EPILOGUE

 

HAWAII

 

Kari is standing on her balcony looking out at the ocean wearing a Hawaiian dress. A hand reaches out to tickle her and she turns, laughing as Richard Kimble says, “Happy Anniversary, Honey!”

 

“You did that the last time we were here, too, as I recall.” She stares at the touch of gray in his sandy blond hair.  She says, “Has it really been ten years?”

 

“Oh yeah!”

 

“My, what have we been doing in the last ten years?  Let’s see you did build that wing at the hospital in memory of Helen, we both became best selling authors….”

 

“You became one of the top psychologists in the Chicago area…”

“And you are still one of the best surgeons Chicago General ever had and not only did you start volunteering at a clinic for low income people, you managed to get two more clinics like that built!”

 

“And you started a semi professional orchestra where you consistently dazzle audiences with your playing.”

 

Kari then says, “Let’s not forget everyone else. Becca married Jim and they have two boys. Matthew Ross lived just long enough to see both grandchildren. Stuart is starting med school, and Chuck Brixius went to work for the FBI and is still there and I believe he married Knight in Shining Armor if memory serves…and of course who could have predicted my brother in law Doug would hit it off with Maggie when he and little Bobby came to our wedding in Las Vegas and now they’re married!” Kari looks thoughtful. “I wonder what ever happened to Gerard.”

 

“I meant to tell you when I got home but we were so busy packing…. I saw him at the hospital the other night….”

 

Chicago General Hospital, one  week ago

 

Dr. Kimble walks toward the entrance to the pediatric wing. As he always does, he pauses to read the memorial inscription beside the main door:

 

Helen Ross Kimble Pediatric Wing

In loving memory of Helen Ross Kimble. She loved children.

Dedicated this day, April 25, 2006

 

His eyes break away and he walks in briskly. Another doctor is standing beside an incubator. Dr. Kimble looks at the tiny baby connected to so many tubes, before speaking. “When’s the surgery?”

 

“Tomorrow morning. Thanks for looking at the heart scans with me. I appreciate you input. It will be delicate.” He looks up as another man enters the room. “Here’s the grandfather.”

 

Kimble looks over at the door and stares. His grip tightens on the clipboard as the urge to run overwhelms him, but he quickly suppresses it.

 

 

 

 

Gerard stands motionless in the doorway.

 

“Mr. Gerard,” the other doctor calls to him. “This is Dr. Kimble. I’ve been consulting him on your grandson’s  condition. He’s suggested a slightly different approach to the surgery. I think it will increase the chances of a successful outcome.” The doctor stops in confusion, feeling the tension in the room.

 

Gerard walks over to the baby, holding his tiny hand. With a quick look at Kimble, he says, "Whatever is best for my grandson.”

 

As he continues to ignor them both, the other doctor motions Kimble to step outside. "That was awkward! Do you two know each other? Is that a problem?”

 

Kimble glances back into the room. "We did. It was a long time ago. I've got to go. Take good care of the baby.”

 

                        

 

 

“So you saw Gerard!  Did you beat him up?”

 

Kimble laughs slightly, “No, Darling, I didn’t beat him up, although I’ll admit the thought crossed by mind!”

 

“So what was he doing there?”

 

“Well, his daughter Alex just had a baby boy. Unfortunately, he has some congenital heart problems. I was consulting on the case.”

 

“There’s irony for you. Did Gerard speak to you?”

 

“Not really. I talked to his daughter Alex later, though. She told me that he’s in charge of security for the University of Chicago and while his relationship with Alex is not the greatest, she’s at least willing to let him be a grandfather to her son.  He never remarried.  She said he concluded he was bad at it.  Get this, Alex named her little boy Richard!”

 

“Are you serious?”

 

“Very. Apparently Richard is the name of Alex’s husband and she wanted her son to be a junior.  It gets more interesting though.”

 

“Tell me!

“His son-in-law is white with sandy blond hair!”

 

Kari laughs and says, “Alex certainly is bound and determined to make her father pay for past mistakes!  I’ll bet he loves that!”

 

“Well, I actually saw the son-in-law with Gerard later. They both seemed more concerned about the baby’s health problems than old prejudices. That therapy that he had to go through must have helped.”

 

“So did Gerard offer you any kind of an apology?”

 

“In a roundabout way, I guess he did. I figure he can’t bring himself to actually say he's sorry because that would mean he’d have to admit that he made a mistake or admit that he was used by others to bring about a quick solution to a very evil plan.”

 

Kari says, “And either scenario is not a pleasant thought for him, especially when he refused to see it as it became more and more clear to the rest of world.”

 

At this moment, a child’s voice yells “Mom, I can’t find my sunscreen!”

 

Kari and Richard turn and see a nine year old boy and Kari says, “David, have you looked in the suitcase?”

 

“Yes”

 

At that moment a little girl’s voice says “I’ve got it.”

 

Richard says, “Marie, did you take it from David without telling him?”

 

“I only took it for a minute.  I need it too.”

 

Kari says, “OK you two you finish putting the sunscreen on because Grandma, Aunt Becca, Aunt Maggie, Uncle Kyle, Uncle Doug and Uncle Jim and your cousins will be here so you can all enjoy going to the Polynesian Cultural Center today.”

 

The two kids walk away and Kari says, “I still am amazed that I managed to push two human being out of my body within two minutes of each other!”

 

“Oh you did, I was with you every step of the way remember?”

 

“Yes, I do.”

 

Just then there is a knock at the door and it’s Anna Holmes.  Kari says, “Hi, Mom, the kids are ready to go.”

 

“OK, are you two ready to have fun today?”

 

The twins say “Yeah!”

 

“OK, let’s go and I hope Mom and Dad enjoy their anniversary day today!”  They all smile and the kids leave with Anna.

 

Richard then says, “You know, I was a little leery about the idea of bringing everybody here but this turned out to be a brilliant idea!”

 

“Well, Richard when you said you wanted to repeat our three week honeymoon for our tenth wedding anniversary, the thought of being away from David and Marie was too much to bear, so it only made sense to bring babysitters!  Besides, let’s not forget that they were conceived here in Hawaii so it all made sense!”

 

Richard smiles and says, “I knew there was a reason why I married you!”  He sweeps Kari off of her feet and carries her to the bedroom as they are both laughing....