Chapter 148 – End of the Banquet
"Let's talk about something else." Elizabeth said.
"I see that you have a different ring on your finger." Father Mark said. "I noticed it at the jumping event, but didn't think that it was the right place to ask."
Elizabeth smiled, then leaned over and gave Jack a quick kiss.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "Jack asked me this morning."
Father Mark nodded. He wasn't surprised that Jack didn't wait long, but he was still a little surprised that everything happened so fast.
"So have you thought about wedding dates?" Father Mark asked.
"We were going to ask you about that?" Jack asked.
"Normally, the diocese requires a six month waiting period." Father Mark said. "But you can petition the Bishop for an exception. I don't know if he would grant it, especially given that neither of your parents are supportive of this marriage."
"But we can try?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes." Father Mark said. "So what were you thinking?"
"We talked about the end of August before school starts." Jack said.
"Then I would have the petition to the Bishop by Tuesday at the latest." Father Mark said. "Once his office receives it, he has seven business days to respond. He can outright deny it, approve it or ask for more information."
"Okay." Jack said. "I guess that will be the first step."
"Regardless of what the Bishop says." Father Mark said. "I have a couple of my own conditions."
"Okay." Jack said.
"First." Father Mark said. "I want you to order a couple of books. The first one is Together for Life by Joseph M Champlin. It is one that I use in marriage prep classes. The other is God's Plan for Love by Ascension Press. I want you to read through these books together and we will talk about them when we meet. Normally, I would have couples work through the entire marriage prep workbook, but that takes at least three months and is actually a class that you attend. The diocese holds those classes four times a year. If you work through the other books with me, I believe the Bishop will okay it. He has in the past, especially if he grants your petition."
"Okay." Jack said. "I will order the books tonight. Regardless of what the Bishop says, we will need them. I have a feeling that there is something else."
"Yes." Father Mark said. "I am going to require that you both meet with a counselor individually. You both have had several major changes happen in the last month. After you meet with the counselor individually, we can meet together and talk about the books and anything else that needs to be addressed."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "I already said I think it would be helpful to talk to someone about everything that is going on."
"I will do it." Jack said. "Only because you are making me."
"Don't have that kind of attitude." Father Mark said. "I am making this a requirement because like I have said, you both have had a lot of changes. I know that you and I have talked about things, Jack. I still think that at least talking to the counselor once or twice is a good idea. I have some training in counseling, but I am not a licensed marriage and family therapist."
"Jack." Elizabeth said. "I know that you haven't really ever dealt with what happened to Laura, couple that with everything that has happened with me and your parents. I think that it is a good idea to talk to someone that doesn't have any connection to what is going on. I think that it would do us both good."
"Okay." Jack said.
"Jack." Elizabeth said. "Please look at me. I know that you want to get married in August, but I really think that my original idea of Christmas is a better idea. It will give us more time to work through things and it will also give us time to know each other better."
"Are you having second thoughts?" Jack asked.
"No." Elizabeth said. "I love you and want to spend my life with you, but we have known each other less than two weeks and we are engaged. There have also been so many other things that have happened in the last two weeks. I just think that we need some time."
"I just want to be with you." Jack said. "If we are married, I will be able to protect you."
"You are doing a wonderful job of protecting me." Elizabeth said. "How about this? We do the petition to the Bishop, if he grants it, then we can talk more about a date. Let's just go one step at a time. We do the petition, order the books and Father Mark will arrange the counselors."
"I think that Elizabeth makes a lot of sense." Father Mark said.
"Okay." Jack said. "I just don't want anything to happen to you."
"It won't." Elizabeth said. "We are engaged. You said that the security will stay as long as needed. You have set me up in a safe apartment. I have never felt as safe as I do when I am with you."
"I love you." Jack said.
Jack then leaned forward and kissed Elizabeth.
"Good that is settled." Father Mark said. "You order the books and I will get you the petition that you will need to fill out and fax to the Bishop. I am sure that you can fax it from the ranch. I think that it may be on the diocese's website as well."
"I guess Katie and I need to look for a wedding dress." Elizabeth said.
Jack smiled and gave Elizabeth another kiss.
"Do you care if I wear a kilt for the wedding?" Jack asked.
"If that is what you want." Elizabeth said. "You can do it."
"Good." Jack said.
Jack took the ice off his hand. Elizabeth looked at Jack's hand and shook her head. Father Mark saw Jack's hand.
"How is your hand?" Father Mark asked.
"Sore." Jack said.
"Can you flex it?" Father Mark asked.
Jack tried to flex his hand and winced slightly.
"You should get an x-ray." Father Mark said.
"If it is still sore tomorrow." Jack said. "I think it will be okay, but I promise that if it is still sore tomorrow, I will go in."
"Very well." Father Mark said. "It is getting late, so I think I am going to leave. I have a seven am Mass. I assume I will see you at ten?"
"Yes." Jack said.
"See you then." Father Mark said.
Father Mark stood up and made his way around the table to say his goodbyes. Jack turned to Elizabeth.
"Care to dance again?" Jack asked.
"I thought you would never ask." Elizabeth said.
Jack and Elizabeth stood and headed to the dance floor with a quick stop to let Chris know. Jack and Elizabeth finished the song and then started the next one. Half way through the song, Jack felt that someone was intently watching them. Jack momentarily closed his eyes and prayed that it was just security, but he had a feeling that it wasn't. Elizabeth felt that something was wrong with Jack, but she wasn't sure if she should ask. She knew that he was still upset from the confrontation at the bar area. When Jack opened his eyes, he started to try and look around.
"What is going on?" Elizabeth asked.
"I just felt that someone was intently watching us." Jack said.
"It is probably security." Elizabeth said.
"That was my first thought as well." Jack said. "But my gut is telling me that it is something else."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "Let's just keep dancing. Chris knows that we are here. We can both look around as we are dancing."
Both Elizabeth and Jack started discreetly looking around as they danced. Elizabeth thought she spotted someone who looked vaguely familiar. It was his eyes that stuck out to Elizabeth.
"I want you to turn me around." Elizabeth said. "When you do, I want you to check out the guy in the blue pinstripe suit near the end of the buffet table."
Jack turned them around so that he could see who Elizabeth spotted. When Jack turned the man was intently watching them. The man looked vaguely familiar but Jack couldn't place him. As they danced, Jack quietly talked to Elizabeth to see if they could figure it out.
"I see who you spotted." Jack said. "He looks familiar, but I can't place him and I am usually really good with faces."
"I know what you mean." Elizabeth said. "It was his eyes and the way that he was looking at me that felt familiar."
The band announced that the next song would be their last before they took a little break. Jack and Elizabeth decided to stay for the last song before the break. As Jack knew that the song was almost over, he turned to Elizabeth again.
"Any more thoughts about who the man is?" Jack asked.
"No." Elizabeth said. "But he is creeping me out."
"Knowing Grandpa." Jack said. "We will probably leave shortly after the break, especially since we have Church in the morning and guests coming."
"Okay." Elizabeth said.
Jack and Elizabeth finished the song and then headed back to the table. When they sat down, Jack could still feel the man watching them.
"Nathan." Jack said.
Nathan looked over at Jack. Jack motioned for him to move closer. Doug caught the look and moved over as well.
"What is going on?" Nathan asked.
"Guy, end of the buffet table, blue pinstripe." Jack said. "He is creeping both Elizabeth and I out. He is watching us to close for comfort."
Nathan picked up his glass, held it up and looked around for a waitress as he looked for the guy. He spotted the guy just as the waitress spotted Nathan's raised hand. She was coming over, so Nathan put his hand down and turned back to Jack.
"I see what you mean." Nathan said.
The waitress walked up.
"Did you want another drink?" The waitress asked.
"Yes." Nathan said. "Another Coke and cherry."
"I will take a Sprite." Elizabeth said.
"I will be right back." The waitress said.
As they waited for their drinks, Cass and Harold stepped up and asked people to take their seats for a bit. Nathan and Jack were watching the guy they had spotted and he reluctantly took a seat, but immediately pulled out his phone and sent a text. Doug leaned over.
"I think that guy is trouble." Doug said.
"I agree." Nathan said. "I am not going anywhere. Doug, can you alert Chris please."
Doug pulled out his phone and sent a text to Chris. When Chris' phone beeped, he looked at it and turned around. He looked at them, then turned and got up. He walked over to the edge of the tent like he needed to stretch his back. Chris quickly texted Doug back as he walked to the edge of the tent. Chris then made a couple of other texts.
"Chris said to stay here." Doug said. "They are going to do the donations right now, so let's try not to make a scene."
"Okay." Jack said.
Jack turned and gave Elizabeth a kiss on the temple.
"Just relax." Jack whispered. "We won't let anything happen."
Elizabeth nodded. While still keeping an eye on the guy, they all turned their attention back to Cass and Harold. They were talking about the charity and the donation that they were going to make to the Brain Injury Association. When they were done talking, the waitresses came out again. Those with drink orders did them and the rest went to each table and handed out envelopes.
"Seriously?" Nathan asked.
"Seriously." Jack said. "They get more donations this way. It is part of that whole seen and be seen thing."
As Jack was talking, Nathan's phone beeped. He looked at it and his expression completely changed.
"Doug." Nathan said.
"Yes." Doug said, turning to look at Nathan.
"Please come here." Nathan said.