A Family Reunited

by Karen Page

"I think we should go today," announced Andy. There was no reason to elaborate further. It was a conversation they'd had over the last few weeks. They'd had a message from the S.P.A. administration telling them that since they were in the UK, they could visit their parents now, even though their four years wouldn't be up for several more weeks.

Andy and Stacy had just got back from a morning run. It was something they'd done nearly every day since they'd joined Hayfield. It had been years since they'd finished school, but the habit remained.

"At no notice?" shrieked Stacy, her heart beginning to speed up.

"No, your parents are aware someone is visiting. Luke sent an email the other day saying to be in at lunchtime."

"And you are telling me now!"

"You've been putting this off for weeks. We won't be in the UK for much longer. The election is over. All we're waiting for is David and Helen to finish, and we'll all go to America together. We will be moved to another project, and they go to University."

"You're a bastard," she screamed.

"If you say so," replied Andy without rancour. "Let's shower and get going. If you're quick, we might be able to stop for a late breakfast on the way."

"Really?! You really think I'm going to be able to eat at a time like this?"

"Of course you will. You've been in a lot more stressful situations than this, and always eaten."

"This is visiting my family. That was totally different. A family I've not seen for ten years."

"I've sent a message to my parents. Since we are going to see yours today, I've bitten the bullet and arranged to see mine tomorrow. Does that make you feel any better?"

"A bit," capitulated Stacy. "I just hope neither are too angry with us."

The journey was mostly in silence. The radio was on, which was the only thing that broke the silence, as they drove for miles along the motorway.

It was just before lunchtime they pulled up outside the house that Stacy had lived in before she got the position at Hayfield. There was only one parking space on the driveway, and that was taken by an old pale blue Corsa. The white pebble dash external walls were faded and looked like they could do with a coat of paint. The willow tree in the centre of the front garden had grown, but it was the same house that Stacy remembered.

"You'll stay with me?" asked Stacy, nervously.

"Where else would I be going?"

Andy was nervous himself. He'd not thought how terrifying it would be to meet Stacy's parents.

Stacy took a deep breath, and gracefully got out of the car. Andy followed suit and they made their way, holding hands, to the house. They hadn't made it halfway down the drive when the front door opened, and Stacy's mother, Mary, stood looking. Andy took in the picture, and knew he was looking at how Stacy would look in twenty years. They were so similar, only a blind person wouldn't know they were related.

"Welcome home," said Mary, grabbing her daughter and giving her a hug.

"Mum," sobbed Stacy on her mum's shoulder.

"Hush now," sobbed Mary back.

Andy stood aside, tears coming to his eyes at the tenderness of their reunion. He just hoped his reunion would be as good.

Eventually the two women separated, but Mary kept a hand on Stacy like she was afraid her child would disappear.

"Mum, this is Andy, my other half."

"Hi," said Mary, and gave him a hug. After a few startled seconds, he enclosed her in his arms.

When that was over, Mary ushered them to the lounge. "Sit. Was it a long journey? Do you want a drink?"

"Coffee please," said Stacy. "White, no sugar."

"And you?" Mary asked Andy.

"The same, but no milk."

She rushed off to the kitchen leaving the two guests alone. Andy glanced around. He'd known that Stacy's family came from a poor area. He'd also seen what the area had been like when they did a concert at her old school. Yet seeing the house, it was a stark difference to life he'd had before Hayfield.

Yet, as he glanced around again, he began to take in other things. Yes, the room was small, and the furniture didn't match, but it was all looked after and there wasn't a spot of dust. There were pictures of family on the far wall, and Andy got up to take a closer look. Stacy joined him, and she told him about some of them.

Mary was soon back with three mugs of instant coffee. She saw them looking at the pictures and listened to her daughter. It was obvious that Andy knew her history and wondered how they met.

"You don't seem to be surprised about Stacy," said Andy, mentioning the topic that Mary had been avoiding.

"Stacy. I like that name. I'd have been more surprised if Marcus had turned up. I knew about her before she went off to the music school. I thought she would transition as soon as she went to university, but she never mentioned it. I see she has been hiding a lot from me."

"Sorry," muttered Stacy as they all sat back down. "I didn't know how to tell you. I was so nervous coming today. Andy arranged this."

Mary frowned at that. "So how did Luke tell me you were coming then?"

"I asked him to," admitted Andy.

"Luke knows he's got a sister?"

"Yes. He found out a few months ago."

"Am I the last to know?"

"I've not told Dad."

"He should be back from work in about an hour. That gives me chance to grill you before he gets here."

Stacy gave a nervous laugh.

"Does he know about me? I mean, like you knew I was really Stacy."

"He did once I pointed it out to him. He was confused about it for a bit but as people got more tolerant, he began to see it wasn't really anything to be confused about. I know he's looking forward to seeing you today. He tried to get the day off, but it was too late."

As they talked, Andy became aware of the smell of cooking. This caused his stomach to growl a bit.

"No eating until Dad's home," said Stacy quietly.

Mary must have heard as she laughed. "Men. They're always hungry. John will be home soon and then we can all eat. So, where did you meet?"

"At school," Stacy said truthfully. "As I mentioned in my emails, we were buddied up with a friend."

"You're that Andy?" Mary asked. "The one who put mistletoe in front of a projector when there was going to be a movie?"

"I'll never live that down," said Andy. The way Mary phrased the question it was like Stacy hadn't mentioned the quality of the school and all that was there. "I was young and needed to learn how to channel my energy."

After a gentle chat, Mary mentioned that she needed to finish preparing the meal.

"I'll help," said Stacy standing up.

"Me too," responded Andy, joining Stacy on their feet.

Mary looked shocked. "I'll be fine. I'm just used to it being me in the kitchen. You two relax, you had a long journey."

"It seems to be going well," said Andy when he was alone with Stacy.

"We have my dad to come," responded Stacy.

As if she'd jinxed things, the sound of the front door opening put them both on edge. Stacy's dad, John, was home.

"They're in the front room," Mary called out from the kitchen.

The front door slammed shut and a few seconds later, John poked his head around the door. Andy wasn't surprised to see that he looked like Luke, though not totally. Luke's cheek bones were more his mothers, but that nose. Yes, that was Luke's father.

"I'm just going to change," he said and the sound of him going up the stairs could be heard echoing around the house.

Stacy exhaled slowly. She hadn't realised until then that she'd held her breath when her dad had appeared. A few seconds later, there was the sound of Mary following her husband upstairs.

"I hope he'll be okay," said Stacy.

Andy put his arms around Stacy and pulled her close. "Whatever happens, I'm here and will help as much as I can. We're a team."

"Thanks". She rested her head on his shoulder.

It didn't take long before what sounded like a heard of elephants was again pounding the stairs.

"Hi Stacy?" said John, querying the name. It was new to him, and it felt a bit alien.

"Hi Dad," she said, getting up.

There was no hug, and Stacy planted a small kiss on his cheek. John stood there stunned. His hand gently touching where she'd kissed.

"Dad," she continued quickly. "I'd like you to meet Andy."

"Hi Sir," said Andy formally, and offered his hand. John took it and gave a firm handshake.

"How was work?" enquired Stacy as they sat down.

"The usual. Busier this time of year."

That was chatty for John. He kept to himself.

"It's great you didn't have work this afternoon," tried Stacy.

"Yes."

Andy felt the frustration in Stacy. She'd said that her dad was a bit taciturn, but this was ridiculous.

"Do you watch football or rugby?" Andy tried.

"I'm not really into sport."

The awkward silence that followed was broken by Mary calling that the meal was ready. They made their way into the kitchen and sat around a small wooden table. Roast chicken, potatoes, and marrowfat peas. A large jug of gravy adorned the centre of the table.

"I hope this is okay," she said hopefully.

"It's great," said Stacy and Andy agreed by tucking in.

Mary sighed in relief. Stacy seemed so different from the child she'd waved goodbye to all those years ago. The change of physical appearance wasn't the issue. She'd known about Stacy before she'd gone. It was more the calm and confident attitude that she and her boyfriend gave off.

"Why didn't you come to see us when you finished at school?"

"I'd got a job that lasted me until start of university. I also didn't want you to see me until I was confident as Stacy. I didn't realise you knew. I didn't cut you out of my life. I did keep in touch, and I sent letters and emails frequently."

"That's not the same as coming to see us," snapped John. "Are you ashamed of us?"

"John," warned Mary. "Not now."

"It's okay," responded Stacy. "No, I'm not ashamed of you. I was worried you might be ashamed of me. I'm not the person you knew when I was little."

Andy felt a bit awkward. He decided he had to say something. "Stacy worked really hard at school and university."

John just grunted and finished his food in silence. As soon as everyone else had finished, he left the table. A few minutes later, the front door slammed as he left the house.

"Oh dear," fretted Mary, not knowing what to say.

"Why don't you two go to the lounge," suggested Andy. "You can catch up a bit. Leave the washing-up to me."

"I can't do that," said Mary, horrified. "You're a guest."

"I can and will," said Andy firmly. "I find washing up relaxing. In the orchestra, I played percussion. I promise not to treat the plates like drums."

Andy didn't rush the washing-up, wanting to leave time for Stacy to bond with her mother. He looked out of the window and the back garden as he did the dishes, trying to imagine Stacy playing out there when younger. Yet she was now in pain. Her dad had run off, not wanting to discuss things. He hoped they would be able to reconcile, but at the moment it was difficult to know how.

They'd been told by friends that had been in the year above, that visiting their parents had been hard. The parents had been upset that they'd not been to see them since leaving school. The standard literature discussed what to do when a child had been fully estranged, but that wasn't their situation.

Andy knew the school had to be protected. It helped so many pupils in so many ways. To people who hadn't been there would have thought it was cruel. In some ways it was. Was reconciliation a new type of cruelty? Would a failure of reconnecting cause a complete breakdown in the relationship?

Andy sighed and after putting the dishtowel over the draining pots, went off to find Stacy.

That wasn't difficult. The door to the lounge was open and he spied them chatting away. Andy hesitated, but Stacy had looked up, and a large smile came over her face when she saw him.

Mary had seen her daughters look change and glanced across to see Andy hovering in the hall. "You really love him, don't you?"

"Yes."

"I'm glad. Everybody deserves happiness in their lives. I've been married nearly thirty years to John. The only times I've ever really been sad is when my parents died, when John's parents died and when you and Luke went off to boarding school."

"I'm sorry."

The smile disappeared from Stacy's face, and Andy quickly made his way into the room to be with her.

"Don't be. A parent wants what is best for their children. You got a great education. It was much better than you'd have got locally. You played in the orchestra and played abroad. You and Luke used to play for hours, always practicing and learning. I'm not surprised a music school wanted you to play with them."

"Stacy was really good," said Andy. "She was the leader of the orchestra. That is the top player. Outside of the orchestra, in the last year she was the head pupil."

"You never said in your letters or emails," scolded Mary.

Stacy blushed. "I didn't want to seem big headed."

"I don't think anybody would ever describe you as big headed. Reserved and modest are two words that come to mind."

Stacy blushed again and Andy laughed. "Mum, we have a bit of a journey ahead of us. We are going to see Andy's parents tomorrow."

"Has he abandoned his parents too?"

Andy winced at Mary's ferocity.

"I wouldn't say abandoned. I just didn't feel it was fair on Stacy if I saw them when she was still discovering herself. Our jobs will have us back in America in a few weeks. Is it okay if we visit again before we go stateside?"

Mary smiled. "I'll see you both next Saturday."

As they approached the car, Stacy asked, "Can I drive this bit?"

"Sure," said Andy handing her the keys.

As they drove away, they saw Mary waving. After they'd gone round the corner, Stacy didn't head out of town but went down a side road.

"Where are we going?" asked Andy when he noticed they weren't heading where he expected.

"When dad gets upset, he normally goes to the allotments. He has a plot there where he grows veg. This whole situation feels like it needs to be sorted. Are you okay with that?"

"Sure. Ding ding. Round two."

Stacy couldn't help but chuckle. Even at the worst times, Andy still was able to make her laugh. "I hope it doesn't come to fisty cuffs."

The allotment wasn't far away, and Stacy pulled up outside along the road.

"Can I do this myself?"

"If you want," responded Andy cautiously. "If you're not back in thirty minutes, I'll come check on you."

She passed him the car keys and strolled into the allotment. It was a large plot of land with about thirty pitches. She knew where her dad was and made her way along the dirt path.

When she was young, the allotments had been a safe place for her. They were often filled with older people who didn't care for youngsters causing trouble. It was a place they could escape and potter around. There was a new shed at Mr Thomas plot, but the goods being grown appeared the same. She was shocked at Mr Lightwoods plot. It was all left wild. This used to be one of the best cared-for plots.

John was where she had expected him to be. He was knelt, pulling weeds out that had dared get into the carrot patch. Stacy didn't say anything but got on her knees and joined him tending the plot like she'd done so many years ago.

"I see you've not forgotten everything I taught you," he said gruffly.

"You and mum taught me so much which is still with me. You taught me to be kind and never to give up. You taught me how to stand up for what I believed in, and that I could be whatever I wanted to be. You never once called me a derogatory name. You loved me and accepted me. But I worry now you don't like me."

"You're so different. The letters you would send us telling us about the concerts you'd done, and the things you'd learnt. It was so different from what I knew. I was proud you'd been learning, but it was hard as I was being left behind. Then today when I saw you. You look so posh. Your hair is styled like you see in the films, and your clothes are so fancy. It was a shock, and I didn't know how to relate. I was worried that I'd say something silly."

"If you've nothing sensible to say, then say nothing," responded Stacy, repeating something her dad had said so many times when she was younger.

"You do remember!" John exclaimed.

"It's part of me. It is part of what you taught me. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for what you and mum taught me. Learning can come from books. You taught me how to learn and the wisdom to know what was right and wrong. That was far more important."

John thought about it for a bit as they weeded in silence. Eventually he said, "You and Andy seem really happy together. Do you love him?"

"Very much so."

"In your emails, you said you were working in America. You aren't just here to see us, are you?"

"Work has us both in the UK for a bit. A side project. This is why we look so smart. Where we've been working, they require us to be smart. Unfortunately, we will probably be back in America in a few weeks, so we are making sure we get to see you. I plan to visit again next weekend."

"You do? That's great."

"You're emailing so well these days. Are you ready for a new challenge?"

"There's more than email?"

"How would you like to learn about Skype?"

"What on Earth is that?"

"A way to have video calls."

"I'm not sure," John said, all serious. "I might have to brush my hair before talking to you."

Stacy laughed. Her dad's dry humour wasn't something she was aware she'd missed until then. "It's so good to see you again."

"Ahh, here comes Andy," said John. "I think he's making sure you're okay."

"Is it thirty minutes already?"

"Was that just in case you needed rescuing?"

"Either that, or we would have things straightened out."

"That's my girl. Always plan ahead, just like I taught you. Just where you and your brother got your musical talent is a mystery."

John stood up and brushed the dirt off his jeans. Stacy followed suit just as Andy arrived.

"Do you mind giving me a lift home?" John asked. "I'm sure Mary will want to have words with me."

Stacy chuckled and Andy threw the keys to her, which she deftly caught.

"It didn't come down to fisty cuffs?" queried Andy as they made their way to the car.

"Never. I only ever hit someone once and that was because they hurt my child."

Stacy put her arm around her dad and gave him a squeeze. It still brought a lump to her throat knowing what her dad had done to protect her.

"This is so fancy," said John in awe as he settled into the front passenger seat.

"It's just a company car," responded Stacy as they set off. "I couldn't afford something like this."

"So, what exactly do you do? You were a little vague."

"We are investigators. What we investigate and who we investigate is confidential. That's why I haven't mentioned more."

"You're a private eye?" asked John sounding incredulous.

Andy, who was sat in the back, laughed.

"I suppose that's one way to put it, but not in the usual sense."

Stacy pulled up outside her parent's house and they walked in together.

"What do you think you were doing, storming off like that?" called Mary from the kitchen.

The kitchen door opened, and she gaped when she saw that John wasn't alone.

"I found Dad at the allotment," explained Stacy. "I wanted to clear the air."

"And?" asked Mary hopefully.

"Things are a lot better," said John. "It's going to take time to get to know each other again, but I will try harder. She hasn't changed as much as I thought she had."

"As will I," said Stacy. "I'm sorry I'd not been back until now."

They sat and talked for hours. John and Mary reacquainted themselves with Stacy and getting to know Andy.

It was late in the evening, and while Stacy had gone to the toilet, Andy asked Stacy's parents, "I'd like your blessing to marry Stacy."

He didn’t feel it was the right thing to ask permission, but he thought it would be a sign of respect to ask for their acceptance.

John looked a bit shocked and started to bristle. Mary interjected, "I don't think we've a problem with that, do we John?"

"Of course not," said John, recovering quickly.

They heard the toilet flush and Stacy came down the stairs. She came into a silent room, with her mother gently weeping.

"What happened?" asked Stacy with concern.

Andy got on one knee. "Stacy, the darling of my life. My days have had meaning since we got to know each other. Not only do you fill me with joy and happiness, but you also give me meaning and hope. My life would be a permanent eclipse if we weren't together. Will you marry me?"

Stacy looked across at her parents and saw her mother's tears were that of joy. Her Dad was also nodding his head.

"Yes," she squeaked, her smile lighting up the room.

Relieved, Andy stood, and they embraced. In his heart he knew that Stacy would say yes. They'd talked about marriage so many times, yet when the time came to ask, he was so worried she would say no. He'd wanted this to be a special day, and he hoped that with the reconciliation between Stacy and her parents, that this could happen.

Their lives would take them where they were needed and that wouldn't often be in the UK, but he knew when they were, a visit here would always happen. As he and Stacy sat down, he just hoped that tomorrows visit to see his parents would work out as well as todays had.