Chapter 102 – End of Discussion
"Now where were we?" Gran asked.
"Thomas threatened not to pay for Columbia." Doug said.
"He can threaten anything that he wants." Jack said. "My educational fund is controlled by Grandpa John. When I told you that you don't have access to any of my accounts, I meant it. Those that needed someone to sign off have been transferred to Grandpa John and the rest I have are mine to do with as I want. The papers have been filed and you have already been removed from access to the accounts. You have no access to anything business or financial related. Grandpa John and Devin have personally seen that your name and access has been removed from each and every one of my accounts, properties and portfolios. The only thing that remains joint is Thornton Thoroughbreds, but that could change if and when I want it. Grandpa John has asked me to hold off on that for now, but keep pushing and I will force you out and take control with Grandpa John."
"You can't do that." Thomas snapped.
"Yes, he can." Nathan said. "I read through the papers that we signed. John was very thorough and very detailed in crafting the document. Jack is an adult and can do what he wants with the things that are in his name. When you gave him access to his trust, there was a clause that he could remove you at any point after he turned eighteen. He has exercised that right. Legally, you have no recourse."
"That can't be right." Thomas said.
Without waiting for a reply, he got up and stocked off to the office to get the papers that Jack had given him.
"Why are you doing this?" Charlotte asked. "You meet some girl and suddenly you are a different person and treating us like we are the enemy. We have given you everything. I am not going to let some ….."
"Stop!" Gran said. "Don't finish that thought. I am not going to let you bad mouth my granddaughter in front of me or her."
"She is NOT your granddaughter." Charlotte snapped, glaring at her mother.
"JP and Elizabeth have pledged their lives to each other." Gran said. "The legal paperwork is just a formality. As far as I am concerned she is family and will be treated as such."
"Thank you, Gran." Elizabeth said.
Jack took Elizabeth's hand and squeezed. She looked at him. He leaned closer to speak to her.
"I love you." Jack whispered. "Please don't take what I am about to say personally. I don't mean it the way it sounds, but there is no other way to get through to them."
Elizabeth nodded. She trusted Jack. She even surprised herself with how much she trusted Jack. After a quick kiss, both leaned back in their respective chairs.
"Ma." Jack said. "Doug and Lee can back me up on this. Even Grandpa John and Father Mark can back me up on this. I have been trying to tell you for months, maybe even a year or better, that what you want for my life is not what I want for my life. This is not because of some girl as you say. This has been in the works for a long time. I think it might even go back to before Laura got hurt, but especially after."
"What are you saying?" Charlotte demanded.
"What I am saying is that …." Jack said, rubbing his brow.
Jack opened his mouth several times, but just couldn't find the words. Doug realized he was struggling because of the things he was feeling and he was trying to not lash out.
"What Jack is having trouble saying." Doug said. "Is that he doesn't care what you think, he is going to live his life as he sees fit. We are all adults here and we all know what we want in life and support each other. Jack, Lee and I together have sometimes been the only support for each other for years. We accept each other unconditionally and support each other without question. We understand each other and have never made either of the others do something that they didn't feel comfortable with. We know more about each other than any other people do, our parents and siblings included. We know each other better than ourselves in some respects. There are no secrets between us, we share everything. We talk and pray together more than you know. We understand what each of us wants and there is nothing that you can do to come between us.
Lee and I have also willingly and graciously welcomed Elizabeth and Nathan into our little group, no questions asked. Just as the others will welcome the love of our lives when Lee and I find them. We have included Nathan and instead of being the three musketeers, we are cool with being the four musketeers. I can't fully explain it, but I know that Jack, Lee and Nathan feel it as much as I do. We need Nathan just as much as he needs us. It is more than security. He is like the big brother we all wanted. Yes, I know I have an older brother, but we are so different we don't exactly get along. Just as we, Jack, Lee and I have needed an older brother to look up to. Nathan has needed three little brothers. We all all feel it and I hope I am not misreading the situation for Nathan."
Doug looked over and saw Nathan nodding that he agreed.
"I have usually been the spokesperson for our little group, but don't let that fool you." Doug continued. "Jack has always been the leader and money/wealth has had nothing to do with it. Jack had Lee and I pegged within five minutes of meeting us. He has an uncanny ability to read people and see things that the rest of us can't. Dad has even said it more than once, that Jack would make a great detective. The way his mind works is amazing. I have seen him look at something and instantly know how to arrange it or work out the problem. Jack can see things and patterns the rest of us can't. That includes reading people very well. Dad said that his ability to see things is something few people are blessed with, and that makes him very special. Dad also made the comment that he wished that his men had half the ability Jack had at times.
I have no problem admitting that Jack is the only reason that I passed honors math the last three years. He was able to explain it in a way that I understood, even the teacher was impressed with how he could explain advanced theories. Why do you think he is so good at jumping? I think he can literally see the course in his head and instantly figure out the best route to take, even if it isn't the common one that other people have taken. He can see where to cut a corner and knows just the right angle to attack a jump. I am sure that he could have been a world champion if certain people hadn't pushed him to the breaking point and taken away the joy he felt at conquering a course faster than anyone else.
Jack, forgive me if I am spilling the beans here. Charlotte, do you know that Jack has consulted with several world famous course designers and they have paid him to help with course layout. I have seen him do it. And this was even after he quit jumping. I am not ashamed to say that the course or at least part of it, that was used in the finals at last year's Central Park Grand Prix was done by Jack. That triple combination and that difficult turn in the jumpoff, well that was all Jack."
"JP." James said. "Is this true?"
Jack ducked his head to hide the blush that was creeping up his neck and across his cheeks.
"No need to be embarrassed." Elizabeth said. "You should be proud of what you have done."
"Yes." Jack said, looking at his grandfather.
Jack squeezed Elizabeth's hand
"I was talking to a couple of the course designers four, five years ago." Jack said. "This was at one of the events that Grandpa John had taken me to down in Ocala, Florida. When I asked them about a certain jump and why no one cut the turn to make it, but instead all went around long. They just looked at me like how did I know that is what they expected riders to do. I told them when I saw the course I just figured out the quickest route in my head. They asked if I had seen a course sheet. I told them that I hadn't seen the layout until we were up in the VIP section. But before the first rider had gone, I had figured out the best route and where a good and confident rider could have cut a few seconds. They couldn't believe it.
They sat down with me and had me design a course, set the length and time. When I asked them why, they told me that I had a natural ability to set a course that would challenge a rider. They asked if they could use the course I set. I said if they wanted to. We exchanged contact information and they asked me to stay in touch. Over the years, I would play with courses and when I thought I had something good, I would send it to them. They passed my name to other course designers and there have been several combinations of mine that have been used all over the world for Grand Prix events. Every time that they used something that I did, they sent a check to Grandpa John and he put it into an account for me."
"Wow." James said. "So you have done well with this?"
"Well enough." Jack said. "It was just something I did for fun. It was a way for me to relax."
"He is being overly modest." Lee said. "I saw some of those combinations that he worked on. I don't jump, but I have watched enough competitions over the years to know. His combinations have challenged some of the best riders in the world. Not only show jumping but cross country as well. I don't know how much money that he received, but I know that he did well."
"JP." Charlotte said. "Why didn't you ever tell us? I would have loved to share that with all my friends and tell them all how well you have done."
"And that is why." Doug said. "Jack didn't do it to be recognized, he did it because he could. He did it because it was something that he liked. Something that he found fun and relaxing. We didn't even know until we saw one of the combinations that we saw him working on used in a competition that we were watching. After teasing him a bit, he told us, but again asked us to keep it to ourselves. We respect Jack enough that we didn't say anything because he asked."
"We would never betray his trust in us." Lee said. "I am sure that there were things that you didn't tell your parents when you were our age."
"Exactly." Jack said. "The deal I struck with the designers was that they could never use my name publicly. When I explained why I wanted to remain behind the scenes, they agreed. I also think that some of them might have been afraid of what Grandpa John would have done if they crossed him. You say anything and the people I have worked with as well as me will all deny it."
Thomas walked back in when Jack had been talking about the course design. He was speechless for a moment and had actually stood there slack-jawed for a moment listening to his son.
"Why would you want to remain anonymous?" Thomas asked.
"I have never wanted or needed the public accolades." Jack said. "Me knowing and those closest to me knowing has always been enough for me. Even when I was jumping, I never liked the spotlight. I was always a gracious winner, but I hated the spotlight. The only reason that I continued to jump was that it was something fun for me to do. I also found it was a way for me to get away from the city and be up here. For me it was always more about the horses than anything.
Yes, Laura was part of the reason that I walked away. But the bigger reason was that you, Ma, had sucked all the fun out of it after Laura. Maybe she had always been a buffer, I don't know. All I know is that last year that I jumped, you kept pushing and pushing for more and better times. Nothing was good enough for you and it wasn't fun anymore. I won seventeen first place ribbons that year, but it didn't matter. The only thing that you could talk about was pushing up a level to the A circuit and bragging to all your snobby friends about how I was going to do this, that, or the other thing. You never even told me once that year that I did a good job."
"You're lying." Charlotte said.
"Nope." Doug said. "I was there with him at almost every competition and those that I wasn't at we talked about everything that happened. Everything that Jack said was how you would nitpick over the smallest things even when he won. You would berate him for rubbing a rail. You would tell him that his boots weren't polished properly. You would complain about how he needed a haircut and how embarrassing it was when he took off his helmet and that mop of hair fell everywhere. You complained that he didn't smile enough and when he did, it looked fake."
Charlotte looked at Jack who was nodding. She then looked at her father and Lee who were also nodding.
"Well, I never." Charlotte said. "I mean he could have done a better job of representing us."
"JP was jumping for Coal Creek." James said. "I don't think he could have done better. I have never cared what his hair looked like. Scuffed boots are a sign of a rider that has worked. I didn't care. The only thing I cared about was that he was jumping."
The group sat there in silence for a few moments as no one knew what to say.
"Thomas." Nathan said. "I was correct wasn't I. I mean I am no highfalutin lawyer, but it was even clear to me."
Thomas didn't say anything, but just glared at Nathan.
"So this is what is going to happen." Gran said. "This discussion is over. JP and his friends are adults and can make their own choices. Anyone disrespecting others or being uncivil will be shown the door. I will not have any more discord in my house. You may not agree with what has happened but you will be respectful. Am I clear?"
"Lee." Gran said.
"Yes, ma'am." Lee said.
"Doug." Gran said.
"Yes, ma'am. Crystal clear." Doug said.
"Nathan." Gran asked.
"Yes, ma'am." Nathan said. "Thank you for having me here."
"JP and Elizabeth?" Gran asked.
"Yes, ma'am." Jack said.
"Crystal clear." Elizabeth said.
"Thomas, Charlotte?" Gran asked.
"Clear." Thomas said.
Charlotte just grunted something.
"I also expect you to get Tommy under control." Gran said. "He is not going to disrespect me or my other guests again. I have already talked to Ed and arranged an empty room for him in the bunk house if need be. Ed has no problem showing him who is boss. Get him under control or we will. That is the last time I am going to say it."
"I will do my best." Thomas said.
"You will do better than that." Gran said. "You will control him or I find someone who can."
"You would really kick us out?" Charlotte asked.
"Yes." Gran said. "The rules are clear. I expect them to be followed."
Gran looked around the table with a glare to emphasize her point.
"Boys." Gran said, turning to look at Jack and his friends.
Once she saw they were all looking at her, she nodded.
"I want you all to try on your dress shirts for tomorrow." Gran said. "Anything that needs to be steamed or pressed needs to be in the laundry room by three o'clock. Abigail is coming over to help me make sure they are all ready. JP, Nathan and Doug, you need to polish your boots for tomorrow. You will wear white breeches. Nathan a Coal Creek polo for you. JP and Doug, I believe that riding shirts and jackets were sent for you."
"Yes, ma'am." All three said.
"Lee." Gran said. "What do you plan on wearing tomorrow during the day?"
"I have black dress jeans and boots." Lee said. "I have a plain gray polo with a green strip on it."
"James." Gran said. "Please make sure you bring up a polo for Lee and see if you can also pin Gabe down on a size so he can have one as well."
"He generally wears a men's large." Nathan said.
"Got it." James said. "I will have them up here when I come back. Now if we are done, I am going to try and get some more work done."
Gran nodded, so James got up and headed out.
"Charlotte?" Gran said.
"I am heading back to the office in the arena." Charlotte said. "I told Dad I would do the paperwork and I will before I leave."
"When are you leaving?" Gran asked.
"I don't know yet." Charlotte said. "Probably sooner rather than later."
"Thomas." Gran said.
"I have work to do." Thomas said. "I will be in the office. I will be heading back to the city sometime Tuesday. Not sure what time yet."
Gran nodded and both Charlotte and Thomas left the table.