From Rockville to Stockton

Usually, Jarrod was excited to have the opportunity mentor a new up and coming lawyer to help them learn the ins and outs of how to be a good lawyer in and out of the courtroom, but this time he was uneasy about the new apprentice who would be coming to Stockton in about two weeks. He had not said but very little about the new apprentice to his family since he received a letter from the young man six weeks earlier, as well as receiving a letter from Harvard University.

Jarrod would be the first to tell anyone that he never considered himself a teacher and never would, but he would always be glad to give guidance to anyone who to him for assistance. So why was the coming apprentice making him uneasy?

He retrieved an envelope from his briefcase, And, yet again staring down at the name and the address of the new apprentice. He couldn't understand why the name Daniel "Danny" Matthews gave him a strange feeling- not to mention Rockville.

"What is so familiar about this Danny Matthews from Rockville," he repeated to himself for probably the thousandth time since receiving the two letters.

Sure, he had been to Rockville many times over the years for various reasons, but this young man's name just burned in his mind, and he could not understand why.

"Well, I'll find out soon enough, I sure hope it's not a disgruntled young man wanting to learn law just to get even with me!" Jarrod said to himself light-heartedly.

His daydreaming stopped when there was a knock at his office door.

"Yes," he said as the door opened.

"Jarrod, your mother is here to see you," Jarrod looked up from some papers he was reviewing for the case he was currently working on. He knew his mother had come to prod him about what was troubling him and as she had said many times before, "The place to talk about law was not at the Breakfast or Dinner table, but in a lawyer's office."

"Thanks Robyn, you can send her in."

Jarrod's secretary then smiled and shut the door behind her.

Momentarily, Victoria Barkley entered the office of her eldest son.

"Well Mother what a wonderful surprise," he greeted her with a quick embrace and kiss on the cheek.

The look Victoria Barkley gave him was one that shocked him.

"What have I said something wrong already?"

"Jarrod, I think you know why I am here," She looked at him stoically while taking a seat in front of Jarrod's desk.

"Yes, Mother I know why you are here - it's about the new apprentice coming," he sighed.

Leaning forward in the chair, she changed her demeanor, which made Jarrod feel more at ease; but there was still silence between them. She straightened out the skirt of her dress, then she looked into his eyes, studying them before she spoke.

"Jarrod, what's troubling you about this student coming? I don't understand, you are usually so excited when you get to help a young up and coming lawyer learn all there is to know about this field."

Slowly he retrieved an envelope from his briefcase and handed it to his mother.

She looked at him for a few seconds before looking at the envelope for herself, then slowly opened the letter from the young man. She read it carefully

"Well Jarrod, I don't see what is troubling you.

"This young man seems very anxious to come here and to learn from you. It sounds like he's heard so many good things about you, and I'm thrilled for him and for you."

"Oh Mother," he sighed loudly, which made his mother frown.

"I'm willing to help anyone I can, you know that, but when I saw that name and that address, something just stopped me cold."

"You didn't reply back to him and refuse him did you son?" she asked, sounding alarmed.

"No, no of course I didn't - he seems so anxious to come here to let me be his mentor, I couldn't, but yet…"

Rubbing the back of his head while he was now pacing the floor.

"The floor in here looks rather worn out," his mother said with a chuckle to try to calm him down.

"Thanks Mother," he said kind of tersely, then followed with "I'm sorry Mother."

"Oh Jarrod," she just brushed his apology off.

"Mother, I have been to Rockville many times over the years, and I have met many people over the years, but this name… something about it is familiar, but why can't I place it?"

"I don't know Jarrod, maybe it's somebody you wanted to forget, but he hasn't forgotten you for whatever reason he may have."

"Yes, I've thought about that many times, that maybe he's out for revenge for some reason and this is the best way he could think of. I must admit if this is his reason he's a very clever young man already," slightly smiling and staring out the window into the street.

"Jarrod Thomas Barkley!" his mother teasingly said his name.

He chuckled while turning to face his mother, who by this time was grinning herself.

"Well take a deep breath and don't borrow any trouble until it comes, I'm sure it will all work out wonderfully."

As his mother stood to leave, Jarrod walked toward her to walk with her to the door.

"Thank you, Mother, as always you know just the right time to talk about anything, and you know always just what to say to make things bearable."

"Well, I will leave you to your cases, I know you are a very busy lawyer, see you tonight for dinner."

Jarrod proceeded to walk his mother to the door, gave her one more quick hug before shutting the door behind her. Jarrod had to admit he was feeling better, but time would tell what lay in store for himself and Daniel Matthews.