by Ilona Fridl
“Hmm, that’s good to know…”
Sara looked at her curiously. Then Melissa joined them in the courtyard. “Hi, Mom! Welcome home. I’m ready to go when you are.” Sara and Melissa embraced.
“I’m happy to see you again, sweetie. My word, you’ve grown.”
“Mother, please. I haven’t grown that much since you last saw me.” They both laughed.
“We’d better get going.” Sara turned to Teri and held her hand out. “It was nice meeting you.”
Teri took the offered hand. “Good meeting you too.”
Melissa touched Teri on the shoulder. “Tell Dad I’ll be back before he leaves.” Then she looked at her mother and Teri standing together. “Dad was right—you two do look alike.”
“I’ll let him know you’ll be here. Goodbye, Melissa.” She saw them to the door and waved as the car disappeared down the driveway. I’m glad that went well. Sara’s nothing like Dana, thank goodness.
Saturday morning was Valentine’s Day. Teri was having coffee in the kitchen, thinking here she was married to Tim and he wasn’t with her. A buzz came from the security gates. She went to the video screen and switched it on. From the camera, she saw three delivery trucks waiting outside. A young man in a uniform stood in plain sight.
“Mrs. Olson?”
“Yes.”
“I’m from Chatsworth Florist.” He held his ID card by the camera. “I’m here to make a delivery.”
He did remember. She hit the security gate button. “Come on up.” She went out the front door and stood on the steps, shading her eyes. “Three trucks?” she asked the delivery man.
He tapped his pen on a clipboard. “Where do you want these flowers? I have ten free-standing vases with three dozen roses each.”
Teri gasped. “That’s thirty dozen roses! Um—put them in the living room.”
She watched, amazed, as the men filled up the room with the fragrant scarlet flowers. The delivery man handed her a card and the clipboard to sign, and she gave him a fifty-dollar tip.
“Thank you, ma’am. Happy Valentine’s Day.” He and the other men left.
She opened the card and read, “Happy Valentine’s Day, babe. I made up for lost time.”
Teri made a special dinner of grilled porterhouse steaks and baked potatoes. She had just poured the non-alcoholic wine when she heard the limo. The door burst open, and Tim came in with another dozen roses. Her heart swelled and her eyes filled with tears. He set down the flowers and swung her around in an embrace.
“It’s been thirty-one years since we met. I got a dozen roses for every year.” She saw such joy in his eyes as she kissed him.
“That was a wonderful surprise. I’ve got a surprise for you too.”
He looked around. “Where is it?”
She put her lips close to his ear. “Tim, I’m pregnant.”
A myriad of expressions crossed his face, among them surprise, tenderness, and amusement. Then a suspicious look rested there. “Heh-heh. Teri, you’ve always been one for practical jokes. That was a good one, I almost believed you.”
Teri felt a strange pull of amusement and anger. She wanted both to laugh and to kill him. “It’s true, you crazy idiot. I’m due in September.”
The shocked expression was priceless. “A baby? At our age?”
“Yes, you Casanova, you finally knocked me up.” They embraced, laughing and crying at the same time.
Tim turned serious. “Do you realize how old we’ll be when this child graduates from high school? We may not even be around. I’ll be fifty-five this year. Let’s see, that will make me seventy-three. You would be sixty-seven.”
Teri felt a stab at her heart. “Yes, I’ve thought about that, but we don’t have a whole lot of choices. We can keep it and raise it for as long as we can, or we could give it up for adoption. There is a third alternative…”
“No abortion.” He put his hand on her stomach. “This is a product of our love. I lost a son to divorce. I don’t want to lose another child.” He kissed her tenderly. “I love you, babe. We’ll find a way to deal with having a baby.”
“What about all the genetic problems connected with older parents? Down’s Syndrome and such.”
Tim held her close. “We’ll have all the tests done, and we can deal with any problems down the line.”
Teri served the dinner, and Tim raised his glass to her. “Here’s to the love of my life and the mother of my child, Teri.” Then he kissed her.
“I love you so much.” Teri gazed into his eyes.
After dinner, they took lemonade out to the courtyard.
Tim sat musing. “I never thought I would have any more children. This almost makes it perfect…” His voice trailed off.
“Something wrong?” Teri asked, concerned.
“Hearing the news made me wish I could have kept connected with Charlie.”
“You know, you could try to find him. He might have realized by now what his mother did to him.”
Tim’s fist slowly started striking the iron patio table. Tears threatened when he looked at her. “Leave it alone, Teri,” he said angrily. He stalked back into the house.
He’s really hurting. I wonder what I can do to help?
Teri received some bad news when she went for her appointment. “I don’t think you should go on this tour of Europe with your husband,” Dr. Stevens said seriously. “You have slightly elevated blood pressure, and I want to keep an eye on you.”
“But we’ve been planning this, and I want to be with him.”
“Mrs. Olson, this could be a threat to the health of your child. What’s more important?”
Teri sighed. “You’re right, of course. I guess there will be other chances.” But she didn’t feel that at all. She was angry while she got dressed. Why did this baby have to come now? Damn the timing. Can I trust Tim to be faithful to me? Does he really love me? All the old fears and doubts came flooding back. This was too close to what had happened thirty years ago.
Wait a minute. You are married to him and he shows you love every day. Do what you asked your mom to do. Give him a chance.
She thought about that on the way home. Since I’m going to be here while he’s away, I wonder if I could find Charlie. I have to learn how to track someone down.
The following Tuesday was her weekly get-together with Sandy Simon, John’s wife, and Evie Barnes. The three of them got together to talk and relax for a while in each other’s company. This week, they were meeting at the Simons’ spacious home by the ocean.
Teri stood grinning while Sandy and Evie looked incredulously at her. A suspicious edge came over Evie’s face. “Teri, I should shoot you. You almost had me believing you were pregnant. Sandy, she always plays pranks like this.”
Teri started tapping her foot. “I’m not kidding. I’m two months along. Why doesn’t anyone think I’m telling the truth?”
“Because you’ve been known to suck me into these things and make me look like a fool.”
Sandy smiled. “Well, congratulations about the little one. I hope that’s what you wanted.”
“It surprised me too.” Teri nodded.
“What was Tim’s reaction?” Evie asked.
Teri sat on one of the patio chairs. “Same as yours. He didn’t believe me at first.”
Just then Jeff Simon, Sandy’s youngest son, came out the french doors. “Hi, Teri, is Melissa at home?”
“No, she’s with her mother for a while. You can call her there.”
“Good. There’s a dance at school, and I wanted to invite her. Thanks, Teri.”
“Anytime, Jeff.” She watched him go back into the house, then winked at Sandy. “Those two seem to be sweet on each other.”
Sandy laughed. “For so many years they couldn’t stand each other. Then the hormones kicked in.”
Teri turned serious. “Sandy, what do you know about Charlie?”
“Not a whole lot. Tim and Dana had their final break-up after they left our wedding. I know C
harlie was hard on Tim and Sara. After Melissa was born, he stopped coming to see Tim altogether. He refused to take any calls and all of Tim’s letters were returned. Of course, that may have been Dana’s doing.”
“I want to see if I can find him.”
“You may want to talk to Tim’s mother. I think she had all the information, since Tim’s visitations were always at his parents’ house.”
“Please don’t tell John I’m going to do this. He might tell Tim.”
“I’ll keep your secret if you want. Are you going looking while they’re in Europe?”
“I plan to.” Teri was busy hatching a search. “If I find him and he wants nothing to do with Tim, it won’t hurt Tim if he doesn’t know. If Charlie wants to be back in Tim’s life, I can arrange that.”
“Just be careful you don’t open old wounds,” Evie said.
“I’ll be a diplomat, I promise.” I hope I can find him.
And they went back to enjoying the lazy afternoon.
****
Later in February, Teri found herself experiencing the same sadness she’d felt when Tim was going on tour for the first time. She remembered thinking he didn’t love her enough. She put her hand on her stomach. I have assurance of that this time. Sitting on the loveseat in the foyer, she watched the security screen as the limo pulled up.
“Tim, it’s here!” she called toward the bedroom.
“I’m ready,” came the reply.
Melissa joined Teri just as Tim hurried up the hall. He pushed the button for the gate and turned to his daughter. “Be good, sweetheart. I’ll call as much as I can.”
She put her arms around him. “I know, Dad. I love you. Take care of yourself.”
He went to Teri and held her tenderly. “I’m going to miss you terribly.” He put both hands on her stomach. “Take care of our little one. I love both of you.” Tears were on his cheek as he kissed her.
Teri put her arm around Melissa as they watched the limo drive away.
A few days later, Teri visited her mother-in-law in a senior apartment complex in Palos Verdes. Mrs. Olson studied her carefully. “Why do you want to find Charlie?”
“I think Tim’s really hurting inside. I thought I’d try searching for him, and if Charlie wants nothing to do with Tim, he can tell me and I’ll leave well enough alone. But I have to try.” Teri nervously tapped her fingers on the arm of the blue overstuffed couch in the sunny apartment living room. “Do you know where I can find him?”
Mrs. Olson sighed. “I haven’t been in touch with him since he cut himself off from us when Melissa was born. Both we and Tim tried to keep communication going, but he wouldn’t respond.”
“Can you give me anything to go on?”
“I’ll give you the last known address and phone number. Dana was married to a Baxter. Um, Martin Baxter, I believe. I think he worked for the sheriff’s department. I don’t know what branch.” She went into the bedroom and brought out an old address book. “Here, I’ll give you the information I have.” She found the page and wrote it down.
“Thanks, Mother Olson. I’ll let you know what happens.”
“Teri, I miss my grandson too,” she said as she hugged her. “You take care of yourself and don’t overdo. Remember, you have one of our grandchildren in progress.”
Teri smiled. “I promise I’ll take care of this one.”
Teri went home and tried the phone number. It wasn’t Dana’s anymore. She drove to the last known address, and the person didn’t know the Baxters. These people had moved in about three years ago.
It’s too bad this won’t be easy. I do know Martin Baxter worked for the sheriff’s department. Maybe I could find him. She tried several branches in the San Fernando Valley until she hit pay dirt.
“Yes, Captain Martin Baxter works here,” said the woman who answered.
“Can I make an appointment to see him?”
“What is this in regard to?”
“I’d like to ask him a few questions about his stepson, Charlie.”
“One minute, please.”
Soon a gruff voice came on the line. “Who is this? This is Captain Baxter.”
“My name is Teri Olson. I’m Tim’s wife. I would like to find Charlie and talk to him.”
“Why do you want to do that?”
“Tim regrets not staying in contact, and I want to try and find Charlie. I’m looking for anyone who can assist me.”
“I don’t know if I can help much, but I’ll give you what information I have. Can you come over in an hour? I get off work then. Meet me outside the main door.”
“Thank you. I’ll be there.” Her hands were sweating as she slipped the phone into her purse.
An hour later as she parked her car by the building he’d specified, Teri saw a rugged, gray-haired man of medium build standing next to the wall by the door. Teri walked up to him. “Captain Baxter?” He nodded. “I’m Teri Olson. Thank you for taking time to talk to me.”
He pointed to a coffee shop across the street. “Let’s go in there.” They ordered two coffees and sat at a corner table. “What do you want to know about Charlie? Hasn’t your husband told you anything?”
“I want to know where I can find him. I’d like to talk to him. Can you help me?”
He looked down at his cup and took a sip. “I don’t know if I can tell you where he is. Dana and I were only married seven years, and then we divorced. She is a hard woman to get along with. Anyway, Charlie was a troubled sixteen-year-old when I last saw him. Dana and I didn’t keep up with each other after that. Why do you want to find him?”
“I wanted to try to get Charlie to talk to his dad. Tim still is upset about losing touch with him.”
“That was mostly Dana’s doing. I think I was wrong in judging Tim so harshly. Dana seemed to do everything in her power to make anybody miserable if they crossed her. I know. That’s why we divorced.”
“You said he was sixteen when you left. How old would he be now?”
“Let’s see. I haven’t seen them for maybe about thirteen years, so he would be, hmm, around twenty-nine.”
“That’s close to my oldest daughter’s age. What high school did he go to?”
“It was Van Nuys High School. You know, you would have made a good detective.”
“I’m playing that by ear right now. Thank you, Captain Baxter.” She shook his hand as he got up to leave.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Good luck, Teri.”
She went home and tried to get an address from the high school alumni files, but she ran into a dead end there, too. Next, she looked for any Stanleys living in Encino. No luck there either.
After two months of dead ends, Teri sat at the computer, searching for a Charlie T. Olson, when Evie called.
“Evie, I’ve just about run out of ideas. I’ve been at the computer for days, searching for Charlie Olson, but I haven’t hit any information yet.”
“Teri, you aren’t much of a Sherlock Holmes, are you?” Evie laughed. “Why haven’t you been looking under his given name of Charles?”
Teri immediately felt stupid. “I guess I didn’t think of that. Thanks for jogging my brain.”
“That’s why they pay me the big money. Good luck.”
The next couple of days, Teri searched the Internet for Charles T. Olson. Late one Saturday morning, she gave a shout. On one of the results, she found a news story of an arrest in Santa Ana by a patrolman named Charles T. Olson, and it gave the station where he worked. Could this be Charlie? Could he have gone into law enforcement like his stepfather? She looked at the date of the story and it was only a few months earlier.
Teri heard a knock at the door of the study. “Are you all right?” It was Melissa.
“I’m sorry, I just found something on the Net.”
Melissa came in. “What is it?”
“If you promise not to tell your father, I’ll tell you.”
“This isn’t going to hurt Dad, is it?”
“Honey, I would never hurt your father. I’ve been trying to find your brother for him. I know he’s bothered by losing touch with Charlie, so I’ve been looking for him. See what I found.”
She read the news blurb. “Do you think Charlie went to work for the police department?”
“It’s possible his stepfather, Martin, inspired him to work on the force. When I talked to Martin Baxter, he told me he and Dana divorced when Charlie was sixteen. From what I learned from your father, Charlie admired Martin. I want to ask Charlie if he would at least meet with his father.”
“I hope you’re right. I promise I won’t tell Dad.”
The next day, Teri called the station in Santa Ana and asked if Patrolman Charles Olson still worked there.
“Yes, he does, but he’s on duty right now. Would you like to leave a message?”
“I would, but you may think this sounds strange. If his father was named Tim and his mother was Dana, I want to talk to him. I’m Teri Olson, and I would be his stepmother.” She gave the phone number.
A few hours later, the phone rang. Teri gripped the instrument tight as she answered.
“Is this Teri Olson?” said a man on the other end. “This is Charlie Olson.” He sounded as nervous as she was.
For a moment, she couldn’t talk. Then she cleared her throat and said, “Charlie, I would like to talk to you about your father. Where and when could I meet you?”
There was silence on the other end, and Teri prayed that he wouldn’t hang up. “Why do you want to talk to me about Dad?”
“He told me that he regrets not keeping in touch with you. He still cares about you. Can you meet with me, please?” There was more silence.
Then he spoke. “I’m off tomorrow. Could you meet me on the Santa Monica Pier? All the way on the end. I like to go down there to watch the waves.”
“How will I know you?”
“I’ll be in a Def Leppard T-shirt and a pair of cut-off jeans. I’ll wear my dark blue visor. Be there at ten tomorrow morning.”
“See you tomorrow.” Teri felt crazy butterflies in her stomach. She wanted to shout and tell everybody. I’m going to have trouble talking to Tim this evening.
The next day was warm and sunny as the breeze whipped at her hair. The greasy hot dog smells and loud rap music attacked her senses. As she walked on the boardwalk, she remembered her own trips to the beach when she was young. How far away that was, but how near to her memories. She saw a young man sitting at the end of the pier. Tears threatened, because he looked very much like his father had so long ago. Teri composed herself. “Hello. Are you Charlie Olson?” She seated herself beside him.
