Introduction
He acted as if he had nowhere to go and plenty of time to get there.
He sat alone at a table in the small sandwich shop. Always. He came in alone. He ate his lunch alone. And he left alone. He was a regular. Twice each week, they brought his sandwich, plain chips, and unsweet tea. His life was that predictable and plain. At least it appeared so to the staff at the sandwich shop. The staff all knew him only as Mr. Rouse.
He was friendly enough. During slow times, they would sit with him and chat for a moment or two. He was articulate and a good conversationalist, able to discuss a lot of different things. Still, he was extremely private. If you asked him a question, he would simply change the subject and talk about something totally unrelated to your question. He would talk about the weather, about things in the news, about what was going on in the small town he called home. Yes, he would chat about pretty much anything, except himself.
If he initiated the conversation, it was usually about a book he was reading. “Have you ever read it?” “Have you heard of this author?” “You’d enjoy it.” And sometimes he’d say, “It’s not really my cup of tea.” But then he’d chuckle and point to his glass, and say, “But this is my glass of tea.” The staff always laughed politely at his overused attempt at humor.
When he was finished with this meal, he would gather all his napkins, empty cup and other disposable items and drop them in the trash can. He would return his tray to the designated location, then wipe away the crumbs from the table into his cupped hand and drop those in the trash can as well. Even though tipping was not expected, he always left two dollars on the table. Whenever his server told him that tipping was not expected. He replied, “I know”, and leave two dollars on the table.
When he left the diner, he was as likely to turn to the left toward downtown or to the right toward the college, slowly making his way to some destination. There seemed to be no pattern of behavior. None of the staff ever saw him drive a car. He was always walking. They assumed he must live nearby, probably in one of the small apartments or townhouses that were taking over the small college town.
Opinion regarding Mr. Rouse was divided at the sandwich shop. Some believed he was a professor at the college at the end of Main Street. Others thought he might be a barber. He certainly wasn’t a banker or lawyer. No, the wrinkled cotton button-down shirt and casual slacks were not the stuff that the professionals wore. And the casual loafers with white soles certainly looked like what one might see in the classroom.
Everyone at the sandwich shop assumed he was a widower. He was always alone and didn’t wear a ring. Maybe he had never married. He certainly never talked about a wife or family.
In the old vernacular, he was a peculiar sort of fellow.
It was always like he had nowhere to go and plenty of time to get there.
Chapter 1:
Ali was the new girl at the sandwich shop. She was still in college and worked part-time for spending money. She liked the job and the money came in handy. She had worked at one of those “make it while you watch” sandwich shops, where you handed the wrapped sandwich to the customer at the end of the line, and they gave you cash or a debit card. They then grabbed their drinks and headed out the door.
She liked this better. There were only five booths lining the wall and a like number of tables crowding the center of the room. A soda counter filled out the small space. It was definitely cozy, but there always seemed to be a table or booth available. There were always new customers showing up, but Ali had come to realize that there was a dozen or so that came at least once every week, sometimes twice. Mr. Rouse was part of the twice-weekly group. He was like clockwork every Monday and Thursday. Today was Thursday.
“Good morning, Mr. Rouse. You’re a little early today.”
“Yes, Ma’am. I have a busy afternoon ahead.”
“Well, what can I get you today? Do you need a menu?”
“No, I’ll just have the regular.”
She hesitated. What was the “regular”? She had taken his order for a Turkey on Wheat on Monday. Would he have the same thing on Thursday? Should she ask him? Of course not. He obviously expected her to know. Would he be offended if she did ask? Should she ask someone else? Who would she ask?
Before she could settle on an answer to any of these questions, he solved the problem for her.
“No, change that. Today, I want the tuna on rye bread, lettuce, no tomato, and light on the mayo.”
“Coming right up.” Whew! That was a relief.
True to form, Mr. Rouse ate his sandwich, gathered his napkins and cup and dropped them in the trash, returned his tray to the designated location, wiped away the crumbs from the table into his cupped hand and dropped those in the trash can as well. Before leaving, he placed two dollars at the center of the table. Turning around, he smiled at Ali, and made his way out the door. Today, he turned to the right, toward the college.
“That man is a mystery, I tell you what,” said Ali to her manager, Julie. “I just wish I knew what was going on with him.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t you know? There are all kinds of rumors about that man. He’s as sweet as he can be, but he sure is a mystery. And I don’t believe the rumor that he’s a professor. I’ve never seen him at the college.
“Oh, so you know all the professors? I mean, you’re a freshman. Probably quite a few you don’t know.”
“Well, I’ve seen a lot of them, and I’ve never seen him on campus.”
“Meh. He just minds his own business. Too bad everyone doesn’t’.”
“I know what you mean,” replied Ali. “Some people just worry too much about everyone else’s business.”
Julia rolled her eyes.
Chapter 2:
Mr. Rouse had left the sandwich shop smiling, knowing that he had left the young lady serving his table in a quandary. He had thrown her for a loop by ordering “the regular”. Truth be told, there was no “regular”. His choices changed from visit to visit, but it had been fun to tease her just a little. He’d try it again next time, just to see her reaction. “Life can be fun if we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” he thought.
Arriving at his destination, he made his way through the front door and climbed the steps to his small office. Flipping on the light switch, he ambled to his desk, and turned on his computer to check his emails. Seeing nothing of any consequence, he turned away from the screen and looked around the room, searching for any hint as to what might need to be next on his afternoon agenda.
Should he read? No, he had spent much of the morning reading. His eyes were still tired. Maybe he should try to catch up on some of his work. That was not appealing at all. A third option would be to put his feet on his desk and take a nap. Decisions, decisions. After briefly mulling over the choices, he opted for a nap. For Mr. Rouse, a short nap had become one of life’s simple pleasures, and the older he got, the more he looked forward to it. He recalled a younger version of himself when he had considered sleep to be a waste of time. Now he relished every opportunity to catch a few winks. Placing his feet atop his desk, he closed his eyes.
“Dr. Rouse. Excuse me. Dr. Rouse?”
Startled by the voice, and caught in that surreal space between sleep and being awake, he jerked his feet off his desk and looked around to see where this interruption was coming from. At his door stood a young man and woman, both smiling that knowing smile that lets you know you’ve been busted, but that they are too smart to tell you so. Still, he felt his face flush with embarrassment at being caught napping.
“Oh, sorry. I was so deep in thought I didn’t hear you knock.” He knew he wasn’t fooling them, but it was all he could think to say in his groggy state.
“We’re sorry to interrupt, but your door was open, so we thought it was OK. We didn’t mean to wake you.”
“You didn’t wake me,” he replied with just a hint of irritation. “As I said, I was just thinking. Planning out the rest of my day. You ought to try it some time.”
They obviously didn’t believe him. Either he had been dozing, or he was a loud thinker. They also weren’t put off by his gruffness. They knew it was a face he tried to put on, but one he didn’t wear very well. Mr. Rouse could be a bit of a curmudgeon, but always a kind one.
“So, I assume you have a reason for knocking on my door and interrupting my thinking.”
“We didn’t knock.” They were enjoying this friendly banter.
“Oh, well of course you didn’t. The door was open. Anyway, what’s up?”
“We think we may have found something. Take a look at this.”
Chapter 3
The Monday lunch crowd was a smaller than usual. There were actually a couple of empty booths at a time when there were usually people waiting. Ali was more than a little disappointed that Mr. Rouse didn’t show. It seemed unusual. He was usually like clockwork, coming in every Monday and Thursday.
“What do you think happened to Mr. Rouse?” she asked Julie, following her into the kitchen.
“Why do you think something happened?”
“Well, he didn’t show up for lunch today. He never misses a Monday. I hope he’s OK.”
“I’m sure he’s fine. I wouldn’t say he never misses a Monday, anyway. I’m sure he has from time to time.” Ali’s air of certainty about things occasionally rubbed Julie the wrong way. But Ali was young. She would learn.
“Not since I’ve been working here.” Ali was adamant.
“Well, you’ve only been here a couple of months, so, let’s not panic. I’m sure he’s fine. And he would probably understand if you would tend to your other customers, especially that family who just came in,” she said with a smile.
Ali was embarrassed at the slight reprimand. She was overreacting, she knew. But that was her nature. Her mom had told her that throughout her teenage years. Knowing Julie was serious, she walked back into the dining room to seat the family and to see if anyone needed a refill or a check. Then she saw him! Or at least she thought she saw him.
“Julie!” She almost sprinted back to the kitchen.
Julie didn’t answer, but just looked over the top of her glasses at Ali as if to say, “What now?”
“I saw him!”
“Saw who?”
“Mr. Rouse! I saw him walking up the sidewalk. Outside our window. And he didn’t even look in!”
“And?”
“Don’t you see? Something has to be up. He walked right past us and didn’t even come in for his lunch.”
“He’s probably already eaten. It’s well past his normal lunch time.”
“But where? He always eats here on Mondays. Where else would he have eaten?”
“Gee, I don’t know,” deadpanned Julie. I’m sure there’s nowhere else in town that serves lunch on Mondays. Other than the dozen restaurants and cafes all around us.”
Ali was not dissuaded. “Julie, aren't you the least bit curious?”
“Nope.”
“Well, I am. I’m going to get to the bottom of this.”
“Bottom of what? This is not some kind of mystery. Sounds to me like you’re just a little too nosy. Now please, get back to work.” Her tone was more stern this time.
Ali did as she was told. But her mind was not on the tables, or the customers. No. She was thinking only of how to solve the puzzle of the mysterious Mr. Rouse.
Chapter 4
Thursday lunch hour passed, and again with no sign of Mr. Rouse. It was almost 1:30, and he had never been this late before. Ali was convinced that he wasn’t coming in today. She was concerned, but was also considering how to begin her investigation into his absences. There had to be a reason he had stopped coming into the restaurant, even if it was for only two days.
As she wiped down the table, she heard a familiar voice from behind her.
“Is this table available?”
Turning quickly, she dropped the wet cloth from her hand, watching as it landed squarely on his shoe.
“Mr. Rouse, I’m so sorry! Here let me get that!” She reached down to pick up the cloth, scattering crumbs all around. The last customers included two small children enjoying lunch with their grandparents, and the youngsters had been a little messy. Now, thanks to Ali, the floor and Mr. Rouse’s shoe were covered with crumbs and bits of ice-cream cones. Ali was beyond embarrassed.
Mr. Rouse smiled, but said nothing.
Ali composed herself as best she could. “Good morning, I mean, good afternoon, Mr. Rouse. How are you today?”
“I’m fine, young lady. How about yourself?”
“I’m okey. I missed you Monday,” she said, fishing for a clue. None was forthcoming.
“Well thank you. Can I get a turkey sandwich, with tomato, no lettuce and light on the mayo?”
Ali paused, still hoping that he would respond regarding his Monday absence. He did not.
“You do have turkey?”
“Oh yes! I’m sorry. Coming right up.”
Ali grabbed Mr. Rouse’s glass of unsweet tea from the fountain. Returning to his table, she was surprised to see a young couple seated across from him. Where had they come from? She hadn’t seen them come in. The three of them were staring intently at a piece of paper, which the young man quickly turned face-down when he saw Ali approaching.
Ali placed the drink in front of the older gentleman, then turned to his companions.
“Hello. Can I get you something?”
“That won’t be necessary,” responded Mr. Rouse. “They were just leaving.”
Noticing Ali’s expression, he realized that his answer was abrupt, and bordering on rude.
“I’m sorry, Ali. How inconsiderate of me. This is Carlos and this young lady is Anna. They’re friends of mine. They saw me here and dropped in to say hello.”
Carlos and Anna exchanged awkward greetings with Ali and stood quickly making their way to the door. As they left, Mr. Rouse folded the piece of paper and placed it in his shirt pocket. Ali considered the entire exchange a little strange, since the piece of paper made it obvious that this was a meeting, not just a friendly hello. But knowing Mr. Rouse would not be offering any further explanation, she headed back to the kitchen.
He was silent when Ali returned. She placed his sandwich in front of him, and he offered a quiet “Thank you”. He seemed uncomfortable. Was he hiding something? Did he think she had seen something she was not supposed to see? What was going on? Was anything going on? Was her imagination simply running away with her?
Finishing his late lunch, he left his usual two-dollar tip on the table, wiped away the crumbs, and made his way to the door.
“See you next Monday,” said Ali, with a wave.
He paused, looked at Ali briefly. Smiling, and with a slight wave, he left the building.
“He’s limping!” thought Ali. She was certain of it! She waited until he was outside, then went to the door. He had turned to the right. She watched. He was definitely walking with a slight limp.
Should she tell Julie what she had discovered? Mr. Rouse had held a secret meeting, and now was limping. That was probably not a good idea. Julie would just tell her to stop imagining things. Then she’d tell her to get back to work.
Chapter 5
Ali stared intently at the shelf insert, showing the price of the box of cereal. She hated grocery shopping. Fortunately, she didn’t have to do it too often. Between her free lunches at the diner and her meal ticket at college, she usually only had to provide for snacks, and for those days when the cafeteria was closed. This was one of those times. Fall break was in full swing, so she was on her own for breakfast.
“Hello, Ali.”
Ali dropped the box of cereal, jarred by the mention of her name. She hadn’t seen anyone.
“I’m sorry. Did I startle you?”
She turned to see Mr. Rouse standing beside her. He was holding a box of cereal, but his eyes were on Ali.
“Mr. Rouse! Yes, you scared me! I mean no! I didn’t see you! I’m sorry, I’m rambling.”
“No, no, young lady. No need to apologize. I should be the one apologizing.”
“Oh, no sir. Really, I’m fine. These prices are a lot scarier than you are,” she laughed.
He smiled. “I agree.”
Ali suddenly switched to her investigative mode. “Do you shop here often?”
“Occasionally. I actually check the sales papers on Tuesday, looking for the best deal. I’m a bit stingy when it comes to buying groceries.”
“Well, me too! And with school out, I am having to stock up for the week.”
“I understand,” he smiled.
Aha! He understood. Did that mean he was a professor after all? Was he shopping due to Fall break as well? Hmm. Maybe she was reading too much into his comment. Maybe he was just being friendly.
“Do you like this store? I guess it’s convenient for you,” she quizzed.
“Not necessarily. Again, I just look for bargains.”
She felt foolish. He had mentioned that earlier. But she did notice that he was holding a box of Fruit Loops. Hmm. That’s a children’s cereal. She would have thought he would be buying raisin bran, or shredded wheat. “Stop it,” she whispered to herself.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Oh, nothing. I was just talking to myself. I do that a lot.”
He smiled. “So do I. So do I. Well, gotta run. Nice to see you, Ali.”
“You too,” Mr. Rouse.
She watched him slowly move down the aisle, and turn the corner, disappearing from sight. Oddly, the limp was gone.
Chapter 6
School resumed, and Ali settled back into her normal routine. Taking two early morning classes and two night classes allowed her to stay on target with her five-year plan for school, while also working a few hours most days at the restaurant.
It appeared that Mr. Rouse was back to his routine as well, showing up for lunch every Monday and Thursday. Ali, as curious as ever, kept her ears open for any slip of the tongue that might solve the mystery of who Mr. Rouse was.
“Why don’t you just ask him?” That was the advice of Edna, the older lady who worked full time at the sandwich shop.
“I can’t just ask him if he’s a professor, or a barber, or if he’s married. That would be nosy. I don’t want to be one of those people!”
“Humph,” was Edna’s response.
But Mr. Rouse had been friendlier and more chatty than normal since their encounter in the grocery store. And Ali was convinced that he was watching her when he was in the restaurant. On more than one occasion, he had asked her to sit at his table and chat when things were slow. He had asked her where she was from, what was her major, did she have siblings, that kind of thing. He seemed genuinely interested in knowing more about her. He really was a sweet old man. But, on other occasions, he was quiet. On those days, he said “hello”, but that was about it.
As Thanksgiving approached, business at the sandwich shop picked up. Christmas shopping was underway, and downtown was busy. On at least a couple of occasions, Mr. Rouse came into a full dining room with no empty tables. He never waited. He simply turned around and went back out the door. On one occasion, Ali followed him outside, assuring him that a table would be available shortly. He smiled but declined the offer and headed on up the street.
On the Monday before Thanksgiving, Mr. Rouse walked in and looked around for an empty table. Seeing that there was not one, he stood just inside the door and looked around until he spotted Ali. He smiled. She saw him at the same time and returned his smile.
“Ali, do you have a minute?”
She assured him that she did. They were busy, but the other customers would have to wait. She made her way over to where he was standing.
“Can we step outside for a moment?”
“Of course, Mr. Rouse.”
He motioned for her to lead the way and pushed the door open for her. As she stepped onto the sidewalk, she turned awkwardly to hold the door for him. He waved her off, letting her know he didn’t need any assistance. It was a cool fall day, and Ali shivered without a coat.
“What time is your shift over?” he asked.
“Two o’clock. Why do you ask?”
“Perfect. If I came back at two, would you have a couple of minutes to chat with me? It won’t take long. I understand if you can’t. I’m sure you’re busy with work and school, and probably trying to get home for Thanksgiving. But I would appreciate just a few minutes of your time.”
“Of course. I’ll be glad to meet with you.”
“Fine. I’ll be in a little before, so I can order a late lunch.”
“Just tell me what you want, and I’ll have it ready for you.”
“How about a hot dog. Lots of chili. I like those in cold weather.”
“I’ll have it ready!”
He thanked her and was on his way. Ali stood silent, curious about this unexpected turn of events. She stared at Mr. Rouse as he walked up the street, until her gaze was interrupted by Julie tapping on the glass and giving her a stare that said, “Get in here and get back to work!”
Chapter 7
Throughout the remainder of her lunch shift, Ali was distracted. Her mind swirled, trying to guess why Mr. Rouse might want to see her. She contemplated a dozen different reasons, but none of them made any sense. She tried to discuss it with Julie, but all she got for her efforts was, “Take care of your customers!”
At exactly 2:00, Mr. Rouse walked through the door. Only two tables were occupied, so he walked to the corner booth and took a seat. Ali held up her index finger to let him know she would join him momentarily. But first, she made her way to the kitchen, returning with the chili dog, chips, and unsweet tea. He thanked her and she slid onto the seat opposite him.
“How are you today, Ali?”
“I’m OK. Just a little tired. We’ve been busy today.”
“I noticed.”
Ali knew she needed to let Mr. Rouse eat his lunch, but her curiosity had gotten the better of her.
“Was there something important that you wanted to talk about?”
He took a bite of the chili dog, chewed it slowly, and washed it down with the tea. Smiling at her, he answered, “Yes.”
She waited as he munched on a chip. Then, to her dismay, he took another bite, chewed it, and took another sip from his drink. When she realized she was staring at him while he ate, she apologized.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to rush you. Please take your time with your lunch.”
He smiled.
Swallowing the last of the chili dog, he took a final drink, wiped his mouth, and looked across the table at the young woman.
“Ali, did you tell me you were from Jefferson County?”
“Yes. Have you ever heard of Pelham? That’s were my folks live.”
“I’m familiar with Pelham. Been through there many times. As a matter of fact, I made a trip to Montgomery last week, and took that route, and actually stopped off in Pelham for a little while. Nice area. Just far enough away from Birmingham proper.”
“I agree.”
“Ali, do you mind if I ask you what your dad does?”
“My dad?”
“Yes, your dad.”
“He’s a service manager at a car dealership. He used to be a mechanic, but now he runs the shop.”
“And he adopted you?”
“Well, yes. He’s not my biological father, but he’s still my dad,” replied Ali. Her tone was slightly defensive. His questions were beginning to make her uncomfortable.
“Why are you asking me these questions?
Ignoring her question, he continued.
“And your mom, Linda, does she still…”
She interrupted, “How do you know my mom’s name?”
He paused.
“Mr. Rouse, should I know you?”
He hesitated. “You are off duty, right?”
“Yes, why”
“I have some things I need to discuss with you. We can talk here, or we could walk over to the park if you prefer. That might give us a little more privacy.”
Ali was taken aback by the turn of events.
“OK. We could walk over to the park I guess.”
Ali wasn’t smiling as they left the diner.
Chapter 8
They made the two-block walk in silence. Finding an empty bench, he invited her to sit. She did as he asked. Mr. Rouse sat also, leaving enough distance between them that they could turn and face each other.
Ali’s face gave evidence that she was anxious to hear what Mr. Rouse had to say. She was concerned. Should she be? Should she be frightened? Had something happened?
He sat in silence, staring straight ahead. Ali wanted answers.
“Mr. Rouse. What’s going on? Is something wrong? Is my mom OK? How do you know her name?
“Ali, everything’s fine. I don’t know your mom. I only know her name is Linda, and she, just like you, worked at a small restaurant.”
“She still does.”
“Yes. I know. And,” he hesitated. “I wasn’t completely honest, I met your mother and father, Don, very recently. They are such nice…”
Ali interrupted. “You met my folks? Why?”
“I’ll get to that. Do you know how proud they are of you, going away to college and working so hard.”
“Yes. I know that. But how did you meet them? Mr. Rouse, if I don’t get some answers, I’m leaving. This is very uncomfortable.”
“Ali, please relax. I promise I’m going to answer all your questions. I just had to be certain of a few things.”
Ali could sense anger rising inside her. She was becoming more and more certain that Mr. Rouse was not the nice, harmless gentleman she had imagined him to be.
“Certain of what?”
“Certain that you were the person I was looking for.”
“Mr. Rouse, who are you?”
“Well, my name is Albert Rouse. And I’m an attorney. Or I used to be. I’m pretty much retired now.”
“An attorney? Am I in trouble?”
Th old man chuckled. “Of course not. I’m not that kind of attorney.”
“Well what kind are you, and what do you want with me?”
“Ali, just trust me and I’ll answer all your questions, and then some.”
“What do you mean trust you? All you’ve done is to be evasive. And besides, I don’t know you!”
“Of course you do. You see me all the time. As a matter of fact, I consider you a friend, and I hope you consider me one as well.”
Ali relaxed a bit. “Well, you’ve always been kind and friendly. But I still don’t know what’s going on.”
“Ali, have you ever heard of a man named Aristide Drakos?”
Ali froze. Her expression darkened. “What is this about?”
“I have an amazing story for you. But I need for you to be patient with me and let me finish. Then I’ll answer all your questions.”
Ali pursed her lips and stared at Mr. Rouse. “OK. I’m listening.”
Chapter 9
With Ali’s eyes staring intensely, Mr. Rouse began his story.
“Almost 20 years ago, a young woman made her way to Greece. She travelled there with the family of her best friend. She had saved her money, and since her home life was not that good, she planned to stay in Greece and see as much of Europe as she could, at least until her savings ran out. She was a bit adventurous, and her parents didn’t seem to mind one way or the other.
“While she was there, she met a young man named…”
Ali interrupted. “Aristide Drakos.”
“Why yes.. How did you know?"
“I know this story. And, this young woman was, as you refer to her, was my mother. I also know all about him. I know how he abandoned my mother…”
“Ali, you promised to let me finish.”
Ali sighed. “Go ahead.”
“You believe that he abandoned her because she told you that. And she told you that because she believed it as well. Until yesterday.”
“What? What happened yesterday? I don’t understand.”
Ignoring the interruption, he continued. “Your mother and Aristide were very much in love. They spent all their time together, except when he was working at his father’s shipyard. They had dreams of a future together in Greece, dreams of raising a family. And with the impetuousness of many young couples, they got ahead of themselves. Your mother realized that she was expecting a child. Ali, that child was you.”
“As I’ve already told you, I know this story. As soon as he found out, he left her high and dry.”
“Not so fast, Ali. That isn’t true. Aristide was overjoyed to learn the news. Things weren’t exactly as planned, but he loved your mother and was determined to make the best of the situation. And because he loved your mother, he also loved you, even though he never met you.
“Aristide, upon hearing the news that he was to be a father, couldn’t wait to tell his own father. Have you ever heard of Anatole Drakos?”
“Yes. I know he was Aristide’s father. Are you going to tell me that he was my grandfather? That’s not news. But guess what. I never knew him. And if he was like his son, I’m glad I didn’t. But I suppose you could say that, from a biological standpoint, he was my grandfather.” Her anger had turned to sarcasm.
“He still is.”
Ali paused, considering what Mr. Rouse had just told her.
“Well, I didn’t realize he was still alive. Mr. Rouse, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but again, my mom has told me all of this before. Where is this going?”
“Speaking of your mom, did I tell you that I was in Pelham recently? I think I did. As a matter of fact, I was there yesterday, and I met your mom and your dad.”
“What!” Ali’s expression was one of shock and anger. “Why are you meddling in my family’s business? And why are you telling me all of this?
“It’s OK. I’m only telling you this with their permission. You can call and confirm that if you really think you need to.”
Ali was completely confused and just stared.
“As I was saying, Aristide couldn’t wait to tell his father, and did so the same evening your mother had shared the news with him. Anatole Drakos had met your mom at a friend’s party and found her to be a delightful young woman. And while he would have preferred they not get the cart ahead of the horse, he embraced the news that he was to be a grandfather. His only disappointment was that his wife Irina would never meet her grandchild. She had passed away from an illness several years earlier.
“Ali, your mom was not abandoned by Aristide. The day after receiving the news from your mother, and shortly after sharing it with his father, he was killed in an accident at the shipyard where his father docked some of his ships. Mr. Drakos owned a large shipping company and Aristide was learning the business. While overseeing a shipment, a large freight container fell on him, killing him instantly.
The young woman gasped. “That’s awful! But I still don’t understand. Why didn’t Mr. Drakos tell my mother what had happened. Why did he leave her on her own?”
“Because he didn’t know how to locate your mother. He knew she was an American, and had met her on a couple of occasions, but had no idea where she was living. Truth is, she was living in a small apartment above a restaurant, getting by on her dwindling savings and working clearing tables at the restaurant. She wasn’t worried at the time, because Aristide had promised to marry her and to take her into his home.”
“But he….”, Ali didn’t finish her sentence, thinking of Aristide’s terrible fate.
“Yes. And after a few weeks, she was broke. She had not heard from Aristide. She knew his father’s name, but did not want to contact him, since she believed she had been abandoned. She did go to the shipyard, but no one there knew your mom and the workers just stared at the ground when she mentioned Aristide. Some didn’t speak English, and others didn’t believe her story. They assumed she was just some American who might have had a fling with Aristide, and was now looking for money. If only one person had gone to Anatole, things would have been different.” He sighed. “But no one did.”
“Then, what happened?” Much of this was new information to Ali. Her mom had obviously not shared everything with her.
“She contacted the same friend with whom she had travelled to Greece. The friend’s family sent her money, and she returned to the States. Because of the poor relationship with her own parents, and ashamed that she was penniless and expecting a child, she stayed with her friend for a few weeks. But that family soon felt they had done enough to help her out and encouraged her to make her own way. She did, and still does today.”
Tears began to stream down Ali’s cheeks as she struggled to process all that she was hearing. She was reminded anew of how much her mother had sacrificed for her, and how hard her life must have been.
“Mr. Rouse. I’m sorry for being rude to you. It’s just too much to…”
“I know, Ali. No apology is required. But, here’s the good part. Anatole Drakos never gave up hope of finding the grandchild and her mother. He searched for years. But all he knew was that her name was Linda and that she was a U.S. citizen. That’s not much to go on. He didn’t even know if he had a grandson or granddaughter. It was a lost cause. Until…”
“Until what?” asked Ali, trying to control her tears.
“Until about six months ago.”
Chapter 10
“What happened six months ago?” asked Ali.
“Well,” answered Mr. Rouse, continuing his story. “While doing her routine cleaning, Mr. Drakos’ housekeeper came across a box of photographs that had evidently belonged to Aristide. It was in his old room, buried inside another case of papers that had been gone through and filed away after his death. There were credit card receipts, various papers, and a few pictures. One of them was a picture of a young woman. The person going through them for Anatole years earlier had been careless and completely overlooked this particular photograph.”
Ali listened intently. Mr. Rouse continued.
“The housekeeper was familiar with the story of Aristide and wondered if this might be the young woman everyone had looked for years before, at the time of his death. She turned the photograph over and found this inscription, “I love you, Aristide Drakos”. Also, written on the back, in what we now know to be Aristide’s handwriting were the following words. “And I love you, Linda Maloney.” The housekeeper realized that she had found something very valuable, and immediately took it to Anatole.”
With eyes wide open, Ali spoke. “Linda Maloney is my mother’s maiden name.”
“Yes, we know that. And more importantly, my friend Anatole Drakos had something he could work with.”
“Your friend? Mr. Drakos was your friend?”
“Yes, he was, and is my friend. I had worked with him many years ago when I was a practicing lawyer. I helped him track down some lost shipments that never arrived at his shipyard. I helped him resolve the problem with his insurance company, saving him a lot of money. After that, we kind of lost touch with each other. But he contacted me immediately when he found the photograph, and what he believed to be your mother’s name. As it turned out, he was correct. You see, once you help someone solve a problem, they often believe you can solve their next one. Sometimes it’s true. Sometimes it isn’t. In this case, I was able to help.
“How did he know she lived in Alabama?”
“He didn’t. Not at that time. He had previously hired a Greek attorney who had a friend in the immigration department. With your mother’s full name and a general timeline, they were able to contact the airlines and determine that Linda Maloney left Greece, returning to an address in Birmingham, Alabama. Her departure occurred only a few weeks after Aristide’s death. But, in order to locate your mother in this country, he thought he might have a better chance of success with an American attorney, so he called the only one he knew personally.
“That would be you.”
“Yes. That would be me. We had no idea that your mom still lived in Alabama, much less a suburb of Birmingham. That was pure luck if you believe in luck. He just wanted an American that he could trust to help him locate his grandchild and the woman Anatole loved. To help me out, I enlisted a couple of students who were really good with Google. They did some research, all of it legal, at least I hope it was. Their online searches allowed them to locate your mom. A little more digging led to us finding you.”
“Me. So that’s why you’ve been into the diner so often.”
“That’s the main reason. But I also like the food,” he chuckled.
“So, what happens now that you’ve found me?”
“After we found you, we had to be certain. So, with Mr. Drakos’ permission, and his money, we hired a reputable investigator who was able to confirm all that we had discovered. In other words, Elliot and Tina were spot on with their research.
“Who are Elliot and Tina?”
“They’re the two students I mentioned earlier.
“Students?”
“Yes. Didn’t I tell you? I’m an adjunct professor at the university.”
Ali laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“I have been telling everyone I work with that you were a lawyer or a professor. Now it turns out you’re both!”
Mr. Rouse laughed. “You’re a pretty good guesser. But the story gets better. Do you remember when Elliot and Tina showed up in the diner?”
“Yes, but I didn’t realize who they were. You seemed so secretive.”
“Yes, well, sorry about that. But they brought me the final piece of evidence.”
“I remember you turned over a piece of paper when I came to your table. Was that your evidence?”
“Ali, that piece of paper was your birth certificate, listing Aristide Drakos as the father of Alida Maloney.”
“Alida?”
“Yes. Your mom originally named you after Aristide’s deceased mother. She and your biological father had agreed to name you after her when she told him she was pregnant. But, she shortened it to Ali when she remarried and your new father adopted you. And of course, you took his name as your last name. After marrying, the Greek name was just too painful for your mother to use. It brought back too many memories.”
Ali fought back tears. “I didn’t know any of this.”
“Ali, there’s more.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll see in time. But that’s all I can tell you at the moment. The rest will have to wait. Your mom and dad will be here tomorrow. I’ve arranged for a meeting with them and with you. We’ll be meeting at the Marriott at 1:00.”
“What? Whatever for?”
“You’ll see.”
“But I have to work tomorrow.”
“No, you don’t. I’ve spoken with your supervisor Julie and got permission for you to take the day off.”
“But I need that money. I can't afford to take a day off, especially this close to Christmas!.”
“Trust me Ali. It’ll be fine. But you look tired, so try to get some rest.
“Like that’ll be easy,” she replied sarcastically. Ali wasn’t angry. She just felt numb by all that had just transpired. She just wanted to process it and try to make sense of it all. And she definitely wanted to speak with her mom.
“And I suspect you’ll be calling your mom. Just know that she doesn’t know much more than I have told you. Everything will be clear at the meeting tomorrow.”
Later that evening, after Linda Maloney was off work, she and Ali talked. She confirmed Mr. Rouse’s story but didn’t want to discuss tomorrow’s meeting.
“We’ll discuss it all when I get there. I’ll be driving up with your dad. We’ll meet you at the hotel.” That was it. But Ali was certain that there was almost laugher in her mom’s voice.
Chapter 11
The next day, Ali strode into the lobby of the Marriott at 12:50. She had waited as long as she could. Hopefully the others would be here by 1:00. She need not have worried. As soon as she walked in, she saw her mom, her dad, Mr. Rouse and his two students, Elliot and Tina. Standing with them was a white-haired gentleman who she did not recognize. “Probably a lawyer,” thought Ali.
Except, if he was a lawyer, why did her mom have both hands clasped around his arm as if they were old friends? Seeing Ali, she released her grip on the older gentleman and made her way to hug her daughter. Her dad followed and the three embraced. When her mom stepped back, Ali saw tears trickling down her mom’s face. Her dad appeared to be fighting back tears as well.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” asked Ali.
“Nothing’s wrong, Dear. It’s all good. I just wish I could have been here yesterday when you got the news. But I had to work, and we had to meet someone at the airport.”
“Airport?”
“Yes. Come with me, and I’ll explain.”
Taking Ali’s trembling hand in hers, she led her back to the group. The older gentleman was smiling at her, as tears streamed down his cheeks. What was going on? Why was everyone crying?
“Hello, Ali,” said the old gentleman, his voice barely above a whisper.
“Excuse me,” said Ali. “Do I know you?”
More tears. It appeared as if the older gentleman was on the verge of losing it.
“Ali,” said her mom. I’d like to introduce you to your grandfather, Anatole Drakos.”
Ali stood there stunned and silent. She felt faint as her mind struggled to determine if this was really happening. Consumed by the weight of all that had just transpired, Ali began to cry.
Her mom squeezed her hand. Surprisingly, Mr. Rouse walked over and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. It only increased her sobbing.
“Ali?” The old gentleman spoke again.
She looked at him, still speechless.
“I am so happy to meet you.” The accent was strong. He reached for her hand. She allowed him to clasp it.
“I have looked for you for so long. I can’t believe that I have finally found you. I’ve found all of you,” he said, as he looked at her parents.
Ali struggled to regain her composure. “It’s nice to meet you.”
She stared into two dark and kind eyes. Then, to her surprise she wrapped her arms around him. Her tears flowed freely as Mr. Drakos held her tightly. Her body shook as he sobbed.
“You are an answer to many years of prayer,” he whispered. She continued to hold her grandfather tightly. Finally releasing him, she turned to Mr. Rouse.
“May I hug you?”
“I wish you would,” he replied, stepping toward her. The mysterious old gentleman now felt like a close friend.
“Thank you, Mr. Rouse. Thank you so much. How can I ever repay you?”
“This is payment enough, I assure you. Now, Elliot, Tina and I are going to leave the three of you alone. You have a lot of catching up to do.”
As he turned to go, she noticed the limp had returned.
“Mr. Rouse. Are you injured? What’s wrong with your leg?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Just my sciatica acting up.”
“I notice it bothering you the other day when you left the restaurant.”
He laughed.
“What’s so funny?” asked Ali.
“Well on that day, there was nothing wrong with my leg. I knew that you thought that I was up to something when Elliot and Tina showed up, and I knew you saw the piece of paper they had brought me, so I needed a distraction. It’s an old move I learned in my courtroom days. Draw attention to myself and away from the evidence. Looks like it worked!”
“Good-bye, Mr. Rouse, and thank you again. Thank you for everything.”
“You’re very welcome, Ali. But don’t worry, you’ll be seeing more of me and very soon.
Chapter 12
Ali stood on the shore, looking down at the Myrtoan Sea, at the bluest and most beautiful water she had ever seen! The scattered small islands and boats of all sizes made the view even more mesmerizing. She had never heard of this particular sea and had to look at Google Maps to see that was a division of the Mediterranean. The view was breathtaking! As she stared in awe at the beauty of such a creation, she tried to grasp and make sense of the changes that had taken place in her life in the past few days. And not just in hers, but in her mom’s and dad’s as well.
After their reunion at the hotel, Anatole brought them up to date on what had been going on in his world. Shortly after the death of Aristide, Mr. Drakos had sold the shipping company. It would be impossible for him to ever show up at the shipyard without reliving the tragic accident that had claimed his son. The success of the business had made him a very wealthy man, and he cashed in on that wealth when he sold the business.
He had asked if he could fly all of them to his home on a secluded shoreline in Lagonisi, Greece. They would be free to do Christmas shopping to their hearts’ content and to spend the holidays with him at his large and beautiful home. He would fly them here in his personal jet and compensate them well for their lost wages. Linda and Don accepted immediately.
“I’m afraid I can’t go,” said Ali sadly.
Why not?” asked her mom.
“I have exams starting next week.”
“Well, at least think about it, please. Maybe something will work out, or you could join us later. We don’t have to decide today,” said Mr. Drakos with a wink.
The next morning, Ali received a shocking phone call. It was from her campus advisor. She informed Ali that her grades were excellent, and that for some strange reason, all her professors had suggested that she exempt her exams. Instead, she could write an essay of her trip to Greece and all the events leading up to it. The advisor suggested that Ali must have either made quite an impression on her professors, or that she had friends in high places.
Ali had responded, “I have no idea how this happened. I only found out yesterday that I might be able to travel to Greece! But thank you for this wonderful offer, and of course I’ll write the paper. When does it need to be turned in for grading?”
“Oddly enough,” replied her advisor, “There is no deadline. Your final grades have already been submitted, so I suspect these professors would welcome your report at any time after you return. Does that work for you?”
“Yes! Yes!” Ali replied, trying to keep from crying.
The flight from Birmingham to Athens took almost 13 hours, but the long flight didn’t matter. She and her family were so excited, they barely realized they were on a plane. She was here now and after dropping her luggage inside the most beautiful house she had ever seen, she had rushed out to stare at the blue water below. She almost pinched herself to make sure that it wasn’t a dream.
“It’s amazing, isn’t it? Just as beautiful as when I was here before.” The voice was familiar.
She turned. “Mr. Rouse!”
“Hello, Ali.”
Alis rushed to hug the old gentleman. “What are you doing here?”
“You don’t think I’d miss this do you? Not for all the olive oil in Greece! And especially after I worked so hard to get you an exemption from all your exams.”
“You did that? How?”
“My dear, consider it a professional courtesy from your professors to one of their own.”
“You’re a professor? I knew it!”
“Adjunct professor,” he winked. “Business Law.”
Ali laughed and just shook her head.
“Oh, your grandfather has called a family meeting. You’re the only one missing. He asked me to find you. Come along if you don’t mind.”
Ali followed him into the house and into the large dining room. Everyone else was seated at the table. Ali took the empty chair beside her dad.
Anatole spoke.
“As you know by now, you are the only family that I have. And now that I have found you, I never want to lose you again. And Don, when I say ‘family’, I am including you, in every sense of the word. You have loved and cared for my granddaughter as only a true father could. Thank you for being the father that Aristide wanted to be. He would have been proud.”
“Thank you,” answered Don softly.
Ali held her father’s arm tightly as the tears streamed down her cheek.
“Not only do I not want to lose you again, I do not intend to. So let me explain. I’m well into my seventies. I’m still reasonably healthy and the doctors say I have quite a few good years left. I don’t want to spend them alone.”
Everyone stared intently at Anatole Drakos.
“I want to invite all of you to move here and live with me.”
The expressions on the faces of Ali, Linda and Don were priceless.
“Oh, we, we could, we could never…” sputtered Linda.
Anatole smiled. “Please, will you at least consider it? It makes perfect sense. Everything I have will be yours. Neither of you will ever have to work again, unless you want to, of course. If that’s the case, I still have a few small business ventures that I could turn over to you. Or, you can pursue a career doing whatever it is that you love. You can travel, do charitable work, or simply enjoy the beauty of Greece.”
“No more waiting tables?” asked Linda.
“Only if you want to,” laughed Anatole.
“Ali, you could study here, or study remotely with the university back home. All of you could travel back and forth to the States whenever you want.”
They looked around at each other. Mr. Rouse looked on with a smile.
“Oh, and my good friend, Thomas will join us from time to time.”
“Who is Thomas?” asked Ali.
Mr. Rouse stepped forward. “Professor Thomas P. Rouse, Esquire, at your service, Ma’am.”
The room erupted with laughter.
“If any of you are wavering, just tell me what I can do to persuade you, and I’ll do it.”
Ali burst into tears.
“Ali, what’s wrong?” asked Mr. Drakos.
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing. But I do have one request.”
“Anything,” replied Anatole.
“Papa, can you point me to my new room?”
Anatole “Papa” Drakos smiled.
"Follow me.”