Chapter 10

Jarrod was in the middle of a sip of scotch when Roger announced that Miguel Escobar, Jarrod's old friend, was his father-in-law. Jarrod actually choked – a convenient cover for his surprise that Roger knew his old friend. It was also good cover for his relief that Roger Whitman was married.

"You're married to his daughter Sophia?" Jarrod croaked after he got over the choke.

Roger laughed. "I am, eight months ago. Miguel told me he hadn't written you about it yet and he asked me to tell you as soon as we met so I could tell him you just had the exact reaction he expected."

Now everyone laughed. Even Jarrod was able to laugh a little.

Then Roger said, "I'm sorry she couldn't come with me, but Sophia is expecting in about four months and she's not remotely interested in traveling."

"Well," Jarrod said, "congratulations are in order on both events. Miguel is a fine man, a good friend. Make sure you give him my regards and congratulations. This will be his first grandchild."

"He's already said he wants to be called Papa Abuelo," Roger said.

XXXXX

They spent the rest of the day together and had dinner at the best restaurant in Stockton. Jarrod had it put on his monthly bill, and they ate, drank and talked until well after dark. When they left, Jarrod expected that the Pattersons and Roger would simply go back to the Yosemite and he would head home with Laura, but Roger said, "Kate, would you mind if I kidnapped Michael and Laura for a little private sit down at the Yosemite bar? I want to get to know Laura a little better – and get to know them as a couple. Is that all right?"

Jarrod took the opening. "I'll be happy to escort Kate back to her hotel and come for Laura later," then he looked at Kate, "if you don't mind taking the long way. I need to stop by my office for a moment."

"I don't mind," Kate said.

Laura, Michael and Roger took off walking for the Yosemite. "My office is in the other direction, but It's not very far," Jarrod said to Kate.

Kate said, "I wouldn't mind a bit of an after-dinner stroll."

Jarrod offered his arm, and she took it.

As they walked, Kate said, "You know, for a minute there I was afraid you were going to choke to death when Roger told you he knew your friend in Santa Fe and had married his daughter."

"Did you know he was going to do that?" Jarrod asked.

"Yes, he told us straight out," Kate said.

"Well, I haven't seen Sophia before she went off to school, and I haven't heard from Miguel for at least a year," Jarrod said. "I remember a little girl, but of course, she grew up."

"Are we still being blunt and honest?" Kate asked.

"We are, as far as I'm concerned," Jarrod said.

"You looked a little relieved to find out Roger was married."

Jarrod smiled a little sheepishly. "In the spirit of being blunt and honest – I was. I kind of fretted a little, feeling like a fifth wheel and an old one at that."

"No fear that I would be interested in Roger? Not even a little?"

"More than a little," Jarrod said. He stopped, the streetlight faint, and they turned to look at each other. "I suppose I was worried you came here to meet him and look at him as husband material."

Kate said, "I didn't come here to find a husband. I came to be Laura's maid of honor and to represent my family at my brother's wedding – but being blunt and honest about it – I have to admit that when we started to get to know one another, I started to think about it." But she followed it up quickly with, "Not at first, and maybe not yet, but Jarrod – you are an attractive man."

"But an old one," Jarrod concluded.

"Not 'old,'" Kate said. "Maybe older than I, but not old."

Jarrod swallowed. The truth comes out in the dark. "I've really enjoy being with you, Kate. And yes, I find you very attractive and I have since the moment I saw you. I find I'm really happy you're staying in Stockton because I really do want to get to know you more. But – " He swallowed again. "I am older. I have – more experience."

"You were married," Kate said. "You were widowed."

Jarrod was surprised she knew.

Kate could sense his reaction. "I overheard someone at the hotel who saw you there. They mentioned you were widowed, but that was all."

Jarrod sighed. "It's far more complicated than that."

Kate reached up and touched his lips with her finger. "You don't have to explain anything further tonight. In fact, don't. I'm looking forward to my brother's wedding to your ward, and I don't want anything to color how much I plan to enjoy it, and how much I'm going to enjoy dancing with you, Jarrod."

Jarrod chuckled at her honesty and bluntness, even if it was how they promised to be with one another. He lifted her hand away from his lips and kissed it. "I promise you, after the wedding, if we still have interests in each other, I will tell you everything you should know about me."

"And I'll tell you everything you should know about me," Kate said.

Jarrod couldn't believe that her history could be as complicated as his.

They took the long way to his office, reaching after about fifteen minutes, and Jarrod escorted Kate inside. The stairway was dark so Jarrod lit a wall lamp at the bottom, then closed the door to shut out the street light. "One floor up," he said, and let Kate go ahead of him.

Soon he was lighting a wall lamp at the top of the stairs, and Kate could see the door to his office, the sign there reading Jarrod Barkley, Attorney at Law, Stockton – San Francisco. Jarrod felt a bit of ego coming on, hoping she was impressed. But Kate only asked, "How long have you had offices in both places?"

Jarrod unlocked the door, saying, "A good fifteen years or so now," and ushered her in.

He left the outer door open even after he lit a lamp at his desk. There wasn't anyone else around, but he didn't want Kate to feel as if he were abducting her. The way she stood near the door, looking around, made him feel like she was a little uneasy.

"This won't take long," Jarrod said and opened a desk drawer. He drew some papers out and put them into a portfolio he had lying on the edge of his desk.

"Are they for an important case?" Kate asked.

"A will I'm writing for a local rancher," Jarrod said. "I want to take them over to his place in the morning, and it's in the opposite direction from my home. I'm afraid you won't see much of me tomorrow – I'll be busy all day."

"I guess we will be too, getting Laura's place ready for the wedding," Kate asked. "When I get married, I think we'll elope," she said, out of the blue.

Jarrod chuckled. "It is simpler." He thought about suggesting a large party afterward, but then he remembered his family had planned that big party for him and Beth – but instead they had a funeral.

Kate noticed he had sobered a little. "Do weddings bother you – being a widower?"

Honest and blunt again. "No," Jarrod said, just as honestly. "We just had three in my family this past year. I enjoyed every one of them. My misfortune doesn't give me any license to be miserable when others are celebrating, and quite frankly – " He closed his portfolio and came back over to Kate at the door. "I still enjoy parties. Food, music, dancing with a beautiful woman – perhaps they make me miss my wife, but it's an ache I can endure and still feel happy for others and for my good fortune in being able to share it."

"Just for the record," Kate said, "I'm sorry for the loss of your wife."

"Thank you," Jarrod said, sincerely touched. But then he came back to the present. "I hope you'll save at least one dance for me at Laura's wedding."

Kate smiled. "At least one. Would you walk me back to the hotel now? I'd like to call it an evening."

"Of course," Jarrod said.