Chapter Seventy-Five
Maris helped James David with his tie. He ended up wanting a fashionable caveat and a patterned vest for his suit.
"You are such a handsome young man."
Nick took him to the tailor to purchase them and then for a late lunch.
"James David, want to head over to the gun shop? It's not too far from here. And you have a birthday coming up."
The boy grinned and they spent the rest of the morning looking at hunting rifles.
He thought about all the carnage at the courthouse Nick had told them about. The Headmaster, Branch, and Lila—-all three snuck weapons into the marble building. Five deaths and so many grieving families broke into his pleasant morning with Nick.
"Son, try that one. A deer would be a lot easier-sighted with her." jolted him back to the shop.
"Yes sir."
James David was relieved that Nick did not mention the events of the night before—not once.
"Son, I am proud of you—-so proud of you. This is a hard thing to do. Uncle Jarrod offered to take you and we think it's best."
James David kissed his mother on the cheek, "I do too. I am still angry about how he treated you and then the ghastly predicament he has put you in—compromising your honor and reputation and that of my new father. At least you and Nick have always told me the truth."
She smiled through teary eyes, "Go meet your Father. I believe him to be a changed man. I hope you shall see what I did. I was angry too. James, I struck him on the cheek—in front of everyone."
His eyes grew big and he couldn't stifle a chuckle, "I am proud of you, Mother. Truly. So since you have avenged our honor, I don't have to?"
She laughed, "Yes. At least not in the hotel restaurant." she teased.
"I will promise you that."
Jarrod knocked on the door, "Ready?"
"Yes sir"
—&—-
Jarrod and James David arrived at the same time at The Palace Hotel and rode the elevator up to their suite.
A chambermaid answered the door. The table was beautifully set and the room glowed in opulence.
Ximena met them, "Welcome Mr. Barkley, and James David. I am quite honored to meet you."
Jarrod mock bowed and James David gave her a tense smile.
Ximena leaned over, "It is a hard thing to do. Face your father. For him too. He was wrong and this must come to pass." in her melodious Spanish accent.
Jarrod and James David were startled by her honesty but gave her a smile.
James David replied, "Thank you, ma'am."
Jarrod kissed her hand, "Your clear words remind me of my Mother. I hope that you are able to meet her some day."
"That is an honor. A man who loves his mother well is a great gift. I understand James David, you are an extraordinary young man according to Maris. She has done well raising you alone."
Again James David could only get out an "Thank you" again.
The chambermaid took their coats and asked, "Anything else, Mrs. Santiago?"
"No Penelope. I will ring for dinner. And I shall serve tonight?"
"The baby is still napping. Should I wait?"
"I will wake him soon and feed him supper. I shall put him down tonight. He has guests too."
James David swallowed again.
David cleared his throat from across the room. James David looked over. He wasn't sure how long the man had been in the room.
"Welcome friends. Jarrod, James David."
"David. Good to see you and your charming Ximena. Her words have already been a balm."
He chuckled and kissed her on the cheek, "My lady has never been accused of mincing words. It has become one of her most beloved traits to me."
She shrugged her shoulders in a mock tease, "If you did not need so many words?"
David, Ximena, and Jarrod laughed. James David gave a polite smile.
"Drinks?" David asked Jarrod.
"Scotch if you have it."
"Of course, I would take you for a scotch man."
"Nothing better."
"James David? I have a ginger beer, which I am fond of. The hotel concierge found it for me at the Spanish market. I rarely drink."
"Yes sir. That sounds good." with a bit of surprise at his Father. He had heard the story of the drunken brawls and incapacitation.
"I will have one myself. Ximena?"
"Wine please"
They took their drinks over to the seating area. James David and Jarrod took the armchairs. Ximena sat on the couch with David.
"This is good." after taking several sips.
"I enjoy them. To be perfectly honest, I haven't had a good experience with alcohol. Many, many, many choices in my youth and adulthood—-I shouldn't have made under the influence."
Jarrod nodded in respect.
"I do ask his opinion at the vineyards. His judgment is sound for wine and perfumery. His nose is the best in the business."
James David looked a bit confused.
Jarrod answered his questioning look, " One of their many businesses is a very successful perfumery. Your Aunt Elisabeth was quite familiar with their brand. I shall be taking one back to the ranch for her and your grandmother."
Elisabeth's name brought a bit of guilt to him over the unwritten note.
Ximena added, "Your Father gave me the confidence to build something new. My grandfather and father had many over the years. We have cattle, vineyards, mines, freight—but I always dreamed of mixing the Mexican herbs like my grandmother, the flowers, the petals, the herbs—Davos encouraged my dream and he pushed me to try. He ran the business part, the bottles, the freight, the brochures—all of it."
James David was listening carefully. David couldn't help but notice his attention to detail.
He sipped on the ginger beer and listened.
David spoke up, "James David, I hear you are quite the student at PineCrest."
"I do my best, sir."
Jarrod added in the lull, "David, he is top of his class. A year ahead of Chip and JT. Won the archery contest, trains hunting dogs, and is quite the artist."
"Very well-rounded, young man. Maris is very proud of you," David spoke up, "Tell me about these dogs."
James David relaxed a bit and described field trials for pheasant and grouse, "I got my first buck with Nick," he added with a bit of a challenge. Jarrod thought he reminded him of Nick at that moment.
David smiled, "I am very thankful for the Barkleys in your life."
He looked surprised at his father's words and relaxed more.
"My friend at the ranch once got a 200-pound mule deer in Sonora. I have gone for an oscillated turkey and dove myself."
James David nodded with interest so David continued.
"Our home near Hermosillo is known for bighorn sheep."
"They are beautiful animals." Ximena smiled.
Hunting discussions continued as James David began to warm up.
The topic changed to art and David shared his love for sketching and painting. James David volunteered his education in pen and ink as well as charcoal sketching.
Jarrod and Ximena shared several knowing looks and relaxed as the father and son found common ground.
"James David, I am glad your Mother and Grandfather encouraged the arts."
"I sent him a sketch for Christmas; I do not know if he received it before he died."
"The antlers?"
"Yes sir."
"It was front and center on his desk. Where he could view it with pride, I say." He didn't mention the shattered frame from his fight with Branch. He would ask for them to send him the print if she did not mind.
"Were you with him when he died?"
"No. I was not the kind of son that comforted him. Seeing your sketch on the desk showed me that you were his joy. I am at peace with that."
Jarrod tensed a bit.
James David bluntly asked, "Why did you leave Mother and I?"
David stood up, finished the ginger beer, and took a deep breath, "I was a wasterel. I was not a good man and I wanted a new start. I was wrong to leave you, I know that. I believed you would be better off. Grave offense was done to you and your Mother, that rests solely at my feet. I cannot blame my Father my whole life. I hope that you and I will reacquaint and at least correspond. I do not deserve the honor of fatherhood with you. That belongs to Nick Barkley, he is worthy of your mother."
Ximena wiped a tear away knowing what those words cost David and yet, how she would proudly marry him finally.
Jarrod was filled with respect for the man. Years as an attorney had hardened him in such a way to any kind of impassioned pleas. And this brought him to the emotion of a father's love instantly.
The room was silent and James David finally spoke up, "I believe you sir and I would like to correspond, even visit again."
"Thank you, son."
The cry of the baby startled them all. Ximena immediately brought him out. David pulled the bell ribbon for supper to commence. The cart was brought in five minutes later.
"This one is ready for supper. They tell me he is teething. I am learning."
James David went over to the baby and David commented, "He looks like you except for the hair. That is all Maris's glory."
The chubby baby kicked and gurgled. He grabbed at James David's finger and he tickled him, "Good to meet you little man."
The three adults smiled at the introduction.
They all walked to the table and David took the child while Ximena opened the silver domes on the cart.
"And uh, my grandmother's wife? Asked you both to watch him?"
Ximena answered softly, "It was a melee at the courthouse. It was best for all of us and for her at the time. We are taking this one day at a time. We have thoroughly enjoyed the boy."
James David made faces at the baby and entertained him between bites of the meal. Laughter was interspersed during the meal.
They finished up their meal and stood up. David touched his son for the first time on the shoulder. He allowed him to keep his hand there for a minute.
Baby James squealed at James David; he turned his attention to him and made him belly laugh.
David commented, "Son, you are going to be so good for your new brother or sister in a few months. You have a way with babies."
Jarrod blanched as James David spun around.
"What?"