Chapter 186 – Morning in Toronto
Jack's alarm went off at seven thirty. He got up, showered and got ready for the day. He grabbed his laptop and headed out to the sitting area. He immediately started some coffee. He then checked and saw that the horses were in Ottawa and everything looked fine for them to clear customs later that day. Jack then checked that the jet would be ready for them to take off around eleven.
After that, he went about his routine of checking his investments. When he was happy with those, he pulled up the devotional app on his phone. He was half way through the morning prayers when Frank wandered out. Frank poured a cup of coffee and took a seat near Jack.
"How are you doing?" Frank asked.
"Better this morning." Jack said.
"You understand why Elizabeth was upset last night?" Frank asked.
"Mostly." Jack said. "I know that she is worried that once we are married and she is pregnant, that I won't want her to go to school or work. Which is not the case."
"I know that." Frank said. "You are just going to have to keep reminding her. Remember one of the speakers at the retreat who talked about how the past can affect the present and future?"
"Yes." Jack said.
"I have a feeling." Frank said. "That Elizabeth didn't have the most loving and caring childhood. She might not have had the great examples of loving marriages that you had. I know that your parents are another story, but you have your grandparents, your godfather and his wife, as well as your friends' parents. She might not have had that. You need to be patient with her. No matter what it is, you need to let her set the pace."
Jack nodded.
"Good." Frank said. "Now, I wanted to talk to you about something."
"Okay." Jack said.
"If I wanted." Frank said. "Would it be possible for me to come up before the show and then stay. I will understand if there isn't room at the ranch house or if you don't want me there, but it won't take me long to pack up things in the city and be back. My lease is month to month, so I can give notice and be fine."
"If you want to come back up." Jack said. "We will figure something out. I would love for you to stay at the house, but we would need to talk to my grandparents. We can always put you at Chris and Molly's house or even Uncle Conrad's house. I will look into some kind of storage for your things."
"It isn't that much." Frank said. "I was thinking of just getting one of those pods and putting things in there. I would keep out the things that I need."
"If that is what you want." Jack said. "I would be more than willing to pay for it."
"That is not needed." Frank said. "But I have a feeling it is an argument that I won't win."
Jack just gave him a dimpled grin.
"I am so glad that you are going to be taking this on." Jack said. "Once we have the property, I have scheduled a professional horticulturist and contractor to come out. Elizabeth and I are still working on what we all want to add. I know that we are going to have to build a house to suit us. I need to put in a helipad. I also know that the barn will need work. There will be the professional/commercial space for processing the fruit for juice and cider.
What I want you to be thinking about is what else we can do. I just learned this morning that the two hundred and forty acres that I put a bid on has been accepted. Those acres are on the far side of the other eight hundred that had been bought. I am getting the land plat map of the entire area sent to the house. There is an unpaved country road that splits some of the acreage, but it should be fine. Right now, there will be one thousand and forty acres across the road from the main property. I have a pending bid on another hundred and sixty acres on that same side."
"Wow." Frank said. "That is a lot of acreage."
"I want a huge orchard." Jack said. "I also want raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, grapes and a pumpkin patch. That is what all the land across from the main property will be for. I know that a lot of the trees are on the property that is right next to Coal Creek, but I have also looked into moving those or splitting the orchard. We will just have to see what can be done."
"You know that it is going to take several years to plant and grow those." Frank said.
"I have time." Jack said.
"As long as you understand that." Frank said.
By the time that catering services brought up the fruit and rolls that Jack had ordered, the rest of the group was up and moving about.
"How are you feeling this morning, Elizabeth?" Frank asked.
"I am okay." Elizabeth said. "Thank you for last night. Like I told Jack, old ideas and thoughts don't go away all that easily."
"I understand." Frank said. "I hope that you feel comfortable talking to me if there is something you need to talk about. I get that I am quite a bit older than you guys, but that also means I have more life experience than you and have learned a thing or two."
"Can I ask you a personal question?" Elizabeth asked.
"You can ask." Frank said. "I don't know if I will be able to answer, and if I can't I will let you know."
"Have you ever been married?" Elizabeth asked.
"No." Frank said. "There was a time I thought I might get married, but things happen."
"Mind me asking what happened." Nathan said.
"It is okay." Frank said. "I met her while I was on leave between deployments. I thought she loved me and I loved her. She quickly changed her tune when she learned that I was still an active member of the Army. I think that she was under the impression that I had left the Army. She said that she didn't want to be an Army wife because she couldn't handle not knowing where I was at times or that I was in danger. After we broke up, I redeployed and stayed overseas until I got hurt. Then I came back and was at Fort Hamilton while I was trying to recover."
"How long since you were discharged?" Doug asked.
"A little over a year." Frank said. "Like I have said, I had planned on a career in the Army so being forced out due to an injury, made me rethink a lot of things. I moved into a building where an Army buddy was and started working construction with him just to do something. It wasn't what I wanted to do, but it paid better than most other things. I thought about going back to school, but couldn't decide what.
I got involved with a men's group at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Queens. I was raised Catholic, but fell away from my faith for a long time. I started going to a Vets group at the Church and then got involved with the men's group. I went to confession and started going to daily Mass. The pastor there asked me to mentor a few young men who didn't have fathers in the picture. I wasn't sure, but after meeting those three young men, I realized that they just needed a good male role model. I convinced them to go to the retreat back in March. That is where I meet Jack and Doug."
"So what about the young men you were mentoring?" Elizabeth asked.
"Two are at basic training." Frank said. "The third will be starting school in the fall. He is going to be learning to be an electrician, so I have already got him hooked up with another man in the group who works in that field. I will be writing to the two in basic training and letting them know that I am moving, but that they can always write or call me if they need."
"I am glad that you have made arrangements for them." Jack said. "I think that program was a good thing. I get that Doug, Lee and I had plenty of good male role models, but I also know that not all young men have that."
"So you thinking about talking to Father Mark about mentoring when you move up to Saratoga?" Nathan asked.
"Maybe." Frank said. "I will have to see how things go first. I might just have my hands full with you four young men."
Elizabeth tried to hide her giggle, but failed.
"Did you find something funny over there?" Jack teased.
"No." Elizabeth said, shaking her head.
"Changing subjects." Nathan said. "Jack, how is your hand? Are we going straight back to the farm or do you have to go in?"
"It is fine." Jack said. "I mean it is a little sore, but I can make a fist and flex it."
"Show me." Nathan said.
Jack made a fist and flexed it a few times to show that it was fine.
"Okay." Nathan said. "But no more hitting things."
"I will try." Jack said.
"How are the horses?" Frank asked.
"Fine." Jack said. "Every indication is that they will clear customs later today and be on their way to the farm. We will still have to hold them in isolation for seventy-two hours, but the girls should be able to ride them on Monday if they want. They will in isolation stalls outside the arena and then they will be moved down with Bandit and them."
"Good." Doug said. "I hope the girls love them."
"I am sure they will." Jack said. "Now to find horses for Elizabeth and Frank."
"I told you I don't need a horse." Elizabeth said. "There are plenty of others that I can ride."
"I would tend to agree with her." Frank said.
Jack just gave them a dimpled grin and they shook their heads at him. The group had a nice time visiting and just relaxing a little before they had to get ready to head back. The group headed down to the lobby a little after ten. Jack went to check out while the others had a seat in the lobby, since there were a lot of people in the lobby. Nathan was on alert, but he just thought it was travelers. He didn't see any obvious press. But because of the number of people in the lobby, he had Elizabeth stay back from Jack and stay with Doug, Frank and himself. One of the bellmen took their bags to their car. Jack knew they had time as they weren't scheduled to take off until closer to eleven.
After checking out, Jack turned around and was greeted by the snapping of cameras. There were several members of the press in the lobby. Nathan looked at Doug and Frank. Nathan motioned toward Elizabeth and Doug understood. Doug led Frank and Elizabeth out the side door of the lobby and to the car. Nathan went to rescue Jack. Several members of the hotel staff also tried to help. When Nathan reached Jack, he could tell that Jack wasn't happy. He had a cold stare on his face and his jaw was set in a tight line. Several people were shouting questions at Jack, but he refused to speak to them. Finally, between Nathan and the hotel staff, they were able to clear a path away from the desk for Jack. Nathan put his arm around Jack and led him out the front door and straight to the car.
"Go." Jack said. "Get us to the airport safely."
"On it." The driver said. "I already called ahead and gave the security there a heads up."
"Thank you." Jack said.
Jack sat back and let out a harsh breath. He then turned to Elizabeth.
"I am sorry." Jack said.
"It is not your fault." Elizabeth said. "Everything is okay. We are all fine and we are on our way. Once we are on the jet, it will be fine. I am sure that the people in Albany will protect us and then we will go back to the ranch."
"Thank you." Jack said. "I still feel bad. We were having such a nice time."
"And nothing happened." Elizabeth said. "We said we would deal with the press."
"I know." Jack said.
Jack leaned back again and put his arm across his eyes and counted to ten.
"Doug and Nathan." Jack said, without looking or moving.
"Yes." They both said.
"Do you think that holding a press conference will help?" Jack asked. "One with both my grandfathers. We explain that I will eventually be taking over for them and that my buying the additional property is to ensure the future of both companies."
"It couldn't hurt." Nathan said. "On the flip side, it will create more buzz. You will get questions about Elizabeth. No matter how you answer, it will continue to generate speculation."
"He is right." Doug said. "I think that you are going to have to admit your relationship and ask for privacy, not that it has worked in the past."
Jack let out a low growl.
"Jack." Frank said.
"What?" Jack said.
"I get that you feel that you need to protect everyone." Frank said. "But at this point, you need to do what is best for you and Elizabeth. However at some point, you are going to have to address the press. Even if it is just about you taking over. No matter what you do, you are going to draw attention and speculation. There is only so much that you can do. I want you to think about what you really want, but for now, I suggest that you relax for a little bit. I have a feeling that things are going to be crazy back at the farm."
"Great!" Jack said sarcastically and rolled his eyes.
"Hey." Frank said. "I can stick around for another day or two to help if that is needed. Nathan and I can go into town and get things. I know that you have other security, but if you want I can stay. No one is expecting me anywhere until after the Fourth. I can call and let the men's group know that I won't be around. So just say the word and I will stay."
"If you want to stay." Jack said. "I would love for you to stay. If you need more clothes, please let me know. You are free to borrow anything that fits you. I can also arrange for more of your stuff to be sent down. Or you can go shopping at my expense."
"I will think about it." Frank said. "It looks like we are almost to the airport, I suggest that we all relax on the flight back. We have snacks to share and we are okay."
"I agree." Doug said. "I have a feeling that it is going to be busy when we get back. I wouldn't mind getting a little riding in this afternoon, even if it is a trail ride."
"I think we can handle that." Jack said. "Let's see what mess awaits us back at the farm. Don't forget that we said we would help with Opal. I am also sure that Gran has been baking up a storm with extra houseguests and the holiday next week. Let's make sure she doesn't need anything."
"I can always help her bake." Elizabeth said. "As much as I want to ride with you, I wouldn't mind helping Gran."
"If you guys are going to work on jumping." Frank said. "I am more than willing to help your Grandmother. I know my way around the kitchen."
"Thank you." Jack said.