by Natalie Ann
Her eyes shone, so blue and so hopeful. “Would you?”
“We can start right away. What’s the name of the doctor who delivered you?”
“Dr. Morris.”
“Would you still have his phone number?”
“The office number. I kept it. Because I called him once a year to ask how my little Daniel was. Dr. Morris invariably said, ‘He’s doing great. Let it go.’ I stopped calling when I was expecting Lizzie. I wanted to let go.”
“But you couldn’t.”
“I just want to know he’s doing well,” she repeated with a humble tone. “I won’t disturb his life.”
“He must be seventeen by now. A young man ready for college.”
“The same age we were when I went through all that mess.”
“Do you know where Dr. Morris registered the baby for adoption?”
“There was no legal adoption. He wrote a birth certificate with the names of the couple for father and mother. I didn’t want officials to question me about the father.”
“So the doctor is the only link. Let’s try the number.” She told him the number, and he called. “Hello, can I speak to Dr. Morris?”
“Dr. Morris passed away three months ago. If you are a patient, we can transfer your file to—”
“My name is Daniel O’Malley. I’m not a patient, but my grandmother was a good friend. Is there a way to reach the family?”
“We have a number for his daughter. What is the grandmother’s name? We’ll ask his daughter if she wants to take the call.”
He covered the phone. “The name of your grandmother?”
“Dotty Maloney,” Meredith said.
“Dotty Maloney,” he repeated in the phone. “Thank you. I’ll stay on the line.” He lowered the phone and whispered, “She’s calling his daughter. Cross your fingers.”
Meredith crossed her fingers and squeezed herself against him to hear the conversation.
“Mr. O’Malley, I gave her your number. Ms. Grace Morris Langley will call you in a minute.”
“Thank you.” He ended the call. “The doctor’s daughter will call. You answer this time.”
“No, please. I can’t. I’m shaking. Tell her... Tell her I’m your fiancée.”
“Thank you, babe. I love you.” He pulled her into his arms for a deep kiss. Their first after he’d asked her to marry him. The phone vibrated in his hand, and he inched away. “It’s ringing.”
“Go ahead, please.”
“Ms. Langley, I’m talking on behalf of my fiancée, Meredith Kandel. She’s next to me, but too emotional to talk. Her grandmother, Dotty Maloney, was a good friend of Dr. Morris. And Dr. Morris delivered Meredith’s first baby seventeen years ago. Meredith would like to talk to you about your father. Here, I’ll put her on. She’s calmed down now.” He passed the phone to Meredith.
“Hi, Ms. Langley. Yes, hi, Grace... Dr. Morris practically saved my life. He was a wonderful man... Yes, I’d love to see you and talk to you about him... Yes, I can come.” She looked at Daniel.
“Tomorrow,” he said. She opened big eyes. “Tell her tomorrow, and take her address.”
“Okay, tomorrow. Can you text me the address... Thank you.” She ended the call and spun toward him. “Are you crazy? How are we going to be in Louisville tomorrow? And the children?”
“They’re coming with us wherever we go. We’re spending a weekend in Louisville with Noah and Lizzie. But no Taco or Wendy.”
“Oh my Lord. You’re incredible.” She collapsed in his arms, laughing. He’d never heard her laughing so joyfully, her heart unburdened of the heavy secret she’d buried for years.
Hopefully, the trip to Louisville would provide useful news and bring her closure.
“I’m learning from you how to care about people, and now I’ll try to help you. But first we need to celebrate our engagement.” He scooped her into his arms and carried her upstairs.
Chapter Seventeen
Still groggy after a night of lovemaking in Daniel’s arms, Meredith opened bleary eyes at the soft voice and firm hand shaking her out of her slumber.
“Sorry for waking you up. We hardly have time to get ready.”
She blinked at him, not understanding.
“We’re driving to Louisville. The shower is all yours. And then we pack. No need to wake the children yet. We’re taking them as is in their pj’s and with their blankets and teddies. They’ll change when we arrive.”
“I brought shorts and bathing suits for this weekend. You’ll have to stop by my house.”
“I will.”
A whirlwind of energy, Daniel stowed his carryon and backpack in the back of his SUV, and carried the sleepy children, one at a time, wrapped in blankets, into their car seats.
Ready in a brown sweatsuit and long-sleeve T-shirt, Meredith joined him in the car. “They’re getting used to sleeping in your car.”
After a quick stop at her house, where she packed for Lizzie and herself, Meredith returned, dragging a carryon, her handbag strapped to her shoulder and a backpack on her back, and resumed her place in Daniel’s SUV.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready,” she answered after a look at the cute children sleeping so innocently in the back.
Daniel drove for two hours until he entered the city and stopped downtown to check in to a hotel. Awake but dazed, the children wobbled next to Meredith to their room. Daniel allowed everyone time to shower, change, and eat breakfast.
Grace Morris Langley received them in the living room of her sumptuous house, situated in a park-like setting surrounded by shaded magnolias and mature oak trees, in the plush neighborhood of Anchorage.
Duly instructed to behave like good children, Noah and Lizzie sat on a sofa next to each other and played with their tablets while Meredith reminisced with Grace about her father.
After a while, she gathered the courage to relate the story of her delivery. “Dr. Morris was amazing. He found the right couple to raise my child. For years, I called him, and he reassured me that my son was doing well. I wish you could do the same.”
“Let me look at my father’s computer. He was always so organized and recorded everything. But this is so long ago, I wonder if I’ll find anything. Come with me to the office. The children can have some cookies in the kitchen.”
A moment later, Grace browsed through her father’s files.
“I found the file,” she said after a moment. “And yes, my dad recorded your calls and your short conversations over the years.”
Sitting across from the massive desk, Meredith fidgeted with the straps of her handbag, wishing she could peek at the monitor. Daniel stood next to her, a soothing hand on her shoulder.
“That’s strange,” Grace exclaimed.
“What?” Meredith jumped out of her chair, and Daniel stepped closer to the desk.
“There are recent notes. Six month ago, Bar...” Grace stopped short before disclosing a name. “Huh, the adoptive mother came to see Dr. Morris. She wanted the name and phone number of the biological mother.”
“Ah... Why? Is the boy in need of something? Oh my God, what if he has some health problem? What if he needs an organ from a blood relative?”
“Calm down.” Daniel rubbed her back. “Don’t jump to crazy conclusions.”
“Let me read. My father wrote he couldn’t find a valid phone number and contacted the mother of the biological mother.”
“He called my mom? After I left Chicago.”
“Yes. Mrs. Kendal refused to give your contact information, saying that you’ve suffered enough, and there was no need to open an old wound.” Grace lifted her head to look at them.
“Oh, no. My mother had no right to answer for me. She deprived my son of...of what?”
“Wait. My father called again a month later and received the same answer. He wrote that he didn’t have any other family contact and suggested to the adoptive mother to respect the confidentiality agreement. He died a month later. I’m sorry.”
“Let me call her.” She dialed a number.
Her hands crossed, Meredith slowly exhaled. She was so close to reaching an unbelievable point. Please, Lord, let it happen. Let me see him.
“Good afternoon. This is Grace Morris Langley, calling for Mrs. Barbara Rugalio.”
Barbara Rugalio. Meredith mentally repeated the name to memorize it.
“Yes, hi Greg. Is your mother available?”
His name was Greg. Oh, God. Meredith’s eyes filled with tears. Finally, she knew her son’s name. Greg Rugalio.
“Yes, your mother visited my father, Dr. Morris, six months ago to request some information,” Grace continued on the phone. “Unfortunately, my father passed three months ago. But I’m ready to give her the information... Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know. I can call later... ah, okay, I’ll wait.”
Grace turned toward them and murmured, “The poor woman is very sick, right now on a hospice program. Her son, Greg, is asking her if she can talk.” Grace lifted a hand. “Yes, Greg. Okay, I’ll talk to her.” Grace nodded to them. “Hello, Barbara. When you visited my father, you wanted to reach the biological mother. Just imagine, she’s here in front of me. Meredith Kandel. Yes, Barbara, right away... We are coming. See you soon.”
Meredith’s jaw sagged, and her eyes widened. Was it possible that...
“Let’s go. I have the address of the hospice. She’s in bad shape.”
Daniel asked Grace to sit in the front and direct him. Meredith climbed in the back with a child buckled in a car seat on each side and her arms around them.
With the heavy noon traffic, it took them thirty minutes to reach the facility. With Lizzie hanging around his neck, and Noah holding his hand, Daniel asked the front desk about Mrs. Barbara Rugalio, and they all rushed to the patient’s room. He waited at the door with the children.
Meredith went straight to the bed, where a frail woman lay, her eyes closed and her breathing shallow, and bent toward her. “Barbara, I’m Meredith Kandel.”
“Thank you, Lord. You’re here,” she panted. “I prayed so much to be able to contact you. It’s a miracle.” Tears rolled over her cheeks.
“I’m here, ready to help. I’ll do anything you want, Barbara.”
“I went to see Dr. Morris when my doctor told me I won’t last long. I lost my husband three years ago. My brothers and sister resented us for adopting a child at such a late time in our lives. I was hoping you could take care of Greg after I’m gone.”
Meredith had trouble understanding the hushed words and absorbing their meaning. She would see her son. She would take care of him. Was it possible?
“Oh my God. You mean...”
“I took your child and raised him with love. Would you take my child now and care for him?”
“Yes, yes, of course.” Tears streaming down her cheeks, Meredith dropped to her knees next to the bed and cradled the sick woman’s hand. “Thank you. You’re an angel.”
Barbara heaved a deep breath. “Greg, come here, son.”
Her heart pounding, Meredith spun. From the dark corner where he’d been huddling, a tall teenager with mussed blond hair reaching his shoulders stepped forward.
Her son.
How had she missed him when entering the room?
“Greg, meet Meredith, your biological mother.” With painful effort, Barbara lifted her head and turned to face the teenager. “Meredith was seventeen, your age, when she had you, Greg. To protect her baby from the man who wanted to get rid of you, she let us take you, let us raise you. I can never thank you enough for my son, Meredith.” Exhausted from talking, Barbara collapsed back on her pillow.
Grateful to Barbara for explaining her reasons to the child she’d abandoned, now a teenager at a rebellious age, Meredith captured his gaze, full of distrust.
“I can’t leave my mom. She needs me.”
“Then stay with her, Greg. Take care of her.” What a wonderful young man. “Can we help?”
“No, leave me alone with my mom. No one can help us now.” His chin jutted out defiantly, sadness simmering in his dark blue eyes.
“You are right. These are precious moments that belong to you.” Meredith scrambled up and leaned over Barbara to kiss her hand. “Thank you. I’ll be forever grateful. We’ll be outside, if you need us.”
Outside the room, Daniel caught her elbow and led her to a visitors’ room. He let the children play with their iPads and sat next to her. “How do you feel?”
“Sad, yet pleased. I finally met my son, but I’m not his mother. To be expected,” she said with a reasonable tone, as if advising a patient in her office. “I met him under the worst conditions for him. If I make any wrong move, utter any wrong word, I may lose him forever. Right now I’m the enemy, the one who might replace his loving mother. I must give him space, even if I’m dying to comfort him.”
“I have to go now.” Grace stood to leave.
“Daniel, go, please. The children need to eat and unwind.”
“And you?”
“I’ll stay here. In this room. When he needs me, he’ll come. And I’ll be ready to help him.”
For the next two hours, she sat in the same chair, staring at the window, reliving her past, day by day, hour by hour.
Peace filled her heart. No regrets hampering her inner calm.
Four men had crossed her life and left an impact, etching indelible marks on her heart.
Looking at things in a positive way, Daniel had surrounded her with love, Jerry had given her a wonderful son, Steve had given her a beautiful daughter, and Les had offered her a long-lasting friendship.
“Meredith, you’re still here?” The firm male voice startled her.
“Yes, Greg. But don’t worry, I won’t disturb you.”
“Mom is resting. Would you like to have dinner with me at the cafeteria?”
“Sure.” She stood and smiled, wondering if Barbara had sent him or if he had come by himself.
He filled his plate with lasagna, steak, salad, bread and butter, and glanced at the salad on her plate. “I haven’t had time to eat since last night,” he grumbled, his tone apologetic.
He reached into his pocket, but she stalled his hand. “Allow me, please.”
“Thank you.” He sat across from her and gulped his food, then faced her. “Meredith, sorry I’ve been kind of rude. I’m so worried about Mom.” He was treating her as a friend he could trust, and she didn’t mind the role. The best relationships started with friendship.
“I understand. It’s not easy to watch your mother degrade in front of your eyes.”
He tilted his head, a curious sparkle in his eyes. “You don’t resent her for taking your baby?”
“Not at all. She saved you and allowed me to go to college and live a decent life.”
“What did you study?”
“Psychology. I work at a parochial school as a counselor during the morning, and in the evening, I see patients in my office. I have a BA from the University of Louisville and a masters from Northwestern.”
“Northwestern?” He chuckled. “I’ll be joining in the fall. I’ve got a scholarship for four years of college.”
For a second, the word scholarship prickled her, and she thought of Jerry and his football career.
“Scholarship for what?”
“Basketball.”
“Ah, great. What do you plan to do in life?”
“I was hoping to go into med school. Not sure I’ll be able to. It’s horrendously expensive, and they don’t give scholarships.”
“Who knows what the future may bring?” She vowed she’d help him fulfill his dreams. “Greg, thank you for taking me to dinner.” It was time for him to go back and stay with his mother. Meredith didn’t think the poor woman would last long.
A text from Daniel reassured her that the children had had dinner and gone to bed.
Had
nice dinner with Greg at the caf.
A few smiley emojis came in response.
She took a walk around the depressing place and then returned to her place in the visitors’ room.
Two hours later, a nurse approached. “Ms. Homer?”
“Yes?”
“Barbara just took her last breath. Her son is alone and crying.”
“Coming.” She hurried to Barbara’s room and crossed herself as she entered. “I’m so sorry, Greg.” She opened her arms and hugged him.
They stayed in the room, crying and praying. An hour later, the nurse asked them to leave.
“I don’t want to go home, alone. Would you come with me, Meredith?”
“Yes.” Tonight, she would do anything he wanted.
Taking the nurse aside, Meredith informed her that she would come back the next day to handle the funeral arrangements.
Greg drove his mother’s car to his house, and Meredith texted Daniel with the news and several requests. For a change, they would leave the children at Grace’s house and stay with Greg to support him during this difficult time.
Epilogue
Meredith invited Greg to come live with her until he started college in September, and he gladly accepted. From the moment he met Noah and Lizzie, he became their adored big brother, and he adopted the house routine, spending the weekend at Daniel’s big house.
For Mother’s Day, Lizzie asked Greg to draw a flower and write a few nice words for Mommy. She and Noah recruited him to drive them to a store to laminate their poster.
On Mother’s Day, Daniel cooked a delicious breakfast of chocolate and blueberry pancakes, and the children gave Meredith her poster. Greg had drawn a flower and written in the middle, To my little mom and best friend, Love, your son, Greg.
“It’s the best Mother’s Day of my life.”
She hugged her small children and big son, and sniffled a few times, until Daniel caught her in his arms for a deep kiss, soon interrupted by Greg.
“Hmm, hmm, you guys are giving a lousy example to your children, you know?”
“The small ones don’t even notice, but maybe we have to be careful around the older one.”
