New Additions
UPLIFTING SHORT STORY WRITTEN BY TESS NILAND KIMBER
Losing Doug had left such a gap in their lives. Could it be partly filled – in a completely unexpected way?
Lou tried to ignore the fresh July countryside – the lush grass, the purple wildflowers in the meadows, the cloudless blue sky – as the bus cut through the rolling downs. She didn’t want to remember last June, or other summers or other cloudless skies with Doug…
Lou sighed. She’d purposely come this way to meet Kerry, so she wasn’t flooded with memories of her late husband. Being without Doug still felt raw, so new, such a shock. And now there was this extra revelation to deal with…
Lou bit her lip, trying to think positively, as Doug would have urged. To not fear this meeting with Kerry…
Kerry stood at the entrance to Oasis. She loved this café. She often came with Mum on her days off from the radio station, for a cheesy jacket potato or maybe a cake.
As Kerry stepped inside, she wondered yet again if this was a good idea. Oh, not meeting Lou – but to do so here. Somewhere so special to her and Mum. She felt guilty, almost disloyal.
Still, Oasis was a great venue with tables fashioned from Balinese rowing boats, set in quiet alcoves. Through the archway was the gift shop selling scented candles, handmade jewellery and abstract paintings.
She felt comfortable here and if the conversation stalled, they had the option to wander through the shop or across the grounds overlooking the sea.
“I think Oasis is a good choice,” Mum had said when she told her. “Somewhere familiar to spark conversation. Not that you’ll be lost for words.”
“No.” She’d grinned.
Mum was right. She had so many questions, she couldn’t imagine running out of things to say.
She bit her lip as she studied a glass coaster, depicting the village in winter. On the other hand, she must be careful not to interview Lou, as though she was one of her guests on Smile FM.
It was the radio show she presented that had led to this. She couldn’t believe her Trace Your Place slot could now feature its presenter.
“Have you reunited with family or found an old school friend through social media? Ring in with your stories,” she’d encouraged her listeners.
It had been so interesting that she’d joined an online genealogy site and found Lou. Or rather, Doug…
As the bus pulled along the downs road, she imagined meeting Kerry. If she was honest, she wasn’t at all used to the idea yet. It had been such a shock – finding that Facebook message in between all the condolences, glittering like a star in the night sky,
I’m sorry to trouble you but I think we’re related – or at least, I might be to your husband Douglas.
No one called him that, so she’d known straight away that something was up. At first, she’d ignored the message, but curiosity had won, and she’d checked out Kerry’s social media profile.
“You Facebook stalker,” their eldest daughter Chloe teased.
There’d been no obvious clues how they might be related, but the young woman’s photos showed she oozed warmth with kind eyes and a sweet smile. Lou couldn’t help checking her birth date. Surely Doug…?
However all Kerry’s profile revealed was that her birthday was October 26; there was no year. How old was she? Kerry could be in her thirties – but then again, she could be in her twenties like Chloe and Beth…
Who was she?
Taking a deep breath, she sat down. Was this the right table? Not too near the door? Not too sunny? She wanted everything to be perfect.
She glanced around the café, at other diners – mums and daughters, an older couple, two men laughing. She envied them. They knew each other. She didn’t know Lou. She didn’t even know Douglas – Doug, she corrected herself.
She bit her lip. What if Lou told her something about him that she didn’t like? That changed how she viewed herself?
If only she’d found the link earlier. In time to meet him…
“It is a shame but I’m sure Lou can answer your questions,” Mum had said.
Mum was so wise.
“Go and see her,” she’d urged. “What’s the worst that can happen? If you don’t get on, you needn’t meet again. But think what the best could be…”
Lou stepped off the bus outside the café. She’d forgotten how much she liked Oasis. She used to bring the girls during school holidays, but they hadn’t been for some time. It wasn’t a “Doug” place.
“I’d rather go somewhere for a proper meal,” he’d say with a smile.
She remembered his “proper” dinners, born of years in the army: good old-fashioned comfort food with lashings of gravy and doorstep slices of bread to wipe the plate clean afterwards.
She smiled sadly. How she wished they could share one last roast, one last portion of fish and chips eaten from the paper as they walked along the seafront to burn the calories.
She breathed deeply and moved towards the entrance, which had been updated with floor to ceiling glazing. Once again, she wondered if she should do this. Was it too soon after Doug?
Stepping into the foyer she was welcomed by the aroma of brewing coffee. She peeked into the café and recognised Kerry straight away.
She sat in an alcove, her head bent over her phone. But before she could study her, the young woman looked up.
“Lou!” She smiled, sliding off the banquette and coming towards her.
She tried to take in every feature, yet equally, she was scared to. What if…?
Kerry smiled and there it was. That unmistakable flash of…
And as their hands touched, she knew. Knew that whatever it was, it would all be OK…
Greeting Lou had felt both wildly natural and painfully stilted. While she was pleased that the woman was exactly as she hoped – warm, with gentle brown eyes and a soft, welcoming smile – she felt awkward. They’d shaken hands…
so now what?
But Lou made it easy, gesturing for her to take a seat and asking, “What would you like? Coffee? Or tea? And I remember they sell scrummy scones…”
“A cappuccino would be lovely.” Kerry smiled, reaching for her purse.
“No, this is on me. I’ll bring it over.”
While Lou bought their drinks, Kerry studied her. Was she like Mum? No. Mum was taller, blonde, older.
Lou put down the two mugs, then sat opposite Kerry in the alcove. They both busily stirred their drinks.
“Thanks for meeting me,” Kerry murmured, her hands trembling as she sipped her cappuccino.
“Well,” Lou said, clasping her mug, “I did think about not coming. But I’m intrigued. You say we’re related…”
“I think so… well, I know so. My mum was Angela Cooper…”
Lou shook her head.
“I don’t know the name.”
“Mum used to date Doug…”
Lou took a sharp intake of breath and Kerry watched her eyes fill with tears.
It was the oddest feeling. She wanted to clasp her hands over her ears, not hear another word this young woman had to say, yet also listen to every syllable. She needed to know, needed to hear, even if it was as she feared. Absently she twisted the gold band that had circled her finger for almost thirty years.
“Kerry.” She reached out, covering her hand. “Can I ask how old you are?”
She frowned. “I’m thirty-two – thirty-three in October.”
Lou let out a long, slow breath.
“OK – go on.”
So, Doug hadn’t cheated. She didn’t know why she’d ever doubted him. Lou and Doug hadn’t even met until this girl was at least a year old.
But that raised another question. If Kerry was Doug’s daughter, why hadn’t he been involved with her? He’d been a decent man; a loving, responsible father. He’d never have abandoned his child.
“Mum met Doug when she was on a break from Ron, my dad – well, the man I thought was my father, who Mum believed was my dad. She dated Doug in the spring of 1990, but they split when he was posted abroad. Then she and Dad reunited. They married quickly. Mum always believed I was Ron’s child. I even look like him.”
Lou closed her eyes. It was everything she’d hoped. Doug hadn’t cheated and he hadn’t abandoned his child either; he’d never known Kerry had existed.
“So – how did you find out?”
“Well…”
She told Lou about the radio show.
“Really – you’re Kerry Giddings?”
She nodded.
“I listen to your show all the time. We both did. Usually when we were preparing dinner.”
Kerry’s eyes brightened.
“So, he heard me?”
“Yes, Doug loved the show. Said you discussed proper issues.”
“Proper issues – I like that.”
“That was his thing. He liked proper food, proper music.”
Kerry sighed. “I want to ask you everything about him. Get to know him. Well, as much as I can. I wish we’d met.”
Lou smiled, covering her hand. “He’d have loved you, I’m sure.”
Tears pricked Kerry’s eyes as she explained how the radio feature had led her to join the genealogy site and she’d found a link to Doug’s cousin, proving she wasn’t Ron’s daughter, but Doug’s.
“Dad was upset at first. But when he realised Mum hadn’t known, that she’d genuinely believed I was his, that she’d always thought I’d been born early, he felt better. And I told him that, no matter what, he’ll always be my dad.”
“Of course,” Lou smiled. “That’s how our girls would have reacted…”
“Girls?” Kerry frowned.
“Yes,” Lou smiled. “Chloe and Beth. You’ve got two sisters…”
It was the perfect day for this, Lou thought, glancing around the garden. Bunting hung in the apple trees and smoke was rising from the barbecue. That was always Doug’s job, she thought, with a pang. He loved nothing more than to host a summer party.
“I’m in charge of cooking,” he’d grin, donning his King of the Grill apron that Beth had bought him one Father’s Day.
He’d have loved it this year, she thought, watching Chloe chat to Kerry while Beth poured wine for Angela and Ron – the definition of a blended family.
Chloe caught her eye.
“You OK, Mum?”
“Yes, just missing Dad. Thinking how much he’d have loved this afternoon.”
“He would – and he’d have been cooking by now. Better get those burgers on the rack. You know, I like you, Kerry. Dad would have, too.”
Lou smiled. “Yes, he would.”
“Does it upset you? Talking about Doug to me?” Kerry asked.
Lou squeezed her hand, touched that she should consider her feelings. She shook her head.
“No. Actually it helps.”
Beth frowned. “Helps?”
Lou nodded. “Yes. Having someone to share those special memories brings Dad close again. Of course, I can talk to you two girls, but I’m always worried I might upset you. It’s such early days, still. But with Kerry, I can talk freely.”
Beth and Chloe nodded in understanding.
“And you’re part of a good family, too. Angela has led a really interesting life and Ron is so kind.”
Kerry agreed and as the sun splashed across the lawn, Lou thought that, while they’d lost a major part of the family, through Doug they’d gained three new members.
Yes, she thought, they were a proper family. And Doug would be all for that.
Read more uplifting short stories:
Read Open Mic Night, Old Friends, Curtains Up, plus many more in our archives.
