CHAPTER SIX

Back to Stockton

On Thursday, Nick and Isabella went shopping for the bedroom furniture. They bought a large bed frame, a matching dresser, a chest of drawers, two nightstands, a dressing table with a mirror and a chair, a feather mattress, and new down pillows. Nick also bought fabric for sheets, figuring that someone would sew them. His mother already had plenty of quilts she was happy to share.

Next to the bedroom furniture was a section with nursery furniture. "Why don't we surprise Sam and Jeannie with a crib?" Nick asked.

Isabella went to the Jenny Lind oak crib. "Look at this," she whispered. "It's gorgeous."

Nick grinned. "Want one for Sam's baby and one for ours?"

She looked up at him, her eyes glistening.

Nick laughed. "Whatever you want, sweetie."

The salesman hurried to them. "We want two cribs, two cradles, two rocking chairs, two dressers, and two chests of drawers."

"Yes, sir!" Nick filled out the paperwork to have it delivered to Stockton and wrote out a bank draft.

As they walked back towards the hotel, they passed a store with toys in the window. Nick stopped and looked.

"Our boys have enough toys."

"No, they don't." Nick guided her to the door and pushed it open for her. A zoetrope was on display at the front of the store. Nick stared, mesmerized. "Look at this, Izzy."

Isabella's attention was instantly captured by the unusual device.

"Look through a slit," Nick said.

She did. A moving picture of an elephant walking and lifting its trunk was displayed inside a rotating drum. She was as mesmerized at Nick.

"You can get several different film strips for it," a salesman said, approaching them. "It's all the rage in the East."

Nick stepped back. He caught Isabella's eye and grinned.

Isabella sucked in a deep breath. "We've spent so much money this weekend," she whispered.

"But nothing for the boys." He looked at the salesman. "We'll take one. And one of each—uh, film strips—you might have."

"Very good, sir."

Nick also found a section of children's books and picked out several for the boys. Then he found sets of nine wooden blocks. If arranged correctly, a complete painted picture appeared. Six pictures—one from each side of the blocks—could be created. "Look, Izzy!" Nick gleefully picked up a set.

Isabella laughed. "Is that for you?"

Nick's dimples overtook his face. "Well, it's for all of us." He paused. "We better get two of those. Sam's kids would have fun with those picture blocks too."

He waited while the salesclerk packaged up his finds. "Didn't you see anything you wanted?" Nick asked.

Isabella smiled. "I'm just happy to see you so happy."

Nick asked that the packages be taken to the hotel.

As they walked that way, they passed a lady's shop that boasted "everything a mother-to-be needs."

"You feel like one more store?" he asked Isabella.

"Nick, I have everything I need."

"No, you don't. You need at least four more dresses and that special undergarment thing Dr. Merar said you should wear and—"

Isabella looked at her husband. Material things didn't mean that much to her, but it was obvious that buying her things brought joy to Nick. She'd never take advantage of his generosity, but she could use a few more dresses to accommodate her growing belly. She shrugged and went into the store.

While she was trying on dresses, Nick looked around and found a hat he thought she'd like and a negligée he knew he'd like. Then he found some embroidered hankies for all the women. He asked that his purchases be wrapped before Isabella finished so he could surprise her.

An hour and a half later, she was ready for dinner and somewhere to put up her feet. Nick again asked that their purchases be taken to the hotel. He was thrilled she had picked out not only dresses, but also a couple of nightgowns and a robe. But the nightgowns she'd chosen had quite a bit more fabric to them than the one he purchased. He tried not to smile.

As they continued towards the hotel, they passed a fancy-looking restaurant. Nick started to suggest they go in, but then noticed the Mexican restaurant he'd ordered from the night before. He smiled at her. "Hungry?"

"Yes."

He guided her into the Mexican restaurant. He noticed a small crate by the wall and put it under their table. "Put your feet up on that."

Isabella took in a deep breath. Never in her wildest imagination did she think there was a man alive as kind and thoughtful as Nick. "Are you sure you don't want something other than Mexican again tonight?"

"I love my Mexican." His dimples appeared. "She's the only one I want."

Isabella laughed. "I'm talking about the food, silly."

Nick shrugged. "I like it, and it's hard to get in Stockton." He pulled his chair closer to hers and held her hand. "Next weekend, I'll have to go to Roseville and help Sam and Jeannie pack."

"I can't wait to see their new baby!"

"He's loud, impatient, and stinks," Nick said. "That's why they named him after me."

Isabella laughed.

"You know, Izzy, I have never shopped so much in my life." He shook his head. "Shopping is more exhausting than working on the ranch all day."

"And you didn't even try on clothes."

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All the furniture, the bath furnishings for Sam's house, and all their shopping arrived on the same train as Nick and Isabella. Two hands and Jarrod met them at the station.

Jarrod hugged Isabella, then stared at the stack of packages coming off the train. "Uh, Nick, did you buy all of San Francisco?"

"Pretty much," Nick agreed. "Looks like we're gonna need more'n one trip."

"As heavy as that tub is, we'll need a buckboard just for it. You'll probably need four trips," Jarrod said.

Nick nodded. "Or more." He glanced at Isabella. "You doing okay?"

"Yes."

Nick took a longer look at her. "Jarrod, I'm gonna take her home and get her off her feet. I'll come back with another buckboard."

"I brought the carriage for you," Jarrod said.

"Thanks. We'll take her personal shopping with us." He took Isabella's elbow and guided her towards the carriage. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he yelled over his shoulder.

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