Chapter 2: A Matter of Question at Thought
Throughout the entire afternoon at Ben's party, everyone was celebrating the toddler's first birthday. Tommy and Kimberly enjoyed having their friends over and even letting their kids play with Ben and Courtney. Despite the fact that Courtney was young it seemed alright with them. A lot changed within the last couple of hours for Tommy in his mind. He just recently found out he had another daughter that Kim put up for adoption six years ago. At first it was hard to accept the fact that Kim kept this a secret from him but deep down he realized it was because of the heartache and regret Kim had giving up Louise.
However, Tommy did promise his wife that they will find a way to track down their daughter…basically his daughter he didn't even know about. Inside Tommy knew that despite not meeting her or being there for Louise's birth, he felt love towards her. The regret Tommy had was not seeing her nor being there for Kim after putting Louise up for adoption.
"Daddy," Courtney called out to her father, "I'm hungry! When do we eat cake?"
"Hey squirt slow down there," Tommy smiled grabbing his daughter, "We'll eat when we finish singing Happy Birthday to your brother okay?"
"Okay," Courtney smiled as Hayley came, "Aunt Hayley!"
"Hey Courtney how are you doing kiddo?" Hayley smiled, "How's it going Tommy?"
"Listen sweetie do you think you can leave daddy and Aunt Hayley to talk for a minute? Why don't you go play with Uncle Rocky and Aunt Aisha over there," Tommy replied to his daughter running off.
"Hayley it's so nice to see you," Kim replied with Ben in tow, "Wave hello to Aunt Hayley!"
"I see he's gotten bigger each day," Hayley replied handing Ben's present, "Here it's Ben's birthday present. I see Conner and the boys are having fun Tommy spiking your wife's homemade fruit punch."
"Oh for the love of…Conner McKnight get your butt back here!" Tommy yelled chasing Conner, Ethan and Trent around the house, "Bastards are going to dead! I warned you not to make asses of yourself!"
"Teenagers these days don't learn do they?" Kim smiled, "Tommy and I maybe mentors to those teenagers, but still they got a lot to learn."
"Hey Dr. O c'mon would you stop it was just a joke!" the boys yelled, "We're sorry!"
"Very funny but it won't be once I'm through with you three stooges!" Tommy yelled.
"They just didn't listen now look at them now," Kira sighed in embarrassment looking at her friends being chased by their teacher, "I swear they were clear and empty when I checked them. Sometimes I feel like a babysitter."
"Join the club," Hayley sarcastically replied, "It helps sometimes."
"This has been a great party Mrs. Oliver except with Conner, Trent and Ethan spiking your homemade punch," Kira smiled, "I don't understand why they would."
"Probably something about my punch makes it an easy target," Kim laughed, "Kira would you mind taking Ben for a little while? I just need to rest my arms for a while."
"Sure thing I'll watch Ben," Kira replied taking Ben to talk with Adam and Zack.
The party continued for the rest of the day. It was ashamed for Kim and Tommy that Jason couldn't make it. But they fully understand that he's happy living in San Antonio with his wife Kat and their son Liam Mark Scott. She hadn't seen Kat nor Jason before she became pregnant with Louise. The last time they talked was during Christmas Time. Tommy and Kim managed to keep in touch with everyone else except for Jason and Kat. The only time they talk is either by telephone or email. Meanwhile Tommy was on the other end of yard chatting with Billy and Zack when he decided to tell them.
"Hey Tommy you've been a bit distant the whole entire afternoon and even that chase with Conner, Trent, and Ethan didn't seem entertaining to you," Zack replied.
"Sorry but Kim and I…have a lot of things going on in our minds right now," Tommy said.
"What seems to be the problem?" Billy asked, "Are you and Kimberly having problems?"
"Nope…we're perfectly fine except for what I discovered today," Tommy sighed, "Kim told me something that she kept for six years…that she had a baby girl before Courtney and Ben that she gave up for adoption. Can you guess who the father is?"
"Oh my goodness…Tommy I'm so sorry," Zack sighed as he realized the look on Tommy's face, "Hey bro…that must have been hard to hear."
"I know it hurts like hell…the worst part is I never knew about Louise until today. I don't even know what she looks like now, how old she is, or where she is at this moment. The thing that hurts me the most is not being there for Kimberly during that time. It was my fault I got her pregnant in the first place at such a young age and because of that not only did Kim's parents sever ties to her, she couldn't be able to cope and provide for our daughter. It broke her heart to put our first born daughter up for adoption but she had to…to ensure Louise's future. I bet if I did ever meet my daughter Louise I hardly think she wouldn't recognize me. I hardly…don't even know my own daughter neither does Kim…but the two of us love her wherever she is."
"That must be heartbreaking for Kimberly to reveal that to you now after all these years Tommy," Billy replied, "How do you feel about all of this?"
"It's hard at first and I should be angry with Kimberly…but I love her too much to see her go through this alone," Tommy said, "And I promised Kim that we'll find Louise wherever she is."
"What?" Billy and Zack replied shock, "Tommy…are you serious? You just found out today about a daughter you hardly know and suddenly you want to go find her?"
"Louise is my daughter and I have a right to see my own daughter!" Tommy yelled, "Kim went through six years of heartache and regret of putting Louise up for adoption and I vowed I would make the pain stop…for the both of us. I'm holding true to my promise and once we find her…we're going to plan to regain custody of our little girl."
"You're out of your mind that this is even considered not an option here!" Billy said, "Tommy you know as much as Kimberly knows that neither of you can't get your daughter back! The thought of fighting for custody back would be pointless. I'm saying realistically Kimberly entered a legal adoption contract which abolished any rights you two have as parents. Have you given any thought as to the reaction of Louise's adopted parents if the two suddenly showed up to their house demanding to see your daughter? Regardless Tommy…whatever you try the adopted parents will win the legal dispute to the child."
"Billy is right bro and if Jason were here too he would probably say the same thing," Zack replied, "Tommy…just think about this first. Don't you think the news of your long lost daughter enough for one day? C'mon I know Kimberly must have known for six years and it was hard for her keeping this a secret. Now that the secret is out...shouldn't the two of you realistically talk about the options with your wife?"
"I made up my mind…we're going to try to find our daughter," Tommy answered, "Even…if it means you guys won't support our decision. I made a promise to Kimberly that I am going to withhold until it's fulfilled. I'm going to make all the regret and heartache for Kimberly stop and find Louise."
"Where are you going to start then?" Zack asked, "There are probably thousands of adoption agencies out in Miami how will you know where she is? Do you have any idea what your daughter looks like?"
"You know we're your friends Tommy…but whatever you and Kim decide is your choice and if we can't change your minds," Billy replied, "Then…we won't stand in your way. The last thing we don't want happening to the two of you is that everything you did would be pointless and you guys would wind up never seeing your daughter again."
Tommy knew that sharing the news with Billy and Zack about the search for Louise wasn't what he expected. Kimberly was on the other side talking with Hayley when the two of them approached Tommy. Kimberly had the same expression of doubt and hopelessness like her husband. He probably guessed Hayley knew about the news.
"I can tell you told Billy and Zack," Kim replied holding her husband's hand, "The reaction I guess is they must think we're insane for wanting to suddenly to look for our daughter."
"Beautiful…that doesn't matter what they think," Tommy smiled, "What matters to me right now is you and seeing you happy again. I want to be there for you no matter what happens. Remember we're in this together okay?"
"I know…but everyone thinks we don't have a chance of finding her," Kim sighed, "I knew what I got into when I first put her up for adoption and now I want to take it back. Even if we don't stand a chance of regaining custody of Louise, I just want to know where she is and if she is alright."
"Me too Beautiful," Tommy replied, "She is also my daughter too so I do too want to know how she is doing."
"Listen I don't want to be a bother here you two but realistically the chances of you guys finding Louise are pretty slim," Hayley sighed, "I don't want to discourage you guys because I know there is a lot going on right now…but you two also have to consider Courtney and Ben too. Imagine what it would be like for them to find out that they have an older sister they never knew about? How are you going to explain to your kids when they get older? Also consider imagining what it would be like for that little girl you guys call your daughter Louise to meet Courtney and Ben."
"Courtney is a young little girl and Ben is only a year old Hayley," Kim replied.
"I'm fully aware of that Kimberly but think about the impact that trying to go on this search for Louise would affect not only your kids, but even the girl?" Hayley added, "What would do if you find her? She'll probably have a thousand of questions on her mind about why she was put up for adoption? Why you didn't find her after six years? A child around that age would have a lot of pressure and trauma to deal with. To show up at Louise's parents' house and tell them that Louise is your daughter would be too hard for them to deal."
"Ben and Courtney will understand," Tommy added, "The two of them will accept the concept of having an older sister especially Courtney. She talked about maybe one day having an older sister. She'll be thrilled to meet Louise. Hayley I've known you for a long please…at least help us in our search please. You know of some of the social workers at the adoption agencies in Miami. They must know about some information about Louise's whereabouts."
"Hayley please…you're the only one so far that can help us please?" Kim asked.
It was a debate Hayley was facing. She knew that it was a hopeless search that Kimberly and Tommy were going to face, but inside she knew that this was their only way to make amends to their daughter. Although there hardly a chance of trying to regain custody, at least Hayley could give Tommy and Kimberly a slight chance of knowing one thing…the whereabouts of their daughter.
"Look…I'll do anything for you guys because I know this wasn't something neither you nor Kimberly didn't want for Louise," Hayley smiled, "But I know you did it because it was to ensure a better life for your daughter."
"I know we can't get her back but I just want to see our daughter just once," Kim sighed, "I just want to see what she looks like now or what she has become in the last six years."
"Here…I knew it was kind of pointless talking Kim out this," Hayley replied giving them a piece of paper, "Talking Tommy out of this is not even an option…I hope this maybe a bit of help."
"It's an address to who?" Tommy asked, "Is this the adoption agency that Louise was with?"
"Well while I was talking with Kimberly during the party she told me about the adoption agency she contacted while she was in the hospital," Hayley added, "Actually the lady that Kim dealt with six years ago happened to be my cousin Ellie Fowler, she is a relative on my mother's side of the family."
"Does she still work at the same adoption agency Louise was put in?" Kimberly asked.
"I believe so," Hayley added, "I'll see if she can talk to you and arrange some sort of meeting with her down in Miami. You know I got to warn you that it would be difficult to obtain information about Louise's whereabouts. But with the except of my cousin Ellie, she has a pretty good photographic memory of all the children she dealt with."
"Thank you Hayley we appreciate it," Tommy replied, "This is at least a start at something."
"I'll give Ellie a call first thing in the morning," Hayley added as she left, "Listen…I got to take care of some business at the store so I'll catch you two later."
"Thank you for everything Hayley," Kim replied giving her a hug, "We owe you so much. I don't know what we do without your help."
"Promise me one thing you two?" Hayley asked, "Promise…that before you two start this little search at least sleep on it for a few days. Think about what will happen if you were to ever find her. What would you do then?"
"I don't know Hayley," Tommy replied, "We'll…see what happens next."
After Hayley left, Tommy and Kimberly looked back at the address that they received. They were soon prepared to begin searching for their daughter. However for Kimberly it meant that she had to go back to the place where everything began…Miami. Tommy put a hand on his wife's shoulder to ensure her that they already had their minds made up now.
"So I guess…we're heading to Miami then Handsome?" Kim asked, "We're in this together right?"
"As I promised Beautiful," Tommy smiled, "We'll…maybe find her there."
