Chapter Eleven
"Heath, I like the idea of going to Monterey, just not now. I need to get back to San Francisco, to get working on the plans for Christmas for the store. Over half of the year's revenue comes from the holiday." Sarah looked up from the sketch book in her lap, to answer Heath.
They were having a drink before dinner, and he had brought up the trip to the coast. He had spoken to Nick about the cottage earlier today, encouraged at how well things were going with Sarah. They had gone to dinner and the theater night before last and enjoyed their time together. Having her to come home was wonderful; the house felt warmer and brighter with her presence.
He had always been inclined to like his time alone, but this past year, ever since his birthday it had started to bother him. Heath knew that some of his feelings were due to seeing Audra and Nick so happy with their spouses and children. Their houses were full of joy and companionship, which was very different from his house.
While they were in Monterey, he had planned on talking to Sarah about redecorating some of the house. His ulterior motive was to keep her in Stockton, but Heath knew she would enjoy the task. Her comments about getting back to the city, and the busy Christmas season filled with him dread. Heath started to worry that if she did go back now, he might not see her for almost two months, unless he made the trip to San Francisco. Those thoughts were interrupted by a knocking at the door.
"Are you expecting someone?" Sarah tilted her head, her brow puckering in curiosity.
"No, I'm not. Let me go see who it is." Heath finished his drink and stood up. "You might want to let Juanita know that dinner could be delayed." He hoped it was not Fred Madden, needing his help on a law enforcement issue. That would give Sarah another excuse to head back to the city if Heath was going to go off with a posse.
Heath walked to the door, and after opening it was taken aback to see an older gentleman dressed in a well-cut suit, albeit of a Latin style. He was carrying an expensive leather briefcase that reminded Heath of Jarrod's lawyer bag, as the family called the item. Heath felt a knot form in his stomach, not liking the implication of that reference.
The man was not alone but holding the hand of a young boy – maybe five or six; the boy had a suitcase in his other hand. Heath looked at the boy and felt like the world had turned upside down. It was not the dark auburn hair that had him breathless, even though the color reminded him of a certain person but rather the features and the blue eyes of the child.
He was looking at a slighter older version of his nephew Alden – Alden who looked so much like him. This boy bore the Barkley features of Tom, Audra, and Heath. He knew immediately that the child was his, and so would everyone else. He drew a ragged breath, quickly summarizing why the child was on his doorstep with a suitcase and a lawyer.
"Can I help you?" Shatter my life into a thousand pieces he asked slowly.
"Yes, I am Senor Alberto Delgado, solicitor to the late Senora Folsom of Rio Blanco." The man announced, and Heath was puzzled by the name, remembering the woman with a different one. The reference that she had passed made him flinch. "I am looking for Senor Heath Barkley?" The man's English was good, with only a slight accent.
"I am Heath Barkley." He strode forward and opened the door wider, to allow the pair to enter. "Why don't we go into my study, to talk." Heath did not want Sarah to see the boy, until he knew the whole story. The light footsteps coming down the hall let me know that he was not going to get his wish.
"Heath do we have company? Would they like" Sarah stopped abruptly and looked from the man to the young boy. Heath watched as her eyes widened, before she turned to regard his features, and then back to the child.
"It would be best if you and I speak first, Senor Barkley." Alberto Delgado announced, as he turned to introduce himself to Sarah. "And this is Simon Folsom." Sarah was regarding the child like a snake about to strike at her, and Heath realized his internal analogy was very true.
"Would you take Simon into the parlor, Sarah, while I speak to Senor Delgado." Heath had seen that Sarah saw the resemblance right away; he gave her a pleading look as he made the request. At the same time the lawyer reached and said something in Spanish to the child that Heath could not quite hear.
"Simon's English is very limited I am afraid; he only understands Spanish." The lawyer explained to the couple. Heath was glad for that because Sarah knew only a few words of the language. He watched as the boy set the brown leather suitcase down and looked at Sarah.
His wife gave him a look that said volumes, none of it good, but indicated for the child to follow her. Heath's chest was tight as he indicated the direction to the study, and the lawyer followed him. He carefully closed the door tightly, glad that he had insisted on heavy wood to make the room soundproof.
The library itself was paneled in plain but good quality mahogany wood, the only ornamentation on the walls was a ten-point buck head over the fireplace. The drapes were crimson, the furniture upholstered in red and black leather; the carpet was a medley of reds, blacks, and golds. The fireplace was black marble, with a gun rack on one side, and a bookcase on the other. It was not a large room, but Heath liked the view from the window when the drapes were open.
He walked over to a cabinet in the corner, and opened it to reveal a small bar, with glasses and bottles of various liquor. The bottles were heavy square crystal with silver tags around the necks; the glasses were the same design as the bottles. It had been a housewarming gift from his family when the house was built. The wood was painted red, with oriental designs in gold and black; he had not cared for the style but knew that Soo Lin had helped to pick it out.
His guest turned down the offer of a drink, so Heath just poured a large amount of bourbon for himself, half of which he drank in one swallow. He carried the glass over to a large cherrywood desk – a piece he had made himself – and indicated for the lawyer to take the chair on the opposite side.
"Senor Barkley, I apologize for coming to your place of residence in the evening, and surprising you and your wife." Alberto Delgado explained "I should have waited in town and requested you to come see me, but I have a family issue back in Rio Blanco I need to hurry home to." The man explained that his mother was very sick, and not expected to live much longer.
"Of course, I understand." Heath nodded his head, not really caring about the man's mother, unkind as it was. "Please tell me why you – and the child -are here?" He could not bring himself to reference the child as his son. His son; he couldn't wrap his head around the fact that he had a son. All of his longing for a child of own came back to him, even as he acknowledged that this wasn't how he wanted the event to occur.
"Before I explain, I have a letter for you to read, from Senora Folsom." He handed Heath a pale blue envelope, his name in script that looked faintly Germanic in style. If Heath had had any doubts about the identity of Senora Folsom, this would have confirmed his suspicion. He picked up a letter opener with a turquoise handle, and slowly opened the envelope. As he was removing the paper inside a gold chain fell out and dropped on the blotter.
Heath picked it up and noted the finely engraved medallion – on one side was a coat of arms with Germanic lettering on the edge that he could not read. The other side had an engraving of a man holding a Bishop's Crozier, with Sancte Simon engraved at the bottom rim. His mind flashed back to the last time he had seen the medallion – November 1876, in his bed at the Baron's Inn. He put the medallion and chain back down on the blotter and started reading the letter.
Dear Heath, if you are reading this than both Erick and I have died, leaving Simon alone and in need of his father. Yes, Heath he is your son. I lied to you about what had happened between us, being very embarrassed that I had gone along with you. Not only gone along with you, but how much I enjoyed the experience.
I was drunk and missing my Franz so much; events spun out of control when you came back to the Inn. You were very upset about your Irish woman, and in a worse state than I was because of alcohol. After everything had happened, I went back to my room, and decided to tell you that nothing had occurred between us. It was done more to salve my conscience and I never gave any thought to a child. Franz and I had been married for over fourteen years with never a sign of a babe.
By the time I realized I was with child, I was two months along and desperate. Erick Folsom had always been a good friend to both my late husband and me. He saw me crying in the church one night and came to sit with me. When he heard the story, he offered to marry me, to protect my reputation. Erick was not able to have children himself, because of a childhood disease, but said he would be happy to help me raise my child.
Simon is a good boy, and very smart. Erick and I would have done everything for him, not wanting to impose an obligation on you for something you never had a say in happening. Now, my wish is that you raise our son to be a good man – educated, responsible, with a good heart. I am enclosing my father's medallion for you to give to Simon when he is old enough to understand.
Senor Delgado has a letter for Simon when he is old enough to understand about life. The medallion has a special significance, regarding his grandfather; my father. The letter talks about that and tells the story of his Hungarian heritage. I hope that when he is grown, he would be able to travel to Hungary, and see where my great adventure started. I am giving you permission to read that letter, so you can judge as to when Simon would be ready.
There is also a letter from Erick, for Simon, telling him about his life. Erick's parent's in Sweden are aware of Simon and keep in contract with him by letters and presents. I hope you will continue to permit that, as it brings them happiness; they are very kind people.
Heath, what you tell him about us is entirely up to you, but I hope that you will paint me in a good light. Your son was the most incredible gift I ever received! For however long I was able to be his mother, he made me glad for what had happened between us. I pray for you every night and hope you have found happiness – happiness that Simon coming into your life does not ruin.
Love and Blessings, Magda
Heath sat in silence, thinking about the contents of the letter. He recalled back to that long-ago morning; he had been sure he and Magda had been intimate. No, he could not remember the event in detail, but in his heart, he had known they had been together. Her denial though was so strong – as well his feeling of embarrassment at being so out of control – had led him to go along with her story.
He had never gone back to Rio Blanco because Barkley-Sierra had sold the mine to a Mexican owner. Jarrod had brokered the sale, explaining that the government was giving them special tax exemptions for the purchase. Heath now wished he had gone down to oversee the sale; maybe he would have found out about Simon?
"Are you aware of the contents of this letter." Heath turned his mind from his questioning thoughts, to find out how much the lawyer knew.
"Yes, Senor Barkley, I am familiar with the letter, and all aspects of Senora Folsom's life. I was solicitor to her and her first husband Herr Werner, when they came to Rio Blanco. Our families were on friendly terms." The lawyer steepled his long fingers together as he regarded Heath. "In my line of work, I learn many private things from my clients. They know I cannot breach their confidentiality, and personally I think they enjoy getting things off their chests. Not quite like the Padre, but close." His dark eyes twinkled for a moment at the observation.
"How did Magda pass? Erick too?" Heath remembered the Scandinavian mining engineer that had run the mine operation. He had impressed Heath with how smart he was, along with being a hard worker. It made him glad that the man had been there for Magda and Simon; she had done well by their son.
"They were coming back from a day trip to" he mentioned a town that was the seat of the province's government. "A band of guerilla soldiers attacked and robbed them, before killing them. Luckily Simon had stayed behind in Rio Blanco because he was sick." Senor Delgado added some details and made derogatory comments about the rebels.
"Senor Barkley, I need to be getting on my way." He changed topics and reached into his satchel style briefcase. He brought out several folders and passed them across the desk. "These are financial details of the estate, being held in trust for Simon. I sold the Inn, per Senora Folsom's will, and put the money in the bank. I understand that your brother is a lawyer, well regarded in both California and Mexico; he could certainly handle the transfer."
"I am quite capable of providing my for son." Heath stated quickly, as he set the folders aside. It sounded unnatural to say those words out loud.
"Senor Barkley I am quite aware of your family's wealth." The lawyer replied in a cold tone "Simon is Senora Folsom's son also, and she wanted him to have money of his own. In case he would not be welcomed in your life. Will he be welcome? By you? Your wife?" The man's dark eyes stared directly at Heath.
"Of course, he is welcome, as my son and will be treated accordingly." Heath replied decisively. He recalled Sarah's looks at him in the hall but decided that no matter what Simon would be with him. His son would grow up with a father.
"I am glad to hear that. His future is a very bright one because of that fact." Senor Delgado stood up. "Let me go say good-bye to Simon; I have become quite fond of the boy." Heath was glad to have the lawyer accompany him into the parlor.
Simon was sitting on the sofa, his hands clasped in his lap, looking forlorn. Sarah was sitting in a chair, her sketch book in her lap, her lips pursed tightly together. Heath realized it was probably past Simon's dinner time, and he noted that Sarah had not even offered the boy some milk. His ire started to rise, but then realized he needed to contain his emotion.
Heath was impressed at how well Simon took the parting from his traveling companion. He showed the lawyer out and went back into the parlor. When he walked in his wife and new-found son both looked at him expectantly.