Chapter 126 – Breakfast with Father Mark
John's phone chimed, he looked at it and then put it away.
"Sorry, Margaret." John said. "I know how you feel about phones at the table, but I needed to be in contact this morning."
"I understand, especially this morning." Gran said.
"Father Mark." John said.
"Yes, Sir." Father Mark said.
"I wanted to let you know that I already talked to the Bishop and the diocese." John said.
"Okay." Father Mark said.
"I know about the capital campaign." John said. "As soon as you have the rest of your committee ready, you will have two of my financial guys as well as an intern at your disposal."
"Thank you." Father Mark said. "I was going to talk to you about that tomorrow."
"It is okay." John said. "I had a meeting with the Bishop and he mentioned something about it to me. After we concluded our meeting, the Bishop arranged for me to meet with some of the other diocesan people about the project."
"Yes." Father Mark said. "After much discussion with parishioners from both churches and looking at the growth projections for the area. We decided that adding a middle school and high school would be very beneficial to both churches as well as the community as a whole."
"You said that there is interest." Thomas said. "How much? I mean it is going to take you a few years on the capital campaign and probably another year to build."
"We put out a survey to all parents in both churches." Father Mark said. "We had a huge return. I don't remember the exact percent off the top of my head. What I do remember is that the overwhelming majority who responded said that they would definitely or very likely enroll their child in middle and/or high school with us. We also asked if they currently had a child in our school would they continue with us through graduation given the opportunity. Again the overwhelming majority were definitely or very likely. I think, and the diocese agrees with me that there is enough interest to proceed with a capital campaign."
"I agree." John said. "I have seen the data, expanding the elementary and adding the middle and high school are good plans."
"How much do you hope to raise?" Elizabeth asked.
"Our preliminary estimates for the building, as well as the expansion and updates to the elementary." Father Mark said. "We think we will need to raise about fifteen million."
"About that." John said. "After talking to the Bishop and diocesan planning, I suggest that you set the goal at twenty-five to thirty million and then what you don't use can be held in trust for future upgrades."
"That is a good idea." Doug said.
"Sounds good." Father Mark said. "I will talk to the other members."
"Well." Jack said. "When you are ready to go live, I will have a check for you."
"I will as well." Doug said. "I will also speak to Mom and Dad."
"Thank you both." Father Mark said.
"You are also assured of my help." John said.
"Thank you." Father Mark said. "I need to get going if I am going to be back this afternoon."
"We should get down to the horses as well." Jack said.
"I have your dishes." Elizabeth said. "Don't forget that you said you would braid my hair."
"I will have plenty of time when I get back." Jack said.
"Then Elizabeth and I will help up here." Lee said.
"Thanks." Jack said.
Jack, Doug, Nathan and Father Mark all got up. Father Mark headed out while the others headed down to the stables.
"Thank you for helping." Gran said. "If you don't mind putting things away and making sure the kitchen is fine, then I am going to lay down for a bit. It is going to be a long day and I was up early."
"Go." Lee said. "We got this."
Gran smiled at Lee and Elizabeth. She then got up, took her dishes to the sink and headed back to her room.
"What are you going to do, Sir?" Elizabeth asked, looking at John.
"I have a few things to take care of." John said. "If you don't mind, I think I will work at the table here. Also, Elizabeth I am sure that JP told you, but you are more than welcome to call me John or even Grandpa if you are comfortable."
"Fine by me." Elizabeth said. "I will try. I have never really had a grandfather. I only have one that is still living and I have only seen him a couple times."
"Whatever you are comfortable with." John said.
Lee and Elizabeth got up and started to clean up from breakfast. Once Elizabeth and Lee were in the kitchen, Thomas turned to his father and pushed some papers across the table.
"What is this?" John asked.
"I told you I would fight you." Thomas said. "These are papers I will file when I get back to the city on Monday. I am not letting you take Tommy nor I am going to let you try and cut me off. I am a Thornton and I am entitled to everything that comes with that name."
John picked up the papers and put them on the stack he was working on. He then glared at Thomas and Charlotte.
"You are going to regret this." John said. "I have every right to cut you off from everything other than what your grandfather laid out in his will. Now you have two choices, one to take these papers back or move forward at your own peril."
"I am not letting you tear my family apart." Charlotte hissed.
"Fine." John said.
John picked up his phone and dialed a number.
("Hello." The man said.)
"Morning Connor." John said. "Sorry to call on a Saturday morning."
("No problem, Sir." Connor said. "You call and I work, no matter the time or day.")
"Still." John said. "I feel bad calling early on a Saturday morning, especially when I know that you value your family time. But I need you to do a little work this morning."
("No problem." Connor said. "What do you need? My wife is still sleeping and the kids are occupied watching some cartoons.")
"Good." John said. "Let her sleep, but I need you to execute the backup plan 'tac' immediately. I want it done in the next hour."
("Yes, Sir." Connor said. "I will do it and send you a message when I am done.")
"Thank you." John said. "When it is done, I promise I will not bother you again today. Also the plan for St Clement's is a go. I am sure that you will hear from Father Mark or someone in the next week or so."
("I have all the papers ready." Connor said. "I am just waiting on the call. As soon as I hear, I will let you know. Did you decide on an amount?")
"Yes." John said. "But I will talk to you about that on Monday or Tuesday. I might stay an extra day or so. I will be here at least through the weekend and then I will see what happens. Either way, I will be back in the office by Tuesday afternoon."
("Have a good weekend." Connor said.)
"You too." John said. "Bye."
John hung up the phone and went back to his work.
"What did you do?" Charlotte demanded.
"Business." John said. "I told you not to push me."
John got up and headed to the kitchen.
"Elizabeth." John said. "Is there any more coffee?"
Lee picked up the carafe.
"There is a little in here." Lee said. "I can brew another if you want."
"Please." John said. "I am sure that JP will want some when he gets back from the stable."
"I will make and bring it to you when it's ready." Lee said.
Lee poured the last of the carafe into John's cup, took the empty to Elizabeth to wash and started another pot. Once John sat down, he pulled out his laptop and started working.
"I am not done talking to you." Charlotte said.
"I am done listening." John said. "I have work to do. I don't owe you anything, now I am busy. Just because I made time to come up here to see my grandson jump, doesn't mean that I don't have work to do."
Charlotte huffed a couple of times, then turned to her husband.
"Are you just going to let him talk to me like that?" Charlotte snapped.
"Char." Thomas said. "Ignore him. Go get your stuff ready."
Charlotte huffed again. Thomas stood up and grabbed Charlotte's arm and pulled her so she was standing.
"Let's go." Thomas said. "He thinks he has won, but he hasn't."
Just as they were getting ready to leave the dining room, Thomas' phone rang.
"What?" Thomas yelled, picking up the phone.
("I am sorry, Sir." The woman said. "But the helicopter company called and said they can't come get you until you set up a contract.")
"I have a contract with them." Thomas bellowed.
("Actually, Sir." The woman said. "You have always used your father's account. I tried calling them and telling them that you were with your father, but they said they had received orders to not allow you or your wife to bill anything to the account anymore. I have been checking other things as well and it seems that you have been removed from all the accounts that your father uses. The car service, the jet, and even the restaurants and clothes shops. Sorry, Sir. What do you want me to do?")
"I will deal with it." Thomas yelled.
He didn't even give the woman a chance to respond but hung up on her. Thomas turned to his father.
"How dare you?" Thomas yelled. "What am I supposed to do? We flew up here."
"Not my problem." John said calmly.
Thomas stocked off to the office with Charlotte close behind them. John then picked up his phone and sent a message to Andrew and Devin.
… … … …
As soon as the trio got down to the stable, they were informed that all the horses except Bandit, Honey and Aphrodite had been turned out. The three remaining had been fed, but they still needed their stalls mucked and gotten ready for the show. They each grabbed a horse and started brushing them down.
"So what do we need to do?" Nathan asked. "I mean other than a normal brush down."
"For now." Jack said. "A normal brush down, including the mane and tail. I want to braid Bandit's mane, I always have, so it is like a routine for us. We will turn them out, muck and then bring them back in and make sure that their hooves are clean, filed and then we will brush them again with something to help their coats shine. By that time, Marco will be here to get them and you will need to head to the security meeting."
The boys set about their tasks. Once they had thoroughly brushed the horses, they turned the three out in a close round pen. Jack started to braid Bandit's mane. Doug and Nathan went back to muck out and ready their stalls for when they returned. Once they had finished that, Jack went to the office and grabbed four lengths of ribbon – two pink for Honey and Aphrodite to let people know that they can be a moody mare. He also grabbed a blue and yellow one for Bandit to let people know that he was a stallion. It wasn't that Bandit was aggressive, but with a lot of new people, Jack wanted to be safe.
"What are those?" Nathan asked as Jack walked back with the ribbons around his neck.
"The local region requires certain colors for certain things." Jack said. "It is to help keep everyone safe."
"A red ribbon if your horse can kick or strike." Doug said. "Yellow or blue for a stallion. Blue can also be an aggressive gelding. Green for young or inexperienced horses. Pink for a moody mare. White ribbons means that the horse is for sale and you can inquire with the rider or sponsor."
"Makes sense." Nathan said. "Why are you adding a pink for Honey? She hasn't been moody."
"Not sure how she will act around a lot of people." Jack said. "Better safe than sorry."
"Agreed." Doug said. "We can add a green to her as well, if you think it might make a difference. I don't know how much experience that she has at a show."
"I would." Jack said. "But we aren't actually jumping her. She is going along more as a stall companion for Bandit. I might bring it along just in case."
"Like you said." Nathan said. "Better safe than sorry."
They finished brushing out the horses and making sure the ribbons were visible in their tails. Once that was done, they put the three back in their stalls for the time being. Jack and Doug then went to check that all the tack that they needed was down there and ready. Nathan stayed and gave the horses some attention. Nathan turned when he heard Jack and Doug coming, each pulling something as he heard the wheels on the floor.
"What are those?" Nathan asked.
"Tack cases." Doug said. "It holds the saddle, pad, brushes, extra stirrups, wraps and everything else that we will need. When we are done riding, we can leave our helmet and vest in here as well and Marco will bring it back and make sure that it gets aired out."
"Nice." Nathan said. "Why both."
Jack turned to show that they each had their initials on them and the Coal Creek/Thornton Thoroughbreds logo. The initials and logo had been carved into the wood and looked like it was filled with a gold color epoxy resin. Nathan was looking at two cherry wood cabinets on wheels. Doug stopped and opened the brass lock and swung the door open. Nathan saw that the saddle was sitting on a saddle rack with the pad. There were various compartments to hold brushes, wraps, and other tools. In the door hung an extra set of stirrups. Doug closed the door and opened another on the side to reveal a spot for their boots, helmet and vest. Once Doug was done showing Nathan the tack case, Carlo came around the corner with a third one.
"Whose is that one?" Nathan asked.
"Yours." Jack said with a grin.
"It was delivered this morning." Carlo said.
"Right now." Jack said. "It has Honey's tack in it, but when we go to Sugar Creek, you will be able to take Athena's stuff."
When Carlo turned the case to give it to Nathan he saw his initials on it and he gasped.
"This is too much." Nathan said.
"Can't have you looking out of place." Doug said. "You jump for Coal Creek and Thornton Thoroughbreds."
"That is right." Jack said. "When we are at the show we represent the company and we have to look the part. I don't want to hear another word about it. The tack case, the polos and the windbreaker are yours to keep. I told you, you are one of us and I meant it."
"So did Ryan get one of these?" Nathan asked.
"Absolutely not." Jack said.
"These are reserved for family and friends." Doug said. "There are Rubbermaid ones that have a sticker logo on them. Those are what other people use."
"Oh." Nathan said.
"Hey." Doug said. "Look at it this way, this means you are definitely one of us."
"Now, we will take these up to the house or do you want to send them with the horses?" Jack asked.
"What do you usually do?" Nathan asked.
"We usually go with the horses." Doug said. "This is different."
"Let's take them with us." Nathan said. "We can put our gear in them and put the extra boots in there before we leave, so we can change."
"Now you are thinking." Jack said.
"We will head to the house." Doug said.
"You head to the meeting." Jack said.
The trio split and left the stable. Nathan was headed to the arena for the meeting while Jack and Doug headed to the house to finish getting ready. Doug grabbed Nathan's case and pulled it up to the house. When they got to the house, Doug and Jack stopped by the garage and put their gear into the cases. Jack then helped secure them into the back of the truck. He knew that they still needed to grab their extra boots.
… … … …