Author's Note: to the guest review signed Dazed and Confused - there is a chapter called Character Breakdown. It will be publish and then moved to the beginning of the story, so please refer back to that. It is not everyone in the story, but the main cast and other important figures. I will update this from time to time. I hope that this helps.

Chapter 171 – Monday Cleaning

Jack and Elizabeth were still talking when Nathan, Doug, Lee and Katie walked in. Jack looked up and smiled.

"Did you get everything done?" Jack asked.

"Yes." Nathan said.

"Beds are made and everything else is put away." Katie said. "I also have a list of other things that we need to get tomorrow."

"Like what?" Jack asked.

"Laundry baskets, garbage cans, cleaning supplies, a broom and dustpan." Katie said. "Stuff to make the apartment functional."

"It is okay." Gran said coming out. "I didn't get them because I couldn't remember what was all still up there. I knew that we were going to have to go shopping tomorrow so I wasn't worried."

"We can take the truck again." Katie said.

"Sounds good." Gran said.

"Where did you put the things for Opal?" Elizabeth asked.

"I put her books on the table by her bed." Nathan said.

"He even set up the tea set on the coffee table." Lee teased.

"Yeah, he looked pretty comfortable with those." Doug added. "We might have to check his man card."

"Douglas, Leland!" John said.

Both ducked their heads, but turned to face John who had come back out to the dining/sitting area.

"You will not tease Nathan." John said. "He has a little niece that he loves dearly. I am sure that when you each have a daughter that you will willingly play tea parties or princesses to keep her happy, so enough."

"Yes, Sir." Doug and Lee both said.

"We were just teasing." Lee said, looking at Nathan.

"I know." Nathan said. "But John is right. I love Allie and would do anything to make her happy, including playing tea parties with her."

"Good." Gran said. "Now that that is settled, what is the plan for the rest of the afternoon and evening?"

"I want to work on the carvings some more." Nathan said.

"I need to check in with Chris and Rob." Katie said.

"I was hoping to teach Jack the game I picked up." Elizabeth said.

"Don't forget to order that stuff and look at the paperwork I filled out for the Bishop." Jack said.

"Elizabeth, boys." Gran said. "Why don't you go hang out downstairs in the sitting area. Katie you do what you need. We will eat about six."

Everyone started to move.

"Freeze." Katie said.

Everyone stopped and looked at Katie.

"Jack." Katie said. "I expect you to strip the bed and make sure that the bathroom from your parents suite is clean. I also expect all of you to keep your rooms clean and caught up on laundry. Have any of you changed your sheets since you've been here or cleaned your bathroom?"

"No." They all muttered.

"Then I expect it to be done before you leave for Toronto." Katie said. "You are all adults and it is not fair to expect Margaret to do all that extra housework."

"We will take care of those things before we watch the game." Jack said.

"Thank you." Katie said. "Margaret, sorry if I overstepped, but I just didn't feel it was right to expect you to do everything."

"It is alright." Gran said. "I was going to say something tonight about their rooms and laundry."

"I agree." John said. "We are all guests in the house, but at the same time, we can make things easier. Especially with additional guests coming this weekend."

"We will take care of things, Gran." Jack said.

"That is all we are asking." Gran said. "You all will be responsible for your rooms, bathroom and laundry. If you strip the bed upstairs and wipe down the bathroom, I will make it."

"Yes, ma'am." Nathan said. "We can handle that."

Nathan looked at Jack.

"Let's go." Jack said. "I will strip the bed upstairs and be back down."

"We will start in our room." Doug said.

"Be back up here before six for supper." Gran said.

"Yes, ma'am." Doug said.

Jack went upstairs while Nathan, Lee, Doug and Elizabeth headed downstairs. Katie headed out to the security office.

"Was there something that you needed, John?" Gran asked.

"I was just going to see if there was some coffee." John said. "Peter and I have about at least two more hours of work."

"I will make some and bring it in." Gran said.

"Thank you." John said. "I was going to ask you about next week and the Fourth."

"You are more than welcome to come stay." Gran said.

"I was thinking of coming up sometime on the third." John said. "And staying through the show at Sugar Creek. Peter will be with me and we will have some work to do, but we can easily work from here."

"That is fine." Gran said. "Peter is more than welcome to stay here if that would be easier for you."

"I will talk to him." John said. "But I think him and Andrew might be more comfortable at the hotel."

"Either way." Gran said. "Just let me know. As of right now, there will not be anyone else here except Doug's sisters."

John nodded and headed back to the library. Gran headed to the kitchen to make some coffee and start some baking. She knew that with the holiday and extra houseguests that it would be needed. Gran had the pans almost ready to go into the oven, by the time that the coffee was ready. She put it in a carafe, placed two cups on the tray and took it to the library.

"Thank you." John said. "We will work here until supper."

"I told the kids to be up here a little before six." Margaret said.

"We will come out at that point as well." John said.

Gran went back to the kitchen and worked on making up a batch of overnight cookies. Gran pulled the Gooey Butter cake out of the oven shortly after she put the cookies in the fridge. She knew that Jack would be happy since it was his favorite. It was really the only splurge that she saw him do other than his ice cream in the summer. Gran didn't make the butter cake much since it was really rich and she also knew if she didn't watch, Jack would eat the whole pan. She was hoping to put them away for lunch the next day.

The boys and Nathan got their laundry going. Jack had also stripped the bed upstairs as well as wiped down the bathroom. Once Jack was back downstairs, he sat with Elizabeth. Nathan wasn't that far away, but he was working on a carving. Doug and Lee were arguing over something on sportscenter. Jack had never seen the game that Elizabeth had gotten. It was called Mancala. It was a two person strategy game where the goal is to get the most stones. The players take turns playing the stones on their side. It requires one to think and anticipate movements. Elizabeth had played before as one of Rosie's theater friends had taught her. Nathan was watching while he was carving, he thought it would be fun to play against Jack once he knew how to play as they both had similar traits when it came to thinking. Elizabeth won the first game, but then Jack won the next two.

"Hey, can I play Jack?" Nathan asked.

"Be my guest." Elizabeth said. "I thought since I had played before, I would have a chance."

"As much as I love you." Jack said. "I don't back down to anyone when there is a competition."

Elizabeth stuck her tongue out at Jack. He leaned over and gave her a kiss as Nathan moved over closer. Jack narrowly won the first game and only because he went first. Nathan immediately demanded a rematch. Jack reset the board and let Nathan go first. It wasn't even close, Nathan handley beat Jack. Jack claimed that Elizabeth distracted him, so they played a third. Nathan even let Jack go first, but once again Nathan won. The third game was a little closer, but still Jack was frustrated.

"I am going to have to study this for a while." Jack said. "Then we will play again."

"Fine." Nathan said.

Nathan picked up the board and was looking at it.

"What are you looking at?" Elizabeth asked.

"I just thought that I could make a board like this." Nathan said. "I mean if I had a workshop like at home. Then you can get some more sea glass and more than one team can play."

"I can buy another board." Jack said.

"How much was this?" Nathan asked.

"I don't know ten, fifteen dollars." Elizabeth said.

"And how much is a bag of sea glass?" Nathan asked.

"Couple bucks usually." Elizabeth said.

"See." Nathan said. "Cheaper to make one. Besides, I think a homemade board would be nice."

"If you want to make one." Jack said. "I won't stop you. Talk to Grandpa James about his workshop."

"Okay." Nathan said. "I just thought if we had multiple boards, we could have a tournament. Elizabeth, please have Katie pick up a bag of sea glass."

"I will order it." Elizabeth said. "I have to order the stuff online."

"Why don't you do that and then look over the papers for the Bishop." Jack said. "I want to catch some of sportscenter before supper."

"Okay." Elizabeth said.

Jack and Nathan moved closer to Doug and Lee, while Elizabeth pulled out her phone to order things and look at the email that Jack had sent her. Elizabeth wasn't upset that Jack wanted to spend time with the guys and watch sportscenter. She remembered what Katie had said about them needing time together as well. Elizabeth also knew that she had stuff that she needed to do.

The rest of Monday was good. The rooms were clean and laundry was getting done. Once everyone was sitting at the table, Gran looked around and smiled. Her table was full, there was pleasant conversation and everyone was getting along. She was so glad that there wasn't any more discord in the house. As much as she wished her family got along, she liked the peaceful nature of things.

"JP, Elizabeth." John said.

"Yes." Jack said.

"I just want to let you know that Charlie is being held in a medium security facility until trial or a deal can be worked out." John said. "I also want you to be careful. His family is not happy about him being held. He has also been suspended from Columbia pending the outcome of the criminal case."

"Good." Doug said.

"Do you think that he will stay behind bars?" Elizabeth asked.

"We hope so." Peter said. "Between what happened in the city and the repeated violations of the restraining order, there is a strong case for felony stalking and harassment. It will be up to a judge, but the prosecutor said that there is plenty of evidence and it is one of the stronger cases that he has seen."

"So you think that they will offer him a plea?" Jack asked.

"I know that his father is pushing for one with no additional jail time." John said. "I have expressed that this is unacceptable. He has shown complete disregard for others. We are pushing him to do the max. I have also asked the judge to extend the restraining order for both JP and Elizabeth indefinitely. He has agreed, but that could change with a plea deal."

"He better stay away." Jack said. "What is going to happen to Bouchard?"

"He has been warned to stay away from you." John said. "There will be no other charges at this point, but it was made very clear that he needs to think about his choices because there will be no more passes from the law."

"Good." Jack said. "Now to get that through to the rest of them and we will be good."

After they had eaten, as well as sat and visited for a bit, John announced it was time for them to leave. He told Jack and them to have fun in Canada and to let him know if they needed anything. He told him he would be back at some point on the third and staying through the Sugar Creek show. They said their goodbyes and John, Peter and Andrew headed back to Albany.

After John left, Chris, Katie and Rob said their goodbyes as well to head back to the hotel. They said they would be back around lunchtime so that Rob and Katie could take the other Katie shopping. Gran insisted on them coming for lunch and Chris said he would let her know. Chris knew that she was genuinely offering, but there was a part of him that felt that they shouldn't be at the house all the time, even if they were invited. Chris understood that Nathan's role was different and that things were different because of the situation, but he still felt that there needed to be some boundaries. He knew that they all got along, but he was worried about what other employees, especially other security would say with them spending so much time at the house when most of them had never seen the inside of the house.

After the last of the extra security left, the kids cleaned up the table and kitchen so Gran and James could relax a little bit. Jack, Elizabeth and them had no problem cleaning up. Katie had been right and it wasn't fair to expect Gran to clean up after them since they were going to be there all summer. They had talked earlier and agreed they needed to do more to help Gran, especially with Doug's sisters coming and Elizabeth's best friend.

Everyone turned in early since it was going to be a long week. Jack had received a text from Frank that they had made it to Newburgh and had had supper at the local Applebee's. Frank also let Jack know that they had stopped to get swimsuits for both Katie and Opal who were now enjoying the pool. Lastly Frank told them he planned on being on the road by ten thirty. Jack texted back to let him know when they were close and they would hold lunch for them.

Author's note: Here are a few more recipes

Overnight Refrigerator Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

½ cup chopped walnuts

Directions

In a medium bowl, cream the butter with the white sugar and brown sugar. Stir in the eggs and vanilla. Sift together the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, cinnamon and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Finally, mix in the nuts. Divide dough into 3 equal parts, shape each piece into a log about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Wrap logs in wax paper and chill for 3 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Cut dough logs into 1/4 inch slices and place them on an unprepared cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until light brown.

Ooey Gooey Butter Cake

Ingredients

1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix

½ cup butter, melted

4 large eggs, divided

2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese

4 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Mix together cake mix, butter, 2 eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla in a large bowl until well-combined. Pat mixture into a 9x13-inch dish.

Mix cream cheese, remaining 2 eggs, and remaining 1 teaspoon vanilla with an electric mixer in a bowl. Slowly beat in confectioner's sugar. Pour over cake layer.

Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool before serving.