?Tina Brown Wang had been in Asia for a decade with her husband and two children. She had returned for brief visits?to bury a parent, a reunion with college friends?but had not sought contact with the son she had given up. Several times each year, she received an envelope or email with photos of a smiling boy often surrounded by little girls and a younger boy, of drawings, copies of school grades, and a letter from the adoptive parents.
The last photograph had shown a face from her past, the young eyes and smile of the man she had loved until they found more reasons to hate than to love. She tried to remember if she had ever loved the father of this child. They had married in a whirlwind, early one morning in a flashy chapel, laughing and kissing, calling her father who insisted on meeting them for breakfast. That had been the best day of their brief marriage.
Tina smiled at the memory before shaking her head?an effort to clear or renew memories?she wasn?t sure. She paced the room, an alcove set apart from the hotel?s lobby, inhabited this morning by two men reading newspapers. She was not sure why she had requested this meeting other than the convenience of being in this city, of being curious, to see if the child of one night?s make-up sex was familiar to her.
She frowned slightly at a disturbing memory. She and Warrick had already parted; she was dating a young physician, wanted to marry him. When Warrick showed up, those green eyes sparkling, that smile coaxing her into bed, she did not object. The doctor was forgotten that day as love or lust or magic dust put them together.
A few weeks later, she was pregnant, and for nine months, she wished, she hoped, even prayed, that the baby would look like her or the young doctor. He didn?t. The doctor left.
A few months later, an upcoming attorney her father knew contacted Warrick for child support. She was stunned when the request was met with a custody demand; an all out fight for the child became a world war battle until Warrick died. She met Gil Grissom, a kind, gracious, generous man who asked few questions as financial guardian as he approved requests for money.
And the young attorney kept calling her, took her on dates, and eventually slept with her. One day, he suggested marriage but she did not love him?not yet, she said. She had a child to raise; left unsaid was the knowledge that he did not want, could not love another man?s child, especially one with the eyes of his dead father.
When the lawyer announced he was moving to Asia, he also asked for a long-term commitment. ?I need a wife,? he said.
Tina got another attorney to contact Dr. Grissom for a meeting and she handed Eli to him as she walked away. Since then, her life had been good. She knew she had done the right thing?gone on living, loved her husband, had a happy family. This meeting was one of curiosity, not love. She paced again. She had no intentions or plans after meeting the boy, or any idea what she would say to him.
Behind her, she heard someone clear a throat and she turned. Two adults stood behind five children she recognized from photographs. The man had scarcely aged in a decade; the woman was prettier than she remembered.
Of course, she recognized Eli. One hand was on the shoulder of the small boy, the other was firmly intertwined with Sara?s. Only when Grissom stepped forward did the boy drop his mother?s hand and move in her direction. Briefly, she took the man?s hand as he said hello and turned to Eli.
?Hello, I?m Eli Grissom.?
Tina murmured a brief hello to each as Eli turned to his mother and the other children. ?This is my mom, Sara. My sisters and brother.? And said each name as the girls shook her hand but Will turned a suddenly shy face against his dad?s leg. Quickly, as introductions finished, Sara and the girls left the room. Several stumbling attempts were made in trying to start a conversation until Grissom asked if she had any questions for Eli.
?Are you happy?? She asked.
His broad grin and laughing eyes answered before he said, ?Yes, I am.? She asked about school, sports, special interests. Eli was polite, giving answers, even though brief ones, until he began to describe his love of automobiles, and how he and his dad were working to restore an old car. His frequent glances at Grissom gave him encouragement to talk about their current pursuit. He seemed not to notice the subtle change as Tina nodded several times as he talked, smiled, and relaxed with his dad?s hand on his shoulder.
She meant nothing to this child, she thought. Perhaps it had been wrong to come, to ask for a meeting. As Eli finished talking about the car, she leaned forward and took his hand.
?Thank you, Eli, for meeting me. You are as handsome as your father?and you have a wonderful family.? She nodded toward the large lobby. ?I believe your mom and sisters are waiting for you.?
Eli turned to his dad. ?Can Will and I go? We can catch up with Mom.?
Grissom could see Sara and his daughters across the lobby, window shopping in front of a glittering jewelry case. He smiled. ?Go.?
He asked Tina if there were other questions, did she need anything. She shook his hand. ?Should he ever want to meet again, let me know. He?s your son?not mine.?
Sara looked up from the display of the gaudy, flashy jewelry her daughters were admiring. Eli and Will were hurrying in her direction, both smiling and laughing at some shared comment. She was startled?unsure what their arrival meant. Behind them, she saw Tina and Grissom, a handshake, a wave in her direction, and Tina disappeared out the door.
Eli saw the concern on Sara?s face. He knew she had worried, had some adult fear that he could not name. He broadened his grin.
?Can we ride the double decker bus now?? He asked.
?You talked??
?I did. I told her I was happy?she wasn?t interested in cars.? He smiled, leaned against her and wrapped an arm around her waist, saying, ?You are my mom, not her.?
Grissom arrived in time to hear his words. His hand caressed Sara?s back and he gently kissed her.
?Let?s go find that goofy bus,? he said.
The end of our little story! Thanks for reading!!
