Chapter 36 More Meetings

Jaz was genuinely taken by surprise to see Kathrine in her hotel suit. She remembered that Kami had a good relationship with her parents and grandparents but found it intriguing that Kathrine felt the need to run interference for her granddaughter today. When Jaz considered that Kami was thirty-five going on thirty-six years old, she couldn't wait to hear what Kathrine had to say in the matter that obviously she had no business in.

Jaz closed the door to the rooms and looked at Kathrine as she wondered again about this 'relationship' that Kami was involved in with the detective. If it was as strong as it appeared to be, why was Kathrine here?

Kalia kept replaying the conversation with her mother over and over in her mind as she sat in her office. Her desk was covered with reports she needed to attend to as Head of Department for her faculty. She was so upset when her mother told her Jaz was back, and to make it worse, Jaz had the audacity to approach Hildy with her foolish claim. Kalia went into protection mode immediately whenever anything happened with Kami. It was like this since her daughter was a child. If another student bullied Kami in school, Kalia was in the principal's office the first thing the next morning. It took a long time for her to realize that she had to allow Kami to learn the life's lessons that came with standing up for herself.

As Kalia remembered Kami's primary school day she also remembered that letting go of being Kami's 'fixer' was not an overnight thing. She thought of her father James, and how he was her mother Kathrine's voice of reason. Her own husband Michael was like James in so many ways especially was her 'voice of reason'. It was his voice along with the voices of a dear couple who showed Kalia she was not helping her daughter in the long run by always running to her rescue.

As the minutes ticked by, Kalia's head began to overrule her heart. She began to wonder if it was a wise to go charging at Jaz as she planned to do via her Mom's tablet. Forty-five minutes had already elapsed since she hung up the internet call with her mother and she knew that Kathrine would be at the Hilton hotel any minute now.

Just then Michael entered her office. "Hello Love. How are the reports coming along?" Michael asked in a curious voice. He was aware that Kalia had a deadline to meet in writing her own report based on what the lecturers of her department submitted to her.

"I have been at it for awhile Michael, but have not made as much headway as I should have. However, I am confident my report will be ready for our Management Meeting tomorrow".

Michael looked at Kalia and knew something was wrong by the tense way she sat in her chair.

Placing a bag on her desk with a smile, Michael said, "Knowing you as I so, I figured it would be unlikely you had lunch, so I picked up a couple sandwiches for you from one of the cafeterias".

For a moment Kalia forgot what was on her mind as she lovingly returned her husband's smile. She stood up and thanked him with a kiss for his thoughtfulness. They stood in each other's arms for a few moments and then Michael asked; "Why did Mama leave a voice message for you so early this morning and ask you not to call her back? What is going on in New York?".

Kalia knew Michael was very observant and intuitive, she learned early in their marriage not to try and pull the wool over his eyes, or keep secrets. Sighing in his arms she filled him in on what her mother shared with her minutes before. Kalia felt Michael's body tense next to her. After pausing she continued to tell him of her reaction to the news and the plan, she and her mother had for confronting Jaz via WhatsApp video call.

Slowly Michael stepped back and looked at Kalia. He ran his right hand through his hair as he was wont to do when he was upset or in deep thought.

In an instant, memories of Kami growing up flashed through his mind. He remembered all the times he went into his Hulk mode as he protected his only child from bullies and anything he perceived as a threat. Then he remembered how Kami's godparents took him and Kalia out to lunch one day, and gave then a lesson on child rearing he would never forget. It was that conversation that taught him and his wife to back off from their over protective stance and allow Kami to pick herself up and dust her own knees off when she fell, even though they stood nearby to help her if she needed it.

As he looked into Kalia's eyes he fully understood the emotions she was feeling because he was feeling them also. "KalKal, I understand what you are feeling, truly I do. The thought of Jaz going to New York for the sole purpose of stirring up trouble is the last thing I expected to happen. But Sweetheart, I do not think a confrontation with that woman is a good idea". Michael paused as his green eyes locked with Kalia's brown ones. "Love, what do you hope to accomplish by speaking to Jaz?"

Kalia stepped away from her husband as she began pacing her office. "I don't know". She eventually replied. "I know I want Jaz to understand that her tricks will not work on our child this time around", she said passionately.

Michael walked over and wrapped his arms around her. "Love, we need, and I truly mean we need to remember that Kami is not a child. I know she will always be our child, the apple of our eye, but she is a grown woman and we have to trust that she will put Jaz in her place and send her back to California or wherever she is living now. I understand that you want to give Jaz a piece of your mind because I feel the same way but I do not think that will accomplish anything in the long run".

Kalia turned her head and looked at her husband and said with a slight edge in her voice, "It will make me feel better".

At those words Michael's eyes twinkled in a way that was so reminiscent of his daughter that Kalia just had to smile, which in turn made Michael see Kami in his wife's face and her smile.

With a slight chuckle Michael said, "Alright, you do what you think you need to do, just do not get your hopes up that you will make a difference to Jaz".

Kalia nodded and kissed her husband once more.

"I would love to stay and hear what you tell her Kalia, but I have a class in a little while so I must leave". Kalia walked her husband to her office door and just then her cell phone rang indicating in incoming What'sApp call.

Husband and wife looked at the phone and then each other.

"Darling, I have to do this but I promise you I will tone it down considerably".

Michael looked at his wife and nodded, "Call me after my class and fill me in on how she responds", with those words he was out the door.

Kathrine and Jaz stayed looking at each other for a few moments before Jaz offered her a seat.

"Thank you Jaz", Kathrine said as she sat in one of the two plush arm chairs, Jaz immediately sat in the other as she continued to look at Kathrine with an expectant expression on her face.

Kathrine in turn looked at her granddaughter's former lover with an objective eye. She knew Jaz was five years older than Kami and that would put her to be forty going on forty-one years old. Kathrine mentally acknowledged how beautiful Jaz was in face and body and realized that if she wanted to, she could command the cover of any fashion magazine and leave women half her age in the dust. Once more Kathrine wondered why Jaz came in search of her granddaughter is such a roundabout way. Kathrine knew she had to begin the conversation because she was the one who approached Jaz, and what little she knew of the woman told her that Jaz would patiently sit and silently wait her out.

"My daughter and I want to speak with you about Kami", Kathrine began.

Jaz looked at her with a calm indulgent expression on her face as she gave the slightest of nod. Kathrine proceeded to switch on her tablet and connect to Kalia's via video chat.

Jaz looked at the elderly lady as she organized her device and was impressed with the way she handled her tablet. She remembered meeting her once many years ago, and knew she had to be in the latter half of her eighties. With a critical eye Jaz observed everything about her as she concluded that Kami was blessed to have what was commonly referred to a 'good genes'. She looked forward to seeing what Kami's mother looked like as she only saw her in photographs, never having the opportunity to meet her in person. Seeing pictures of someone was not the same as interacting with them in person or even over video conferences as was about to happen.

"Kalia? Can you hear me Darling?" Kathrine said as she began the call.

"Loud and clear Mama". Kalia replied.

Jaz felt a twinge in her heart as she heard the inflections of love that existed between the mother and daughter before her. For a moment sadness mixed with anger touched her soul as she thought of her own mother. Inhaling deeply, she pushed her memories and feelings back down deep in a part of her being that no one had access to. She gave herself a mental shake as she turned her attention back to what was going on in front of her.

Jaz looked at Kalia with keen interest. She immediately saw the similarities between Kami and her mother, yet she also noted the differences. The woman on the screen before her was undoubtedly beautiful with an elegance and grace that could not been hidden even if Kalia tried. The sadness she felt a few moments before came back but this time it was laced with a bit of envy. Looking at Kalia, she wondered how one went about establishing the connectivity that unquestionably existed among Kathrine, Kalia and Kami. Self-discipline was one of Jaz strong suits and she never indulged in 'pity parties' or berating herself over poor choices in life but in that moment, she wished Kami's family was hers if only for the undeniable devotion that prompted them to come in defense of their daughter and granddaughter. Jaz knew that her mother would not do the same thing for her if the situation was reversed. Hearing Kalia's voice she pulled herself together and focused once more on the woman conversing with her.

"Jaz, good day", Kalia said as she looked at the person whose unexpected return caused her daughter to faint the night before.

Jaz responded politely and sat awaiting what the mother and daughter duo would say.

Kalia looked at the image of Jaz on her screen. She saw in Jaz a woman who was beautiful and appeared confident and in control. Everything in the way Jaz sat gave the impression of bored indulgence. Yet Kalia saw something flash for a few moments in the expression around Jaz's eyes that made her wonder if the external image and the internal reality were out of sync. Kalia remembered her promise to her husband minutes before to tone down the way she planned to speak to Jaz, and seeing something in the woman's eye's confirmed that she needed to approach this situation a little differently.

"I am going to get to the point because this meeting is somewhat unconventional", Kalia began by saying.

"Unconventional is not the word I would use to describe this. I think inappropriate is a more apt word", Jaz said smoothly.

Kathrine wanted to interject after Jaz spoke because she did not like the tone of voice the woman used on her daughter, but she promised Kalia to let her take the lead and do the talking. Kathrine willed herself to be quiet.

Kalia continued speaking; "Jaz, you may not believe this but I do not want a confrontation with you. I admit when my mother informed me about your meeting with Hildy I was extremely upset, and I wanted to tell you what I thought of your actions in no uncertain terms. However, I calmed down, and all I want to do now is have a word with you", Kalia said in a reassuring voice that not only surprised Jaz but also surprised her mother.

Jaz looked at Kalia's image on the tablet and wondered if Kami's mother was sincere. After a moment or two she inclined her head and said "Continue".

Kalia knew exactly what she wanted to say when she was raging vex at Jaz, but as she calmed down considerably, she was a bit more hesitant to express what was on her mind.

"Jaz, this reconnect you want with my daughter is not going to work. I realize something prompted you to come back here at this point in Kami's life but the plan you have for disrupting her life will backfire on you. I know you probably won't listen to me but I will say it anyway ….. you need to go home before you get hurt". Kalia looked at Jaz via the tablet and she saw her eyes narrow as a cold expression came over her eyes.

All wishes of wanting Kami's family to be hers sped out of Jaz's mind as her internal monologue began.

"How dare this woman tell me what to do!" I do not care if she is Kami's mother or not. She is a fool if she thinks I would take advice from her", Jaz thought to herself as she willed her expression to remain neutral and failed.

Kalia noted the change in Jaz but decided to push forward in an even gentler sounding voice.

"I do not know what is going on in your life presently Jaz but I suspect that something emotional prompted this sudden trip to New York. I would venture that whatever it was may have shone a spotlight on an emotional area that is 'lacking' in your life now. And maybe this feeling of 'lack' or even feeling of emotional dissatisfaction caused you to look back with longing to a time when you had something you considered yours, to a time when you did not feel lacking and also when you believed you were happy".

Jaz eyes flashed dangerously at Kalia as her words came too close to feelings Jaz did not want to examine.

Kalia continued forward as she immediately sensed there was truth in what she was saying.

"Jaz, my daughter is happy. If you cared for her at all in the past you should be happy for her now. This roundabout way you chose to re-enter her life did nothing to advance your plan. Whatever you hope to accomplish will not come to fruition, and the emotional void or lack that you are trying to deal with will get worse".

Kathrine listened intently to her daughter's words as she looked at Jaz. She remembered saying a prayer for her this morning as she asked Heavenly Father to show Jaz how to let go of her controlling possessive nature. But as she looked at the play of emotion that flitted across Jaz's features as Kalia's words hit home. Kathrine began to truly wonder what Jaz's life was like. She wondered what life experiences shaped the woman she developed into.

Jaz felt rage flood her cells like liquid lava. It was as though Kalia was able to see into her heart and lay bear the self doubts, the emptiness, and longing for a lasting relationship that Jaz desperately wanted. The questions that plagued her since seeing the newspaper's photograph with Kami and Hildy began knocking on the front of her mind once more. "Why did Kami leave me? What is it that this detective has that could make Kami look at Hildy with such adoration in the photo? Why am I always dissatisfied in my relationships? Why am I not good enough?"

Jaz stood and the expression on her face would send the staff at her hospital running for cover if any of them were there now. However, the mother and daughter duo were not intimidated by Jaz's angry look at all. Both Kalia and Kathrine discovered that Jaz had more unresolved hurt than she was even aware of. They recognized that her bahaviour was a defense mechanism.

"If you both have so much confidence in the relationship Kami is in why are you here? Kalia you sound so self righteous, speaking to me like I have issues. Well I will have you know that I have no void in my life. I do care about Kami and I am here to protect her from making a mistake. The detective is below Kami in every sense. She deserves someone better". Jaz said her words in a clear soft distinct voice.

Kathrine and Kalia both looked at Jaz and then Kathrine looked at her daughter. It was as if mother and daughter communicated silently through their eyes. Kalia took the lead once more as she deliberately chose not to respond to Jaz's words. Instead she said:

"Thank you for your time Jaz. I hope Heavenly Father directs you to the path where He knows you will find your healing".

With that Kathrine stood and thanked Jaz also for her time and quietly walked to the door and out of the hotel suit leaving Jaz to look after her.

Kathrine sat in her car as her chauffeur took her home. Mother and daughter began discussing what transpired in Jaz's hotel suit.

"Mama, the way I see it is like this. Jaz's can't understand how someone like Hildy can have Kami's love when in her mind she is a lot better than 'the detective' to quote her words. She cannot understand why Kami left her, and now Kami is happy with someone else it has incensed her. I sensed she has a lot of insecurities Mama. That along with her pride being hurt has caused a whirlwind of jealousy".

Kathrine listened to Kalia as they continued their video call in the car.

"What I do not understand Kalia is why now? Why after all these years? Why come back to Kami now?"

Kalia thought about it and proposed an answer. "Kami was not involved with anyone since she left Jaz. Maybe a date here or there but nothing remotely serious until she met Hildy last year and now they are getting married. Maybe Jaz found out somehow that Kami was getting married and her heart and her pride could not handle it. She came to 'protect' as she calls it, while she lays a claim on what in her mind is her possession even though for the last five years she was not interested."

Both women were silent for the next few minutes.

Eventually Kalia told her mother she had to get back to her reports but would call Kami and let her know what transpired between Jaz and them. Even though they did not tell Kami about their intended visit Jaz, they wanted her to know that they did and what occurred.

Kathrine had barely left the room when the house phone rang in Jaz's room. She was still fuming on the inside over what Kalia had the nerve to tell her but on the outside she remained calm as she answered the call. The front desk clerk told her there was a call for her and put it through.

"Hello Jaz".

From the moment Jaz heard Kami's voice she calmed down considerably.

"Kami'.

Both women were silent for a few moments waiting for the other to speak. Then Kami said, "I need to speak with you. We need to resolve a few things".

"Come over to my hotel, we can have brunch while we speak" Jaz said as her confidence returned.

"No, I am not coming to your hotel room"

Jaz chuckled, "Why don't you want to come here Kami? Are you afraid to be alone with me?"

Kami squeezed her eyes shut as she held the phone to her ear. She no longer loved Jaz, and hardly ever thought about her but hearing her voice on the phone disturbed something deep in her that she could not quite identify.

"I am not afraid of anything Jaz but I am not coming to your hotel room. Meet me at Bow Bridge Central Park in an hour. You can use the West 72 Street entrance. The bridge is about a ten minute walk from the street. There are benches on the western side of the bridge, I will be sitting there waiting on you"

"I will be there Kay", Jaz said softly.

Kami disconnected the call. The use of the name Kay sent her mind into spin as memories flooded back. Memories that were happy, and sad, memories that painted pictures of good times and bad. Taking a deep breath, she stood and left Hildy's office where she went for privacy to make the call.