Chapter Six 1883 San Francisco Six Months Later
Jarrod was waiting on the train from San Diego to pick up Liz and her five beautiful daughters. Adrienne had told the family she was expecting again so she would not be her matron of honor. Jarrod's stomach had flinched at that news. Violet would be almost three now. His goddaughter from the very first moment he delivered her, she belonged to him.
He shivered remembering the kiss after the wedding he shared with Liz three years ago. It had actually been the catalyst for his engagement with Amy. The guilt of unrequited love clashed with his sense of justice and his loneliness and desire for a family.
He and Amy started seeing each other socially while she was concluding her year of mourning. She was a safe social companion in the tedium of Sacramento's political society. It grew into a fine relationship with an appreciation for her intelligence, political acumen, great beauty, and attractiveness.
It was a liaison born of friendship and companionship with a healthy dose of physicality. She had been quite honest with him that she liked him, appreciated his friendship but Bill Pierce had been the great love of her life. He understood that and appreciated her honesty. He had that overwhelming love before and he saw it as something that overpowered him and clouded his judgment. They were content with each other and in that way, loved each other enough...
One rainy night, he had stayed too late at her home. The monsoon season hit and they were trapped in her house from a flash flood. Too much alcohol, privacy, and attraction ended up with liberties being taken. She took an initiative that Jarrod didn't resist. They awoke the next morning burdened by duty, shame, and guilt. Jarrod was disappointed in himself if he had left her with child—his unspoken vow to Heath and what his Father had done.
Two days later, she accepted Jarrod's ring and proposal. Three weeks later, they breathed a sigh of relief when her health came. They decided to marry within the year after Eugene.
Jarrod was going to be 40 this year and he desperately wanted a family. He thought Amy did too as she turned 31. They still had a little time but she was desperately afraid of childbirth watching her own mother pass away from it.
Jarrod watched as a heavily pregnant Liz came off the train with the five children ages 3-11. Bettina and Lucinda stepped off too. The oldest children ran to their Pappy in recognition but Violet held back. She had only been a baby the last time Jarrod saw her.
He had his secretary put all of their birth dates on his calendar so he could send gifts each year. He coaxed her over with the candy he had purchased for them in his pockets. Lily put Violet on her hip to meet their Pappy.
He made eye contact with Liz. There was undeniable love in their eyes and they broke into big smiles.
"You only get more beautiful with age." was all he dared to say.
Jarrod took her in his arms for a familial hug but neither of them felt chaste. They pulled apart and grabbed luggage and children for the talkative ride back to the suite he had booked for her.
After he settled her in, he impulsively asked her downstairs for a drink to talk. She ordered a ginger ale cider and Jarrod a scotch. She caught him up on all her news; a new baby due in two months. She hadn't talked to John in a few months either. He had forbidden her to come to Adrienne's wedding.
"I came anyway. This is my sister and I have some rights."
She told him of John and his fights with his stepmother over the company taking all of his time. "Male heir will solve all of his problems, of course," she sighed.
"He's obsessed with your family now, Jarrod. As his business woes increase, Barkley success increases. He even made comments about Tab, Nick's son, in jealousy. He will make trouble for you if you aren't careful. I almost didn't come for that reason but Adrienne won out in my heart."
"As it should my dear. Don't worry about the Barkleys. We can pretty much take care of ourselves. I just don't want John hurting you or the girls."
She assumed correctly that Nick and Katarina had not shared the violent attack aftermath they witnessed last year with him or Jarrod would have mentioned it. She had worried he would have shown up if he knew.
Nick had come home after San Diego and had a distressing family meeting that included Adrienne and Isabella. They all agreed that there was nothing Jarrod could do and would only worry more about them. He had a fiancée and a promising political career. He had been mentioned for Governor and Senate positions in the newspapers.
She asked him informed questions about his recent legislation successes. She kept up hungrily with all things Jarrod Barkley vicariously living through him. She rarely had adult conversations aside from shipping employees and her staff.
They talked for over an hour, losing all track of time. Victoria and Amy joined them, "We have been looking for you two everywhere. I should have thought to ask Bettina sooner. Your brothers have gone for their last fittings as well as your sisters."
Victoria kissed Liz on the cheek. Jarrod stood up and kissed Amy on the cheek and introduced Liz.
She possessively took Jarrod's arm and sat down near to him. "I feel like I know you already. Jarrod had talked so much about you and his beautiful goddaughters. Is your husband here yet?"
Jarrod and Victoria flinched slightly. Jarrod had not mentioned her marital woes thankfully.
Liz just smiled brightly, "He is detained on the shipping business. With his father's untimely death, his responsibilities have grown threefold it seems."
Liz could channel her social presence well; she could hide from the world with her wounds.
Amy and Liz carried on a pleasant conversation. Jarrod couldn't help and compare the two women. One had the world at her feet and the other with the weight of her world on her. Both very beautiful women and yet so different.
Jarrod and Amy left to meet the tailor and seamstress for their fittings. Victoria asked Liz to stay a moment.
"Please forgive me if I come across impertinent. Nicholas told us about San Diego. Jarrod doesn't know."
Liz sighed with relief.
"Are you ok? I just want you to know you and those babies have the support of everyone in my family. If you ever need anything, please come to us first. I respect and understand your wishes of course. I would make the exact same decision to keep my children with me. But know, we are here."
Liz could do nothing but whisper "Thank you" with tears in her eyes.
Jarrod came back in quickly. He had left his wallet on the table. He looked at his mother and Liz. He had interrupted an important conversation. He leaned over and kissed his mother and then Liz on the cheek.
"Mother, take care of my godchildren's mother." and he sadly smiled leaving them.
—&—
"You seemed distracted" as he ate dinner with Amy at the hotel.
"I have a very hard time calming my temper when I see Liz."
She looked at him quizzically for an explanation.
"I was the best man at their wedding. She was 13 and basically given to him for a business partnership."
Amy looked mortified.
"He is a philanderer and son-of-a… Sorry" as he caught himself.
"I am not offended Jarrod, go on"
"He is obsessed with a male heir thanks to his Father's and Grandfather's ridiculous will and terms. He treats her like a broodmare and won't have anything to do with the girls. I have seen the bruises she tries to cover up as well as my family."
"Oh Jarrod, that's horrible. Poor woman. And to think I was jealous for a moment."
He flashed an annoyed look and calmed himself quickly. He told her about Violet's early delivery because of John's selfish behavior.
"Took her out of bedrest to christen a ship. I ended up punching him in the face a couple of days after he finally showed up cursing another girl baby. I haven't seen him since he left my office in Sacramento months ago... I have only seen Liz twice since then. My family has kept in good communication with her. Nick and Katarina were there this past fall. Heath and Isabella went down in the spring. Carl even stopped in once too to check on them. Eugene saw her just last month. She's with child again and he forbids her to come to her sister's wedding. She came anyway."
"He had the audacity to ask me an unethical favor on top of it all when I was put into office. Wanted me to reduce his damn stress financially through Liz's and her holdings…I hope I broke his jaw that time."
Jarrod stared away for a few minutes and Amy just patted his hand, "What a horrible story. Why doesn't she just leave him."
"The law is on his side. He gets the girls"
"Oh dear Lord, poor woman."
—&—
The wedding at the cathedral was beautiful and a reception at the Occidental was over-the-top with flowers and crystal chandeliers, a three-tier wedding cake and champagne; a string quartet completed the night. Shades of purple for the ladies and tails for men looked royal. Liz had the girls dressed identically in lilac frocks with white lace. Liz spared no cost for her only sister's wedding.
Adrienne and Eugene were deliriously in love and left out for a three-week honeymoon on the East Coast. They would come back to Berkeley as he was offered a research teaching position and the freedom to develop anthrax vaccines from Pasteur's work.
Liz even allowed herself several dances with all of the Barkley brothers despite her condition creating a social faux pas with the biddies. Of course, someone would find fault with her having a little fun.
One old maid family friend, known as Aunt Tammy raised her eyebrow the whole time she was dancing. She knew everything about everyone and was quick to let you know the proper etiquette or social convention. From the low bodice of Isabella's gown to Adrienne's choice of a half veil to how much the alcohol must have cost Liz… to Violet sucking her thumb when she was tired to the smattering of sun freckles on Flora's nose…she had an answer or opinion for everything.
Liz was very careful not to indicate how attracted she was to Jarrod, an engaged man. She liked Amy despite trying to find something wrong with her.
The newlyweds left the reception to spend their first night in the hotel before they made the rail trip tomorrow afternoon.
Isabella confided to Adrienne and Liz at the reception that she was four months pregnant after two miscarriages. They were so happy for her and Heath.
That explains Heath acting like a mother hen all weekend.
Liz had decided to stay the rest of the week with the Barkleys. The children were the center of attention and Liz appreciated it immensely. Amy and Jarrod were especially attentive to them. The girls ended up with an extra trunk of dolls, Ghirardelli chocolates, drawing supplies, new dresses, bows, and books to take home. They got special time alone with the varied family members. It was a delightful week.
The day before they were set to return, John appeared at the hotel desk demanding his wife's room number. Katarina overheard and went to tell Nick. He had gone to the tobacconist and was due back any minute.
Jarrod and Heath had taken their ladies out so it was her and Victoria at the hotel alone. She paced the room trying to upset the children but looking for him desperately.
Bettina took the children out of the suite to Victoria's room for safety. Victoria went to Liz's room but the door was locked and no one would answer her knocks. She sent for a porter under the guise of checking on a pregnant lady.
John answered the door for the porter who was using his master key. "Everyone is fine. Wife is just tired."
Victoria was not satisfied with the answer in the hall when the porter left. She stood in the hall trying to hear something. She heard what she considered to be two muffled cries and a thud.
Nick ran down the hall when Katrina told him and bammed on the door with no answer. He kicked in the door and found John over an unconscious Liz. Blood poured from her mouth as she was sprawled over the bed. Both of her eyes were blackened.
This time he would leave bruises that could be seen. She had defied him and visited these Barkley's and this damn wedding.
He turned on Nick, "Stay out of this Barkley. Jarrod first, now you. Have you brothers been sharing my wife?" .
Hotel residents and staff were stopping by the broken down door and their voices carried.
Nick landed the first two punches and John hit Nick straight to the gut. Nick hit the ground and John had time to pull his gun off the nightstand. Nick grabbed for his ankles and they wrestled across the floor.
John got the gun and shouted to the people at the door, he caught, "Nick violated my wife just like his brother Jarrod did. I am just protecting my wife."
Nick lunged again for the gun and it went off killing John.
The police arrived and started taking statements. Everyone had a different story of what they saw; Victoria and Katarina were trying to wake Liz. A doctor was called. The bruises around her neck, torn dress, and her cheek told a horrific story. The police cuffed Nick and took him to the station since the majority of the people in the hall heard John accuse Nick of hurting his wife.
"Don't worry Nick, we know what happened. I will get Jarrod down there and when Liz wakes up, she can tell them."
And a reporter for the San Francisco Examiner took down the whole story in the hall from the supposed witnesses.
Jarrod and Amy arrived in the lobby just as Nick was being taken out in cuffs. Jarrod rushed to him and heard snippets of the story. "John is dead, self-defense, hurt Liz bad..check on the baby"
The photographer got a picture of an angry Jarrod talking to his brother.
Murder at Occidental Hotel. Brother's Love Triangle Exposed ran in the morning edition.