Chapter Forty-Eight
Maris awoke with the sun shining in through the window exactly as Ruthie had mentioned. She grinned as she listened to the soft reassuring sound of Nick's snore beside her.
"He was so kind and tender and gentle with me—-worrying about me all the time. To have found such a man."
She untangled herself from his arms and made her way to the water closet.
On her way back, she picked up the dinner plates and silverware. She packed them up into the large basket to return to the boarding house. She rinsed out their glasses and put them at the bar to dry.
She picked up Nick's discarded shirt from the foot of the bed and hung it up alongside her dress from the chair. She took a deep sniff of his shirt of bay and tobacco. She moved his boots to the chair for his ease.
"I love you, Nick Barkley."
She put on her quilted robe and went to the front porch to watch the sunrise in the rocking chair.
Several employees were moving around the rooming house. One passed by and reminded her "Breakfast is at 7".
"Thank you"
Another servant came by with shears and a basket
"Excuse me? What kind of roses are those?"
"Some fancy ones that Mista Vincent's mama grew in the old country. He found some like them. He's been growing them up at the big house and putting them down at each cottage"
"I wonder if he would give me a cutting."
"I bet so—-he's mighty proud of them"
Vincent came by a few minutes later in a wagon. He had chairs in the back for the beach.
"Morning Miss Maris. My friend, still asleep?"
"Yes sir. We will be up for breakfast. I was just admiring your roses this morning."
Vincent's countenance beamed, "Zéphirine Drouhin is a beautiful and consistent, Climbing Bourbon with large— nearly thornless canes—she is perfection."
"Yes, she is. I was wondering if I might purchase a cutting?"
"It would be my honor to send Zéphirine home with you. She is to be treasured and appreciated for beauty. As you are— by my friend."
Maris blushed, "Thank you. I will treasure her."
"As will my friend, Nick. For him to find such love twice, he is a blessed man. It took me three times to find such bliss."
Maris cocked her head so unused to such honesty. So one in her circle ever spoke so plainly.
"I was married twice before—Ruthie is the love of my life. I would not have found her without my friend Jarrod Barkley. And to have two children at such a season in my life. I want for nothing" with his slight French accent.
She smiled just as Nick came out in his trousers and bare chest. Maris couldn't help a look of appreciation. Vincent couldn't help himself but chuckle.
Nick kissed Maris on the cheek, "Morning honey. It's rare that someone beats me up to see the sun. Vince—-looking forward to fishing after breakfast."
"Me too. Let me take the basket on up."
Nick walked it down to him. They shared a wink as Maris walked inside.
"She is lovely, my friend," Vincent complimented.
"Yep, she is. Would have already married her iff'n it wouldn't have cost her seeing her son a couple of years. She already lost custody because of seeing me. If she gives up the fight, she ends up in a sanitarium—crazy old son of a—-Holding all the cards right now for our life. So we wait—with each other at least."
Vincent shook his head in anger, "It is not fair."
"Nope, I am trying to keep my head and not take care of it on my own. Justice and it ain't in a court of law. Gave my word to Jarrod and Nate. I would let them take the lead. But I don't know how much longer I can keep my word. 'Cept it would hurt Maris's chances with her son."
"What happened this week? If I am not too presumptuous."
"Hell, you can see it plain as day on her face. Old man hired someone to torch fireworks at Jarrod's house to scare him off. Then the same guy tried to kidnap Maris if Nate hadn't got there in time. He's dead or I would have done it myself. Old man behind it—Pinkerton on case to prove it. Knocked her out. Made her sick as a dog with Chinese stuff. Brought her here for some quiet time."
"We will take good care of her, Nick."
"That's why we are here."
Vincent looked up at the porch with a mischievous grin, "and a bit of lagniappe?"
Nick roared in laughter, "Yep that too."
—&—
"Nick? Will it be improper for me not to wear the corset to breakfast? My ribs still—."
"Not at all—" and he walked to the door of the bedroom, "Did I hurt ya last night? Don't want to make anything worse—-I uh—-couldn't resist ya."
"Nicholas, you didn't at all. You were so gentle with me. You made me heal faster in my opinion. And it was once again my idea." she winked.
His worried look turned to a smile, "That's me, Doc Nick. Anytime my dear. And the idea was mutual—-"
They both laughed with ease. He buttoned up the back of her green dress and kissed her on the neck.
"Yes, you are right. Healing touch for sure."
And they walked hand-in-hand to breakfast with the other boarders.
—-&—-
Maris sat with a woolen blanket on her lap in one of the chairs Vincent set up on the beach. He and Nick headed out on the jetty to cast their lines. She could hear the laughter of the men echo back to her in muffles.
"May I join you?"
Ruthie came up behind her.
"Of course. You have such a lovely establishment."
"I am glad Nick felt safe enough to bring you. Vincent told me what happened. I hate this so much for you and Nick. You deserve to marry."
Maris's face registered shock for a moment. Ruthie assumed she had misspoken and began to apologize.
Maris put her hand on hers, "No, no. Don't apologize. It's refreshing. Where I come from, no one ever just speaks their mind or the truth—-we just ignore and act all properly. It matters what people think and society's rules rather than honesty and love and compassion. Nick introduced me to a new way of life and I quite enjoy it. A breath of fresh air."
Ruthie's side was genuine and wide, "Well, I wasn't raised with manners. I have had to pick them up on my own. Now Vincent, he was raised all fancy in a chateau and boarding schools. He knows what fork to use and the difference between a Duke and a Baron. Our children are raised upright, I promise."
Maris squeezed her hand again and winked, "That is the most important thing."
They chatted most of the morning away while the men fished.
"Mare! Come see!" Nick yelled from the jetty.
The ladies carefully walked out. Ruthie took her arm. Nick proudly displayed a leopard shark he had caught.
"Oh, Nicholas. I have never seen a shark. Just in books. Can I touch it?"
He took her fingers and grazed the shark. She giggled and he couldn't help but smile at her. Vincent and Ruthie shared a knowing look.
Maris and Ruthie inspected the day's catch, "Bout another hour."
"Sounds good. Don't hurry. "
And the ladies walked back to the shore. A huge wave came up and toppled them on the rocks. They were drenched but laughing. They waved off the men that they were fine.
"Why don't you come up to the house? We need to get the salt water out of our dresses. I have plenty to change into. I would love to show you our home, Vincent built it after his second wife to be alone. We are always adding to it. His painting studio is his pride and joy—-well after me and the children."
She noticed Maris' shock at "second wife."
"His first one died of typhoid when they were only eighteen in France. Only married for a few months. His second was a witch. I watched my language on that one. Vincent would be proud. Proud of myself, too. She abandoned him for another man. Jarrod handled his divorce. That's where they met. She broke her neck a few months later. He was devastated and moved up here. We met a few years later when I bought the boarding house."
"Every day, I am thankful for second chances. I am glad you found each other. I got a new start myself. Met Nick on a derailed train of all providence. We have been spoken for since—"
Ruthie gave her a big hug and Maris reciprocated. She helped her into the rig. "Vincent will get the chairs in the wagon."
—-&-
Ruthie drove the small rig up the hill with Maris, huddling under the blanket. She smiled at her companion. Her grin was childlike enjoying the ride.
"Pretty ain't it? Isn't it?"
"Absolutely perfect. The sound of the waves, the sun peeking through the low clouds, Nick so relaxed with your husband fishing. He has been so tense for days."
Ruthie blurted out, "Well we ladies have a way to calm them down. A good—-" and she gulped in mortification.
Maris turned bright red and looked out to the sea.
"Oh honey, I am sorry, old Ruthie just reverts back sometimes; I put my foot in my mouth again."
"It's fine, I am just not used to plain speaking. But Ruthie, I would very much like your friendship. I only had a childhood friend Missy—then Alice Springer and now you. All three of you have one thing in common. You speak things others would not dare—-and it makes me uh, brave."
"Brave! I like that and no one has ever told me that."
Maris began to tell Ruthie about Missy and their childhood musings about men and then her friendship with Alice—-she didn't share any details but the influence on her outlook, "free spirits".
"And my father-in-law JD Autonberry never allowed me to socialize except with him or his business associates. My late husband, David and I never went anywhere except for family dinners."
The surprise was evident all over Ruthie's face, "David Autonberry was your late husband?"
"Yes? You knew him?"
"Boy howdy I did. San Francisco. The summer before I moved to Stockton to meet up with my friend Frisco Rose. That's when I met Jarrod too."