Chapter 196 – Marcus and Ryan Return
Rosemary had sat there slack-jawed at the display. She had never seen Elizabeth kiss anyone, even a peck on the check to her father included. So to see her initiate a kiss and let it get that intense was shocking. From everyone else's reaction, Rosemary surmised that it wasn't the first time that it happened.
Abigail took the break to speak for a moment.
"John, Jack." Abigail said. "I just want to let you know that Bill is going to drop Peter off at the arena and have him come up here from there. Then Bill is going to go talk to some friends and see if he can find out some information about things from the outside."
"Thank you." John said. "Does anyone know that Peter is coming?"
"I told Bill to call James." Abigail said.
"Good." John said.
Suddenly they heard another helicopter over the house. Andrew immediately jumped up and went to see who it was.
"Who is it?" John asked.
"It is Marcus and Ryan, Sir." Andrew said.
"Please go meet them and invite them in." John said.
Andrew went out the front door and started down the steps. He saw Marcus and Ryan step out after the helicopter had shut down. Andrew waved to them and they waved back.
"Pilot staying?" Andrew asked as Marcus came up the steps.
Marcus nodded.
"Please let him know that he is more than welcome to come in." Andrew said. "No sense in him sitting in the helicopter."
Ryan turned around and waved to the pilot who waved back that he understood.
"He will come in after he finishes his checklist." Ryan said.
"Good." Andrew said. "Let him know that he can just come in, he doesn't need to knock."
Ryan pulled out a phone and sent a message to the pilot.
"He knows." Ryan said.
When the group got into the house, Jack stood and greeted them.
"Welcome back Major and Director Quinlan." Jack said.
"Thank you, Jack." Marcus said. "Sorry that it is under these trying circumstances."
"It is what it is." Jack said. "I am just glad that you are here. We were just sitting down to figure things out. It sounds like Grandpa John and I are going to do a press conference in the morning down at the arena, but the more pressing issues are the large number of press outside the gate as well as William Thatcher."
Marcus looked around and saw a few people he didn't know and also noticed that Elizabeth was missing. As if sensing what he was looking for, Jack made the introductions.
"Also." Jack said. "Elizabeth was upset so she went up to the music room to get some air."
Marcus nodded. At least she was safe so he wasn't going to worry at the moment. As the guys were taking a seat again, there was a knock and then a person came in. Ryan motioned that it was okay.
"This is our pilot, Corey." Ryan said. "Andrew said to invite him in."
"It is fine." John said. "He is free to sit in the front room or the library if he wants."
"Actually." Corey said. "I wouldn't mind some black coffee and then the library is fine. I need to call my wife."
"Here is a travel mug of coffee." Gran said. "I can show you to the library."
"Thank you ma'am." Corey said.
Corey followed Gran to the library. The group around the table turned back to the matters at hand.
"I can go down to the gates with your security." Marcus said. "We can announce that you are going to make a statement to the press tomorrow morning."
Peter passed Marcus a piece of paper.
"This is just something I quickly wrote." Peter said.
"Mr John Thornton, Sr will be making a statement to the press tomorrow morning." Marcus read. "You will be allowed to enter through the arena/thoroughbred gate starting at 8:30 am. You will need to show a current state or federal id as well as current press credentials. You will be restricted to the arena area, anyone who violates this will be immediately removed and blacklisted by Thornton, Inc. Also anyone remaining here outside the gate after five o'clock will not be allowed on the property in the morning and are subject to being blacklisted by Thornton, Inc."
"That sounds good." Chris said.
"I agree." Devin said. "It is clear and decisive."
"John?" Marcus said.
"I say we go with it." John said. "Having that gate blocked is a problem. Abigail needs to be able to go home at some point. Also if there were an emergency."
"I agree." Marcus said.
"Marcus." John said. "I think you should go down there and take Rob, Chris and Devin with you. You can bring Mr Thatcher back with you."
"We can do that." Marcus said. "What if he doesn't want to come?"
"Then tell him that this will be his only chance to talk to us." John said. "Remind him if he doesn't want to take this opportunity, then he won't get another as I will be getting a restraining order against him for harassment. His actions have continued to put my family, specifically my grandson and his friends in danger. I will not allow it to continue. I am giving him an opportunity to talk to us and explain his side of things."
"I will let him know." Devin said. "I don't know if this is a good idea, but you are the boss."
John nodded. He had his own doubts, but he knew that if he didn't it would be harder on Elizabeth in the long run. John was glad that at least it was a controlled situation and there were more people that supported Elizabeth then that wanted to hurt her.
While Devin, Rob, Chris and Marcus went down to deal with things at the gate, Jack went upstairs to talk to Elizabeth and let her know what was going on. He also wanted to check and see how she was doing. He was also hoping to open the letter from the Bishop.
"Elizabeth." Jack called as he came up the steps.
There was no answer. Jack looked around the small room and didn't see Elizabeth, so he went to the door and he saw her sitting on one of the lounge chairs with her knees drawn up and her head down. It broke Jack's heart to see Elizabeth so upset. Jack took a deep breath and then went out to check on Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth." Jack said softly.
Elizabeth barely raised her head to look at Jack and he could see that she had been crying. He immediately was at her side.
"Please don't cry." Jack said.
"I can't help it." Elizabeth said.
"Please talk to me." Jack said.
"I am scared." Elizabeth said. "You don't know my father. He is not used to people not listening to what he wants. Then there is Rosie. I thought she would be happy for me and we would be like we were. I miss my best friend."
Jack pulled Elizabeth into a hug. He wasn't sure what he was going to say.
"I am sorry." Jack said. "I don't know what we can do about Rosemary other than try and show her that we really do love each other. As far as your father is concerned, I have no doubt that Grandpa will put him in his place. Grandpa John is not afraid of him and there is nothing that your father can do to Grandpa John. So please try to relax."
"I will try." Elizabeth said.
"I came up here to check on you." Jack said. "But I also thought we could open the letter from the Bishop."
"Okay." Elizabeth said.
Jack pulled the letter from his back pocket and opened it up. He carefully read through it and then handed it to Elizabeth to read. Elizabeth turned and looked at Jack once she had read through it.
"Does this mean what I think it means?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "We can get married anytime after we meet Father Mark's conditions."
"Do you think that we can get everything done by August?" Elizabeth asked.
"If that is what you want." Jack said. "Then we will get it done. We have the books. All we need to do is talk to Father Mark and have him set up the meeting with the counselors and then we can meet with him."
"Can you call him?" Elizabeth asked.
Jack nodded and pulled out his phone.
"Hello." Jack said when it picked up.
("Hello." Father Mark said. "I was hoping that you would call me. I got a copy of the letter today.")
"I am sitting here with Elizabeth." Jack said. "We want to get married in August."
("Let me look at the calendar." Father Mark said.)
Elizabeth pulled out her phone and opened the calendar app.
("What were you thinking?" Father Mark asked.)
"Well." Jack said. "We need to be back in the city so we can be at orientation on the twenty-seventh. Well technically, it doesn't start until the twenty-eighth, but I want to be at the apartment the night before. I also want to be able to take Elizabeth on at least a short honeymoon."
("What about the seventeenth?" Father Mark said. "We can do either an afternoon or early evening ceremony. I am not sure how big you want it. Then you can have the reception and take a honeymoon starting that Saturday if you want.")
Jack looked at Elizabeth. She smiled and nodded.
"I think that seventeenth is perfect." Jack said. "Not sure about the time yet. We need to talk to everyone, but I am thinking of a late afternoon or early evening. It is not going to be a huge wedding. I think Elizabeth and I agree that a small private ceremony with just those that are important to us is what we want. We will have to figure out something for the reception."
("Well." Father Mark said. "Depending on how many people you are thinking about inviting. I am sure that our grandparents can figure something out. You have both arenas and it is August, so you could rent a couple tents and have them set up in the backyard. It wouldn't be hard to have it up at the main compound if most people are close friends and family. It would just be figuring out where you two are spending your first night, I doubt that you want to spend it in the house with everyone there. There are other options and there is time.")
"You're right." Jack said. "We will work on the details this weekend. Please don't say anything. We will tell Gran and them, but there is stuff going on here and I don't want to just announce it."
("I am free this evening." Father Mark said. "Do you want me to come out there?)
Jack looked at Elizabeth, who nodded.
"If you are free." Jack said. "You are more than welcome. Bring an overnight bag. We have a houseful, but just in case it gets late. There is still one open bed in my room. My friend Frank is here. I told you about him."
("Yes you did." Father Mark said. "I would like to meet him. Do you think it would be okay to come for supper?")
"Yes." Jack said. "Gran, Trish and Abigail are making a ton of food. You might just want to call and give Gran a heads up."
("I will do that." Father Mark said. "Care to share what is going on?")
"Lots." Jack said. "Elizabeth's best friend came today with Doug's mother and sisters. She is not being supportive. Elizabeth is upset. Then Elizabeth's father showed up. Dozens of press outside the gate, including television cameras. The Sheriff and State Police had to clear the air space over the farm as there were news helicopters. Grandpa John came. Marcus Thompson of the State Police is here. As well as Ryan Quinlan, Director of the NY FBI office.
To top it off, Devin showed up with information for us. He also had paperwork for me. I was going to talk to you later this weekend or next week about things. I haven't talked to anyone yet as we got interrupted by Elizabeth's father showing up."
("We will talk then." Father Mark said. "I don't have to be back here until four tomorrow afternoon and then once I get through Sunday Mass, I am free until the end of July. I will officially be on leave, there will be another priest staying here to cover my weekend Masses as well as any emergencies that come up. I might spend some time out at the ranch if that is okay.")
"See you in a little while." Jack said. "I told you, you will always be welcome here. We already talked about you staying the weekend of the show. It sounds like Frank will be back that weekend as well, so it will all be fine."
("See you." Father Mark said.)
Jack hung up the phone. Elizabeth looked at Jack.
"What did Devin tell you?" Elizabeth asked.
"Remember when I was upset that my parents were hiding something from me." Jack said. "I had learned that there were sealed records and documents surrounding my birth."
"Sort of." Elizabeth said. "I know you said something, but you didn't talk to me directly about them."
"Well." Jack said. "Devin was able to get access to some of the documents and that is why he came up here. He wanted to be able to explain things to me in person, even if he didn't have all the answers."
"So what did he say?" Elizabeth asked.
"Apparently, I am a twin." Jack said.
"What do you mean?" Elizabeth asked.
"I have or had a twin sister." Jack said. "She was underweight when she was born. There were also other complications. She had some birth defects including Down Syndrome. She was transferred to a different hospital right after we were born. As far as Devin can tell, my parents abandoned her."
"What happened to her?" Elizabeth asked.
"We don't know." Jack said. "Devin's guys are still looking and trying to get access to the records."
"That is awful." Elizabeth said.
Jack just nodded. Elizabeth wrapped Jack in a hug. They ended up sitting next to each other with their arms wrapped around the other. Neither was talking, but just taking comfort in being held by the one that they loved. That is how Doug found them.