Chapter Sixty Five
"What would you like to do today?" Jarrod sat propped up in the bed with one arm behind his head, "We have all day."
"I can't believe you managed all this my love—-"
"I have my ways, Lissy but your negligee won the evening."
"I had Prudy buy it. Stockton does not have such a store."
"I didn't think I have seen that before in Elaine Jason's store—-it would have been near the work boots I assume." he chuckled at his own joke.
She rolled her eyes in good humor.
"Then I shall thank our dear Prudence—-along with keeping our son." he winked.
"Don't you dare, Jarrod!" She blushed.
"Oh yes—-at dinner! "Dearest Prudy, how did you know that was the perfect shade of green to make me lose all control—-well done friend!"
"Oh Jarrod, you are incorrigible."
"But I love you and desire you."
"And you—-"
He began to kiss her on the neck and she closed her eyes in contentment. They would couple again and awake at noon. The large copper tub was put to a new use and they readied for an afternoon alone in the city.
"Lissy, the crystal emporium is near here. Don't you have that on your list."
"Yes, your memory amazes me. I would have gotten all the way back to Prudy's and have had to return to this neighborhood across town—-You seem to have to addled me."
"You are very welcome. I am here to addle your uh thoughts any time and bring them back to me—"
She sighed with another surge of desire, "We are never leaving this hotel with your clever, wily words."
"That would be fine with me—-"
"Oh Jarrod—" and she kissed him on the cheek.
He straightened his tie in the mirror as she put on her hat.
"I love sharing a mirror with you, Lissy,"
"Me too,"
They packed up their clothing and Jarrod told her, "Keep that nightie well cared for—-have use for it in the future."
She blushed, "Yes counselor." as she put it in her tapestry bag.
The three roses in the vase caught her eye. She clipped off the stems and wrapped them in her bag. She impulsively peeled off the label of her family's champagne bottle too and put it in her book.
"A memento,"
Jarrod checked the bed for any forgotten items discarded in haste. He chuckled as he found his sock. He pulled up the covers over the soiled bedding to be changed.
Another thought crossed his mind—-of one moment where his body revolted over his will—-
"Surely it was only a second—-I won't worry Lissy with my disquiet. I tried my best to keep my promise. It was just a fleeting instant. And maybe just second guessing—"
She walked into the room, "Ready to go?"
"Yes my love," making a mental note of her moon courses, "a week and a half ago." and put the thought from his mind.
—-&—-
They grabbed a lunch in a small family style cafe. The giant crystal emporium was two blocks away and they enjoyed their walk. It was freeing to walk without anyone knowing them and knowing it was would end again in a few hours—-made them very appreciative.
The large warehouse had been converted from the gold rush days when the nouveau rich had been desperate for luxury items and did not want to wait months for orders from back east—-to a fine department store filled with items from all over the world. The owner had become fabulously wealthy off gold dust and his thriving had expanded from cut glass and crystal to opulent items from around the room straight from the docks.
The door man opened the door for the couple and they checked their bags in the cloak room.
Jarrod and Lisette took a cursory walk through the 20,000 square feet of home luxuries. She took his arm possessively as they strolled. Several clerks asked if they needed help and they answered after their walk through the whole building.
"Jarrod, I would like to purchase that small clock for Silas. Do you think he will like it?"
"Of course. It's perfect and he will love it more that you thought of him." He had marveled of how well Lisette took care of those in her care. She had already picked up scarves for the mansion household ladies as well as her friends from Modesto—-nestled in their new cottage. She had outfitted their small home with new items to supplement the meager possessions they had brought to Stockton including having Heath make several stick horses for the two youngsters.
Judge Franklin and Davina were on the opposite sides of the huge store looking for a wedding gift for a family friend. They had ridden down from Russian Hill in their family carriage. He had hoped to cheer her up with a day out in the town. She had been sad and depressed since leaving Stockton—not interested in the social strata and the young men who called.
"Compared to Jarrod, they are mere boys." she told her Aunt.
"Well, they are closer to your age and would worship you dear—-the wealthiest men in town are coming to our door once you returned from Stockton."
Jarrod and Lisette notes several items they wanted to walk back to and stopped first at the crystal counter.
"Champagne flutes? For a wedding? For my companion and her dearest—-"
The man showed her the French, Rococo, and Bohemian crystal he had.
"Lovely, just lovely."
"We have some American, Elijah Slocum—-" and he brought out two.
"That's it—perfect. Wrap them up please."
Jarrod purchased a heavy, exquisite cut glass bowl for his mother as well as five vases for Victoria, Audra, Anna, Grete and of course Lisette.
"My ladies deserve something lovely today." and as an afterthought, "Add a sixth one for my dear Prudy. I owe her a great debt."
Lisette shook her head and blushed at his innuendo.
They purchased several more sconces to use in the hotel. All the purchases were to be crated and sent to the Barkley rail car.
"I need one vase today, crated please—-for us to take to our friends."
Jarrod gave them his draft and all the necessary details.
Lisette wandered over to another section of toys from around traders around the world. She had never seen such a collection of marbles.
A big smile broke across her face, "Please sir, educate me."
"These are from India and the Pacific islands, these are from Portugal, here are orientals,China and Japan—-" and he continued to show her his wares.
"I will need four pouches. Do you have some India ink for me to make notes and label the bags?"
"Of course, ma'am," sensing a big sale and he went off to the back room.
Lisette was engrossed in the overwhelming selection, "Kai and Henry of course but my daughters of my heart—-Samantha and Sarah will appreciate such beauty."
—/-&—
"Jarrod? Jarrod is that you?"as Davina scurried over to him.
"Good afternoon, Miss Franklin. Judge." in his surprise.
"We never expected to see you here." her father said quite curtly.
He nodded searching his mind for words.
Davina touched his arm with familiarity to her father's disapproval.
"I have missed you," she whispered. He ignored it as best he could.
Her father tried to lean in and listen.
"Davina, it was good to see you, Good day" not wanting a scene. He wasn't sure how close Lisette was to him.
"What are you in town for?" she said with her hand on his arm.
He slipped up while trying to scan the crowd for Lissy to warn her, "Uh, purchasing a wedding gift for Nick and Anna as well as Grete."
"He's marrying the nanny?" she said with confusion.
"A college educated young lady of good standing, Davina." he said curtly.
"Of course."
The man came over with a new set of sconces and a question for the bulk purchase.
"Those are beautiful Jarrod. For your mother?"
"We are building a hotel, Davina. I haven't announced it yet officially but it seems prudent since I have the land and the materials in hand"
"Oh Jarrod, that's wonderful. I would love to see your plans."
Jarrod looked over at her scowling father, "Without a casino."
"Oh Jarrod, I knew you wouldn't do that."
"Hmphf" was all the judge said.
"Well good day. Give my regards to your aunt." He began to move away.
Davina teared up, "Jarrod please call on me. I need to apologize."
Her father's face was beat red.
"No you don't Davina. I should apologize to you for any way I was impertinent. Let's leave this as water under a bridge. Part as friends."
"No—" and she tried to hold his arm.
"Come Davina now—" and he pulled her away from Jarrod. She let loose of his arm with tears falling.
Her father drew her to the side by the toys. Lisette hid behind a display unable to leave without being seen holding marbles in her hand. The clerk was looking for her with the India ink and paper.
"Ma'am? Ma'am?"
"Davina! You embarrassed yourself fawning over that man. He doesn't deserve you. You will be a mother and a wife to a great man—-the ideal woman of virtue with an untarnished reputation and no scandal tainted to you."
"Father, I love Jarrod."
"That is not the point. You are not worthy of a man who debases himself traipsing around with a married woman with a calumny following her around! Shameful!"
Lisette swallowed at the words.
"And Jarrod will regret his choice of clients—not today not tomorrow but he will, I just know it. He will regret the day he let you go!"
"Yes Father." She sniffed.
"Come on darling, let's go buy you a new dress."
"What about the wedding gift?"
"We will come back when that man isn't here."