Chapter 275 – Frank and Nathan
"I am surprised that Aunt Charlotte isn't here." Emily said.
"She was." Gran said. "But she went back to the city. They might be back for the races next weekend, but they won't be staying here. We have a houseful and I let her know that."
"Oh." Emily said. "I was hoping to talk to her about something."
"You are free to call her." Gran said. "But she will not be staying here until her attitude changes. We gave her plenty of opportunities, but she continued to sow discord and I will not be allowing that in my house anymore. Your grandfather and I have made decisions about the future of Coal Creek and what we want. We have made plans based on those decisions and I will not allow people, especially my children and grandchildren, to continually argue about it when it is a done deal. We did what we felt was best for the future of this place. She wanted to continue to push things and argue, so she was kicked out until she could accept that certain things were going to happen no matter how much she put up a stink about it."
Emily looked at Trish and then looked back at her grandfather. She wasn't sure what was going on, but she felt it was best to drop it. She was hoping that her grandparents would give her some money for her new idea, but now she wasn't so sure. She was just going to have to see how things played out. She was hoping to stay here and be able to get her new idea off the ground.
She wasn't expecting there to be so many people and she especially wasn't expecting her brother to be there. She knew he wouldn't approve of her business idea. She wasn't sure her grandparents would approve either, but at least she could bluff her way around them. She was sitting there rethinking her plans, but she had had a falling out with her siblings and California. She also had gotten into it with her boss and quit in a huff. The next day, she packed up her belongings, withdrew all her cash and closed her accounts to drive back to New York, hoping to crash at her parents until she could figure out her next steps. While traveling back, she had thought about the plan for a new business that she could try until she could find a job in her field of study.
Gran and Trish saw Emily was debating something. The two looked at each other and knew that they were going to have to keep an eye on Emily and what was going on. Either way, they knew they were going to have their hands full with everything going on.
"Emily." Gran said. "You need to help. Remember my rule of everyone helps. We have a houseful and lots going on. All of JP's friends have been helping and I mean with more than just the horses, so you are not going to get to sit around. There is plenty to do. If you can't find something to help, then I will assign you chores. There is cleaning that needs to be done and plenty to do around the kitchen."
"Fine." Emily said. "What do you want me to do?"
Gran looked around the kitchen.
"Take over the dishes for Doug." Gran said. "I have something else for him."
Emily got up and headed over to the sink. She looked at Doug and he just shook his head.
"Drop the attitude." Doug whispered. "You don't want to be mucking out stalls."
Doug didn't give her a chance to respond but just walked away. He went over to Gran and his mother.
"Yes." Doug said.
"Will you please go over the music for Church?" Trish said. "I know you might not be the one playing, but can you please just do that for me."
"I can do that." Doug said. "I know that Jack, Nathan and I were talking about who would play, but no decisions had been made."
Doug went over to the piano and when he didn't find the music in the stack that was there, he headed up to the music room to find what he needed. He knew where Jack kept the music for Church and he also grabbed a few other pieces he wanted.
Father Mark looked at Elizabeth and thought of something.
"I have a question for you." Father Mark said.
Elizabeth looked at him and nodded.
"Are you okay when we pray and use the set prayers?" Father Mark said. "I know that some non-Catholics are uncomfortable with those."
"I am okay with it." Elizabeth said. "I wrote out a few of them, so I can learn them. That did bring up a question I thought of. Can I also cross myself before we pray? I see you guys do and I was wondering if it would be wrong if I did as well."
"No, you wouldn't be wrong." Father Mark said. "Episcopalian and Anglican also do it. It isn't outright forbidden in any Christian religion as far as I know. It just isn't taught or encouraged. If you want to do it, please feel free. There are two ways to do it and it will depend on where you come from and your background. Here in the western Church, we use an open right hand and go left to right across the body."
"What other ways are there?" Elizabeth asked.
"In the eastern Church." Father Mark said. "They will cross right to left with the right hand. Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholics will bring the tips of their thumb, index and middle fingers together, and press the ring and little finger against the palm of their hand."
"Oh." Elizabeth said. "I will do it like I saw you do it."
"Okay." Father Mark said. "Just so you are aware it is forehead, chest (heart), left shoulder, right shoulder. And it is followed by an Amen."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I was going to ask and then I forgot and didn't want to interrupt when we prayed. So then I forget."
"It is okay." Father Mark said. "I am glad that you ask. I know that you haven't made a decision about becoming Catholic, but I hope that you feel comfortable to join us in praying. Just do what you feel comfortable with. The only thing that you can't do until you are welcomed fully into the Church is to receive the Eucharist."
Elizabeth nodded. She understood that and would never ask either Jack or Father Mark to compromise what they believe.
Frank and Nathan got to the garage and started putting water and soda into one of the fridges, and were quiet for a bit before Frank felt he needed to check in with Nathan.
"You okay?" Frank asked. "You have been even more quiet than normal since Emily arrived. Also before you deny it, I saw your face when you saw her."
Nathan felt the heat creep across his cheeks and he knew not only Frank was onto him.
"She is a beautiful young lady." Nathan said. "But it would be a mistake."
"I am not saying yes or no." Frank said. "You are a single young man, you have the right to notice a beautiful young lady. We both know there will be no problem as long as you act like a gentleman. I don't doubt that you will do just that. So my advice to you would be to get to know her and if there is attraction, then explore those feelings. I would also suggest that you have a conversation with Father Mark before that happens."
"I planned on talking to Father Mark." Nathan said. "I just don't want to do anything to ruin things with Jack. He has been more than generous to me and I don't want him to question my intentions."
"Then be honest with him." Frank said. "I also think everyone is on alert because no one was expecting her. The little that I have been able to see, I think something happened and she is hiding out here. All I am saying is be careful."
"I will." Nathan said. "I will admit she is beautiful. It has also been a long time since I looked at a woman that way. I mean I immediately thought that Elizabeth was beautiful and knew in part why Jack was attracted to her, but to seriously consider a woman to be part of my future. Well it has been years."
"I sense something happened." Frank said. "You don't have to talk to me if you don't want to, but I will be more than willing to listen. I have had my fair share of heartbreak. I told you a little about the woman who broke my heart when I was home before I deployed the last time."
"I have never told anyone what happened." Nathan said. "I didn't even tell my former best friend, because I knew he wouldn't understand."
"Try me." Frank said. "I know it won't change anything, but it might make you feel better."
Nathan sat down on the stool that was there, which was slightly comical because of how tall he was and it was a foot stool.
"I thought it was the girl I was going to marry." Nathan said. "We had been dating for almost eighteen months. I was in community college and she was already working. I went to surprise her one evening at work and found her kissing her boss. I didn't handle it well. I threw the vase of flowers I had at them. I stormed out, threw all her stuff out of my apartment and had the landlord change the locks. I blocked her phone number and refused to talk to her. She tried to corner me a few times and get me to speak to her but I refused. I was angry and I didn't want to hear her excuses. I learned through some friends that she got fired because others saw my reaction and they figured things out and started talking. The boss got in trouble and she lost her job. She blamed me that she had to move back with her parents. I spent time in prayer and just moved on with my life. I never seriously looked at another girl again."
Frank pulled up a chair and looked at Nathan.
"You were with her, weren't you?" Frank asked. "It is the only thing that explains your reaction."
Nathan slowly nodded her head.
"I never meant for it to happen." Nathan said. "It was only once and I had a ring in my pocket when I showed up at her work."
Nathan dropped his head into his hands and his body shook as he cried.
"I am sorry." Frank said. "You made a mistake. You learned that you need someone that shares your same values. Don't continue to beat yourself up. You need to let it go. I have a feeling that you found it easier to shut yourself off and not deal with things. I also think that part of it might be from your difficult childhood. You were looking for someone to love you and when she hurt you, in your head, it was your fault. People who had traumatic childhoods tend to think that they are the problem and that is not the case. I don't know what happened to you, but it shouldn't have happened. I hope you know that. You were a child and your parents should have protected you from whatever happened.
I know that it isn't easy. But you need to figure out a way to move forward. I know that some people just lock those memories away, but that is not healthy. Please, please find a way to deal with things before you do something we will all regret."
Nathan wiped his eyes and looked up at Frank.
"I will try." Nathan said. "Talking to Father Mark really helped. It was the first time I ever told anyone what happened. I didn't go into detail, but I acknowledged what happened."
"That is a start." Frank said. "Keep talking to him, or have him recommend a counselor. Either way, you need to move forward. I will listen if you want. I don't have training in counseling, but I can listen."
"Thank you." Nathan said. "I will think about it. For now, let's just work on this stuff that Gran asked. I need to think right now because my emotions are swirling. I can't deal with things right now. I need to focus on the show and then I will be able to deal with things."
"Okay." Frank said. "I won't push. If you want to talk, I will be here."
"Thank you." Nathan said.
They went back to working without talking again. Both were thinking, but they had very different thoughts. Frank was thinking about how much Nathan needed a friend. He knew that Nathan had said that he had a hard time growing up and that he had fought with his parents, but he wondered what really happened. He had seen similar responses from children who had been abused. He wanted to ask, but he didn't want Nathan to completely shut down again.
Instead of thinking about what they had talked about, Nathan was going over the lists that needed to be done so the show could happen. Going over information that he knew and that had clear steps was calming to him. He was just so upset that he needed to think about something completely unrelated to what they had been talking about.
"Is there anything else that you want to talk about?" Father Mark asked. "Otherwise, I would like to check in on Nathan."
"I think you should check in on him." Jack said.
"I agree." Elizabeth said. "I want to spend some time writing tonight."
"You do that." Father Mark said.
"I will let Gran know." Jack said.
"I will come say goodnight, first." Elizabeth said.
The trio got up and headed out. Father Mark looked around and didn't see Nathan or Frank. He wondered if they had gone somewhere to talk. Jack and Elizabeth went straight to Gran.
"Gran." Elizabeth said. "I just want to say goodnight. I want to go down and get some writing done."
"Have a good night." Gran said. "Get some sleep, the next few days will be busy."
"I will." Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth gave Jack a quick kiss and then headed downstairs. Jack waited a moment and then looked at his grandmother.
"Everything okay?" Gran asked.
Jack shook his head.
"Yes." Jack said. "Just thinking of everything that needs to be done. We got a lot done today, but there is still so much to do and check on. Then add in that I still have to think about jumping."
"One thing at a time." Gran said. "Everyone is helping and everything will get done. Just do what you need to do and let others do what they can. With Nathan's friends coming, we will have plenty of help."
"Thanks." Jack said. "I just want everything to work out."
"It will." Gran said. "Just relax. Go talk to Doug, he was looking at music for Church on Sunday."
"Okay." Jack said.
Jack went over to Doug and together they worked on the music for Sunday. They wanted both guitar and piano music, even if they had to use the keyboards.
Father Mark went over to his grandmother after Jack and Elizabeth had walked away.
"They are in the garage." Gran said. "Give them a minute. I have a question for you."
"Okay." Father Mark said.
"I don't need details." Gran said. "I just want to make sure you are taking care of yourself and not just taking care of everyone else."
"I am." Father Mark said. "Me taking care of everyone else is also taking care of me. If I am not worried about them, it helps me. I talked to Frank and John, there is nothing more that I can do. I wrote out things in my journal and I am just trying to not think about things."
"Okay." Gran said. "I just wanted to make sure. I worry about you. I know your job is to serve other people, but you need to take care of yourself."
"Being here with everyone." Father Mark said. "It is taking care of myself. Earlier this year, I was missing family and questioning things. Spending time with you, Grandpa, Jack and his friends have really helped."
"And health wise, you are doing okay?" Gran said.
"Yes." Father Mark said.
"Good." Gran said. "I don't care how old you get, I will always worry about you. You were always the one to take care of everyone else first. I will leave it be, but will check in with you from time to time."
"Thanks, Gran." Father Mark said.
He gave his grandmother a kiss on the temple and then went to the garage. When he walked in, he looked at Frank and Nathan. He could tell that Nathan had been crying.
"Hey." Father Mark said. "Everything okay?"
"We are good." Frank said. "We had a bit of a talk. You should take Nathan and go talk in the library."
"Nathan?" Father Mark asked.
Nathan nodded.
"I will finish up." Frank said. "There isn't much left. Take all the time that you two need."
"Okay." Father Mark said.
Father Mark waited for Nathan and then they headed inside. Nathan didn't look at anyone, but headed right for the library. Father Mark stopped and spoke to his grandmother.
"I don't know how long we will be." Father Mark said. "But could you make a tray with some cold water for us. Just knock on the library door and leave it like before."
"Of course." Gran said. "Take you time."
Father Mark nodded and then walked to the library.