Inspiration Point

by M. A Casey

  “Yes”, I whispered as she found a park near some small shops.

  “That was when I knew I had been fooling myself, to think I didn’t love you. No matter what your father did you were still my daughter, and I treated you horribly. I did try to change, believe me. But I couldn’t get around the fact, that without you knowing the truth, you would never be able to forgive me. I begged your father a number of times to tell you both, but he refused, which only made the situation worse I guess.”

  She took a deep breath and looked at me, commanding my attention.

  “But that is in the past now, we all know the truth, and I’m going to use every day to make this right again Hayln. You are my daughter, and I love you. I never should've made you feel as if you were the one to blame.”

  We hugged each other tightly, and I could hear her starting to cry as the tears started to well in my eyes too. Before the tears took over, she sat back wiping mine away, and then hers before grabbing her handbag.

  “Let’s go find you something amazing,” she said sounding excited.

  I rolled my eyes at her enthusiasm to find me a dress to wear, to an event we were going disappear from, but I didn’t argue, I was enjoying her attention. We went into a little boutique not far from where we parked. It had beautiful clothes, although nothing I would normally wear. The lady behind the counter greeted my mother by her first name, she must come here often I thought to myself. We headed over to the evening wear section looking though the dresses.

  “What about this one?” Mum said holding up a red dress with a halter neck.

  I screwed my nose up.

  “Well do you have a favorite color?” She asked

  “Green,” I answered without thinking. “Emerald green.”

  She nodded at me approvingly and went to look over the dresses again before getting the saleslady’s attention.

  “Nicole, do you have anything in emerald green?” She asked

  “Actually Evelyn I do, I got a delivery this morning, just let me have a look for you,” she said politely.

  Mum smiled and rubbed her hands together, excited at this prospect. I held back my urge to laugh, because this seemed ridiculous to me, but I humored her. When Nicole returned she held the most beautiful emerald green satin dress in her hands, which looked just my size.

  “What do you think of this one?” She said, holding it up for us to look at.

  Mum looked at me waiting to hear what I thought of it.

  “I’ll try it on.” I said, not wanting to sound too excited about wearing a dress like that. But it certainly was lovely, I just hoped it looked nice on.

  I stepped into the gown, the fabric was quite thick but felt smooth on my skin. It was strapless and hugged my figure all the way down to the top of my knees where it swept out into a bell shape. It fitted perfectly, and I felt beautiful in it. I opened the curtain to the fitting room to show my mother, and when she saw me, she took a quick breath in while I spun around to give her the full effect.

  “It’s perfect,” she crooned. “You look beautiful.”

  “The color is lovely on you,” Nicole added.

  I looked in the mirror, the color was perfect, and the dress was perfect.

  “I think we’ll take it,” Mum said while she watched me turn in the mirror. I nodded, and went into the dressing room, to change back into my own clothes. I took the dress over to the counter where my mother was talking to Nicole about the weather. When I joined them, she smiled at me and casually asked my mother. “And who are you shopping with today Evelyn?”

  “This is my daughter.”

  “I never knew you had a daughter,” Nicole replied trying to mask her surprise.

  “This is Hayln,” my mother said putting her arm around me.

  “Well you look beautiful in this dress Hayln,” she said. “And what a beautiful name – so unusual.”

  My mother signed the account. “Thank you,” I said as I took the bag.

  We walked to the car, and I hung the dress in the back and got in. We drove away, and I thought how enjoyable this has been being with my mother.

  “Did your father ever tell you about your name?” She asked me obviously still thinking about what Nicole had said.

  “Only that you picked it,” I answered.

  “Yes I did, I picked both your names, you and Emin, but not until you were born. I wanted to wait to meet you both first, and I wanted names which meant something to us,” she explained.

  “I never looked into the meaning of my name,” I told her honestly.

  “When I saw Emin for the first time, I saw strength, even as a little baby. Strength and honor – that’s what Emin means. And when I saw you, I knew you were unique, one of a kind – that’s what Hayln means. I never knew how true that was until later obviously, but true all the same.”

  She smiled at me, with a look on her face, which I'd missed for so long. She looked like my mother, full of love and devotion. I felt happy.

  Escape

  When we pulled into the driveway, I saw Tyler waiting on the doorstep reading.

  “Looks as though you have a visitor,” Mum said.

  “Yeah, I asked him to come over, I need to say goodbye.” I said without any idea of how I was going to do it. I had gone most of my life without a best friend, and now I was being forced to say goodbye, not knowing when I would see him again. I took a deep breath to steady myself.

  “I’ll take your dress upstairs for you,” she said smiling kindly.

  I walked over to Tyler, he looked worried, and anxious as if he knew what I was already going to say.

  “Hey, didn’t Emin ask you in?” I questioned, thinking that was rude even for him.

  “Yeah he did, but I wanted to wait here,” he answered. “You’re leaving.” A statement not a question.

  “Yes, did Emin tell you?”

  “I saw him packing, and guessed. He said you’re leaving tonight,” he didn’t sound particularly happy.

  “We’re all going to the benefit at the University, and we will leave during the ceremony. My father has a car there, he won’t tell us what is happening after that, but we will be gone for a while I think,” I said as I sat next to him waiting for his reaction to the news, but he was silent.

  “That’s why I wanted you to come over, I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye.”

  “This is a mistake Hayln,” he said desperately. “You shouldn’t go.”

  “We have to Tyler, otherwise who knows what will happen to Dad, and they want me too,” I said trying to make him see sense. “Plus, it's too dangerous, for everyone, if we give them what they want – trust me.”

  “It doesn’t sound like these are the sort of people who will just give up once you’re gone Hayln. Running can’t be the answer!” He said anxiously.

  “It is for now until we can think of something else,” I reassured him. “It’s the only way we can all stay together.”

  “At what cost? You will be fugitives, I might not ever see you again?” He was desperate now. His shoulders were slumped, his head was in hands pulling through his hair.

  “You know I will make sure that won’t happen, but it might take some time. You are going to have to trust me,” I said looking into his eyes, trying to get him to see how serious I was.

  Zeke was right, I would be able to figure a way around this, I just had to put my mind to it. Tyler wasn’t listening though.

  He stood up and was yelling at me now. “It’s too dangerous Hayln, how can I make you see sense?”

  I stood too and noticed Zeke pulling up in his car, he waived at me but was watching at Tyler’s reaction. He stayed where he was, sensing we still needed a minute.

  “This is the way it has to be for now.” I said calmly, but he was shaking his head he wasn’t going to change his mind.

  “So I'm meant to just wait around here, hoping you are okay, and that one day you might contact me to tell me what – that you still can’t come home?” He was pacing in a c
ircle, I reached out to him to try and get him to understand, but this made him worse. He flinched away from my touch and yelled at me. “I can’t take this Hayln, I have to go. I hope everything works out for you, I honestly do,” and he stormed away from me.

  “Tyler!” I yelled after him. “Tyler, don’t leave like this,” but it was no use he was nearly at the corner.

  I was devastated, this isn’t how I wanted to say goodbye to my best friend – I felt dizzy and sick.

  Zeke was at my side as my legs started to give way, he wrapped his arm around my waist to support my weight.

  “What happened? Are you alright?” He said as he helped me to sit on the front step.

  “He’s so angry at me for leaving,” I murmured. “He thinks we’re making a mistake.”

  “He’s just upset Hayln, he doesn’t want you go – he’ll miss you,” he said brushing my hair with his hand.

  “I know, it’s just… that’s not how I wanted to say goodbye. Now when I think of him while we are gone that’s what I'll remember.”

  “It will be okay, I promise,” he reassured me. “If you would like I will check on him for you, after you leave.”

  That took me by surprise. “You would do that for me?” I asked, knowing Tyler wasn’t his favorite person.

  “There is not much I wouldn’t do for you Hayln,” he said as he brushed my cheek with his fingertips. “Besides I have an ulterior motive you know.”

  “And what’s that?” I questioned.

  “Well, I need you to be on top of your game. You have to figure out a way to come back to me, or let me know how to get to you – and I can’t jeopardize that. So, if checking on Tyler will make you feel more at ease, of course I’ll do it.”

  “Thank you,” I said as I fell into his arms. “It would make me feel better.”

  “Then consider it done,” he said as he kissed my forehead.

  “Sorry to interrupt you lovebirds, but if Hayln doesn’t start getting ready soon we will never get to the benefit on time,” Emin said, interrupting us once again.

  “I have plenty of time Emin, but thank you for interrupting,” I complained.

  “It’s fine Hayl’s, I’m not going anywhere,” Zeke reassured me.

  “I won’t be long.” I said as I stood up to go inside.

  Emin laughed, “That will be a first.”

  I didn’t dignify that with a response; instead I thumped him as I walked past him to the stairs.

  I was in my room staring at myself in the mirror when my father called out to me from his study. I walked down the hall, he was behind his desk putting together the last of his papers.

  “Things didn’t go well with Tyler, I take it?” He said putting his paperwork down.

  “You heard then,” I confirmed

  “As soon as we can find a way, we will let them know we are alright and then we just need to find a way around this mess I created.” He stood up protecting his ribs. “I am sorry for everything Hayln, for the lies and this impossible situation we’re all in.”

  “I know Dad, and I’d like to say that I understand, and I forgive you, but to tell you the truth, I don’t truly know how I feel about everything yet. I can’t talk about this now okay, I have to start getting ready for tonight.”

  “I understand Hayl’s, and I will be here whenever you are ready,” he said accepting I wasn’t ready to face him yet.

  I smiled at him a little weakly and went back to my room. I felt like a shower, to freshen up, so I grabbed a few things and went to the bathroom. I know I will have to have a conversation with my father about this sooner rather than later. But later is my choice for now. I still have to attend the benefit and disappear without causing suspicion, not to mention saying goodbye to Zeke. I got a shiver down my spine just thinking about that, even with the hot shower on my back.

  I turned off the water and dried myself, then headed back to my room with the towel wrapped around me. The dress was hung up in my room – it looked beautiful. I looked in the mirror at myself - I did not look so good. My skin had gone blotchy from the heat, and my eyes gave away the fact that I hadn’t been sleeping so well. I pulled my hair up, sighed, and then let if fall. I had no idea how to turn the girl in the mirror into someone who should be wearing this spectacular dress.

  “Can I come in?” My mother said as she knocked on the door.

  “Of course,” I said a little relieved, hopefully she may be able to help me.

  She came into the room dressed ready for the benefit – she looked glamorous. She wore a long black fitted gown which hung to the floor, her hair was twisted loosely into a french roll showing off her neck and shoulders. She smiled at me appraising her.

  “Has Dad seen you?” I asked, knowing how he would react.

  “Yes, he and your brother are getting ready now. I thought you might need a hand,” she said avoiding what I was getting at with Dad.

  I turned back to the mirror, throwing my hands to my sides, “I have no idea what to do with my hair.”

  “Well, I thought it looked lovely today when it was out and just pulled off your face. I could put a few more curls in for you and I think I have a pin for your hair as well,” she said, already a few steps ahead of me.

  I let her have full control, I just sat on the bed while she worked on my hair. It felt lovely, like I was five again when she did my hair for me every day. Some of my hair still had rollers in, when she came around to face me and lifted my chin.

  “Would you like me to help with your makeup?

  “No, I think I can manage, but thank you,” I said grateful for her help.

  “I’ll go find that pin for your hair then,” she said as she left the room.

  I went to my dresser and noticed my jewelry box. I'd had it for years, and I put everything I ever loved inside. I opened it up to see if there was anything I should be taking with me, but it all seemed insignificant to me now. I closed it, there was nothing I wanted to keep in there and then I noticed the key. It was a shiny brass key with a love heart on the end. I decided this is what I would take with me, and I put it in my clutch as I had already taken my bag downstairs.

  I looked into the mirror, my skin had improved since the shower so I put on my makeup and grabbed my shoes just as my mother returned. She helped me into the dress and then took the remaining rollers from my hair leaving soft rolling curls down my back. She took the pin and a section of my hair and swept it off my face and stood back to admire her work.

  “Perfect,” she said.

  I looked into the mirror. “Not bad,” I smiled.

  “This pin is beautiful,” I commented as I leaned closer to the mirror to examine it. On the head of the pin, was an intricate silver flower, with what I assume were diamonds perfectly placed within the design.

  “It was your grandmothers, Mimi’s,” she said. “She would have loved to have seen you wear it.” We stood looking at ourselves in the mirror, we were like chalk and cheese. I knew I never looked like my mother, but it was glaringly obvious now. However, the way she was looking at me now, made me feel like her daughter again – she was proud.

  “Now, let’s go see if the boys are ready,” she said.

  I took one last look around my room not knowing if or when I would see it again, grabbed my clutch and went downstairs with my mother.

  “Wow, you both look beautiful,” my father said.

  I smiled at him and Emin, who was also looking at us a little impressed. My father’s eyes lingered on my mother as I knew they would be, she did look stunning. She seemed to shy away from his gaze, as if she didn’t know how to react to his compliment.

  “You two don’t look too bad yourself,” I commented.

  “Not too bad,” Emin said sounding a little disappointed. “If I knew I looked this hot in a tux I would have found a reason to wear one before,” he said admiring himself in the mirror.

  “Where's Zeke?” I asked a little anxious.

  “Don’t stress, your boyfriend is just p
acking the car,” Emin said obviously still irritated with us.

  “Emin,” my mother said in a warning voice.

  “Yeah, yeah,” he said brushing her off, still admiring his own reflection.

  “Now is everyone clear on what we are going to do tonight?” My father said bringing us back to the reality of the situation.

  “Yes Dad, we separate and mingle with the crowd,” Emin responded. “When they ask us to take our seats for dinner, we all find a way to excuse ourselves, and meet at the exit near the kitchen.”

  “Exactly, and don’t forget, if anyone asks I'm retiring and we are all going on an extended holiday, to celebrate,” he added.

  We all nodded knowing this wasn’t going to be easy, especially if people were watching us, which we expected was the case. Zeke came back from the garage and threw Emin the keys.

  “All packed,” he said, and then stopped in his tracks as he saw me standing across from him. His face lit up with a beautiful smile, and we couldn’t take our eyes of each other. Neither of us said anything so eventually Emin threw him a camera interrupting the moment.

  “Didn’t you want a photo?” He asked.

  “Yeah, I did,” he said still not taking his eyes away from mine.

  We all stood in front of the fireplace and posed for the photo like a real family. Although, I wasn’t sure if that’s what we were doing – posing. Pretending, putting on a good show for those watching us, or whether with the truth now known, we were unknowingly starting to become a family again.

  Zeke took a couple of pictures of us and then it was time to go. Dad walked over to Zeke and shook his hand.

  “Do you mind keeping an eye on the place for me Zeke?”