Chapter 160 – The Rest of A Family Sunday
Elizabeth hung up the phone and went back out to the kitchen.
"Everything okay?" Gran asked.
"I guess." Elizabeth said. "That was my best friend. Jack said to invite her up here for the weekend. She wasn't as open minded as I thought she would be. I stood up for myself and she was surprised about that. She doesn't seem to understand. I still want her to come, but …."
"Just remind her about the rules." Gran said.
"I did." Elizabeth said. "But I will text her as well. Is it okay if she comes up here?"
"If you want her here and she can abide by the rules I have set forth for everyone." Gran said. "I reminded Patricia about the rules as well."
"Thank you." Elizabeth said. "I was really hoping that Rosie loves Jack and his friends. We have been best friends since we were really little. I would hate to have to choose, but I know that I would choose Jack."
"Just be honest with her." Gran said. "If she really is your friend then she will be happy for you when she sees you happy."
"Thank you again." Elizabeth said. "It is just hard. She has never seen me serious about a guy and I told her I was engaged, she flipped out. I had wanted to wait until she got here to tell her, but she started going on about Charlie and the tabloids. I had to tell her. I still don't think that she understands."
"Just keep talking to her." Gran said. "Like I said, if she is a real friend, she will be happy for you when she sees you are happy."
Elizabeth was looking around wondering where everyone was.
"Everyone is outside." Gran said. "John and James aren't back yet, but they should be soon. The boys were tuning the guitars when I came back in."
"Need help getting anything?" Elizabeth asked.
"No." Gran said. "I came in to wait for you."
"Then let's go." Elizabeth said.
Gran and Elizabeth walked outside. Jack looked up at Elizabeth and immediately knew that something was wrong. He set his guitar down and looked at Doug.
"Start without me." Jack said.
Not giving Doug a chance to respond, Jack immediately went to Elizabeth.
"What is wrong?" Jack asked.
Elizabeth just shook her head. Jack took her by the hand and led her over toward the stairs and away from everyone else. He sat down on the stairs and pulled Elizabeth on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her.
"Now what happened?" Jack asked.
Elizabeth quickly recounted some of her conversation with Rosie. As she spoke, Elizabeth wiped a few tears and Jack held her tighter.
"I am sorry." Jack said. "Hopefully when she gets here, she can see that we love each other and that you are good. Hopefully she can be a true friend to you. Also, I am so sorry this is so hard for you."
"It is not your fault." Elizabeth said.
"I still feel bad." Jack said. "Thank you for loving me. I hope that your friend likes it up here and likes us, but no matter what please promise me something."
"What?" Elizabeth asked, looking at Jack.
"Promise me that you will still love me." Jack said.
"Always." Elizabeth said with a grin.
Jack leaned forward and gave her a quick kiss.
"I think we should head back to the group." Jack said. "As much as I want to sit here alone with you, I don't think that is a good idea right now."
"Okay." Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth stood up and then helped Jack up. They walked back to the group hand in hand. Doug was playing a song and Nathan looked like he was carving something sitting off to the side. Jack didn't mind and if Nathan needed to not be at the front right now, he would allow it. Jack was curious what Nathan was doing, but was going to let him be for a bit. Jack let go of Elizabeth's hand when she sat in the chair closest to where Jack had put his guitar. He then sat on the stone ledge and picked up his guitar. He then looked over and saw what Doug was playing, so he counted off the beat and joined him in playing the end of the song.
Doug and Jack started another song while Father Mark came up to join them. He grabbed one of the older song books that Jack had and flipped through it until his eyes landed on a certain page. He grabbed another song book for the keyboard and found the same song. Father Mark smiled to himself as he looked at the song he picked out. He knew that Jack had an eclectic collection of song books and sheet music. Most of Jack's favorites could only be described as camp songs of the eighties and nineties. It wasn't that Jack didn't like more modern music, but it was that he loved the older ones better. When Jack and Doug finished the song they were on, Jack looked over at Father Mark.
"You pick one out?" Jack asked.
"It is open to the song." Father Mark said.
Jack looked over and saw what he had picked. Jack moved the book so it was in front of both him and Doug.
"I expect everyone to sing along." Jack said. "Since Father Mark picked out the song, he can start."
Father Mark nodded and started playing the keyboard. Jack and Doug joined him. Together they all sang Shine Jesus Shine by Graham Kendrick. A last eighties/early nineties standard in most Christian churches and camps.
Lord, the light of your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness, shining
Jesus, Light of the world, shine upon us
Set us free by the truth you now bring us
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light
By the end of the chorus, most everyone had joined in. Elizabeth loved this song and was glad that they played it. She hadn't wanted to ask, because she wasn't sure if they knew it or not. She then realized that she shouldn't underestimate Jack as he had surprised her at every turn. Elizabeth closed her eyes and listened to the words being sung and tried to forget everything else.
Lord, I come to your awesome presence
From the shadows into your radiance
By the blood I may enter your brightness
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light
As we gaze on your kingly brightness
So our faces display your likeness
Ever changing from glory to glory
Mirrored here may our lives tell your story
Shine on me, shine on me
Shine, Jesus, shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river, flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be
Send forth your
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there
Send forth your word
Send forth your word
Lord, and let there be light
By the end of the song, Jack had noticed that Elizabeth looked a lot more at peace. He was glad that she was able to relax after a stressful conversation with her best friend. Jack also noticed that his grandfather's group was back and had joined them while they had been singing. When they finished the song, Bill came up to join the group.
"JP." Gran said.
"Yes, Gran." Jack said.
"Can you play that one you, Father Mark and Nathan played the other night?" Gran asked.
"Sure." Jack said. "Give us a minute to set up the other instruments."
"What are you playing?" Bill asked.
"Creedby Rich Mullins." Jack said. "Father Mark and I will play the hammered dulcimer if you are willing to try the guitar part. Doug, can you take the keyboard."
"Sure." Doug said.
"I will come to play as well." Nathan said.
Nathan set aside his carving and moved up front. Jack and Father Mark set up the hammered dulcimers. Doug found just the drum portion on the keyboard. Nathan and Bill found the music for the guitar. When they were all ready, they looked at Jack and he counted off the beat. They played a couple times though. When they were done, Bill looked at Jack and shook his head.
"You will never stop surprising us." Bill said. "When did you learn to play that?"
"The last couple of years." Jack said shyly.
"That reminds me." Bill said. "What was that piece that you played at the end of communion today."
"I was going to ask you that as well." Nathan said.
"Nothing." Jack said, ducking his head. "Just some random notes that popped in my head."
"Yeah, like we believe that." Bill said with a roll of his eyes.
Peter came up to sit next to his dad and they picked out another song. Father Mark moved over to the other keyboard while Jack stayed on the hammered dulcimer. Jack was easily able to convert the music to what he needed as he played. Bill was even impressed with what Jack was doing. They went back and forth for another hour playing different songs from praise and worship to country favorites to some Southern Rock when Bill convinced Nathan and Jack to play Sweet Home Alabama with him. People sang along as they knew the words otherwise just listened. The snacks had been set out and people ate as they wanted. Finally when it was well past supper time, Abigail looked at Bill.
"We should get the kids home." Abigail said. "They haven't had supper."
"We aren't hungry Mom." Becky said. "We have been snacking on fruit, veggies, meat, cheese and crackers."
"Abigail." Gran said. "It is fine. It is not like they had candy and ice cream. We put out healthy choices and it is okay that they don't have a formal meal once and awhile."
"I agree." Bill said. "How about we stay another hour and then we can get the kids home and to bed."
"Fine." Abigail relented.
Various combinations of musicians played for the next hour with a nice mix of songs. At one point, John and James looked at each other and knew the piano was a good idea. Cody was almost asleep when the Averys left. Jack, Doug, Nathan and Father Mark cleaned up the instruments and got them all back up to the music room. Katie and Elizabeth helped Gran put all the food away and clean up the dishes that had been used. The guys worked at putting all the tables and chairs away. They also put all the furniture back in Tommy's room.
Once the house was restored to order, security left but not before Gran invited them back for breakfast since they had the security meeting for the show as well as her and Elizabeth going shopping. They agreed to be there by eight. After they left, Elizabeth and the guys headed downstairs to relax while John, James and Margaret retired to their respective rooms. Doug flipped the tv on to catch the scores. Lee sat down next to him. Nathan was finishing his carving. Jack and Elizabeth sat a little further away and cuddled for a bit.
Finally curiosity got the best of Jack.
"Nathan." Jack said. "What are you making?"
"A set of little horses." Nathan said. "I made a set for my niece Allie for Christmas last year. I thought I would make a couple for Cody."
"Cool." Jack said. "Hold one up."
Nathan did.
"I used those Fisher Price animals as a reference." Nathan said.
"He is going to absolutely love those." Doug said. "I have never seen a little boy so obsessed with horses, however I hear Jack over there was the same way."
Jack stuck his tongue out at Doug and shook his head.
"Deny it all you want." Doug said. "We all know it is true."
Nathan, Doug, Lee and Elizabeth all laughed while Jack turned red.
"Fine." Jack said.