The Final Chapter

His daughter and her future husband had played a big part in this. This made Mike feel tremendously proud. It also made something very clear to Jeannie. She had to talk to her CEO's about all concerning David Taylor and her marriage to him. Better said the annulment of their marriage. The ink on the annulment papers had already dried up at the beginning of December last year. She would make an appointment tomorrow morning,

Meanwhile Steve had arrived at White Cranes Medical Center. Once inside he followed the directions to the Gynecology/ birth ward. Steve walked to the nurses station "Nurse I am PI Steve Keller I am here on behalf of my client Jeannie Stone who gave more than 5 years ago birth to a stillborn girl. She has given me the assignment to find her daughter and let her exhume to rebury her in San Francisco where she lives now what her future husband. She is again expecting. That makes her more wanting to have hers and his first born near them."

"Is your client a small dark-haired woman with blue eyes?" the nurse asked curiously.

"Yes, she is. WHY?" Steve answered.

"I was one of the nurses who were working when she gave birth. First not knowing she was pregnant and then losing that child. The young girl was totally devastated after she gave birth. I still can recall what she said as she had the little girl in her arms "Why did you have to die?" I am losing all I love. I lost your dad now you." Both had tears in their eyes. "I will call Dr. Brenda Hall. She was her gynecologist."

Within an hour Steve had the opportunity to talk to the doctor who had been witness of the birth of his girl. Dr. Hall had sensed it right from the start that Steve was the father of the stillborn daughter. Nevertheless, she had kind of bad news for him. Since it was more than 5 years ago the file of Jeannie Stone's stillborn baby girl was stashed somewhere in the hospital archives in the cellar. But she could promise him the next morning she would have arranged admission for him to search for the right file.

After one restless night he returned to White Cranes Medical Center with the hope he could start his research. And Dr. Hall was already waiting for him with the admission in black and white. When he saw the pile of files, he almost lost his courage. He had the hope that all papers would have been filed alphabetical or by year. Neither of them they used. Steve searches for hours and just when he wanted to call it a day he found the file "Stillborn S" With a lump in his stomach he searched till he found the data of his and Jeannie's stillborn daughter; stillborn baby girl 4 months; mother Jeannie Helen Stone 23 years; father Steve Keller 29 years. After obduction brought to undertaker Robinson to bury her at the Double Butte Cemetery; 2505 W. Broadway Road.

In San Francisco Jeannie was on the way over to her CEO's office. She was very nervous. She had a lot to explain to Mr. Leed and Bims.

"Please Jeannie be seated. Why did you want to talk to us?" Bims asked her.

"I think you saw the 8 o'clock news last night. Listening to it I believed I had to do some explanations about my relationship with Taylor."

"Yep we saw that news item. From P&O we know that you aren't Mrs. Taylor anymore since December last year." Mr. Leed answered calmly: "And as you will know by now, we like to trust our employees as our clients."

"You can trust me. All my bonds with David Taylor are broken. My marriage to David Taylor has been annulled. For the record I was never married to him. And what is even more important I never knew or was involved in his business. My hands are clean." Jeannie responded convincingly.

"We believe you Jeannie. We never have doubted your loyalty to our firm."

"And there is one thing I wanted to tell you. I am engaged to be married to the most amazing man in the world, Steve Keller, and I am having his baby. We will marry in the courthouse in April and after the baby is born at the end of July we'll marry in church. We must set the date yet". Her eyes twinkled like 1000 stars while she spoke.

"Jeannie, I believe you finally have found your through soulmate. At least your eyes tell me that." Mr. Bims said.

"I have. We were supposed to be together." Jeannie responded. Relieved she left their office. That felt as good news. More good news she would get that evening from Steve telling her he already knew where Stephanie was buried. Tomorrow morning first thing he would pay her undertaker a visit. Tears flew again down their faces. Steve had to hung up after. He couldn't comfort Jeannie through the phone. Besides he could hardly handle his own emotions. Mike who was home comforted her a bit.

As Jeannie went to bed Mike called Steve to see how Steve was doing. Expecting his son might need someone to talk to. Mike was right. Steve didn't try to hide his feelings when he heard Mike's voice. Steve knew he wouldn't have to keep up a facade.

"I don't know what I will do when I find her grave Mike. People who see me will think I am a loony. I don't care. When my girl was born, I wasn't there for her now I am."

"Son cry if you want to." Mike replied.

"Mike tell Jeannie I love her and as soon as I find our daughter's grave, I will call her asap."

"Steve I will tell her. Sleep well." Mike hung up.

Tossing and turning Steve saw the time crawl. Around 7 a.m. he fell asleep. He should have stayed awake though. He had planned to be at the undertaker Robinson at 9, opening time. The ringing of the phone next to his bed awoke him almost noon. It was Jeannie telling him she loved him more than he ever would be able to imagine. If he needed her now, he had to tell her, she would pick the first plane to Tempe. Steve answered it was very sweet of her, but this he had to do on his own. He had left Stephanie and her standing out in the cold on that April 9th. He would call her right afterwards. Steve jumped out of bed, showered, dressed and jumped into his hired car to head for the Tempe Mortuary at 405 E Southern Avenue of the undertaker Robbins.

As Steve parked his car at their parking lot, he got more nervous and emotional by the minute. However, inside he had to keep his appearance up. The undertaker didn't have to know he was the father of the child. He was the PI, who stood up for the mother. Steve got out of the car sighed deeply and entered the Tempe Mortuary.

"Good day sir I am Mrs. Robbins how can I help you?"

"I am Steve Keller, a PI, I am here on behalf of my client Miss Stone. Almost 6 years ago on April 9th she has given birth to a stillborn baby girl. Mr. Robbins, I presume your husband, has buried the girl assigned by Dr. Hall of White Cranes Medical. I have accepted the assignment to find the babies grave. And if I will let her exhume and bring her over to SF to bury her there. Steve was astonished by himself. How he was able to stay professional, keep his personal feelings out of the question.

"Mr. Keller, I think this is something my husband only can tell you. There is one little problem. He will be out till 4 p.m. this afternoon. Give me your phone number I will let him call you as soon as he got in. Steve returned to his hotel disappointed. To kill time, he would eat lunch and dinner at the same time. Another problem. The lump in his stomach and throat made it impossible for him to eat. So, he paced up and down his room counting every minute till Mr. Robbins called at exactly 5: 05. Since it was already that late. Since it was that late Steve made an appointment with Robbins for 9 a.m. the next morning. He filled Jeannie in by phone.

Chapter 19.

For Steve the morning couldn't come as quickly as possible. He still couldn't eat. That didn't bother him. As he entered Tempe's Mortuary Mr. Robbins walked immediately towards him.

"Regarding my wife's description, good looking and well-dressed young man early thirties, you have to be Steve Keller PI." Mr. Robbins spoke shaking Steve's hand.

"Yes, I am Mr. Robbins. Did you wife tell you why I wanted to talk to you?"

"No not exactly. The only thing she told me it concerned a stillborn child."

"Okay. My client Jeannie Stone gave April 9th six years ago birth to a stillborn girl. You have buried the baby in order of White Cranes. My client wants to have the baby buried in San Francisco close to her." While Steve spoke, he had to swallow.

"I have to check my files. Follow me into my office. The stillborn were mostly buried at a dark place at Double Butte Cemetery. While you drink a cup of coffee, I will look it up so we can drive to the cemetery." Steve hadn't drunk his coffee or Mr. Robbins had found the right file.

"It is wise to file all clients per year and alphabetical. My mother has taught me that. And it pays off in the business" Robbins said to Steve smiling. Robbins opened the file, read it and looked rather peculiar to Steve, who felt the undertaker's eyes observing him.

"Do you have any questions Mr. Robbins?" Steve asked.

"I don't know. Your name is Steve Keller isn't it?" Steve nodded. "Are you sure you are more than the PI searching for? I just ask because the father of the baby is called Steve Keller too. What a coincidence don't you think?"

"And what a difference does it make?" Steve responded.

"Yes, it could speed the things to exhume her to rebury her a lot up. Your signature on the application form will be enough otherwise the mother will have to come over here to sign. Within 5 days it can all be settled."

"Yes, I am the father of the child. In those days I had to fight for my life too with one difference I made it."

"Thank you for your honesty. I will take you to her and leave you alone for a while. After that we will fill in the forms in to take her home with you." Steve took Mr. Robbins's hands and squeezed them gracefully.

However the Double Butte Cemetery was only a few blocks away it felt still for Steve like a thousand miles. At the Cemetery he followed the undertaker. In the least maintained corner of the cemetery Steve saw little crosses in one row. Mr. Robbins pointed at Jeannie's and his daughter's grave written on the cross: Angel Stone 04/10/1974.

"Mr. Keller I will see you within an hour in my office.'' He laid a hand on Steve's shoulders squeezed it and left. Steve could keep his appearances up till Robbins was out of his sight. He fell on his knees crying "Sweetheart daddy is finally here. I am so sorry. I wasn't there for you or your mother when you two needed me badly. Stephanie I can't tell you how much I love you. You will always have a special place in my heart. I will try to make it up to you. Your mother and I will take you home to SF, close to us I promise you." His face his shirt was soaking wet by his tears. An older woman who passed him asked "Young man what a sorrow after all these years. He or she must have been special"

"Mrs. Yes she is. She is our first born."

"Son remind you and your wife have an angel in heaven, who will watch over you forever, up there."

"I know. However, I had her rather with me."

"She is with you in your heart young man." Steve smiled faintly and headed for his car to go back to Tempe Mortuary. After filling all the forms Steve drove to his hotel to call Jeannie that they could take Stephanie home within five days. She would fly to Tempe over two days, Friday evening, and Monday they would fly home with their beloved daughter if all legal papers were in order. Steve had to verify that in Phoenix and San Francisco. He would give his people a call.

His men in Phoenix can assure him he and Jeannie can fly with Stephanie to SF in a Cessna 172. And Steve's right hand in SF Kevin Kramer had made the arrangements to rebury Stephanie near her grandmother. Knowing this it felt like a heavy weight was lifted from his shoulders. Now he had to wait till Friday evening till Jeannie would come.

Thrilled to see her Steve lifted her up and kissed her long and passionate between all people at the airport. Jeannie answered with a kiss whispering "We have missed you too"

"I missed you two too" Steve answered laying gently a hand on her belly. A few minutes after entering their hotel room service brought what Steve had ordered little buns with chicken, beef and cheese with salad and hot chocolate with whip cream. It tasted both very good. After they took a quick shower, they crawled in bed close to each other skin on skin. Steve woke up as first. He watched Jeannie sleeping. A strong feeling of love came over him. He had to kiss her on her lips and on her belly saying "Little one I will always protect you the way I should have protected your sister Stephanie ". Words Jeannie had heard awakening.

"Steve Keller, I love you. Come here so I can hug you." Jeannie responded. Despite their good feelings they realized why they were in Tempe. Together they visited Stephanie at the cemetery. Great sadness took their emotions over.

All was arranged that Monday. Stephanie would be exhumed at 7:30 a.m. in the presence of the coroner, a man of the courthouse and her parents, Jeannie and Steve. With the coroner's car they rode to the airport where the Cessna 172 with pilot was waiting for them. Jeannie and Steve went aboard to land 1:34 hours later at SFO, where Mike was waiting for them with a funeral car to take them all to San Francisco National Cemetery to bury Stephanie. Brianna, Bill, Dan, Norm and father Scarne were waiting for them with a beautiful bouquet of white and yellow roses. Father Scarne said a few words and blessed Stephanie Stone-Keller. Again, tears flowed abundant, but now also of Joy. Stephanie was finally home. After the little ceremony they all went to DE HARO STREET to talk while they ate and drank a bit.

A big hurdle was taken. Now it was time for the nice things. Jeannie and Steve's wedding in the courthouse, the birth of their baby and the wedding in the church. The date for the courthouse wedding was already set. Now who would be Steve's best man and who Jeannie's maiden of honor.

Easy to answer for both. Mike would be Steve's best man at both weddings. Still in church he wanted to ask Bill and Patrick to support Mike. Jeannie would ask Brianna at the courthouse and in the church as Maiden of Honor and as second and third bridesmaid Janice and Irene. It was a luck that Jeannie and Janice hadn't lost contact through the years, even it was once or twice a year. Janice and her husband worked often abroad. As they had set a date for the wedding in church, she would contact Janice asap.

Since Jeannie was due on July 20th and the baby could be born earlier or max 10 days later. A whole month to adjust being a mom and a dad had to be long enough. She would choose her wedding gown now, so they had to alter it than eventually. They would marry on Saturday September 6th.

Two more important to decide about where will the Keller family live in SF near grandpa: Mike or in Berkeley and where will No Stone Unturned headquarters be? After viewing both houses Jeannie and Steve decided to buy the house in DE HARO STREET. Mike could drop by whenever he wanted. Now was SF as headquarters only an option. At first his employees were disappointed. Eventually afraid to lose their job. No one had to. All stayed the same their boss wasn't less present. He even suggested who wanted could move with him to SF. No one wanted. Steve didn't mind. He told them he expected them on his and Jeannie's wedding like their co-workers in SF and Phoenix. The others further away were invited too but they could choose also for a day off.

Their house was redecorated and furnished like Jeannie and Steve wanted even the nursery at April 9th when Mike kids said "Yes I Do" in front of the peace judge in the courthouse. After the ceremony they took all their guests to dinner.

At the end of June Jeannie could hardly sit or walk anymore. She looked almost as round as a balloon. The heat didn't help either. For her the baby could come earlier. Steve and she would be happy and relieved when he or she would lay alive and kicking in their arms. Jeannie payed a lot of attention to her baby's movements.

In the night of July 2nd, she awoke with excruciating bellyache. It became regularly very hard. Jeannie recognized it as contractions. She woke Steve "Babe I am in labor. We have to go to the hospital." Steve dressed grabbed her bag and almost went to the hospital without Jeannie. She had to yell "Steve not so fast. Aren't you forgetting something?" Both had to laugh.

Once inside County General at the Baby Ward the baby was born; a little girl with a lot of blond hair. She cried out loud. The young mammy and daddy couldn't be happier. While Jeannie was breastfeeding Kimberly, Steve called Mike first and then the rest.

On September 6th, when Jeannie walked down the aisle in the Chapel of Our Lady, filled to the last seat, Steve was waiting for her with Kimberly in his arms sleeping like a rose. After their vows and blessing of Father Scarne, Kimberley was baptized. Before Jeannie and Steve joined their guests at their wedding party bride and groom visited mam and daughter at the San Francisco National Cemetery.

The party went on till 2 a.m. closing time. Meanwhile the newlyweds had already left for their honeymoon, one week in Lake Tahoe. Mike and Eileen would look after Kimberly.