Chapter 209 – Making a Plan for Saturday
After checking on the girls and seeing they were almost ready for bed, Trish came back out and went over to Nathan. She waited a moment and then Nathan looked up.
"Was there something that you needed?" Nathan asked.
"I just wanted to check in and make sure that you were okay." Trish said.
Nathan kind of shrugged his shoulders and nodded his head.
"I also wanted to say thank you for standing up for Jack and Doug." Trish said.
"My pleasure." Nathan said. "They have been nothing but welcoming of me. Like I told both of them, even if I wasn't security, I have a feeling that we would still have been friends, even given the age difference."
"Good." Trish said. "I hope that you stick around for a long time. From what I can see you are good for all three of those guys. From what I see you are a nice calming influence for them. I also wanted to say, if you are struggling with something, that you should talk to Father Mark. I get that it might be hard with the family relationships, but he is honestly a good listening ear. I know that he would want you to feel comfortable talking to him if you needed to."
"Thank you." Nathan said. "I know, I have already talked to him some. I was just at the point I couldn't listen to Rosemary continue to push and tear my friends down. As much as I know that Elizabeth wants her friend around, I am hoping that either Rosemary changes or Elizabeth realizes that Rosemary is not the friend that she thought."
"I think Elizabeth is realizing that things need to change with Rosemary." Trish said. "After you left, I think Elizabeth made it clear that things need to change or Rosemary will end up on the outside looking in. I urge you to stand firm and if Rosemary doesn't change, to have that hard conversation with Jack and/or Elizabeth."
"I will." Nathan said. "Thank you for checking on me. I am going to stay here until the others come down. I have a feeling that they will all be heading to bed soon."
"Me too." Trish said. "It has been a long day and I think it is going to be a long weekend."
"I know that it is going to be a long weekend." Nathan said.
"Gran." Doug said.
"Yes." Gran said.
"Can I suggest that we make something for tomorrow's supper and do leftovers on Sunday." Doug said. "Or were you thinking of Sunday more like last week?"
"I was thinking of Sunday more like last week." Gran said.
"The leftovers tomorrow are fine." Doug said. "Us guys aren't picky and my sisters will eat whatever."
"I can make something to supplement supper tomorrow." Frank said. "Even if I have to run into town and get a few things. Not that I don't love pizza, but one of my mother's casseroles might be easier."
"We will talk tomorrow." Gran said. "Lunch tomorrow will be like we have been doing. So sandwiches, chips, fruit and veggies. Abigail and I will also make more macaroni salad as well as a potato salad."
"That sounds good, dear." James said.
The kettles whistled just as Jack and Father Mark were coming out.
"Gran I got it." Jack said.
"Please bring the kettle to the table." Gran said. "We were all going to make our own tea."
Father Mark grabbed the electric kettle and Jack poured the water from the kettle on the stove into one of the carafes to bring to the table. Once they were seated and everyone was making tea, Jack looked around.
"So what were we talking about?" Jack asked.
"Making sure everyone is on the same page for the schedule for tomorrow and into next week." Gran said. "I will let Doug and/or Frank catch you up."
"Okay." Jack said.
"So we are having a large family meal on Sunday after Church?" Father Mark asked.
"Yes." Gran said. "I had hoped to go to the nine am Mass. Then come back here to get things ready and we can eat around one. Then people will be free to go for a ride or play in the pool after we clean up. I was hoping that you guys would all play music again. I was thinking we could start that around five again. We can set out platters with fruit, veggies, meat, cheese and crackers, as well as the salads like last week. If someone is more hungry than that, we can deal with it."
"Sounds good." Jack said. "We can definitely do music. I will make sure that the instruments are brought down. I will remind Bill and Peter to bring theirs as well."
"What were you thinking of for lunch on Sunday?" James asked.
"Since we didn't use the pork chops." Gran said. "I was thinking of doing those on the grill. I have already called into Primal and ordered more to either be picked up or delivered tomorrow."
"I can run into town and get them." Frank said. "Then I can pick up anything I need for the casseroles. I was also needing something else in town, so it will be fine."
"Thank you." Gran said. "I will call Primal in the morning and let them know that you will be picking up the order. Remind me to send a cooler along with you."
"I will." Frank said.
"I have a question." Jack said. "How are we going to do Church on Sunday if the press is still crazy?"
"Let's see what happens tomorrow." John said. "But I will sit down with Peter, Andrew, Devin and maybe Chris to come up with a plan."
"If the worse comes to worse." Father Mark said. "I do have permission from the Bishop to have a family Mass here at the house. He gave me permission to do that the weekend of the show so we don't have to worry about it. He also suggested that if security was going to be a problem, that I was free to do it here the next couple weeks as well."
"Thank you." James said. "But like John said. "Let's see what happens tomorrow."
"Let me know." Father Mark said. "I have to be back at the Church by four to hear confessions and then say Mass tomorrow night. I am planning on coming out after the second Mass on Sunday. Just let me know if I need to bring the stuff to say Mass here."
"We will." Gran said. "Is there anything that we still need to cover as far as what is happening this weekend?"
"I don't think so." Jack said. "But can I suggest that we all sit down again after supper tomorrow and see if things have changed and then we can also maybe talk more about the coming week."
"I think that is a good idea." James said. "There are a lot of moving parts happening this weekend and in the coming week. We all need to be on the same page."
"That is fine." Gran said. "I think we also need to make sure that everyone, including the girls are in on that conversation. I know that Trish said that they had schoolwork to do, so we need to figure that time into what is going on as well. I am sure that piano practice is also a part of that. I know that things will get a little messed up with the holiday in the middle of the week, but I think we can set a tentative daily schedule for riding and other work that needs to get done."
"I think that is a good idea." Frank said. "I know that I might not be here all week, but just know that I will help where I can with what I can."
"I have an idea, Frank." John said. "See if you can find some time to sit down with me tomorrow."
"I will do that." Frank said.
"If there is nothing else." Gran said. "I think we should all think about getting some sleep. If you kids are going to stay up, please head downstairs. Just remember that the girls will probably be sleeping so don't be too loud and please don't stay up too late. It sounds like Nathan and Frank will have waffles ready by six. You can eat when you come up or after horses, depending. See you all in the morning."
"Night, Gran." Jack said. "We will pick up the table and put things away before we head down."
"Thank you." Gran said.
Gran got up, took her tea cup to the kitchen and then headed to her room. James waited a moment to make sure that Gran was mostly out of earshot and then he looked around the table, stopping and glaring at Rosemary for a moment.
"I don't know what was going on earlier." James said. "But Margaret and I have said it before and I will say it again – there will be no more discord in this house. So if you can't check your attitude and come together as a group, I have no problem with kicking people out. We have a nice few days and I will not be going back to the discord that ran through this house last week. It ends tonight. Get whatever you need to say out and move on. I am done with the discord and I know that Margaret is as well. So have a good night and figure it out."
James followed his wife to their room after dropping his tea cup in the sink. John didn't say anything, but just shook his head and then did the same. He put his tea cup in the sink and headed upstairs to his room.
"Doug, do you know if the dishwasher was unloaded?" Jack asked.
"I don't think so." Doug said.
Trish came upstairs just as the group was breaking up.
"The girls are in their room." Trish said. "I am going to head to my room and call it a night."
"Night, Mom." Doug said. "Talk to you in the morning."
Trish nodded and waved to the others as she headed upstairs.
"Let's get the kitchen and table cleaned up." Lee said. "Then we can head downstairs."
As everyone started to get up, Jack grabbed Father Mark.
"Please go check on Nathan." Jack whispered.
Father Mark headed downstairs. Rosemary stood up and didn't bother to even pick up her cup before she started toward the stairs.
"Rosemary!" Frank said with a little force.
She turned and looked at him.
"We all picked up our dishes." Frank said. "You need to do the same."
Rosemary glared at Frank and he glared back.
"I am a guest in this house as well." Frank said. "But I have helped out. I thought it was made clear that everyone helps out."
Rosemary stomped back to her place and grabbed her cup, spilling the little bit of liquid that was left in it. She then took it to the kitchen. Elizabeth grabbed it before Rosemary could slam into the sink, likely breaking it. She also grabbed Rosemary's arm.
"Drop the attitude!" Elizabeth said.
The girls were glaring at each other when Jack took the cup from Elizabeth's hand. He then leaned over and gave Elizabeth a kiss on the temple. He then turned to Rosemary.
"Elizabeth is right." Jack said. "Drop the attitude or you won't be here much longer. As much as I want Elizabeth to have her friends, you are not acting like a friend and therefore I will have no problem kicking you out."
"Thank you, sweetheart." Elizabeth said. "Thank you for backing me up and understanding my need, but also seeing what is happening."
Rosemary made a sound in disgust. Elizabeth let go of Rosemary's arm, turned to Jack and gave him a very passionate kiss. Realizing that Elizabeth was pushing a boundary, he pulled away a little.
"Thank you honey." Jack said. "But I need to help clean up. Why don't you head downstairs."
"Okay." Elizabeth said with a smile.
Elizabeth didn't say anything else, but walked past Rosemary and headed downstairs. Rosemary stood there stunned for a moment. It was Doug who came to Jack's rescue as it appeared that Jack was stunned as well.
"Rosemary, was there something that you needed?" Doug asked.
"I guess not." Rosemary said.
"Then since you don't seem to want to help." Doug said. "You can head downstairs. We will be down in a minute."
Rosemary turned and huffed off. Doug went over to Jack and used his hip to nudge him. Not only did he want to see if Jack was okay with what Elizabeth had done, but he also wanted to say something about Rosemary.
"You okay there?" Doug asked.
"I need to marry her." Jack said, shaking his head.
"I thought you were." Doug teased.
Jack stuck out his tongue at Doug.
"You know what I meant." Jack said. "I know that she only did that to show Rosemary that she was serious about me, but she really pushed the boundaries we had agreed to."
Jack groaned as he shifted his weight on his feet.
"Go." Doug said. "We got this. Go take a cold shower in the gym. We can deal with a little bit of dishes here. Then when you have calmed down, come to our room. I think we might just head to bed."
"Sounds good." Jack said.
Jack handed the mug to Doug and then headed downstairs and to the gym. After Jack left, the guys had a little chuckle at his expense. Then they finished up in the kitchen and headed downstairs as well.