Chapter 6
When Jarrod and Jaq arrived in Sacramento, there was a floral festival in progress. Jarrod arranged for their belongings to be transported to the hotel and the two made their way down the crowded streets to enjoy the sights.
The area was covered in flowers of all varieties and Jarrod heard someone say the flowers were from all over the state. Jarrod held on tightly to Jaq's hand as they passed through the streets. The throngs of people pushed against them and Jarrod felt Jaq's hand slip from his. He looked around, unable to find her. His eyes kept scanning the crowd.
Jaq was looking for Jarrod but wasn't worried. She knew he was somewhere in the crowd and that they'd find one another. She tried to stay in the same area, but the crush of the crowd was too strong. Jaq realized she hadn't asked Jarrod the name of the hotel where they'd be staying. She was calling herself a fool for not paying attention. She was trying to decide what to do when she saw her. Beth stood across the way staring at Jaq with lifeless, cold eyes. She raised her hand and began to point in Jaq's direction and Jaq felt as though she'd faint. The crowd shifted again, and Beth disappeared. Jaq started moving forward, hoping to find Beth and get this settled one and for all. It had to be an illusion…or her eyes playing tricks on her. Except, how would she explain seeing Beth in both San Francisco and Sacramento?
Jaq had almost reached the spot where she'd seen Beth when she felt someone grab her from behind. Jaq screamed and jumped.
"Jaq," she heard Jarrod say. Jaq began to weep, collapsing in his arms.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" Jarrod asked. He held on tightly to Jaq and pushed through the crowd. He'd secured a hack that could take him to the hotel.
Jaq held on to Jarrod as though her life depended on it.
Neither said anything to the other on the ride. Jarrod helped Jaq down when the hack reached the hotel and she remained silent as Jarrod checked them into their room. They took the elevator up to the top floor. She was still quiet as Jarrod opened the door to their room. Jaq walked in and looked around, but her mind couldn't process anything.
"Jaq," Jarrod called to her quietly.
Jaq turned around and looked at her husband. Tears filled her eyes again and he took two steps to bring her into his arms.
"I'm so sorry, Jaq," Jarrod kept saying over and over. "I'm so sorry I lost you."
Jaq was eventually able to calm down and Jarrod led her over to the settee. They stayed on the settee for over an hour. Jaq sat up and placed her hand on Jarrod's face.
"I'm sorry, Jaq," Jarrod said again.
"You have nothing to be sorry about, Jarrod. I can't explain what happened. It was just so overwhelming, and I thought…" Jaq looked down, unable to continue or meet Jarrod's eyes.
Jarrod put a finger under Jaq's chin and lifted her face so her eyes would meet his.
"You thought what?" he asked. His blue eyes held hers.
Jarrod thought he heard her say, "I thought I saw her…" He waited for a moment and Jaq spoke again.
"I'd lost you," Jaq said, knowing that wasn't really the truth. She wasn't ready to tell anyone that she thought she'd seen Beth. It was too disturbing.
"I'm here," Jarrod said, pulling Jaq to himself. After a few moments of being held close, Jaq stood and held out her hand to Jarrod.
"Let's go into the other room," she said, and Jarrod smiled.
The two were lost for the rest of the afternoon in each other.
After Jaq's experience, she didn't want to go out to do much. She was content to enjoy the amenities of the amazing hotel and Jarrod was happy to stay put as well. They continued to enjoy one another, and the week passed by without anything else out of the ordinary.
They arrived home and eager to begin their lives together. Jaq continued to rise early and go about her day, but she was always there when Jarrod emerged from their room and ate breakfast with him. They'd spend their evenings either at home content in marital bliss or with the family at the Barkley Mansion.
Heath and Elsa made the announcement that they were again expecting, and Jaq knew a moment of jealousy but also panic. She longed for another child but the thought of losing one again was too much for her to take. Jarrod held her as she cried and assured her that he was happy with how things were. The fact she still was so upset over the thought of having a child was proof they should wait. His words were comforting, and Jaq decided to enjoy the time they had together with just the two of them.
Nick began courting the niece of their neighbor that he'd met at Jaq and Jarrod's wedding. Ashlyn Gray was only supposed to be in Stockton for the Summer, but Nick had won her heart and she decided Stockton would be her home. Nick was already working out plans in his mind to make Ashlyn a permanent part of his life.
Life settled into a routine and all the Barkley's seemed happy.
A late Summer storm kicked up as Jaq was working in an upstairs spare bedroom. The room had become the "catch-all" and Jaq wanted to organize everything. The sky grew ominously dark and it was hard to believe it was still supposed to be daylight. Lightning caught Jaq's eye and she went to the window to watch the show. The thunder was loud, but Jaq wasn't afraid. She always loved a good storm. The wind and rain beat against the windows and the lightning shown again. It was then that Jaq noticed someone was in the yard behind the house. She thought perhaps she was seeing things, so she waited a moment. More lightning and this time Jaq knew for certain she was seeing someone. And that someone looked just like Beth. Jaq ran down the stairs and out the front door into the driving rain.
Jarrod was working in the study and heard the approaching storm. He could tell it was going to be a bad one. He heard Jaq running down the stairs and fully expected her to run into the study and into his arms. He didn't think she was afraid of storms, but they were still learning things about each other. When he heard the front door open, he went to the door and saw Jaq running toward the back of the house. Jarrod ran after her.
"Jaq! Jaq!" he cried out. The wind and rain were beating against him, leaving stinging pain against his skin. He found Jaq standing in the small field at the back of the house, completely drenched. Jarrod grabbed hold of her and brought her back inside.
"What the hell, Jaq?" he asked angrily. Jaq started to cry hysterically, and Jarrod was losing his patience.
"Calm down…CALM DOWN," Jarrod raised his voice as he grabbed hold of Jaq's arms and shook her just a bit. She stopped and stared at him, wild eyed.
"I saw her Jarrod. I saw her."
"Who?"
"Beth! I saw her!"
Jarrod looked at Jaq and shook his head. He wasn't sure what to say. He thought back to San Francisco when his Mother had told him Jaq mentioned something about seeing "her" and then when they were in Sacramento. He hadn't been certain of what she'd said in the hotel room, but he now believed she'd said "her" again.
"You don't believe me," Jaq said angrily. She pulled away from Jarrod and began to pace. "I saw her. I saw her in San Francisco. I saw her in Sacramento, and I've seen her here just now in Stockton."
Jarrod walked over to Jaq as she paced and muttered, reaching for her. She jerked away and stared at him angrily.
"You don't believe me!" Jaq cried out.
"Sweetheart, Beth is dead," Jarrod said in what he hoped was a calm voice.
"You only know that from a report given to you. You don't know for sure! Jarrod, I'm not crazy. I have seen her here. She has those cold eyes. She just stares at me with those eyes," Jaq began to cry. She fell to her knees and sobbed.
Jarrod's heart broke. He wasn't sure what to do for his wife. He didn't doubt that Beth was dead, but he also had to wonder what Jaq was seeing. He'd never seen her this way before.
Jarrod knelt beside her and spoke softly. Jaq eventually stopped crying. Jarrod helped her to her feet and held her closely.
"I don't know what's happening," Jaq sniffed.
"Neither do I, but we'll get to the bottom of it, Jaq. I promise."
"I want to go lie down, Jarrod," she said, and she pushed away from him. Jarrod watched her go to the bedroom and close the door.
