Parenting Paul

Chapter 19: Genuine

Meanwhile at Heathrow Airport, Linda had been asleep waiting in the security guard's office for extra protection when the officer began tapping on her shoulder. "I'm sorry, I think I overslept..." Linda yawned as she sat up in the chair. "Nonsense Miss Eastman, pregnant women need their rest." The officer chuckled calmly as Linda stretched and yawned once more. "I just wanted to ask if you'd like some brunch? It's an airport so we don't have anything too fancy, but we've got Sbarro Pizza...or in our employee lounge we have some breakfast sandwiches, not the best, but they satisfy the growling stomach." The officer offered as Linda smiled at him thankfully.

"Breakfast sandwich is just fine, also could I possibly have some coffee? Two sugars." Linda added as the officer nodded and headed towards the employee lounge. "So, what brought you all the way here to England? Seems to me that you've got an American accent, what's that all about?" The officer asked with wonder as he prepared Linda's coffee. "I was here for an assignment...." Linda answered as the officer nodded. "An assignment? For like...university?" He asked as he then began to add sugar to Linda's cup. "No..." Linda answered as he turned to her and studied her. "I'm actually just a photographer, that's all" Linda continued with her reply. "You work for the news media? Here to document the Pakistani crisis or something?" The officer asked as he handed Linda her cup. "No, no I couldn't bear to be around such ignorance and hatred, it's all nonsensical, we're all people at the end of the day, it shouldn't matter if you're British, Irish, Scottish, Korean, Soviet, Pakistani, or whatever...we're all human, y'know." Linda continued as she took a sip of her coffee. "True..." the officer said as he handed her the breakfast sandwich and sat down next to her. "So, do you photograph nature for farmers almanacs or those cheap nature calendars?" He asked with intrigue as Linda laughed. "No, but I'll admit that's definitely more up my alley, but I actually photograph people within the entertainment industry, such as musicians and artists.." Linda explained as the officer took a sip from his coffee.

"May I see your work?" He asked with interest as Linda giggled and rummaged through her purse and grabbed some random photograph prints. "This one is Mary Hopkin at EMI studio, I snapped it about three months ago.." Linda explained as the officer looked at the picture.  "She's stunning!" The officer exclaimed as he shuffled through the photographs. "The next one, that's my daughter Heather. She was enjoying some mashed potatoes and peas. This was taken about four years ago, she was merely a toddler, we had just moved to New York City." Linda explained as the officer analyzed the picture. "You have children already? You're nearly a baby yourself...." The officer soon exclaimed as Linda giggled albeit shyly. "Well, you know how it goes, you meet someone at school or randomly around your local area, you get married and one thing leads to another." Linda rationalized with embarrassment as the officer chuckled once more. "It's alright, no need to be embarrassed, by the time I was 30, I had already been divorced twice.....I lived near this really shady part of London when I was younger, the men and women equally didn't really approve of me being involved within law enforcement, but one day, I met my current wife who was originally from Texas, and she was part of the American Navy.....and we had some trials early on, but eventually we worked things out together, decided to get married, and now we have ten children together." The officer shared proudly as Linda listened intently

"Ten?!" Linda asked with surprise. "Yeah, I had four kids with my first wife Declan, Gabriella, Faith, and Max....then I had two kids with the second wife Jeanette and Taralynn, then my current wife had one child of her own named Edith....and then together we got three kids that we share Beth-Anne, Jodie, and Randall.....named after me, because I wanted my Junior to be born with my true love." The officer continued with pride as Linda nodded and sipped her coffee. "But, how do you know if you've found your true love?" Linda asked with wonder as she rubbed her pregnant belly. "Well, how do you feel when you're with the father of the little bundle?" he asked as Linda took a deep breath and tried to think of her answer. "I guess I don't really know..." Linda replied softly as the officer giggled and took another sip of his coffee. "Alright, how do you feel about him not being here with you now?"

This question had frozen and stumped Linda, but not as if she was clueless, but as if she had been opened to her own personal reality "I feel like I can't function, like there's nothing more important than being near him." Linda began as her eyes widened. "I lose focus, and the world disappears, and when we're together it's like my doubts are gone, and I've found the puzzle piece of life I've been trying to find...." Linda continued as the officer nodded. "I'd say, you've found the one, but of course love it's not a one way street, it requires both sides of the coin to mesh together perfectly. He must respect that you've got another child, and the relationship that the child has with the other parent...." The officer continued as Linda shook her head, "Heather doesn't have any real relationship with her father...." Linda soon interrupted as the officer looked at her with shock. "Her father had no interest in being involved with her life, so I want someone who can give Heather the fatherly experience she deserves..." Linda continued to explain as the officer nodded with understanding. "I see, that's certainly a shame...the father of this baby got any kids?"  The officer sulked as Linda shook her head again. "No, but don't worry about me, if life goes the way I think it will, Heather and I will be just fine." Linda reassured him as he went to refill his and Linda's coffee.