Chapter Sixty-Eight

Eammon had asked Sharon to meet him around the corner of the church. It was one block off the main street, and an easy walking distance from the livery stable. He had rented a buggy and sorrel horse from the livery; they were parked around the corner.

He was diagonal to the front of the church, and saw her turn the corner, as she walked to the church. Her dress was a light brown silk, ornamented with plaid silk ribbon of warm brown, and ivory lace. Eammon noted that the bustle was small, and her hat and gloves were tasteful.

"Smashing and approximate all at the same time!" Eammon came up to her he bowed, as he took her hand and did an air kiss. He helped her into the buggy, and they headed east.

"This all seems like a different world." Sharon announced, as she and Eammon entered Chinatown. She was entranced with the red gate decorated in gilt with Chinese lettering. Eammon explained what it meant, telling her about the provinces of China. "Everything smells amazing!" In truth she could not believe what she was experiencing.

They pulled up in front of a storefront that featured a door painted bright red. Sharon noted that the street was very plain, but she trusted Eammon. He helped her down from the buggy, letting his hands linger on her waist.

"I am so excited to have the time with you, and the food. I am trusting you to know what to eat." She looked at him with admiration, noting how handsome he looked in his suit. It came to her that Eammon still had his hands around her waist and forced herself to step back, hard as it was.

Eammon offered his arm, which she took, as he escorted her into the restaurant. Ching came up to greet them, and Eammon recognized the proprietor from yesterday. He looked over at Sharon, giving her a direct look, before he bowed to Ching. Eammon was pleased that Sharon had understood, as she bowed to the man also.

He had a conversation with the man in Mandarin, before they were escorted to a table. Sharon listened as Eammon had talked to the imposing oriental man dressed in a heavily embroidered red silk jacket. Before she knew it, tea had been brought out; Eammon had explained that it was jasmine tea. Sharon commented on how light but fragrant it was.

The next hour was even more than what the Chart House had been the other day. Eammon had explained to her about chopsticks, and Sharon picked up the skill quickly. All the food was amazing, and Eammon had shared stories about his time in Hong Kong and Shanghai.

"It must be so incredible to go overseas!" Sharon declared, thinking of how fun it would be to travel.

"Yes, it is amazing! Well at least as far I am concerned. Unfortunately, some of my fellow navy officers, and their wives hate being posted overseas." Eammon wanted to be honest with her. "A navy officer is at for weeks or months at a time. Their wives are in port, and most of them regard the natives as dirty. They keep themselves in the compound that is the navy base."

"Honestly! How could they not want to explore everything? And how rude of them to make assumptions about people different from them." Sharon was incredulous at how anyone would only want to stay in the English compound. "One of the things I love about America is that people are from all over – I have learned so much."

"I just have to say, inappropriate that it is, what a great navy wife you would have been." Eammon would love to take Sharon to all the places he had seen. She was a good sport, and he recalled how resourceful she had been all those years ago, in the stable.

"It would have been so much fun!" She looked at Eammon and saw how he was looking at her. Without a second thought she reached over and took his hand, not caring who saw. He was a dear friend and wished their life circumstances had been different.

Jarrod had been watching the couple for the last hour – and what he saw disheartened him. Eammon and Sharon were affectionate with each other, and there was a level of intimacy that Jarrod had not seen with her and his brother. When Sharon had reached over to take Eammon's hand, which he had reciprocated Jarrod wished he was anywhere else.

The conversation last night, before dinner, came back to him about Eammon taking Sharon to the Chart House for lunch. Jarrod could understand one lunch, but a second one so close to the first – it made him wonder about the relationship between the couple.

"I am sure that I need to be getting you back – children and all – do you have a nanny?" Eammon was interested because he knew how important her children were to her but had noticed that she was able to spend time in town.

"Thank you for asking." Sharon was in fact touched that he was concerned about her domestic arrangements. "No I do not have a personal nanny, but Priscilla lets me share Rosalie, her nanny. Sean and Tara are close to Simon, as well as Thomas Henry – he is Priscilla's oldest son. There are two younger sons, but a nursemaid takes care of them. One of the things I appreciate about the Barkley's is how they treat my children like family. Victoria has embraced my children as her grandchildren."

"I am glad that you are so pleased and taken care of." Eammon smiled, hiding the pain he felt. She had settled, which he understood, even as he had deplored it all. He escorted her out of the restaurant, and into the buggy. On the way back to the church he had shared several funny stories about the market in Singapore.

"Would you be available for a whole afternoon?" Eammon asked, as he pulled up at the back side of the church. He knew he was pushing the boundaries but was not sure when he would see her again.

"I might be able to arrange something; why are you asking?" Sharon was concerned, wondering what he wanted. Heath's comment, that she could not have any dalliances came to her – it would void their agreement. At the same time, Eammon's company was so good to have.

"Our visit ends this week, so I will be leaving the valley. I would like to take you out sailing on the river before I go." Eammon saw her hesitation and continued "I remember all those years ago, in the folly I did a sketch of you on my boat. By the way I still have it." His eyes were filled with laughter and remembrance.

"I remember that sketch!" Sharon laughed "Yes, I would like to go sailing with you. I will need several days' notice, because I will have Sean and Tara spend the day at the Big House." She replied, wanting to see Eammon in his natural element. He promised to send a note with the details in the next day or so, and she hugged him, before she drove home.

That night, just before midnight, Jarrod was having a hard time getting to sleep. The scene he had seen in the restaurant replayed in his mind, as he tried to decide what he should do about it. Part of him knew he should just leave it alone, especially because of his relationship with Letizia.

The bible verse about 'let him who is without sin cast the first stone' was in the forefront of his mind. Jarrod knew he was no position to pass judgement on his sister-in-law, since he was having an affair with a married woman. If there was in fact an affair. His lawyer's voice told him that two lunches did not make an affair.

Jarrod recalled Nick stating that Heath knew that Sharon was having lunch with Eammon. Or so he had said – Jarrod knew Heath, and what a good poker face he could put on. Jarrod wondered if Heath had known about the most recent lunch in Chinatown.

Eammon and Sharon had a deep personal relationship – Jarrod had no problems seeing that. Of course, she had been close to his sister and the family; ergo she was undoubtedly close to Eammon. Maybe that was all he had seen, a close family relationship, or so he hoped.

However, he was concerned about the lack of closeness between Heath and Sharon. Even allowing for Heath's reticent nature, Sharon was his wife and deserved his time and attention. As he recalled watching them together, and Heath's behavior at leaving her alone at social events. Jarrod started to worry that it would be a repeat of Heath's first marriage.

Jarrod turned down the road, to Heath's house, even as he pondered if his course of action was the right one. Earlier, at four o'clock in the morning it all made sense. Now though Jarrod was not sure about what he would find out – if anything. There was also the matter about Letizia – Sharon had been in San Francisco recently and had moved in high society. She could very well have heard about his relationship.

He rode up to the front porch, wanting to have this appear as a social call. Jarrod had some legal filings in his leather briefcase. In truth they could have waited until Heath was at the Big House, but Jarrod wanted to sound Sharon out. It came to him that the last conversation he had had with her one on one, was when Mother Flynn had passed,

"Mr. Jarrod, welcome." Violet greeted him with a happy smile, and Jarrod reciprocated as he entered the front hall. He knew that Silas and Violet were courting, and Jarrod was hopeful that it would end well.

"I have some documents to drop off for Senor Heath." Jarrod offered, going on "is Senora Heath available?" It came to Jarrod that she might be in town – Sharon was on the library committee and involved in the altar guild. The thought -that it was too early for her to be at lunch – came to his mind but he pushed it away.

"Jarrod hello! It is nice to see you." Sharon came into the hall and gave him a warm embrace. He returned, even as he noted how lovely she was. The bright copper hair, roses and cream skin and those eyes – large dark blue with black rims, with a heavy fringe of black eyelashes. Her face was a perfect oval, her lips full and inviting. It came to him that he needed to keep to the business at hand, and not think about how lucky Heath was.

"I wanted to drop off some legal documents for Heath – nothing too serious, but it seems like when we are both at the Big House, we get sidetracked." Jarrod offered, forcing himself to think about legal matters.

"Would you like to visit for a bit? Heath is out on the range, but I can offer a cup of coffee?" Sharon asked, and Jarrod happily acquiesced. His plan was to find out what her feelings were about Eammon.

Jarrod found himself in the front parlor of the house, and he noted how warm and comfortable it was. He liked how Sharon had designed the room to highlight the painting over the fireplace. The mantle was dark heavy mahogany wood, with no ornamentation; the fireplace surround was black marble. The sconces were out of place – filigree gilt with Irish crystal ornamentation.

"I will say every time I come here, I admire the painting." Jarrod smiled at Sharon, as Violet brought in a coffee service. There was cream and sugar with silver serving pieces. In addition, there was Irish soda bread, and herbed biscuits.

"Yes, I love it so much! I adore the technique that was used." Sharon replied, as she watched Jarrod enjoy the snacks. "We had Eammon to tea. Did you know that he has been to an exhibit of Impressionist paintings in Paris?"

"What an incredible experience for him; I have been to Paris myself. It is a beautiful city." He offered, glad that she had brought up Eammon. "I am sure that it has been nice for you to have Eammon in town." Jarrod was very curious about what her response was going to be.

"It has been wonderful!" Sharon's face smiled with pleasure, as she went on "his family was so good to me. Not just to me, but they were good land stewards, not like so many English. Emily, Eammon's sister, and I were very close. He would go riding with us a great deal."

She went on to tell some other stories, and Jarrod noticed that they were all about Ireland. Sharon had not said anything about having lunch with Eammon; he was not sure if it meant something or not.

"Jarrod when you went to Paris what did you see? It must have meant a great deal to you." Sharon asked, as she refilled his coffee cup. He saw the handwriting on the wall and knew that she was not going to say anything more about Eammon.

He stayed another half hour, enjoying talking with her. She was a good listener and asked intelligent questions. Jarrod reminded himself that she had charmed the Vice President, and he could see how it had happened. The thought came to Jarrod was that if she was his wife, he would be very attentive to her. It gave him pause about Heath.

"I need to get to my office, but it has been nice visiting with you." Jarrod reached for his briefcase and took out a sheaf of papers. "I have indicated where Heath needs to sign – no rush, but it would be good if I could get them back by next week."

"When Heath gets home this evening, I will tell him." Sharon took the papers and set them on the side table. She walked with him out to the hall and gave him a hug goodbye. "Jarrod, thank you for the time you are spending with Sean and especially Tara, teaching them Latin."

"It is a pleasure for me – they are very smart. Sean has told me he wants to be a lawyer; I am honored that he looks up to me." Jarrod replied, smiling at her "Tara clearly takes after her mother, who is lovely and intelligent."

"Oh, you are too kind." Sharon appreciated the comment, going on "A big reason I moved to Stockton was so my children would get an education. If we had stayed at Kilkenny Farms, Sean would have only had the basics, and Tara would not have been able to go to school." Jarrod nodded his head, having heard about the mad priest from his mother and Priscilla.

Jarrod said his goodbyes, and went outside, where his horse was waiting. He rode away from the house much happier than when he had ridden over. Sharon's relationship with Eammon was her own business, Jarrod decided. He had seen that she was not going to leave Heath; it was clear that her children were the main focus for her.

The Barkley name – and wealth – guaranteed them a secure future, which Sharon appreciated. Jarrod, as he thought about Sharon's life, was impressed with how resourceful she had always been. He thought back to when the Irish settlers had arrived in the valley. Sharon had been the one to read the letter and understand what it meant.

Jarrod almost felt sorry for Heath, as he thought about Sharon. He now knew that Sharon had only married Heath for her children. He had, until yesterday, been sure that the couple had rekindled their old relationship. Jarrod had no problems with Sharon marrying Heath – he knew how the world was – a young, pretty widow, with two small children and no family support.

What was bothering Jarrod was Heath's reasons for marrying Sharon. His actions toward Sharon Jarrod now understood – Heath was not in love with Sharon. He recalled his brother's comments, following the divorce, about not wanting to court. Jarrod remembered that Heath had shown no interest in Sharon, until after Mother Flynn had passed. Jarrod, as he arrived at his office, forced himself to put the unpleasant picture out of his mind.