Iris Rainbow

by Ilona Fridl

  “Sara? She was a lot like you when I met her. She was acting in a movie with Luke, and I was writing the soundtrack. We were very happy for a few years, but she fell in love with her co-star in a movie. I got custody of Melissa.” He looked down. “Now you know the whole sad story of my life.”

  “Do you think you could stay married to me? You’ve been divorced twice. How do I know you won’t leave me, too?”

  “Oh, Teri, ever since I met you I never wanted to be married to anyone else. Dana and I should have never married. We couldn’t stop fighting. If she hadn’t got pregnant, I wouldn’t have stayed with her. Sara reminded me of you, but she was younger and was the one who left me. I would have stayed with her. She hurt me, but in a way I still care about her.”

  She put her arms around him. “I love you, Tim. I’ll never leave you, I promise.”

  He returned the embrace. “I’m just happy to have my Teri back. I didn’t realize how much I loved you until I lost you.” He pulled back and gripped her shoulders. “Let’s get married in Vegas. Hell, come with me on the rest of the tour.”

  She hesitated. “No, David and I got married in Vegas. I’ve got a few things to take care of here before I go. When do you end the tour?”

  “We have San Francisco and Los Angeles left after Vegas.”

  “How about the first weekend in October? I could go to Los Angeles and get it arranged. We could have just family and friends. You can call when you get off the tour. Here, I’ll give you my sister Laura’s phone number, just in case I have my cell phone off.” She took a piece of the hotel stationary and wrote it down, then added, “And here’s my cell phone number.”

  “I’ll call my mother and have her get the family together. I’ll give her your phone number and you can give her the information.” The phone in the room rang and he picked it up. “Okay, I’ll be right down.” He turned to Teri. “That was John. The limo for the airport is here, and I have to leave.” He picked up his suitcase, and Teri took her purse and followed him to the lobby, where the chauffeur took the suitcase and put it in the trunk. Members of the press were milling around as well, but she didn’t think anything about that. Tim hugged Teri and kissed her. “I’ll keep in touch. I love you.”

  She walked with him to the limo. “Love you too.” She blew a kiss and waved as the limo pulled out of the parking lot, then got into her car for home.

  She took a deep breath when she entered the house. It feels like years since I was here. She picked up the coffee cups from the table and rinsed them out. Pouring some milk over cereal, she took the home phone to the table and punched in Laura’s number while taking a bite of cereal.

  “Hello?” Laura answered.

  “Laura, this is Teri. I need a favor. I want to plan a wedding.”

  “I thought Marcy and Pete were going to wait until after college. What happened?”

  Teri laughed. “It’s not Marcy, it’s me.”

  There was silence on the other end. “I didn’t know you were dating anyone.”

  Teri was enjoying this. “Oh, it was a guy I met yesterday.”

  “What? Have you lost your mind? Marrying someone you don’t know?”

  “I know him very well, and so do you. You met him a long time ago.” She stirred her cereal with the spoon absentmindedly.

  “Oh, my god! Do you mean Tim?”

  “He was here in Tucson on the reunion tour, and we got back together. Long story, but now we’re engaged.”

  “Sis, it was because of him you got involved in drugs. Should you go back to him and fall into that trap again?”

  “I asked him about that. He said he’s been clean and sober for twelve years, and I believe him.”

  “I hope you’re right. What was the favor you wanted?”

  “I don’t know how long I have to be a resident of California to get a marriage license, so could I give them your address if there’s a problem?”

  “I suppose so. You can come and stay with me in Burbank. Since Kyle and I divorced and the children left, I’m in this house by myself. It’ll be nice to have some company.”

  “I’ll be over in a couple of days. I have to get things wrapped up here. Thanks, Laura.”

  “I hope you’re making the right decision. See you.”

  Teri made a mental list of everything to do before she left. First, I need to quit my job. She would call her co-worker, Luis Rialto, and give him her listings and clients. She had trained him, and he was a good friend. “Luis? Would you meet me at my desk in twenty minutes at the office?”

  “Teri, what’s up?”

  “I’ll tell you when I get there.”

  Teri finished her cereal and put the bowl and all the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. Then she went to the desk in the den and removed all her work folders.

  At the realty office downtown, Teri parked in the lot and hurried in. In one of the client chairs at her desk was Luis, and she handed him the folders. “I’m quitting my job as of today. I want you to have the listings in my computer. You can access them with the password ‘rainbow.’ I will write my letter of resignation, and you can have the clients.”

  Luis sat there with his mouth open. “Why are you quitting? This is awful sudden. Did something happen?”

  Teri smiled. “I’m moving to Los Angeles and getting married in a few weeks.” She whipped off a letter and printed it out. “It’s all yours, and good luck to you. I want you to list my house in a week or two. I’ll get the papers set up and find someone to take care of it.”

  He held out his hand to her. “I’ll miss you. Good luck, and thanks.” She set the letter on the owner’s desk and walked out to find a graying, black-haired woman, dressed in a blue tailored skirt and jacket, standing next to her car.

  “Hello, are you Teri Kelsey?”

  “Who wants to know?”

  “I’m Nancy Blake, of the Tucson Review.” She pulled out a picture from a folder. “Is this you?” It was a picture of Teri hugging Tim next to the limo.

  “Yes, but…”

  “Then you’re the mysterious Iris Rainbow.”

  Teri took a few steps around the reporter and got into her car. Before Nancy Blake could do anything, Teri backed out and left. I shouldn’t have gone with him to the limo. She’d forgotten about avoiding the press. Teri drove back and put her car in the garage.

  As she went into the house, the phone was ringing and Bobbie was on the other end. “Teri, can I come over?”

  “Sure.” In a minute or two, there was a knock, and Teri opened the door. “What’s wrong, Bobbie?”

  “Some news people were snooping around, asking questions about you, but I didn’t tell them anything. What’s going on?” Bobbie looked at her curiously. The phone rang and it was Teri’s mother.

  “Teri, turn on the Tucson Review now.” Teri dashed to the television.

  Nancy Blake was saying, “It looks like the mysterious Iris Rainbow, engaged to rocker Tim Olson of Virgin Ram, is Tucson resident Teri Kelsey. She was confronted at her realty office and admitted this picture is of her with Olson at his hotel.” The picture she’d seen in the parking lot was shown on the television. Teri turned off the set and picked up the phone.

  “Mom?” she said, her cheeks burning.

  “Teri, this is clearly true. How could you have messed up so badly?”

  “I’m sorry, Mom, but everything happened so fast, I wasn’t thinking. I’m going to marry him in a few weeks. And before you say anything, yes, I was going to tell you.”

  “Why are you doing this? You know what happened last time you were with him. I don’t think you should get involved again.”

  “He’s off the booze and drugs, and I still love him. You can accept this or not, but I want you at the wedding. I hope you trust my judgment after all these years. Give him a chance, please.” Teri’s mother hung up abruptly. Teri took a deep breath and slowly put the receiver on its cradle. Damn, I just feel angry. Mother is treating me like a child again. She’d better get used
to the idea that I’m marrying Tim. Teri sighed and turned to Bobbie, who stood there with her mouth open.

  “Teri, there are clearly a few things I don’t know about you. How long have you known Tim Olson?”

  “I lived with him thirty years ago.”

  “Really!”

  “I guess the subject never came up in our conversations.” The phone rang again, and Teri answered it.

  “Hello, this is Sean Holmes of the Nightly News. Is Teri Kelsey there?”

  “No,” Teri said and hung up fast. She switched on the answering machine just as another call came in. “Thank goodness for these machines.”

  Bobbie pointed outside. “There are some reporters coming up the walk.”

  “They weren’t outside when you came over, were they?”

  Bobbie shook her head.

  “Good, let’s go in the back rooms away from the windows. I’m glad I put away the car. It’ll look like nobody’s home.”

  They went to the family room and Teri pulled the drapes over the patio doors. “There. No one at home for a while. Let me get some sodas from the kitchen.” She heard the doorbell and knocking as she brought out the two frosty cans. The phone was ringing every ten minutes while the two women stretched out on the couch.

  Bobbie laughed as she pushed in the tab on her can. “I almost feel like a fugitive. What are you going to do?”

  Teri thought for a moment. “Bobbie, can you help me pack? Maybe I can leave tonight.” She went to her purse and pulled out her cell and phone book. “Let’s see, I’ll call to have the paper stopped. I’ve got slips for the change of address that I give clients. Could you take that to the post office for me tomorrow?”

  “Sure, I can. What about the food in here?”

  “Take what you want and give anything else to the food pantry.” Teri stopped. “I hate to put all this on you.”

  Bobbie waved her hand. “You’ve helped me out many times. I’ll get started on your packing. Where are the suitcases?”

  Teri showed her and then started calling to get things fixed up. She called Laura and told her she would be there around eight tomorrow morning. After they finished putting her clothes and toiletries together, they went out the door from the kitchen into the garage and loaded the car.

  “You still have the key to our house, don’t you?”

  Bobbie nodded.

  “Good. Would you look after the house? I’ll be back for everything else when things cool down.”

  Bobbie went to the window in the living room. “I’ll take care of things for you. It looks like the reporters are gone and I can get back home now. Be careful, Teri, and, oh, I’m going to miss you.”

  “I’m going to miss you and Don, too. You’ll have to come visit Tim and me.” The two friends embraced. “I’ll call and give you my address and phone number when I settle.”

  Bobbie left, and Teri’s cell phone went off. It was Tim. “Hey, babe, what happened? We were being interviewed on a radio talk show here in Vegas and they asked me about you by name.”

  “We were photographed coming out of the hotel this morning. It’s been a living hell since then, but I’ve managed to avoid the reporters. I’m leaving for Laura’s tonight and should be in Burbank by tomorrow.”

  “Take it easy. I’ve got to get ready for the concert. I’ll call you at Laura’s. I love you, babe.”

  “Love you too. Bye.” Teri smiled as she dropped the phone into her purse. Yes, it’s worth it. She went to bed and set the alarm for midnight. When it went off, she got something to eat and some food to take along with her. Teri stopped before she left and gazed at her home. She’d raised a family in this house and had been very happy with David. He was still in everything she saw. “Are you happy for me, Tiger? I was able to be with the two loves of my life. I love Tim, but you’ll always be in my heart too.” Teri blew a kiss and locked the door. Getting into her white Lexus, she started the long journey.

  The sun rose over the desert near Palm Springs as Teri decided to stop for breakfast. Everything was cast in a golden glow as the sun peeked over the horizon. At a roadside café, she slid into a booth by the window and the stuffed seat squeaked. Teri checked her watch. It was six o’clock, more than enough time. Teri ate her eggs and sausage and took off again, but she’d forgotten about rush hour. She called Laura from the stalled freeway, saying she would be there when she could. It was four hours later before she got to her sister’s house. Teri pulled her car into the driveway, and Laura came out to greet her with a hug.

  “Come on in, I have a ton of phone calls for you,” Laura said, as she helped Teri unload the trunk, putting the suitcases in one of the empty bedrooms. Teri followed Laura to the family room, where Laura picked up a piece of paper off her desk. “Have a seat and I’ll get some coffee,” Laura said, indicating the chair and handing Teri the paper. Teri sat in the green swivel office chair and checked what Laura had given her, until her sister came in with two steaming coffee mugs.

  “I wonder why they didn’t call me on my cell phone?”

  “I don’t think they wanted to call while you were driving. Anyway, Mom said she was coming in tonight with your son and Stacy. She wants to talk to you and didn’t sound happy. Dave is racing here this weekend, and I told her everyone could stay with me, but Dave had already reserved a hotel room for him and Stacy. Mom will stay here. Then Tim called, and he was on his way to San Francisco. He called his mother and gave her our phone numbers. Eileen Olson called, and she and Dan will come over tomorrow after lunch. They’re going to bring Melissa over to meet you. Tim told her about you.”

  Teri laughed. “You make a good secretary. Do you mind if I call Evie, Marcy, and Katie?”

  “Unless you want me to do it for you, boss.” Laura saluted.

  Teri took a sip of coffee and called Evie. “Well, it’s about time you called me back,” Evie said when she answered. “I’ve left several messages on your machine.”

  “I’m not at home. I’m at Laura’s house. Evie, guess what―”

  “You’re engaged to Tim Olson.”

  “How did you know that?”

  “Oh, I saw a picture of you leaving a hotel with him yesterday morning on Entertainment Tonight. Looks like you got caught with your hands in Tim’s cookie jar.” Evie laughed.

  “Can you come over tomorrow? I’ll give you Laura’s address. She lives in Burbank too.” Teri’s cheeks were warm, and she was grateful Evie couldn’t see her. Then she called Marcy and Katie. Marcy said she could come for the wedding on the first weekend of October, and she wasn’t surprised. Katie was, and chided her mother for being impetuous, but she was happy for her.

  Later that day, Teri’s mother showed up with Dave and Stacy. Teri greeted the young couple before they took off to the hotel with the promise they would be back at Laura’s for lunch. As soon as they left, her mother turned to Teri sharply.

  “What is the matter with you? Why are you letting him back in your life again? He ruined your health and thought nothing of you.”

  “Mom, that was a long time ago. We’ve both matured since then. He realized long ago how he messed up, and he’s apologized. Give him a chance, please. He was hurt, too, and he’s a good man. Imagine if somehow Mike, the man you were engaged to first, could come back into your life since Daddy died. Don’t you think you would still love him? That’s how I feel about Tim.”

  She gazed at Teri for a moment. “Okay, I’ll give him a chance, but he’d better not hurt you again.”

  The next day an assembly of family met at Laura’s house―Teri and her mother, Dave and Stacy, Evie, Ken, Katie, Kevin, and baby Mike. The doorbell rang after lunch, and Laura answered it. Eileen, Dan, and Tim’s daughter Melissa appeared, and Teri went to greet them. Although Tim’s parents had aged quite a bit, they were still the handsome couple she remembered from years ago, and she hugged them. They introduced her to Melissa, and Teri instantly liked her. She was very much like Marcy. “I’m so glad all of you could come.”

/>   Eileen Olson put her hand on Teri’s cheek. “I’m happy Tim found you again. You’re just what he needs.”

  Dan got a sly look. “Teri, we brought a surprise for you.” He opened the front door and Tim stepped in. Teri cried out and was in his arms in an instant.

  When she regained her senses, she asked, “But, how―”

  “Our last concert is here in Los Angeles tonight, and I came in early, that’s all.” He gave her a kiss, then introductions were made all around as they gathered in Laura’s spacious living room.

  “I’ve been thinking,” Tim started. “Instead of trying to rent a hall at this late date, Teri and I could have a garden wedding at my house, and the reception could be there, as well. We can let a caterer take care of the set-up and clean-up. I can hire a band and have the reception in the courtyard. I’ll take care of all the expenses. What do you say?”

  Teri saw her mother purse her lips, but she didn’t say anything. Everyone else thought that was a great idea. Tim knelt in front of Teri where she sat in an overstuffed chair. “Baby, I thought I’d do this officially in front of our families.” He pulled a small box out of his pocket and opened it. “Teri, I never stopped loving you since I met you. I want you with me for the rest of my life. Please say you’ll be my wife.”

  Teri looked at him with tears misting her eyes. “Oh, yes, yes, yes!” He put the ring on her finger, and it was a perfect fit. She stood, drawing him up with her, and threw her arms around him while everyone applauded.

  An hour went by. Tim and Teri managed to slip out into the backyard to get away from the others for a few minutes. As they sat on a bench on the lawn Tim leaned in close.

  “I want to tell you about this ring. I bought it for you in San Francisco when we were there on the end of our first tour. The last few months of that long year, I couldn’t think of anyone but you. When I found out you were married, I put this ring away in a drawer. I thought about giving it to Dana, and then to Sara, but somehow I couldn’t give your ring to someone else. That was a little bit of you I kept. Now I give it to you with all my heart.”

  She was so full of love for this man that she couldn’t speak. Tears ran down her face as she held him close. Finally they went back in to their families.