In search for the origins

Part 7

Mary Carson looked exactly as I remembered her. She still had the same lady like air she did when we were at school. In fact, she was one of the official beauties, and she was absolutely aware of it. Dark hair and eyes, and a slim, tall figure. She sat by Matt and they kissed, before even realizing I was there.

-Honey, do you remember Andy Hardy?

She smiled. And she did have a nice, kind smile. Maybe it was true she had changed, after all. Back in school, she used to be rather solemn and serious.

-Vaguely, if truth must be told. But Matt has told me some of your stories...it has been, how many years? Fivet? Oh, it's nice to see you again...

-More or less, yeah. And so say I. You look great.

-Mary, we probably will need your help. Or your father's, rather than yours...

-What happens, Matt? Are you in trouble?

-No, no no...it's about something that happened quite a long time ago...

-I have found out I am adopted, Mary. And well, Matt thought that with your father's help, it would be much easier to get the information I need.

-Adopted? But how did you find it out? And don't worry, I will talk to my father tonight and will ask for his advice. Anyway, I do not want to sound rude, but...do you know it will be hard finding any kind of information? It's been quite a long time.

-I know that, my real mother can be dead, or just maybe she doesn't want to see us. But I have to try, anyway. Oh, and thanks, by the way.

-Never mind...one thing, can you manage to come home now? I have just remembered he won't be here tomorrow.

-Yeah, just wait a minute, ok? I have to tell my girl and my sis I am going.

I told Sue and May I'd be going, and we agreed to meet later at the hotel. I thought for a moment of asking them if they wanted to come as well, but it really made no sense. May didn't even remember Mary, and Sue didn't know her. Still, I introduced them, and to my surprise they got a nice first impression from one another.

So, Mary, Matt and me went to Mary's house, to talk to her father. They lived in a impressive, big manor on the top of Billings. It had great views over the whole city. Mary asked us to wait for a while, to let her talk to her father in advance. I was taking a look at the pictures they had, when I heard Matt calling me.

-Andy, do you remember Edith? Mary's elder sister...

Sure I did. Both siblings had a constant, absurd war between them. They had different characters, and it was also hard to know they were sisters. Edith had curly, reddish hair, and lacked the self confidence Mary had. But, to be true, she was much kinder than her sister.

-Of course! It's great to see you! How are you doing?

-Do I have to be polite, or can I tell the truth? I'm exhausted! This work at the newspaper is killing me!

-So, you work in a paper! You were always quite good at writing, so it was just a matter of time, I guess.

-Well, it's a temporal job, really. I want to move to Los Angeles or New York, and work in a big newspaper...

-If you choose San Francisco, phone me ok? Matt has my phone number. But...I might need you to do something for me. Can you come later with us to our hotel?

-Oh, ok, I'll wait then. I'll be in the library, preparing something for tomorrow.

That was great news. If Mary and Edith's father helped us to get information from the orphanages, and Edith spred the news, it would likely be much easier finding my mother. Or, at least, knowing something about her.

Finally, Mary and her father went out of his office. He was a tall, athletic man, with short grey hair, and would be in his early fifties. He shook my hand and told me to go with him to his office.

-Mary has told me almost everything, and it is a surprising story. I guess it must have been hard for you and your sister, finding out this way about your past.

-Yes, it sure has...-I was rather impressed by the fact of talking to the Comissioner...Luckily, he realized about that and tried to soothen things.

-I think I need a beer, do you want one? I hope you won't give me away to the police! Ok, let's see...so, you were born in July 1941, right? And your sister, in December 1943. Anyway, we have to find the adoption file of two siblings, boy and girl, all along 1944. You should go to St Patrick's orphanage, the other one in town was built in 1946. This letter will open you all kind of doors there, but if you should have any kind of problem, just phone me. Oh, one more thing. Good luck, and keep me informed.

-I will. Thanks a lot, Mr Carson. I mean it.

-Not at all.

I left the house feeling really optimistic. Matt stayed for a while with Mary, so it was Edith who drove me to the hotel. I told her how could she help me, and she was really interested in the story. Once we had found something...or, IF we ever did, I would phone her.

Back at the hotel, Allen and Jess had gone out to dinner and then to watch a movie, so it was just Sue and May at the room. They were willing to know, and I told them with all kind of details. Not much longer, Allen and Jess were back, and I had to tell the whole story again. But, to be true, I didn't mind telling it a thousand times if it were necessary.

That night, I dreamt again of the red haired woman and the girl. It was too much for being a mere coincidence.