Summer 1971 

"Ya haveta go after her!" Willie was pacing frantically around the drawing room, his hands forming his sandy hair into comical peaks atop his head.

Barnabas knew it must be his imagination combined with his lack of sleep, but to him, it sounded like Willie was chirping. Like a cricket.

Willie had found his employer brooding in his chair just a few minutes earlier. The handyman had been out of town and had not seen Barnabas since before his dinner at Stokes', and thus was unaware of Julia's trip to San Francisco.

"Where ya been, Barnabas?" Willie had asked, eyeing the man critically to determine the reason for his sour mood.

Collins had looked up at him with a melancholy expression. "I took Julia to the airport."

"To the airport! She's goin' away again ?"

"Yes, Willie. Perhaps for good this time."

"What are ya talkin' about?"

"Julia has been offered a job in San Francisco, Willie. She has gone back out there to decide whether she wants to accept it."

"What the hell? She's got a job, why is she lookin' at a new one? And why in San Francisco?"

Barnabas looked down at his hands before answering. "She thinks she needs a fresh start. Away from Collinwood. Away from me."

Willie put his hands on his thighs and bent down to look Barnabas in the face. "Wait a minute. Did she say that, Barnabas?"

The older man rose and walked slowly toward the window. "Basically, yes. You were right, Willie. I drove her away."

The pain etched on Collins' face made Willie's heart ache for him. He knew that Barnabas had made his own bed, but the man was his friend. Julia was his friend. They deserved some happiness together after all they had been through.

"So you finally figured it out, huh?" Willie's voice was a mixture of sympathy and smugness.

"Figured what out?"

"How ya really feel about Julia. That she's more than just a friend."

Barnabas turned away, still unwilling to voice his feelings aloud.

"Dammit, Barnabas, just admit that you're in love with her!"

The echo of words said long ago in this very room almost sprang to his lips, words that he had also thought of just a few months ago. But even at that time, he had not realized what they had really meant. Now he did.

What do you want me to admit, Willie? That I care for Julia more than I appear to? All right, I will admit it. She's been a part of my life for so long, a very important part.

He should have admitted it then, all those years ago, how he had really felt. Perhaps Julia wouldn't be in San Francisco right now if he had.

"All right, Willie. Yes, I am in love with Julia."

The grin that split Willie's face was wide enough to rival one carved into a Halloween jack-o-lantern.

And that was when the young man had begun to sound like a cricket to Barnabas. "Ya haveta go after her! Stop her from takin' this job! And get her away from this Dr. Stephens you're so worried about."

"Willie, I have been sitting here all evening trying to figure out what to do. If I tell Julia how I feel, she will think I am only saying it to try to keep her here."

It would not have been the first time he had manipulated Julia's feelings for him for his own end. In particular, he was remembering an incident that had occurred early in their relationship, one of which he was now deeply ashamed.

I care for you, Julia. I need you.

After all he had done, how could he expect her to believe he had finally come to his senses?

"Well, the way I see it, Barnabas, you ain't got much choice in the matter. She's out there in California with no one influencin' her but this Stephens guy. And whaddya want to bet he's tall, dark and handsome? I bet he even asked her to marry him once upon a time!"

Barnabas stared at Willie in a panic. He hadn't thought of that possibility but given Julia's reaction every time Stevie had been mentioned, it could well be the truth. He squared his shoulders and made a decision.

"Willie, book me on the next train that will get me to San Francisco."

Instead of the action he had expected from his servant, the young man just looked at him popeyed.

"Train? Barnabas, you can't take the train! By the time you get there, they'd be married with three kids! I've gotta go to Collinwood right now to get you on the soonest flight!"

"Flight?" Collins' voice cracked as he asked the question. "Yeah, flight. As in airplane?" Loomis stuck out his arms and flapped them to make his point. He groaned aloud when he saw that his friend had gone pale.

"Aw, man," he said, running his hand through his hair again. "Don't tell me you're afraid to fly?"

Barnabas nodded at him mutely; his expression was nothing less than pathetic.

Willie marched up to him then and looked him straight in the eye. "Barnabas, this may be your last chance with her. Do you wanna blow it?"

Collins was privately appalled at this role reversal - his feeling so weak while Willie appeared so strong. How had he come to this? Was he to allow simple technology to rob him of the woman he loved?

"Make sure to book my seat in First Class, Willie."

The young man smiled and clapped his friend on the shoulder. "You got it, Barnabas." He grabbed his jacket and started to head out the door but turned back for some parting words.

"And while you're gone, Barnabas, I'll start to make the arrangements for electricity, a telephone and plumbing in this house."

Collins was plainly shocked by Willie's pronouncement. "What are you talking about?"

Another grin claimed Loomis' face, and he spread his hands wide as he explained, "Julia's gonna want all the modern conveniences when you bring her home, Barnabas."

"Yes, of course," Barnabas mumbled.

He smiled as Willie shut the door behind him. He liked the sound of that. He liked the sound of bringing Julia "home".

Part Nine