Chapter 218 – Rosemary Leaves
Rosemary was huffing and pacing in the office when John got there. Peter was texting back and forth with someone.
"Thank you, Frank." John said. "I have it from here. See you when you get back from town."
Frank nodded, then turned and left the office. John shut the door and locked it behind Frank. He then looked over at Peter who nodded. John took a deep breath and then walked over to Rosemary.
"SIT!" He commanded.
The tone of John's voice left no room for discussion. Rosemary wasn't happy, but she sat down and crossed her arms. John stood there over her. He was angry and that didn't happen a lot. At least not to this level. As John was trying to get control of his emotions was when Peter's phone rang. Peter motioned that it was for John.
"This is John Thornton." He said.
("Yes, Sir." The man said. "I got word that you wanted to speak to me.")
"Yes." John said. "One second, I will put you on speaker and you can speak to your daughter."
Rosemary's eyes got huge.
("My daughter?" The man said. "Sir, I think you must be confused. My daughter is visiting her best friend, Elizabeth.")
"No mistake, Christian." John said. "Elizabeth Thatcher is at Coal Creek in Saratoga. Rosemary was invited by my grandson, JP, and Elizabeth who happens to be JP's girlfriend. The problem is that Rosemary has done nothing but cause trouble since she arrived yesterday. She has failed to follow the rules that were laid out and as a result, has endangered not only my grandson and Elizabeth, but everyone on this farm."
Christian sighed.
("I am very sorry, Sir." Christian said. "Is she nearby, I would like to speak to her.")
"She is sitting right here." John said. "You have been on speaker and she has heard everything. We are in the process of getting her a bus ticket back to the city."
Rosemary opened her mouth to protest.
("I understand, Sir." Christian said. "Rosie, I told you to behave with Elizabeth. This is your own fault. I don't want to hear one word of protest. Also know that you will be paying my boss back for the cost of the bus ticket.")
"Your boss?" Rosemary squeaked out.
("Yes." Christian said. "My boss. We are going to have a very long and serious discussion when you arrive back in the city. Don't think that I am going to let this slide. You have not only embarrassed me, but our family in front of my boss and his family. What time will she be back in the city?")
John looked at Peter.
"She will be on the one fifteen bus." Peter said. "It will be about four fifteen when it arrives in the city, maybe a little more depending on traffic."
("Understood, Sir." Christian said. "Again, I am sorry for the trouble that Rosie has caused.")
"I understand." John said. "But as long as I have you on the phone, I am going to explain to you as well what is going to happen moving forward. Rosemary will not be allowed back in the presence of either Elizabeth or my grandson, JP, until she can apologize and mean it. She has said some pretty horrible things about JP and his friends. She has been disrespectful to not only myself, but to JP's other grandparents as well. Elizabeth is extremely upset. She wanted her friend, but both JP and Elizabeth have made the decision that they won't allow people in their life who don't support them and Rosemary has gone beyond that and disrespected everyone.
All Rosemary has done is to try to convince Elizabeth that JP is no good and she would be better off with Charlie Kensington, who has been arrested for several charges related to Elizabeth, including, but not limited to stalking, assault and attempted kidnapping. Rosemary needs to think about what she wants. She has been informed by both JP and Elizabeth that if she can't support them then Rosemary has no place in their life. I support them on this. So until she can change her attitude and behavior, she is going to be advised against contacting Elizabeth. Not that I think Elizabeth will take her calls at this point, she is so upset."
("I understand, Sir." Christian said. "Rosemary, I will be there to meet you at the bus station. I suggest that you take time on the ride home to think about things, because if this is the way that you are going to be, I don't know if I will continue to support you. I said I would pay for college and that won't change, but until you can convince me otherwise, I am not paying for your shopping trips or other things, other than your most basic needs. Maybe you need to live where I can monitor you better. So your apartment might be done until you can prove that you are responsible enough. I would also suggest that you think of how you are going to apologize to my boss and his family, because you will be writing an apology and I will be reading it before giving it to my boss.")
"Daddy, that isn't fair." Rosemary cried.
("No, what is not fair is the way that you have treated people." Christian said. "I can only imagine what you have done, especially since you are probably jealous of Elizabeth right now. Sir, if you could please send me a report of what happened, I will make sure that Rosie apologizes. Again, I am sorry that it has come to this. I thought I taught her better, but I can see that her mother's influence has prevailed.")
"I will have that in your inbox later." John said. "For now, I will let you get back to work."
(Yes, Sir." Christian said. "Rosie, I will see you this afternoon and I will be taking you to my place and not your apartment. Bye, Sir.")
"Bye." John said.
He hung up the phone and handed it back to Peter.
"I can't believe that you called my father." Rosemary huffed.
"You are lucky that I like your father." John said. "Had pretty much any other employee's child talked to me like you have and I would have fired them."
Rosemary looked at him. She was going to say something, but John held up his hand to silence her.
"Peter." John said. "Please escort her downstairs and see that she packs her stuff. Then please have Devin take her to the bus station. I don't want to see or hear from her anymore."
"Let's go." Peter said.
Rosemary sat there like a stubborn child.
"I suggest that you leave." John said. "My patience is running out very quickly and I can easily change my mind about your father. I also am not above having you bodily removed from this place and we have enough security that it will happen."
… … … …
After Frank had left John, he took a moment to clear his head before he headed to the kitchen. When he got there, Trish, Abigail and Gran all looked at him.
"She is going home." Frank said. "I don't know when or how, but Elizabeth doesn't want her here until she can change her attitude. John wasn't happy, so I don't know what is going to happen."
"He will deal with it." Gran said.
"Who will deal with what?" Father Mark asked, coming in the back door.
"John is dealing with Rosemary." Frank said. "She pushed Elizabeth too far."
"Speaking of which." Gran said. "She is upstairs, outside the music room. She would like to speak to you if you have time."
Father Mark looked at his watch.
"I have a little bit." He said.
Gran nodded and Father Mark headed upstairs.
"Now, back to your trip to town." Gran said.
"Can I go with you?" Peter Avery asked, coming over.
"As long as your mother is fine with it." Frank said. "I don't mind."
"Please behave." Abigail said. "But yes, you may go. Please help Frank."
"I will." Peter said. "I also have my phone."
Abigail nodded.
"Here is the list and addresses." Gran said. "Take your time, there is nothing pressing that we need before lunch."
"Mind if I pick up the things I need to make one of my mother's casseroles tonight?" Frank asked.
"If you want." Gran said.
"I will do that." Frank said. "With the extra people in the house, it will get eaten."
Frank turned to Lee and waved. Lee waved back and nodded that he would fill Jack in. Frank then looked at Peter and motioned toward the door. They left toward the garage. Nobody in the kitchen reacted when Devin knocked and came in. Gran was actually expecting him.
"Frank and Peter Avery just left." Gran said.
"I know." Devin said. "I am here to escort Rosemary off the property. Peter already texted me."
"Then I will leave you to it." Gran said.
Gran turned back to the kitchen. Abigail was getting Opal going on sugar cookies. Trish was mixing up bread dough. As all that was happening, the girls came back upstairs.
"Gran." Maddie said. "Can we have a quick snack?"
"Sure." Gran said. "What would you like?"
"Maybe some fruit." Missy said.
"Girls." Trish said. "You can have an apple or an orange. It is almost eleven and we are eating in just over an hour."
The girls looked at each other.
"Can we split an apple and orange, three ways?" Maddie asked.
"Yes, you may." Trish said.
Gran went to the kitchen and got an apple and an orange. She took them to the table, along with a knife and three small plates. She cut the apple in thirds, while Missy grabbed the orange to peel. Abigail brought over three glasses of ice water for the girls.
"Thank you." Maddie said.
As the girls were eating, the guys came in.
"Gran." Jack said. "We are going to get a quick workout before lunch."
"Go." Gran said.
"Hi Devin." Jack said as he went by.
The guys headed downstairs. Lee left Cody playing and followed them down. Lee knew that would be fine. Lee planned to fill Jack and the others in while they worked out. Lee wasn't sure how Jack was going to react to Rosemary upsetting Elizabeth again, but he knew that Jack needed to know and right now that was more important.
Lee also hoped that it would help that Rosemary was leaving. He had hoped that she would have changed, but at that point, he was also glad that she was leaving. He would pray for her that she had a change of heart, but other than that, he knew that there was little that he could do to help. He knew that he would be there for his friends, no matter what.
Rosemary stood up and stomped to the door. Peter was right behind her. When they got to the stairs, they were met by Devin.
"I can take it from here." Devin said.
"John told me to see that she packed." Peter said. "And right now, I am not going to cross him."
"Very well." Devin said. "Let's go."
Devin, Peter and Rosemary headed downstairs.
Everyone in the kitchen carried on with what they were doing. When the girls were done eating. Becky took the plates to the sink and rinsed them.
"I believe the dishwasher is clean." Gran said.
"I will unload it as soon as I wash my hands." Becky said.
"Maddie, Missy." Trish said, without looking up from the dough she was working.
"Yes, Mom." They both answered.
"Ten minutes each on the piano before lunch." Trish said. "While one is practicing, the other can read."
"Yes, Mom." They said.
They both went to the library and quickly chose a book. Missy came out and sat on the couch to read while Maddie went to the piano to practice. Cody climbed up on the couch and sat next to Missy.
"You want me to read to you?" Missy asked.
"Pease." Cody said.
"How about we see if we can find a book you will like." Missy said.
They went back to the library and Missy pulled out the tote of children's books. Cody quickly grabbed one about trains and another about horses. Missy then went back to the couch and read to Cody while she waited her turn on the piano. Nobody said anything when Devin, Peter and Rosemary came up with her luggage and went out the front door. When Maddie was done with the piano, she came over and took over reading to Cody while Missy played the piano.
By the time that the girls were done, Father Mark was coming downstairs. He looked at Gran.
"Jack should probably check on her." Father Mark said. "She is still upset, but I think things are better. I need to go. I promised I would sit down and talk to her some more tomorrow."
"Thank you." Gran said. "I will have JP cheek on her. He should be up soon. Be safe and we will see you tomorrow."
"Thank you, Gran." Father Mark said.
He gave his grandmother a kiss on the cheek and then left.
… … … …