Always Darkest by Kimberly Warner

ready to dial the number for her sister’s cell phone when she stopped.   She looked back at the stationary.   The name at the top was Pearl Taylor.   No, it couldn’t be.   Could it?
    “Thomas, come here.”   She said her voice shaky.   He came over and she handed him the paper.
    He looked at it in disbelief.   “Pearl, it says Pearl Taylor ….”
    The man who had been helping them spoke.   “That is the lady of the house sir.”
    “Is she here?”
    “Yes, but she is in a meeting with her son and she is not to be disturbed. Do you know Ms. Taylor?”
    “Where is she?”   Thomas ran out of the room and towards the stairs.   “Pearl!” He shouted as he ran back out into the foyer and toward the back of the house.   “Pearl!”
    The man ran after him and Tori and Justin followed.   “Sir, stop!” He yelled as he chased after Thomas.  
    Thomas ran into the kitchen and there sitting around a table was a man who looked to be in his late forties with sandy brown hair graying at the sides and a woman. The woman looked very regal with salt and pepper hair and one of those chic bob hair cuts.   The man who had been chasing Thomas said, “Ma’am I am so sorry I tried to stop him.”
    The lady held up a hand to silence him as she looked at Thomas.   “Thomas, is that you?” She questioned.
    “ Pearl , my Pearl , God how I’ve missed you,” Thomas said as he walked towards her.   They embraced like they had been apart for merely a week.   Thomas held on as tight as he could, like if he let go, she would disappear.   Pearl touched his face as if to make sure he was indeed real.   Thomas leaned down and kissed her squarely on the lips.   When the kiss ended Tori could see that they both had tears streaming down their faces.   She had never seen two happier people in all of her life.   She felt a tear trickle down her cheek and smiled.   The man at the table looked on Thomas and Pearl with sheer astonishment.
    “Thomas, there is someone you should meet.”   Pearl put her hand on the shoulder of the man who had been sitting at the table and he rose.   “This is your son, Peter.”
    Tori could see the resemblance now.   Peter had the same chin and eyes as Thomas, and the same lean build.   Peter looked warily at Thomas as if he wasn’t sure what to do.
    Thomas looked at him tears coming anew.   “Son,” he said holding his arms out for an embrace.   The look on Peter’s face melted from wary disbelief to love as he fell into his father’s arms.   They looked at each other Thomas with his hands on his son’s shoulders.   There was so much to say, but where to start.
    Pearl had an expression of pure joy on her face as she looked upon her son and her husband.   “I’m being rude.   Shall we all have a seat,” she looked at Justin and Tori who were standing over by the door to the kitchen.   “You two as well, if you helped bring my Thomas to me you are welcome in my home.”
    They all sat around the large wooden kitchen table.   Thomas sat between Pearl and his son.   Tori and Justin sat on the other side.   The man who had let them in stood by the door with his arms folded wearing a guarded expression.
    “Alex,” Pearl said, looking at the man, “Please set out some refreshments for us.”   Alex nodded and quickly set about getting bottles of water from the refrigerator and setting one in front of everyone.   Then he brought over a cheese and cracker tray and resumed his post by the kitchen door.
    Pearl turned to Thomas, taking his hand.   “Thomas, where have you been?   I have looked for you in every country on this Earth.   I never gave up hope, even if everyone thought I was crazy for it. Who are your friends?   Please tell me everything.”
    “It is a long story, my dear.”   He said shaking his head.
    “Start at the beginning.”  
    Thomas made quick introductions and told his tale.   Pearl and Peter stared at him in disbelief.   Tori and Justin also