Chapter Twenty Six
Jarrod was quiet at lunch and only the twins could draw him out in conversation. He was thinking of the situation with Davina, what the housekeeper would say to her father and the pressing concerns he had for Lisette. The diamonds and sapphire were still in his traveling case at the Vanderpool mansion.
Lisette's stomach hurt as she realized the trouble she had made for her friend. She couldn't decide if the housekeeper saw her friendly kiss but she knew without a doubt, she saw their arms linked too informal for polite company.
The bookstore was the next stop before home. Jarrod bought Henry five new books as well as several for the twins. They quickly began linking their names as "Aunt Lissy and Uncle Jarrod" without a prompt.
Bax went upstairs and was searching for an edition he had been looking for. The twins were sitting on the velvet sofa with Prudy looking through her new ladies magazines and a novel.
Jarrod paid for the purchases along with several new novels he had wanted. At the register, he saw a clerk unloading some ornate books.
"What are those if I might ask?"
"Illustrated Language of Flowers. Very popular with the ladies. Full color and lined with linen sheets. Satin ribbon bookmarks."
"I will take two please. One for my Mother and one for my friend." looking over at Lisette at the art supplies.
She came to the register and paid for several more paints and brushes.
He smiled at her, "I am looking forward to seeing your painting with the girls."
"Me too."
—&—-
The group had a leisurely lunch at Como's and the Stockton natives went on and on about the Barkley family and their kindness. Jarrod treated everyone to Ghiradellis after the bookstore, another Stockton family. Ghirardelli had begun his fledgling business for a time on Main Street. Tom and Victoria had been very kind to the immigrant and his family. The group got a tour by their son and heard many stories of the Barkley graciousness.
Lisette told Ghirardelli's son afterwards, "I am experiencing it myself."
"No better family," he added.
Prudy and Bax smiled, hoping that their dearest friend would find herself in Jarrod's arms eventually.
Jarrod made quite a few purchases of chocolates to take back to Stockton. He gave them the address to deliver to the Vanderpool home and a nice tip for their trouble.
The ladies stopped at Prudy's fine dressmaker and the men walked down the street to a pub.
"Two scotch please." Bax ordered as they took a corner booth.
"How much trouble is Lisette in?" Baxter cut to the chase.
"All four western hotels are insolvent. The eastern hotels are held by stockholders. She should get a steady income barring another recession." Jarrod sipped his drink stating the obvious.
"Could creditors come after her?"
"Yes but I will stand with her. The problem is her husband's name is not on a single bill so far. Just her father and she is his sole heir. I have Pinkerton trying to chase down Paul and Miller. The cash disappeared with them. But proving it? That's the conundrum."
"Jarrod, I am glad she has you. Prudy and I have offered help but she has turned us down cold. Is there any way we can help? She has talked about going abroad but we want her close." eying Jarrod for a response.
He got it by a flicker in Jarrod's eye and change in breathing when he mentioned Europe.
"We need to get these sales going. Modesto, Denver and San Francisco to appease the creditors and pay the debt for Stockton. She has lost all the property already and a hefty deposit to boot."
"I have a real estate man here in the morning. And between us, I have my stock broker buying up any share of the east coast hotels that become available just in case. My cousin in New York already owns some. Lissy has no idea."
"That's a good friend." Jarrod spoke with honest appreciation.
"Refills?" The waiter asked.
Both men said yes and spent the next hour discussing how to help Lisette. Jarrod liked Baxter Vanderpool more and more—- and appreciated his care for Lisette and Henry. Bax, in turn, grew more convinced that Jarrod Barkley would be the man to save their Lissy.
—-&—-
Lisette, Prudy and the twins disappeared to the solarium for some late day sun and to begin sketching. Bax went to his study to finish some correspondence and Jarrod went to his guest bedroom still thinking about Davina and their future.
He needed more time away from the conflicting emotions he was feeling, the commitment he had made to Davina and representing Lisette. He could come to no conclusion and he knew her legal troubles would be lengthy. He doubted any one else would take her case; aside from Nate if he decided to pursue the romantic side. She was very much married and divorce would take a year or more. As well as the fact, Lisette had left Paul. She had no rights in court since she was guilty of abandonment and her upbringing forbade divorce.
—And he did have feelings for Davina. And he finished his third scotch of the day to no conclusion as he looked at the gemstones from the family safe.
He still needed to go see Abraham.
—&—-
Two workmen came to the house under the guise of the city's electric street lamp plan. The maid let them in the house, showed them the parlor and kitchens—-and how many bedrooms were in the house. They passed the auburn-haired Lisette in the solarium. They did not see Jarrod but assumed he was there when he overheard "guests for dinner."
.
They would let their contact know that the woman was still in San Francisco with the lawyer. They parked their wagon in the alley and planned to work out of it all week watching the house.
The boss had a man on the Barkley ranch too watching her son.
"I got an Ace in my pocket if she doesn't sell it to us. Along with tatters of purple silk. It had been worth a half dollar to the maid."
—&—-
"Mista Nick? Can we go for a ride after supper? Miss Anna says not to pester you."
"It's not a bother Henry. I would like that. A man likes to ride at the end of the day to settle out his mind for sleep. I am thinking Miss Anna might ought to go with us. Cooped up all day herself. She really likes the outdoors."
"She sure does. One time back home, she took me on a lobster boat and we pulled up traps. There were pinching crabs in there too. One got away and she caught him. She wasn't scared at all. I don't think she's scared of anything, even the dark. When I, well, —if I was scared and woke up, she would be right there for me."
"I would have liked to see her catch a lobster myself. I have seen her skills with a frog."
The thought of the pond and their kisses warmed him. "And I am starting to think I would like to wake up in the night and find her caring for me, too Henry."
"Let's go ask her."
"I am right behind ya, boy."