Chapter 18 Getting To Know You

The last thing Kami expected when she accepted the invitation to dinner that afternoon was an apology and a request for forgiveness. She looked into her grandmother's eyes that were the exact shape and colour of her father's and her heart felt pity for the old woman who had carried guilt for so long. She gently drew her grandmother into a hug and softly said;

"All is forgiven"

Grandmother and granddaughter stayed in the hug for several moments before they slowly separated.

Elizabeth placed her hands on both of her granddaughter's cheeks as she continued to look at her, and said; "You are very beautiful Kami".

"Thank you". Kami softly replied.

"I remember your Mom's features, and you look like her, yet you look so much like Michael, you have his eyes".

"You have Dad's eyes too. Well actually Dad has your eyes I should say". Kami smiled at her grandmother.

Hildy, ever protective of her lady was watching the scene closely while discreetly observing Harrison's and Lauren's reactions to the emotionally charged display in front of them. By the body language of the husband and wife, it appeared like they were genuinely pleased for their mother. Satisfied with this revelation, Hildy returned her complete focus on Kami and the Baroness.

Elizabeth had an air of elegance about her, even though she looked her age more than Nana looked hers. Hildy could tell that Elizabeth must have been a very beautiful woman in her youth. Kami turned to Hildy and stretched out her hand and her lover stepped forward and laced her fingers through Hildy's hands.

"Baroness Keefer, I will like you to meet the love of my life, my fiancé, Hildy Mulligan" Kami said as she smiled at Hildy.

The Baroness looked at Hildy, and reached out her arm to her, Hildy clasped her hand and then Elizabeth pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek. The gesture surprised Hildy but then again, she figured Kami's grandmother was going to try to make amends with Kami and her parents, and as she was Kami's fiancé she automatically was accepted.

Elizabeth turned back to her granddaughter and guided her to the couch where she sat and patted the seat next to her. Hildy followed and sat to the end with Lauren and Harrison making themselves comfortably on the love seat.

A comfortable silence settled on the room for a few moments before Elizabeth spoke. "After Harrison told me you were coming I began to rehearse things to say …. questions to ask….. and now all I seem to be able to do is just look at you".

Kami smiled but said nothing because she too was at a loss for words.

As the silence continued for a few more moments, Lauren decided to take up the reins of conversation.

"Harrison mentioned that you live in the States, but you are here in England to give a presentation at the University of Suffolk. Are your parents also residing in the States? I would love to know what your presentation will be about". Lauren asked knowing that Elizabeth was dying to know about her son and her granddaughter's accomplishments.

Kami turned to her aunt in law and answered her question. "My parents do not reside in the States, they live in Ipswich where they are both professors at the University of Suffolk. Besides being a professor, Dad is also one of the Deans. They have been associated with the university for a very long time, it is like a second home to them". It was obvious to anyone in the room that Kami had a close relationship with her parents by the way she smiled when she spoke about them.

"As for my presentation, I dabble with computers and I did a bit of research about how computers can be used to help teach students with severe learning disabilities. The university invited me to present my paper there as they are also doing work with primary aged students with the problems I featured in my research". Kami explained.

Hildy looked at her lady with pride as she listened to her describe her upcoming presentation. She then looked around the room at the interested expressions on Kami's family's faces.

Hildy wanted her future in-laws to understand just how special her fiancée was so she decided to add to Kami's description.

"Kami is being modest here", Hildy said with a smile.

"Hildy", Kami said softly as she reached for her hand and gave her a look at said "there is no need to bore them with tech talk".

Hildy, ever mindful of her lady's wishes, decided to amend what she was going to say. Instead she said; "I do not want to bore you with a lot of tech talk, but Kami is world renown in her field. Just Google her name and you will see for yourself".

"I will definitely do that", Lauren replied with a smile of her own.

Elizabeth listened to the conversation as so many questions rushed through her mind. She noticed when her granddaughter linked hands with her girlfriend. It was obvious by the way Kami and Hildy looked at each other that they were in love. Once upon a time she would have strongly condemned homosexuality but as she got older, a lot of things that she use to place emphasis on no longer seemed as important. God was giving her a chance to reach out to her granddaughter, and hopefully in the near future, her chance to reach out to her son, and his wife would come. She was not going to let any old prejudices rear it head, and ruin this final chance to make peace with her loved ones.

"I wonder if Michael and Kalia will be as forgiving as their precious daughter? It is easy for Kami to be generous with her forgiveness because she was not there to witness the hurt in her mother's eyes when she was spoken to as if she was beneath Alastair and I. …. Dear God, I wonder if I should leave well enough alone and just be thankful for having this opportunity to meet Kami? Oh, what should I do? I long to see my son again. I long to do the things I seldom did in the past. Things like saying I love you Michael. Why was it so hard to say those words? Why did I feel it was unnecessary? Oh, so many wasted years! I cannot let this opportunity slip through my fingers. I will surely die of regret if I do". Elizabeth was so caught up in her thoughts that she did not hear Harrison ask her repeatedly if she wanted to adjourn to the dining room.

As she refocused on her family around her, she noticed four pairs of eyes looking at her with curious expressions on their faces.

"Mother are you feeling alright?" Harrison asked as he wondered if she suddenly began feeling ill because her expression looked pained.

"I am fine thank you Harry. I just …. my mind drifted off for a moment", Elizabeth replied with a soft smile at her son.

She then turned to Kami and got straight to the point of what was troubling her mind.

"Kami, I do not want to waste another day of the rest of the life God has granted me. I need to make things right with Michael and Kalia. Do you think if I asked to see them, to talk with them in person they will grant my request?"

Kami looked at her grandmother and recognized the collage of sadness, regret, tinged with hope on her face. Kami was not sure how to answer this poignant question. She wanted to give her grandmother hope but at the same time she could not say for sure if her parents would want to meet the Baroness.

Kami decided to be tactful but honest with her grandmother. She chose her words carefully and spoke as gently as she could. "Baroness….". Before Kami could say another word, Elizabeth held up her hand to stop her from continuing.

"Please, Kami, the title Baroness is too formal for you to use on me. I know we never had a relationship and you may feel uncomfortable calling me Grandmother but … simply Elizabeth will do". Elizabeth spoke these words softly to her granddaughter.

Kami looked at her and saw longing in her eyes, so she decided to call Elizabeth 'grandmother' even though the title felt strange on her tongue.

"Grandmother, I honestly do not know how my parents will respond to your request. I remember when I was a child, asking my Dad if I had other grandparents besides Nana and Pappy. My Dad told me the only grandparents I needed were my mother's parents and I was never to ask about his parents again. That was the only conversation I ever had about you with him. I did however speak to my Mom and she told me my Dad's family hurt his feeling deeply and that is why he does not speak about them". Kami paused here trying to think what else to say.

Hildy took her other hand and gently rubbed her lady's lower back as she moved a little closer to her on the couch because she knew Kami was struggling to say the right thing.

Elizabeth sat there, and it was as if a little bit of her life's force seeped out of her as she listened to Kami's words. Kami noticed the difference in her grandmother's posture and determined to bridge the chasm that existed between her Dad and his Mom.

"Grandmother, both my parents are kind hearted and very loving. They would give their last meal to someone if they thought the person needed it more than them. I do not know what their reaction to your request will be …. but …. I trust the parents I grew up knowing and loving. I believe they would at least consider your wishes". Hildy saw a glimmer of hope touch the old lady's eyes as Kami uttered those words.

Kami, turned to her uncle and aunt in law and observed that they were both figuratively at the edge of their seats as they too hoped Elizabeth would have a positive outcome to this unexpected visit and potential reconciliation with her son.

Turning her eyes back to her grandmother she continued. "I have an idea" Kami said as her eyes began to twinkle as it often did when she was happy.

"I make my presentation at the university the day after tomorrow at 4pm in the Main Auditorium of The School of Education. Come and be my specially invited guests. I will arrange for three seats to be held in reserve for you all. This way you will get to see Mom and Dad, and the opportunity will be made available for you to speak to them".

Elizabeth eyes lit up and twinkled in a way that was so reminiscent of Kami's eyes as she considered the possibilities. She then looked at Harrison with a hopeful expression and asked in an appealing voice. "Harry, can you get away from Parliament for the day?"

Even if Harrison had an appointment with the Queen on that day he would have begged forgiveness as he cancelled the appointment. There was no way he could say no to his mother and live with himself.

"I will reschedule a few things to free up the time Mother. Maybe we can drive up there tomorrow evening, check into a hotel, and sleep in the next morning. We could even do a bit of sightseeing before the time for Kami's presentation. Lauren can you also free up time with your charity work?" Harrison asked his wife.

"I will make the time even if I have to cancel a thing or two".

Elizabeth smiled warmly at her son and daughter in law before turning back to Kami and Hildy. "Thank you, Kami for indulging an old woman in her quest to make amends".

With those words Elizabeth wrapped her arms around her granddaughter and held her tightly in her arms. When she pulled away there were tears on her cheeks.

"I have a good feeling about this Grandmother. I feel things will get better between you and my parents".

Elizabeth felt so over come with emotion that she did not trust her voice, so she simply nodded her head.

"Well I think it is time we adjourn to the dining room and partake in that delicious meal I know our cook prepared", Lauren said with a smile.

At those words everyone stood and slowly walked to the dining room as the mood felt considerably lighter.