Chapter 3
It was tough, in a way, to escort Laura into a hotel bar room. Yes, she was now over 21 but Jarrod still thought of her as that flighty, self-important teen-aged girl he'd always had to deal with. It remained to be seen if she still had that streak, or if time in Europe, with the Patterson family and with Michael, had tamed some of that.
They sat down at a table, and right away Laura said something that jolted Jarrod a little. "I'll bet you're surprised to see we brought Michael's sister along."
"A little," Jarrod admitted. "But it's fine. There's no problem accommodating your soon to be sister-in-law."
"I know you were surprised when I told you Michael and I were getting married."
"Very," Jarrod said. "But you're of age now. I'm no longer your guardian. Your decisions are your own."
"I do love him very much, Jarrod." Laura hung her head a little. "You were right, four years ago, when I fell for Ranjit – I mean Jahan. I really didn't know what love was all about."
"You were infatuated," Jarrod said.
She looked up at him. "Yes, but I remember you said I was too selfish to ever know what love was about."
Jarrod didn't know how to respond to that. Frankly, he hadn't spent enough time with Laura in the years since Jahan to know whether her selfish streak had eased off.
"You were wrong about that part," Laura said. "I love Michael very much. It's a lot different than it was with Jahan. I was impressed when I thought Jahan was Ranjit and I did become infatuated because he was a prince and I was – I thought I was – a princess. But living with the Pattersons – it's amazing how wealthy they are, much wealthier than I am, but they are so down to earth. They showed me so much kindness and showed me how to show kindness to others. I've grown up, Jarrod. I really have."
Jarrod had to smile. Laura did seem different, subdued from all the self-important flashiness of her younger days. "I'm glad, Laura," Jarrod said. "I'm looking forward to getting to know Michael. I may not be your guardian anymore, but I still want to be your friend."
"Big brother rather than father, maybe?"
"Something like that," Jarrod said. "Now, before the Pattersons join us and we start talking about weddings, tell me all about Europe and Paris. I've never been, you know."
"I can't believe that."
"I've always been too busy here," Jarrod said.
"Everybody's surrogate father, not just mine," Laura said.
In a way, Jarrod was surprised that she noticed that. "It happens that way when you're the oldest son of several children. Among the Barkleys, only Audra ever went to Europe. She's married now – all of my brothers are married now too."
"And you?"
That hollow feeling he had whenever he thought of his brief marriage came over him. As far as he was aware, Laura didn't know about that. "No, I'm not married," he said.
Laura's smile took on a little smugness. She didn't say it out loud, but Jarrod could read that mind of hers. She was thinking we'll have to do something about that. That little controlling corner of her personality was still there.
He suddenly wondered exactly what she might have in mind to do about that. And then, without planning it, he thought of Kate Patterson.
It was a while but the time catching up with Laura passed quickly and Michael and Kate appeared in the bar. Both had changed clothes – Michael into another suit and Kate –
Jarrod noticed right away. She had left the traveling suit behind and now wore a soft, somewhat simple day dress, fitted in the bodice and flowing below the waste, in a simple blue fabric with lace at the neckline, which didn't plunge but didn't crowd her lovely neck either. The entire effect was to accentuate her nice shape in a way that was more charming than flamboyant.
Jarrod pulled a chair out for her. "I trust you're settled in and happy with the accommodations," he said.
"Very," Kate said as she sat down.
Michael said, "We're in 304 and 306, adjoining rooms, if you need us," as he sat down beside Laura.
Laura beamed at him, and he beamed back. Jarrod saw something very genuine pass between them. He was pleased.
Jarrod waved a barmaid over, and Michael and Kate ordered something to drink. Jarrod said, "My mother is hoping you'll join us for dinner tonight. I know you've had a long trip, but I think we can guarantee you a relaxing evening."
"Are you still living at the big house?" Laura asked.
"For the time being," Jarrod said. "I still have my place in San Francisco and I'll be leasing a suite at the Stockton House in the near future. Mother is planning to buy a home in town, but for the time being she and I are still at the big house with Nick and his wife Sarah, because Sarah is expecting. The first of the next generation of Barkleys, and she's asked for some help. As you can imagine, Laura, my mother is thrilled."
"And Uncle Jarrod?" Laura asked.
Jarrod chuckled a little. "Well, I've been told my name for the next generation is to be 'Uncle Pappy.' My younger siblings have always called me Pappy, and I'm afraid it's stuck."
"You don't look like a 'Pappy,'" Kate said.
And the way she said it, and the way she looked at him, made Jarrod tingle. "I don't feel like much of a Pappy, for the most part," Jarrod said. "There are days I feel like a 25-year-old again, even if I have passed 40 now." He didn't know why he felt the need to mention that, and mention it in that way.
But it made Kate smile. The barmaid came with their drinks, which gave Kate the opportunity to look away a little.
That rush of warmth Jarrod felt before moved over him again. Doggone it, she's darned attractive, he thought. And he wondered why it was suddenly so easy to find a woman other than Beth so attractive. When meeting other beautiful women since being widowed he hadn't felt that attraction but here was this beautiful, simply dressed young woman –
Young, he suddenly realized. My God, she might be half my age. Have I turned into one of those rich old men who marry beautiful young girls because they are beautiful and young?
And then he realized something else. He was going to be taking her home to meet his mother, in just a couple hours. He would undoubtedly take her by the hand into the house, since Michael would be escorting Laura. He had taken Beth into the house for the first time in just that way.
What did they call it when you felt like you were reliving moments you had already lived? Déjà vu? Jarrod felt a flash of unreality, of a feeling that he was meeting Beth all over again.
"Jarrod?" Laura asked.
"Yes?" Jarrod said, realizing she must have said something he didn't hear.
Laura laughed a little. "I asked if it was all that bad, being over 40 but feeling 25."
Jarrod laughed a little too, a little embarrassed. "No, actually, it's kind of nice – feeling as young as 25 but knowing a lot more than you did when you really were."
Michael said, "Well, the rest of us have some living to do before we get to that point." Then he looked at Laura, because he only had eyes for her. "I'm looking forward to the journey myself."
Jarrod raised his glass. "Here's hoping it's a wonderful journey for both of you." Then, a little awkwardly, he turned toward Kate and said, "And for you too, Kate."
Kate smiled, a demur smile, and said, "I'm looking forward to my journey too."
Jarrod felt that rush of warmth increase with the look in her eyes, as she looked at him.