Iris Rainbow

by Ilona Fridl

  Teri led Linda into the dining room, setting the phone on the table. Linda checked the time and date against the schedule, and they found the group was in Glasgow, Scotland. Teri talked to the overseas operator, who said she would call when there was a connection.

  “From what Roy told me, these numbers are for special operators in the hotels who screen calls for the VIPs. We can’t get through the main switchboard. I’m surprised Tim didn’t give you one of these.”

  “That’s why I’m checking to see if he still wants me. I seem to have been cut off.”

  After a few minutes, the phone rang and the overseas operator connected Teri with the hotel screener.

  “Yes, Miss Darden, may I help you?”

  “Could you connect me to Tim Olson’s room?”

  “I’m sorry, he said he didn’t want to be disturbed tonight. Is this a family emergency?”

  Teri sighed. “No, it isn’t. Thank you anyway.”

  Linda watched her. “What happened?”

  “He didn’t want to be disturbed tonight. I’ll bet it’s that German girl I saw with him in the press picture.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “Please, Linda, I know Tim. Thanks for your help. I guess I can let him go.” Teri banged her fist on the table.

  “I hate to see it end like this. You know, I really envied you and Carol.”

  “Why?”

  “You seemed so close. Tim was a lot like Luke before you came along, but he settled down. John and Tim always hung out together, and Roy and Luke were more friends. Luke never had a girlfriend for long, so I never had the friendship that you and Carol did. That’s why I loved the parties so much. I got to see you two.” She checked her watch. “I’d better go. Keep in touch, Teri.”

  “I will.”

  They hugged, and Linda left, while Teri sat staring at the phone number written on the pad. I think I’ll try the call when it’s morning over there.

  At eleven in the evening, Teri sat in the dining room with the phone after her parents went to bed. Turning the ringer down, she put in an overseas call to Glasgow. When the phone gave a ring, she picked it up quickly.

  “Miss Darden, can I help you?” said the hotel operator.

  “Can you put me through to Tim Olson’s room?”

  “Yes, I just gave him a wake-up call. One moment.”

  The phone rang, and Teri held her breath.

  “Hello?” said a female voice.

  “Is Tim Olson there?”

  “Mmm, yes. Hey, lover, it’s for you.”

  But Teri didn’t wait to hear his voice. She put the receiver back on its cradle and proceeded to make confetti out of the phone number. Throwing the paper in the trash, she wanted to scream, and she slammed the back door harder than she meant to, and took one of the patio chairs and flung it into one of the trees. The light came on by the back door, and she saw the outline of her father as he came out. Teri sat on the picnic bench, bursting into frustrated tears while he sat beside her.

  “Hey, sweetheart, what happened?”

  “I tried to call Tim again and got through this time, but a woman answered the phone. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t trust him,” she said between sobs. “I’m going to marry David.”

  Her father held her until she quieted down. “It’s all for the best, Teri. Come on, let’s go inside. We can deal with this tomorrow.”

  Teri was on the phone the next day. “Hello, Mrs. Kelsey. Could you tell David I’d like to see him tonight after dinner? This is Teri…Thanks.” Coming into the kitchen where her mother was working, Teri sat on a chair. “Mom, I left a message for David to come over tonight after dinner.”

  “Laura is coming over, too. We are going over the items for her reception. Are you going to give him an answer?”

  “I’m going to marry him.”

  “Your dad told me what happened last night. I’m glad you decided to let Tim go. He was bad for you.”

  “Mom, Tim wasn’t all bad. When I was living with him, he was very thoughtful. I know he didn’t cheat on me then.”

  “But he started you on all those drugs.”

  “The drugs were mostly my doing. Mindy introduced me to pot, and a record executive gave me a vial of coke. Tim drank a lot, but he didn’t do many drugs. I got heavily involved when I was in San Francisco later. I wish I could have said goodbye to him. It seems that part of my life is incomplete.”

  Putting an arm around Teri, her mother nodded. “I know it’s hard, but it’s for the best that you move on.” She hesitated for a moment. “I don’t think you should keep in touch with Linda now.”

  “Why? I told you she isn’t into drugs.”

  “That would put you in close proximity to Tim and might be too much of a temptation. I know how you feel about him. Now that you say you want to marry David, you have to think of him.”

  Teri slumped. “Of course, you’re right. I’ll talk to Linda one more time.”

  She called Linda, explaining the problem.

  “Teri, your mother is right. I wanted you to come to our wedding, but Tim is going to be one of the groomsmen.”

  “Linda, I wish you and Roy all the best in the world.”

  “The same for you and David. I’m going to miss you.”

  “Bye, Linda.” Hanging up the phone, she shut the door to her old life.

  That evening when David arrived, Teri stepped out on the front walk. “David, I’ll take you up on your offer. I love you, too.”

  “Oh, Teri, I love you so much.” He took her in his arms and they kissed. They stood holding each other for a few minutes, then went inside to break the news. There were hugs all around as Teri and David sat at the dining table with her mother, father, and sister.

  Her father eyed them with his mouth in a tight line. “David, of course I’m happy that you want Teri to be your wife, but do you understand what she’s been through?”

  David glanced at Teri. “I know she’s been through a lot. I don’t know if I would fully understand what happened to her, but I’ll support and take care of her.”

  He turned to his daughter. “Teri, do you really love David enough to marry him? Are you willing to completely forget Tim and devote your life to David?”

  Teri was silent, then looked at her father. “Dad, I loved Tim, but when he left, we didn’t stay faithful. I’m as much to blame as Tim is.” She laid a hand on David’s. “I’ve loved David since seventh grade, and he is standing by me, even after I treated him so rotten. I’ll stand by him now for as long as he wants me.”

  David grasped her hand as she asked, “Does that answer your questions?”

  Her father smiled. “Yes, it does. I give you my blessing.”

  “Now,” Her mother said, looking up from the reception paperwork she was going over with Laura, “since that’s out of the way, when would you like to set the date?”

  Thinking for a minute, Teri ventured, “How about this coming New Year’s Eve?”

  “What? That isn’t fair!” Laura piped up.

  “Teri, Laura’s wedding is in November. We wouldn’t have time to plan another one so soon.”

  “Mom, I don’t want a big wedding like Laura’s. Most people know what happened to me, and I don’t want them to be pointing and gossiping the whole time. I want a small wedding with just the two immediate families. I want to dump this past year. This is the way it should have been before I got so messed up.”

  “How can I plan even a small wedding when I’m right in the middle of planning Laura’s?”

  Teri thought fast, getting a dawn of an idea. “You don’t have to. David and I can be married at one of those chapels in Las Vegas.”

  The other four regarded her with interest.

  “Mom, Dad, we can invite the immediate families for a trip to Las Vegas. It would be like a vacation for all of us. Well, what do you say?”

  Her father started to laugh. “It sounds like we’ve got our old Teri back. This scheme sounds like a good one. Wha
t do you think, May?”

  “It sounds like fun. I love Vegas. David?”

  “More than I expected.” He clasped Teri’s shoulder, gazing deep in her eyes. “I love you, Sweet Stuff.”

  “I love you too, Tiger.”

  With her family present, he moderated the kiss he gave her to seal the moment.

  After David and Laura left, Teri’s dad took her aside. “Teri, are you going to go to college like you originally planned?”

  “Dad, I’m not ready to handle that kind of stress. My psychologist said I could easily backslide into drugs right now. I still crave drugs, especially when I’m under pressure. I’ll see in a few months if I can handle it.”

  “I’ll give you all the support you need.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” Kissing his cheek, she headed off to bed.

  A couple of weeks before Laura’s wedding, Teri and David found a small apartment near USC, where David was a freshman. Teri got a job at one of the banks nearby; she could commute to work from Alhambra until she moved in with David after the first of the year, and David would live there until then.

  One evening, David came back from classes and found Teri decorating the living room.

  “It looks nice.” He examined the still lifes she’d hung on the wall. “I’m glad you came over today. There’s something I haven’t done yet.”

  Teri grinned. “Oh, and what’s that?”

  David opened his desk drawer, took out a small box, and removed something from it. “Hold out your left hand and close your eyes.”

  She did as she was told, felt something slip on her ring finger, and saw a lovely engagement ring. It was gold with a small diamond in the center. “Oh, David, it’s lovely.”

  He gazed deep in her eyes. “So are you.” Kissing him passionately, Teri found herself wanting him to make love. “Teri, will you…?”

  “Yes, David.” He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom.

  Undressing each other, Teri wondered why she had resisted David all those years. He was a tender and caring lover, but the fireworks weren’t there that she’d experienced with Tim. It was still satisfying, though, and they spent the rest of the evening making love.

  Laura’s wedding was beautiful, but Teri was happy she didn’t have to plan a ceremony and reception for hers. She was grateful that David came with her, and they sat with her parents after the dinner. Leaning toward David, she remarked, “This won’t be over soon enough for me.”

  Tight-lipped, he nodded. “I’ve noticed how people are avoiding you. And ones like those across the room.” He gave a slight motion toward several who were staring and whispering.

  She sighed. “I’m glad we’ll have a wedding with just the family. I may not have the ceremony I’ve always dreamed of, but I don’t care.” She squeezed his hand.

  He kissed it. “With my sister’s wedding next spring, I don’t think my mom minds a trip to Vegas. I’m glad Ken and Evie want to stand up with us.”

  The more Teri thought about being married to David, the more she looked forward to it. Maybe she’d gotten past Tim.

  The day before New Year’s Eve, the two families assembled at the Sands Hotel, where they’d made reservations for two nights well in advance. Teri and Evie shared a room that night, with the honeymoon suite reserved for Teri and David the next night.

  Teri stood in her bridal dress next to David, with their family all around them. The judge came to the part of the ceremony when he asked if anyone objected to these two people getting married. Suddenly, from the back of the room, Teri heard, “I object!” Turning, she saw Tim at the door of the chapel. Teri gasped and started running toward him, but Tim disappeared. “Tim, no!” she screamed.

  “Teri! Teri, are you all right?” Evie shook her awake.

  Teri was startled to find herself in the hotel room with Evie standing over her. “I—I’m all right. Just a bad dream. I guess I’m nervous about tomorrow.”

  Evie stared at her a little strangely. “Teri, you were calling out to Tim.”

  Teri sat up, twisting the corner of the sheet, and told Evie what she had dreamed.

  “You’re still not over him, are you?”

  “It bothers me that we never said goodbye. I wish it could’ve ended so I would go on without all these doubts. Deep in my heart, I still love Tim, but I can’t trust him. I know David is a better match.”

  Taking her hand, Evie said, “I know it’s hard on you, but I think you made the right choice. I’m going back to bed.”

  The next day, Teri got ready in the dressing room at the chapel. Gazing into the full-length mirror at her white lace minidress with its empire waist, she remembered wearing beautiful dresses like this not so long ago, feeling like a princess. Teri shook her head. Tim can’t be a part of my thoughts anymore. I’m wearing this for David. Nevertheless, a tinge of sadness pricked her for the love gone.

  Evie came in carrying her veil and a handful of other things. “Sit down at the vanity and I’ll fix your hair.”

  With Teri seated in front of the lighted mirror, Evie started brushing Teri’s hair. “Evie, I remember when we used to do this when we were thirteen. What crazy styles we gave each other.”

  Evie nodded. “We’ve been through a lot, haven’t we?” She pinned the short shoulder-length veil to Teri’s hair, standing back to admire her work. Teri rose as her mother came in with Teri’s small bouquet of flowers.

  Her mother hugged Teri. “You look beautiful. I’m so proud of how far you’ve come. You look like you did before—”

  Teri picked it up. “Before I got involved with drugs. I won’t let it get me again.”

  “I do wish you would have picked out a more traditional dress.”

  “Mom, this is a very small wedding and we are going to the casinos tonight. It’ll be fine.”

  “Come on, they’re ready for you.”

  The small chapel held Teri’s and David’s families, and as Teri walked to her dad, who waited by the door, her mother went in to sit in front as the music played “Here Comes the Bride.” Then Evie led the way as Teri’s dad offered his arm to his daughter, tears misting his eyes.

  Teri saw David. Yes, I love him very much. I want to marry him. He’s the only one who cares about me. What a wonderful way to start 1969!

  The wedding went off without any problems and everyone seemed to have a good time. At the objection part of the ceremony, Teri found herself holding her breath. She swore this was the last she would ever think of Tim.

  ****

  In January of 1969, after the Virgin Ram concert in San Francisco, an alarm went off in the hotel room of Tim Olson and John Simon.

  John sleepily looked at the clock. It was ten in the morning. “Who the hell set the alarm? We don’t have to leave until two this afternoon. We didn’t get to bed until four.”

  Tim was already dressed. “I did. Go back to sleep, I’ve got an errand to run.”

  Mumbling something, John rolled over.

  The day before, Tim had thought about being only a few days from home and Teri. He was tired of the many women he’d dated during the tour. He didn’t remember many of their names or faces, and all he could think about, the last few weeks, was getting back to Teri. After he’d sung “Beloved” at the previous evening’s concert, he knew he loved her. I made her that promise to find her, and I will. How many fans are loved by their idol? I’m sure she’s waiting for me.

  It was a windy rainy day in ’Frisco, so Tim thought it would be a perfect opportunity for him to sneak out. Tucking his long hair under a cap, he slipped on a long coat. The dark glasses should get him by the groupies downstairs. As he stepped out of the elevator, he hunched down and walked past the fans who crowded the lobby and made it safely outside. He crossed the street to a small jewelry store he’d noticed yesterday. A middle-aged lady with iron-gray hair and brown eyes that sparkled with good humor glanced at him from behind the counter.

  “Good morning, sir. Can I help you with something?”

&
nbsp; Taking off his dark glasses, Tim read her name tag. “Yes. Mrs. Kent, is it? What do you have in engagement and wedding rings?”

  “I have quite a few of them in the case. If you see one you’d like to examine, let me know.” She looked at him closely. “You know, you look familiar to me. Have you been in here before?”

  Tim shook his head. He saw a beautiful set with a large stone on the engagement ring and a number of small stones around it. The two rings seemed to fit together as if they were one. “I’d like to see those.”

  Mrs. Kent opened the case and handed him the rings.

  Tim examined the set closely. “I’ll take this one.”

  She nodded. “This is a fine choice. What size is the young lady’s finger?”

  He felt the blood drain from his face. “Size? What sizes do they come in?”

  Mrs. Kent laughed. “I can see you’ve never done this before. Can she come in with you?”

  “No. I wanted this to be a surprise and, anyway, she lives in the Los Angeles area.” He studied her hands. “They’re about the same size as yours. What size do you wear?”

  “I wear a seven, which is what this set is.” She thought for a moment. “I tell you what. I’ll let you have this one. If it doesn’t fit her finger, you can have it made into the right size by just about any professional jeweler in the L.A. area.”

  “I’ll take it.” Pulling out his wallet, he gave her a credit card. “Put it on this.”

  While processing the card, she noticed the name. “Tim Olson? Aren’t you in the group Virgin Ram?”

  Tim acquiesced.

  “I thought I recognized you. My daughter is one of your fans. She went to your concert last night. Could I get an autograph for her?” She gave Tim a piece of scratch paper.

  He removed a pen from his shirt pocket. “What’s your daughter’s name?”

  “Lisa.”

  He wrote: To Lisa, thank you for being a fan. Love, Tim Olson.

  Mrs. Kent finished the sale and handed him the box as he gave her the autograph. “Thank you so much, Mr. Olson. And congratulations to you and your young lady.”

  Putting his dark glasses back on, he gave a bow. “And thank you, ma’am.” He turned and hurried back.