Iris Rainbow

by Ilona Fridl

  Later, when everyone had gone, Teri’s mother drew her aside. “Teri, I talked to Tim’s parents and to his daughter. They seem like fine people. I learned he has raised Melissa himself. I’ll give him a chance for your sake. I just want you to be happy.”

  She hugged her mother. “I am happy, Mom. Very happy.”

  The morning of the wedding, Teri stared into the mirror while her sister did her hair. What is it? Why does Tim have such a hold on you? She remembered the strong pull to him even before she met him. Seeing him at the Scene in Alhambra seemed like a million years ago.

  She couldn’t say no to him… And the way she’d defied her parents and moved in with him… I should hate him for the pain he put me through, but when I saw him a few weeks ago, all I could feel was joy. She looked deep into the reflection of her eyes in the glass.

  “Teri! I said, what do you think of your hair?” Laura stood back, her hands on her hips.

  “I’m sorry. I was lost in thought. You did a beautiful job.” Her hair was once again her younger shade of auburn, and it curled in ringlets around her face. “This will look great with the pearl cap.”

  After lunch, the bride’s party, consisting of her mother, her children and their partners, and Evie and her family, assembled at Laura’s house. They drove in several cars to Tim’s.

  At the security gates, Teri rang the bell. “Ah! Mrs. Kelsey, you are here. Come on up,” came the voice of Rosa, the housekeeper. The gates opened and Rosa met them at the front of the house. “I will show you to the guest room on the far end.”

  Her mother, Laura, and Evie helped her into the pale blue silk dress with the beading on the bodice. The cap of pearls gave it just the right touch. Her mother gripped her shoulders and drew her aside.

  “Teri, I want you to wear this necklace.” She clasped it around her neck. “This was the last gift Mike gave me before he was killed. I’ve kept it all these years. I want this to be a symbol that I understand your love for Tim.”

  Teri looked at it in the mirror. It was an outline of a heart set with tiny diamonds. “It’s beautiful. Thank you, Mom, for everything.”

  A knock came at the door. It was Rosa. “They’re ready for you. My dear, you look lovely.”

  “Thank you.” Teri sighed nervously and walked into the hall with her family.

  ****

  “Mr. Olson, it’s seven-thirty and the banquet staff is here,” was the announcement accompanying the knock on Tim’s bedroom door.

  “Thank you, Rosa. Please show them where to set up and where things are in the kitchen.” Mrs. Rosa Calini had been his head of staff since his divorce from Sara. Rosa was a small wiry Italian woman with iron-gray hair. She was a blessing to him when he was away during the early years. She took care of Melissa when he couldn’t take her with him and family wasn’t available. Now she was seventy-six and planning to move into a senior apartment near her son’s house in North Hollywood. Rosa would stay until Teri and he returned from their honeymoon in Paris. Tim sighed happily; this was the last night he would be in bed alone. He and Teri had agreed not to live together until after the wedding, because Teri thought that would make it special. The image of Teri in his mind’s eye sent a tingling through his body. Not now. I’ve got things to do.

  Tim got out of bed, took a shower, and slipped on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt. Hurrying to the kitchen for breakfast, he greeted his daughter, who was already sitting at the kitchen table. “Morning, Lissa.” He kissed her on the head and sat across from her while Rosa worked busily at the stove.

  “Hi, Dad.” A mischievous smile crossed her face. “Nervous?”

  Tim grinned. “Yes, very. Do you like Teri?”

  “Yes, I do. She’s a lot like Mom, isn’t she? I like her family, too. I have how many step-siblings now?”

  “Well, you met Katie and Dave. Marcy is in college, but she’ll be here today. She’s eighteen, not much older than you. I met her in Arizona, and she looks a little like you, except she has blue eyes instead of green.”

  Rosa brought two plates of pancakes and two steaming hot cups of coffee to the table. “Eat hearty, you two. It’s going to be a long day.”

  Tim looked at her. “I’m going to miss you, Rosa. Are you sure I can’t convince you to stay?”

  “With Mrs. Kelsey here, you won’t need me. I introduced her last week to the cleaning, gardening, and pool staff. I’m sure she’ll do fine. Then I showed her around the kitchen, and she sounds like she loves to cook.”

  “She’s a very good cook. Almost as good as you.”

  “Eat! Your breakfast is getting cold,” she said firmly, but her eyes were misty.

  After breakfast, Tim walked out into the large courtyard to check on the progress of the banquet crew. Bordered on three sides by the house, the courtyard was all red slate, with a blue ceramic fountain in the middle that echoed the one in the circle drive out front. The ceremony would take place in the garden on the other side of the swimming pool, where the crew was busily setting up chairs and decorations. The courtyard would be set up later.

  The foreman came over and shook Tim’s hand. “We’ll have everything the way you want it by three o’clock, Mr. Olson,” he said confidently. “It’s a beautiful day for a wedding.” He waved his hand to the unusually clear blue sky.

  “Thank you, Ed. I knew I could trust you.”

  An hour before the wedding found Tim pacing in circles in his bedroom, watched with amusement by John, his best man. Ensconced in the chairs by the large sunny window and also keeping a good-humored eye on Tim were his father and his brother Mike. A knock came at the door and Tim answered it.

  Rosa stood there. “Mrs. Kelsey is here. I showed her to the far bedroom.”

  “Rosa, I want to see her.”

  “Mr. Olson! You know very well you can’t see the bride before the ceremony. It’s bad luck!” A laugh erupted from the three men as Tim closed the door.

  Tim shook his head. “Sometimes Rosa acts more like my mother than my housekeeper. Oh, by the way, I told Teri she could redo the house any way she wants, since she’s in charge now.”

  “Most women would drool over that prospect,” said Mike. “It’s a good thing you have enough money.”

  Tim was fighting with his bowtie while looking in the mirror and getting frustrated. “Dad, could you do this for me?” He pointed to the offending piece of material. After his father did a masterful job, Tim leaned over the back of one of the chairs. “Am I doing the right thing? Are Teri and I the same people we were?”

  John pointed his finger at him. “No, thank goodness, you’re not the same people. You have both finally matured into thinking adults. Remember what you said about getting another chance with Teri before we left on the reunion tour? From what I can see, Teri loves you very much, and you got your second chance.”

  Another knock at the door proved to be Melissa. “They’re ready for you, Dad. Come on.”

  Tim looked at the three most important men in his life and sighed. I need Charlie here too. Where are you? They all hugged and backslapped and then set off with Melissa.

  The entrance to the garden had a white trellis set up, with red, orange, and gold flowers attached with white ribbons. Most of the guests were seated on the chairs set out in rows. He scanned the people and saw Teri’s family and his, plus Luke and his wife Suzanne, and Roy and Linda. Tim noticed a pretty red-haired teen standing to one side of the trellis with a handsome dark-haired young man. “Marcy, is that you?” he called.

  She turned and smiled. “Hello, Tim!” She came over with the young man in tow.

  Tim grinned. “I hear I have you to thank.”

  “Just started the ball rolling.” She motioned to the young man. “Peter, this is Tim Olson, soon to be my stepdad. Tim, this is Peter Kingston, my boyfriend.” The two men shook hands.

  “Pleased to meet you, Peter.” He put his hand on his daughter’s shoulder. “Marcy, this is my daughter, Melissa. Melissa, this is your new stepsister Marcy.�
�� The girls smiled and shook hands. John thumped Tim on the back and pointed to where the minister waited. When the two men took their places, the string quartet began playing. Evie, the matron of honor, came down the center aisle between the chairs first. Tim restlessly shifted his feet from side to side and sighed deeply. Then Teri came into view, and he was riveted.

  Teri wore a blue gown of a soft material, its loose sleeves billowing in the afternoon breeze. Any nervousness or doubt flew away in the sunny California sky, and Tim had eyes for no one except her.

  Teri came down the aisle on the arm of a tall young man with light reddish-brown hair. Her handsome son Dave was giving her away. There were tears in his eyes when he shook Tim’s hand, and then Teri and Tim faced the minister and the ceremony began.

  They had written their own vows. When the time came, Tim had to find his voice over the lump in his throat. “Teri, the time we were apart made me appreciate you more. I promise to care for you and love you for the rest of my life.” He couldn’t say anymore.

  Teri looked at him with tears running down her face. “Tim, I have loved you since I met you. There was an empty place inside me when we parted. Now I promise with all my heart to be at your side, no matter what happens, and to love you forever.” Their kiss at the end of the ceremony was spectacular.

  After a sumptuous dinner, everyone went to the courtyard, where decorations included colorful lanterns and streamers, and where a small band was stationed in one corner. Tim slipped the bandleader a piece of paper.

  The bandleader tapped on the microphone. “May I have your attention, please? For the first dance, with the bride and groom, we have a special request by the groom. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Olson will dance to ‘Moonlight Serenade.’ ” As Tim and Teri held each other, the music started and they got lost in each other’s eyes.

  By three o’clock the next morning, the guests, banquet crew, and band had left. Tim carried his bride to their bedroom, and in the soft glow of a dozen candles they undressed each other and embraced tenderly. When Tim swept Teri up in his arms again, the lovers kissed deeply before he laid her on the bed.

  Tim kissed down her neck and traced her nipples with his tongue and she moaned. Teri sat up and took his organ in her hands and stroked it gently, setting up a tingling throughout his body. God, he wanted her. He almost lost control and pulled back for a couple of seconds.

  He rubbed her slit, and she was wet and ready for him. Tim raised up over her and entered, starting a rhythmic thrusting. Teri cried out and he felt her contract around his shaft, letting the sweet release take him, and they held each other in the warm afterglow.

  Mr. and Mrs. Olson were finally at home.

  Chapter 18

  Teri slowly opened one eye. The sun was up. She ventured a glance at the clock radio. Thursday, February twelve, eight o’clock. Damn, I overslept! Two days ago, she’d caught the flu or something and was sick after she arose. She’d felt better yesterday, but she still wasn’t a hundred percent. Rolling over, she felt the other side of the bed. Tim wasn’t there. Easing herself up, she felt a little dizzy, but that passed. Teri heard the door open and glanced up as Tim brought in a tray. “Good, you’re up. I brought you some buttered toast and mint tea.”

  “I’m sorry, I guess I didn’t hear the radio go off.”

  Tim sat down beside her. “I got up earlier and turned it off. Don’t worry, I got Lissa off to school on time. I’ve got to leave this afternoon for New York, with the others, for the David Letterman Show. I’ll be back on Saturday.”

  “Melissa told me last night that her mother is picking her up tomorrow afternoon and she wants to meet me.” Teri moved her hands around the warm cup and took a sip of the fragrant liquid. She felt a little more nervous than she let on.

  Tim kissed her on the head. “Sara won’t bite. We’ve stayed friends, though mostly for Melissa’s sake. Sara just got back from making a film in Italy.”

  “Don’t kiss me. I don’t want you coming down with something. You’d end up puking on TV.”

  Tim laughed and kissed her again. “They would remember me. Didn’t you go to the doctor on Tuesday?”

  Teri took a bite of toast. “I’ll get the results of the tests tomorrow. Until then, I’m quarantined.”

  Tim started to pack while Teri put on a robe and took the tray to the kitchen. There, she finished the toast and tea, then put things away.

  Virgin Ram was going on a three-month tour of Europe, starting the last week in February. Tim had asked her to come with him this time, maybe to make up for the fiasco of the last time they were together and he went on tour. They’d gone to Paris for their honeymoon, but she wanted to see more countries, so she said yes.

  Tim brought his suitcase out and put it by the door, while Teri went back to the bedroom and got dressed. They spent the rest of the time talking together in the courtyard until the limo came.

  “Call me when you get to New York. I love you.” Teri put her arms around him.

  He kissed her on the forehead. “I will. I love you too.”

  She waved as the limo took off down the driveway, and then she pushed the button to close the security gate.

  The next morning, Teri felt better, and she was able to get up to see Melissa off to school. She was dressing when the phone rang.

  “Mrs. Olson?” said a voice on the other end.

  “Yes?”

  “This is Dr. Stevens, I have your test results. You may want to sit down for this.”

  She suddenly was scared. “What is it?”

  “You’re pregnant. I think about two months along.”

  “What? I was starting to go through menopause. I thought I couldn’t get pregnant.”

  “If you still have eggs, you can get pregnant. I want you to set up a time for your next appointment.” He transferred her to the desk and a date was set.

  Teri stayed on the bed a full half hour, stunned to the core. A baby? At forty-eight? Oh, my, do I really want this child? I felt so free when Marcy went off to college, and Tim’s daughter is a year away from leaving home. All the diapers and messes, school headaches, and being stuck at home again. Deep down she was ashamed. This child didn’t ask to be brought into existence, and now that it has, it deserves a chance. Maybe it won’t be so bad. This is Tim’s baby. I hope it’ll be all right. I’ve heard of problems for older mothers. She mused for a while longer, letting the information sink in. I’ve got a hell of a good Valentine gift for Tim when he gets home on Saturday.

  The phone rang again, early that afternoon. “Hello? This is Sara Matisse. You must be Teri,” said the voice on the other end.

  “Yes, I am. When are you coming over for Melissa today?”

  “I’d like to come over around two-thirty. That should give us time to talk.”

  “Fine, I’ll see you then.” Teri was a little nervous. She’d never dealt with ex-wives before. When she let Sara through the security gate, she wished Melissa were there to act as a buffer, but Melissa wouldn’t be home from school for another half hour. She met Sara at the door. “Hello, Sara. I’m Teri.” She held out her hand.

  Sara looked a little hesitant but took it. “Hello, Teri. I’m glad I got to meet you. Even when we were married, Tim told me many stories about you.” She studied Teri’s face. “Oh, that’s all right. I always knew how much he loved you. I’m glad he found you,” she said, a slight edge to her voice.

  “I’ve got some fresh lemonade out in the courtyard. Would you like some?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  Teri poured the lemonade into two frosty glasses, and they sat on the padded iron chairs next to the decorative matching table under its blue umbrella. There was an uncomfortable silence between them.

  “Teri, I love what you’ve done to the house. It looks beautiful,” Sara said, but Teri didn’t think she meant it.

  “Thank you. I’ve really enjoyed myself, redecorating.”

  Sara took a drink of the lemonade and was quiet. Her mood
seemed to change. “You are very lucky. Tim is a wonderful man. I regret hurting him so much. What did he tell you about me?”

  “That you were very happy for a while, and then you divorced.”

  She looked very sad. “I was working on a movie with Karl Graham. You’ve heard of him?”

  “My daughter Katie had a crush on him.”

  “Well, I did too. At first, I resisted any advances he made to me, because of Tim and Melissa, but he was so charming, I fell under his spell. We were in New York for eight months, and I was sure I was in love with him. Then the last month, I found out I was pregnant. I know I hurt Tim terribly. I even let him take custody of Melissa because I felt so guilty.”

  “You know, you don’t have to tell me this.”

  “Please, Teri, I want you to realize how much you mean to him. Anyway, I moved in with Karl, and we lived together for five years. We had two children during that time, and I was pressing him to get married. Well, a new girl caught his eye and he moved out on me. I was hurt and sought out Tim for comfort. I wanted to come back to him, but he wouldn’t have me. He told me the only woman he wanted was you. If he couldn’t have you, he wouldn’t get married again.”

  Teri pondered this over her glass. Now I know he never stopped loving me. “You did find someone else, obviously. Your last name is different.”

  “Yes. He’s Lou Matisse, a photographer. We met on a movie I was making four years ago. He accepted my other children and we have a one-year-old of our own. I love him very much.” Sara smiled and seemed more relaxed. Teri found herself more at ease.

  “I was worried about meeting you, but I was wrong. Thank you for telling me this.”

  “I knew Tim was still in love with you even when we were married, and I resented you for it, but I can see why he was fond of you. I like you too. I think you’ll be a good stepmother for Melissa.”

  “She’s a nice girl. You and Tim have done a wonderful job with her.”

  “I think Tim deserves the most thanks. He’s a great dad.”