Chapter 167 – Jack and Grandpa John
Katie and Elizabeth pulled out the games they had found and took them to the sitting area to make sure all the pieces were there.
"I see you found them." Lee said.
"Yes." Elizabeth said. "There were a lot more than I thought. We didn't even look at the puzzles, since we bought a couple boxes with multiple ones in it."
"Yeah." Lee said. "I forgot how many they had. We haven't played games in a long time. Us boys would pull some of them out when we were younger and it was rainy."
"I wouldn't mind a game night some time." Elizabeth said.
"I am sure that Jack would do that." Lee said.
Elizabeth smiled to herself, she knew that she was going to ask Jack about maybe next week having a game night. Once they had made sure that the games that they picked out had all the pieces, they set them aside with the tote of art supplies.
"I should have gotten a bin for games upstairs." Katie said. "Also I realized that we didn't get Katie and Opal laundry baskets."
"Well, I know that Gran needs to take her in to go grocery shopping tomorrow." Elizabeth said.
"I will talk to Margaret." Katie said. "I think given what happened today, I will go with them. I will also start a list of things that we need to pick up."
Katie grabbed her phone and started a list. Katie and Elizabeth were playing on their phones and Lee was watching ESPN when Jack walked through from the gym.
"Elizabeth." Jack said.
Elizabeth looked up and smiled at Jack.
"I need to shower, change and then talk to my grandfather." Jack said. "Then I was wondering if we could sit and talk. I have a few things we need to deal with."
"I have a few things to talk to you about as well." Elizabeth said.
"I will come get you when I am done with Grandpa John." Jack said. "I am not sure how long it will take."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "We are waiting on laundry."
"I can always set the apartment up myself." Katie said.
"I can help." Nathan said coming down the hallway.
"We will figure it out." Katie said. "Right now, we are waiting on laundry."
"Just let us know." Nathan said.
"I will." Katie said. "I know that it will go fast with more of us, but I also need to check certain things and make sure the apartment is set and has everything that it needs."
"I understand." Nathan said. "It was just at my suggestion that James hired Katie, so I feel I should help in any way that I can."
About ten minutes after Jack and Nathan headed to their room, Elizabeth saw Jack head upstairs to meet with his grandfather. He wasn't sure what he wanted, but figured it had something to do with what he had said the day before about buying additional property and wanting to build up the orchard. Jack also knew that he hadn't had much of a chance to talk to his grandfather with everything else going on. He knew that his grandfather was concerned about him, especially with everything that happened with Thomas and Charlotte. He just wondered how far his grandfather was going to push to talk. Jack was at a point that he was pretty much talked out about what happened. He just wanted to put it behind him and move forward. He knew that his parents had made their choice he had made his. Jack checked the dining room and didn't see anyone so figured that they were still in the library. He walked over to the library and saw that the doors were pulled almost shut.
"Knock, knock." Jack said, opening the door a bit.
"Come in." John said. "Shut the doors, they don't need to be locked, but I would like them shut."
Jack shut the doors and then took a seat on the couch across from his grandfather.
"You wanted to talk, Sir." Jack said.
"First." John said. "Are you okay with Peter being in here?"
"Sure." Jack said.
"First and foremost." John said. "I want to make sure that you are okay. You have been through a lot in the last couple of weeks."
"I am not saying that it has been easy or is easy." Jack said. "But I am doing a lot better. Talking to Father Mark on Friday night helped. Thank you for supporting me and giving me the space I needed."
"No problem." John said. "I was concerned when I arrived and learned you were in the music room."
"I will admit that Friday was hard." Jack said. "However it has been much better since Ma and Dad left. Don't get me wrong, I am sorry that they can't accept my choices. However, I know what I want and what is going to do what is best for me."
"I agree." John said. "You have shown that you are plenty mature enough to make decisions. I am still concerned that they are not done causing trouble, but we will deal with what comes."
"I agree." Jack said. "But I have removed them from having access to me, my accounts and properties. I have signed papers naming Elizabeth and Nathan as my emergency contacts if something happens. The only thing that is still out there, is the shares of Thornton Thoroughbreds and I was thinking I would like to buy both Dad and Tommy out."
"Maybe later this summer." John said. "Let's not make any more changes with only a few days left in the fiscal quarter."
"Okay." Jack said.
"I wanted to talk to you about the Miller property." John said.
"What about it?" Jack asked.
"I totally understand your desire to change the name." John said. "But I would ask you to hold off."
"Why?" Jack asked.
"Couple reasons." John said. "First of all, we need to change the perception of the property and the best way to do that is to build on the good reputation of Coal Creek and Thornton Thoroughbreds. Do you understand?"
Jack just kind of shrugged his shoulders.
"You don't want another Tree Blossom situation." Peter said. "They changed the name, but it didn't change the perception. All it did was confuse people. It made a bad situation worse."
"I can see that." Jack said.
"Not only that." John said. "But it is a lot of work and time to change the name. We already have it listed as Coal Creek and those papers are barely dry. I am not asking you to ever do it, but to hold off for a few years. Maybe when you are closer to having products like juice and cider, then you can think of a name change. I am assuming you have spoken to Elizabeth. Can I ask what you were thinking?"
"Croí Croft." Jack said. "We like it because of what it means as well as still being the double c like Coal Creek."
John smiled.
"I like it." John said. "However, I am still asking you to hold off. With that name, you are going to add another layer of confusion. No one is going to know how to pronounce it and won't get the reference."
"Guess I didn't think about it." Jack said. "Both Elizabeth and I liked it."
"I am not saying that you can't use it." John said. "But think about it."
"I will." Jack said. "Was there anything else?"
"Yes." John said. "I want to let you know that Thornton Thoroughbreds bought Jellybean back. He probably won't ever jump again, but he can still make a great stud and trail horse."
"So what is diagnosis?" Jack asked.
"A simple fracture of the pastern." John said.
"He had heat around the knee." Jack said.
"The fracture might have been there before he jumped." John said. "It might be why he couldn't make the jump. The vet I spoke with didn't think that the fracture was caused by hitting the jump. There was heat in the knee because of hitting the jump. They believe that there might be a strained muscle. They are going to let the pastern heal on its own. The horse is on stall rest and they are keeping an eye on him."
"Any push back from the previous owners?" Jack asked.
"No." John said. "They had opted to put the horse down because they said that they couldn't have a horse that wasn't working. I guess these owners also do rodeo and reining. The vet thinks that the fracture is from over training."
"When will he be back here?" Jack asked.
"Couple of weeks." Peter said. "He is at that vet center over toward Grangerville."
"Where are you going to put him?" Jack asked.
"When he comes back, he will still be on stall rest." John said. "So we were thinking of putting him over at the retirement center so he can get the attention that he needs. After he is off stall rest, we will have to see. I think he would make a great trail horse around here if he can handle the stall rest."
"I will have to go see him when he gets here." Jack said. "Please keep me posted about things."
"I will." John said. "I have also approved the move of Rocky and Rainbow. I have also put money into an account if you want to buy the two or three horses this week up in Canada. I have checked out the paperwork and if they are as good as they look on paper, go ahead and get them."
"Thank you, Sir." Jack said.
"So you want those two to be jumpers for Doug's sisters." John said.
"Yes." Jack said. "Rocky and Rainbow are great, but getting up there and won't be able to keep up as the girls move up the levels."
"No, I agree." John said. "I hope things work out."
"Thank you." Jack said.
"With the transition happening." John said. "Just know that you will start getting more and more reports. I will start having them sent here next week. At this point, please just read them and sign off online that you have read them. If you have questions, please make a note and we can talk about them. At this point, I just want you to start getting more familiar with the reports. Some come weekly, some monthly, some quarterly. Any reports of that nature that I get, will automatically be copied to you as well."
"I will, Sir." Jack said. "Thank you. I know that it is going to take time to learn things."
"It will get easier as you learn more." John said. "Getting familiar with the reports now, will also help you in school."
"So you are okay with me buying the additional land?" Jack asked.
"I was a little surprised." John said. "But I knew that you wanted to expand things. I just don't want you to spread yourself too thin. I expect you to ask for help and hire people as needed."
"I understand, Sir." Jack said. "I have already contacted a professional horticulturist and an arborist to come and inspect the Miller property the first week of August. I have also been in contact with a contractor about adding a helipad and building new buildings. He is scheduled to view the property the first part of August as well."
"Have you thought about hiring someone to be a property manager?" John asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "I have an idea of who I want. I need to talk to Elizabeth. She deserves to be a part of this conversation and then I will talk to him."
"Let me know." John said.
"I will." Jack said. "I had Devin put together an offer for the job, so if Elizabeth is on board, I can make the offer."
"Still let me know before you do that." John said.
"I will." Jack said. "It might end up being an email or call."
"That is fine." John said.
"Anything else?" Jack asked.
"Not at this time." John said.
"Are you coming back for the Fourth?" Jack asked.
"I was thinking about it." John said. "I was going to talk to Margaret later. I was thinking of coming up at some point on the third and staying for a few days. The offices at Thornton Inc, are officially closed Wednesday through Friday that week."
"I am sure that Gran would have no problem with you coming." Jack said.
"I will talk to her." John said.
"Okay." Jack said. "If there is nothing else, Elizabeth and I need to sit down and talk about some things."
"Go." John said.