The Potomac:

1890

"Your father is the most handsome father in this room, Charlotte. I wonder why he never remarried after your mother died. It's been sixteen years now." asked Sally at the ball.

Charlotte Victoria Barkley rolled her eyes at her best friend's lack of decorum. "Hush Sal, that's my father you are talking about." but she smiled in agreement. Her debonaire father was greeting guests in his black tails. The silver at his temples seemed positively regal with his sparkling sapphire eyes. He at 50 had aged well; a few crinkles at the eyes attested to his age.

This was the first ball that the young girls had been allowed to attend. Randall Thomas Barkley, Charlotte's twin, was escorting his sister and her friend to the event in San Francisco.

The full-dress ball was to honor Jarrod Barkley on his appointment as a Justice of the California Supreme Court. His wife Beth had died giving birth traumatically to the twins and Jarrod devoted his life to raising them. He turned down numerous political opportunities such as running for Governor and the United States senate. He served a term in the California House of Representatives but turned down the second term because it took too much time away from the children. He even limited his law practice to the Stockton area so he missed no time at home. He never dated or socialized again, busy raising his children.

When the Governor approached him about the Supreme Court position, he immediately turned it down. When they asked him a second time, Victoria and his brothers intervened.

"Jarrod, you have honored your promise to Beth to raise your children well. They are two of the most respectful, intelligent, and kind children in the whole world. You have taken them across the country and to Europe twice educating them. Both have tested out of their first years of secondary education. There is no doubt how much you love them—-but it is time to think of your future. Both of your children have remarked this year that they are thinking of not leaving the Valley because they do not want you to be lonely. Is that what you want?"

He was mortified. "I had no idea."

Nick said, "Pappy, it's time. You would be the best justice the state has ever seen. It is only a few months at a time and you won't miss any of the special events. The twins are only a train ride away."

Heath added, "We will be at the ranch if they need anything too. And you know these fancy lawyering judges have things planned out months in advance."

Eugene wrote to him as well, "You were made for this judgeship. You are the wisest man I know and you have been the greatest influence in my life. The twins are blessed to have you and now it's time to let them flex their wings too. Like when you persuaded Mother to allow me to leave home for college. It's time big brother."

Audra and Carl were in attendance. Barkley-Wheeler holdings were the largest in the valley and the whole state of California now... They had three sons and two daughters. Nick and Heath with Katarina and Isabella both had four children each. Heath and Bella had built close to the big house while Nick's family stayed with Victoria in the mansion. Jarrod built the house that Beth wanted at Isla de Ciego but next door to the Big House. Lots of windows and several skylights. He needed all the help he could muster with twins. Eugene and Adrienne lived at Berkeley where he was a nationally recognized fellow in vaccine research with their three children.

The twins were the oldest of the Barkley cousins and the large family thrived after Beth's death. The extended family and his children were the center of the barrister's world. They were allowed to attend the gala and Charlotte begged Jarrod to bring her best friend Sally McClelland. Jarrod agreed but Rand was admonished to watch over the young beautiful young ladies.

Charlotte had the Barkley blue eyes and raven hair. She inherited Beth's high cheekbones and curly hair. Rand was the spitting image of a young Jarrod Barkley.

"And to the guest of honor, my big brother, Jarrod Barkley" Nick toasted and the crowd applauded. Victoria looked on in pride for her oldest and most serious son.

The string quartet began playing a waltz and Jarrod asked his beautiful mother for the first one. Charlotte then Sally got their turn around the room. The Governor's wife, then the Speaker of the House's wife was chosen by Jarrod. Very safe choices and measured. He lived by those words as a man and a father.

Every single lady in the room as well as a few unhappily married ones kept their eye on him.

"The most eligible bachelor in the state" had aged into "the most unattainable gentlemen in the state". Always polite, conservative, mannerly and ever the consummate gentleman, Jarrod never flirted or had any liaison to anyone's knowledge.

His deathbed promise to his wife to not allow another woman to raise their children was kept. His marriage to Beth had been painfully short and fraught with trouble. A week after they were married, she was shot at Isla de Ciego by Cass Hyatt. She survived the flesh wound but became very melancholy and nervous. She became pregnant within a month with twins and was promptly put on bed rest. Jarrod stayed by her side blaming himself for her condition. She died a few days after giving birth to preterm babies. They were named after their grandparents. Raising the babies was all that kept him sane those early months.

After a few years, he found solace with Ruthie from Big Annie's after the murder of Frisco Rose. His ten-year liaison with Ruthie had ended when Rand inadvertently saw them together while spending the night in town with a friend. His son never once suspected but Jarrod felt he had betrayed his promise to Beth so he ended it reluctantly. The guilt ate at him. It had been three years since he put her on a train for Reno. He of course missed the physical side of their relationship but she had always been such a comfort and person to talk with. He missed her.

John Beaufort II escorted his mother into the room. He was encouraged to Americanize his name, Jean upon acceptance to preparatory school. His father gave it his full support. "There is no doubt who you are and it will open more doors for you."

He was dressed in his full dress blues from West Point and his auburn wavy hair and sharp green eyes stood out in the wool uniform. There was no doubt who his mother was. Her auburn ringlets were accentuated by an unusual gray widow's peak and her hair was pulled up halfway in the latest style. Her green eyes were full of life and merriment. She had been a widow for the past three years. She had had a full life with the French attaché, Jean Beaufort, twenty years her senior. She was the heiress of a large international shipping company and an accomplished artist in her own right. She was the mother of three younger daughters, Rose, Lily, and Violet.

Early in her arranged marriage, she found that she had little in common with her military, diplomatic husband who was gone months at a time. Her four children, painting, her knot gardens, and her literary clubs along with suffragette meetings filled her days.

They joined the receiving line for the people just joining the ball. A split line was created between dance sessions for all of the dignitaries in attendance.

John introduced his mother, "John Beaufort, sir. May I present my mother Madame Elizabeth Beaufort."

Jarrod's jaw uncharacteristically dropped, "Eliza".

"Jarrod"