Finding Kylie (24 page)

             
I hate feeling like I lived in a fog. 
She stared down to the blank sketchpad, in her lap. 
Moving around so much didn’t leave a lot of time for details. 

             
She narrowed her eyes and tried to focus on the only place she felt secure
. 
She gently laid her hand on the paper, and started drawing with just a few light strokes … feeling her way into her art.  In no time, she gained momentum and drew with more passion than she had in months.  It was like her life depended on it. 

             
Chastity felt driven to create a memory, any memory for herself ... to remind her of where she’d been.  After filling the void on the paper, she sat back and inspected the final product.  It was of Miss Clara and her mother, baking in Clara’s kitchen.  They both had on aprons and were smiling exactly the way she remembered them. 

             
Mom, you were happy at Miss Clara’s.  She made us both feel safe.
 

             
Chastity used a gum eraser and her forefinger to soften the lines around Miss Clara’s face.  The effect it made her look almost like an angel, and Chastity felt it fitting. 

             
She was our guardian angel.
Gratitude filled her heart.

             
She turned to look at the clock behind her.  If she timed it right, it would
be right after the breakfast rush
. 
Chastity set her sketchpad in her lap, and opened up her planner to look up Clara’s number.
 
After a few short rings, she heard the best sound she had in weeks. 

             
“Clara’s Place.  What can I get ya?” 

             
Hearing Clara’s rich voice, Chastity filled with warmth. 

             
“Hey, it’s me.  I just wanted to thank you for coming to mom’s funeral.”

             
“Oh my!  How’s my little Chaz doing?  You’ve been on my mind.  You didn’t look so good the last time I saw you.  Your momma would have been worried.” 

             
Clara waved her waitress over, to watch the diner while she sat to visit.

             
“I’m good.  I’m tired, but okay.  I just drew a picture of the two of you and thought I might send it to you ... for the diner.  It would be a great piece to hang over the register.” 

             
Chastity stared at the picture she’d drawn, thinking she’d captured the essence of Clara’s knowing eyes and spirit.

             
“I would love that darlin’.”

             
“I also came into a little bit of money and wanted to send you something … as a thank you for all you’ve done for us.”

             
Clara chuckled. “Don’t really think that’s necessary child.”

             
“You had to take off work for mom’s funeral, and you’ve sacrificed so much to help us.”

             
“Don’t you know that I’m doing just fine?  I’m doing more than fine in that department.”

             
“How?” She wondered.

             
“Your momma used to bake her pies n’ pastries and take ‘em to surrounding cities … trying to get catering business for us when you two lived here.  She made up special business cards and left those yummy creations of hers in all the ritzy office complexes she could find from Mobile to Montgomery.” 

             
Clara blew out a sigh. “And don’t ya know about the time you two had to take flight, I started getting all kinds of calls from all over.  Once those people tasted her baking, they wanted more.  Luckily for me she left me recipes to fill those orders and now I’m doing just fine.”

             
“You’re kidding me.  You’re still at the diner right?”

             
“I wouldn’t dream of leaving my home.  I’ve just used all my extra income to fix up the place and some of Main Street.  Our little town in thriving again … thanks to your momma.  So it’s me child who needs to thank you – not the other way around.  Without your momma’s vision and know-how, I wouldn’t still be here … let alone be doing this well.  Hey, where you calling from?  Home? Or are you still at your momma’s place?”  Clara stood to pick up a tack.  She chose green for the color of Chastity’s eyes. 

             
“I’m in Oklahoma City, at Cheryl’s.”  Chastity stared out the window.  “I don’t know how long I’ll stay.  It may be a while.”

             
“You gonna try to find your daddy?”             

             
“No, not him.  Miss Clara, do you
know? 
Did my mom tell you her story - our story?”

             
Chastity sat amazed at Clara’s clairvoyance, hoping she didn’t have to explain it all.  It would be nice to just have a normal conversation with out any of the details of her newly discovered history.

             
“Oh Chaz.  I know everything don’t you know that?  I knew before you two skinny girls even walked in my door all those years ago that you were running.” 

             
Clara stood from her bar stool, and walked to face the map on the wall. She placed the newest tack firmly into place.

             
“You know after you two had to leave, I put a U.S. map up behind my counter, and started placing clear tacks on it for every state your mom would move to.   I chose clear because she moved like the wind from one place to the next.  She’d just send me a plain post card that would have a city and state on it, and that would be it.  That’s how I knew where she was, and how to find Kylie if anything ever happened.”

             
Chastity wiped a tear away, which had escaped down her cheek. “Wow.  I don’t know what to say.  You have no idea how much that means to me ... that you would keep track of us and still keep her secret.”   

             
Chastity never knew how lucky she was to have stumbled in to Clara’s place until now. 

             
“I’m placing a green tack up for you as we speak.  Green ... for those pretty eyes of yours.”  She stuck it in the heart of the state.  “OKC - there you are.  So, now when anyone in Friendswood wants to know where you are, all they have to do is look at my map.”  Clara paused and lowered her voice. “You hang in there little one ... and if you need me, just call.  I’m always here.”

             
Chastity hung up feeling blessed. 
We didn’t find Clara in her diner all those years ago.  She found us. 

             
She closed her eyes and thanked God for His miracles.

Chapter 3
1

             
Jessed settled into his overstuffed chair and dialed the number he found on the investigator’s card. 

             
“Wallace Investigations.” 

             
Jesse heard a classic smoker’s voice come through the line. 

             
“Randall Wallace, please.  Tell him it’s Jesse Mikale, and I need to speak to him at once.”  He heard the man chuckle.

             
“You got him - my secretary’s off for the day.  What can I do for you Mr. Mikale?” 

             
Not that Randall really needed to ask.  He already knew it would be about the Wayne case.  He’d been putting off John for months, and it was no surprise that his brother called him too.

             
“Do you remember the case my father had you working on?”

             
“Yep.”  Randall took a drag from his cigarette and exhaled into his phone.  “You and your brother trying to double team me now?”

             
“No, I have nothing to do with him. You haven’t told him anything have you?” His pulse quickened.  He hoped he wasn’t too late.

             
“No, sir.  Your father left strict instructions not to give him any information without his approval.  And well, you know for the last few years ... he’s not been in a position to give me any instructions.” 

             
Small miracle,
thought Jesse.  “So you’ve not told my brother
anything
?”

             
“I haven’t.”  Randall extinguished his cigarette, and reached for a fresh one.  “Jackson said under no circumstances was I to find them for John unless he gave me permission,
plus
he’s paid me a very hefty sum to keep me on retainer.  So my client loyalties are to your father.”

             
Relieved, Jesse relaxed. “Good to hear it ... Just to let you know, I’m my father’s power of attorney and that means I have say in his matters.  Keep John at bay if he contacts you.  Under no circumstances will you let him know I’ve contacted you. I will take care of my brother, but I still want updates on the family.”  Jesse tapped his fingers on the desk, and stared at Chastity’s picture.  “ I have a niece out there and I’d like to know more about her and her mother.  But – you’re to do it at a distance.  Do you understand?  I don’t want you to invade their privacy or let her know you’re anywhere around.  Do this quietly.” 

             
“Yes, sir.  I will start tonight.  Mr. Mikale? You
do
know that Kylie passed away a couple of months ago, don’t you?”

             
More sadness.
Jesse rubbed his eyes.  “No, I didn’t. Have you kept tabs on her in the last five years at all?”

             
“Not too much.  Your dad hasn’t had the capacity to understand, so I’ve slowed down my pace a little.”

             
“Okay, well I think Chastity is somewhere in Oklahoma City.  If you’re available, I’d like you to find her and uncover how long she’ll be in town for.”

             
“I’ll send you a bill once I’ve found her.”

             
Jesse felt the need to remind him. “Again.  This is from a distance.  You’re not tracking her.  You’re just digging a little.  Alright?”

             
Randall got it. 
Just digging...
“I understand.  You’ll get an update as soon as I have anything.”

             
Jesse hung up and thought,
now to take care of my brother.

Chapter 32

             
John sat on the patio and anxiously waited.  Last night, he received an unexpected phone call from his brother, announcing his arrival in town.  Jesse said he wanted to meet for dinner to catch up. 

             
John scanned the crowd. 
Since when is he interested in seeing me?  We’ve ignored each other our whole lives? And now all of the sudden he wants to catch up? 

             
He may not have bonded with Jesse, but he knew him well enough to know that something was brewing under his polite voice.  John looked toward the restaurant entrance, wondering how long his brother was going to keep him waiting.

             
“Looking for me?” 

             
John heard Jesse’s voice from behind, and tried to stand as casually as he could - without letting his apprehension show. He promptly extended his hand, in greeting. 

             
“Hi. How long has it been?  Since Alex’s fifth birthday?”

             
“Yeah, something like that.”  Jesse ignored his brother’s hand and walked around the table to sit across from him.  This wouldn’t take long and he wasn’t interested in wasting time or mincing words.  “I'm selling dad’s house.  I told Ms. Adams a few days ago.”

             
“Well... ” John sat down, giving in to the familiar feeling of bitter resentment. “Seems to be an important step, but you didn’t have to fly all the way out here to tell me.  Dad made it clear that I wasn’t able to handle business for him.  You’re the power of attorney.  You can handle it however you want.”

             
Jesse glared at him, letting that one slide.  He wasn’t here to dig at old wounds.  He was glad that his dad was at least wise enough to leave the family business to him, and recognize John for what he was - a screw up.