Chapter Four: Return of an Old Friend
About a month after the trip to Miami, Tommy and Kimberly decided it was best to let things be and stop searching for Louise. What matter to the both of them was focusing on raising Courtney and Ben. September came by and it was back to school. Unfortunately it was another year of keeping the new line of teenagers out of trouble, especially the likes of Conner McKnight, Ethan James, Kira Ford and Trent Fernedenez. Another year with these teens meant more headaches for Tommy and Kimberly. It was hard living the double life of mentoring new teens and raising two children.
"Do. O, you still haven't talked about your vacation in Florida," Conner replied, "Yeah we want details. Did you find your long lost daughter? How did she look like? Does she know you and Mrs. Oliver are her parents?"
"What was her reaction when she saw you?" Ethan asked.
"Did she look scared?" Trent asked, "What did you do?"
"Nothing happened okay so you three stop nagging me?" Tommy snapped, "For your information nothing happened in Florida alright? Just because you three winded up serving detention with me doesn't mean you guys can play twenty questions with me! Kim and I thought it would be best to just stop for awhile…for the sake of Courtney and Ben. We know Louise maybe our daughter, but we realized that we must stay out her life. We made the mistake of giving her up but it was to make sure she had a better life."
"Dr. Oliver I'm sorry to hear about that," Conner said, "I should be more considerate about you and Mrs. Oliver's feelings. I know it must have hurt flying down to Miami and finding nothing. You were so determined to find a daughter you didn't know about why stop now?"
"Trust me guys you'll understand one day when you become parents," Tommy sighed, "The choices you make will affect the upbringing of your children one day. What becomes your first priority in life is the wellbeing of your kids. If I was there six years ago by Kim's side the day Louise was born and put in a position like Kim's…then sometimes you learn about doing the right thing to ensure your child's future even if the choices we make are hard."
Ethan looked at the clock and saw that their detention time was up. "Dr. O it's after 4pm."
"Yeah I guess time is up then," Tommy replied, "So you guys are dismissed then?"
"I'm meeting Kira at the Cyberchase after she's done her volunteer work," Trent said, "You two coming?"
"Sure thing dude," Ethan and Conner replied as the guys left, "Later Dr. O!"
Minutes after the guys left, Tommy was packing up the rest of his stuff. He was going to pick up Courtney and Ben from his mother's place. Kimberly was at the community center tending to the local daycare groups. As he was walking to his jeep he was suddenly approached by a young boy with blue eyes and dark brown hair. He looked to be about 6 years old.
"Is it true that you used to go to Angel Grove High with my dad?" the boy asked, "By all the stories he told me about Tommy Oliver I say you look a bit taller in person."
"And how does your father know about me when I don't even know your name?" he asked.
"After six years of stories I told my son about my best friend in high school I say you're still forgetful and tardy as you are to remember…old friends," the man replied coming behind the boy, "See I told you Liam that your Uncle Tommy maybe the greatest martial artist back then, but he's still tardy and forget as he is."
Tommy smiled as he was greeted by Jason Scott, his best friend and the original Red Ranger.
He took Jason and Liam down at the park near the community center after picking up Courtney and Ben from his mother's place. The two spent hours talking while Tommy waited till it was time to pick up Kimberly from the Reefside Community Center.
"It's good to see you again…old friend," Tommy smiled as the two friends shook hands and embraced, "What brings you to Reefside?"
"Kat and I moved down here about a few weeks ago with the kids," Jason explained, "I was offered a dojo to head up here after one of my business partners died in a car accident. It's been about 7 months since the accident. I inherited the business as the next person in line and one of the dojo were located here in Reefside. Kat and I packed up and moved from San Antonio with our three kids. This one here is my eldest…my first born son Liam Mark Scott."
"It's nice to meet you Uncle Tommy," Liam smiled, "My dad has told me so much about you and Aunt Kimberly."
"Hold up a minute!" Tommy replied, "I thought Liam was your only kid from what I heard the last time. How many kids do you and Kat have now?"
"Well…Kat and I have a pair ofseven monthold twins," Jason added, "A boy and a girl named Keira and Darren. Kat was going through a period where she thought she became infertile after suffering a miscarriage a few years back. Kat and I had our tough periods but we held strong and hope that one day we had another kid. Kat loves our kids to death and when she discovered she was having Keira and Darren she was surprised. Right now she's at the doctor's for the twins' monthly check up. I got to meet up later with her after she swings by the Community Center. How are things with you and Kimberly?"
"So far so good," Tommy replied, "Kimberly and I have been doing great with our kids Courtney and Ben. Courtney is three now and Ben is one year old now. But just like you and Kat…we had our hard times too, in particular with the fact that Kim told me something that she kept from me before we got married."
"And what secret did my little sis keep?"
"Kim and I…had a daughter before Courtney and Ben was born. Basically Kim was 17 at the time and she gave up our daughter for adoption. Kimberly named the baby Louise but she hardly has any memory of what our daughter looked like. I never knew about her existence until the day of Ben's party she suddenly revealed it. The letter she wrote to me in Florida back in high school…Louise was the reason she wrote the letter. The pregnancy and the adoption were the reasons behind the letter. It broke Kim's heart to give up Louise after she was disowned by her parents for getting pregnant and losing her spot on the Pan Global Team."
"Kim…never told me she was pregnant when I last visited her six years ago in Florida," Jason sighed, "It must have been hard on Kim to deal with that. To find out six years later about your daughter…it must have been devastating. I wish I knew then I could have helped her cope with this."
"I keep telling myself the same thing everyday since I first found out bro. I should be angry with her for keeping Louise a secret but apart of me is to blame for putting Kim in the position for giving her up. As much as she wanted to keep our daughter…she knew it would be hard to cope raising a baby. Kim and I started this search for Louise against everyone's objection to the idea. Last month we went down to Miami to obtain information about the whereabouts of our daughter…but we found nothing and we discovered that the adopted parents moved away a few years ago from Miami to somewhere else. Till this day I wonder if I ever met my daughter I wonder what she was like? What will become of her now? Afterwards Kim and I decided it was for the best to let things be what they are for now and focus on Courtney and Ben. I would like to meet Louise one day but we know she's happy wherever she is right now."
"When are we picking up mommy?" Courtney asked, "I want to see mommy!"
"I know but we got to wait till 5:30pm for mommy to finish okay?" Tommy replied.
"You're still a good father Tommy to Courtney and Ben," Jason replied, "Hearing your story about your daughter you never knew about till now shows that you and Kim thought what was best for your kids. I assure that even if the others didn't support the two of you searching for your first born I would have. I could have helped you guys out and so would Kat. To us, you and Kim are our best friends and we would stand by any decision you guys made. I bet you two had the idea of trying to see if there was a chance to regain custody of your daughter from the adoptive parents. The others must have told you the two of you didn't stand a chance because it was a legal adoption contract Kim entered. I know you two made the decision to stop for now for the search for your first born daughter to focus on raising Courtney and Ben…but you shouldn't stop your search. However, it's your decision so I wouldn't stand in your way. I just want to see my two best friends happy."
"Thanks bro I'm glad your back," Tommy smiled, "Kim and I right now are already happy as it is. Shoot look at time fly…it's almost 5:30pm I got to pick up the wife from the Reefside Community Center."
"You're heading down there too?" Jason asked, "Kat is supposed to meet up with me there. We have to pick a girl we're taking care of from there. We had to put her in one of those after school daycare groups for social interaction. I had Liam with me today. I really don't know the way do you mind if I follow in your car?"
"Sure thing just let me get the kids in the car," Tommy replied as he strapped the kids down in their car seats while Jason got Liam and put him in his seat.
"Are we going to see mommy now?" Liam asked his father.
"Yeah and we're going to pick up your brother and sister too," Jason replied.
"Are you ready Jason?"
"Just lead the way," Jason replied as the two drove off.
Reefside Community Center…
Meanwhile at the Reefside Community Center, Kimberly was getting the kids involved in some recreational activities. Kira was there to assist since she did volunteer work with Kim. The kids seemed to be enjoying herself and Kim even asked Trent to "volunteer assisting them" after he showed up to pick up his girlfriend. The kids loved the activities that were laid out before them. While Trent was supervising the children, Kira and Kimberly were drawn to the attention of one of the kids sitting alone in the corner.
"Mrs. Oliver we seem to have a little situation here," Kira said as she pointed to a little girl six years old sitting in the corner, "She's been there since recreational time started. She looks a bit sad for some reason."
"Here let me go talk to her and try to get her to joy in," Kim offered, "Do you mind helping your boyfriend supervise? I think he might have his hands full."
"Hey you give that kid back his ball!" they heard Trent yelling at one of the kids.
"Sure thing I bet Trent doesn't have a clue how to deal with children," Kira laughed.
"Thanks," Kim replied, "I'll see what's up with the girl." Kim walked toward the corner where the little girl was sitting. She had long camel brown hair and she was wearing an orange bandanna on her head. The girl was wearing a beige capris pants and an orange tank top.
"Hey cutie," Kim greeted the girl, "Why is a little adorable little girl like you sitting all by herself in the corner? Don't you want to play with the other children?" There was something about the little girl that drew Kimberly's attention to try to comfort the girl. She wanted to help her out and her parental instincts began to kick in.
"I…can't because I'm new and I don't know anybody here," the girl sighed, "I don't have any friends I know of."
"I'm sure that the other kids would want to play with you," Kim smiled at the girl, "What's your name?"
"My name is Lulu," the girl smiled at Kim, "You're a really nice lady. Can you sit with me until I get picked up? They told they come at around 5:30pm."
"Okay then I'll sit with you Lulu," Kim smiled, "My name is Kimberly Oliver. I see you're a pretty shy little girl Lulu. I'll sit with you if you promise me one thing?"
"Alright," Lulu replied, "What is it?"
"Next time…try to play with the other kids," Kim asked, "It helps to make friends because everyone here is friends. Promise me that Lulu okay?"
"I promise I will. We just moved here from San Antonio Texas. I'm living with my daddy's friend's family and their three kids. Daddy's friend owns a karate school here so we moved down here a few weeks ago."
"What happen to your parents Lulu?" Kim asked.
"They said that mommy and daddy are in heaven with God," Lulu replied, "It's been seven months. I miss them everyday and I wish I was still in San Antonio with mommy and daddy. But they're in heaven right now." Kim felt sympathy for Lulu as she realized that Lulu was an orphan and that her parents died. She was now living with her father's friend's family in Reefside. It must have been hard for Lulu to lose her parents at such a young age.
"I'm sorry to hear about that," Kim said as she patted Lulu on the shoulder, "I know it's hard and you miss your mommy and daddy. Just remember that they will be with you no matter what because they're watching over you."
"Thank you Mrs. Oliver," Lulu smiled as she got up and ran towards a woman, "There she is!" Kimberly was surprised when Lulu ran over to her the woman who turned out to be her old friend Katherine Hillard Scott.
"How is it going Lulu? Are you ready to go?" Kat replied as she saw Kim, "Kimberly?"
"Oh my goodness Katherine," Kim smiled as the two friends hugged, "What are you doing here? Who are these two little cuties in the stroller?"
"These two are fraternal twins here," Kat smiled at the two toddlers in the stroller, "This is Keira Elizabeth Scott and Darren Grant Scott. I just came to pick up Lulu from daycare. Jason had to run some errands and he has our son Liam with us."
"So I see you guys are living in Reefside now?" Kim asked, "So I guess you and Jason must be Lulu's foster family then?"
"Technically yes," Kat replied, "Jason and I had to take care of her after her parents died in a car accident seven months ago. Her father was Jason's business partner at the dojo they ran in San Antonio."
"I see," Kimberly replied as Tommy came in with Courtney and Ben, "Hey Handsome you're right on time!"
"Hey Beautiful are you ready to go?" Tommy asked giving his wife a kiss, "Oh my goodness Kat what are you doing here?"
"I'm just here to pick up Lulu here," Kat smiled pointing to the six year girl.
"Well I guess you're husband is outside waiting for you with Liam," Tommy smiled.
"I assume that you met up with Jason earlier," Kat smiled as Jason and Liam came, "Well you're on time Jason Scott to pick up your wife and your kids."
"C'mon give me a break Kitty Kat," Jason smiled, "How's it going Lulu?"
"It's going good," Lulu smiled, "Do you all know each other?"
"We all used to be friends in high school," Tommy smiled at the little girl. He was getting a weird sensation from Lulu looking at her as if he saw her before, "My name is Tommy Oliver."
"Nice to meet you," Lulu smiled shaking his hand.
"Hey I got an idea," Kim replied, "Why don't we take the kids out for dinner tonight and the four of us can catch up on old times. What do you two say?"
"I say that's a great idea," Jason and Kat smiled, "Do you know any good places?"
"We know of one place," Tommy and Kim replied, "Just follow us." With that, the four friends left the Reefside Community Center and headed off to have dinner with their children in toll.