Chapter 106

Jarrod and Lisette waited until the next morning to tell Henry his father had died and they would soon go to San Francisco to bury him.

The little boy took it stoically, "I am very sorry Mother for your loss." very properly.

"Oh honey, it's you I am worried about." Lisette hugged him.

"Mother, I am happy at the ranch. You are the best mother in the world. I have a Pappy now and uncles and Kai and lots of aunts here. And a grandmere. I know he did not want me because of my weak lungs and asthma. No one wants a son with a poor constitution. But I had wanted to tell him someday I am much better in California,"

"You can tell him that, son. We are all better in California," Lissy swallowed and nodded at Jarrod.

"I had planned to do this later but your Mother and I decided to tell you today. Henry? I would very much like your permission to marry your Mother?"

Henry's sad face exploded into a smile, "Yes. I have been praying to Jesus for this! I did not want my father to die. I swear. But I did look up divorce in your office. I am sorry I did not ask permission to use your books."

"Of course you did, Henry. Of course you did," Lisette shook her head.

"Yes, Pappy, you can marry my mother. Can I become a Barkley?"

Lisette and Jarrod shared a smile of relief, "Yes son. We will have to figure out the legalities with your Grandmother Sissi's trust but you can of course, use the name."

"I will be proud of you carrying my name. Henry Barkley. It has a nice ring to it."

"Henri Paul Taylor Franklin Barkley."

"That's a mouthful."

"Sounds like a prince," Henry added.

"You are a prince of a son," Lissy ruffled his auburn curls.

"Yes he is," Jarrod smiled with pride.

—&—

The family had been very solicitous of Lisette's situation and rallied around her. The dressmaker came out the next day and made her a black dress since her other mourning dress had ended up in the mission bin back in May.

Jarrod procured their tickets for an early San Francisco train while Nate wired ahead to claim the body and have it sent to a mortuary from the morgue.

He retrieved the Pinkerton report from his files and found the cemetery where Paul's parents were buried. He wired ahead for a plot. Jarrod sent a message to Baxter that they were heading north.

Nate immediately filed to stop the divorce decree—-it had several months before it was to be legal. This would clear the way for Henry's inheritance and Lisette's custody. The judge agreed.

The whole family offered to go with them but Lisette declined, "You are my future. I must free myself and Henry to become a Barkley. "

Victoria kissed her on the cheek, "We will be waiting for you, my daughter."

Jarrod and Lissy boarded the train with Henry. Nick and Heath waved to the platform. They settled themselves into the seat and Henry pointed to his small briefcase, just like Jarrod's.

"Aunt Anna brought me this from her trip. It looked like Pappy's, she said. And Aunt Grete baked me some extra cookies for the trip."

"Look like you are all set for the trip, son." Jarrod smiled at him.

The boy immediately opened his book and began to read.

Lisette smiled at Jarrod, "We are the matched set for sure."

"Yes we are."

—-&—

"We are doing this. I don't care what you think. She was my sister too."

"I absolutely forbid you. What if someone that knows us sees you?"

"I don't care. Family is family. Our parents would never forgive us."

"They would understand. They are all burning in hell for what they did."

She stood straight and tall even with her cane. She slowly walked across the room and slapped him in the face.

"Sister! How dare you! I am head of this family and you shall do what I say,"

"To hell with you, too. I am doing this for Cecilia and I will keep your precious name out of it."

"You better."

Davina was waiting in the hall for her aunt. She was shaking.

"Honey, you don't have to do this. He may never forgive you. I am old. He has to live with his decisions."

"I am going with you. She was my aunt Paul deserves a decent burial with our family. His birthright should not put him in a pauper's grave."

—&—

The driver came out from the morgue and told Davina and her aunt, "The body was sent to Rockland funeral home for burial in your family plot. An attorney arranged it."

"Did my Father do it?"

"I can't imagine he did. We don't use that mortuary. He did not want him in the family plot. I know for a fact that Paul's parents have a plot next to them. In his name. I checked yesterday with the cemetery."

"Driver? Can you take us to Rockland funeral home?"

"Yes Miss Franklin."

"And let's not tell the Judge. One of our secrets?"

He grinned, "Yes ma'am."

They rode across town to the Rockland funeral home. Both were lost in their thoughts about Paul Franklin and the horrid stories that the newspaper wrote. Her aunt finally confessed the whole truth to her niece, Davina when the news broke. The Judge flew into a rage and stormed out for the better part of the day.

"Cecilia made some grievous mistakes but she loved her son. Paul too. They died in their sins. But little Paul? He died too by violent means—-maybe they can all come to peace in purgatory. Maybe just maybe?"

Davina cried when she heard the full story finally. She put pieces together of an elopement, a baby, suicide, alcohol and laudanum overdose and family estrangement over the summer away from Stockton but the final puzzle piece fell into place. "My sister got with child, by our half . Incestious under the law. Paul went off to boarding school as a child and never really came home again—-even to bury them. Ostracized. He took his trust and remade himself in the East. Father never allowed his or Cecilia's name to be mentioned ever again."

He was in boarding school when Davina was born. Aunt Cecilia passed away was all she was ever told.

It made sense to her because of her father's aversion to scandals and the family name. He watched it kill both of his parents, his sister—-

And her heart broke for a little boy sent away at eight never to return home again, no family dinners, no holidays, just boarding school and money. She had only known family and security and love.

They pulled into the drive of the fine mortuary. They sent the driver in to ask about the man they brought from the morgue earlier.

"Private funeral at 9am. No guests." was all the man was told.

Her aunt had asked him to inquire about the cost. She would willingly pay the amount.

"Paid in full." was all the clerk would say.

He got back into the closed carriage and told Davina and her aunt.

"Hmmm, private? That doesn't mean I can't visit my parents crypt or Davina's mother? Both are close enough to get a look at my nephew's benefactors.

"I will go with you. I don't want you to be alone."

"Your father won't forgive you if he finds out."

"He won't know. He will be in court at 9 am anyways."

"Ok, tomorrow it is."

—-&—