under control he would lose consciousness.
It had only been a few moments when Pastor Frank came up the lane and immediately stopped. He saw Dee and then Doug. He went over to the group.
"Go inside." Frank said. "Doug and I have him. Please."
Wynn wasn't going to go, but his wife took his arm and started to pull him away. So reluctantly, Wynn allowed himself to be led away.