Warning: If you're not ready for Elizabeth's downfall don't read this chapter.
Author's note: Thanks to Avis Minter for helping me with Henry's reply about the charges!
—--
Elizabeth's face went ashen as she stared at Bill.
"You cannot do that", she mumbled.
Bill creased his eyebrows and glanced at Ned and Henry.
"I am sorry, Elizabeth, but we must. Many parents said that they won't send their children to school anymore if you are going to be the one who teaches them", Bill was barely done when Elizabeth shrieked:
"WHO SAID THAT?! If it were Susan's parents, no wonder! She never listens, always just cries! And don't get me started on Toby! Were it his parents?! Just because I told him it is unbelievable how math could be such a problem for him! Perhaps he is not fit for school!"
Bill gasped:
"ELIZABETH!", he was beyond shocked, as well as Ned and Henry by the school teacher's words.
"On what charges are they trying to push me out of my job?!", demanded Elizabeth.
Ned tried to calm her down.
"Elizabeth, let's just calm…"
But, in the next moment Elizabeth threw all the papers from the table in one movement of her hand as she screamed:
"ON WHAT CHARGES?!"
That was when Henry had enough.
"On charges of yelling at and berating your students, lack of positive encouragement, not a positive role model, telling your students a lie about the Governor, jumping too quickly into a
relationship with the town Mountie and neglecting your own child!", exclaimed Henry "What kind of example are you giving to those children?!"
Elizabeth laughed sarcastically.
"Of course you are on HIS side! What did he promise you for bringing me down, Henry? A place in his team?", she snarled.
Bill slammed his palm on his desk.
"That's enough, Elizabeth! You should be ashamed of yourself!", he exclaimed.
Elizabeth cackled.
"ME?! You are supposed to think of your Godson! How can you do this to me?! You are supposed to look after Jack if something happens to me!", she screamed.
Bill sighed.
"And that is exactly what I'm doing, Elizabeth. You are not yourself and it is affecting your work as a school teacher. You need to go back home and try and get some help", Bill tried to reason with her, but his words only fueled Eluzabeth's fury.
"You have no right to tell me what to do! And how dare you say that I am neglecting my son?!", she shrieked.
"And where is your son, Elizabeth?!", yelled Bill "Jack's been away from Hope Valley for nearly a month! His birthday is tomorrow, not to mention Christmas and New Year, and you are here, doing nothing! Why didn't you go to be with him?!"
Elizabeth fumed, but was lost for words.
She stood there, pale as a sheet, before she turned to leave.
She turned back before she left the office and said through gritted teeth.
"You are going to regret this. All of you", and with those words she went out, slamming the doors behind her.
—--
William Thatcher stepped down from the train, his regal face serious and sad. Ever since his sister Agatha called him and told him how much Jack's condition has improved, William felt a lump in his throat that just wouldn't go away.
He was beyond happy to hear that his Grandson was doing better, but what pained him was that it wasn't the little boy's Mother who made him feel better.
It was Lucas Bouchard and his fiancée Grace who, by his sister's words, was a remarkable young lady.
Now, he couldn't help but think that he also failed Elizabeth the way she failed Jack. He should never have let her go back to that small town after Constable Thornton's death. But, back then she assured him and his wife that she will manage and went back.
Next time they saw her was when she came to get her certificate for teaching blind children. She was newly engaged and happier than ever. Or so they thought.
And all of a sudden, she called them to tell them that the wedding was off and that she is staying in Hope Valley.
Always that town.
Always Hope Valley.
Well, now it definitely sounded more like Hopeless Valley.
William also remembered his talk with Lucas a few days ago as the young Governor called him to ask if it would be alright to buy Jack a puppy for his birthday.
"It will give him a chance to take care of someone and have someone who will give him unconditional love back. I am not saying that you and your family don't love Jack, I know you adore him. I just think that puppy would distract him if things get too hard…", Lucas exhaled, rubbing his forehead "I am sorry, Mr. Thatcher, I didn't mean to imply…"
William nodded, swirling a whisky in his glass.
"I know", he silently said.
Lucas took a deep breath in.
"Every little boy should have a puppy. Especially a sad one", he silently said "Researches have shown that puppies can be quite therapeutic when faced with grieving people or children."
William swallowed his whisky, feeling it burn down his throat as his eyes misted with tears.
"Yes, I read about it", he said silently and then added "Thank you, Lucas. I think that it would help Jack a lot too."
Lucas let out a breath of relief.
"Thank you, Sir. And thank you for allowing Jack to visit me", Lucas said carefully "It's been wonderful to see him again."
William walked toward the taxi. Entering, he gravely said.
"To Hope Valley, please."
—--
Allie was reading a book about pharmacy and diligently took notes when there was a commotion at the doors and all of a sudden, a loud banging made her flinch.
"NATHAN! NATHAN, OPEN THE DOORS!!!"
Allie looked up at her Dad in concern as she recognized Elizabeth's voice.
Nathan creased his eyebrows as he slowly walked toward the doors that shook in its hinges from banging.
He opened them and frowned.
"Elizabeth?"
But before he could say or ask anything else, she stormed inside, her eyes shining strangely.
"Did you file a complaint against me to the Town Council?", she hissed at Nathan.
Nathan's eyes widened in shock.
"What?!", he asked, completely flabbergasted "Elizabeth, what…", he tried to speak, but Elizabeth interrupted him by shrieking:
"JUST ANSWER THE DAMN QUESTION!!"
Nathan's frown grew bigger.
"No, of course I didn't! What kind of complaint are you talking about?!", he asked.
Elizabeth slammed the document against his chest.
"THIS!! How could you not know?! You are a Mountie! Aren't you suppose to know other people's business?", she yelled.
Allie looked down, mumbling to herself:
"Isn't that what you and Mrs. Coulter do?"
But, obviously, her voice was louder than she thought as Elizabeth turned toward her in a flash.
"What did you say?!", she hissed.
Allie's eyes opened in horror as she watched her school teacher slowly walking toward her, her eyes looking strange.
Allie took a step back.
"Nothing, I just…", Allie stammered, but Elizabeth picked up her index finger in warning and hissed:
"You were a part of that, weren't you?! You and your stinky little friends!"
Nathan quickly walked toward them.
"Elizabeth…"
Allie swallowed hard before replying:
"I don't know what are you talking about", a young girl whispered.
And that was when all hell broke loose!
Elizabeth swung her hand, Allie covered her head with both hands and that was when Nathan grabbed Elizabeth's arm and pushed her toward the doors.
"DON'T YOU EVER TRY TO HIT MY DAUGHTER AGAIN! GET OUT! GET OUT FROM MY HOUSE AND FROM MY LIFE!", and with those words he pushed Elizabeth through the doors and slammed them shut.
In the next moment Nathan ran toward shivering Allie who cried bitterly.
"Allie! Oh my God, are you alright?", he pulled a young girl in his embrace and gently caressed her hair as she sobbed in his chest "Sssh, Allie, it's alright. It's alright."
Outside Elizabeth gaped at Nathan's row house and she was about to storm back in when she heard a male's voice calling her name:
"Elizabeth."
Her eyes widened in shock as she turned around and saw her Father.
Her mouth gaped open for a bit before she mumbled:
"What are you doing here?!"
William swallowed hard, his heart bleeding as he overheard the entire scene in Nathan's house and also spoke to judge Avery before he came to look for his daughter.
He stepped closer to her and gently said:
"Elizabeth…I came to take you home."