Chapter 198 – Talking with William Thatcher
After speaking with his grandmother, Jack went and sat at the table next to Elizabeth. He put his arm around her shoulders to let her know that he was supporting her. It had been decided that Doug, Lee, and Frank would go sit in the front room and not be at the table. Chris and Rob would join as long as John didn't feel that they were needed at the table. He wanted a show of support, but he also didn't want it to be too overwhelming. As much as he was trying to intimate William Thatcher, he also wanted things to work out for Elizabeth's sake.
So at the table would be Jack, Elizabeth, John, Peter and Andrew. Devin, Nathan, Marcus, and Ryan would also be joining the group. If Rosemary came and sat that was fine. The other ladies, including Katie, were going to be staying in the kitchen where they could see and hear, but were not at the table. Just as they were getting situated, Marcus and security returned with an unhappy William Thatcher. Devin looked around and saw John nod for him to sit down. Rob and Chris followed suit.
"Please have a seat." John said., motioning to the chair at the end of the table.
"No." William huffed. "I am here to get Elizabeth and leave. Enough of this nonsense. Your stupid actions have cost me business. This ends now. You tell them that it wasn't Charlie and drop the charges. I am ordering you to come home."
Devin and Nathan both saw the anger flash across Jack's face. Nathan put his hand on Jack's leg and squeezed it. Jack turned and looked at Nathan who shook his head. Jack let out a harsh breath and nodded he understood.
"Sir." John said. "You will not speak to us that way. We are all guests in this house."
"Mr Thatcher." Ryan said. "My name is Ryan Quinlan and I am the Director of the New York office of the FBI. Jack and Elizabeth are adults and they can choose to do what they want. I can honestly say that it has been your actions that have caused you to lose business. You have decided to smear a Thornton, which happens to be one of the most respected names in this state. You brought this on yourself by lying. You decided to align yourself with a less than reputable family and go against Mr Thornton here."
"Elizabeth signed a contract to marry Charlie Kensington years ago." William said. "So this is a moot point. You can say what you want, but it is a legally binding contract."
Ryan turned to Elizabeth.
"Is this true?" Ryan asked.
"No, Sir." Elizabeth said. "If there is a signed contract I wasn't informed of it. Also isn't it illegal for minors to enter into a contract?"
"Thank you." Ryan said. "You are correct. Both of your parents would have had to sign it, but you would still have needed to give you consent. Did that happen?"
"No." Elizabeth said. "I have never been interested in Charlie. It has been my father pushing him on me. I had repeatedly told Charlie to leave me alone. I don't love him. Hell, I don't even like him. I don't want him anywhere near me, EVER! He has more than once tried to get me to go back to his frat house to quote 'spend the night'. I knew what he meant and I told him I didn't do that. I especially wouldn't have done it with some that I didn't love."
"Thank you, Elizabeth." Ryan said.
Jack squeezed Elizabeth's shoulders and she put her hand on his leg and gave it a pat.
"There you have it." Ryan said. "Elizabeth doesn't consent so your contract is null and void. I don't want to hear about it again."
"That brat (pointing at Jack)." William said. "I want him arrested. He took my daughter against her will and has kept her from all of her family and friends. He won't let us talk to her or see her."
"Elizabeth." Ryan said. "Do you want to be here? Are you free to leave any time that you want? Are you free to have and use your phone anytime that you want?"
"Yes, Sir." Elizabeth said. "I want to be here. I love Jack. I can leave anytime I want, but I don't want to. Jack and his family here have kept me safe from Charlie. I have always had my phone. Jack even got me a new one so that Charlie can't track me anymore."
To prove her point, Elizabeth leaned over and gave Jack a quick kiss. William grunted.
"You are not going to be with him." William huffed. "He can't provide for you like Charlie can."
"Mr Thatcher." John said, rising to his feet. "Look around, this is all my grandson's. JP is more than capable of taking care of Elizabeth. Don't get any ideas. I have already drawn up papers that will never allow you to touch any of the Thornton assets. JP is heir to my estate as well as the estate of his maternal grandparents. This is their place and one day it will all be JP's."
"You are lying." William huffed.
"I can assure you that John is not lying." Marcus said. "I have seen the contract that was drawn up. I have also seen the wills of all of Jack's grandparents. He will inherit both companies and all that they entail."
"You are all going to regret this." William sneered. "I am going to sue you all for the business losses that I have incurred because of your media attacks."
"You can try." John said. "But you will lose. The only things that we have put out in the media can be backed up with facts. Other than my statement last weekend, we haven't spoken to the press nor have we posted on social media. It has been you, the Kensingtons and the Pennybakers that have been dragging everyone down into the mud. This is a situation of your own making."
"If you insist on taking John to court." Ryan said. "I will stand with him and that will mean a lot. I believe John and I know that he wouldn't say anything that he can't back up."
"I will stand with him as well." Marcus said. "You really want to take on the State Police and FBI. As we said, Elizabeth is an adult and she is free to do what she wants. She has chosen to be here with Jack. There is nothing that you can do about that."
"Elizabeth." William said. "If you don't come with me right now, I will cut you off. You will no longer be my daughter. You will be cut off."
Jack nodded to Peter.
"If that is the case." Peter said. "We are demanding in the presence of law enforcement that you turn over everything on this list."
Peter pulled out a few sheets of paper. He pulled the clip off and handed one to William, one to Marcus and one to Ryan. It had things on it like Elizabeth's camera, dance albums, clothes and all official documents such as social security card and birth certificate.
"You have ten days to turn these things into One Police Plaza in the city." Peter said. "You can mark the boxes in care of Chief James Burke. He will make sure that they get to Elizabeth. You will also need to sign this document in front of us."
Peter pulled out another set of papers.
"What are those?" Elizabeth asked.
"He said he would cut you off if you stayed." Peter said. "This just puts it into writing. It states that he can't come back later and try to claim he is next of kin in an emergency. It also prevents him from trying to get money from you."
Elizabeth looked at Jack.
"Sir." Jack said. "You are going to be the one that loses if you want to cut Elizabeth off. If you cut her off, I will hold to that and you will not be at our wedding. You will never be allowed to come near our children, your grandchildren. I suggest that you think real hard about threatening to cut her off. Because if you do, you are going to be the one that loses. I will not tolerate you to continue to bully my fiancee."
"Fiancee?!" William bellowed.
"Yes, Sir." Jack said, standing up and walking over to stand next to his grandfather.
Doug and Nathan were on their feet as well. Devin quickly followed suit and they all came and stood by Jack and John. None of them wanted Jack to attack William, not that he would but they all knew that Jack was getting to the end of his rope.
"I asked Elizabeth to marry me last weekend." Jack said. "We are going to be married sooner rather than later and there is nothing that you can do to stop it. If you want to cut Elizabeth off, I will make sure that you are never allowed near her or our future children. I will also make it known that you were the one that chose to cut us off. I will publicly declare it and if I have to, I will release these papers and more. You are not going to bully my future wife. From what I have been able to gather speaking to Elizabeth this is your usual routine. Threatening to cut her off to get her to do what you want. Well, it won't work this time.
I am calling you bluff. That is why I talked to Peter and had the papers drawn up. I have had enough of you and others bullying me. I will also not allow further media smears to go unpunished. This is the last straw. I swear on all that is Holy, you will regret coming after me."
"JP." John hissed.
"No, Sir." Jack said. "I am done. I am not going to allow others to push me around and bully me. I told you I am done. I am going to stand up for myself and my family. I love Elizabeth Grace Marie Thatcher, soon to be Thornton and I am not going to allow others to bully her either."
Jack may have been speaking to his grandfather, but he never flinched or removed his icy stare from William Thatcher. Devin could see Jack's face and he had never seen him like this, even when dealing with his mother.
"He is right, Sir." Nathan said. "We, Doug, Frank and I have been talking. Lee has been brought up to date as well. We have all agreed that unsupportive people, no matter who they are, have no place in our lives. It has been a long time coming. We agree with Jack. He has a right to do what he feels is needed to protect his future family. If that means taking legal steps to make sure that they are safe from mental and emotional manipulation then he is well within his rights."
While they were in a standoff, there was a knock at the door.
"I got it." Lee said.
Lee jumped up and went to the door and came back with both Father Mark and Bill.
"Where is Peter?" Nathan asked.
"He is down at the arena with James." Bill said. "They will be headed this way soon. I just talked to them. He told me to come up to the house since this is where everyone was."
Jack stepped off to the side, continuing to glare at William the entire time. After a moment, Jack greeted both his godfather and cousin with hugs.
"Please have a seat." Jack said. "We were just finishing up. Either William Thatcher is going to realize he was wrong and apologize or he is going to sign the papers admitting defeat. Depending on what he choses will determine what happens."
"I am not going to apologize to a nobody like you." William said. "You put on a good show, but from what Rosemary tells me, you are eighteen. There is no way that you are capable of anything. Much less providing for my daughter."
Jack turned to Devin and Chris who had come over as well.
"See that he signs those papers and then I want him off my property." Jack said. "Once he leaves, I want him listed as permanently banned from any Coal Creek property."
With that, Jack turned on his heel. He went over to Elizabeth, pulled her up and kissed her – passionately.
"You don't need to stay up here and listen to this." Jack said. "I am going downstairs."
"I am going with you." Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth turned to her father.
"If you can't accept my choices." Elizabeth said. "You have no place in my life. Leave my things with Chief Burke and I never want to see you again."
Jack and Elizabeth turned hand in hand and went downstairs. Lee followed them. Once they were on the stairs, Rob went over and planted himself in the doorway in case William tried to go after them.
"John." Father Mark said. "I am going to go make sure that they are okay."
"Thank you." John said. "We will call you all up when we are done here."
"Understood." Father Mark said.
"Doug, Nathan." John said. "Please go with him. Make sure the other kids are okay as well."
"Yes, Sir." Doug said.
Doug and Nathan turned and headed downstairs. Frank went as well. Once they and Father Mark were headed down, Rob once again planted himself in the doorway.
"You are going to allow him to speak to me that way." William demanded.
"Yes." Bill said, coming to stand next to John. "My godson doesn't get angry easily. So if you upset him to the point that I just saw him, you have it coming. I have known Jack his entire life. I might have just met Elizabeth last week, but they are good together. I can tell you without a single doubt that they were born to be together. They have found a very rare love and it is something special."
"What is your decision?" John said. "As you can see there are plenty of people here that support JP and Elizabeth."
They barely got to the bottom of the steps when Elizabeth started crying and shaking. Jack scooped her up and took her to the far end of the room away from the others. Lee went to assure the kids that everything was okay, and Elizabeth was just upset. When Doug, Nathan, Frank and Father Mark got down there, Lee pointed to the corner. They all went over there to surround Jack and Elizabeth.
"Elizabeth." Father Mark said. "You have every right to be upset and I am not going to tell you otherwise. Parents are supposed to love and support their children. I don't know what happened with your father or Jack's parents to make them so selfish. I just want you to know that there are plenty of other people that support you."
"Thank you." Elizabeth sniffed. "I should have known that he wouldn't be supportive. It has always been his way or no way. Why didn't I think that it would be different? I am just sorry that your family and Jack's family got caught up in his demands."
"Don't worry about it." Father Mark said. "John has big shoulders and the rest of us can handle it after dealing with my Aunt Charlotte for years."
Jack let out a small chuckle.
"Elizabeth, sweetheart." Jack said. "Father Mark is right. Grandpa John has big shoulders so don't worry about it. Not many people cross my grandfather and come out the other side. Besides, we have facts and the law on our side. There is nothing legally that your father can do. All he can do is try to stir things up in the media, but that will quickly backfire on him. Grandpa and I are going to speak to the media in the morning.
I am not sure what I am going to say, but we will set the record straight. We will also reiterate the desire for privacy and the consequences of violating that. I am sure that Grandpa already had Peter and Andrew working on those that have pushed the boundaries. I told you that I would keep you safe and I mean that. Nothing is going to happen to you."
"Jack is right." Doug said. "We will protect you for no other reason that you are important to Jack. But you should know that we love you as well."
"You are like another sister." Nathan said. "Just as I would protect my sister and niece I will protect you the same."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I have never had brothers."
"Well." Doug said. "You now have a bunch."
"Don't let Mr Thatcher ruin your happiness." Nathan said. "I know that it is hard right now, but you have so much to look forward to. I understand fathers who are a disappointment. Mine might be a completely different situation, but the disappointment was the same."
"He is right." Frank said. "I don't know Nathan's background, but it really hurts when we realize that our parents are not the people that we thought they were. No matter what age that happens. My grandmother used to tell me that just because you are born into one family doesn't mean you have to stay there. What she meant was that family is what you make it. From what I can see you all consider each other family even though you are not related. You have included people who are important to you in that family. Use that family now. Let them lift you up and be there for you. The family that Jack and these guys have created may grow and change over the years, but the core is still there. Let them be the ones that are there to celebrate the good times with you and the ones that are there to lift you up in the not so good times."
"I couldn't have said it better." Father Mark said. "Just as I am sure that Frank's Army buddies will always be important to him, you all will be important to each other. Let those that truly love you surround you and help to push the negative things out."
"Thank you all." Elizabeth said. "Not only for coming to surround me, but for letting me feel what I am feeling."
"Of course." Doug said.
"I think we should pray." Father Mark said.
"Excellent idea." Jack said.
"Before we do that." Elizabeth said. "What are we going to do about Rosemary? As much as I don't want to lose my best friend, I don't know if I can trust her. She hasn't been open to getting to know you and seems to just want to push Charlie on me."
"I am sure that Grandpa John will talk to her." Jack said. "I know that Gran, Trish and Abigail were talking to her in the kitchen. Let's see what happens tonight. If she isn't supportive, we have her removed. I don't want to have to make you choose, but you also need to do what you feel is the right thing for you moving forward. If she is not going to be someone that you trust and is supportive, I suggest that you think hard about what you want to say to her. Then talk to her and let her be the one that chooses."
"I know that it doesn't sound fun or easy." Frank said. "But Jack is right. She is the one that needs to decide if she is going to stand with you or not. You have been through a lot and you have every right to not have people around you that don't support you. If she can't support your choices and be genuinely happy for you, you need to really ask yourself if she was ever really a true friend or was she just the person that was always there. True friends stand with you in good times as well as the bad. If she can't handle the hard times, then she isn't a true friend."
Elizabeth nodded. She knew that in the past Rosemary never really wanted to deal with the hard things. Elizabeth was realizing that maybe she had outgrown her friendship with Rosemary. She was going to give her one more chance, but that was it.