Chapter 317 – Jack and Elizabeth Talk (short)
They just sat there holding hands for a little bit. Finally it was Jack who spoke up.
"Have you heard from Rosemary?" Jack asked.
"Sort of." Elizabeth said. "She sent me a few half hearted apologies on the old phone. I never replied. I have spoken to her father. She is grounded and back living with him in his place. He has basically cut her spending sprees out. She is allowed to go to work on the production and that is about it. She will be allowed to go to class, but she only gets so much money a week and not a penny more. He is sorry about the way that she acted. I told him that I accept his apology, but I am not ready to talk to Rosie until she realizes that she can't treat me like she did. He said good luck because Rosie called me a spoiled brat sell out."
"I am sorry." Jack said.
"After speaking to Katie, Trish and Abigail." Elizabeth said. "And even some to Gran, I have realized that it was a one-sided friendship for years and I just didn't really have anyone else so stayed."
"I am still sorry." Jack said.
"Caitlin has been wonderful." Elizabeth said. "Trish has promised to introduce me to young women about our age that she knows. She also said that I will find a group once school starts. While we will have security around, she said not to let it stop me from seeking out different groups and finding where I fit in."
"Good idea." Jack said. "Which reminds me. We don't have to worry about Charlie Kensington. He will not be back at Columbia this fall. Officially he is taking a gap year, but really he is being forced to do so to sort out his various legal troubles. Depending on the outcome, it will determine if he can or should be allowed to return to school."
"I am glad to hear that." Elizabeth said. "What happened with the rest of that? I haven't heard much all week. I know that you said William Pennybaker was arrested."
"Yes, he was." Jack said. "He was being held as a flight risk. He also had several new charges added, based on what Devin turned over. Lacy, her stepmother and at least two of her sisters are in Morocco and they will probably stay there until the money runs out. Then I don't know."
"Were there new charges against Charlie?" Elizabeth asked.
"Not Charlie." Jack said. "But it sounds like his father might be facing some charges. They are still sorting everything out. We might not hear about everything, until it is in the papers."
"As long as they are not harassing us." Elizabeth said.
"I agree." Jack said. "I think that the whole family has realized that they pushed me too far and found themselves in serious legal trouble. It is still a media storm, and that is in part due to the statement that Ma and Dad put out and the fact that Emily keeps running her mouth all over social media. She is walking a fine line. She can't say for certain she knows things or Grandpa John is going to rain holy hell fire down on her."
"What is happening with that situation?" Elizabeth asked.
"It was all turned over to the states attorney." Jack said. "He might pursue charges, but Grandpa John said he would be fine if she paid back the money. It was never about the money, but taking responsibility for what she did."
"I agree." Elizabeth said.
"Anything else you want to talk about?" Jack asked.
"Not right now." Elizabeth said. "Maybe later. I know that it has been busy and when we have talked, it hasn't been about some of the things we need to talk about, but it has been easier to just live in the bubble that has been created here."
"I know what you mean." Jack said. "But if you want to or need to talk about something, please let me know."
"I will." Elizabeth said.
"And you are doing okay with all the business things?" Jack asked.
"Yes and no." Elizabeth said. "Peter has been great about sending me the information that I need to know. Most of it is reading and just being aware. If I have questions, I make notes. It is a lot to learn and take in. I have a feeling that I will always be playing catch up, but I love what we are building at the orchard property and Frank has been wonderful in helping me to know better what I want in a house. I was looking over the maps again and saw a bunch of notes he had made when he had gone over there with Father Mark. He has some great ideas."
"Which is why I put him in charge." Jack said. "I explained what I wanted and told me that any major changes need to be talked about, but otherwise he can do what he feels is best for the property to get it to where we want. He is already talking about the different roles that he will need to fill come spring. I am glad that he is fully on board with things."
"Me too." Elizabeth said. "Just out of curiosity, when will they start on our house?"
"They will be putting the slab in for Frank's place first." Jack said. "Once he is on site, they will work and pull everything out of the house that is salvageable. Most of it will be donated to be reused and once they have done that, they will knock the old house down and depending on the weather pour new footings this fall, otherwise it will have to wait until spring."
"Okay." Elizabeth said. "So house first."
"Well." Jack said. "There will be simultaneous work done on getting a small twelve horse stable on site with a few round pens. The commercial barn and processing center will probably wait until next year. They also need to put the helipad in. There is lots of plumbing and wiring that needs to be done. Grandpa John has helped me get in contact with contractors. They are going to start working in the next couple of weeks. There will also be trees moved after the harvest. There will be other things that are planted this fall. Frank is going to be busy after we head back to the city."
"And he knows this?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yes." Jack said. "They will be pouring the slab for his new place while we are in Minnesota. His fifth wheel will arrive this coming week. His modular home is set to go up sometime between mid September and early October."
"Wow." Elizabeth said. "So a lot has happened with that. I am glad that Peter and staff have been copying me on things, but I usually just skim it and save the emails in a folder. I might have to go back and read them more closely."
"Just do what you can." Jack said. "Just remember, you can always email questions to Peter, Connor, Grandpa John or even me."
"I know." Elizabeth said. "They have been great about answering my questions."
Jack leaned forward and captured Elizabeth's lips with his own. He pushed her back and started to push the boundaries. They immediately turned red and pulled apart when they heard someone clearing their throat. Jack turned and saw Frank standing there.
"Your grandmother said to come down for lunch." Frank said.
"Okay." Jack said.
"Yeah." Elizabeth said. "Coming."
Elizabeth pushed Jack away and quickly went past Frank, without making eye contact. Frank stopped Jack for a moment. Frank didn't say anything, but just looked at Jack with a raised eyebrow.
"I know." Jack said. "I know. Boundaries."
"You have a week." Frank said. "I know that it is hard, but you are almost there."
"Thank you." Jack said. "I am going to use the bathroom and splash some cold water on my face."
"As long as that is all it is." Frank said. "I will tell your grandmother you will be down in a moment."
Jack nodded and hurried through the music room to the upstairs bathroom. Frank chuckled and headed back downstairs. He thought it was cute how red and embarrassed they got at being caught. To be young again. He could have teased them and might later, but at the moment it was just fun being the one to catch them pushing things just a bit.
Everyone sat down to a nice lunch. They were glad it had cooled off and was looking at being a good weekend. James had left for the track, but that was fine. That weekend, Coal Creek and Thornton Thoroughbreds had a total of seventeen horses running. Jack wasn't sure on the breakdown each day, but did know that two of their horses were going in the same turf race on Saturday. It was a large field with like fifteen horses. It was for four year old mares and fillies, so Jack was excited to see the result. There was a part of him that wanted to go watch Midnight's Run the next day, but knew that it would create quite the stir.
Doug nudged Jack and broke him from his thoughts.
"You okay there?" Doug asked.
"Just thinking." Jack said.
"Care to share." Lee asked.
"Midnight's Run." Jack said. "He is running in a race tomorrow. I would love to go see the race, but I know that it would create a huge stir."
"Which race?" Doug asked.
"He is running in the fifth, think." Jack said. "I also have another horse, Jack Frost, running in the Tale of the Cat Stakes tomorrow."
"If you want to go." Nathan said. "We can find a way. We might have to deal with a bit of press, but it is your call."
"As much as I want to go." Jack said. "I don't know."
"Why don't you call and talk to your grandfather tonight." Gran said. "You can make a decision later."
"I will do that." Jack said. "I really want to see Midnight race. If he finishes at least third, he will have enough points to qualify for the Breeders Cup. It will still be a draw, unless he wins outright."
"Talk to John." Frank said. "If you want to go, I am sure it can happen."
"Thank you." Jack said.
"Then let's talk about the rest of the plans later." Gran said.
The rest of lunch was nice. After they were done eating and everything was cleaned up, most of the group headed downstairs to watch the races and play on their laptops. They got to see Irish Charm race and he did pretty well finishing fourth. He had barely been edged out. There was less than five hundredths of a second between first and fourth. So it was a good race and Jack was happy with the race. It was a good trip with good competition. By the end of the day, they saw four Coal Creek horses run at Saratoga, five run in California and another seven in Florida. They had a few wins and they also had a few disappointments. Jack was texting his grandfather back and forth as the race results from other places came in. John was liking it and while he knew that Peter would give them to him, he was glad that Jack was taking the time to watch.
There was also a lot of banter and teasing back and forth among the group as they watched the races and worked on their laptops. Nathan was carving some more horses. Frank was working on braiding some leather, but they were also both watching and commenting on the races. Elizabeth watched the races that Coal Creek was in, otherwise she was texting Caitlin.
By the time that James got home after the races, Jack was excited to join his grandfathers at the races the next day. Doug and Lee both wanted to go and Nathan said if Jack was going, he was going. Frank sounded like he wanted to go. Elizabeth was unsure at least until Trish said she wouldn't mind an afternoon at the races. A plan was made with John and it was decided that everyone except Gran, the twins and Father Mark was going to head to the races. Jack was worried but also excited.
That night after supper, the twins insisted on helping Elizabeth pick out a dress to wear to the races. They asked their mom what she was going to wear and she pulled up a picture and showed them. Maddie and Missy knew that the boys would be wearing dress pants and polos, so it would be easy. They picked out two different dresses so Elizabeth could choose which one. They also suggested the pearls if she wanted to wear jewelry since both dresses they picked out were green and white. They suggested that she wear her light beige wedge sandals. Elizabeth thanked the girls and then went to sit with everyone who was downstairs.
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