by Doc
She didn't know why but anytime Kerry Weaver went to a seminar she always documented everything, from getting ready to go, to traveling, being there and finally coming home and reflecting.
Heading to San Francisco held a pleasure she'd never experienced when heading to a conference, well not since a certain conference where a certain psychiatrist was saving her a seat. Kerry had wondered and had tried to figure out what the odds where that she would bump into Kim.
Kim. What would she do if she did run into her? Tell her about Sandy? Tell her she was sorry? Wait to hear Kim say she was sorry? So many thing ran around her head when thinking about Kim. Deep down Kerry knew all she would do is say hello and ask after Kim. She wouldn't volunteer anything about herself, she had already opened up to that women more than she thought she should have.
Kerry's thoughts were interrupted by the stewardess asking if there was anything Kerry wanted or needed. She politely turned the young woman down but was grateful for the interruption to her thoughts. She sighed out loud, causing the woman next to to ask if she was alright.
"I'm fine, thank you." Kerry was abrupt with the woman. She quickly realized her tone. "I'm sorry." Kerry said smiling at the woman. "It's just," she took a moment to think of her response "It's just that." Kerry truly didn't know what to say.
The older woman had a smile on her face and saw the struggle Kerry was having. "It's alright, dear." She said while patting Kerry's arm gently. "Please don't worry about it. We all have our moments, good and bad." The woman was sincere, with a genuine smile. Kerry relaxed and smiled back at the older woman. She thought the woman was older than herself, not that much older just five or so years older. She had caring eyes, the kind you can trust, the kind where you just talk and then wonder why you've just told your life story to a complete stranger. Kerry decided no matter what she wasn't going to do that here, on a plane with this woman.
Kerry turned away from the woman and looked out the window. She started to get lost in her thoughts again. Wondered about the seminar. No the seminars. This was a few days, several conferences a day, affair. Kerry had also taken several days leave so she would be away from County for two weeks. She was looking forward to the break.
Kerry had mapped out all of the seminars she would attend. Read up on the few topics she didn't know about so she'd be ready to ask questions. There were also a few friends she hoped she would get the chance to meet up with. As hard as she tried she couldn't stay off the topic off Kim for long. She shook her head, trying to rid this woman from her thoughts but in her thoughts Kim, unlike the real thing, wasn't going without a fight. There were to many things, on both sides, that were unsaid or at least Kerry thought that, she assumed all this time that Kim had things unsaid but now, the possibility that she might run into her, she wondered what would Kim say.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A sudden jolt woke Kerry quickly. It took a second for her to realize what had happened. The older woman had fallen on top of her.
"I'm so sorry my dear." The older woman said embarrassed and slightly out of breath. Kerry still looked a little startled and a little lost for words. "I was at the bathroom and lost my balance," she trailed of as she sat down. "I am sorry," she looked worried, Kerry still hadn't said anything and the older woman was apprehensive off how Kerry would react.
Kerry saw the look of what she thought was maybe fear on the older woman's face. "It's okay. Accidents happen." Kerry said with a huge smile on her face. "I should know, it's my job to help people after their accidents." Still with a smile Kerry gently patted the older woman's arm much in the same she had done to Kerry earlier.
The older woman visibly relaxed and broke out into a smile of her own. "I'm not as stable on my feet like I used to be." The older woman was half serious, half joking. Kerry thought she heard a touch off sadness in the older woman's voice.
"Ah, not being stable on your feet, tell me about it." Kerry's voice was soft and light with a gentle laugh. The older woman had witnessed Kerry ahead of her when she had gotten on the plane and knew Kerry was referring to her use off a crutch, she now wondered if the younger woman used the crutch always, not for just getting over an injury. The older woman had noticed the light tone off Kerry's voice but also thought there was a touch off sadness there. Neither off them shared their identical thoughts of the other on this subject. Both sensed the other didn't want to go into detail about their mobility problems. The subject was ended with Kerry smiling a reassuring smile. "Really, don't think anything off it." Both gave a small nod and with that the subject was no longer open for discussion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Both the younger and older woman sat in silence for a while. Kerry hadn't realized how tired she was, not until she had been so abruptly woken, wishing she could have had longer. What had surprised Kerry most was that she had actually fallen asleep. She guessed she could only have been out for ten, maybe fifteen minutes. Kerry knew she wasn't going to fall asleep again, she turned her head to look at the woman next to her and smiled. The older woman smiled back. "Are you heading to San Francisco for business or pleasure, my dear?" Kerry liked the way this woman spoke. She couldn't put her finger on why exactly, she thought that maybe it reminded her of someone but couldn't think who.
"Business." Kerry said. "But I'm hoping to meet up with a few friends while I'm there. What about you, any reason in particular that your heading to San Francisco?"
"To visit family." The woman proudly stated. She smiled before continuing. "I gave my son up for adoption many years ago. He contacted me when he was twenty three. We wrote each other and talked on the phone and met up a few times." Kerry noticed the older woman's smile fade. "The woman he called mom found out and wasn't happy." Kerry noted the bitterness in the older woman's' voice when she said had said mom. Kerry also noted the sadness in the woman's voice as well as her eye's. The older woman cleared her throat before speaking again. "The mother told her son to choose between her the woman who had raised him, she had chosen him, who hadn't ever even considered giving him away are would ever consider abandoning him." Her voice was bitter. Almost angry, "But that's what she was doing by making him choose. This woman made him choose between her and me." She paused uncertain that she could refrain from crying.
Kerry took the older woman's hand in her own. She was feeling a range of emotions of her own. She was about to say some words of comfort to the older women when she found her voice again. "I had told my son, explained why I couldn't keep him. It wasn't an easy decision. I didn't do it because I didn't want him. He knew that." The older woman was angry, sad, lost. Kerry wasn't sure what to say, not that she had the chance to say anything, the older woman just kept going until she apologized to Kerry for bothering her, pulled her hand away from Kerry and got up. The older woman didn't look back. Kerry slightly raised herself out of her seat and saw the older women head to the restroom.
All of what the older woman had said was racing around Kerry's head. She had always been fascinated by stories of adoption and reunions and wondered if her own adoption story would ever continue. Kerry was silent as the older woman took her seat again.
Looking straight ahead the older woman addressed Kerry. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said," the older woman swallowed, "it's been so long since I've seen him." She turned and looked at Kerry who could see and hear the pain this woman had been in from possibly the time she had given her son up for adoption.
Kerry took a deep breath. "It sounds like you love your son very much." The older woman gently nodded her head while tears came to her eyes as Kerry continued. "He was put in a position to choose between the woman who had raised him and the woman who brought him into this world. That's a terrible position for anyone to be in, he maybe experienced what you did when deciding if you should give him up or not." The older woman look surprised, almost hurt in a new way that her son would have had to deal with the feelings that she had gone through. She hadn't thought of it that way before and realized that he would probably have had to go through it alone like she had. Kerry wanted a moment to give the older woman a chance to think about what she had just said. "I'm sure he loves you. His choice I doubt really had anything to do with you." Her voice was low, soft, soothing. "Your son most likely came looking for his identity but when he found it, found you, his identity that he already had was threatened, then the fear of losing it completely with his mothers demand most likely scared him into his choice and fear alone perhaps stopped him from standing up to his mother, reassuring her that she wasn't losing him." The older woman took in every word the younger woman was saying. Processing every detail. Seeing things in a whole new way.
Kerry didn't stop. She felt the older woman urging her to continue with her eyes. "Did your son contact you recently?"
"Yes. He said he was sorry. He told his mother he needed to know me. They are no longer speaking." The older woman's voice was breaking as she spoke. She tried so hard not to break down completely.
Kerry squeezed the older woman's hand and started to speak again sensing the other woman couldn't. "Be gentle with him. Encourage him to speak to his mother." The older woman's face went from sad to angry. She was about to let loose on Kerry, about to tell her more about the pain this woman had caused her and her son but before she could Kerry continued, voice still low, soft and smooth. "She is his mother." Kerry had emphasis the 'is'. The older woman looked even more angry. "She raised him. She did a good job, judging by the pride you have in your voice when speaking of your son. To have your son in your life, to have your son completely in you life you must accept everyone in his life. You don't have to like them but you have to accept them. And to keep him in your life this time your going to have to reach common ground with his mother." The older woman was listening intently. Kerry couldn't tell if she was making herself clear or not but she pressed on anyway. "You are not in your sons life. You never really have been." The older woman pulled her hand away and now looked fully enraged.
"You were his secret. He hadn't told the most important woman in his life he had found you. He must have known how she would react and possibly gauged fairly quickly how you would react to his mother." Kerry wasn't even sure the older woman was listening anymore but continued anyway. "Your son will never be fully happy that he's had to choose again. And he'll never be truly happy to have you without his mom." Kerry saw the older woman flinch slightly at this. "I really truly believe your son loves you." She ventured to take the other woman's hand in her's again, cautiously. "He's been abandoned time and again. Did you contact his mom when he made his choice last time? Did you attempt to thank her for looking after and raising such a fine young man? Did you fight in anyway or did you confirm what his mom was saying and just let him go so easily again?" The older woman was still looking straight ahead, still looked angry but Kerry could see tears in her eyes and saw her face crumple. Kerry took her in her arms and held her as she cried. Several passengers turned to see what was going on but quickly looked away when spying the glare on Kerry's face.
When the older woman stopped crying Kerry spoke again. "I could be so wrong with all I've said but I think to have a relationship, a long lasting one, with your son your going to have to be more open to his mom. He obviously is close to her. Do you rally think he'll stay away forever form her?"
The older woman looked Kerry in the eye, fought back tears and spoke. "I love him and wanted it to be just him and me. I spent so many years thinking off what our reunion would be like and it was like it at first but it wasn't real. When reality came into play I wasn't willing to accept it and neither was his mom. I resented that he called her mom and me by my first name. I resented how much he loved her. I resented how much she loved him. I resented what a good job she had done in the role of mother, the role that should have been mine, that was mine but I gave up. I prayed he would get the life he had but I didn't want to accept who was responsible." Kerry remained silent as the older woman continued talking while fighting tears. "She, his mom did do an excellent job raising James. That's the name she gave him. I had named him Donald. I resented her when he innocently said he preferred James." Kerry smiled sympathetically at the older woman, trying to understand. "How do I make things right? How do I keep my son in my life forever?"
Kerry thought for a minute. She rubbed the older woman's hand as softly as she could. "I don't know." Was all Kerry could think off. She thought some more. "I think you maybe shouldn't keep referring to James as your son." Kerry could see the older woman was about to protest and continued before she had the chance. "He *is* your son. He always will be. But in some ways he isn't. He's this other woman's son for all intents and purposes." Kerry was so gentle. "She was there for his first word, first steps all the first in his life." Kerry felt her heart break when she saw the look of hurt that washed over the older woman's face. "You can't change him or take this woman out of his life." Kerry took a deep breath and thought again. "Do you know when you said the word James you sounded resentful, bitter even?" The older woman looked genuinely shocked. "No? I didn't think so. James would have picked up on that." The older woman processed what she was hearing.
The silence was long and thoughtful. "Maybe you could write a letter to James, his mother and anyone else in his family that could see you as splitting up their family. Explain your fears, your thoughts. Let them all know you want James in your life and it would be good for everyone, especially James, if they all were in your life. Tell them about yourself, likes, dislikes. You are a wonderful, genuine, caring woman. You've suffered more than most and only you can stop that from happening anymore." The tears ever present in the older woman's eyes spilled over.
"I only want my son." She stopped and looked straight at Kerry before correcting herself. "I only want James in my life." She gave a small smile. "And with that I mean I want him in my life and I'll do anything to keep it that way this time. I wanted to know his family but I was so afraid they wouldn't like me and would stop me from seeing my so." She stopped mid word and started again. "I was afraid they'd stop me from seeing James." Kerry looked knowingly and the older woman let out a small laugh. "Yes, I know, my dear they stopped me anyway." She let out a long slow breath. "You know, you've helped a great deal. When I say James I don't feel as territorial as I do when I say my son. That alone I think will help." The older woman took Kerry by surprise and hugged her.
Kerry smiled at the other woman. "I hope I have helped. I don't know if I have made much sense but I hope some of what I have said helps."
"It already has. I used to write letters to my son. I have hundreds letters." Kerry was surprised at the number. The older woman seeing the surprised look added, "I started writing letters from the day I found out I was pregnant. I wrote all my hopes and dreams I had for him. Well back then it was for him or her, I didn't know what I was having beyond it being a baby." Both woman laughed, long and loud causing several passengers to now see these two woman laughing their asses of that had been in tears just minutes before.
"Did you show James any of your letters?"
"No." Was the simple short answer.
Kerry could tell that the older woman wasn't going to continue. "If you don't mind me asking, why not?"
The older woman just smiled then shrugged her shoulders. "I was afraid he wouldn't understand."
"Maybe both he and his mom would benefit to see exactly what you went through. How you came to the decision that you did. Why you came to the decision you did. Writing things down, your more likely to be completely open and honest. You've already opened yourself up to so much hurt, maybe fully opening up, leaving nothing hidden will be what you all really need. James' mom probably feels what your feeing, that she might lose her son and at the moment she has. If you help her get James back in her life that might be a good start for you both."
The two woman kept talking. Kerry realized she had worried at first that she would reveal to much of herself to this woman but it ended up being the other way round. Kerry then realized that in a way she had revealed a lot, the older woman just didn't know it. Fears her mom would sometimes share with her the few times Kerry mentioned about finding her birth mother. The fears she would share with her mom and the few she wouldn't or couldn't share with her her, like she would maybe be in the same position James had found himself in. Kerry was more than sure her mom wouldn't put her through that but still it had crossed her mind.
The two woman talked all the way to the end of the flight, through the 'Please fasten seat belt sign' to the landing. They sat talking, neither of them keen to try and get off the plane with so many people and both of them needing some assistance when walking. They continued talking not realizing it was clear for them to depart, eventually the staff had to ask them to leave. Both women laugh and left the plane still talking. The older woman periodically thanking Kerry and Kerry in return always waving her off saying that it was nothing, she was glad she could help.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Both woman walked from the plane into the airport, still laughing and talking. They spoke of many things not just adoption but everything, anything and nothing at all. Kerry felt so at ease with this woman and the older woman felt the same about Kerry. She had shared so much with the younger woman and was forever grateful to her for giving her another perspective, one she would never have discovered without her new friend.
"Oh my, where's James." The older woman looked around. She finally pointed to a man standing at the enquiry desk. Kerry spotted James and was immediately struck by the resemblance between the older woman and her son. "That's him, that's my," she trailed of and like before corrected herself, "that's James."
Kerry smiled at the excited older woman, so happy to see her son. "We took so long getting off the plane, he maybe thought you didn't come."
The older woman was shocked and then laughed. "Oh, the poor thing. James. JAMES." The old woman was shouting now and waving in the direction of James. "JAMES." James hears her this time and turned to see her. He ran to his birth mother and wrapped his arms around her. He pulled back and was all smiles. They both said how happy they were to see each other and kept hugging. Kerry looked on, slightly amused. She then noticed a woman hovering in the background. Kerry guessed she would be around the same age as her traveling companion and guessed she had something to do with James, it crossed her mind that maybe that was his mom. Could they have made up? Kerry hoped so and that she was here to try and make things work for her son.
James finally looked at Kerry and then back to his birth mother. Kerry wasn't sure she should have stayed but she really was mesmerized by the scene she had just witnessed. Quickly the older woman remembered Kerry standing next to her, she went to introduce her to James when she realized on vital detail. "I don't know your name." Both woman stared at each other.
Kerry finally said "I don't know your's either." Both woman laughed. Poor James could do nothing but wonder what was going on.
"She's not with you?" James asked. Kerry noted a hint of suggestion in his voice and wondered what that was about.
"Oh, no. Nooooo. No. She's not with me." Kerry noted the extra emphasis and that the unnamed woman slightly slowed down on the 'not with me'. She wasn't sure what it meant. Before she could find a way of not directly asking the older woman spoke. "I'm Terri." She put her hand out which Kerry happily filled with her own and shook.
"I'm Kerry. I'm so pleased to meet you." Both woman were smiling and James was left wondering what was going on.
"James this is my good friend, Kerry. Kerry this is my," she stopped dead not knowing what to say.
Kerry hadn't missed Terri calling her a 'good friend' and was warmed at that. She could also see her 'good friend' struggling. She leaned in close and whispered so only her new friend would hear, "This is something you both can decide. Who he should introduce you as and who you should introduce him as." She pulled back and smiled at her friend. She placed a hand on Terri's arm before turning to James. "Hi, James. I'm Kerry. I've heard so much about you and am so pleased that I had this opportunity to meet you." She smiled a big friendly smile at him.
James was still confused but remembered his manners. He stuck out a hand to meet Kerry's. "I'm James and I'm pleased to meet you. I haven't heard anything about you." He said, still looked confused and neither woman missed it. Looking at each other they laughed.
There was a cough from behind James. The kind that was more for attention than for need. All three looked and Kerry saw the woman that had been hovering had now moved closer. Terri took hold of Kerry's arm, more to help balance herself than anything. James turned back and looked concerned at his birth mothers reaction. Kerry was certain now that this was the woman who had raised James.
"Mom." James embraced his mother. They both whispered. Neither Kerry or Terri could hear but could tell that the mother was apprehensive. Still quiet but loud enough for Kerry and Terri to hear James asked his mom "Ready?" She gave a small nod. James turned to face the two woman and ushered his mom forward. "Terri, this is my mom, Elizabeth. Mom this is Terri."
The two women looked at each other for a long moment and then shook hands. "I'm glad to meet you, we should have done this a long time ago, I'm so sorry." Terri said with tears coming to her eyes.
Elizabeth was a little taken with this and her face softened. "No, I'm the one that should be sorry. I made so many mistakes where you were concerned and I am truly sorry." Both woman where now crying and hugging and saying apologies and admitting where they went wrong and how they wish they had sorted this out before.
Kerry wasn't sure what to do, neither did James, of all the reactions he was expecting tears and hugging wasn't even close. The hugging women finally pulled themselves apart from each other. "I didn't expect you to be here." Terri said to the Elizabeth.
Elizabeth with a big smile replied "James came to me this morning. We finally sat and talked about his adoption, you and how you should be in *our* sons life."
Terri immediately burst into tears again and grabbed hold of Kerry this time because she was closer. The tears began to subside and Kerry offered a tissue. Terri went over to Elizabeth. "Do you mean that? Are you okay with me being in James' life?" Terri waited patiently for an answer.
Elizabeth took in a deep breath. "Yes. Yes, I mean it. I still have a lot of issues to deal with and I don't think it'll be easy but for James I'm willing to try." Elizabeth embraced Terri again who was fighting hard against another onslaught of tears.
In barely a whisper Terri thanked Elizabeth.
"So. Um... We're all good?" James asked hopefully.
Terri and Elizabeth together answered. "Yes."
Elizabeth looked over to Kerry. James looking a little embarrassed that he had forgotten about Terri's friend. "Mom, this is Kerry. Terri's friend." Again Kerry picked up on the slight change in James' voice when he said 'friend'.
"Oh." Is all Elizabeth could get out. Kerry was surprised by the response. "Um, friend." There it was again Kerry thought, 'what is wrong with me being Terri's friend?' What was she missing? As if remembering her manners like her son had done earlier Elizabeth acknowledged Kerry. "Hello. I'm sorry. I'm not usually so... um... Kerry and Terri, it rhymes." Looking slightly embarrassed she quickly said, "it's very nice to meet you, Kerry."
Kerry took Elizabeth's hand. Still not sure by the reaction Elizabeth had to her but remembered her own manners responded with a firm hand shake and, "It's nice to meet you too."
There was an awkward silence for a few moments. Kerry finally spoke. "Well, it was really great to meet you all." She turned to Terri, "I enjoyed our talk on the plane and I hope things work out." She looked over to James and Elizabeth and then back to Terri, with a smile, "I think it's going to be just fine."
"I hope so." Terri said enthusiastically, smiling at James and his mom. "I really do. I was going to stay at James' home but..."
James was stunned. "Your not staying at mine anymore?" All three of the woman heard the hurt tone in James' voice. Elizabeth was a little jealous of it but pushed it aside.
"You should still stay with James. There's a big medical conference in town so finding an empty hotel room will be near impossible." Elizabeth was relieved she managed to say it without it sounding false.
"I'd like you to stay at my place. Please." He had a small playful pout that Terri couldn't say no too.
With a happy, relieved tone Terri replied, "I'd love to stay at your place. Thank you." The thank you was more to Elizabeth than James. Elizabeth didn't miss it and gave a small nod of her head with smile. Both woman knew it was going to bad hard to be around each other but not nearly as bad as they expected.
Terri turned back to Kerry then back to Elizabeth and James. "Kerry had a wonderful idea of me writing you both letters about the whole situation, my feelings and thoughts etc. I think it's a really good idea."
Elizabeth went into her purse and produced an envelope and handed it to Terri. Looking at Kerry she said, "Great minds think alike." Kerry smiled at the woman still sensing there was some unease that Elizabeth was feeling.
Kerry again made her move to leave. "I really should be heading off to my hotel before they give my room away thinking I'm a no show."
Kerry noticed the extremely confused look on Elizabeth's face. "You're not staying at James' house?" Her voice full of surprise.
Now Kerry looked confused. "Why would I?"
Elizabeth was taken aback with the response. "Aren't you both," she was pointing at Kerry and Terri.
"Oh." Terri said.
"No. No, mom."
"Kerry and I are just friends. Friends nothing more nothing less. We only just met. She doesn't even know I'm..." Terri trailed off and the penny finally dropped for Kerry. 'That explains James and Elizabeth's reactions and the way 'friend' always had a different tone' Kerry thought.
"You're a..." Kerry started but didn't finish. Her head tilted slightly to the side.
Terri nodded her head with a smile. Her face changed to a look of concern. "Is that a problem Kerry. I know we only just met but I was hoping we would become good friends. I was going to give you James' number so we could meet up." Her face took on a different look, almost an urgent look, "Not for that, I'm not assuming your... I just meant."
Kerry interrupted, again seeing her new friend struggle and wanting to help. "It's okay, I know what you meant. I'd love to meet up and chat and find out how you all are getting on." Kerry smiled at Terri who now looked relieved.
"I'm sorry. It's just that some people can get the wrong idea when all you're being is friendly. They think your coming onto them and," now she looked embarrassed, "I'm sorry." She let out a small laugh and apologized again to everyone.
"It's fine, I understand. There's no need to apologize, honestly. I'd love to have your friendship." Kerry was being as honest as she'd ever been with anyone. This woman intrigued Kerry. She really did like Terri, she didn't think off her in a 'I want a relationship with this woman' she had Sandy back home but more like she could be a really good friend.
Terri smiled. "I'll give you James' address?" It was more of a question than a statement. Kerry nodded. "I need pen and paper." Kerry went into her purse and produced a pad and pen. "Thanks." Terri wrote down the address and phone number. She forgot a few of the numbers, James discretely helped her out. She handed the pad back to Kerry who i turn wrote the name of the hotel she was staying at. She tore the piece of paper of and handed it to Terri.
"Thank you."
Elizabeth moved closer to Kerry. "I'm sorry I made the assumption that you and Terri are, were," she wasn't sure what to say. 'Lesbians'. 'A couple'. 'Together'.
Kerry placed a hand on Elizabeth's arm. "It's alight. I'm not offended or anything." She considered telling Elizabeth that yes indeed she is a lesbian but Kerry decided against it. She was still wasn't at the point where she could easily and comfortably say 'I'm a lesbian'. She knew the day would come, it just wasn't today.
Elizabeth smiled and sighed in relief. "I guess I'm a little square to the way things are these days. People are so much more open and out there than they used to be." Kerry and Terri looked at each other and let out a small laugh at the choice of Elizabeth's words. Elizabeth looked a little confused until she worked it out. "Out, yes, I'm sorry. I'm."
"Your not judging and your trying to accept. That's all I can ask for, Elizabeth." Terri was smiling, trying to comfort Elizabeth, who obviously hadn't met many lesbians.
"I'll try harder, until I'm not so," she broke the eye contact with Terri then looked back at her, "I'm glad your here." It was said with sincerity that Terri appreciated. Both woman hugged.
"Kerry, can we give you a lift to your hotel?" James asked.
Kerry was surprised but grateful for the thought and offer. "Well, I don't want to put you out. I'll be fine with a cab." Turning to Terri, "We should get our luggage."
"That would be great wouldn't it? The airport putting your luggage in their unclaimed department and then the hotel giving your room away." Terri was laughing as she was saying it. "We should go before any of this happens."
The four of them were laughing at the prospect, Kerry was slightly afraid one or both might happen, they'd been standing in the same place for quite a while. "It wouldn't be a problem, Kerry for you to allow us to drop you off." Kerry was touched by Elizabeth's offer.
"Are you sure it wouldn't be to much trouble?" Kerry asked cautiously.
"No problem, Kerry." James said. With that the four of them headed to pick up Kerry and Terri's luggage, chatting and laughing. It wasn't completely comfortable but given time they all knew it would get better.
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