Chapter 29

Thatcher's vs Thornton's

After church everyone congregated outside. They welcomed the newcomers. As everyone dispersed and went home Jack asked, would you and your family like to join us for lunch? William replied, if it would be alright with our girls? Julie looked at Elizabeth, she shook her head with a nod.

Everyone said goodbye to Christine and Henry's family so they could catch the train home. Mom and dad joined them for lunch for moral support. Elizabeth and mom finished the roast and potatoes that she had put in the oven before church. She put her apron on and handed one to mom. She made the biscuits and put them in the oven while Julie set the table with the china that Elizabeth had picked up in Vancouver before coming here. She had not had a chance to use it but once so it was kinda a treat today.

Julie filled everyone's glass with lemonade. Mom set the roast on the platter and sliced it thinly just the way it was supposed to be. She placed the potatoes around it just right. The carrots were put into a serving bowl.

Jack helped set the food on the makeshift table. Elizabeth pulled the biscuits out and plated them. Mom got the jam and butter from the icebox and placed them on the table. Everyone took a seat and Jack asked the blessing.

Kind Heavenly Father we come before you to ask that you bless this food and those that prepared it for the nourishment of our body. Lord we ask that you take control today and lead us in the direction you would have us to go. In Jesus Christ name. Amen.

The food was past around the table. Jarrick was given a couple carrots and a couple potatoes on his tray. Jarrick started saying, num, num, num! Dada, dink? Jack picked up Jarrick's cup and gave him a drink of water. Jarrick smacked his lips and went back to eating.

The conversation was light around the table. Everyone stayed clear of the elephant in the room. After lunch, Elizabeth and mom and Charlotte cleaned the kitchen and put the dishes away. Coffee and tea was made and served along with slices of Jarrick's birthday cake.

Jarrick was sat on the floor playing with his toys. He pulled up on his rocking horse. Jack bumped Elizabeth's arm for her to watch. Next thing they knew he was walking to the sofa. They both stood but didn't move. Jarrick took one, two, three, four steps and plopped down on his bottom. They both rushed over and picked him up and clapped their hands saying, yay! He giggled and said yay and clapped his hands also! Mom and dad got up and rushed over to congratulate him for a job well done!

William and Priscilla just sat there taking it all in. Priscilla whispered, see what you've made us miss, as a lone tear fell. That should be us, not your sister for that I will not forgive you. She got up and slipped out the back door.

Viola had sat her daughter down on the floor. She stood and walked over and yanked on Elizabeth's dress. Elizabeth looked down and Cecilia was reaching for her to be picked up. Elizabeth didn't hesitate, she picked her up and hugged her! Cecilia clapped her hands to join in. Elizabeth says, he walked didn't he baby girl.

Elizabeth looked around the room but didn't see her mother. William seen her looking and nodded towards the back door. Jack kisses her cheek and handed their son to her and stepped out the back door.

He found his Mother in law standing by the coral petting Daisy. He walked up beside her and asked, are you alright Mrs. Thatcher? She looked at him for a moment and said, no Jack, I'm not. May I ask what it is that has you so upset? Yes, I've listened to my husband for so long and now my sister in law has a relationship with MY grandson. If I had put my foot down a long time ago I would have that relationship as well.

I'm not jealous of my sister in law because I love her and she has always had a different relationship with Beth that no one else has. Beth could have been like anybody else in the family but she wasn't.

She's identical to Elizabeth. She's a special roll model for my Beth. But I wanted to be here for your wedding but William said no because she had disgraced us by marrying below us. Then I wanted to be here for the birth of our second grandchild but William said no. Now we are finally here and I see everything that I have missed. Beth even calls them mom and dad.

Mrs. Thatcher, if I might explain something to you? Sure go ahead. It can't hurt anymore than I'm hurting right now. Well, back before she left Coal Valley I had went to the school after she dismissed the children. I went to propose but when I got there Charles was there down on one knee. Your husband had sent him there again but this time I had had enough. I left and went on my rounds. When I got back, Elizabeth was in the street calling me. I was so angry and hurt that I told her that I was called out of town for 3 months and when I got back we would not be courting. I was tired of her father constantly sending Charles to get between us. I didn't give her the courtesy of explaining. I left town on my assignment. When I got back she was gone. Oh, she left me a letter and the picture that hangs above our bed. I'm not going to tell you what she said in the letter but the more I stayed in Coal Valley the more I missed her. The more I needed her.

So after two months of wallowing I started searching for her. She said she was going somewhere where no one knew her and she didn't have to see a red serge. Priscilla gasped and drew her hand to her mouth. To make a long story short, I went to Vancouver, and afterward, I found out that my superior was her Uncle. After staying for almost 2 weeks she had agreed to let me come to her to see if I could win her back. Needless to say we were married five months later.

My point in all of this is don't give up. She loves you all but you let her down just as I had let her down. When she loves, she loves hard. She is a very forgiving person. She would welcome you with open arms if she truly felt you meant it.

I'm not sure how long it will take for her to forgive her father but you are her mother and I know she's missed you. No she never talks about you all because it hurts to bad to think that you all chose to stay away. It wasn't because of an emergency but by choice. That's what hurts her the most.

Mom and dad has been a constant in our lives. They have been here for us through thick and thin. When you all didn't show for our wedding I held her while she cried for hours and then mom and dad came in and she cried on mom's shoulder for another hour or two. All she kept saying was they chose Viola over me. How could they do that? The baby isn't due for another month. Why couldn't they come and leave after our wedding?

So mom told her that Uncle would be honored to give her away. She sat up and looked over at him and all he done was opened his arms to her. She asked them if they would be our mom and dad. They both agreed and we've been calling them ever since.

Priscilla looked at him and asked, do you think there is truly any hope that I could get my daughters back? If you are truly interested in getting them back then yes I do! But I must say it's not going to be easy or an instant success. You are going to have to prove to us that you want to be in our life and in Jarrick's life.

I don't care if you all like me or not because I have nothing to prove but they are mine and I will stop at nothing to protect them with everything that I have, that I guarantee you. I'm not afraid of you all. I love them with every fiber of my soul! They are my life and I will protect them from all harm even if it is you or her father.

She will give you the chance to prove that she can trust you with her heart but if you break it again I doubt she'll let you back in. So I would tread lightly. I suggest that you get Mr. Thatcher under control because she has shut you out of our lives for two years and she won't think twice about doing it again. She's just as protective of our family as I am.

Can I ask you something else, she said. Sure, I'm an open book, you can ask me anything. Can I hug you please? Hugs are welcomed. He reached down as she reached up. She held on to him so tight and whispered through her sobs, thank you… for loving her… and not… giving up… on her. Thank you…for taking…the time…to come…and talking…to me! And I…hope you…will eventually…feel free…to call…me mother! I would love that eventually!

William came out as Jack was holding his wife while she cried. His thought was, that should be me holding her. What have I done? What I thought was for the best wound up destroying our family. Something I worked so hard to build, I destroyed it in just four years. God please forgive me.

Elizabeth was standing at the back door and heard her father thinking out loud. She surprised him when she said, father, he turned around quickly and said, Beth I didn't know you were standing there. It's ok father but you best get to what you need to do before you lose her. A lone tears fell, he reached up and wiped his eyes and said, I'm truly sorry Beth. We'll talk later but you have some fences to mend so you best get to it. He nodded and walked away.

William walked up and said, Cilla? Can we talk please? Jack back up and looked her in the eyes and said, you've got this. He kissed her forehead and walked away.

Will you've done this with your pig head and stubbornness. You always think you know what's best without discussing it. I don't mind not discussing business but when it comes to our girls is where WE should've discussed what was best for them not you making all the decisions. I know you're the man of the house and you're supposed to lead but you've lead us down the wrong path with them.

Sure Viola did what was expected of her, she always has. But Beth and Julie have always been different. They've always had a mind of their own. Beth has known from a very young age that she wanted to be a teacher. Yes, you LET her go to teacher's college but I don't think you ever planned on her actually going out to teach. For that you were wrong. She had dreams and you tried to crush them. Yes, I'm just as at fault for letting you but we were wrong.

We have to let them spread their wings and fly where they want and marry who they love. My father thought just like you and look at us now. Will if you don't change your way of thinking YOU...WILL...LOSE...NOT...ONE...BUT...TWO...DAUGHTERS.

I'm not losing them again, Will. We can do this together or I WILL DO IT WITHOUT YOU. Do you understand what I'm saying Will? Cilla, would you really leave me over this? YES I WILL. I'm done with your stubbornness, thinking you ALWAYS know what is best when obviously you were wrong this time.

Will, I carried these girls, I nourished them for nine months, and I gave birth to them. I'm not giving up this time. So the choice is yours. You stand with me or I stand alone. She didn't give him a chance to say anything. She backed away from him and went inside.

Inside Cecilia was still sitting in Elizabeth's lap on the sofa. Tom and Jack were on the floor with their feet facing each other trying to get Jarrick to walk back and forth between them. Most of the time he would take a step and plop down and crawl to the other.

Everyone was laughing and having a great time. Viola was sitting at the table all by herself. Lionel was sitting in the chair laughing right along with everyone else.

Priscilla walked back in and watched everything going on, all the antics. Everyone was happy. She wanted to be a part of all of this! She didn't want to miss anything else! She walked up to Elizabeth and asks, Beth dear, will you take a walk with me? Elizabeth looked at her husband, he nods for her to go ahead. Sure mother she replies.

They put their coats on and starts out the door but Viola steps up and asks, may I come mother? She pats her daughters hand and says, not this time dear. I need to speak to Beth. But mother I have nothing to do here. I'm not wanted here. They act like I don't exist, please mother, let me come? Not this time dear. Talk to Julie and get to know everyone because they are after all family. Yes mother I will try. Good girl. Now we'll be back in a bit.

Priscilla wraps her arm around Elizabeth's elbow and asks, what makes you love this place so much? Elizabeth was seeing her mother coming back. Not the snobbish mother she had for the past almost four years. She was seeing the twinkle in her eyes like she use to. Her heart wanted to believe that her mother was truly interested like she used to be but she wasn't giving in yet. Her mother had to prove to her that she was always going to be here for her and not let father destroy it again.

Do you truly want to know mother? I truly do Beth! I've missed so much and I want to know everything just like when you were a little girl. You would come running in the house shouting for me until you found me and sit next to me and tell me everything you did that day!

With tears in her eyes, her mother said, I'm truly sorry for letting your father come between us like he did Beth. I've miss your letters and your telegrams so very much! I looked forward to them then you're father got it in his head that he knew better than you and I let him ruin it for me. But no more, I won't stand for it anymore. I want to be in your life again. I want to get to know more about my son in law and I want my grandson to know who his Nonny is! Mother you're going back to your Italian roots? Yes, Cecilia is named after my grandmother Cecilia Marie! I'm her Nonny too! I love the sound of it every time she yells for me!

Mother as you know this is where mom's first job was! She didn't want to change anything just to suit her mother this time. It was going to be on her terms if this was going to work. Yes I know! She loved it here and this is where she met Wynn.

Mother I love the children here! They are so smart and polite! They never bicker! Yes they tease but it's a playful tease. They want to learn! We go on four field trips a year and they love those times! Jack comes and teaches them about the trees, what is edible, what is poisonous! He is teaching them so much. It's always science of some sort! He learned from his parents and from the academy.

I think next year we'll take them camping, it will be a survival trip. I have to figure how to tie it in with a lesson but Jack is so involved with the children!

The house is part of my salary. He added on to it before Ma came to live with us and he added the barn after she moved in with us. Her two horses and wagon are in the barn along with our two horses and buggy. Jack bought me a horse and buggy in case I needed to go somewhere while he was at work.

They walk around the field until they came to the school. Elizabeth unlocked the school door and they walked in. The Reverend must have put the desks back together for us.

This is where I teach twenty one students. I had twenty three last year but two graduated last June. I'll have twenty five next year if I'm still here. What do you mean Beth? Well mother I'm only here on a year to year contract. I find out at the end of July if my contract has been extended.

What will you do with all the extras that you and Jack have put into this place? I asked Jack the same thing and he said that because it belongs to the school district that it will have to stay because we can't sell it. He said that God provided this and He will provide at our next post. He's a God fearing man isn't he? Yes he is mother! His faith is so important to both of us!