Chapter Forty
Heath walked over to the café Tuesday afternoon feeling very apprehensive. When he had received the note from Sharon, yesterday morning, he was at least glad she was going to give him an answer quickly. As he replayed the meeting in Jarrod's office, and her reaction, Heath did not feel confident about her decision.
It had surprised him when he had seen Sharon and her children at Sunday services. Heath wondered what had prompted her decision, and during the service, when he was not annoyed with Victoria, he thought about Sharon.
The annoyance with Victoria was because she had insisted he escort her to services. Ducky was sick, and Priscilla had been up most of the night with the baby. Nick had offered to take the boys, including Simon, on a hike by the creek in the south pasture. Heath had been prepared to go along, but his mother changed his plans.
After the service Heath had not been able to talk to Sharon; she was busy with the Gibson's and another family. He was glad to see that she had friends in the community, which would give him entry into the social circles he did not have right now. He did not care for himself, but because of Simon he knew he needed that approval.
He brought his mind back to the present, as he came up to the café. Noting the closed sign on the front door, he went around to the back of the building. Heath knocked on the door, and then entered, as the staff looked up from their tasks.
"Hello Heath." Sharon came into the kitchen, wearing a blue dress that was the color of her eyes. She untied the apron that she had on, and he noted her trim figure, even as he did not want to. Her hair was put up, but he could see some tendrils curling around her forehead.
"Sharon." He smiled, pushing aside his other thoughts. He then turned and acknowledged the staff in the kitchen. "It smells good in here. The food is always delicious." Heath commented, wondering if his kitchen would ever smell like this.
"Well that is Henry" she indicated the Negro who was shutting down the stove. "His wife Bettina helps out sometimes." Sharon went on to introduce the other workers.
"Aldina, can you take care of locking up?" Sharon turned to the older Latin woman who nodded her head. "Heath, just let me get my pelisse and I'll be ready." She walked over to a closet and retrieved the garment, and then let Heath help her into it.
He noted that the women were looking at him with interest, which gave him hope. If Sharon were introducing him to her staff, and leaving with him, maybe she would say yes after all. When they left the café, Sharon led him to the park by the river. On the walk over they had talked about the weather, and happenings in town. Heath was aware they were going the back way, which led him to think she did not want to be seen with him.
"I am prepared to give you an answer, but before I do, I have several questions." Sharon stated, after they had sat down on a bench partially hidden by shrubbery.
Heath looked over at her, sitting very straight and staring directly at him. He had the same unnerved feeling now, that he had had at the end of the meeting in Jarrod's office. When he had planned it all out, he had been sure of how Sharon would react. However, it had not, and was not, turning out like he had envisioned.
"What do you want to know?" He turned to look at the river, instead of her eyes. Nick's comment "think first and talk later" came to him with a vengeance. Heath knew that his family could get upset with his taciturn nature; it had made Sarah hurt and angry. For a brief moment he was tempted to tell Sharon he had changed his mind about the proposition. Simon's face came to him, and he swallowed hard.
"First, I want to know about Simon's mother and your relationship with her. You once told me that you would not do what your father had done, but clearly you did." Her voice was flat, but Heath winced remembering their long-ago conversation. Sighing he realized he should have known she would ask about that issue.
"She was a widow; she and her husband had come with the Austrian royal who became the Emperor of Mexico. Her name was Magda, and she was Hungarian; her husband was Austrian." Heath continued to stare at the river, willing himself to talk about that painful time. He told her about the Inn Magda ran, how she had hair like Simon, and how Simon had inherited her methodical nature and tidiness.
"One of the last nights there I had been out drinking" he paused, deciding not to tell her why. Heath did not want her to know about her part in Simon's conception. "I was very drunk when I returned to the Inn. The same day would have been Magda's wedding anniversary, and she had been drinking also." He cringed as he recalled that night, and what had happened.
"Long story short, I remembered her being in my room, but when I woke up the next morning, I was alone. When I went to talk to her, Magda informed me that I had passed out before anything had happened." Heath wanted this conversation over with in the worst way.
"And you believed her?" Sharon asked in a disbelieving tone. He recalled how he had told her about being a lawman and how could read people.
"If you had met Magda you would know why I believed her. In case you doubt my word, ask Jarrod." Heath gave her a hard look. "He was down in Rio Blanco the following summer when we sold the mine. He met her, and when I told him the story about Simon, he said he understood. I forgot to mention that her nickname among people was "Baroness" because of her manner. She wasn't someone to be trifled with."
Sharon seemed to accept that, and then asked about Simon's presumed father. Heath was glad of the change of subject and told her about Erick and his parents. He then remembered that Sharon had said that she had several questions for him, so he asked her what those were.
She had been enjoying having Heath hanging in the wind. Sharon was still angry at how self-satisfied and proud he had been in the meeting in Jarrod's office. His stiff body and demeanor on his face showed how uncomfortable he was with having to share the story of Simon's conception.
It had not been lost on her how close Simon's birthday was to Sean's. She still recalled that day when she had turned Heath's proposal of down. Sharon was struggling with adjusting to America, after an unpleasant sea voyage. The way the Irish group had been treated in Boston, where they landed was still fresh in her mind.
Sharon had not let on to Heath, at how awestruck she was, with the Barkley family. The house was as grand as on any estate in Ireland, and she could not imagine being the mistress of such an establishment. She had seen, in Ireland, how the gentry lived, and from what she saw in the Valley it was all the same.
Further, she was barely twenty, with no experience besides being a lady's maid at the castle. It had been hard to part from Lady Emily and her family but felt that her blood kin were owed her loyalty. Seven years later, a bad marriage, and life experience had shown her that she was not the scared immigrant she had been when she had met Heath.
"I know exactly why you have proposed this arrangement – you want your son to live with you." Sharon tore her mind away from her memories, as she looked at Heath with resignation. Men and their sons would always rule in the end.
"Is that a problem for you?" Heath turned his eyes from the river, hearing almost contempt in her voice. For the second time he started to question if he should be entering into this arrangement.
"What if we go through with all this, and then Simon decides he doesn't want to live with you." Sharon regarded him closely. Heath was taken aback at her statement and asked her to continue.
"My children and I were having lunch with the Gibson's on Sunday. You know that Sean, Simon, and Luke are good friends?" Sharon paused, and he nodded his head. "The Gibson's had had Simon and Sean over one afternoon last week. Amelia shared with me how excited Simon was, about his grandparents coming back. He told Luke all about the sailboat his grandfather was going to give him." She bit her lip and tilted her head.
He was surprised at what she had just shared; Heath had always assumed that Simon would be happy to stay with him. He was also puzzled by mention of Amelia, but in asking Sharon he learned that she was Luke's mother. Just as he took a deep breath, Sharon started speaking again.
"I have heard that the grandparent's will be back in the summer, but according to Priscilla they wanted Simon to stay at the Big House." Sharon added that Priscilla had told her this several weeks ago, the day school started. "I have been in the nursery and can see how happy Simon is. He is very close to Thomas Henry and Alden. And if his grandparents have requested that he stay there, you cannot expect to move him to your house." She shifted her position and crossed her legs.
Heath stood up and walked over to the railing, to look at the river. Sharon's words were swirling around in his head, about Simon and his grandparents. He remembered Jarrod telling him that they were the boy's legal guardians. They had the final say in his upbringing. He then recalled Maud talking to him, about what Magda had shared with her about Simon.
"Even if he doesn't live with us full-time, if I have an established household, when he comes to visit, he could stay with us." Heath had turned around to face Sharon, working it out in his mind. It was hurtful, but he could see that Simon would probably want to live with his grandparents, at least during the school year.
"Tis a gambling man you are?" She asked, her eyes narrowing. Heath saw a fissure of worry cross her countenance. It made him wonder what was behind the reaction.
"I do play poker, very well. However, I do not consider myself a gambler and would never lose money I could not afford to." Heath stated, and then changed the subject. "I have a good relationship with Maud and Olaf – Simon's grandparents. They know the story of his birth, and the reason Simon is at the Big House is because there is a nursery already in place."
"So, you still want to go through with this business arrangement? I will not hold you to the proposition, Heath, now that you know that Simon might not live with you in the end." Sharon offered, and Heath saw that it could be his way out. He recalled at how – at least three times – he had questioned becoming involved with her.
It had all seemed so easy, when he drew the plan up; he wanted Simon, and he knew that Sharon needed his money. Now, not only had she not acquiesced right away, but she was making him feel almost dirty about what he was doing. Heath acknowledged in his heart that he was using her economic circumstances against her.
Just as he started to feel guilty, he remembered her turning his proposal down, with the excuse that she would not be accepted in his world. Now she was a respected member of the Stockton business community. Further, she was attending the Protestant church.
Heath reminded himself that she had married her cousin barely two months after she had turned him down. Suddenly he saw the newspaper clipping about Sarah's marriage to Adam. He stiffened his spine, even as he thought 'none of these women have ever wanted me, but they marry someone else without a by your leave'.
"I am ready to move forward with our business arrangement. My being a married man, with an establish family, will let me play a role in Simon's life." He did not add that he wanted to let people know that he had not been devastated at Sarah's walking out on him.
"How lucky for you that I can supply the established family that you need." Sharon inwardly chuckled, as Heath stood there with false bravado in his voice. Sharon knew him so well and saw how hard this was him. She did not feel sorry for him though, remembering the meeting in Jarrod's office.
"You agree to my terms?" Heath's voice was suddenly business like, and Sharon knew he wanted to get away from personal feelings.
"Yes" Sharon replied but then paused. "I have several requests of my own, and I want to know if you will honor them?" Heath was offering a great deal of money to her, and her children. However, she wanted to make sure that she could provide a warm home for the family.
"I assume that as your wife I will be in charge of the household?" She asked, and when he nodded his head Sharon smiled. "I did not see anything in the numbers you showed me about money for the house?" Heath was puzzled, she could see, and he asked her to explain.
"You said that you built the house that you had the plans drawn up, all those years ago?"
"The design was everything I'd wanted in a house." Heath offered, now worried about where she was going. Sarah had not minded the house but hated the location. She had wanted something closer to the Big House or town; maybe Sharon wanted the same thing.
"Heath, you are paying me a great deal of money to provide a home for you and Simon." Her dark blue eyes narrowed, and he felt like she was taking her measure of him. "This is a new life for you, Simon, and my children. I think we will all want a fresh start, with no lingering reminders of your first marriage?"
"I am not moving to a different house!" Heath exclaimed and noticed that she was looking at him with askance.
"What are you talking about? I am sure the house is just fine. It is the furnishings and household staff that I am referring to." Sharon gave him a cool regard.
He sighed to himself, now realizing what Sharon wanted. Heath did not blame her for asking to redo the house, but the money-ugh. When he and Sarah had first married, they had spent a great deal of time picking out furniture. Heath knew that most men only cared about their study, but he was not most men.
Everything they had bought had been top quality; remembering at that time that Sarah had not liked everything he had chosen. Heath wondered if he had just let her do what she wanted, maybe she would have been happier. Certainly, that is what every other man did.
"You want to redecorate the house?" Heath temporized, remembering that Sharon had always been frugal and practical. It came to him that she had not seen what was there; maybe she would not mind the furnishings.
"Of course. There is also the matter of the household staff, which I will expect to oversee. I already have a wonderful housekeeper, who I will bring with me." Sharon tilted her head, remembering his comment about her not being able to afford to hire some. She saw a startled expression come into his blue eyes.
"Don't worry I won't be frivolous with your money, but if you want me to be Mrs. Heath Barkley – like Mrs. Nicholas Barkley and Mrs. Carl Wheeler – we will need staff." Sharon sat back watched as Heath weighed her words.
Actually, he was thinking of Juanita, who had been the housekeeper when he and Sarah were married. She had been left suddenly widowed when her husband was killed in a cattle stampede. Heath had been glad to employ, and Sarah had never disagreed with his decision.
However, it was coming to him that Sharon was not Sarah. He decided that after the marriage he would give Juanita a nice pension, to help her get along. She would enjoy spending time with her grandchildren, he reasoned, hoping she would not be too hurt.
"I will certainly leave the household staff to you, as is your position as mistress of the house." Heath knew he sounded cold; in truth he was getting angry at himself for having set this whole farce into motion. "There are furnishings in the house, all good quality. I understand you wanting to put your own stamp on the place, but I hope you can and will reuse some of what is already there."
"My study is off limits, and you will only enter it if I ask you; do you understand?" Heath knew he was being petty, but Sharon had shown that she would not accept any input from him on the house.
"I am sure I will be too busy." She smiled a victorious smile, inwardly chuckling – men and their studies! "So, I hope you are available this Friday? The new Variety Show at the Gaiety is supposed to be very good. The supper they do is also well talked about." Sharon took a small book out of her reticule.
"Friday? The Gaiety?" Heath was taken aback at what she was saying. The Gaiety Theater was a popular venue in town, hosting plays, operas, and variety shows. It was what would have been called a Supper Club; the chef prepared three different Prix Fixe menus each week. The dress code was not stiff, but suits were expected.
"You didn't just think that you would propose to me on Tuesday, and marry me on Sunday?" She straightened her spine, and then laughed. "You have already said you want everyone to believe you are marrying me because you love me. That means we must court. Do you know what that means?" Mentally she wondered what his courtship of Sarah had been.
"I thought maybe we might do a picnic? Sunday dinner with my family?" Heath had in fact not given any thought about the process of marrying Sharon. He grasped at the first thing that came to his mind, but from the pitying look in her eyes Heath realized he was falling short.
"Well of course, after we had had several outings – just us – a picnic with meself and children will be appropriate. Down the road, Sunday dinner with your family, as well as a joint outing with Nick, Priscilla, Carl, and Audra." She made notes in the small leather-bound diary with a small pencil.
"When can we get engaged? And married?" Heath, even as he knew Sharon was correct, was appalled at the time lime she had detailed out. Her response made him question, for the fourth time if he really wanted to go through with the matter.
"Quaint! Anyone listening to you would think that you were head over heels in love with me" Sharon gave him a disdainful look. "It is now February, so we court through the end of March. You propose in April – at the Chart House which will be open. We can get married in May, and by the time Simon's grandparent's return, you will be a married man with an established household."
Heath walked over to the railing, yet again, and looked at the slow-moving river. Until the spring thaw the river would be low on the banks. He had understood what she was saying and saw that she had thought out her response as well as he had thought out his proposition. It came to him that this was like playing chess; even as he had that thought he recalled that the Queen always ruled the board.
"I am available Friday. I hope you have an appropriate dress?" Heath turned around quickly, striking out at her because of how she had gotten the better of him so easily. If only it was not for Simon, Heath would walk away from her quickly.
"Don't worry Heath, I will do you proud. Just so you know, there are a number of men who will be very jealous of you taking me out." Sharon stood up a pleased smile on her face. "Now, you can escort me home, through town, so the maximum number of people sees us together. It is the beginning of our great business venture."
He escorted her to her house, noting how they took the long way through town. Heath felt like he was being paraded around as a prize stallion but knew that several single men looked at him with envy. Sharon had been right – yet again – and it galled him. When he had come up with the plan, he was sure that he would be in control of everything.
Now though, in his mind, he saw the chessboard and realized that the Queen had put him in checkmate. Heath was not happy, but in one small part of his mind he had to admire Sharon's spirit.