Chapter 208 – Father Mark Checks in with Jack

Doug, Lee and Frank sat on one side of the table with Elizabeth. Trish and Rosemary were on the other side, not that they were sitting next to each other. After Elizabeth had spoken and Nathan left it was tense around the table. Lee had been the only one that had been quiet. It wasn't because he didn't have anything to say, because he had plenty, but the others had said what he was thinking and feeling, so he felt that it was best to just quietly sit there and take everything in. He knew that Jack was going to want to know what had happened.

The group had finished the plate of cookies while they had been sitting there. At that moment, they were all sitting there looking at each other, playing with their cups. That was what Gran, James and John walked out to. They wondered what had happened, but were sure that they would hear. James and John went to sit down. Gran headed to the kitchen to make some tea, to calm down.

"James, John." Trish said. "Did you want coffee or something? I can make it for you."

"I will have some tea." John said.

"Tea sounds good." James said. "The last thing I need right now is more coffee."

"Actually tea sounds good." Frank said. "I will get up and make a pot."

As Frank got up, Gran came over.

"I have the electric kettle heating." Gran said. "I will bring the tea caddy over and we can each make our own cup. Frank, if you wouldn't mind getting some cups that would be nice."

"I can do that." Frank said.

Frank headed to the kitchen to get the cups. Trish stood and followed. She had picked up some dishes to bring to the sink. She quietly put together another plate of cookies. She also started a second kettle of water on the stove. She had a feeling that they would need it. She looked at the clock and saw that it was past eight thirty. She took the plate of cookies back to the table.

"I am going to run down and check on the girls." Trish said. "They need to start getting ready for bed."

"Thank you for getting the cookies." Gran said.

"You are welcome." Trish said. "I will be right back."

She turned and headed downstairs. Not only did she want to check on the girls, but she also needed a break as well.

… … … …

Jack looked at Father Mark.

"I just wanted to check in separately." Father Mark said. "I know that you said you were doing okay in front of your grandparents. Now that we are alone, tell me the truth, how are you really doing?"

"I am struggling." Jack said. "I didn't want to admit it in front of my grandparents. I knew them hearing the news would be hard enough. I didn't need to be emotional."

"Fair enough." Father Mark said. "But it is just the two of us right now."

"Thank you for checking with me." Jack said. "But I need some time to process everything."

"I am glad that you at least told Elizabeth a little bit." Father Mark said. "Do you think that you are going to tell her about her father?"

"I don't know right now." Jack said. "She is struggling as it is. I think I am going to play it by ear and see how she is doing. She has said that her father had said some pretty awful things to her growing up and she is having a hard time because those words keep coming back to her at times."

"Can you tell me more about that?" Father Mark asked.

Jack let out a harsh breath.

"Well when we were up in Toronto." Jack said. "We were talking about if we got married in August or really just the marriage period and what would happen if she got pregnant. I didn't think it was a big deal. I told her our schedules for school might have to change a little and I would make sure that we hired help so that she could still go to school and study. She didn't seem to believe that I would be okay with her still going to school and working once we have kids. Apparently, her father had made her believe that she wouldn't be anything but a housewife and mother. I guess he told her that an education is wasted on girls since they will never really use it in the real world."

"That is awful." Father Mark said. "Does he actually know what it takes to run a household?"

This time it was Father Mark that let out a harsh breath.

"I know what you mean." Jack said. "I have repeatedly told Elizabeth that she can work as long as she wants. I do want both of us to make it a priority to spend time with the kids, but I am not opposed to having help raising them. It isn't like what my parents did and just left us with the nanny even when they were home."

"As long as you realize that you also need to change your schedule to help." Father Mark said. "I know that it can be hard, especially with you taking a very demanding course, but you need to be firm that no matter what Elizabeth and your family come first. Even if it takes you an extra year to graduate. I am sure that your grandfathers would understand about school, especially if they see you making your family a priority."

"Thank you." Jack said. "I have already looked at the different years and the required courses. You are right it is demanding, especially since I want to do a master of finance and get my MBA as well. I figured it would be pushing it to do it in the five years that they are talking about. The more that I looked at things, not even thinking about helping with kids, I thought it was going to take me closer to six years. I know I am smart enough to do the program in five, but I didn't feel like I needed to push it. Money is not an issue, the businesses are going to be there for me if it takes five years or seven years.

I will always have my money from the horses and I have my investments, which will continue. So you are right. Honestly, looking at the two course loads, it would probably be easier for me to reduce my load then it would be for Elizabeth to repeatedly do that."

"Good." Father Mark said. "Just remember to keep talking about things. You will work it out together. And you are right, there is nothing wrong with having help while you are in school and studying. It is leaving the kids to a nanny for days on end without seeing them when you are in the same house. So where do you think you are going to live this fall?"

"We are going to be in the apartment building that I own not that far from campus." Jack said. "I have the entire floor. Originally, Doug, Lee and I were going to be in the three bedroom and the one and two bedroom were still going to be open for client use, but since I have restricted Dad's access I have other ideas. Elizabeth is in the two bedroom and I will join her there. Doug and Lee can have the three bedroom for now, I am going to try and convince Nathan to join them."

"What about the one bedroom?" Father Mark asked.

"Depending on how things go." Jack said. "I was going to let Elizabeth offer it to Rosemary or I would use it for a nanny. There is time and options."

"Good." Father Mark said. "At least you are thinking about things. I have seen those apartments, so I know that they are spacious. I think the two bedroom could be a three bedroom if you did something different with the library."

"You are right." Jack said. "I like having the library, but you are right it could be a bedroom."

"Given everything that has happened." Father Mark said. "I am going to keep checking in with you. I also want you to work on controlling your temper a little better. You did good tonight, after you were reminded to walk away. I think you need to get better at reading the situation and knowing when to walk away. I have a feeling that now that Rosemary knows how to push your buttons, she will continue to try so she can prove to Elizabeth that she was right about you."

"Sorry about that." Jack said. "I am really trying. Doug and Nathan have talked to me about my temper as well. I honestly am trying, but it has been such an emotional roller-coaster, especially the last week or so."

"I understand that." Father Mark said. "But still you need to try."

Jack just nodded, because he knew that Father Mark was right. Jack always knew that he had a temper, but he had pushed things away before. Now that he had opened the door and was trying to deal with things as they happened and not push them away, he was having a hard time keeping things at a more even keel. He also knew that it took time and practice in controlling his temper. He also knew that if he continued to lash out that he was the only one that was going to be hurt.

After letting Jack think for a moment, Father Mark touched Jack's arm to get his attention.

"Do you understand why I said something?" Father Mark asked.

"Yes." Jack said. "I reacted poorly and I need to get better about that."

"At least you are noticing it." Father Mark said. "I know we prayed with the grandparents, but did you want to pray again?"

Jack nodded. The two men joined their hands and bowed their heads.

"Heavenly Father." Father Mark prayed. "We come to You again. We thank you for all that You have given us. I want to ask a special protection on Jack. He has been dealing with so much and even though he has struggled to control his emotions, he has shown so much maturity. I ask that You continue to give Jack patience and understanding as he continues to navigate the mess he has found himself in. We know that what has happened wasn't Your plan, but we are still left to deal with the effects. Help Jack to find peace with the knowledge that he has received. Help him to realize that what happened is not his fault and he shouldn't feel bad."

"Heavenly Father." Jack prayed. "I want to thank you for my cousin and Your faithful servant. Thank you for giving him a heart for You. I don't know what I would have done over the past few years without his prayers and guidance. Thank you for opening the doors to allow him to have time off to spend with us here at the ranch. I also want to offer my thanks for bringing me to Elizabeth. I pray that the situations with our families improve, but if they don't help us to be okay with whatever the outcome. Help both Elizabeth and I as we work toward our wedding and marriage. Help us to build a family of those who support us. Amen."

"Amen." Father Mark prayed.

… … … …

When Trish got downstairs, she saw Nathan sitting in the far corner of the sitting room, but didn't see the girls. The TV was on sportscenter, but it didn't seem like Nathan was watching. She could see that he had his laptop and Bible both open.

Nathan looked up when he heard someone come downstairs.

"They went to their room to get ready for bed." Nathan said. "I told them they could stay out here and play, but they told me it was okay."

"Thank you." Trish said. "They are used to being in their room by nine. They are allowed to read, but lights have to be out by nine fifteen."

"I will remember that after you leave." Nathan said.

"Thank you." Trish said. "I know that Doug and Jack sometimes let them stay up later, but I like to try to keep them on a schedule as they do better."

"Most kids do." Nathan said. "Honestly, I think we all do."

Trish smiled and then headed to see the girls and tell them goodnight.

… … … …

While Trish went downstairs and Jack was talking to Father Mark for a moment, Gran was trying to figure out what happened around her table. She noticed right away that Nathan had left and everyone else seemed upset.

"While we wait for the tea." Gran said. "Can we talk about the schedule for the rest of the weekend? I know that we have a lot going on and there are more people here than we had planned. Not that that is a bad thing, but it does require us to all be aware of each other."

"We are going to ride in the morning." Doug said. "With or without Jack, depending on the press conference, we are going to ride and also supervise the girls riding. Marco asked us to work with the girls and he will take them on Monday, but he is off this weekend."

"I told Jack I would help with the horses in isolation." Lee said.

"I can help with the girls as well." Frank said.

"If that is what you want to do, that would be good." James said. "Just know that you are technically not employed here yet, so I don't expect you to work all the time. That is not saying, I don't expect everyone to help whether it is with the horses or here in the house."

"I understand." Frank said. "I have no problem helping. I am not one that likes to sit by while there is work to be done. I am here to help and I don't mind jumping in to help where it is needed."

"Thank you." Gran said. "You have been a big help in the kitchen this week. So JP, Nathan and Doug plus the girls need to get riding in. What else?"

"After the press conference." John said. "I was wondering if I could use the office. I will probably have at least Peter with me. We need to do some things, but I would like to stay tomorrow and see how things go, especially after the press conference."

"John." Gran said. "I have told you many times you are more than welcome to be here as long as you want. If you are going to stay the weekend only to come back on Tuesday, you might as well stay."

"I will think about it." John said. "I see what you mean. I might have to send Andrew back to Albany to get more clothes for us all, but I will think about it. I had planned on coming up here on Tuesday afternoon in time for supper."

"Then you might as well stay." James said. "As long as you don't need to be in the office on Monday."

"No, not as long as I can use the office here." John said.

"You are free to use the office as much as you need." Gran said.

"Thank you." John said. "I think I will do that. I will talk to Peter and Andrew tomorrow and if Andrew can, I might have him head back tomorrow afternoon and get the rest of the things we would need to stay the week."

"That is fine." Gran said. "Let us know if there is anything else you need."

"Don't forget that Opal is coming up here in the morning." Elizabeth said. "She knows where the tote of toys are in the library and can play quietly if we are busy."

"Well." Gran said. "Katie said she would bring her up here at about nine thirty and then she was going to head into town. Thank you James, for arranging for her to use one of the farm trucks until she can get her own."

"I told her to not worry about it." James said. "She is free to use one of the farm trucks as long as she needs. She wants to check out the saddle shops, GNC and also just get a feel for the town. She thought it would be easier without Opal on this trip and since you offered to have her up here, she would take you up on it."

"Opal is sweet." Gran said. "She is more than welcome to be up here."

"Lee, is there work to do on the show?" James asked.

"Not at the moment." Lee said. "Everything is pretty much done. We have to order the certificates, but I think Elizabeth was going to wait until we closed registration."

"That is right." Elizabeth said. "I also haven't seen the examples from the guy at Quad Graphics."

"He said he would have those on Monday." Lee said.

"Then we are good." Elizabeth said. "Ribbons should be here by the end of next week and the certificates will be done on the Thursday before the show. We will just need to arrange for someone to pick them up."

"We can do that." Gran said. "I have a feeling that the tables, chairs, bleachers and tents will all be arriving that Thursday as well."

"Yes." Lee said. "Nathan also said, his group would be here by that afternoon to help us set everything up. Vendors can come starting at eleven the morning of the show. The event actually opens at one with the first round of jumping at two."

"If you can." Gran said. "Would you be able to print a master schedule for me?"

"I can do that next week." Lee said. "I also have maps that are going to be printed up for people coming. They will be handed out at the gate. They will show where they can park, care for their horses as well as where everything will be located."

"That is good." James said. "I would also suggest that you put on there about not wandering around past barricades and remind people that there will be security and parts of the ranch will be closed."

"Already done." Lee said. "That reminds me, you will have to get badges for all of us so we can move around."

"I have already ordered them." James said. "They will have your name on them, but they won't be the kind that opens doors. I have also ordered additional 'guest' badges that we can hand out to people we want. Frank I would assume you would get one of those, since I didn't know to order you a regular one. I have told my employees that all 'guest' badges will have a designated holographic sticker on them so they know."

"That is cool." Doug said. "What are the stickers?"

"They will have our logo on them." James said. "And when moved at a certain angle, you will be able to see the words 'Annual Schooling Show' on it. The stickers will be here next week and we will hand them out with the guest badges on Friday. I also thought that I would put a sticker on the badges that just have a name on them so those checking will know that they are true badges from us since they look different from our regular badges."

"That is a good idea." John said. "I think you also said something about a list of who was allowed where. I would suggest that those lists have an example of both badges on them as well as the sticker."

"We can do that." James said. "After talking to Chris, we just wanted more layers of security given everything that is going on."

"No, that sounds good." Doug said. "I am glad that you thought of that."

"Alright." Gran said. "So things for the show are moving along and I will leave Lee and Elizabeth to take care of things and keep us posted. So tomorrow, Abigail will be back with the kids. Her and I are going to do some more baking. We will also be getting things ready for Sunday."

"Don't forget that Nathan and I are doing waffles in the morning." Frank said. "I will stay and make sure our mess is cleaned up so Nathan can go deal with the horses."

"Thank you." Gran said. "So for supper tomorrow, I have a couple of ideas. We have plenty of food. Normally we do leftovers on Monday nights, but given how much food is in the fridge and knowing that there is the holiday next week, I was thinking of doing leftovers tomorrow night. We can make pizza as well so there will be plenty of food."

… … … …