The Brays

by L. J. Fox

  Chapter 68

  “You can tell you are in Los Angeles by the thick smog blanketing the city.” John Springer said looking out the plane window.

  Layne looked across his head toward the window. She had been unlucky enough to have a seat next to him, although after the first two hours he had kept to himself. She donned headphones and watched movies.

  She had never had the urge to visit Los Angeles like many of her friends did. The excitement she felt now was nothing to do with the city. She couldn’t wait to see her mother, and yet at the same time, she was terrified of the meeting. She didn’t know why. The last time her mother had seen her, she was a three year old child. Now she was a grown woman. Would her mother be happy how she had turned out? Would her mother be proud of her? She also wondered about her mother’s thoughts about the Brays after all this time. Once, she had walked away from the Bray life, and sought a normal life with Layne’s father, Brad. She had walked away from being the Australian head of the organisation for love. Now she was married to the worldwide leader of the Brays and had a son with him. She had obviously got on with her life. How would she feel now to be meeting her half-bred daughter after all this time?

  The Meyers lived thirty minutes drive from LAX in the Hollywood Hills. Layne found it difficult to think of her mother as Anne-Marie Meyer and equally hard to think that she had brother.

  John Springer had arranged for a car to pick them up and drive them to the property once Layne had been processed by Customs. Layne had a strange feeling inside her head as they drove toward the Hollywood Hills. It wasn’t the pushing and prying she had experienced on the tram when John Springer had tried pinging her. It was gentle, a seeking, a yearning, an invitation. She knew immediately it was her mother seeking her out. She sent back a response. It was exciting to Layne that they both had this ability and a connection. Her mother knew she was on the way. She kept the connection information to herself.

  The car entered the gated property and she saw a large two storey house with magnificent views below of Los Angeles. John left her in the company of Gwennie, a large middle-aged woman who announced she was in charge of housekeeping. She showed Layne through to a bedroom on the second floor with an ensuite bathroom. The differences between this house and Warren’s house were quite marked. Warren’s had an old-world look with antique furniture and winding staircases. This house, though just as grand, was modern, sleek and elegant.

  “You can shower and freshen up here. Call me when you are ready and I will take you to see Anne-Marie.” She turned and left.

  Layne stopped in the middle of the room and slowly looked around. It was a tastefully decorated room and the view out the window was magnificent. Here she was, about to meet her mother. Nerves made her sit down suddenly on the bed. To think, her mother was somewhere in this house, possibly only a few dozen metres away. She took a few deep breaths then sent a text message to Andy and her grandparents to let them know she had arrived safely. Opening her suitcase, she retrieved her toiletries and some neat casual clothes and went to shower.

  When she had refreshed and felt ready, she called Gwennie on the house phone next to the bed. Gwennie answered almost immediately as if she were sitting by the phone and waiting on the call. It was eleven am and a bright sunny day. So much hinged on this reunion for Layne. Her entire future teetered on the unknown, and this the pivotal meeting.

  Chapter 69

  Gwennie signalled for Layne to enter the door they had reached on the top floor. Layne nodded and stared at the wooden door with the brass handle. Taking a deep breath, she pulled the brass handle and entered the room. stopping just inside the door to get her bearings. The room was a medium sized room and appeared to be a sitting room. An unlit open fireplace featured with a number of soft grey sofa chairs facing each other in front. To the right of the fireplace was a large picture window and silhouetted against the Los Angeles backdrop, stood a woman.

  The woman was facing Layne and was standing statue still gazing at her. Her blue eyes, the same colour as Layne’s were piercing. Her outline was slim, well dressed and stylish. Blonde hair stylishly cut in a bob just below her shoulders. Her face, although still beautiful in her forties, showed some age lines as Layne had expected.

  The woman didn’t move or speak, so Layne slowly stepped forward, one foot in front of the other, she told herself. Slowly, she approached the woman. As she neared, she could see the woman’s eyes move as she studied Layne’s face. There was a slight frown on her face but that appeared to be the only visible emotion.

  When Layne reached two metres from the woman, she stopped and the two women stared into each other’s eyes. Neither spoke. Layne felt the sensation of a connection again. She welcomed it, embraced it and a warmth filled her body. All she had possessed of her mother all these years, was a photograph of her and Brad on their wedding day, and the gold infinity necklace she wore. Did her mother look the same? Did Layne remember her? She had seen photos of the Meyer family in various literature she had read and yet, she had not recognised her mother. How could that be? Would she have passed her in the street unknown?

  Layne looked at her now and fingered the gold infinity necklace, as she had done thousands of times in the past. The woman glanced down at the necklace and then her face relaxed and a smile broke out. Her whole face lit up and Layne could then see the mother she remembered from her childhood. A small snippet of her mother’s face came to her mind and the two faces reconciled. Tears filled the woman’s eyes and she threw her arms around Layne pulling her close.

  “My baby, oh my baby” The voice said sobbing. “How I have missed you.”

  Layne snuggled into the warm embrace, breathing in her mother’s perfume. She wrapped her arms around her mother and held on tight. The two women remained embraced, both sobbing for many minutes.

  Eventually, her mother pulled back to look at Layne’s face, still holding on to her arms as if she would never let her go. Layne could see the tears running down her mother’s cheeks, and the shine in her eyes.

  “You are so beautiful. I have seen photos of you, but you are more beautiful in the flesh.” She said proudly.

  Layne smiled self-consciously. “I don’t know what to call you.” She said bewildered. “Mum? Mom? Mother? Beverley? Anne-Marie?”

  Her mother gave a little laugh. “You called me mum when you were little. Jason calls me mom.”

  “Ok. Mum it is.” She said hugging her mother again and breathing in her smell.

  Her mother sobbed again. “I didn’t know if I would ever see you again. They told me they would only bring you into the organisation if you had powers, which obviously you do.”

  “Yes. I do.”

  “Come. Sit.”

  She indicated the sofa chairs and they both sat, next to each other so they could keep touching and hugging.

  “This feels surreal. I still can’t believe I am here with you. All of us … always thought you were … “

  “Dead?” Her mother said grimly.

  Layne nodded.

  “Are you ok mum?” Layne asked. “Are you happy?”

  Layne tried to look in her eyes as her mother looked away slightly. She pursed her lips and then smiled at Layne.

  “I am doing ok. I lead a quiet life. Do you know about Jason?” She changed the subject and looked at Layne for her reaction.

  “Yes. I know. I read about it. Jason, right? I am looking forward to meeting him.”

  “How are Ross and Nina? I adored them.”

  “They are great. Doing really well. Still crazy about farm life and their animals.”

  Layne smiled thinking of her grandparents.

  “I am so grateful to them. They looked after you so well.”

  Tears welled and fell again down her cheeks. Layne squeezed her mother’s hand.

  “What do you know about my situation?” Layne asked her mother, becoming serious.

  Instantly, she knew that they were about to be interrupted. Right on cue, the wooden do
or opened and a middle-aged man stood gazing in at them. He was a good-looking man, fit with dark hair greying on the sides. Both women stood up as he approached. He reached his hand out to Layne.

  “Welcome. I’m Dustin.” He looked intently at her face.

  “Layne Harrison”

  She said in return, holding her hand out and shaking his outstretched hand.

  “My, you certainly do look like your mother.”

  He said as if he had not believed it until he saw it. Layne smiled and looked at her mother. Her mother was smiling but something had changed. Her smiled was not completely natural as it had been a few minutes ago. She looked a little wary and controlled.

  “Thank you for offering me accommodation while I am here.” Layne said graciously.

  “You are most welcome. I look forward to meeting with you at my office this afternoon. After lunch, and after you have rested.”

  “Yes of course.” She smiled and nodded.

  Dustin turned and left the room. The vibe in the room changed once he had left. Her mother seemed to exhale and relax.

  “I am looking forward to getting to know you Layne while you are here.” She said brightly.

  Chapter 70

  Later that afternoon, Layne sat in Dustin’s office in downtown Los Angeles. She hadn’t felt afraid of this meeting, more a wariness and almost dread. If this meeting went pear-shaped in any way, and she was too arrogant, or Dustin took a dislike to her, her future may be severely impacted. She was also aware that as the world leader, he must have a significant level of powers. He hadn’t got to where he was by being a weak person like Warren van der Linde.

  The office was very impressive. A tall skyscraper, black and sleek with lots of windows. Of course, Dustin’s office was on the top floor. Layne couldn’t get over how many Bray employees were in the building. They looked, acted and even smelled the same as the Brays in Australia, she mused, just with a different accent.

  Dustin, dressed in a dark grey suit, leaned back in his chair studying her as she was shown into his office by an attractive middle-aged dark blonde woman named Isla. The studying went on for several minutes and she was sure this was designed to make her uneasy. She smiled at him and waited, trying to appear nonplussed. He waved for her to take a seat in a leather chair opposite his desk.

  “I have heard reports that you have quite an incredible level of power.” He finally stated.

  “Apparently so. I really have nothing to compare it to.” She said simply.

  “Well … considering you are not full-blood, then this is an amazing result.”

  “Perhaps this strength has come through from my mother.”

  He paused, looked down at his hands on the desk, gave a slight smile and went on.

  “You took everyone by surprise it seems.” He was looking at her, calculating. “Everyone has followed your progress since childhood and knew you had some level of powers, but John tells me you are possibly the most powerful person in Australia.”

  “Did he?” she answered calmly. “I can assure you that I was also unaware.”

  He eyed her again, obviously suspicious of her.

  “Tell me, do you have plans for your life? I understand a partner had been picked out for you, and you were being educated in our way of life. Where do you see yourself in the organisation?”

  Although the words were spoken calmly enough, they were carefully chosen and he was watching her intently, waiting for the answer. Layne paused. There was no way she could tell this man that she wanted nothing to do with the Brays or their way of life. That would not go down well in the organisation. Yet, what could she tell him that would keep him satisfied. She decided to settle on the truth, but a limited truth.

  “Well … I don’t have a clear path at the moment. I am very interested in solving crime. I thought with my abilities, I could be helpful with these cases. I most definitely am not interested in marrying anyone who is not of my choosing.”

  This was said very firmly with no room for negotiation.

  “Crime? That would be cases of normal people?” He asked.

  “Well … yes. I guess so. Is that relevant?” she asked pleasantly, knowing the answer and the Brays opinion on the race of normal people.

  He sat up straighter in the chair. “We tend to place our people where they can further the interests of the organisation. Solving old cases for normal people hardly helps our cause.”

  Layne could feel a slight anger building in her, but she fought it and knew it was important to keep calm.

  “I have been brought up differently. I value the lives of all people, white, black, short, tall, powers or no powers. I think that anything that improves the lives of people, helps all of mankind.”

  She lowered her head a little, realising she might be appearing to be standing on a soap box spruking her ideals.

  “Of course, as I said earlier, I am undecided where my path lies. I am still learning and feeling my way.”

  She looked up at him across the desk to judge his reaction. His face had not changed and he was still gazing at her without blinking.

  “Your mother had thoughts of living outside of our world, and it didn’t work out very well for her.”

  The words were said calmly, but Layne felt they stabbed at her heart. She didn’t react or say anything. She was aware he was giving her a warning.

  “Once she was shown the right path to take, she has made a contribution to the organisation.”

  He glanced down at the framed photograph of his son, Jason, sitting on his desk.

  Layne nodded. “I am sure I will be able to make a contribution to the organisation in some way.”

  She smiled sweetly at him. He blinked and smiled back, apparently happy with her response and that the warning had been laid out.

  Chapter 71

  Layne met Jason when he returned home after school. He was a good-looking boy with thick dark blonde hair that looked like it may darken over time. His eyes were blue, but more the blue like his father, more a steely blue. Layne wondered how she would feel meeting a brother, a sibling. Would she feel affection, a bond, a connection? She didn’t feel any of those things but she reasoned that they had only just met and the feeling may grow. Her mother told her that Jason was told that Layne was a child from her first marriage but that was all he knew.

  Jason formally shook her hand and said he was pleased to meet her. He answered questions but seemed reserved and wary. Layne thought that maybe this was typical behaviour for a thirteen year-old boy meeting a long lost sister for the first time and being unsure how to act.

  He was also polite to his mother with a cool detachment, that Layne found a little strange. Perhaps it was because Layne was present and he felt awkward. Her mother seemed to show the same cool detachment toward him. Layne was used to the affectionate and freely given statements of love that she had grown up with from her grandparents. She also remembered that there was plenty of love and affection from both of her parents when she was very young.

  Over the next week, Layne felt that she was getting to know her mother, and vice versa. She met up with her mother whenever she was free. Her mother had a number of engagements including part-time work writing educational material for children. If it had been her choice, she would have spent every waking moment with her mother but she was happy to get whatever spare time her mother could spare. Sometimes it was just a walk around the neighbourhood, sometimes a coffee sitting out in the garden, and a few times they had visited a local café.

  Dustin was speaking at a few functions and his wife was required to be present and make idle chit chat with other attendees. Layne was invited along to these events, and she sat back, watching her mother play the dutiful wife of a leader. These events were what she would expect a Bray event to be, good looking people, well dressed, slightly arrogant and the speech was always motivational and written for the elitist.

  Layne felt that her mother held herself in check. She seemed withdrawn, almost robotic at t
imes, smiling at other people in an automated fashion, the smile never reaching her eyes. Other people seemed to regard her politely yet treated her as insignificant. She found this very odd, considering the high regard everyone in Australia had for her mother. Why did these people treat her as so inconsequential? Perhaps this was what her mother had decided was the way to cope with the life forced upon her

  Layne pictured the young Beverley who lost her beloved husband in such a brutal way, then to have her three year old daughter taken off her, then to be forced to marry another man and live in another country with no contact from her daughter. It was no wonder her mother was not the bright bubbly woman she once had been. Her grandparents had told her all about her mother and looking at this woman in front of her, Layne thought they would be shocked at the change.

  Was she happy? Layne had asked her that when they first met. Her mother had made a vague response and then changed the subject.

  It obviously was too soon to have asked her that question and Layne hoped they would get a chance to have more intimate conversations. From what she had seen of Dustin, he seemed like a good husband and father, but glimpses could be deceiving. Was her mother now happy with this life? Here she was Anne-Marie Meyer, wife of the global leader and mother to Jason. Is that who she was now? If it wasn’t for Jason, her mother could have come home to Australia. The Brays threat against Layne was no longer in place, but of course, that would never happen because of Jason. Layne felt uneasy.

  When she had spent time with her mother, they had chatted about various subjects but never about anything to do with what had happened all those years ago, or about their powers or how her mother felt in her life, nothing too personal. Layne felt that they were getting to know each other from scratch, thoughts on world affairs, interests, likes and dislikes, and even personality quirks. She could feel her mother becoming more relaxed and more talkative the more time they spent together. The first time she heard her mother laugh brought joy to her ears. She was telling her stories of the farm and her mother was listening enthralled. Layne could see the light in her eyes as she laughed.