Chapter 199 – Covered in Prayer
William snatched the papers off the table and ripped them up. He then threw them at John and Bill.
"You will be sorry that you crossed me." William said. "You have no idea who you messed with."
"I know exactly who you are." John said. "I think you forget you are standing in front of. You are the one that is going to be sorry."
"Marcus." Bill said. "Want me to help you escort him off the property?"
"Thank you, Bill." Devin said. "But we got it."
"Chris, Rob." John said. "Please go with Devin and then come back here please."
"Yes, Sir." Chris said.
Rob was reluctant to leave his spot.
"I won't let anything happen." Bill said. "Besides, Nathan is down there."
"Let's go." Devin said.
"You will be hearing from our lawyers." John said.
William didn't want to leave.
"If you don't leave with their private security." Marcus said. "I can arrest you for trespassing and you will be taken out of here in handcuffs."
"You can't do that." William bellowed. "I have rights!"
"And this is private property." Marcus said. "You have been told to leave. So either leave or face charges."
"Devin, Chris." Ryan said. "If he doesn't want to leave, you have the authorization to physically remove him at this point."
Devin grabbed William's arm.
"This is your last chance." Devin said. "I am not above us guys physically carrying you out of here."
"I am going." William said. "You all are going to regret this."
Devin, Chris and Rob walked William out of the front door just as James and Peter were coming in the back door.
"Peter, please go downstairs." Bill said.
"Yes, Sir." Peter said.
"Please tell Opal that her mother is waiting for her at her apartment." James said.
"Please escort Opal to her mother and then come back here." Bill said. "With everything going on, I don't want her walking alone. I know, I know it is a secure property, but still."
"No, good idea." James said.
Peter went downstairs and was back with Opal shortly. She said her goodbyes to everyone and the duo headed out the back door.
"Let's form a circle and then pray." Father Mark said. "I will open it and then allow anyone that wants to add something to speak. Then I will close it as well."
Everyone nodded and shifted so that they were in a circle. They wrapped their arms around each other's backs for support. Lee came over and joined the group.
"In the Name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit." Father Mark prayed.
As Father Mark spoke, everyone other than Elizabeth made the sign of the cross. She was watching them and almost wanted to as well, but she wasn't sure if it was appropriate since she wasn't Catholic.
"Heavenly Father." Father Mark prayed. "We come together and ask You to lift both Jack and Elizabeth up. Help them as they walk the path You have for them together. Show them that they are stronger together then apart. Just because their respective parents chose not to support them doesn't mean that You didn't mean these two young people to be together. Help all of us to be more loving and supportive of those around us. We all come from a variety of backgrounds and have a good size age gap among this group. Help us to all be there for one another. Give us all a humble heart as we go about this summer. No matter what we do, we ask that we be able to honor You."
Father Mark bowed his head and continued to silently pray.
"Lord." Frank prayed. "Thank you for Father Mark. Thank you for bringing these young people into my life. Thank you for the amazing opportunity that I have been given to work with this amazing group moving forward. You knew what I needed and I trusted You to provide. So with an incredible humble heart, I think you. Thank you for bringing me to a place where I feel a part of a family again. I ask that You be with Jack and Elizabeth. They both have learned the hard lesson of their parents not being who they thought. Help them to know that what they are feeling is alright and that You are there to hold them as they cry or to stand beside them as they yell to the wind.
I ask that You wrap Your loving arms around them and hold them close. Help them to open up to each other and others as needed. I know that it is not always easy to open up about those feelings that we all have deep inside of us. If nothing else, help them to open up to each other so that they can help the other heal.
They have chosen to walk a path to honor You. It might not be the easiest path, but give them strength to continue. Help them to be what the other needs. Help them both to be understanding as they move forward. We all know that not everyone is going to like or approve of their choice, but please give them comfort in knowing that You and You alone have brought them together."
Frank wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. No one spoke out loud for a little bit, but they were all praying quietly. Finally, it was Lee who spoke.
"Heavenly Father." Lee prayed. "You know that I wasn't there that day in Central Park a couple of weeks ago. But I thank you for leading Jack and Doug down the right path to be there to step in and protect Elizabeth. Thank you for giving them the courage to step in and help when they were outnumbered. I thank you for bringing Elizabeth into Jack's life. You know the hours I have spent in prayer for Jack. Worried about him and all that he has been through in the last few years. Thank you for seeing Jack, Doug and I through the last few years as better friends then we could have asked for.
Doug and I might not have been ready for Elizabeth to join our group, but I am going to trust in Your timing. With everything that has happened in the last two weeks, I once again thank you for Elizabeth. I don't think that Jack would have come through all that has happened as well as he did without Elizabeth. Thank you for Your wisdom and timing even when we don't immediately understand.
Thank you for bringing Nathan into our group as well. He is the big brother that we didn't know that we needed. Thank you for him being able to keep Jack and Elizabeth as well as the rest of us safe. Heals his heart from the issues of his past. You know what they are without him having to voice them. Continue to bring people into our lives that lift us up and bring us closer to You. Thank you for Your servant Father Mark. Thank you for providing for him to be with us here. Please watch over our families that are not with us. Even if they don't agree with our choices and the paths that we take, we still want You to draw them to Yourself. Show them what You have intended and if they truly have changed bring them back to us with humble hearts and genuine words."
Lee finished and hung his head to hide the tears that were forming. After a little bit when no one else spoke, Father Mark spoke again.
"Heavenly Father." Father Mark prayed. "Thank you for each and everyone of these people. They have come together to support one another and form a family. It might not be a traditional family, but it is still a family. May they always know Your love as they walk the path of life. Help them to always remember that they have each other even as their family grows and changes.
Please especially be with Jack and Elizabeth as they face more anxiety and strife this weekend. Give them peace in what they need to say. Comfort them in knowing that You are in charge and all they need to do is call upon You. Give them wisdom to make the decisions that they need to further ensure their safety and the safety of those around them. Keep them safe as they ride and in whatever else they do. Show them what you want from them and help them to make the right choices.
I also ask that You be with the rest of this household. Help to give us all humble hearts when dealing with others. Thank you for the safe arrival of Doug's mother and sisters, as well as Elizabeth's friend. We ask that you keep them safe as they travel home. Please give Trish peace about leaving her girls here with all that is going on. Finally, I ask that you soften Rosemary's heart so that she is able to see what you have brought together. If she still chooses to not see, please wrap your arms around Elizabeth and comfort her as she moves forward in a different type of friendship with Rosemary.
Most of all Father, I ask that you keep each and everyone safe and in your loving arms. This group of young people have had to face more real danger in the last few weeks than most people in a lifetime. Comfort them that they are always safe in Your arms. Give them wisdom to be alert when away from the house, whether that is dealing with the horses, the press or the public in general. Surround them with Your angels for protection. In Your Name we pray all these things as well as the silent prayers of our hearts. You know each and every one of them. So we pray as you taught us. Our Father …."
The group prayed the Our Father together and then once again ended with the sign of the cross. Once they were done praying, they shared hugs. Each knew that what they had just shared was something special. Through the years they would look back on that time and even though it started because of William Thatcher's actions, they would all look back on it as the day that they all really became a family moving forward.
As they sat back down and waited to hear from the adults upstairs, Frank turned to Lee.
"Have you ever thought of going into the ministry?" Frank asked.
"Not really." Lee said. "I honestly don't think that is where I am being called at this point, but who knows it could change. I had always seen myself settling down with a wife and family."
"There is always the option of being a deacon later in life." Father Mark said.
"Don't you have to wait until you are like thirty-five." Nathan said.
"Yes." Father Mark said. "That is the minimum age to be a permanent deacon. That gives the person a chance to start a family and have a stable income."
"Maybe I should look into that myself." Nathan said. "Like I told Jack and Elizabeth, there was a time that I wanted to go to seminary, but as excited I was about the opportunity, I just as quickly realized that it wasn't for me."
"Priesthood is not for all men." Father Mark said. "I don't want to say that a permanent deacon is a compromise, but that is the best word that I can come up with at the moment. A lot of men who become permanent deacons later in life had at one point considered going to seminary."
"Hey." Jack said. "You still haven't told us that story. You said you would. Now is as good of a time as any. Grandpa John and Bill will let us know when they are done talking and can come upstairs. So we might as well hear this story."
Nathan turned to Jack and shook his head.
"I told you I wasn't going to forget." Jack said.
"I know, I know." Nathan said.
"Yeah." Doug said. "Let's hear it."
After Peter and Opal left, John turned to Rosemary who was sitting at the table. She had seen everything that had happened. She was a little worried. She knew that Elizabeth had invited her up there, but still Elizabeth wasn't up there at the moment. Rosemary realized that this family was like most every other family that she came across – they guys made all the decisions and told the women what to do. She felt sorry for Elizabeth that she had gotten involved with a family like this. They had always talked about how they were going to run their own lives, well mostly Rosemary talked. Rosemary didn't care how much money was involved if they were going to treat her and Elizabeth like second class citizens just because they were women.
John had motioned for everyone else to sit down, but he remained standing. He liked to use his height to his advantage. After quickly introducing Bill and James to Rosemary, John was ready.
"Rosemary LeVeaux." John said. "This is your one and only chance to be honest with us. Who did you tell you were coming up here? Who did you tell that Elizabeth was here? What have you told Charlie Kensington and/or his family."
"How dare you speak to me that way." Rosemary said.
Rosemary was mad and was immediately on the defensive. She didn't think that she needed to explain things to a bunch of men who couldn't possibly understand.
"I will speak to you any way that I choose when you endanger my grandson and his friends." John said.
Rosemary huffed.
"Drop the attitude." Gran said, walking over. "I was there when Elizabeth sent you the text to remind you of my rules. You texted back that you understood and agreed. One of those rules was treating people with respect. Now you are a guest in my house and I will kick you out if you can't be respectful. Don't cross me. Ask anyone at this table. I kicked my own daughter out of this house for being disrespectful. I most certainly will do the same with you in a heartbeat. It was my encouragement that led to you being invited up here.
You may have been friends with Elizabeth since you were little, but she had changed quite a bit in the last couple of weeks. Once would even say that she has done a lot of growing up. If you want to stay and potentially get to know this new Elizabeth then I suggest that you answer John's questions. Because the one thing that no adult at this table is going to allow is anyone putting Jack, Elizabeth or anyone else in this house in danger."
Rosemary looked around. Abigail, Trish and Katie had come to stand next to Margaret. She looked around the table and all the guys were looking at her. Before she could say anything, Peter came in the back door right as Chris, Rob and Devin came in the front door. The three security members took a seat at the table.
"Grandpa James." Peter said.
"Yes." James said.
"Opal's mother reminded me to tell you to ask if Opal can come up here tomorrow while she goes into town." Peter said.
"Thank you for the reminder." James said. "I am sure it will be okay, but I will let her know."
"That is what I said." Peter said.
"Thank you." James said.
"Peter." Bill said. "Please go downstairs and stay until you are called."
"Yes, Sir." Peter said.
Peter went downstairs. John waited a moment to make sure he was out of ear shot.
"Well what is it going to be?" John asked.
"I told you." Rosemary said. "I told my mother I was coming up here. I showed her the texts from Elizabeth. I tell my mother everything. I told my castmate that I was coming up here to see my friend. That is all I said and everyone I talked to. I may know a number of people who are friends with Charlie Kensington, but I haven't talked to him since that morning of the thirteenth when Elizabeth and I were on campus. Frankly, according to his sister he hasn't been around much."
"How do you know his sister?" Bill asked.
"She is in my theater group." Rosemary said.
"That would be Nicole Kensington." Andrew said. "She is fifteen and attends Wadleigh Secondary School for the Performing & Visual Arts where she specializes in dance and theater. She is a part of the summer program at Columbia University."
"Yes." Rosemary said. "That is her. I don't spend a lot of time with her since her mother doesn't like her spending too much time with the older girls. She knows that I am friends with Elizabeth and that is why she talked to me. I don't know if she was looking for information or wanted to know what I thought of Elizabeth with her brother. I didn't say much."
"This castmate, Kristen." Andrew said. "The one that you told that you were coming up here. Why her?"
"She is a really good friend." Rosemary said. "Other than Elizabeth, I would say she is one of my best friends. We have been in several productions together and we get along great. We have always been close. I don't know much about her family as she doesn't talk about them much. I know that her mother is in her second marriage. She has several step siblings, but I have never met any of them. She lives in the city with her grandmother and doesn't have much to do with her parents or siblings."
"Fine for now." John said. "You have the weekend to prove to not only the adults in this house, but to JP and Elizabeth that you can be trusted. I know for a fact that neither of them are going to continue to allow people who don't support their choice to be close to them and involved in their lives. So I suggest that you apologize and actually take the weekend to get to know them and their friends."
"I agree." James said. "JP and Elizabeth are a package deal now. JP also comes with Doug and Lee. As well as Nathan now. Those three are pretty protective of JP and Elizabeth so I would suggest that you get on the good side of all of them."
"You can't be serious." Rosemary said.
"They are very serious." Bill said. "I know my godson very well. He sees Doug, Lee and Nathan as brothers. You can't think that he wouldn't turn to the people that he is the closest with to see what they thought about you. As much as Jack loves Elizabeth. She understands why Jack is especially close with Doug and Lee. They have been there for each other when other people haven't. They are closer than even most brothers. Heck if I didn't know better, I would think that they were triplets for how close they are."
"I would agree." Trish said. "And I gave birth to one of them. Those three boys are as close as my twin girls at times. The fact that they have seamlessly included both Nathan and Elizabeth tells me just how important Elizabeth is to Jack and that they view Nathan as a sort of bigger brother."
"I would agree with what you said." Bill said. "Watching them at the bonfire last week was something special. Not only Jack and Elizabeth, but the way that Nathan was included in everything that they did. Right down to performing with us on stage."
"I still think it is weird." Rosemary said. "Elizabeth has never been close with anyone other than me. I don't think that she has ever had a male friend other than Charlie. And she certainly has never been one to jump into a relationship. She always told me that going to school and teaching were more important and that she would marry eventually."
"And things change when you open yourself to the opportunities that God puts in front of you." Bill said. "I have heard both Jack and Elizabeth use the word soulmate to describe the other. That is something special and when it comes along, it is hard to deny it. Also, with everything that those two have been through, they have done a lot of growing up in a very short amount of time."
"I agree." John said. "Now you, Rosemary, are dismissed from this table. We have other matters to discuss that are frankly none of your business. I suggest that you use this time to go downstairs and get to know that group of young people. I would also suggest that you listen twice as much as you talk. If either JP or Elizabeth come to me at any point and want you gone, there will be no question that you will be gone quickly."
Rosemary just stared at John for a moment before heading downstairs.