Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine. Well, some of them are. But the important ones are all property of MTM and NBC Productions and used without permission. I'm not making any money out of this . . . . Blah, blah, blah. You know the drill.

 

Keys From the Past

By Nicky

 

Chapter 1

 

Jarod sits, diligently typing away at the computer when Miss Parker and Imani get home.  He doesn't even hear them come in.  The only thing alerting him to their presence is a little pair of hands suddenly covering his eyes.

 

"Guess who," a little voice whispers into his ear.  "It's me!" Imani giggles before he can even answer, not quite understanding the meaning of the guess who game.

 

"Hey Imani," Jarod says.  "Why don't you give Daddy a big hug.  I haven't seen you in so long."

 

The little girl wraps her arms around his neck and squeezes tightly.  She missed Jarod so much when he was away.  Almost as much as Miss Parker did.

 

"When did you get home," Mis Parker asks, anxiously awaiting her turn to be in Jarod's arms.

 

"Just a little while ago," he tells her, finally freeing himself from Imani's hold.  He stands up and crosses the room in three long strides, gathering up his waiting wife into his arms and giving her a kiss.  "I missed you," he whispers.

 

"You better had," Miss Parker says with a smile.  "Did you find anything out from the storage place?"

 

Jarod nods his head.  But he also makes another motion with his head as if to say that they could discuss it later when Imani wasn't there.

 

"Hey Baby Girl," Miss Parker says to the Imani, understanding what Jarod was trying to say about getting her out of the room.  "It's nap time.  You had an extra long ballet practice today."

 

"But I'm not sleepy," the little girl says with a yawn, rubbing her eyes.

 

"Okay, Miss I'm not sleepy.  Why don't you go and rest your eyes, then.  They look pretty tired," Miss Parker suggests.

 

"Okay," Imani agrees, letting another yawn slip out. "I'll go rest them for just a minute.  Are you coming, Mommy?"

 

"You go ahead, Baby Girl.  I'm going to stay here and talk to Daddy for a few minutes," Miss Parker tells her.  She smiles at the little girl as she walks sleepily up the stairs, all the time denying that she's tired.

 

"What are you grinning at?" Jarod is curious.

 

"Nothing," Miss Parker says, still smiling.  "It's just that I never get tired of hearing her call me 'Mommy'.  She makes me feel so special.  And I know that she really loves me."

 

"She does love you.  She's adored you ever since that day she met you.  And she's called you 'Mommy' ever since you adopted her six months ago after we got married," he reminds her.

 

"You think I'm being silly and sentimental, don't you?" she asks with a little pout.

 

"No, I think you're being sweet."  He wraps his arms around her again and kisses the tip of her nose.  "It's good that you love Imani.  And I know you're going to love our own children when we have them someday."

 

"Yeah.  Someday," she sighs before changing the subject.  "So tell me about what you found out.  And maybe you could also tell me why you were gone for so long," she punches him playfully on the chest.

 

"It took awhile to establish my credibility with the storage company's security division," he starts.  "That's why I had to be away so much the past month.  Only seeing you and Imani on weekends was tough.  I missed you guys so much."

 

"We missed you, too," she kisses him.  "So, this little trip had better been worth it."

 

"Oh, it was," he assures her.  "I was able to download the video files from your parents' summer cottage.  I was working on unlocking the last of the files when you and Imani came in."

 

"This is just so strange.  I still can't believe it all," she says, sinking wearily down onto the sofa next to him.  She never thought she'd ever be surprised again at the kinds of things that went on at the Centre.  But she never imagined it all extended so deeply into her own family's history.  Until that day her and Jarod stumbled upon the video storage facility where her father archived his own personal video files.  Video files she never knew existed. Video files that tell the story of life outside the Centre.

 

"You look tired," he notices with some concern.  "We could always look at this stuff tomorrow."

 

"I've been tired awhile," she admits.  "But I'd rather get this over with.  It's time for us to be able to get on with our lives."

 

"Okay.  If you insist," he relents.  "I watched the first few hours of tape already.  Not much is on them except for your parents in the really early days of their marriage.  Their summer cottage was where they went every year to vacation.  They'd entertain friends and throw parties and stuff.  Nothing too much out of the ordinary occurred.  Until this one day with this one party with this one unusual guest."

 

He clicks a couple of buttons and keys on the computer before an image comes up on the screen.  It was Catherine Parker talking to a friend.  A friend with long red hair.

 

"Jarod," Miss Parker gasps.  "Is that your mother?"

 

"Shhh!  Just listen," he says, hitting a few more buttons to turn up the sound.

 

<'Ahh, come on Maggie.  It'll be fun,' Catherine pleads.>

 

<'Catie, I'm a married woman.  You can't set me up on blind dates anymore.>

 

<'This isn't a blind date," Catherine insists.  "We have an extra place setting for dinner and I'd love for you to join us.  Besides, Charles is away for another few weeks.  And just because you're married now, doesn't mean that you just have to sit around the house all by yourself . . .'>

 

<'What are the chances of you letting up on me unless I agree to this,' Margaret says with a smile, knowing how relentless her friend is.>

 

<'Slim to none,' Catherine smiles.  She stands up and pulls Jarod's mother by the hand and takes her up stairs.  'Come with me.  You won't even have to go home to change.  I'm sure I have something here that you can wear.'>

 

<'Are you sure anyone's even coming?  The weather is awful out there.  Listen to that thunder,' Margaret says.>

 

  They make their way up the stairs to get dressed.  An hour later, they reappear, just as the party is about to begin.

 

<'How do we look, Sweetheart,' Catherine asks her husband who's been checking with the servants to make sure everything was in order.>

 

<'Fabulous, Darling,' he compliments, kissing her lightly on the cheek.  'You're looking lovely as well, Margaret.  I'm sure your dinner companion will be surprised at his brilliant and beautiful date.'>

 

<'Date?  Catie Parker!  You said this wasn't a date.  You know that I'm married!'>

 

  He didn't have time for the dramatic outbursts of his wife's friends.>

 

<'It really isn't like that, Maggie.  At least, that wasn't my understanding of it,' Catherine swears.  'My husband has a business associate coming to dinner.  And he thought it would be nice if someone could keep him company.  That's all.  It's just for a couple of hours.'>

 

<'I'm married, Catie'>

 

<'I know.>

 

<'And I'm happy.  I love Charles with my whole heart.>

 

<'I know that too, Mags.  But please do this for me,' Catherine begs.>

 

<'Just this once.  And that's all,' Margaret agrees.  'Just for a few hours.  But if I get uncomfortable, I'm leaving.'>

 

<'I understand,' Catherine says with a huge smile before hugging Margaret.  'Thank you so much.  You don't know how much this means to me.  I owe you one,' she promises.  Just then, the doorbell rings as the guest arrives.  'We should get over there.  I think your date is here.>

 

Jarod hits a button and the screen goes blank.

 

"What happened?" Miss Parker asks, stunned at the abrupt ending of the video.

 

"That's it.  The video goes dead after that.  I can only assume the power went out because of the storm my mother mentioned," Jarod hypothesizes.

 

"What about the next tape?  What happens at the party?"

 

"I don't know," Jarod admits.  "The records at the storage place say that this tape was partially ruined due to a power surge during a storm.  In fact, the video system at the cottage was pretty much destroyed and stayed that way for a few years from the looks of things.  The next tape starts a couple of years later."

 

"Okay, then let's watch that," she says with a yawn.

 

"How about later.  One more yawn from you and I'll start to take it personally," he kids.

 

"I'm sorry," she apologizes.  "I'm tired.  I think I should have been the one to go take a nap.  Not Imani," she laughs.

 

"Here," he offers, placing a pillow on his lap.  "Lay down and rest for a little while.  I'm not going anywhere."

 

"You promise?" she asks sleepily, her eyes already closing as her head hits the pillow.

 

"I promise," he whispers, gently tucking the hair behind her ears.  "I'm never going anywhere again," he promises silently.

 

 

 

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