by Ilona Fridl
He looked at her guardedly. “Yes, I am. You must be Teri. Are you the same Teri Darden that my dad dated before he married my mom?”
“Yes. You’ve heard of me?”
“You were the subject of many of my parents’ fights.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s not your fault. My mother confessed a lot of things to me before she died.”
Teri felt the blood drain from her face. “When did she die?”
He shifted uncomfortably. “It was two years ago. She died of breast cancer. She told me all about the break-up with Dad and how she manipulated to get rid of you. It was her plan to marry him and make his life a living hell for dumping her. That was before he ever met you. I realized then how she’d swayed my opinion of Dad, and I’m ashamed of everything I put him through. I wanted to get in touch with him, but I didn’t know what to say.” He put his face in his hands.
Teri put her hand on his shoulder. “He’s talked about you only a little, but I know he regrets not having you in his life. I wanted to find you and see if you would at least talk to him.”
When he glanced at her again, there were tears in his eyes. “There was another thing that happened that changed how I feel. I just got a divorce myself, and I miss my three kids. Oh, I see them on weekends, but it’s not the same. I know I really hurt Dad with the way I acted. I didn’t know if he would even want to see me again.” When his voice cracked, Teri put her arms around him.
Oh, Charlie, he wants to see you. “He’ll be back in two weeks. I want to plan a surprise get-together to welcome him home. Will you come?”
“In front of a bunch of people? I don’t know.”
“All those people will be family and friends. Your family and friends. Your grandparents, aunts, and uncles. All their children, too. And your half-sister, Melissa. I know they all want to reunite with you. You can bring your children to meet their relatives.”
He looked at her with his deep brown eyes. “You win. I’ll come.”
Teri gave him the address and directions for the house. She stood to leave and looked back at him. “Oh, and Charlie, lose the Def Leppard T-shirt.”
He saluted her. “Yes, ma’am!” She could hear him laughing as she strolled back along the pier.
****
Tim shifted restlessly in the limo coming from the airport. John stared out the window, seemingly lost in thought.
“I wish Teri hadn’t decided to throw a welcome home party today. I just wanted to get home and stretch out,” Tim pouted.
John regarded him. “She said it won’t last any longer than necessary and the whole family was going to be there. That includes my family, apparently.”
Tim’s security gates opened as they turned in, and he noticed cars were parked up to the house. Teri stood by the fountain on the circle drive, waiting for him. Her body was already blossoming with the new life within, and Tim forgot all his complaints when he saw her. She was the most welcoming and beautiful sight ever, with her dazzling smile. Tim flew out of the limo and into her arms. He put his hands on her belly. “I missed you so much,” he said as he kissed her.
She clasped his hand. “I missed you too.” She made a motion to John to follow them. “Come on in, both of you. We’re all here to welcome you home.”
At the door, Melissa stood with John’s son, Jeff. Tim hugged his daughter and gave a sidelong glance at John. “You better keep a handle on your son.”
John laughed and slapped Jeff on the back. “He’s as much a gentleman as I am.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.”
From the house, they heard the cry, “John!” and Sandy ran out and into his arms.
Teri guided Tim inside. As he greeted his parents, he thought his mother looked like she’d been crying. He glanced around, and all of Teri’s children and families were there. He shook hands with Ken and kissed Evie on the cheek. They continued into the living room, and he waved to Teri’s mother, who waved back. She was seated with Laura and her children. His brother Mike and their sister Colleen were gathered around the fireplace with their families. Teri led him to the other end of the room.
A young man with dark brown hair and eyes stood as they approached. Three children were on the floor beside him. Tim studied him carefully before finally choking out, “Charlie!”
Charlie’s eyes filled. “Oh, Dad, I’m so sorry.” And the two latched onto each other like they wouldn’t let go. Tim’s emotions ran wild. All he cared about in that moment was his son.
Tim pulled back and gripped Charlie by the shoulders. “How? Why?” was all he could say.
Charlie glanced down. “Teri found me and asked if I would see you. I just went through a divorce and missed having my children. Mom died two years ago of breast cancer and confessed how she turned me against you. I realized how awful I’d been to you and wanted to say I was sorry.” He gulped, an agonized look on his face, before he continued, “I want you back in my life, Dad, if you’ll have me.” His voice broke, and Tim took him in his arms again.
“I love you, son.”
“Dad, I want you to meet your grandchildren.” Charlie stepped back as the children stood at his urging, and he put his hand on the oldest one’s shoulder. “This is my eight-year-old son Austin.” He pulled the older girl over. “This is five-year-old Kelly.” He picked up the toddler. “And this is two-year-old Emily.”
Austin and Emily watched him shyly, but Kelly stepped right up to Tim. “Are you really my grandpa?” she asked with her hands on her hips.
Tim smiled at the child. “Yes, I am, Kelly.”
“Then I want a hug and a kiss.”
Tim swept her up and kissed her. She put her small arms around his neck and hugged him tight, and Tim melted. How can you fall in love so fast? I have grandchildren and I love it. The other two slowly approached him and greeted him as well.
Tim turned and everybody was there, moved by the scene of reunion and discovery.
He gave Kelly back to Charlie and went to Teri, putting his arms around her. “Thank you for giving me my family back.”
She gazed at him through her tears. “I’d do anything for you, my love.”
He held her with a deep love he had for no other.
Epilogue
A month before the baby was due, Dr. Stevens put Teri in the hospital; her blood pressure was dangerously high. All of her other tests had come back fine, and the baby was a normal healthy fetus, but things could change in an instant. The doctor wanted her where he could keep an eye on her.
Teri spent many an evening gripping Tim’s hand. “Oh, god, could I die?” Then she would cry and he would try to calm her down.
One evening, Tim walked into her room and gingerly eased down into the chair. He took her hand and squeezed it. “Babe, I decided I don’t want to lose you and I do want to continue to make love to you, so I got snipped. I figured it was easier for me, and you’ve been through enough all ready.”
Teri didn’t know what to say. “But then you can’t have any more children.”
“You’re more important to me. Besides,” he said with a smile, “we’re getting too old for this.”
“Does it hurt much?”
“I’ll have to sit on an ice pack for a day or two.”
Teri gazed at this man she adored. He was willing to go through pain for her. “I love you so much.” And she squeezed his hand back.
Dr. Stevens decided to do a caesarian. He said it would be dangerous for both Teri and the baby if they waited any longer.
On September tenth, Teri delivered a healthy baby boy. They had previously discussed a name, and Teri wanted to name him after her father, so Theodore Darden Olson came to be.
Six months later, Teri found Tim standing over the crib, watching their sleeping son. She came up behind Tim and put her arms around him. “I wondered where you were. He looks so peaceful now, doesn’t he?” she said with her voice lowered.
Tim nodded. “Teddy can be quite a handful
at times.”
“He looks a lot like my dad’s baby pictures. He had red-gold hair most of his life. But Teddy got your beautiful green eyes.”
Tim turned and kissed her on the forehead. “And your dazzling smile. He’s going to be a heartbreaker someday.”
They stood for some time, watching their miracle.
A word about the author...
Ilona Fridl still lives in Wisconsin with her mate, Mark. This was the first book she wrote, and she felt it was important for Teri and Tim's story to get out.
Talk with Ilona at her website:
http://www.ilonafridl.com
Thank you for purchasing
this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.
