Chapter Seventy-Four
"Timothy, your Mother is not well." his wife sent a message to him at David's makeshift office at The Palace.
He frowned and quickly made his apologies.
Ximena and Jimmy were playing on the rug. David had purchased some toys for the baby and both of them were enjoying their time with his baby brother.
"Would you like me to come?" David asked.
"No thank you. My mother and I are not very close. She has always suffered from melancholy. My wife is much better with her than I am. My father did not suffer her well either. I try but I am not patient."
"I am sorry, Timothy. Families can be our greatest gift or biggest burden."
"My wife, my son, and my daughter are my life. I cannot imagine where I would be without them.
"I would like to meet them one day. I do consider you family. And I want you to consider my offer—I think Jarrod answered most of your questions."
"Come on with me home, David. I will appreciate the company."
They rode companionably to the middle-class home of Timothy. It was in a well-tended neighborhood with rose-covered picket fences and gingerbread trim. Light from the dormer windows was inviting. Their name was on a brass plate below the door knocker.
"Oh my love," she met him at the door, "she has passed away."
"Oh," was all Timothy could say and he embraced his wife.
"I am sorry for your loss," David awkwardly added walking back to the door.
"Timothy, when you are ready, she wanted you to have the truth."
David made his excuses to leave, "No stay. This concerns you too."
His wife handed Timothy a sealed note. It described the circumstances of his birth.
"First of all, I am right with God. It has taken years and I hope to be reconciled with your Father in heaven. I had a problem with liquor when I was a young woman. Your father often scolded me about my behavior and I never took it seriously until it was too late. I had drank too much one night at the Autonberry mansion in Denver. I do not have much memory but I seem to have had relations that night. Your father found me and took me home. I never took another drink after that night. Your father, God rest his soul, claimed you as his own. I was never blessed with another child. Your father loved you and me. Mr. Peterson knew of the circumstances and always provided for your Father and your education. Please know you were loved and wanted. Please forgive me, Mother."
He handed the note to his wife and then to David. Her eyes filled with tears and David looked down.
"I have heard the rumors my whole life," Timothy whispered.
"Well, I claim you as my kin," David clasped his shoulder. He turned and Timothy crumpled into his shoulder with soft sobs.
—-&—-
Jarrod crumpled a note at the desk and tossed it into the fireplace. He was struggling to write Elisabeth and update her on the goings on in San Francisco. They had let the family know immediately after the murders and suicide at the courthouse before the news ran the story. But he felt he should send her a private note by rail.
He felt pulled between his family and Elisabeth. The family had rallied around Nick and Maris—well except for Elisabeth. She had been kind to Maris after the surprise news of David's reappearance but was still angry at Nick. He had defended his brother; his wife felt like he took his brother's side over hers.
She had shared her worries about the boys finding out about the pregnancy. Jarrod told her unequivocally that she was overreacting since she was with child. Things had been frosty since then.
He still didn't believe he was wrong but wanted to broach the gulf between them.
"Dearest Elisabeth…"
And he threw it into the trash again.
—&—
Nick saw Maris upstairs and he held her until she fell asleep. She was distraught about the evening and the news they imparted to the boys. Neither of them discussed the news they omitted, the baby.
"I want ya to get some rest, honey. It's been a rough week and you have not slept well. It will all look better in the morning,"
He gave her a glass of brandy and waited until it took effect. He decided to walk to the boy's bedrooms and check on them. He was concerned himself about the events of the week and James David's mood.
Nick went up to the third floor and found the boys' rooms empty.
"Them boys always been notorious night owls since they was little."
He walked down the long staircase quietly. He checked the kitchen first and it was empty.
"Figured they were eating again."
He tried several other rooms in the expansive mansion until he found them in the game room. The boys were playing pool. Nick exhaled a sigh of relief.
"Need another man?" Nick asked as he pushed open the door.
The boys' faces showed surprise and distress. Nick knew instinctively that this was more than a pool game. He took a cue from the rack and chalked it up.
"Rack them up, Chip."
Nick broke the triangle and two balls hit their target. The three boys stood on the end opposite Nick; they did not move his way for their shot.
"Who's next?" Nick eyed them.
"I will," and JT walked across the table from Nick.
"Don't ya think it would be easier from over here?"
"Nah, I got it." with a bit of slurred speech.
Nick nonchalantly looked around the room as his nephew missed the shot. Chip took the next one and knocked one in. He missed the next.
Nick's eyes finally rested on what he suspected.
"James David, you are in."
"Yes sir,"
And he missed his shot. Nick deliberately walked around the table to the boys. Their heads were down. He got his confirmation with a big sniff of their breath.
"Well boys, first question, is it yours or did we pilfer some of Mr. Springer's bar or did you bring it?"
"Mr. Springer's?" JT mumbled.
"We will replace it," Chip added.
"I am positive, you will." and he walked over to the bottle stuck behind the frame on the buffet.
"Hmmmmm, mighty expensive whiskey for your tastes but I am sure the three of you can pony up the money to buy Mr. Springer another bottle."
"Yes sir," they all mumbled.
"Boys, we have talked about this. But the way I see it, you three have taken a lot to the chin this year. Took it like a man. 'Specially you, James David. Father back in the picture and a new step Pa. Losing your grandfather—all of us stuck in the courthouse under siege—- Kidnapping and keeping secrets and all."
They all looked at Nick with surprise. They had expected discipline.
"So we need to have a different talk."
They put their pool cues up and sheepishly walked to the chairs around the poker table. Nick sat down with them."
"Boys, you still got some learning to do. Many a fine man has lost themselves in the bottle. I'ffn it's your first inclination to run to it when times get hard, it will eat at ya and take away ya fight. It takes that away. Yep, makes ya not want to fight anymore. And the only way you can beat this life is fighting your way through it."
Their eyes were wide as he talked.
"Chip, I almost coulda lost myself in the bottle when your Ma died. JT, your Pa too when Miz Beth was murdered in front of his own eyes. Both of us watched our wives die. Jarrod had to do it a second time with your Ma, Miz Frances. We were there for each other as brothers and put a stop to it. I am not always going to be around to catch ya—Jarrod either. But since you boys are brothers, in every sense of the way, you gonna have to learn to put a stop to foolishness when one of you can't see their way."
All three of the boys nodded and swallowed.
Nick stood up and yawned.
"Betta head up to bed. Don't forget to turn out the lights and leave the room better than you found it."
"Yes sir," Chip said. JT repeated him.
James David walked over, "Thank you, uh Pa. For treating us like men and telling us the truth."
Nick hugged him, "You are welcome, son. Now get ya some rest. Got a big day tomorrow."