Chapter 238 – Another Standoff with Charlotte
Frank, Wynn and Abigail watched Elizabeth walk away with Patty and her aunt. When they looked around, they realized that Charlotte had also left, but they weren't sure as to when she had left. They knew that she had been there when Mr Landis was there. Jacobs had also come back.
After the trio of ladies left, Frank turned to Wynn.
"Is she going to be alright?" Frank asked.
"In time." Wynn said. "Unfortunately, my brother-in-law did his girls a huge disservice."
"What do you mean?" Frank asked.
"He never let them experience hardship if he could help it." Wynn said. "He was always working to make sure that they had everything before they needed it or in the instant that something did go wrong, someone would swoop in and do what was needed to make it right, as much as they could."
"That explains a lot." Abigail said.
"Care to share?" Wynn asked.
"When Elizabeth first came last year." Abigail said. "It seemed like the littlest inconvenience and she was overwhelmed. I tried to help her as much as possible and with time things got better, but she still struggled with things that didn't go exactly how she wanted."
"I am not surprised." Wynn said.
"I can see why she has struggled and questioned things." Frank said.
"Like I said." Wynn said. "She will be fine in time. My wife will talk to her and point out things and help her to see how much better she has it then others and even though she might struggle with things that she can learn and grow. She has always had that effect on her."
"That is good." Abigail said. "I will check on her later. I know what it is like to have a mother-in-law that doesn't like me."
"It isn't that Charlotte doesn't like her." Frank said. "I just think that Charlotte is feeling left out and that Jack is moving on without her. She has never had much money and now Jack has access to more money then the four of us will ever see in our lifetimes. Well maybe not all of us."
"No you were about right with the money." Jacobs said. "I have a trust fund, but I am sure it is just a drop in the bucket compared to the money that Elizabeth comes from. My family might be successful, we are definitely not on the Thatcher level and even if we were, our money is split many more ways."
"There aren't many people who are on the Thatcher's level." Wynn said. "At least here in Canada."
"True." Abigail said. "I am learning that. I just hope that having access to money isn't going to change Elizabeth. I know that she has tried really hard to fit in here and she has been doing so well being accepted by the community. Then again, most don't know much other than she comes from a wealthy family back east. I highly doubt many even know who her father is. They might recognize the shipping company, but probably don't know that it is Elizabeth's father's company."
"Elizabeth has never cared about the money." Wynn said. "She would rather give it away and help other people. The only thing I ever remember her spending money on growing up was more books. She always asked for books and not the latest dress or toy like her sisters."
"Still." Abigail said. "I have seen money do funny things to people. It can make them lose sight of things and focus too much on what they can get, namely more money."
Wynn turned Abigail to face him and put both hands on her shoulders.
"Abigail Stanton." Wynn said. "I am only going to say this once and I want to be clear – Elizabeth has ALWAYS had access to money and she never cared about it. If she cared more about money, do you think that she would have become a teacher and then came out here? She could have easily taken a cushy teaching job back in Hamilton or even one in Toronto arranged by her Aunt Agatha, but that is not what she wanted. She wanted to teach where she knew her presence would make the biggest difference. Someplace that wouldn't have a teacher if she was gone. She didn't opt for the easy road."
"Honestly." Jacobs said. "If all Elizabeth cared about was money and status, she would have accepted one of the numerous proposals she had received after her debutante debut, because there were several."
Wynn turned to look at Jacobs.
"Just because I don't choose to be a part of that life, doesn't mean I don't keep up." Jacobs said. "Elizabeth was the most popular of her debutante class and there were many prominent family names in that class. So Abigail, I agree with Wynn. Elizabeth doesn't care about the money. It is nice to have from time to time but I doubt it is even on the list of the top five things she cares about."
"Deep down." Abigail said. "I know you are right, but experience has shown me otherwise. I am always cautious when it comes to money. Heck, even the money that the widows won at the mining trial was life changing money and sadly I have seen it change a few of the widows. Which is why they have left Hope Valley. Suddenly they have a bit of money and are too good for us. I just don't want to see that happen to Jack and Elizabeth."
"I can pretty much assure you that will not be the case." Frank said. "Jack is determined to have the new house ready before Elizabeth gives birth and she has expressed a desire to raise all her children here and nowhere else."
"Good." Abigail said. "I can't help it if I worry about them."
"We wouldn't expect anything less." Frank said.
Having seemingly come to an agreement, the foursome looked around and saw the schoolhouse was ready, so they quietly left as a group. Frank walked Abigail back to the cafe. While Wynn and Jacobs headed to the office to finish up.
… … … …
As Elizabeth approached the house, she was, yet wasn't surprised to hear Jack and Charlotte having a loud exchange. She quickly gave her aunt and friend a glance and they understood. Elizabeth knew that she had to go in the house, but there was a part of her that didn't want to deal with Charlotte. She loved the woman, but she couldn't figure out why Charlotte needed to make things hard and question what she and Jack were doing.
Aunt Elizabeth patted Elizabeth's arm as she saw the look on her niece's face.
"Don't get upset." Aunt Elizabeth said. "We will deal with her if we have to."
"Yes." Patty said, from the other side.
"I just don't understand why she is like this." Elizabeth said. "She was much more caring and understanding this past fall when I first met her."
"I don't know." Aunt Elizabeth said. "But I have a few ideas that I will keep to myself at the moment."
They walked up the steps and Elizabeth took a deep breath before she walked into the house followed by Aunt Elizabeth and Patty. What they walked in on was Charlotte and Jack toe to toe and Doug trying to calm both of them down. Elizabeth could see that Jack was getting red in the face and his breathing was faster then she would have liked. She immediately looked at Patty who let out a sharp whistle like Charlotte herself would have done. The three in the middle of the living area, all stopped and looked at them.
"Everyone sit and be quiet." Elizabeth said with her scary teacher voice.
She stood there with her hands on her hips daring them to defy her. Jack looked at Elizabeth and stumbled back to a seat with Doug's help. Jack hadn't seen Elizabeth that upset in a long time and the last thing that he wanted to do was to make it worse. He knew that her Irish temper was coming out and the worst thing that could happen was to further poke the bear so to speak.
Charlotte refused to look at Elizabeth, but just continued to glare at Jack where he had taken a seat. She opened her mouth a few times, but each time closed it without saying anything, almost like she was trying to figure out what to say.
After helping Jack to a seat, Doug slowly moved toward Elizabeth with his hands up.
"Elizabeth." Doug said, cautiously. "Please don't get worked up. I know that you are upset, but it is not good for you or the baby to get worked up. I also can see why you are upset, but can we please just sit and talk about things calmly."
Elizabeth turned to look at Doug. She took a deep breath and softened her glare just a bit.
"I am sick of being disrespected in my own home." Elizabeth said. "Anyone and I mean anyone that disrespects me again, will be banned from this house until they apologize and learn some manners. I have held my tongue long enough, but I am also fed up. Whatever is going on, ends now. Jack and I are adults, in a loving marriage and we are allowed to make choices for our life that we feel is right for us, no matter what anyone else thinks."
"I hear you." Doug said. "A woman deserves respect, especially in her own home. I am sorry if we have upset you. I was trying to get them to speak to each other calmly. Charlotte came in and demanded answers from Jack and he immediately got defensive."
"I am not surprised." Elizabeth said. "I can't speak for Jack, but if he is feeling like I suspect he is, I am sure he is fed up with people questioning his decisions as well. We both know what we want for our family and all we want is for people to respect that we are old enough to make those decisions. They don't have to agree with them, but they do need to respect them. People also need to respect the rules that we have set for our family when it comes to how the children will be treated. Am I clear?"
Elizabeth glared at everyone in the room. It wasn't that she was upset with Doug, her aunt or Patty, but she wanted to be very clear.
"I completely agree." Doug said. "You as the mother should have the right to set rules when it comes to your children. I know that Jack agrees with you. So can you please just take a seat?"
Elizabeth looked at Doug and then went over, gave Jack a kiss and then took a seat next to him. Jack immediately put his hand on her midsection and gave her a quick dimpled grin.
"Thank you, Doug." Patty said. "Now can you please tell us what the problem was. Maybe with all of us here, we can talk things out."
"Charlotte came in demanding Jack to reconsider taking the Russell girls." Doug said. "She is claiming that Jack has no idea how hard it is to raise a child, much less a child that has been through what those girls have been through."
"While that might be true." Patty said. "I believe that there is no better person to raise two children who have lost their father than a man who knows that pain, himself."
"I also believe that because of her prior relationship with Andy." Aunt Elizabeth said. "Beth is also the perfect person to raise those girls. I know the senior Andrew Russell and if he didn't think that this was the best solution, he never would have asked. He has always had a high regard for the Mounties and all they sacrifice to protect others. I don't even have to say that he has always loved Beth. He had wanted Andy to marry her and expressed that opinion on more than one occasion. He had even pushed to have Beth named as Little Beth's godmother."
Jack turned and looked at Elizabeth.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "I am one of several for little Beth. I am sorry I didn't say anything. I wouldn't have changed how I viewed things or the decision that I made."
"I agree." Jack said.
"But it does change things." Charlotte insisted.
"No it doesn't." Elizabeth said. "There were a total of eight godparents named for little Beth. They included both friends and family on both sides. I think that Andy's oldest sister was actually named guardian so if her and her father feel that it is best that someone else has that one responsibility, then that is what the family wants. I know that Andy would have done the same for Jack and I had the situation been reversed and we were in need of someone taking our children and raising them as their own."
"You really think that you won't treat those girls differently then your real child?" Charlotte hissed. "I mean you obviously have a deeper connection with the child that you are carrying then those girls."
"Not true." Jack said. "I felt a connection to those girls the moment that I saw them. It broke my heart to hand them over to the Captain's wife when we stopped in Fort Garry. I wanted to stay and reassure them that they were loved, protected and cared for. They have never been far from my thoughts since that day."
Jack turned to Elizabeth, leaned over and gave her a quick kiss.
"Sweetheart." Jack said. "Don't be mad, but I think I love Little Beth and Sarah more than I do this child (Jack patted Elizabeth's midsection). I only say that, because I have physically seen those girls and been able to hold them. Don't get me wrong, I love this child that Elizabeth is carrying, but it is different. I can't hold this child or kiss away their tears. To me even though I know they are real, in my eyes they won't be real to me until I can hold him or her and lay eyes on them."
"No, I know what you mean." Elizabeth said.
"I do as well." Aunt Elizabeth said. "It is different for men. For us women, the child becomes real the moment we feel them move. Wynn was the same way. He loved our child from the moment I told him, but it was different until they were born and he could physically hold them and see them."
"Thank you for understanding." Jack said.
"I get what you are saying as well." Doug said. "However, Charlotte, I don't think that Jack is capable of treating any child less than just because of whatever circumstances and if you really believe that, then you are not the woman that I thought you were. Do you love your nieces and nephews that you helped raise any less than you love Jack or Tom?"
"It is not the same." Charlotte said. "We are related and I was there when a few of them were born."
"And I am related to those girls." Jack said. "Like it or not, they are my cousin's children."
"I also feel a familial connection to those girls based on how close Andy and I were." Elizabeth said.
"They are right." Doug said. "Because of how close that Jack and I are, I already can't wait to be an uncle to that little one. I know that Joe feels the same way. When I was told about the Russell girls and how Jack and Elizabeth are going to adopt them, I was excited to be their Uncle Doug. I can't wait to meet them. I have only ever seen pictures of them and I already love them. They didn't ask for what happened to them and they deserve to be loved and raised in a loving home. I can't imagine a more loving home then with Jack and Elizabeth. They have surrounded themselves with a very loving community."
"You really feel that way?" Charlotte questioned.
"I was an only child." Doug said. "I didn't think I would ever have nieces and nephews. Then I met Jack and Joe. We are brothers in every sense of the word. We all agreed that we would be uncles to the other's children. I am so excited about being an uncle. I have already started to make plans to come back and meet the new little one when Jack sends word."
"That is wonderful." Elizabeth said. "We will hopefully be in the new house by then, so there will be plenty of room."
"Thank you." Doug said. "So, Charlotte, can't you see how much those girls are already loved. It doesn't matter where they came from. They are going to be Jack and Elizabeth's daughters and that is all that matters. I hope that you can see that."
"Let me ask a question?" Patty said.
"Go ahead." Charlotte said. "Not sure I will answer."
"If you didn't know the history of those two little girls." Patty said. "And Jack and Elizabeth adopted them and you only met them for the first time as Jack and Elizabeth's daughters, would you feel any different about them?"
"I don't know." Charlotte said. "I grew up with the belief that blood is blood and that is what counts."
"But they are blood." Jack said, getting frustrated.
"And you are sure about that." Charlotte said.
"Look at the pictures." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I also trust the notes that Andy left behind from his investigation. I have no doubt in my head that they are related. More than one person has said they could be twins."
"He looks more like Jack's brother than Tom does." Doug said.
"How dare you!?" Charlotte said, standing up in anger.
"Sit down!" Patty said.
"He was just making a point." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I have seen Tommy and I happen to agree. Tom favors you more and Jack favors his father. Andy favored his biological family. While Dee may look like me, Sophie is her father's daughter made over. JT is a nice combination of both his parents. Just because someone is siblings, it doesn't mean they look alike. I have met children who are in no way related look alike."
"So have I." Patty said. "It just happens sometimes. I don't think that Doug was implying anything about you or your relationship with your late husband. He was making a point that people can look alike or not."
"Yes." Doug said. "Thank you. I was also trying to make a point that your argument about being blood is not a valid point. Like it or not, you didn't know about Thomas' background as you thought you did. Every family has secrets and they eventually come to light. By chance, Jack learned that his uncle that he never knew had children he didn't know about. It is time to move past the anger about what Thomas and his brother did or didn't do, did or didn't share with others. There are two little girls who will be coming out here to live and they should be the focus."
"I agree." Aunt Elizabeth said. "By all accounts, Jack and Elizabeth love those little girls and the feeling appears to be mutual. Let's try to remember they are innocent."
"Also." Jack said. "I will be able to relate to them about losing their father who was a Mountie. I will be able to tell them about being a Mountie and what it was like for him. Who better to relate to those girls than the people of this town who understand the loss of a parent."
"He has a point." Elizabeth said. "I will also be able to tell them about their father growing up. We will keep the memory of their father alive for them. Just like if something happened to Jack, I would keep his memory alive for our children."
"Nothing is going to happen to me." Jack said. "But I understand what you are saying."
Elizabeth turned to Jack.
"You can't say that nothing will happen to you." Elizabeth said. "Look at what has already happened. I love you and I have learned that I can't think about the fear of what if, but I have to live each day that we have to the fullest. That is why I am done with the fighting and sniping at each other. There will be no more in this house. I can't handle it. This is first and foremost, my home and it will be the way I say."
"Yes, ma'am." Doug said.
"Yes, sweetheart." Jack said, getting up and giving her a kiss.
Charlotte also stood up. Doug and Patty also were on their feet. They didn't want things to end in more shouting. Patty could tell that Elizabeth meant business.