This isn’t something I look forward to doing alone, but I know I have Cheryl’s help ... for at least a little while. I can’t rely on her forever. Soon, she’ll have her own life to lead.
I really miss my mom. She still doesn’t know anything about this, and I know I won’t be able to keep it a secret from her for much longer. When I came home for Christmas break, she thought my weight gain was due to fast food and late night studying, and I let her believe it.
What a sham … I’m such a liar. Mom thinks I’m attending college on my scholarship with Cheryl at KU, and experiencing the full life of a freshman. The only thing close to any college experience I have is what I learn through Cheryl, so I use that to fool mom. I hate having to lie to her. Is she going to forgive me if she finds out?
How am I going to go through labor with out her? I’ve been reading books on labor and delivery, and now I’m more scared than ever. It sounds so painful! Mom’s the only one who could possibly help me through this. Cheryl’s great, but she doesn’t have any experience and surely doesn’t understand my mood swings or any bodily functions of a normal pregnant girl. I just wish I could call and talk to her. How am I supposed to learn to be a mom myself with out her help?
Wow, thought Chastity. What a position to be in. So when does Grama Wayne come into the picture? I’ve seen pictures of the two of us when I was a newborn, so I know she had to have been there.
She set the journal on the nightstand and walked into the living room, where the Jenkins family were watching CSI and eating popcorn.
She waited for a commercial break to interrupt. “Hey. Do you have a second?”
Cheryl saw the apprehensive look on Chastity’s face. She shook her head and reassured her. “Yeah, let’s go out back while they finish watching the show.”
Chastity put her hand up. “That’s okay. It can wait.”
“No, really. It’s a re-run and I was getting ready to go read anyways. Come out back and I’ll light some mosquito repellent.”
As the two of them stepped onto the deck, Cheryl slid the door closed behind them. After lighting both citronella candles, she joined Chastity.
“So what’s on your mind?” She knew there would be times when she just needed to talk or had some straggling questions.
“I was just reading mom’s journal.” Chastity smiled, remembering the sweet entry she read. “And, it was when mom was pregnant. She said she wasn’t sure about how to tell Grama. I’ve seen pictures of Grama holding me at the hospital. How did mom finally tell her?”
“Well, your mom had a little pre-term labor at about thirty-five weeks along. Your due date wasn’t for a few more weeks. Everything ended up okay. She didn’t give birth, but was ordered back home to bed rest.”
Cheryl watched Chastity’s face, as it was illuminated by the candlelight. She was such a beautiful girl, just like her mom.
“Need some?” She reached for the bug repellent.
Chastity shook her head and lifted her hand to gesture her to continue on.
Cheryl sprayed her arms and legs, and rubbed the repellant in. “Kylie was more than a little distressed over having to be in that situation without her mom. As always, she didn’t know how to divulge the truth. She was afraid her mother would be ashamed of her. The thought of what her mother would do with the information scared her even more.”
“So when did she call Grama?”
“She didn’t. I did. Your mom was so sick and tired at that point. Seeing Kylie through her last weeks of pregnancy, I knew first hand the last thing she wanted to do was anything other than what was absolutely necessary. It was hard for her just to put socks on or go pee in a public stall.”
Chastity laughed. “Great imagery, Cheryl. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome. See what you have to look forward to one of these days? Anyway, I called her when we got her back from the hospital. I knew Kylie would need her mom through labor, and I thought it best to make sure she came as soon as possible. Anytime your child is in the hospital ... well, a mother should know about that kind of thing.”
“How did Grama handle it?” Chastity felt a mosquito bite her leg, and smacked it full force. “Will you hand me some of that stuff?”
Cheryl pushed the can across the table. “She was shocked and understandably upset, but I think on some level she knew something was wrong. I mean, what child doesn’t come home but only once after leaving for college? She knew Kylie had been elusive, but just didn’t know how to get her to open up. After we talked, she was glad to know what was finally going on. Kylie … on the other hand was not so happy with me.” Cheryl grimaced. “She got over it pretty quick though. Especially when she went into labor a couple of weeks later. She was glad her mom was there with her.”
Kylie’s labor went faster than expected. Little Chastity Marie Wayne was born into the world at 7:09 a.m. after only four hours. As she lay in her hospital bed, she held her baby in disbelief. The moment was so surreal that she had to hold her daughter’s little feet in her hands to make sure they were real.
“They’re so tiny!” She lifted a foot, to show her mom. “Are they normally this tiny?”
“Yes, sweetie.” Her mother responded and smiled adoringly at her own daughter. “She seems so fragile right now, but you’ll soon recognize that she’s tougher than you think.”
Grace Wayne was telling her daughter the same words she’d been repeating to herself for weeks. Once she found out the truth, she wanted to wring John’s neck or worse, go get her husband’s shotgun and go after him with it. She didn’t though.
Kylie was priority number one, and her daughter had begged her not to tell anyone. She couldn’t break that trust because if she did, than to Kylie it would feel like betrayal.
Her daughter had been through enough, and Grace wanted to help her not hurt her. As it was, she felt like she let her daughter down. If she had been there for her to begin with, her daughter might have come to her first. She vowed to be there now, no matter what or who got in the way.
Chapter 30
The urge to draw was stronger than it had been in weeks. Chastity’s childhood memories had always been a little out of reach. Now that she was reading her mother’s journals, she had a whole new understanding of her life. She pulled out her pencils and pad, needing to remember a little more.
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 31
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, somethin
g 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.
He leaned forward to wrap this up. “What I did come to tell you is that I found the file on the Wayne’s.”
Jesse watched his brother’s smug face turn to stone.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” John lied.
“Yes, you do.” Jesse crossed his arms. “Now I know why you were shipped off to military school, and I know what you did to Kylie. Did you know she passed away recently?”
“Kylie?” John’s jaw dropped.
He could see the shock in his brother’s eyes. Okay, so he didn’t know.
Jesse could always tell when his brother was lying. His left eyebrow always went up. In seeing his brother’s reaction, he knew he had almost accomplished what he had came here for. His goal was to pull the rug out from underneath him, and then leave as quickly as he came.
To show he was in control, Jesse stood just as the waitress approached.
“Drinks gentleman?” She slid cocktail napkins on the table, and waited with an expectant stare.
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