Tom could feel the anger penetrating off his eldest son and knew he deserved it, but he refused to put his wife through another ordeal thanks to his misdeeds. He rubbed a hand over his bearded chin and sighed as he spoke, "So it's true."

Jarrod hissed, "yes," as he continued to glare at his father. He gulped down his scotch and spat, "it's been handled per your request." He stood up and faced his window because he could not stomach looking at this man any longer.

Tom cleared his throat and said, "I'm doing this to help everyone, Jarrod."

Jarrod whirled around and shouted, "Have you lost your mind? How does this help everyone?"

Tom bristled as he spoke, "Your mother will not have to go through that torment again..."

Jarrod interrupted again as he pointed to himself, "And what about me father? You're asking me to keep a secret that could affect a lot of lives if it ever comes out."

"That is part of your job, isn't it? The attorney client privilege?" Tom reminded his son.

Jarrod spat, "Fine time for you to show interest in my profession."

"We made sure it won't have to come out now." Tom cleared his throat and said, "And I've made sure of that by providing for the boy and his mother."

Jarrod laughed evilly, "And how would you suggest I live with myself knowing what I know?"

Tom bristled and said, "You treat me just as your other clients by keeping what I said to you in the strictest of confidence."

Jarrod spat, "You took advantage of me."

"I needed an attorney."

"You could have hired someone else," Jarrod argued.

Tom shook his head, "No, not with this."

Jarrod sighed as he sank back down in his chair, "So you drag me into the middle of your mess and I'm left to clean it up best as I can. And in the meantime, I have to go on as if nothing ever happened."

"If you can't handle this then maybe you shouldn't be an attorney after all."

Jarrod glared at Tom, "What you should've done was go to mother when you received that letter. But instead, you come to me and drag me into this."

"I didn't twist your arm," Tom argued.

Jarrod sighed in disgust and said, "No you didn't but you still used me."

Tom was getting tired of Jarrod and his attitude, "I paid you handsomely."

"To keep your dirty little secret," Jarrod spat.

Tom shrugged his shoulders, "I just need to know you're not going to reveal anything to your mother or siblings about what has transpired this week."

Jarrod glared at his father and said, "I don't see how I have a choice do you?"

"You need to change your attitude and quickly otherwise your mother will know something is wrong."

Jarrod snorted, "I doubt that happens anytime soon."

Tom raised his eyebrow and said, "What would you have me do?"

"Tell mother."

Tom stood up quickly, "NO! I have already put that woman through too much. I will handle this my way."

Jarrod was tired, angry and upset and knew he needed some time away from his father, "I'm going to San Francisco for a little while."

Tom sat back down and asked, "Why?"

Jarrod looked at Tom, "I need time away from you."

"What are you going to tell your mother?" Jarrod shrugged his shoulders as Tom continued. "Don't you think it will be suspicious since you just opened this office less than a month ago?"

Jarrod glared at his father and spat, "I'm sure you can come up with a lie."

Tom blew out his breath in disgust and spat, "Don't you think this is eating me alive?" Tom stood up and starting pacing, "You're old enough to remember how badly I hurt your mother when I came back from Strawberry. Do you really want to see her go through that again? And what about your brothers and sister?"

Jarrod was unfazed as he spoke, "Hiding this from her is not the answer. What are you going to do if that boy decides he wants to find his daddy?" Jarrod spat out the word daddy.

"I'm providing for both him and his mother with enough means that he'll be just fine."

"That doesn't mean he won't want to meet you one day." Jarrod argued.

Tom sighed as he sat back down heavily, "Maybe his mother will tell him I died."

"That won't stop him from wanting answers."

"If he wants answers, Jarrod, if," Tom argued.

"And you're willing to roll the dice that he won't want any answers? If I were in that situation I'd want to know about my father and his family."

Tom spoke quietly, "Didn't you tell me he has an uncle?"

Jarrod smirked, "Yes but that doesn't take the place of a father and I wasn't too impressed with him nor his wife."

"Jarrod we've argued about this for the past two weeks, and I've made my decision," Tom stood as he continued, "I've set up the account for Leah so she can provide for herself and the boy. Now I am going home. Can we expect you for dinner?"

"No."

Tom arched his eyebrow and asked, "You're leaving for San Francisco tonight?"

Jarrod looked at the man he once held in such high regard and said, "No but I'm leaving first thing in the morning. God forbid you have to tell mother another lie."

"Suit yourself," and with that Tom left.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Why are you leaving again? You only returned from your trip today." Victoria questioned Jarrod as he packed his carpet bag.

Jarrod could not look his mother in the eye as he spoke, "Brett wants to get together with Nat and myself before he leaves."

"How long will you be gone?"

Jarrod shrugged his shoulders and said, "I'm not sure." Jarrod finally turned around to face his mother and continued, "Adam Howard offered me a job in San Francisco which I've accepted."

"What about your office here? You just opened up it a few weeks ago?"

Jarrod sighed and said, "And in that time I've only had 2 clients. We both knew in order for me to get the experience I needed I may have to go to San Francisco and I have an opportunity I don't want to pass up."

The truth of the matter is that Jarrod had reached out to Adam and asked him for a job because he needed time away from his father. Adam responded immediately that he had a job waiting on the young attorney.

"Mother this is an opportunity that I don't need to pass up."

"Will you come home on the weekends?" Victoria questioned.

Jarrod sighed as he answered, "I can't answer that question but I'll write letters."

Victoria smiled sadly, "Where will you stay?"

"Adam has a small house on the outskirts of the city I'm going to stay at. And before you ask, we both know I can take care of myself just fine. That's not to say I won't miss yours or Silas' fine meals."

"This is just so sudden," Victoria argued.

Jarrod lied to his mother, "To be honest mother Adam has been asking me to come to work for him since I graduated."

Tom entered Jarrod's room and stood next to Victoria as he placed his arm around her shoulders, "Vic we both knew Jarrod would leave us one day and this is a very good opportunity for him."

Jarrod looked at his father as he spoke to his mother, "This wasn't an easy decision for me but it's for the best."

Victoria looked from father to son and wondered about Jarrod's choice of words but Nick interrupted her thoughts. "Come on boy the guys are waiting in the bunkhouse." Nick reached for Jarrod's arm and started towards the door.

Jarrod was more than happy to get away from his father and gladly left with Nick.

Tom took Victoria into his arms and said, "When Gene and Audra finish this school term, we'll go visit Jarrod for a week."

"That's almost two months away Tom," Victoria argued.

"He's a grown man Victoria and we need to let him go."

Victoria sighed sadly as Tom hugged her closely and Victoria shared her concerns, "He's been so distant the few weeks I'm worried about him Tom."

Tom sighed as he knew the reason behind Jarrod's mood change but hoped some time away from him and the situation would resolve Jarrod's anger and disappointment towards him. Deep down he knew Jarrod was right that the boy would most likely want to know his father and/or his father's family but he would deal with that if and when it happened. Right now, all Thomas Barkley was worried about was keeping his wife and family safe and happy.