Chapter Two
Jarrod telegraphed to his family that he would be traveling to New Orleans for business on Saturday. He stopped by Miriam's palatial home to give his apologies for the weekend. They had tickets for an opening night and a gala for the charity.
She came into the drawing-room dressed in a pink dress with ruffles at the height of fashion. She was truly the most beautiful woman in San Francisco. Jarrod knew himself to be a very lucky man and everyone he knew told him as much. He explained their change of plans.
"Oh Jarrod, do you have to go? Business, business, business. I understand and I know you hate whining… but I have a brand new dress I had made just for you… Butter yellow, a favorite of yours." She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. He pulled her closer and gave her a much deeper kiss.
She pulled back, "oh Jarrod" and demurely blushed. His ardor discomfited her but he would change that after the engagement. Oh, she's so damn beautiful.
"My apologies my dear and save that dress for me ".
There was too much for him to think about right now and there was no way he could say anything else until he went to New Orleans.
Jarrod boarded his private car for the long journey. He had committed the note to memory before he locked it in his safe.
Mr. Barkley, I need to inform you that the paternity of a said child in our convent may involve you as a possible guardian. The child in question belonged to a Miss Julia Saxon now deceased. She placed the child in our school as a student and the account was cleared each year by Mr. John Joseph Jackson Sr now deceased. The mother listed you and a deceased John Joseph Jackson Jr as next-of-kin. We have also contacted Miss Elizabeth Beaufort as a potential guardian as her brother's proxy. There is a sealed letter within her file written to both of you.
Please advise if you wish to pursue this delicate matter. If not, we can direct custody to Miss Beaufort without delay. She is willing and able to perform as the child's guardian.
He poured another scotch and tried to sleep. He had not had much rest this week since the letter.
Elizabeth had been beside herself to find out about the child in the convent school. She had seen ledger transfers for thirteen years for Julia Saxon and for the school as she read over her father's private books this month. She honestly thought she was another of her father's paramours. She thought of John mentioning Julia in his last days...
One and the same or coincidence? Did she have a sister or a niece or a ward? No matter what the answer to her questions, she knew she would take responsibility for the child.
The lawyer had told her as much as that and of course, she could offer the child a happy home, full of love. She never planned to marry or have children herself.
No man would want her if they knew what had been done to her.
Life for the oldest Beaufort was bound for duty first thanks to her feckless father and drunken sailors.
The child was included in the family bequest of the will and she had been named as a guardian along with Jarrod Barkley.
Surely her brother's close friend wasn't interested in sharing custody of a minor. Surely…
Jarrod checked into the Hotel and ordered a meal. Shrimp and oysters on the half shell were the specialties of the dining room. He ate them in silence lost in his thoughts. Halfway through, he realized he couldn't even remember the taste.
Questions kept running through his mind. Do I have a child? Why would Julia keep the child from me?
He answered that question in his head as soon as he thought about it. He remembered their last fiery conversation in Washington, D.C. after finding out that she had betrayed Matt Parker.
"And to think I wanted to marry you...I rue the day I ever met you. I want you out of my life forever."
He didn't touch Julia of course, but it was the first time in his life he ever wanted to strike a woman.
Did she try to tell me in Stockton a few years when she came? I defended her for McGregor's murder. Surely she would have told me afterward if we had a child. Would she?
He even remembered his mother's words to him when Julia came to town, "No Jarrod, you can't forget someone you're running away from. That's what you have been doing. I'm glad she's here. Now you can face her. Face whatever it is about her you've been carrying with you all these years. Now you can decide if what you feel toward her is love or hate. Perhaps it is neither one."
He put his head in his hands. What did I do? Why did she not tell me?
The scotch would not numb this pain. Only an answer would and was that even possible?
Elizabeth was up at dawn. She hadn't slept a wink. The meeting was scheduled for 9 am in the attorney's office for her father. She knew all the provisions of the will by heart. She was a wealthy woman and was to hold all assets in trust until each sister's 25th birthday as John had done for her. All business decisions were to be made by her.
She remembered Jack's business manager's face having to answer to a woman with a smile.
She chose a navy high waist business dress with a matching cape and hat. "I need to look older so these men will take me seriously".
She pulled her hair back severely and wore her finest leather gloves. She made an entrance to the office and gave her best aloof, arrogant air just in case someone doubted her strong will. She did claim that of Jack's. She couldn't bear to call him Papa anymore.
The men rose to their feet as she walked into the inner office. Barkley looked very tired; the family attorney did not look comfortable. They had been exchanging polite pleasantries as they waited on her. Always make them wait on you..John taught me well.
"Let's get this going. I am going to ask you both to agree what is said in this office stays confidential for the sake of the child". Both of them nodded affirmatively.
" I ask that you wait until you both read the sealed letters to respond to them." They nodded again.
Jo gave Jarrod a sideways glance. He was definitely older since she met him but she would have known him anywhere. He was one of the most handsome men she had ever met.
Jarrod caught her look and politely smiled back "Why would an extraordinary beauty like her hide all her looks in such a prim and dour way? She has Beaufort hair for sure. She is perfectly proportioned and those green eyes are haunting. A man could get lost in them. A muse... " His nerves were making his attention wander to the meeting at hand.
The Jackson family attorney handed them the letter. Elizabeth's was addressed to her brother, John. Jarrod's to himself.
The lawyer knew what was in them. Jack had told him years ago. How would these two react to the sordid story of the Confederate spy was the question. He knew Elizabeth already planned to accept responsibility for the child but what would the Stockton attorney do?
They both looked down and opened their letters. And read. Elizabeth forced the tears away from her eyes and Jarrod held his breath and clenched his fists not to react.
If you are reading this, I have passed to my final judgment. I can't imagine it will be worse than what I have done to myself and you all these years. I am a coward but I can't face the look in either of your faces with my secrets. Jarrod and John, I never meant for this to happen and I know you will never forgive me. I haven't ever forgiven myself. I almost never wrote these letters and I wouldn't without Jack's insistence. Jack had been my strength and my rock. He didn't want something to happen and the truth will never be known. He loved his own daughters so much and provided for them. I don't know the truth myself. I went to Jack early on in this conundrum and he has helped me financially keep this secret. He begged me to tell you both but I couldn't. I am sorry. Please take care of my daughter, Mary Margaret. She is "the innocent" in all of this. I am sorry. I do not know which of you fathered my beautiful child. Please do your best for her. She doesn't deserve to pay for my sins.
Julia Saxon