Chapter 203 – Elizabeth Evaluates Things
Elizabeth took her current journal and two older ones with her. She went upstairs and then out to where she had been before when Jack had given her time. Elizabeth flipped through the older of the two journals that she had with her. She made a list of every time that she had been upset because Rosemary had made a comment or dismissed what she was feeling. She also made a list of the times she was there to listen to Rosemary complain about this, that or the other thing. Very quickly Elizabeth realized that she had been the one that had given the most in the friendship and rarely was Rosemary there for her when she needed someone. Most of the time Elizabeth was realizing that she was alone and ended up pouring everything out into her journal.
Elizabeth also realized that maybe Father Mark and Frank had been right, she was friends with Rosemary because she had always been there. All Elizabeth knew was that she needed answers and she realized that she was the only one that could provide what she needed. Elizabeth knew that it would be hard to distance herself from Rosemary, but she knew with God's help, she would find people that were better for her life.
As Elizabeth sat there, she bowed her head.
"Heavenly Father." Elizabeth prayed. "Please help to find the path You want me on. I know that You have brought Jack and I together. I am struggling with how hard it is. Please help me to find peace about things and accept what You want for my life. Please help me to see what to do. I don't want to really lose my friendship with Rosemary, but as I have been looking back, I realized that she hasn't helped me draw closer to You. Nor has she been there when I needed a friend. Help me to see what I am supposed to do. I want her in my life, but not the way that things have been.
Please work in Rosemary's heart and show her that she is not acting how You want her to be. Show her that there is a better path for her to be on. I hope and pray that she accepts what I have to say and make the changes needed to be able to walk alongside me. If Rosemary is not meant to walk alongside me, please help me to accept that as Your will. Please bring into my life the people that You want that will help me to walk with You.
Please be with my parents. Show them what they are doing to me is wrong and not what You want. Show them that You meant for me to have a life with Jack. Help them to be accepting of what I have chosen. Soften their hearts and humble them so that they can and will come back to me and truly want to be a part of my life. Please keep us all safe this weekend. Please be with Jack and give him strength as he does the press conference with his grandfathers tomorrow. I know that is not what he wants to do, but please give him the strength to do it.
Give him the words that will help make things better. Also please be with Jack as he works through all the things that he learned about his family today. Help him find the answers he is searching for if that is Your will. If it isn't Your will, help Jack to be okay without all the answers. Finally, I ask that You watch over everyone here in this house as we go into the weekend. Keep us all safe and let our time help each other to draw closer to You. Not only the people here, but all the people on this ranch, keep them to You. Also please protect the animals and keep them healthy. Thank you for all You have provided to Jack and his family and for them sharing it with me. Amen."
Elizabeth felt better after she had prayed. She continued to go through the journals. Finally, she opened her current journal to a blank page. She took a deep breath and started writing everything. She poured all her feelings, fears, wants and dreams onto those pages. They were mixed with tears and times of reflection, but as she poured the words out, Elizabeth felt a huge release. She also realized several things that she hadn't hadn't been quite ready to admit up to that point.
… … … …
Once everyone was seated. Gran looked around her table. Down one side was Nathan, Doug, Father Mark, Jack, Lee, Frank, Peter, Andrew, John, Becky and Abigail. Cody was on the corner next to Bill. James had moved to the other side to allow for Cody. From James back to Gran it was Peter A, Chris, Katie, Rob, Devin, Missy, Maddie, Rosemary and Trish. With the spot right next to Gran open. There was also an open spot for Elizabeth next to Jack. There was also an open spot between Maddie and Rosemary. Gran was mostly happy with the table full of people. It was a table full and they had set up the extra table so that both Trish and Gran could reach it to help pass food, to keep the table more clear.
Gran loved having a table and house full of people, but she could once again sense the tension in the air. She wasn't sure if it was due to Rosemary, the press outside the main gate or whatever it was that Devin had revealed to Jack and needed to share with John. But she wasn't going to let it sit for long. She was determined that by the end of the weekend that there would once again be peace in the house and she hoped that it didn't involve her kicking anyone else out of the house. After looking over the table, Gran turned to Father Mark.
"Father Mark." Gran said. "Will you please say a prayer for supper?"
Father Mark nodded.
"In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." Father Mark prayed.
As he said the words, most everyone made the sign of the cross. Rosemary was the most notable exception as she sat with her arms crossed. There were also a couple members of security that weren't Catholic, but they still bowed their heads in respect.
"Heavenly Father." Father Mark prayed. "First and foremost, we give You thanks that all of our guests arrived safely. Please watch over everyone here and keep them safe. Give them a peace about the situation that we have found ourselves in. Surround those that need to leave with Your angels and keep them safe. We give You thanks for this wonderful meal that has been placed before us. Please bless it to our bodies and bless the hands that helped to make it. Amen."
Amen was echoed by most around the table. Jack looked over at his grandmother and she gave him a small nod that it was okay, she had saved Elizabeth's plate. Trish picked up the platter of chicken breast and handed it to Nathan across the table.
"Please only take one chicken breast until everyone is served." Trish said. "There are a few more in the oven, staying warm, but please make sure everyone gets one first."
Trish then picked up the macaroni salad and put some on her plate and passed it to Rosemary. The fresh dinner rolls had been placed in baskets on the table. Fresh fruit and veggie platters had been placed on the table. The platters had more variety than before, since Abigail had gone to the farmers market as well as shopping. She had gotten the carrots, cucumbers, celery, and bell peppers in red, yellow and green that Gran had asked for. But Abigail had also picked up green onions, cherry tomatoes, baby radishes, sugar snap peas, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans and endive. They had made ranch dressing as well as added the hummus that Abigail had picked up. Abigail had also picked up more fruit than what Gran had asked for. Gran had asked for cherries, strawberries, blueberries, grapes (red and green) and raspberries. Abigail had added blackberries, cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, pineapple, kiwi, mango and oranges which had been cut into slices. She knew that Jack and her kids would eat all of it so she wasn't worried. She also figured that Trish's girls would eat most of it. Abigail figured that if it came to it she could always take it home. It turned out Trish and Katie had both been excited when they saw all the fruit and veggies.
Gran and Trish helped pass the rest of the meal around the table including the mashed potatoes and gravy. Trish had also made a large platter of roasted veggies that included red onions, red and yellow peppers, zucchini, mushrooms and carrots. Before serving, she had drizzled it with garlic and thyme infused olive oil. Trish had made the roasted veggies because she knew her girls preferred their veggies cooked. It wasn't that they didn't like raw veggies, but they ate more when cooked. It was a nice large, well-rounded meal for everyone. Once the platters had gone around once and people were eating, both Trish and Gran were able to relax a little.
"Margaret." John said. "This is a wonderful meal. Thank you. What is on those roasted veggies, it has a wonderful taste to it."
"That was Trish." Gran said.
"It is roasted garlic and thyme infused olive oil." Trish said. "I brought it with me. My mother had picked up some fresh pressed extra virgin olive oil when she was in Greece in January."
"Thank you for sharing." John said. "It is wonderful and is just the right touch with the roasted veggies."
"Thank you." Trish said.
They tried to keep the conversation light because of the kids. They talked about plans for the weekend and the horses. They also talked about the coming holiday and what they were looking forward to.
"Mom." Becky said.
"Yes, Becky." Abigail said.
"I was wondering if I can come back and go swimming with Maddie and Missy." Becky asked.
"We will have to see." Abigail said. "I think it will be overcast tomorrow."
"Sunday is supposed to be nice." Gran said. "Why don't you join us again after Church. Becky and Peter could bring their swimsuits and enjoy the pool then."
"I think that we can do that." Abigail said. "I will have to double check the calendar, I think that there is something on it."
"It is fine." Bill said. "The item on the calendar is a reminder to me to enter the mileage on my truck into my paperwork."
"Then I guess as long as you are willing to host us." Abigail said. "We will join you after church on Sunday. I will bring over some additional fresh fruit and veggies. I had picked up stuff for us as well. If we are going to be here, we might as well bring it over. Margaret, is there anything else that you will need?"
"If you could maybe pick up some more milk." Gran said. "I think that we will need it."
"I can do that." Abigail said.
"What time are you leaving on Sunday, Trish?" Bill asked.
"I was going to talk to James and Margaret." Trish said. "This morning when I left, my James suggested that maybe I stay through the Fourth. He was able to work things out and will be off the third, fourth and fifth. He was thinking of coming up here."
"You are more than welcome to stay." Gran said. "Chief Burke is also more than welcome."
"Is Dad going to be able to get off for the show here?" Maddie asked.
"Yes." Trish said. "Dad and I will be back the Thursday before the show. We are going to drive up here that day. That was already worked out. This was extra time off that your father didn't know he was going to have."
"Okay." Maddie said.
"Are you sure?" John said. "I can arrange a helicopter for you both."
"No, it is okay." Trish said. "James wants to drive for that trip. He already made arrangements for that. I think he might call you about next week."
"Okay." John said. "Let me know if that changes. I will give him a call tomorrow and make sure he has everything that he needs to come up on the third."
"I will." Trish said.
"John, Sir." Frank said.
"Yes." John said.
"Is anyone heading back on Sunday?" Frank asked. "I had talked to Jack and we had sort of put a plan in place. I was going to head back, leaving my SUV here. Then I was going to pack my things and store them in one of those pod things. Then I was going to be back up here for the show. Then I was going to stay if that was okay since I have accepted the offer to be the property manager of Jack's new property."
"I will probably be heading back late Sunday evening or early Monday morning." Devin said. "You are more than welcome to go with me. If Trish isn't flying back, I was going to drive."
"That is fine with me." Frank said.
"Are you sure that you won't need your SUV?" James asked.
"No." Frank said. "I will be fine to get around in the city. Both Doug and Jack offered me the use of their vehicles while I was down there. Jack also offered to arrange for the pod for my stuff and for me to get back here."
"I can help with that." Devin said.
"Thank you." John said. "Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to help."
"Frank, are you sure that you don't want to stay through the Fourth and then fly back with Trish and James?" Gran asked.
"Let me think." Frank said. "I think a week would be fine to do what I need."
"Well." Trish said. "If that is the case, you are more than welcome to join my husband and I when we drive up here on that Thursday before the show."
"I will let you know." Frank said. "Let's see what happens. I will make a couple of calls this evening and see. Devin, can I let you know the plan tomorrow?"
"That will be fine." Devin said.
"Uncle Jack." Missy said, sweetly.
"Yes, Missy." Jack said.
"Maddie and I were wondering what those other horses in isolation were." Missy said.
John, Andrew and James all smiled. Doug, Nathan and Frank all tried to hide their smiles as well. They all knew what Missy was doing. She didn't pull out the 'uncle' title unless she was trying to get something from Jack or Lee.
"Well." Jack said. "I know that your mother told you that I went to Canada for a few days earlier this week."
Maddie and Missy nodded.
"Well." Jack said, with a straight face. "I went up there to specifically look at those three horses and I ended up buying them."
"They don't look like race horses." Maddie said.
"They aren't." Jack said. "The smaller of the three, I have hopes to train as an all around jumper and I was hoping he would work for Opal if she wants to jump or even do hunter jumper."
"Are you going to breed him?" John asked.
"Probably, eventually." Jack said.
"Okay." John said.
"So what are those other two?" Maddie asked. "They are awfully pretty horses."
Maddie smiled and batted her eyes at Jack. Doug rolled his eyes. Frank and Nathan openly laughed at Maddie's antics. Most of the other adults at the table were enjoying the banter between Jack and the young girl. As they knew it was all in fun. Rosemary on the other hand was disgusted at the display. It only confirmed in her head what she had read about Jack. Rosemary was more determined than ever to get Elizabeth away from those people.
"You are cute, Maddie." Jack said. "But it is not going to work. You will learn about those horses when I am ready to tell you."
"I had to try." Maddie said.
"I know." Jack said. "You wouldn't be you if you didn't. You have zero patience when it comes to some things. You want to be in the know on everything. Well this time, you are just going to have to wait to find out."
"I can't wait to see those horses." Father Mark said. "Are they as good as they look on paper?"
"Better." Doug said. "They were a little worked up this morning when we worked with them. But that could be because of the travel. They quickly calmed down."
"Good." James said.
"They have amazing gait." Jack said. "I can't wait to get them over some fences."
"So they are jumpers!" Maddie said, excitedly.
"Yes." Nathan said. "They are jumpers."
"Who is going to ride them?" Missy asked.
"I haven't decided." Jack said with a dimpled smile.
Most of the rest of the adults at the table shook their heads because they knew why Jack had bought those horses. Margaret, James, John, Bill and Frank were all watching Rosemary closely. She didn't seem to be open to what was around her. Bill and Frank each separately wondered about trying to talk to her and see what her problem was. Neither realized that the other was thinking the same thing.