Chapter Sixty Three
Victoria sat on the settee in Nick and Maris's room. It had been several years since she had been on the second or third floors of her home. Nick had added a comfortable suite off of the rose garden for her years before when her knees and hip struggled with the stairs. She was touched that Maris wanted her help and approval.
Nick had sent a young stout hand inside to carry his Mother upstairs today to help Maris and Rosita settle in.
"Nicholas, your Mother and Father built this home. I do not want to change anything without her approval and suggestions. This house was built on love and family. I would not disrespect your roots."
He grinned and kissed her again as he readied for the day.
"Another reason I love you, Mrs Barkley. I will leave Fritz at the corrals. He can carry her up and move any furniture you might decide to move. You better promise to take care of yourself. Those ribs haven't been long healed and you got our baby packed in there."
"Yes dearest."
"First, I don't want to change Nick's room one bit. I want to bring a cheval mirror in but that's all."
"Maris, his drapes have some moth damage if you notice. I would replace them."
"Oh, I hadn't noticed. Thank you. I will ask him about colors."
Victoria laughed, "You pick the colors. Nicholas will be just fine with whatever you pick."
"Miz Victoria, did you know Peg's things are still in the bureau?"
"Oh, I did not. I thought Frances packed it all away."
"I opened a drawer and didn't know what to say. Nick was embarrassed. Said just didn't have the heart to move it. Told Rosita to come and take it to the church mission aid."
"Oh Maris, I am so sorry."
"Mother, if I can call you that."
"Of course"
"It didn't bother me a bit, in fact, it made my heart full. He loves so deeply. I am honored he brought me here and made me his wife. Peg was Chip's mother and I shan't mind honoring her and Nick's marriage."
"You are a special lady, Maris. You make him very happy and I can see why."
The ladies embraced and began talking about a dressing room for Maris along with redoing the nursery. Nick insisted that she have a dressing room.
"Maris, I do think that this room needs to look completely different. It was Chip's but so much sadness too." as they went into the nursery and Chip's first room.
"I agree. I want cheery yellow wallpaper and white wainscoting. I want to keep Chip's rocking horse and crib. I would like a new rocker. What do you think?"
"I approve. May I have Peg's rocker for my suite? For the guest room?"
"Oh should I keep it?" she looked worried that she offended Victoria.
"No. It will stay in our home but you should rock your baby in your own chair. She was quite a tall lady and I assume the chair would not be comfortable for you at long stretches."
"Will Nick mind?"
"No, it will be for the best. He will understand it is my idea." she bit her lip.
"Is there something else?"
"No, my darling Maris. It holds memories for Nick and Chip. I would find him sitting there at night after she died; later Chip would come back to the nursery and sit in the rocker. It needs a new home downstairs."
Maris teared up and Vic reached for her hand, "Daughter, you are Barkley and I have no doubt Peg is watching over you both. You both share a love of Nick and you have the biggest hearts."
"Thank you."
They slowly went down the hall to Chip and James David's rooms. Rosita followed by making notes for furniture to be moved and fabrics to be changed. The fabric store owner was bringing out samples after lunch. Along with a wallpaper catalog and furniture placard for order.
Rosita went and got Fritz to help Victoria to the third floor. Three bedrooms and the attic were on the top floor. Maria asked for several pieces to be switched out to James David's room and the two other guest bedrooms. Victoria agreed.
"Thank you for a lovely morning. You will never know how much it meant for you to include me."
"I told Nicholas, you and his Father built this home. I am only a recipient of its love. I honor your gift of Nicholas to me."
"You are an extraordinary woman, Maris. I am proud to call you daughter." and Fritz carried her downstairs.
Maris and Rosita compared notes for the builder and the dry goods.
"Thank you so much."
"Thank you, Mrs. Barkley. I am honored to serve you and Senor Nick."
Maria watched her walk downstairs and she went back into Chip's nursery.
She sat in Peg's rocker and rocked, "I will take care of your family, Peg. I promise."
A breeze caught the lace panel and fluttered. Tears poured down Maris' face.
"Thank you, Peg."
—&—-
Ximena and David passed through the snow-capped Rocky Mountain pass. He enjoyed watching her face filled with wonder and awe at the terrain.
"I have never seen such beauty, Davos."
"Me either," staring at her.
She was bundled in her new coat in their first-class seats. No onesat facing them so they had a booth to dine and stretch out in. Their last-minute departure decision had not allowed for a private sleeping car. But Ximena was taking in every minute of the trip. He doubted if she had slept at all.
She kept looking at the promise ring he had given her— would have passed it for an engagement ring but in a way, it had more meaning to her.
He had wired for a fifth-floor palatial suite at the Windsor Hotel. Each room had a marble fireplace. There was shopping access to Larimer Street. Some of the finest shopping in the United States was located on those blocks.
David had told her about the floating ballroom and the live singers each night. She was excited. Music and dancing were one of the joys of her life.
He looked forward to the Turkish bath and the fresh wild game brought into the restaurant by local hunters. The Bonanza bar and gambling parlors had been his former haunts but Ximena had changed his habits considerably.
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The carriage at the train station brought them to the fine hotel. The street lights accentuated the American flag flying high above the Union Jack and the Windsor flag from the turrets. The sandstone building reminded her of a castle.
"I feel like a princess,"
He winked, took her hand, and bowed to her, "To our castle. Home for the week."
The uniformed porters opened the doors wide and unloaded their trunks. Ximena pulled her coat tighter and tucked her hands into her muffler. Small snowflakes caught on her fur hat. She smiled watching the snowflakes fall.
He signed Mr and Mrs David Santiago of Hermosillo, Mexico.
"Fifth floor. Silver suite."
"Perfect." as he left a bank draft from his Los Angeles bank as surety. Ximena cocked her head.
Ximena had offered him a stack of drafts she brought from Mexico. He had not used one of them. She cashed one of hers in San Francisco to do some shopping but aside from that, David had taken care of the trip. He had purchased the luxurious fur coat and the beautiful promise ring of a royal blue butterfly ring surrounded by pearls.
They rode the elevator with the porter. The lights of the city twinkled in snow flurries with majestic mountains framing the city.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her until she was breathless.
"The mountain air, my Ximena. It and I shall take your breath away."
"I look forward to such an experience."
They undressed and Ximena noticed he took a gun out of his traveling bag.
"A gun?"
"Yes. I want to protect you if need be. I am a different man than the one who left Denver. I must get justice for Maris and the boy."
"Will you harm your Father?"
"It is not my plan to do so but—he cannot threaten me anymore. I died once. I won't do it again. I have a life I am building that I am proud of. You, our life in Mexico, my art, the distillery, the vineyards, the cattle, the mines. I even enjoy the perfumery you began last year."
She in turn smiled in pride at him, "The perfumery was our dream. You convinced me to do it. I saw my bottles in San Francisco stores. That was your idea. You designed the bottles and you marketed them. All the other businesses were my late husband's legacy. It began our legacy. D&X Perfumery, a Mexican original scent."
"Bay, leather, sage, and maculis oakwood, tree vanilla, magnolia, wormwood, tuberose, and lime are native to my homeland. I celebrates the rich Spanish tapestry with fragrances like "Fruto Oscuro," taking inspiration from centuries-old dessert recipes through blending Mexican black cherry with patchouli heart, clove, and black persimmon, or zapote negro. We make two for women and one for men; a third in the spring." as he dramatically quoted their brochure.
They had a late supper brought to their rooms and devoured it. They put their trays in the hall and he immediately began to undress her. She was overwhelmed by his ardor and allowed herself to get lost in his control. David had a fervor to him tonight that was almost frightening to her.
"No frightening wasn't the word. It was exhilarating."
They were in a new season of life and she wanted to experience it with him.
"Freedom. Yes, freedom to wear his ring I had already decided. He has proved himself well in my opinion."
She found herself screaming in passion and that seemed to push him further to please her. He paid great attention to her needs and finally spent himself. He fell immediately to sleep in her arms. She quickly joined him peacefully in rest.