Chapter Nine: Prediction Out in the Open (Part 2)
(Last time on a Multitude of Casualties)
"I don't get it Jason tell me why? I want to know from my own husband's lip as to why the hell we cannot adopt Louise? What is stopping us from adopting her?"
"Because the prediction I found out six years ago came true," Jason said, "Kat…Louise's biological parents are in Reefside and they are looking for her. We can't adopt Louise because we can't take her away from her parents. They already hurt enough giving her up we'll be even…causing them more pain."
"What are you talking about Jason?" Kat replied confused, "How do you we know Louise's biological parents?"
"Because there are our best friends," Jason said, "We can't adopt Louise because…she is actually Louise Isabelle Oliver. She was the baby they gave up six years ago and the daughter they were searching for was right in front of them the whole time. Louise is…Tommy and Kimberly's daughter."
(Now the Conclusion)
Kat stood in disbelief at Jason's revelation. How could have said something like that but was it true? It was hard to grasp the truth about Louise, their foster child or their would have been adoptive daughter. However, she was devastated to accept the fact that Louise was never theirs to begin with, not even the Healys. She was in fact biologically Louise Isabelle Oliver, Tommy and Kimberly's long lost daughter. The child that Tommy and Kim have been searching for was right in front of them the whole time.
"I'm sorry Jason…tell me you're not saying is true?" Kat said in tears, "Tell me…you're lying and that you're making this up! Tell me Louise isn't really Tommy and Kim's daughter and that she is Jeff and Melanie's daughter."
"Forgive me Katherine I should have told you but I didn't realize it until it was too late," Jason sighed trying to comfort his wife, "I wouldn't lie to you but…we have to accept the fact that Louise was never ours to adopt. She is Tommy and Kimberly's daughter."
"I don't want to believe it! How could she be their daughter?" Kat argued, "If Tommy and Kim loved Louise than they wouldn't have given her up six years ago! Does Louise know the truth about her parents? What about her? How would she feel if she found out that her life has been a lie? She's only six years old and to find out that the people she believed were her parents aren't really her parents would crush her! What makes you think they deserve to know?"
"Because it's the right thing to do!" Jason replied, "I know it will be hard but I contemplated whether or not telling Tommy and Kim the truth. However they deserve to know because of everything they had been through for six years. Kim regretted giving up Louise and it tore both of them apart wondering what has become of her. Their daughter was right in from of them the whole entire time. You understand why we can't adopt her because we'd be taking their chances of being with daughter once again."
"Jason the truth will be hard on all of them. Why don't we wait for awhile to tell them the truth shouldn't we? I mean Louise has been through enough already…finding out about the truth of her parents being Tommy and Kim c'mon Jason hasn't she been through enough?"
"I know this is hard Kat but it's time…to set things right."
"What…are you suggesting?" Kat asked nervously, "What happens now once we get back?"
"Katherine you know what we must do," Jason sighed.
"Jason please…don't this isn't right," Kat begged, "You're not suggesting what we should do."
"We have to tell the truth to Tommy and Kim and especially Louise," Jason replied, "We have to give Louise back to them. It will end six years worth of trauma."
"This isn't right we took care of her!" Kat cried, "She should be our daughter not Tommy and Kimberly's! Despite the fact that biologically she is their daughter they were never there for her to beginning with. What happens now? How are we supposed to expect to come back home and tell Louise the truth? Tell me Jason what are we going to do? I…don't know what to do now!"
"I'm not sure…I'm always sure of things…but I'm not anymore," Jason sighed hugging her, "I should be asking you the same question…what do we do now?"
"We…should first go home then," Kat slowly replied, "And…we'll just see what happens. No matter what I'll love you anyways remember that."
"I love you too Kat," Jason said, "I promise we'll be alright trust my word."
Reefside, California- Oliver Residence…
Meanwhile, back at home, Tommy and Kimberly were taking care of Lulu and the twins with Jason and Kat away in San Antonio. The failure of Jason and Kat's adoption of Lulu hasn't come to news yet. They were suppose to be back before Sunday. However, for some reason waiting upon the news of Lulu's adoption seem to rattle the nerves inside the two of them. It was hard for them to discuss about the possibility of Tommy's suspicions of Lulu being their daughter despite how much the subject tore Kim inside. However, on a brighter note it was nice taking care of Lulu, Keira and Darren.
"Aunt Kim look at the pictures Courtney and I drew," Lulu smiled, "Aunt Kim look!"
"Hey you two keep it down okay," Kim replied telling the girls to keep it down, "I just put the twins to sleep okay? We don't want the babies crying right?"
"Sorry mommy," Courtney replied, "Where's Ben? Is he asleep too?"
"Your little brother is asleep Courtney," Kim smiled, "Now you said you two wanted to show me some pictures you two young ladies drew."
"Mine first mommy," Courtney yelled, "This is a picture of a pirate ship and a treasure chest. I am going to show daddy my picture. Daddy! Daddy! Look at my picture!"
"Whoa what's with all the yelling munchkin?" Tommy came into the room, "Oh my little girl drew me a picture. Okay let me see what it is."
Lulu watched as Courtney showed the picture she drew to her father and he smiled as he picked up his daughter. Kim could see a bit of sadness in Lulu watching the scene between Courtney and Tommy. Kim felt a bit of sympathy towards Lulu because she had that sense of not having her parents around. Lulu looked at her picture and she just covered it up.
"Do you like my picture daddy?" Courtney asked, "I made it for you!"
"Of course I love I'll hang it downstairs in front of my desk," Tommy smiled, "I promise."
"Lulu…what did you draw?" Kim kindly asked her, "Can I see your picture?"
"Aunt Kim…would you mind calling me Louise instead?" Lulu said through tears, "I…like if you call me by my real name instead so I don't have to miss daddy too much when he calls me Lulu. I missed when daddy and mommy called me Louise Isabelle Healy. I liked it when daddy called me Lulu because it reminded me of a cartoon character on TV. I'm sorry…I shouldn't be sad because I'm going to have a new family now. Mommy and daddy would have wanted me to be happy with whoever is going to take care of me."
"Louise Isabelle Healy?" Kim smiled putting a hand on her shoulder, "That's a pretty name. I like the name Louise. It reminds me of someone a long time ago. Whatever suits you I'll call you Louise. It's alright to cry sometimes, everyone cries sometimes…even me. Whenever you miss someone…you can't help but to think about them from time to time. I once lost someone too and I miss them everyday. But inside I know they are happy wherever they are. Don't ever think you're alone because…you have people who love you and will be there for you."
"Will you be there for me too?"
"Of course I will…I promise you Louise." Looking at Louise made Kim think back to that time 6 years ago she didn't want to recall…putting her baby up for adoption. She quickly went outside in the backyard because she didn't want Tommy or anyone else seeing her cry.
(FLASHBACK- 6 years ago)
The two of them left Kimberly alone in the room. She picked up the baby from the cot and gently began rocking her. She looked at her daughter with tears in her eyes reminding her how much she resembled Tommy. She was basically the one thing to Kimberly that reminded her of everything she had with Tommy.
"Hey sweetie I know that after today…a lot will change for us," Kim sighed, "I know that you'll probably be somewhere else by this time tomorrow. I want you to know that no matter where you are I will always love you and think about you from time to time. You're daddy also loves you too even though he doesn't know about you. Inside I know that I'm going to regret giving you up. I don't want you to grow up thinking that I didn't want to keep however you know as much as I wanted to we both know that financially and emotionally we can't cope. Someday I promise I will find you again. All that matters to me now is your happiness."
A few moments later Kim called the social worker back into her room talking about the adoption process for her baby. It was heartbreaking for Kim to discuss it but she had to ensure her daughter's future. She was filling out the adoption papers to finalize the deal.
"Ms. Hart are you fully aware that this is an legal adoption contract?" the social worker asked Kim, "Because once you enter this there is no chance under legal circumstances you cannot get regain custody back of your daughter unless otherwise?"
"I…am fully aware of that," Kim sighed, "Just promise one thing…whoever adopts my daughter please make sure that they will take care of her. I want her to be happy."
(END OF FLASHBACK)
"Kimberly?" Tommy called seeing sitting in the backyard, "Hey Beautiful why are you crying?"
"I promised myself I wouldn't cry…and that I'd move on with my life," Kim sighed, "Everyone cries right? But times like this you shouldn't cry…especially when you have to be strong for someone else who needs you. Tommy…if you found out 6 years earlier about Louise's adoption would you have still stayed with me regardless what I did? Sometimes I feel that you're still with me because we're married with two kids and that you're obligated to stay with me out of guilt. I feel…that there are times I don't deserve you…or being there for Louise."
"Hey c'mon don't think that way okay? Do you know I'm still with you after all these years Kimberly?" Tommy smiled holding her hand, "It's because I love you too much to not lose you or everything we built together in our relationship. You don't know how much you mean to me that I would do anything just to see you smile again. Even if I found out 6 years earlier or later about Louise…nevertheless I would still love you and stand by you. Sometimes I feel if I haven't done enough for you just to see you smile all over. I don't think of you as a obligation to be with…I think of you as someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I think of you as someone who I would die for just to keep safe."
"Would…I have been a good enough mother to Louise if I kept her?" Kim asked.
"You're a loving mother to two beautiful kids who adore you," Tommy added, "I'm sure we would have been good parents to Louise. I shouldn't…have yelled at you about giving up Louise and all that stuff I said about what you did. It was my fault I put you through it and I wasn't there for the both of you. Sometimes…I wish I didn't bring up the topic of our daughter if it meant bringing back those old memories. Whether you believe me or not, it is your choice if you want to believe that our daughter is here in Reefside."
"I wish I could believe you Tommy," Kim sighed, "Somewhere in my heart I do believe you…but I don't know when it's the time."
"I won't rush you…but all you got to do is look into her eyes," Tommy replied, "Something inside the eyes of that girl would show the truth."
"Aunt Kimberly?" Lulu called out, "Why are you crying?"
"Oh I thought….you were heading off to bed," Kim replied seeing the little girl come out, "Is everything alright honey?"
"Mommy Kat and Daddy Jason called," Lulu replied, "They've arrived back home and they're coming to pick up me and the twins. They said they'll be here soon."
"So I guess…you got a new family then?" Kim replied with a bit of sadness, "I'm…happy for you sweetheart."
"Thank you Aunt Kim. I love mommy Kat and daddy Jason a lot. I wish…mommy and daddy were here to see this. But I know they're looking after me. You know something Aunt Kim and Uncle Tommy? I get this feeling being around you like I've known you from before. I don't know why but I get this weird sensation that is different from mommy and daddy. It feels like I need you to be there for me but I would consider you guys to be my favorite aunt and uncle."
"I'm glad to hear that kiddo," Tommy smiled, "So I guess you're part of the Scott family now?"
"I am happy about that," Lulu said giving Kimberly a hug, "Remember…you promised you call me by my real name…Louise Isabelle. Okay?"
Something inside of Kimberly made her feel more attached to Lulu more than ever. Memories of Louise's birth six years ago began to flood her mind and how she remembered staring into her daughter's eyes…seeing that they reminded her of Tommy's. She never knew anything about Louise and why now six years later she felt like Louise was with her. Suddenly it clicked to her now…maybe Tommy was right. Looking into Lulu's eyes, she was beginning to see the truth.
(FLASHBACK)
"She sure does look beautiful Kim," Aisha replied, "She looks so much like you."
"Everything but the eyes and nose," Kim slightly smiled, "She…has Tommy's eyes."
"Are you sure you want to go through this? I mean once you give her up for adoption then…there's no turning back," Trini replied, "I know I can't stop you from whatever choice you make but can you regret not telling Tommy that you're planning to give up your daughter for adoption? Have you given any thoughts of what it would be like once you give up your daughter?"
"He doesn't have to know…in fact he doesn't know I was ever pregnant with his baby. I couldn't tell him because of everything happening back in Angel Grove. How am I going to support her? I can't give her the life she wants. I'm only seventeen and neither of us can't be able to cope with a baby! What am I suppose to do? The only option I got is putting my daughter up for adoption because my parents made it crystal clear that they don't want nothing to do with me anymore! They told me I can go rot in hell for being so stupid and naïve to get myself pregnant! As much as I want her…I know deep down I can't provide and care for her. Whoever adopts her, I hope they can promise to make my baby happy."
"We're not going to stop you Kim," Aisha said, "Whatever you decide we'll support you and help you get through okay?"
(END OF FLASHBACK)
"Oh…my gosh my little Louise," Kim started crying suddenly, "It…can't be you? How is this possible? Can it be true?"
"Aunt Kimberly are you okay?" Lulu asked suspiciously, "Why…are you calling me your little girl? My mommy and daddy died in a car accident Aunt Kim you know that. I just met you a few weeks ago."
"Kimberly what's wrong?" Tommy asked curiously, "Is everything alright?"
"Tommy…maybe you're right," Kim slowly replied, "Is...it true? You never lied to me the whole time…I was the one that was living in denial. Tommy…you never met Louise before have you?"
"You're starting to scare me Aunt Kim!" Lulu replied frightened, "What is going on? Why are you looking at me like that? Uncle Tommy what's wrong? Why are you saying you're that I'm your daughter! I'm not because my parents are dead!"
Meanwhile back inside, Courtney was inside hanging up her picture on the refrigerator. Then she heard the doorbell ring and she answered it. Kat and Jason have arrived back to pick up the kids to take them home.
"Hey Courtney," the two of them greeted, "Is your mommy and daddy home?"
"Yeah they're in the backyard," Courtney replied, "Mommy! Daddy! Aunt Kat and Uncle Jason are here!" Courtney led Kat and Jason in the backyard and they found Tommy and Kim there with a frightened Lulu nearly on the verge of tears.
"Louise, why are you crying?" Kat replied as the little girl hugged her in tears, "What the heck is going on here?"
"Mommy Kat, daddy Jason I want to go home now!" Lulu cried, "Can we go home now?"
"Huh…sure c'mon kiddo let's go," Jason replied as Kat carried Lulu out of the house. Jason went upstairs to get the twins and they made a quick exit without saying anything to Tommy and Kim, "Thanks for looking after the kids."
Tommy and Kim watched from the driveway Jason and Kat's car driving down the road. There was a major sadness inside of both of them watching Jason and Kat take Lulu home. Kim just stood there silently as Tommy put an arm around Kimberly.
"Tommy…I'm beginning to believe our daughter was here the whole entire time and I never knew it," Kim sighed, "Now I believe in my heart Louise is our daughter. She was right in front of us the whole time."
"It's hard to believe now," Tommy said, "Louise…is actually our biological daughter. The only problem is…Kat and Jason has now legally adopted our little girl."
"I'm beginning to feel that things are going to get worse than this," Kim sighed.
Author's notes: sorry for the long delay due to school and work. With school starting up again it's going to be difficult updating. I'll try my best to update soon! Keep sending in those reviews!