Chapter 246 – Supper with Everyone
By the time that the other guys were done Joe and Doug were coming back. Doug came over and sat next to Jack at the table.
"Man were you right about Abigail's." Doug said, smiling.
"So who is this new mine superintendent?" Jack asked.
Doug looked at Joe.
"John David Walker." Joe said. "He said his wife and children would be joining him once school is out."
Patty whipped around and looked at Joe when he had said the name.
"What does this John David look like?" Patty asked.
"About my height." Joe said. "Sandy blonde hair. Slim, but built. He was also sporting a full mustache."
Patty let out a harsh breath and everyone looked at her.
"Are you okay?" Elizabeth Rose said.
"I don't know." Patty said. "My brother-in-law is named John David Walker and the description is pretty much the same."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Jack asked.
"Erin deserved better." Patty said.
"Patricia." Wynn said. "They were adults when they got married. Just because you thought she deserved better, doesn't mean you get a say. She said she was in love."
"She was barely eighteen." Patty said. "And he was seven years older. He took advantage of her and got her pregnant."
"So is this an older or younger sister?" Elizabeth asked.
"Older." Patty said. "Erin is just over three years older than me."
"How many children do they have?" Elizabeth asked.
"Three." Patty said. "Or at least the last time I talked to Erin. They would be about ten, the middle about seven and the youngest four/five."
"So all school age then." Elizabeth said.
"Yes." Patty said. "You will probably get the youngest two for sure. They might send the oldest to boarding school. I know my father offered that to all of my siblings for their kids once the children had turned ten and finished the year they were on."
"Well." Elizabeth said. "I look forward to meeting them."
"Patty." Wynn said. "Try to keep an open mind. If he was just named Superintendent of Mining, he must be doing pretty good for himself. Andy Yeager seems like a decent guy and from what we have learned pays his people well. At least if they are here, you will know they are in a good town and that they are taken care of."
"I guess." Patty said. "Still doesn't mean I have to like my brother-in-law, but it might be nice to see my sister more. I hated that she was in such a remote place before, but maybe they are doing better now."
"Where was she the last time you spoke to her?" Jacobs asked.
"A little coal mining town in British Columbia." Patty said. "I heard she had come back to Alberta but had no idea where she was."
"Maybe this is an opportunity for you and your sister to reconnect." Elizabeth Rose said, coming and putting her arm around her friend. "Especially if things work out like I suggested. It can't hurt to ask. I know there is time to make decisions."
"What are you talking about?" Jack said.
"I was going to suggest that you get a long term contract with the National Protection agency." Aunt Elizabeth said. "Then I was telling Patty she should request it because she has been here and met you."
"I was thinking the same thing." Elizabeth said. "I was going to request it if she wanted it."
"I think it is a sign." Doug said.
"I agree." Wynn said.
"I like the idea of going through the National Protection agency." Jack said. "Then we know they are vetted and professional."
"I would also be able to recommend others as needed." Patty said.
"So." Jack said. "How do we do this?"
"I can draw up the paperwork." Andrew said. "Then when I get back, I can talk to someone at the agency and let them know that you want to start with security in say September and if that changes you will let them know. I will also let them know that you want Patty and a person of her choice to start."
"Patty?" Jack said.
"I think that is perfect." Patty said.
"Then as soon as we have the baby." Elizabeth said. "We will have a better idea of when you are all coming. Aunt Elizabeth and I talked about security and the nanny coming out with the girls when her and Uncle Wynn bring them after the baby comes."
"That sounds like a good plan." Wynn said. "When we get back, we will get together with the Russells and start looking for a nanny to start this fall."
"Jack." Elizabeth said. "I know we talked about having the final say. But would you be okay with Wynn and Aunt Elizabeth choosing and then letting us know. It might be easier and they know the conditions well enough to prepare them."
"I would be okay with that." Jack said. "Wynn, Elizabeth?"
"I would be more than willing to do that." Aunt Elizabeth said.
"Me too." Wynn said.
"And I will choose my top three candidates." Patty said. "I will rank them, write a description of them and why I chose them and then let you choose."
"I can do that." Jack said. "Maybe include a photo as well, if possible."
"I can do that." Patty said.
"Well that was easier than I thought." Jack said. "So did I just hire my first household staff?"
"Yes." Jacobs said. "But it won't always be easy. I never officially hired household staff, but I dealt with plenty of them over the years. You need to have a clear idea of what you want and don't want."
"Yes, I agree and it won't always be this easy." Andrew said. "But it helps that Dad and Mom have been through this and can guide you."
"It also helps that I know what I don't want." Elizabeth said. "Especially having grown up with a revolving door of people with my sisters and I."
"Yes." Aunt Elizabeth said. "Just get me that list and I will do my best."
"I will do that." Elizabeth said.
"We can talk more about this later." Wynn said. "It looks like the ladies have supper almost ready."
Doug jumped up to set the table and Andrew and Joe joined him. It didn't take long and they were sitting down to a wonderful meal of roasted chicken, potatoes and steamed green beans with biscuits as well.
"Wynn, can you lead us in prayer?" Jack asked.
It was only when they were seated did Jack and Elizabeth notice that Dee wasn't there. They exchanged a look before bowing their heads to pray.
"Heavenly Father." Wynn prayed. "We come to You tonight and offer our thanks for all You have done for us. We thank you for keeping us all safe in this uncertain time. We thank you for the healing hand that You touched Jack with. We also pray that he continues to get well and back to work as he and Beth have so much to look forward to. We pray for those that are still struggling with everything that has happened. Finally, we ask for You to bless this food and the hands that prepared it. Amen."
"Amen." The others echoed.
As soon as they were done praying, they started passing the food around.
"There is plenty." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I have more chicken and potatoes in the oven."
"Wynn." Jack said. "Where is Dee?"
"He needed some time alone." Wynn said, flatly.
"He asked if he could go for a ride this afternoon after he had spoken to Pastor Frank." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I know that he is struggling with something and it sounds like he talked to Frank and Frank gave him some things to think about. He wanted to go somewhere where he could be alone and not interrupted. Despite my husband thinking that his son should speak to him about everything, Dee deserves to be able to work through things how he feels best."
"I agree." Jacobs said.
"Does this have anything to do with what happened last night outside?" Jack asked. "He talked to Doug and I a little last night."
"Yes." Aunt Elizabeth said. "I don't know exactly how or what exactly happened last night outside here, but I am sure that it is all connected. I am just glad that he felt comfortable talking to someone about it. Whatever Frank said to him, it made a difference if he wants to go try and work through whatever."
"I agree." Doug said. "Based on what he said last night and everything else I know. I am not surprised something like this didn't happen before. He is so stressed and worried about disappointing everyone and especially you Sir. He told us that he feels pressure to fix this mess because maybe if he had been better at his job then none of this mess would have happened."
Jacobs gave Wynn a pointed look.
"I agree that he deserves time." Jacobs said. "He has put in more work than any of us around this table. Not only has he worked alongside Wynn and I every day, but he was running back and forth sending and receiving messages. He started before us and continued to work long after we had stopped. He has gone over every piece of paperwork that we have and still done twice as much to solve things. So whatever is going on, he should be allowed to work it out. I am sure that there are memories of what happened last year that are coming to the surface with everything that we have talked about and seen."
"I agree." Joe said. "I don't know what happened, but he has been working harder than most everyone in Hope Valley. I would honestly say the only person that has worked harder might be Abigail. So I will do everything I can to help Dee, but I have a feeling that whatever happened last night and today is something that he has to work through himself. It is Saturday night, we all deserve some time to relax. So can we talk about something else."
"I agree." Elizabeth said. "We all know that it has been a busy few weeks, so let's all try and put work aside for the evening and enjoy some time together. Jeremiah, can you please tell us something that we don't know about you. Then we are going to go around the table and share something good that the others might not know about you."
"I think that is a wonderful idea." Jacobs said. "Something that people might not know about me is that I am the oldest of fifteen children and I have three sets of twin siblings."
"Three sets of twins." David gasped. "I don't think I even know one set."
"Even more interesting." Jacobs said. "Both of my parents are twins. My mother and her brother Jonathan are twins and my father had a twin brother."
"I didn't know that." Wynn said.
"Jack is convinced that we will have a set of twins." Elizabeth said.
"Yes, I am." Jack said, smiling. "I have had dreams of holding two little bundles at once. I don't know when, but I know it will happen."
"It could happen." Aunt Elizabeth said. "There were several sets of twins born in both of your grandparents' families. Sadly, none of them survived. I don't think it was as common for twins to survive. Especially back in your grandparents' day."
"I would agree." Jacobs said. "Most twins come early and because they are smaller, they struggle and sadly many of them die within a year. I know that my parents struggled with having twins and my father was a doctor and had access to a modern hospital each time."
"The more reason to have a doctor out here." Elizabeth said. "But I am confident that it will happen when we need it most."
Jack took Elizabeth's hand and squeezed it.
"So who is next." Jacobs said.
They went around the table and shared things about themselves. Some things lead to more conversation like Jacobs had, but mostly it was just nice to learn more about those that were all considered family.
As they were talking and sharing about themselves, Dee came in the back door. As he stepped into the house, everyone turned and looked at him. Doug, Jacobs and Jack were the first to pick up on that something was wrong. Dee ducked his head.
"Sorry." Dee said. "I lost track of time."
"It is okay." Elizabeth Rose said. "Go wash your hands and I will get you a plate."
Dee went to put his messenger bag in his room. He took a moment and splashed some water on his face and washed his hands. He then took a deep breath and went out to face everyone. He took a seat next to Doug and his mother set a warm plate in front of him.
"So what were you all talking about?" Dee asked.
"We had been going around and sharing something about ourselves." Andrew said. "It has led to some interesting conversations, but we are trying to avoid talking about work."
"Sounds fun." Dee said.
"So I think it is my turn." Doug said. "Something interesting about me is that I have lived in nineteen different places including a year in London."
"Wow." Andrew said. "I have always wanted to go overseas, but never have gotten the chance."
"It is overrated." Jacobs said. "Then again, I don't like traveling on a boat. Trains and even cars, I don't mind, but give me a horse and/or a wagon any day."
"I agree about the horse." Jack said. "I don't mind being in a car and I know that they are the way of the future, but there is nothing like being out in the open on the back of a horse, feeling the wind on your face."
"I have to agree." David said. "I would rather be on a horse than in a boat."
"Patty?" Wynn said. "You have spent time overseas, what do you think?"
"I agree that overseas is overrated." Patty said. "Are there some beautiful things to see? Yes, but most people don't even see the beautiful things in our own big country. I have been to England, Ireland, and most of Europe. I have been down to South America and most places in between. Maybe because traveling was mostly always work for me, that I didn't enjoy it. I have decided that staying in one place and actually getting to know people sounds like a much better thing. Don't get me wrong, there are still places I would like to see both in this country and the States, but that can be done by train and/or car."
