Finding Kylie (26 page)

             
Chastity glanced up, noticing how high it loomed over the two them, making them look insignificant.  They stepped up the winding ramp through the second archway and into the park. 

             
“Wow,” she whispered to herself.

             
“Yeah, this is the first time I’ve been here since this was erected. The last time I was here it was just a chain link fence after most of this was torn down.  It was so sad seeing the perimeter, as it was covered with items left by family or friends.”  He let out a deep breathe. “It’s still so hard to believe someone could attack our own families and their children.”

             
She nodded her head in agreement.  “I remember watching it on the news and thinking - how could anyone do that?”

             
“Well,” he paused.  “They’ve done a beautiful job commemorating it all. Look, this wall is up for the survivors.” 

Timothy pointed to the northwest corner.  “This is the only part of the building they kept as part of the design.  Its the
last piece standing.”              

             
Chastity stared up to the last remnant left in place, which the blast didn’t overcome, and realized they were standing in what used to be the basement. She couldn’t help but feeling the helplessness that the victims must have suffered.

             
“It feels like we’re in a hole,” she offered softly. 
I wonder how many were stuck down here waiting for rescue. 
She drew in her shoulders and winced.

             
Seeing the look on her face, he knew what she was thinking.  He gently guided her toward the survivor tree across the other side of the park.  As they walked up the path, they stood in solitude next to one another …  close enough to touch, but far enough away that they didn’t.

             
“This was the one thing left unharmed, in all this chaos.” He paused.  “It’s a true symbol of strength ... of this community, this state, of humanity.” 

             
He turned his head to look in her direction. 
She’s strong too ... having to go through losing her mother so young - having a surprise inheritance dropped in her lap.  She’s probably still reeling.

             
He wanted to grab her hand to pull her close, but didn’t know if he should.  So, he did the next best thing to get closer to her.

             
“Come on,” Timothy whispered in her ear. “Let’s go sit next to the reflection pool.  It will give us a chance to talk.” 

             
The second he leaned in, it felt like an electric current ran down her back.  If the feel of his breath on her neck was enough to give her a jolt, she was ready to find out just how his lips would feel.  As he led her down the steps to the reflection pool, she was determined to find out how his kisses affected her.

             
The sound of water, trickling down the length of the pool, was mesmerizing.  Instead of talking, the two of them sat in silence staring into the reflection, enjoying the moment.  As the wind picked up, Chastity gained a sense of strength, like the spirits of those that had been taken too soon were suddenly surrounding them ...  telling them that it was okay to live, to feel, and to survive against everything that threatened that survival.  It was the most amazing feeling Chastity had ever encountered.  She looked up to the clouds, wishing her mother had known what it was to feel this, to understand this.

             
The overcast sky was enough to allow every image in the city skyline to reflect perfectly along the water’s surface.  It was so pristine that it looked like you could step in to walk through.  If it weren’t for the two ducks sitting in the middle, Chastity could have sworn she could have. 

             
As she looked to Timothy, the power of all the emotions she felt pelted her through and through.  She felt free for the first time since she could remember.  Her light heartedness prompted her to do something unlike her.  Instead of running away … putting up walls … and shutting someone out … she wanted to lean into him to get as close as she could.  If there ever was a moment for the perfect kiss, this was it.

             
She turned her face toward his and was about to lean in, when something caught her attention.  From the corner of her eye, she saw a photographer shooting in their direction.  He was above them behind the wall, which surrounded the survivor tree. 

             
He’s been there since we arrived,
she told herself.  That, in itself, wasn’t unusual.  There were tourists and photographers with cameras all over the place.  But the fact that wherever they had been, so had that same photographer, which was a little unnerving.

             
The hair on the back of her neck stood up, and as much as she would like to think it was due to her stimulating partner – it was her radar going off.  She had been on the run long enough to know when something wasn’t right.

             
Timothy was about to cradle her face with a kiss, when he saw her mood change.  He watched her eyes narrow with distrust, and turned to see what she was staring at.

             
As Chastity faced the man, who was taking pictures of them, the feeling of empowerment she’d had a few moments ago disappeared.

             
He’s not taking random shots of the park.  His camera is pointed right at us.  This can’t be a coincidence.  Not with my gut telling me something’s off!

             
Timothy watched her quizzical look and was about to ask her what was wrong, when she stood to start up the stairs back toward the tree.  The man, who had been taking photos of the park, packed his gear up in a hurry. 

             
Chastity noticed his urgency too.  She watched him scamper, as fast as his body would let him, back to his car.  As he crossed the street, she watched him run with a limp, which triggered a memory from deep inside her.  Suddenly, she realized why the sight of him made her ill. 

             
While she may not have recognized the man, she definitely recognized the stride.  It stuck out like a soar thumb, making her feel as if she was going to pass out.

             
“Wait!” She started to run in his direction.  “What are you doing?  Leave me alone.  Do you hear me?  Whoever you are, tell them to leave me alone.”

             
As Timothy caught with her, the car drove off in the opposite direction. 

             
“What’s going on?” He stared at her, in disbelief.  “Who was that?” 

             
She only shook her head in response and teared up. 

             
She’s at her breaking point.
He gently wrapped her in his arms, and rested his head on hers. 

             
Timothy would never know how much she needed that.  He was the anchor to the storm, which was raging inside of her.  She let go and sank into him.  All she wanted to do was lay her head onto his chest and forget about her past.  She wanted these feelings of haunted memories to go away.

             
After a few minutes, he broke the silence.  “Are you okay?  There’s a park ranger over there ... do you need me to go get him? Should I call your uncle Dave?”  He gently lifted her chin to search her eyes.  They looked a million miles away.

             
“I remember now... leaving one of the only secure places I knew as a kid.”  She closed her eyes. “I must have blocked out the memories, but after seeing him ... his limp ... I remember.”

             
Timothy knew not to ask too much of her right now.  She just needed to be held, so he pulled her back to the survivor tree.  Whatever she was going through right now made her feel weak, and he wanted to remind her of the tower of strength that she was.

             
What he didn’t know was that the image of that man, with the camera, opened the floodgates for Chastity.  She never knew why she and her mother ran away from the first of many homes they had, until today.  Her mom’s journals gave her history … gave her logic, but Chastity never truly understood first hand until this afternoon.

              “Can I ask what this was about?  Do you want to talk?”  Timothy was treading through unfamiliar waters.

             
Chastity’s green eyes turned to steel.  “The other side of my...” She hesitated before finishing.  “lineage
…
family - what ever you call it - are worthless.  I thought it was just my biological father and grandfather, but now know the rest of them are as well.” 

             
She saw Timothy’s confused expression and gave the best explanation she could.

             
“By chance, I saw my uncle for the first time a few days ago.  I thought he didn’t know who I was, but I guess he did and now he’s trying to hunt me down too.”

             
“Okay,” he slowly responded, not knowing what any of it meant. “Have you tried a restraining order?”

             
“It’s not that simple, trust me.” Her voice was a small whisper.  She laid her head back on his shoulder.

             
“Okay then, how about we go back to the car?  Let’s go sit for a while. You can tell me what ever want, and we’ll figure out what to do next.” 

             
She shook her head with determination. “I know what I’m going to do next.  I am going to put this whole thing to a stop. Can you just please take me back to Cheryl’s?  I’m sorry to have put a damper on today.”

             
“Sure.”  He took her hand in his, and led her back to the car.

             
Chastity smirked and leaned her head back to look to the sky. “Ugh. What a first date I made.” 

             
He squeezed her hand for reassurance, and opened her door. “Well, no one can call you boring – that’s for sure.”

             
“I’m sorry.  I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

             
He blinked down at her, wishing he could spend more time with her today, but he understood.

             
“You have nothing to be sorry for.  That jerk that ruined our day is the one who should apologize.  We’ll try again tomorrow?”

             
“Sounds good.”  She leaned in to thank him for being exactly what she needed.  He scored more points with her today than he’d ever know.

             
It was a soft short kiss, which told them both they had plenty of time.

Chapter 35

             
A warm, muggy breeze blew across the playground.  Only a few minutes of recess was enough to make you feel sticky and in need of a shower.  Chastity and her classmates were engaged in their favorite game of hopscotch. As it was her turn next, she was about to step into the first square, when she heard her mother yelling for her, from across the parking lot.

             
She turned expecting to receive a hug from her, but instead saw her mom frantically running toward her, still in her stained apron from work. Behind her, was a neighbor’s pick up truck packed full of their belongings. 

             
“Come on … hurry!  We’ve got to go now.”  Kylie rushed over, and dragged her daughter by the arm.

             
“Momma, no!  It’s my turn next!” 

             
“There’s no time!  Let’s go now!”

             
Chastity hadn’t seen that wild look in her eyes in a long time.  She knew to obey her mom, and reluctantly ran after her to the beat up pick-up truck, wondering what happened to their car.

             
Crying, she strapped her seat belt. “Why?  Where are we going?  I like it here!  I want to see Miss Clara! Take me to see her right now!”

             
“ I want to see her too, but it’s time to go. I know you don’t understand.  You’ll just have to trust me.”

             
They pulled out onto the main strip and started past the diner.  Chastity looked over to the garage, where she called home.  She silently said good-bye through her tears, while witnessing a handful of strangers going up the stairs to their room.