Leaving the Modafferi home on my way back to my place that evening, it was obvious that for me, the decision was already made.
I was going.
I was going, that is, if Bob and Debbie gave me the green light. I had no idea what they were thinking about me. I was just a stranger that showed up on their doorstep in the midst of them trying to find their daughter.
Naturally, they would have to wonder about me. (I wonder about myself all the time.) I wasn't really worried too much about that aspect though because I had strong references from people they knew of and trusted. It was just a matter of getting people like talkshow host John Sullivan, Congresswoman Sue Myrick and a few close personal friends, Kimberly Ingraham, Tim Stewart and Charlie Winberg to contact the Mod's.
I was in my apartment and it had to be about 9pm and the phone rings. Bob Modafferi is on the phone and obviously he and Debbie had been thinking about my offer. Bob had called to ask me a question.
"Dennis, Bob said, "how were you planning on getting to California."
"I will just drive out there so that when I arrive out west, I will have my van to get around with, "
I said.
Bob then asked me a question that signaled a change of course in my life. "Would you mind stopping in Austin, Tx to check out a lead from a psychic that has contacted us?
That was the moment I knew I was going. Now I had to get busy setting things in order.
I had just signed a lease on my apartment so I needed to work that out. Also, I had to notify the companies that I made deliveries for that I would be leaving town for an uncertain period of time.
Once I made the decision to go, I just remember all of my senses being very heightened. I was getting ready to go do something very important and it has always meant alot to me.
I drove over to my friend's house to tell them. Tim and Pam Stewart, who lived in Matthews, NC were the very first people I told. I remember I told another friend what I was getting ready to do and I'll never forget her response; "Dennis, that is mad cool!"
It was a very powerful time for me just because I was so honored to be given the chance to go find Bob and Debbie's daughter. Remember, back in 1997, I honestly thought it wouldn't be that hard to find her. I never thought we'd be 5 years out with still no concrete answers.
As for my apartment, I decided to keep the place because in my mind I honestly thought that I would be back in a month, so it didn't make sense to shut the whole place down, put furniture in storage, etc.
Charlie Winberg, a very close friend of mine said he would look after the place and not to worry about anything.
The next thing I needed to do was tell the companies I worked for that I was leaving on practically no notice and I was uncomfortable about that.
Kevin Bacon, now with Steel Creel Church in Charlotte, at the time was branch manager of Apria Healthcare, which was the company I did most of my work for.
I will always remember him inviting me into his office. Kevin calmly looked at me and said, "Dennis, you go out there and find Kristen, and when you get back, your job will be here waiting for you."
I was floored! It was my first true indication that I was doing something that was 'the exactly right thing to do." Kevin's statement was something I wasn't expecting. I was trying to think of a polite way of telling him that I was bailing out with no notice and he comes back at me with his reponse!
My two biggest issues were solved.
I remember that meant alot to Kisten's mom and in the midst of everything going on in her life, she took time out to write Kevin Bacon a 'thankyou' card.
Everything was falling into place wonderfully as far as me 'shutting things down' in Charlotte so that I could head west.
I still knew next to nothing about Kristen...just what was reported on the local news.
Dinner with the Mod's would be a chance to learn everything I could about Bob and Debbie's precious child.
