Chapter Sixty One
"Have fun at the park and mind your manners. We will be back in the late afternoon. We have three appointments today." Lisette hugged Henry and kissed the twins on their forehead.
Prudy and her nanny loaded the three children in the carriage.
"See you this evening."
Bax rode into the city with them and they dropped him off at his office.
"Thanks again for the driver and rig."
"You are welcome. I will be ready whenever you get back this afternoon. Cook has a rack of lamb and her specialty sauce waiting."
"Sounds delicious."
—-&—
The visit to the broker was frustrating to Jarrod. It did nothing to dispel his suspicions and uncertainty.
"I wish I could help you, Mr Barkley and Mrs Taylor. A corporation out of Sacramento bought the casino. They paid in gold, represented by an attorney from there. You took the deal, fifty cents on the dollar plus ten percent for a thirty day escrow. I took standard commission and released the funds and the deed as required."
"Where did you find the buyer?"
"I didn't. They contacted me. Offer was already written up. I will tell you, Mr Barkley. The lawyer offered me a bonus to promote their offer over others. I didn't take it. Mr Vanderpool's business and the Barkley integrity is very important to me. I do not take bribes. I sent you all the offers as I received them."
"Thank you very much. I appreciate your integrity and honesty. Sacramento lawyer, a corporation with no names, an offer written ahead of time, a bribe, more questions arise," he told Lisette in the rig.
"Jarrod, at least Buck Turner didn't get the casino. That's the most important fact"
"I don't like it," and he stared out the window.
She just shook her head in frustration at his stubbornness—-and looked out her side window.
—&—
Next they went to his friend Abraham Isaacson, jeweler. The Jewish artisan was a longtime friend of Jarrod's since law school and he in turn sponsored his nephew Ben for law.
"I am sorry Lissy. I don't like loose ends."
"I know my love."
"Do you have Anna's size?"
"Yes. I tried on her mother's ring one morning when she was bathing. Same size as mine."
Abraham greeted Jarrod with a bear hug which he returned.
"My חָבֵר ḥāḇēr, welcome to my humble shop. Nick and Heath both wrote that you would be coming. Anxious brothers with lovely wives to please. "It is not good for man to be alone."
Jarrod introduced Lisette to the jeweler and he kissed her hand in a grand gesture.
"What a beautiful woman you have brought me today. No rings?"
He winked at Jarrod, "We should remedy that."
"Oh we will but today I have business for my brothers."
He took a velvet pouch from his vest. It contained gold nuggets from Barkley Sierra mines, one diamond and seed pearls.
"This is for Nick's fiancée."
"Size?"
"Mine are the same as both the ladies," and he measured her ring finger.
"Three ladies with the same ring size for three brothers? Hmmmmm providence."
Jarrod smiled, "Yes providence."
"And the second ring?"
"Use Barkley gold and this—-" he fished out five opals from another bag.
He took a piece of paper out of his pocket. "These are possible ideas but both of my brothers know your work. They trust you."
Abraham started looking at the stones with his eye piece. Lisette began to walk around the store and look in the cases.
Jarrod passed him a note and a third bag.
"Yah. I understand."
Jarrod saw something catch her eye, "See something you like?"
"It's a cameo. My grandmere had one like it. From the late 1700's I believe. My cousin got it from her estate."
"Try it on, Lissy. It's beautiful. I have never seen a green one myself."
She tried it on and it fit perfectly, "Oh Jarrod, I was just admiring it—-I uh—-"
"Will take it, Abraham." His voice brokered no opposition.
"Let me polish it up." as he pulled a cloth and a salve from the shelf.
She beamed as he put the ring on her finger.
"It's an until ring. Until you can wear my wedding ring."
He mouthed "I love you,"
Jarrod left a bank draft for Abraham and he would send the rings to Stockton by courier on the rail.
"I may even send Ben."
"I would like to see my protégée."
Lisette was still admiring the green cameo on her left hand and Jarrod's words warmed her.
"Let's go meet Nate at lunch. I am anxious to speak of our future."
"Me too" and she took his arm.
—-&—-
Nate was waiting in a private dining room at the finest French restaurant in San Francisco.
"I picked it for you, my lady when Jarrod spoke of your heritage. I am curious how it compares. I have been to Paris myself and remember little of the food aside from the pastries."
"How kind of you, Mr Springer." Lisette graciously thanked him as Jarrod pulled out her chair.
"I have taken the liberty of ordering an appetizer sampler. Here is the wine list."
"Jarrod, you didn't tell me your partner is so genteel and gentlemanly." Lisette declared with a wink.
"Only when he is intrigued," Jarrod jested.
"That would be true. The lovely lady that had brought the elusive Jarrod to heel? Seriously we would love to have you out to the house this week. Alice will be here after our lunch. She's dying to meet you and see her favorite Jarrod. He can do no wrong in her eyes."
Jarrod chuckled again, "We will accept that invitation if we can. There are quite a few appointments we have lined up. And Alice is a wonderful judge of character. Good thing you married her young before she got a read on you."
"You are right about that friend!" and they all laughed.
"Lisette, why don't you read the menu for us? I bet it sounds prettier that way. I picked this place but I need you to tell me what I am eating."
The lunch was very relaxed and she loved seeing the banter between Jarrod and Nate.
"Dessert?"
"No thank you."
Nate got up and shut the door to the private room.
Lisette took a deep breath and Jarrod squeezed her hand in support. Nate noticed how much closer he moved to her.
They took turns telling her story to him and why they came today—-a divorce and custody of Henry.
"I flew away from my husband when my son was three months old when he demanded I leave our sick son and go to Europe with him—-and return to my wifely duties. Or should I say, he left me for Europe after I caught him with a maid… "Hire a nurse," he said. He's likely not to make it anyway and then you will be grieving for something that was not meant to be. My son will be strong and perfect—-" and she continued to tell the story to Nate. Jarrod raged again as he heard the pain in her words….
Nate digested the story; he found himself more determined than ever to get justice for Lisette. Silence stilled the room for a few minutes and the lawyer began.
"I have read the primary documents in your file. To begin, I must compliment your late mother. The structure of the east coast trust is impeccably cast iron. I will use her verbiage in the future. I guarantee that. Brilliant! Yes, I do believe that the court would say you abandoned your husband as past attorneys have stated. They would find you at fault and give him Henry. And adultery—- is not on the table. And that is only an option for a man."
Jarrod and Lisette shook their heads in agreement—still holding hands in front of Nate.
"I assume you two have been discreet."
"Yes," Jarrod said firmly.
"Good. Keep it that way."
"I am interested in what information you have that keeps him at bay. And would keep him from taking your son."
Lisette closed her eyes and spoke a word softly, "Incest".
