From Rockville to Stockton Chapter 8

When they men arrived at the door of the law firm Jarrod turned the knob sure enough it was locked.

"I'm sure thankful for extra keys!" Jarrod chuckled, which made Danny chuckle as well. As Jarrod opened the door and turned the lights on, his glance fell on Danny who seemed to be in a trance, slowly looking around at his surroundings.

"Are you alright Danny? Danny?"

Finally, Danny came back to the present, "Oh, yes Jarrod I'm fine, it's just that all of this seems so surreal to me I guess. I know I studied to become a lawyer one day, but now that it is becoming reality, I guess it's just sinking in."

"That's very understandable, but you're very close to becoming a lawyer young man!" Jarrod said with a big smile as he patted the young man next to him on the shoulder.

"Now over here is my office, I'm sorry it's messy, but I was told many times by older lawyers that I greatly admired through the years that, if a Lawyer's office was not messy, then he probably wasn't good enough. So, I don't clear away the paperwork very often." Danny chuckled at the statement that Jarrod made, then they both started laughing.

"Well Jarrod I'll have to remember that, because, thinking of my momma she would want my office just like she wants, my bedroom nice n' tidy, and of course clean."

"Now over here is your office, as you can see there are shelves of books in your office as well. Many of these are the same books that are in my office. But you can make room for your own books, that will be perfectly fine."

Danny couldn't help but smile yet again, when he looked at Jarrod. "Some of these books are books I brought from home!" he said with a chuckle.

"Well then, you can study in your own time, but I would not recommend reading them very often unless necessary because you would not want to get tired and weary quickly of a career you worked so hard for."

"You're right I have wanted to be a lawyer for a long time, I sure would not want to do anything to mess this up."

"Don't even think about messing up, it will eventually happen. It will be how you handle each adversity when it comes that will be the true test of what kind of lawyer you will be. I have confidence in you, I know you'll be a wonderful lawyer someday."

"Thank you, Jarrod that means a lot to me, I appreciate it."

"Don't mention it. Say, you're looking as if you could use some rest. I'll walk with you back to the boardinghouse and see you at 9:30 in the morning, how does that sound?"

"Sounds fine Jarrod, but may I ask what time you usually come in?"

"Usually, I'm here about 8:30 - I try to get here before my secretary arrives. which is at 9:00am"

Meanwhile, at Barkley Ranch, Victoria was sitting in her living room reading the day's paper, while three of her children had already turned in for the night, or so she thought. Heath had laid down about an hour before, but sleep just evaded him. He knew that Danny Matthews was to be coming to Stockton on the train today. He was hopeful that things were working out for both Jarrod and Danny. Heath was anxious to hear how Jarrod's day had unfolded.

Not knowing what could help him get to sleep, he put his shirt back on and made his way back down the stairs to join his mother. He already knew she was waiting up for Jarrod as well, and he would find her downstairs. Just as he made his way to the bottom step Jarrod came through the door with a stoic expression. His expression alarmed both his mother and Heath.

"Well, is this some kind of the welcoming committee?" Jarrod teased

"Jarrod, did he get here ?" Heath asked slowly.

Jarrod's face lit up, and a big smile spread across his face."Yes, he's here, and yes, he is Libby Matthew's son."

"Did he tell you his mother's name, Jarrod?" Victoria asked.

"No, Mother he didn't but, what he did tell me gave it all away."

"Does he know who you are?" asked Heath, anxious to hear all about Jarrod's meeting with the young man. "I told you Jarrod that you are the one that inspired him to become a lawyer, I just knew it."

"I appreciate the compliment, Brother Heath, but I'm sure he had more people to inspire him than just me."

"I'm sure you're right Jarrod, it's just that..." Heath had to stop and grin a little.

"It's just that what Heath?" Jarrod looked at him with a teasing grin

"It's just that of all the other people to inspire him, I still believe you are at the top of the list, along with his mother of course."

"Oh, come on with you I doubt that" Jarrod jokingly acted put off by Heath's comment.

"Well, I don't."

"Neither do I!" interjected their mother.

"Alright I appreciate the fanfare, I really I. Now the question is: When do I let him know I remember him and his mother, and how do I approach the subject?"

"Well, he just came into town today and you had said that his internship will start in two days from today," Victoria began, but Jarrod interrupted his mother,

"I told him he could start tomorrow morning; I think it settled his nerves a little after I told him that."

"What about your nerves?" Heath teased.

He looked at Heath stoically then said, "What nerves?"

All three burst into laughter, but quickly realized that they might wake Nick and Audra, and they didn't want to do that.

"Well, it has been a long day, but an enjoyable one at that. I had better try to get some sleep…I need to be in the office by 9:30 um that's what time I told him to come into the office in the morning," Jarrod said with a twinkle in his eyes.

"Well then," Heath said with a smile, "I'd better make sure you're awake before I head downstairs tomorrow morning. G'night."