Chapter 197 – Trying to Get Through to Rosemary
After Marcus left with security, Katie went to the kitchen to see if there was anything that they needed help with. She made Rosemary come as well. Katie could tell that the guys needed to talk about something and they didn't need her sitting there causing more trouble. Rosemary huffed, but followed Katie to the kitchen. After washing their hands, Gran handed both of them an apron so that they could help.
While they were waiting, Ryan thought he would give them a quick update on what happened with Gabe.
"I thought you all might want to know what happened with Gabe." Ryan said.
Nathan made a face at the mention of Gabe's name. No one said anything, but they all took notice that Nathan still was upset with Gabe and rightly so after what he did. They did pray that Gabe would humble himself and truly apologize to Nathan, because they didn't want to see Nathan lose a long time friendship.
"Thank you, Ryan." John said. "I am sure you were more than fair with him. If you can tell us, I wouldn't mind hearing what happened."
"No problem." Ryan said. "Gabe is currently serving a two week suspension. After which he will be on desk duty for the foreseeable future. He will also have to redo much of his training. He also forfeits a year of his seniority. That means even on desk duty, he could be forced to move from the New York office."
"Where could he be sent?" Doug asked.
"There are openings in Minneapolis, Seattle, and Omaha just to name a few." Ryan said.
"Wow." Nathan said. "Gabe hadn't only ever lived in New York or Massachusetts." Nathan said.
"Honestly, it will depend on where the person who is coming is from." Ryan said. "Gabe made his bed and now he has to lay in it."
"I agree." John said. "He should be lucky he still has a job."
"John is right." Doug said. "Gabe should be lucky that Jack doesn't drop a lawsuit on his lap. He has more than enough for a good case of slander."
"Thank you for not doing that by the way." Ryan said.
"I agreed not to file as long as he follows the rules." John said. "We have a year to file, so he needs to behave and follow what you tell him."
"True." Ryan said.
Peter's phone chimed.
"Sir." Peter said. "Marcus and them are on their way back. They have William Thatcher with them."
"Doug, will you go get JP and Elizabeth?" John asked.
Doug got up and headed up to the music room to get Jack and Elizabeth. After Doug left, John turned to Peter.
"I want you to record everything." John said. "I don't trust William Thatcher. I don't want him to try and twist anything that is said."
"Yes, Sir." Peter said.
When Doug got to the top of the steps he could see that Jack and Elizabeth were outside.
"Jack." Doug called from the door.
Neither Jack or Elizabeth moved more than to look over at the door.
"Sorry to break this up." Doug said. "But Marcus and them are on their way back with Elizabeth's father."
"We will be down in a moment." Jack said.
"Should we tell him?" Elizabeth said.
"Tell me what?" Doug asked.
"We are getting married." Elizabeth said.
"I know." Doug said. "I was there when Jack asked. I have the video to prove it."
Jack stuck his tongue out at Doug and made a face.
"Smart ass." Jack said. "She means we picked a date."
"Exciting." Doug said. "We can talk about it later. I don't want to accidentally say something I am not supposed to. So keep it to yourself."
"Fine but we will talk later." Jack said.
Doug helped Jack stand and Jack helped Elizabeth up. The trio headed downstairs. Jack wasn't sure what was going to happen, but at least they would be able to move forward. He just hoped that for Elizabeth's sake that her father was willing to listen. When they got downstairs, Jack gave Elizabeth a quick kiss and immediately went to his grandmother.
"Gran." Jack said.
"Father Mark just called." Gran said.
"It is okay." Gran said. "He asked if it was alright and if it wasn't he would have come after supper. I told him that there was plenty of food."
"Thank you." Jack said. "I am not sure who is all staying. I just wanted to make sure that you knew. We called him because Elizabeth and I opened the letter from the Bishop. We needed to talk to him about it and he offered to come out."
"Everything okay?" Gran asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "Just need to work a few things out."
"Okay." Gran said.
Gran watched as Jack had that silly grin on his face and she figured it was good news, but he wasn't ready to share. She knew that her grandson would take care of Elizabeth, but there was still a part of her that wished that they would slow down for a moment. She was sure that they weren't dealing with the emotions and everything from the last couple of weeks. She knew that she would keep an eye on them and if it came to it, she would say something to Father Mark. She also knew that if there was anyone that was going to get Jack to talk it was Father Mark at this point.
Abigail noticed Margaret staring off into space and went over to her.
"He will be okay." Abigail said. "I will have Bill check in on him later this weekend. But whatever was in that letter, I have a feeling that it was good news. Those two are meant for each other. Anyone who can't see that just doesn't want to."
"I know." Gran said. "Thank you for having Bill check on him. I thought the letter was good news as well, I am just worried that neither are dealing with the bigger emotions that have surfaced in the last couple of weeks. I know that they want to be happy, but they still need to deal with other things."
"What are you talking about?" Rosemary asked.
"Jack and Elizabeth." Abigail said. "And how much they are meant to be together."
"I don't see it." Rosemary huffed. "She has never been with another guy and now she is following this one around like a puppy. Something is not right. At least Charlie didn't keep her hostage. He let her have a life and talk to her friends."
Gran let out a harsh breath and then turned to face Rosemary.
"You have no idea what you are talking about." Gran said. "I could see and hear the fear in her when Charlie was even mentioned when she first came up here. It was only as she got to know us that she opened up. She has said it more than once that she has never felt as safe as she does when she is in this house and with JP."
"I heard it also." Abigail said. "More than that. Elizabeth brought back a part of Jack that we thought was gone forever. Not that Jack dated, but he had his heart broken and not in the way that you think. Elizabeth has brought the spark back to Jack that was missing the last few years since his cousin and training partner got gravely injured. There are some of us that thought we had lost the old Jack forever. Seeing him with Elizabeth gives us hope that the sadness that had taken over his life the last few years is fading away. That is due to Elizabeth loving him for who he is and not what he can provide for her. Jack never dated much because he wasn't sure if people liked him or liked the size of his bank account. Either way, from talking to Elizabeth and knowing Jack, I can say that if there were ever two people that were meant for each other it was those two."
"I just got here today." Trish said. "But I have known Jack for five years and I agree. I have never seen him happier and more alive. He looks at Elizabeth like my husband looks at me. She is lucky to have someone that will do anything for her. Besides that, I already told you what I think of Charlie Kensington. He doesn't love Elizabeth. She is a trophy to him for some reason. I honestly think that boy is incapable of actually loving someone other than himself. He is more concerned with what he can get. Don't get me started on his reputation with women. I have a daughter that is nineteen and she has had more than one run in with Charlie over the years. He propositioned her more than once when she was a teenager. It was because of Jack and Doug stepping in that Charlie wasn't able to push things further, even in a public setting."
Rosemary just stood there looking at the three women. She didn't know what to believe. She figured that they would defend JP or Jack or whatever he called himself. She just didn't expect them to all stick to the exact same thing. She wondered if they were telling the truth or had they all created a story and were sticking to it.
"I know Elizabeth." Rosemary countered. "She is not going to be happy giving up her life for some guy. She wants to go to school and teach. What happens if they get married and start having kids?"
"What about it?" Trish said. "I went to school and gave birth to my three oldest while doing it. It can be done. Besides that, Jack would never stop her from going to school or working if that was what Elizabeth wanted to do. It might not look exactly like either of them had planned, especially if they get married, but that doesn't mean that it can't be done. Jack has a place for them to live and is more than capable of taking care of Elizabeth and a family."
"How." Rosemary said. "He is barely eighteen. Elizabeth doesn't have money, so I hope that he isn't expecting to get some trust fund if they get married. All guys say that they will let the girl go to school and work, then when the kids come they demand that they stay home and take care of their little rugrats. I doubt that Jack is any different."
"I am sorry you have such a poor view of men." Trish said. "There are lots of men that don't mind if their wife works. I went to school and worked. I have now chosen to stay home with my girls. We are at a point where we could comfortably do that. However, if I went to my husband tomorrow and told him I wanted to go back to work, he would one hundred percent support me. I know that Jack understands how important it is to Elizabeth that she go to school and work if she wants and I know that he will never ask her not to."
"Even if Elizabeth had money." Abigail said. "Jack would never touch it. He would make sure that it was Elizabeth's and Elizabeth's only. You don't realize who he is do you? His grandfather sitting over there is former State Senator John P Thornton, Sr and Jack is his heir apparent. Jack is also heir to this ranch. Jack was set for life the day he was born. But beyond that, Jack has worked and saved his money since he was fourteen years old. So maybe you should know your facts before you open your mouth."
"How much money could a teenager save?" Rosemary asked. "So his grandfather was a Senator. What does that have to do with anything? It isn't like they make a lot of money."
"You really don't know who he is, do you?" Trish asked.
"No and I don't care." Rosemary said. "I don't follow the gossip pages much."
Gran, Trish and Abigail exchanged a look.
"Maybe you should ask them." Trish said. "All I will say is that if Jack's grandmother, John's wife, was still alive, she would be considered a doyen of any society circle."
"What does that mean?" Rosemary huffed.
"Look it up." Trish said. "Besides, maybe you should put your prejudices away and get to know the young people around that table over there – all of them. From where I stand, you don't seem to know your best friend very well. A true best friend would be happy for their friend that they found love and friendship."
With that Trish turned on her heel and went across the kitchen to get away from Rosemary. Trish needed to calm down. As much as she loved Jack and now Elizabeth, the last thing that she wanted her girls exposed to is narrow minded people like Rosemary.
As Trish walked away, Katie walked over.
"Rosemary." Katie said. "Elizabeth has shown me the text that she sent asking for time to sort things out. From what I understand she also tried to explain what happened a couple of weeks ago in Central Park. By acting this way, you are just making things harder for her. She invited you up here because she was missing her best friend and wanted to share her happiness with you. If you force her to choose, she will choose Jack every time. They have committed their lives to each other and if Jack's mother couldn't break them up, there is no way that you will be able to do that. Her trying to push them apart only drove them closer together.
So here is my advice to you. Sit down. Shut your mouth and open your ears. Listen and I mean really listen to them. Watch them and you will see what the rest of us see, a perfect match. If you can't be supportive, you won't have a place in Elizabeth's life. They have already made it clear that they are not going to put up with people who don't support them."
"Elizabeth won't do that." Rosemary countered. "We have been best friends since we were very little. She needs me. Besides, she doesn't have many friends. Why would she shut out the one person that had always been there?"
"Because." Gran said. "You are not the most important person in Elizabeth's life anymore. A true best friend would be happy that their friend found their soulmate. You are acting jealous and petty. That won't get you far around here. As close as JP, Doug and Lee have been for years, he has made it clear that they are second to Elizabeth at this point and they are okay with it because they see how happy he is. They accepted JP's choice and welcomed her into the group. Those three boys, plus Nathan and now Elizabeth will go far. They have made it clear that they will stand with each other no matter what.
The other thing is that Elizabeth understands that JP's relationships with the other guys is just as important as his relationship with her. They are equally important, but still different. It has been JP and the other boys that have encouraged Elizabeth to reach out to you and include you in the group. Not that they feel that they need other people, but that they understand that just as they need their guy friendship, Elizabeth needs a friendship with another girl. So you can either be that or they will find someone else to include in the group."
"Margaret is right." Abigail said. "Trying to get between Jack and Elizabeth is only going to drive them closer and make the others in their group more protective of them. If you are not careful, you are going to find yourself on the outside with nothing. Now if you can be supportive, go have a seat at the table, but if you are going to be combative, you can stay here in the kitchen or go downstairs."
Rosemary huffed twice, but finally went and sat down at the table. She didn't sit next to Elizabeth but across from her so she could watch.