Chapter 130 – A Nice Saturday Lunch

When Jack and Elizabeth got downstairs, he directed Elizabeth to sit down in the sitting room. She looked at him confused.

"I don't think it is wise for me to be in your room." Jack said.

"I need to grab a comb and tie." Elizabeth said.

"I will wait here." Jack said.

Jack sat down and waited for Elizabeth. When Jack sat down, he realized what he had done earlier. It wasn't that he regretted it, but it hit how much his life had changed in the last two weeks. Jack smiled as he realized that he liked the direction that his life was going. He couldn't wait to marry Elizabeth. Jack also knew that he wasn't going to deny Elizabeth the wedding of her dreams, but he hoped and prayed that it didn't take forever. As Jack was thinking, he was so happy that the deal for the horses was going to happen in the next week, not only because he really wanted these horses, but because it gave him a chance to take his fiancée on an official date.

Elizabeth came back out and saw that Jack was sitting there lost in thought, she stopped and smiled for a moment. She was overjoyed that Jack proposed to her. She hadn't been expecting it. She figured it would happen at some point that summer, but she thought it would be more than ten days.

"Jack." Elizabeth said.

Jack shook his head and looked at Elizabeth with a dimpled grin.

"Here, have a seat." Jack said standing up.

Elizabeth sat on the ottoman. She handed Jack her brush and he started brushing out her hair.

"What were you thinking about?" Elizabeth asked.

"I was thinking about this coming week." Jack said. "Let me ask you this. Do you have your passport with you?"

"No." Elizabeth said. "I left it in the apartment."

"Would you be okay with Devin going into the apartment and getting it?" Jack asked.

Elizabeth took a moment to think if she knew where her passport was.

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "It should be in the top left hand drawer of the dresser in the master bedroom."

"Here is my phone." Jack said, pulling it from his waistband. "Can you text Devin?"

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "Why do I need my passport?"

"I found out last night that the owner of some horses I am interested in is back." Jack said. "I was thinking of going up Wednesday and coming back Thursday. I have reserved a hotel in Toronto, even though we will be going to Bancroft first."

"Who is all going?" Elizabeth asked.

"Nathan and Doug." Jack said. "I am going to assume Lee as well."

"What?" Lee asked, walking into the sitting room.

"Didn't you hear last night?" Jack asked.

"No." Lee said.

"I need to run up to Bancroft on Wednesday." Jack said. "I made a reservation to stay in Toronto overnight and come back Thursday."

"If it is okay with Gran." Lee said. "I would prefer to stay here and work on the show. I will also be able to help Gran and maybe James. Especially with your parents gone."

"If that is what you want." Jack said. "I know that Doug and Nathan are going and I just asked Elizabeth."

"Fine by me." Lee said. "Why are you staying overnight? It is only an hour to Toronto and forty-five, fifty minutes to Bancroft."

"I have something planned." Jack said. "I would like to take my fiancée on an actual date. I thought it would be easier in Toronto. Especially when no one outside of this house knows that we are going."

"Good point." Lee said. "Where are you staying?"

"The St Regis." Jack said. "I have a couple places that I am thinking of going for dinner."

"What were you thinking?" Elizabeth asked.

"I am going to head upstairs." Lee said. "I won't say anything about the plans. Just don't be long."

"We won't." Jack said.

"See you in a bit." Lee said.

"So for food." Jack said. "Would you rather have Italian or go to a steakhouse."

"Probably the steakhouse." Elizabeth said.

"Okay." Jack said. "Steakhouse or something else?"

"Like what?" Elizabeth asked.

"There is a restaurant with an American fair with a French twist." Jack said. "There are also various seafood places. We can do Chinese food."

"Are you thinking of dressing up?" Elizabeth asked.

"I was thinking of places that we could do business casual or more." Jack said. "I have a dress shirt coming. It might be coming with pants as well. I planned on wearing my black dress boots."

"What should I wear?" Elizabeth asked.

"I ordered something for you as well." Jack said. "Actually two things. If you don't like them, we can return them. If you like them, you can keep both. Both would go with what I ordered."

"When will they be here?" Elizabeth asked.

"My friend is bringing them." Jack said. "It is my friend, Frank, who is going down to Lancaster to get Katie and her daughter. Devin is going to send your passport and the clothes with Frank. So to answer your question, they will be here Tuesday when Frank arrives."

"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I will trust you to choose where we eat."

"Thank you." Jack said.

Jack finished braiding Elizabeth's hair. She handed him an elastic tie and the green ribbon to match her polo and windbreaker.

"Where did you get this ribbon?" Jack asked.

"It was in Laura's closet." Elizabeth said. "Is it okay that I wear it?"

"It is fine." Jack said. "She always wore a green ribbon in her hair when she jumped. So it is actually perfect."

Jack actually wove the ribbon into part of the bottom of the braid before he tied it. When Jack was done, he leaned down and dropped a kiss on Elizabeth's head.

"Let's go grab a bite to eat." Jack said.

Elizabeth stood up, tucked his phone into his waistband and then gave him a kiss before heading upstairs. Jack stood there stunned for a moment before quickly catching up to Elizabeth.

… … … …

When Lee got upstairs, he helped finish getting everything ready.

"Are JP and Elizabeth coming?" Gran asked.

"He was just finishing up braiding her hair." Lee said.

"Okay." Gran said. "Is there something that you want to share with me, Leland."

Gran gave Lee a pointed look as she was speaking.

"I have nothing to say." Lee said. "If you want to know something, you need to ask your grandson."

"Fine." Gran said. "But I know that you know something. I will find out what it is sooner or later."

Gran had laid out stuff for sandwiches, as well as one of each of the fruit and veggie trays that the group made. She also had individual bags of chips. There was coffee and fresh, cold lemonade to drink. Gran had directed those to be on the table. People would make their sandwiches at the counter and then go sit. As Gran was looking around, she was so glad that she got the table that could expand one panel at a time to go from ten to twenty people. She realized that with thirteen people, it would be the most people that they have had around the table other than at family holidays.

As people were sitting or standing around, Jack and Elizabeth came upstairs hand in hand. When they stopped in front of Gran, she looked at them. She took a full minute to look them up and down. She noticed that the horse ring that Jack had given Elizabeth was on her right hand and not her left.

"Do you two have something to say to all of us?" Gran asked, with raised eyebrows.

Jack looked at Elizabeth who smiled at him and then nodded.

"Yes." Jack said. "We do have something to say to you. Earlier today, I formally asked Elizabeth to marry me and gave her a beautiful engagement ring."

Jack held up his hand for quiet.

"I know that you are all excited and have questions." Jack said. "But at this time, we are not going to make this widely known. I will tell Father Mark later today or tomorrow. I have already let Devin know. Beyond that and whoever Elizabeth chooses to tell, we are not going to make a formal announcement at this time."

"Congratulations." Gran said.

Gran gave each of them a hug and then motioned for other people to do so as well as they came to get their food.

"Let's stop and say a quick prayer before we get too far." James said.

Everyone stopped and bowed their heads.

"Heavenly Father." James prayed. "First and foremost, we thank you for these two young people and their commitment to each other. We ask that You bless them abundantly. We ask for safety for all those that are riding in the Charity Classic. Keep the riders and horses safe. We ask You to be with all of us as we watch the riders and horses. Guide our conversations and help us to be gracious winners or losers. Finally we ask that You bless this food to our bodies and bless the hands that have worked to prepare it. Amen."

Several amens rang out. People went back to making their plates and congratulating Jack and Elizabeth as they passed by. Jack and Elizabeth were the last to go, except for Gran. Once everyone had their plates and were seated, the conversation turned to asking about the proposal. Jack didn't share much, but to say that he hadn't planned on doing it, but it felt right and was grateful that Elizabeth said yes. Everyone wanted to know about the ring.

"Yes." Elizabeth said. "Please tell me and all of us about this ring."

"I happen to be looking for some other jewelry." Jack said. "I happened to come across this ring and the matching wedding band that came with it and just knew that it was the right one. I immediately ordered it for Elizabeth. It is platinum with a rose gold accent. The center diamond is point five carats. This band and the matching one have diamond and sapphires for a total additional point thirty-eight carats. The rose gold is interlocking Celtic knots. Elizabeth hasn't seen it, but I also ordered a platinum wedding band for me with interlocking Celtic knots set in it."

Elizabeth leaned over and kissed Jack's cheek.

"You chose well." Elizabeth said. "So I trust you."

"Thank you, my love." Jack said.

"So when do you think that you will get married?" John asked.

Jack looked over at Elizabeth.

"I will marry Elizabeth anytime." Jack said. "However, we haven't had a chance to talk. I am hoping for sooner rather than later, but I also won't deny Elizabeth the wedding that she wants."

"I haven't really thought about it." Elizabeth said. "But I promise I won't keep Jack waiting forever. I think a lot of it is going to depend on what we need to do so that we can have a church wedding."

"Elizabeth." Jack said.

"No." Elizabeth said. "This won't only be my wedding, but our wedding. I can't imagine you not getting married in the Church. I have seen how important your faith is to you. I won't take that away from you. I have always wanted a church wedding. Since sitting in Church on Sunday, I know where I belong and that is by Jack's side. I haven't made a final decision about becoming Catholic or not, but I know that we will get married in the Church."

"Thank you for that." Jack said. "Then I guess we need to have a conversation with Father Mark at some point this weekend and see what we need to do."

"I think that is best." Gran said. "I will do whatever I can to help you Elizabeth."

"If you want anyone to come up here to be with you." John said. "I am happy to make the arrangements."

"Thank you both." Elizabeth said. "Other than talking to Father Mark, I think we need to table this discussion until at least tomorrow afternoon. Not only do I want Jack to be able to focus on his jumping, but I need some time to let this all sink in."

"If that is what you want." James said.

The discussion then turned to other things, including business and what people were looking forward to at the Classic and the banquet. As people finished, they took their dishes to the sink, rinsed them and put them in the dishwasher. Jack, Nathan, Doug, Lee and Elizabeth started putting things away. Jack also grabbed a medium cooler and put Gatorade and water in it along with an ice pack. He then grabbed six energy bars and put them in there as well.

"Go." Elizabeth said. "Don't forget your extra boots."

"I won't." Jack said.

Jack patted Doug on the back. They went to put their riding boots on. Nathan quickly followed. In addition, Nathan tucked his smaller pistol into his riding boot.

"Is that too noticeable or do you think it is okay?" Nathan asked.

"It looks okay." Doug said. "Unless you knew or were looking closely, you wouldn't notice that you had it."

"You have your license on you right?" Jack asked.

"Yes." Nathan said. "It is in my wallet, which is in the inside pocket of my jacket."

"Good." Jack said. "Just in case, but all of our people should know who you are, even if you don't know who they are. It is the State Police that I would worry about. You got your extra boots?"

"By the door." Nathan said.

"Then I think we are ready to go." Jack said.

"Everyone ready to go?" Nathan called.

"You guys go ahead." James said. "We will be behind you in a few minutes."

"Then we will go as well." Chris said. "Are you going to be okay with just Andrew?"

"No problem." John said. "Peter will be with me as well."

"Alright." Chris said. "I won't worry about you three then. We will see you at the event."

With that, Nathan, Jack, Doug, Lee and Elizabeth grabbed their stuff and headed to the garage to get the truck. Jack, Doug and Nathan took a moment to add their boots to their tack cases. Jack also secured the cooler in the storage in the back. Nathan backed out of the garage and they waited for security to pull in behind them and they left the farm.

… … … …

As soon as they were gone, John turned to James and Margaret.

"I know that you love your daughter." John said. "But please, please whatever you do, don't tell her that JP and Elizabeth are formally engaged. I don't know how she will react and I want to give them some time to adjust before they will have to deal with her. She is not going to be happy and I am afraid that she will do something and they will be forced to put her in jail. As much as I don't like her behavior, I don't want to see her in jail. Nor do I want JP to feel guilty even if he did nothing wrong."

"Agreed." James said. "She made her choices and she needs to deal with the consequences. Like I have always tried to teach them – 'you are free to make whatever choice that you want, but you are not free from the consequences of those choices.' I guess Charlotte never really learned that lesson."

"No, I agree with that." John said. "I think we need to get through this weekend and then we can see where things are going."

"I agree." Gran said. "I am happy for them. I have never seen JP this happy, even before Laura. Elizabeth is good for him and anyone who can't see that is blind or chooses not to see it."

James and John nodded.

"Alright let's go." James said.

The three plus Peter and Andrew headed out the John's luxury town car and headed to the track. John wasn't worried about his own personal safety at that point, he was more worried about Jack and Elizabeth. The last thing that he wanted was for them to be bombarded by the press. He was glad that he sent Chris and them with Jack and his group. He was also glad that he had two other teams of three security there mingling with the people already. What most of them didn't know was that John had twelve shadow team members at and around the track as well. He also knew that there were at least ten FBI agents and a dozen members of the State Police in place as well.

… … … …