Finding Kylie (14 page)

             
The most encouraging thing written was about her five series called ‘father unknown’.  The writer called the charcoal drawings, ‘imaginative and appealing’. 

             
Appealing?  That’s it?  That makes me sound so boring! 
Chastity sighed. 
Well, it doesn’t matter.  I made enough money to pay rent and bills for a few months, so I can take a trip to Oklahoma and see Cheryl.  All that matters is that Julia was impressed enough to offer me another show.
 

             
Chastity hit the home button on her iPad and touched the calendar app to type in her next exhibit date, six months away.

             
I have a lot of work to do before then. 

             
Chastity poured herself a second cup of coffee and checked her email.  She had written Cheryl last night, asking her when would be a good to come to visit.  Her spirits lifted as she read Cheryl’s response.

             
‘Come soon and stay for as long as you like.  I don’t care what day you decide to fly in.  Just let me know so I can show up at the airport.’  Cheryl had inserted a smiley face and added, ‘Love, Auntie Cheryl’. 

             
She grabbed her cell to make reservations but saw a missed call from Timothy.  So, she dialed into her messages first, to listen to her voicemail.

             
“
Ms. Wayne.  I am getting ready to board and should be in on time.  Call me by two and we’ll confirm the time and place.” 

             
She liked the raw but smooth quality to his voice.  She could almost feel him smiling through the phone and it made her stomach flutter. 

             
He’s got to be married or divorced ... either one is off my list.             

             
She shook her head, and reluctantly deleted his message before making her reservations to fly into Oklahoma City. 

             
That’s it.  There’s nothing left on my to-do list today. 
She tucked her legs underneath her, leaned back to sip the rest of her coffee, and contemplated the rest of her morning.  She’d left the day after her exhibit open for a ‘Chastity’ day. 

             
This term is what her mom coined for her, when she was just a child. ‘Chastity’ days were a legitimate skip days, in which they would spend time together.  Now that she was on her own, and she had the day to herself, she still planned to carry on that tradition by curling up on the couch, and reading more about her past. 

             
“What were you thinking … taking that money Cheryl?” 

             
Kylie turned sideways in her seat, glaring at her friend from the other side of the car.

             
Cheryl navigated down the long drive to the main road.  She looked to Kylie and threw her hands up in defense. 

             
“It’s the least they owe you Kylie.  Can you believe the nerve of that guy treating you that way, after his son took advantage of you?” 

             
As the car swerved, Cheryl quickly grabbed the steering wheel to regain control.

             
Kylie leaned forward and held her stomach.  “Cheryl, your driving is making me sick.  Pull over!” 

             
Cheryl came to a halt, as Kylie opened her car door to throw up again. 

             
“Here’s a tissue.” Cheryl reached for the glove compartment, and placed it in Kylie’s lap. “Wipe off your mouth, and sit back.  I won’t go anywhere for a while.  We’ll sit here until you’re okay.”

             
Kylie closed her door and relaxed back in her seat, only to start shaking.  The bravado that she showed at the Mikales crumbled, and her thoughts tumbled out faster than she could speak. 

             
“Cheryl, I didn’t think I could go through this, but when Mr. Mikale pushed that check at me and suggested I have this baby taken care of ... oh my gosh!  All I wanted to do was defend it. I don’t know what I am going to do.” 

             
She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around her mid-section.  “If I go through with this pregnancy ... I don’t know how I am going to cope, but for the love of God, I don’t think I can get rid of a human life.” 

             
Kylie turned her helpless eyes to Cheryl, needing direction. “What am I going to do?  I can’t tell my parents ... you heard him; he’ll get them fired!  They can’t afford that.” 

             
Cheryl, the problem solver, patted her on the leg. “You don’t have to worry.  What ever you decide to do, I will be there.  You can count on me.” 

             
In an effort to make Kylie smile, Cheryl referred to their favorite movie,
The Legend of Billie Jean
. 

             
“We’ll be like Billie Jean and live life on the run!” 

             
It was a weak attempt, but it made Kylie laugh. 

             
Cheryl smiled and put her car in drive.  Before pulling out she turned and said, “Seriously, for now let’s just take the check.  You’re going to need it no matter what you decide.  We’ll worry about what comes next - tomorrow.  Let’s cash this and go to dinner somewhere nice on the Mikales.”

Chapter 19

             
After checking in at the Laguna Beach Hotel, Timothy loaded his baggage into his room with time to spare before his meeting. He decided to fly into the John Wayne airport, because he couldn’t bear flying through LAX.  It was worth it to him to pay a little bit more for the convenience and ease of the smaller airport, and as it happened they had an earlier flight. 

             
Glad to have his feet on the ground, he threw his bag on the hotel bed and looked out his balcony, which had a full view of the beach.   Just the sight of it put him in his element, as it was one of his favorite views in the world.

             
Growing up, Timothy called the world home, but as an adult he made his home in California.  His dad, Colonel Banks, was a Marine officer, who took his family almost everywhere within the United States to overseas. Since they moved every couple of years, he was never able to put roots down.

             
So, after he graduated from law school, he chose to live in San Francisco, as he was always drawn near the ocean.  Since the east coast was too cold, and Hawaii was too far from the continent - settling on the west coast was the obvious choice.  He knew San Francisco to be full of good food, culture, and adventure. 

             
After passing the bar, he took a loan from his father to establish his own practice.  It took a while, but at the age of thirty-five, Timothy could say that he was practically debt free ... at least to his dad. 

             
Once he handed his father the final check, paying him back in full, the pride on his dad’s face made him feel like he could take on anything.  He always knew he made his parents proud, but seeing his smile in that moment was almost more of an accomplishment than when he passed the bar.

             
I will always owe him for being the most upstanding role model.
He rested his arms on the balcony, and soaked in the ocean view.
Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am now.             

             
Timothy breathed in the ocean air and turned back to his room, when he felt his phone vibrate, from inside his jacket. He
pulled it out, with the expectation of Ms. Wayne’s call and saw she’d already left him a voicemail. 

             
Tim would have normally had his client meet him at his office, but something about the way she asked if he minded flying to meet her had him agreeing immediately.  Shaking his head at the memory of her voice, he checked his voicemail only to hear it again - that soft but deliberate sound that immediately got his attention.  He smiled as he listened to her message. 

             
“Hi Mr. Banks, it’s Chastity Wayne.  I was just checking to see if you were in town yet.  Just call me when you’re in and we can decide where to meet.”

             
Timothy dialed her number and left his room for the Laguna Bar.  After a few rings, she answered.

             
“Hi. I’m staying at the Laguna Beach Hotel.  Is driving here too much of an inconvenience for you?”  He walked into the bar, which gave way to a spectacular view.  “They have a great patio overlooking the beach.  We could meet for drinks and go over the paperwork.” 

             
“No problem.  That’s just about forty-five minutes from me.  Just look for the man in the suit, right?” 

             
He grinned when she remembered their previous conversation.  “Yeah, how about 5 p.m.?  That’ll give you a couple of hours.” 

             
Chastity agreed and hung up. 

             
On the dot, two hours later … Chastity sat, waiting in the bar. Soothing sounds from the ocean roared in to greet her, as large waves crashed below.  It was exactly what she needed to calm her nerves.

             
She had worn her sandals, so she could easily kick them off, incase she had the opportunity to walk the beach

after
her mysterious meeting with the attorney. Chastity was still in awe of the last entry she read.  She couldn’t believe her mother’s resolve in making such a life altering decision.  Her heart was overcome with waves of emotion. 

             
She had a choice and she protected me!
 

             
Gratitude didn’t even come close to what she was feeling. She now knew what it meant to owe your life to someone. 

             
Thank you mom!
 

             
She closed her eyes in part out of reverence to her mother and in part to tune back in to the calming nature of the ocean.  She didn’t know what to expect from this meeting, but was glad Mr. Banks recommended coming here.  The atmosphere was enough to put her at peace ... almost.  

             
Chastity couldn’t ignore the sneaking suspicion that her mom had another big surprise in store for her. 

             
What on earth would she have an attorney for?
 

             
She had already taken care of her mother’s finances ... what little there was of them. 

             
I wonder what other secrets my mother has kept from me.

             
Out of the corner of her eye, Chastity saw activity at the entryway of the bar.  She observed a short and somewhat boring man wearing a suit walk in. 

             
Well, there goes the nice voice equals good looks theory,
she thought as she started to stand and greet him. 

             
The short man made eye contact with a group at the bar, and walked over to join them – passing her by without even a glance.  Chastity giggled and sat back down.                                                           

             
How embarrassing that would have been! I am glad he didn’t see me.
 

             
She looked to her lap and shook her head, trying hard not to laugh out loud.

             
“Miss Wayne?” 

             
Chastity looked up to see the most beautiful work of art she’d ever seen.  He was tall with broad shoulders, and had dark hair and eyes. 

             
Michelangelo would have loved you,
she told herself.

             
True to his words, he was wearing a suit.  It was dark blue.  His crisp white shirt was the perfect canvas for his tie, which had bold blue and purple diagonal stripes. 

             
He looks conservative, until you see his tie
. 

             
Chastity already approved of his sense of style, but then she saw him smile … with a perfect set of white teeth and was hooked.  Her mother always said you could tell a lot about someone by looking at their teeth. 

             
Her heart was in the pit of her stomach, as she realized she’d been too busy staring at him to respond.

             
“I am looking for someone.  Are you Chastity?” 

             
Man, I feel like an idiot. 
She’d never reacted this way to anyone before. 

             
“Umm, yes.  Nice to meet you.”  She laughed off her awkwardness, and stood to shake his hand. 
Nice and firm.
“Shall we grab a table in the corner?  It’ll be easier to talk.”