Full Circle

January 2007

Hilton's Story

Chapter 32 Homecoming

Heathrow Terminal 3 was jammed with people travelling to far off destinations. Clothing appropriate to Africa, Asia and the Americas could be seen when Hilton found a telephone and called his daughter to tell her was in England and would be home in about six hours. He hoped she would meet him.

Immigration and customs at Pearson AIrport was routine and it did not take long for his single bag to appear on the carousel. He walked through the doors into the crowd waiting for friends and family scanning for his daughter but Karen’s wave caught his eye. He hadn’t expected her. She looked beautiful as she give him a welcoming hug.

She stepped back to look at him. “It’s good to see you again, Hilton, but you've changed," she said, "you've lost a lot of weight."

"It's been rough," he said. "Where's Carol?"

 “She asked me to come, the baby was fussing and she thought it best to stay home. You're going to stay at my place until your apartment is aired out.”

He was surprised but too tired to resist. It was late afternoon but his body clock was set for the small hours of the Indian morning. His muscles were stiff and his back hurt. He was happy to think that a warm bed was not far away.

“Are you sure you can put up with a man in your home?”

“It’s okay, there is a spare bedroom now that Jeanine has gone to University. Inga has come to live with me. You remember Inga. She is looking forward to seeing you again.”

“Yes, I remember Inga,” he said, a tinge of sarcasm in his voice. 

Karen asked about his trip from Delhi and some questions about Kathmandu that he answered without going into detail. They instinctively agreed not to pursue anything of Hilton’s recent past, at least not for now.

Karen’s daughter, Stephanie, met them at the door and took Hilton’s bag into Jeanine’s room. Inga waited in the kitchen making tea. They met nervously in the living room where Hilton broke the ice. “I hadn’t expected to be met by three beautiful women after my life as a monk in Nepal. We were all men there and I have forgotten about the finer things of life.”

Inga, looking as beautiful as ever, glanced at Karen as she said, “I’m happy to see you again Hilton. It was hard for you when Karen and I found each other in the Islands. I hope you will forgive us.”

He was surprised and relieved to have the subject opened so soon. “I’ve learned a lot since then Inga. I've enjoyed happiness and despair and do not hold any bad feelings for you and Karen. Thank you for making a place for me until I can get settled in my own home.”

Stephanie asked about India and Nepal and what he had been doing. They chatted about it and he enjoyed the repartee until Karen reminded him to call Carol.

After a light dinner Inga remarking on his appearance said that he'll need new clothes to fit his new body. Karen added that she would take him shopping tomorrow before they see Carol and the baby. The Christening was on Sunday and the women agreed he must be properly dressed. They watched the news on TV. It was the first time he had heard or seen anything about world or local events in a very long time but nothing much had changed. Just before they retired Karen said, “I’m truly sorry for what happened to Kay. I know you were very much in love and her death hurt you terribly.” She quietly continued, “I often wish that we could have found a way to share such love.” Her eyes glistened and he knew she was speaking from her heart.

The next morning Hilton dug into his travel bag for a clean shirt and socks. His hand touched something hard surrounded by a silky cloth and when he looked he found Kay’s gold Yantra wrapped in the silk kerchief, the one he had purchased in Maduria so long ago, the one she had warn every day for the rest of their trip in India and the day she had died. Memories flooded his mind and almost made him cry out in sorrow. The pain hadn't gone away. He kissed the Yantra, carefully wrapped it and put it in his pocket.

In the early afternoon they drove to Carol’s home. She hugged him and cried with happiness at the reunion.

“You’ve lost a lot of weight Daddy,” she said, “but you look fine, thank goodness. Will the malaria come back?”

“I don’t know, I’ve been lucky but I’ll see a doctor. You look lovely, too, baby.”

“I’m not a baby now, Daddy, I’m a mommy. Come and see you granddaughter.”

The nursery in the back of the house was dimly lit through closed window blinds but he saw the bassinette against a wall near the night light.

“She’s sleeping”, Carol said pulling the blanket from her face. “She’s had a cold and the medicine makes her sleep.”

Hilton was disappointed not to hold her but they went back to the living room to make plans for the baptism and christening. The ceremony would be private after regular church on Sunday with Todd’s brother and his wife as the godparents. Carol was excited but worried that her father might not appreciate a Christian ceremony in view of his recent life among the Buddhists. He convinced her that it was not a problem for him.

The two women asked about his life in India and his experiences there. He finally relented and told them about his second trip and his friends, particularly Ananda, who had helped him as he worked through his grief.  He described the monastery and the temple in Kathmandu.

“I have not accepted the Hindu or the Buddhist faith even though they are deep and have meaningful ideas,” he said emphatically. “I think all people essentially believe the same things in different ways but unfortunately don’t they practice what they say.” 

Todd arrived home with no supper prepared. The baby woke and was fretful. Karen offered to help but was politely told they would manage and that she would see them at the church on Sunday.

            The next few days were busy. Hilton opened his condo to dust and clean the place. He received messages from Ananda and Sanjay about things in India. Ananda, waiting for his visa to come to Canada and the United States, thought he would be there in another month. Bob called from San Francisco and they discussed getting together sometime soon. He called Tracy in New York to apologize for not making it to her wedding. She was too happy to know he was home safely to be worried about her wedding. They cried together as they remembered Kay.

          The two sides of the family met in the church on Sunday. Bob and June were already waiting at the church door.

           "Hello Sailor," June said softly with a smile. "It's been a long time since we've seen you. What happened, you look older, just as handsome though."

           "This is a nice surprise," Hilton managed to say. He had forgotten his affair with June and preferred it to remain that way. "It's a real family affair, you look lovely as ever. Hello Bob, its good to see you."

          "Hello Hilton, I hear you've been in India."

          "Yes, but I think we better get into the church, we'll talk later."

           After the service the family retired to a private chapel for the baptism ceremony and Carol brought the baby to the font where the priest began the service. When he said, “in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost I baptize you Caroline Jean”, Hilton remembered the Hindu Trimurti, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Would it be blasphemy to think they are the same gods in different cultural clothes? He decided it didn't really matter what they were called.

He was distracted from his thoughts when the priest asked him take baby Caroline. Holding her in his arms he felt a familiar energy rise through his chakras and as the babies small arms reached out to him he recognized the flash in her green eyes. He took the golden Yantra and silk kerchief from his pocket. The child reached and grasped them in her hand. Hilton instantly knew his search for Kay had ended, the wheel of life had turned one more full circle. Kay was with him again, reborn in the form of his beautiful grand daughter. 

There is not much to add to this tale. Life goes on but stories end.

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