Inspiration Point (7 page)

“Who’s in Kings Valley then?” I shot back at her.

“Kings Valley?” She questioned, “How do you know he is
in Kings Valley?”

“Hayln found some flight times in the study and the
flights went to Kings Valley, does he know anyone there?” Emin asked

“We used to, Able Crowson lives there, you know your
father’s old partner?” She said sounding a little upset.

“So that’s who the old friend must be who he ran into
at the university.  But why would he be upset to see him? Did they leave
on unfavorable terms?”  I asked desperately trying to put the pieces of
this puzzle together.

“You could say that,” my mother said coldly. 
“They haven’t spoken since, as far as I know.”

“So why would he leave without saying goodbye or
telling us what was happening, especially when it is someone he isn’t really
friends with anymore?” I said possibly a little more confused than before.

“He wouldn’t have gone for him Hayln, he would have
gone for you – always for you,” she said glaring at me, her expression
hard. 

This shocked me.  What did she mean for me?
 Emin looked confused too.

“What are you talking about Mum?” He questioned, “What
does this have to do with Hayln?”

“Nothing probably.  Look, I shouldn’t have said
anything.  Just leave it, your father will have to explain this to you
both when he returns.  He should have done it years ago,” she sounded
frustrated.

“Don’t stop know,” I said not able to contain my
frustration any longer.  “If you have something to say – say it,” I
taunted.

No one said anything for a moment and then something
dawned on me. 

“This has something to do with why you got a divorce
doesn’t it?”  I was shouting now.  “Maybe even the reason why you
dislike me so much?” I said pushing her, I could see in her face I was hitting
a nerve.

“Hayln, what are you saying?  What are both of
you saying?”  Emin was upset too.

“I’m right Emin look at her – she blames me, she always
has.”  I felt like twelve years of confusion and pain were all coming
together at this moment.

“Hayln, don’t,” he pleaded.

“No Emin, your sister is right, I have always blamed
her.  I probably shouldn’t have, but I did.  One thing I do know is
that this is entirely your fathers mess to clean up, and I am NOT talking about
it anymore until he gets home – do you both understand,” she said.

I heard the tone in her voice and knew I wouldn’t be
able to change her mind so I got up and started walking towards the front door.

“Well I’m leaving – I’ll be back later when my father
is home,” and I left without looking at either of them again.

I practically ran to the bus stop, and I was there
just in time for the number 22 bus to arrive.  It was the best one to take
me to Tyler’s house.   Right now that’s who I needed to be
with.  I needed my best friend, someone who would be on my side, to see my
point of view, and I knew he would understand.  He always did. 

I often came home after visits from my mother’s, upset
with the way she treated me and our lack of a relationship, and he was always
the first person I would call.  He had never met her, and I don’t think it
would have mattered if he did.  All he cared about was how it affected
me. 

It was quite a long trip to Tyler’s house so I had
plenty of time to try and understand what had just happened at home.  But
all I honestly came away with was that my mother admitted that she did blame me
for our family being ripped apart, and for my father’s sudden disappearance. 
But how?  I have no idea what his trip is about and I was only five when
she left, so how is this my fault?

Once I got off the bus I only had a few blocks to walk
to Tyler’s.  He lives with his Aunt, only she isn’t his Aunt.  She
took him in as a foster child, years ago after his mother died because he had
no other family.  He said he didn’t feel right calling her Mum so he calls
her Aunt Maive.  She is a strange lady, even Tyler will admit that. 
She rarely shows him any kind of love or affection, but takes considerable care
with raising him in other ways.  Always encouraging his schooling,
ensuring he has all he needs at home or at University - everything but love –
something we found out early in our friendship we are both lacking from our mothers.

I knocked on the door, and Aunt Maive answered. 

“Hi Aunt Maive, is Tyler home?” I smiled at her
because she seemed a little put out.  

“Yes Hayln, he’s studying, but I will go get him.”
 She sounded annoyed. 

Now I understood, she was particularly strict about
his studies, always wanting him to apply himself more.  She didn’t invite
me in so I waited out the front.

“Hey Hayln, this is a nice surprise, come in,” Tyler
said with a beaming smile.

“Hi Tyler, I’m glad you’re home” I said as we walked
to his bedroom where he was studying.  I watched Aunt Maive sit back down
in the dining room doing a crossword.

“Where else would I be?  I have to do my four
hours compulsory study you know,” he said sarcastically.  He closed the
door and said, “Okay, what’s up Hayln?”

“I’m that easy to read am I?” I said as I sat on his
bed and he came to sit next to me.

“I know you pretty well Hayln – now spill,” he said
ready to listen to whatever I had to say, so I just let it flow out of
me. 

Everything from Dad’s reaction in his office on
Friday, the phone call and note, and my mother’s admission that she blames me
for everything.  By the time I'd finished, I could feel the tears building
in my eyes, and when Tyler put his arm around me, I lost it altogether and broke
down. 

It took me a while to stop sobbing, and I had just
started to when there was a knock on the door.  It was Aunt Maive.

“What’s wrong Aunt Maive?”  Tyler said standing
up in the doorway so she couldn’t come in.

“Um nothing – I um….  just needed your help with
a crossword question.” She said trying to look around him, obviously she was
trying to see what was happening in his room.

“Well, what is it?”  He said sounding frustrated.

“Oh um, a mystical horse creature, seven spaces?”

“Unicorn,” he answered quickly and closed the door
looking a little embarrassed and annoyed at the interruption. 

“Sorry about that, she is such a sticky beak, are you
okay now?” He said as he sat back down beside me.

“Yes fine and I’m sorry I lost it.  I guess it
had been building up for a while,” I said.  I truly felt a lot better.

“Well it’s understandable with what you have been
through,” he said.  “So what now, just wait for your Dad to come home I
suppose?

“I don’t have any other choice, my mother won’t tell
me anything else and besides, I think I would rather hear this from Dad
anyway.”  I concluded.

“And to think I thought you came over to tell me what
an amazing time you had the other night,” he said.

I laughed, “I did have a good time, really.” I assured
him.

“Me too,” he said smiling as he reached out to hold my
hand. “So you got home okay then, with Zeke I mean, because he seemed kind of
serious or something.”

His hand felt warm and comfortable against mine, but I
could tell from his eyes he was waiting for my answer.

“Um… yeah you could say that I guess.”  I
stumbled on my words, I'd completely forgotten about this situation.  I
thought about how best to handle it, and decided to go with the truth.  If
he asked me, which he did.

“What’s that meant to mean?” He asked immediately.

“Well……  he kissed me on the way home,” I said
looking at my feet now.

“He what?” He yelled. “Ezekiel Banner kissed you?
 How did that happen?”

“I don’t know?” I said honestly.  “I definitely
didn’t expect it.”

“So what does that mean?  Are you two dating or
something?” He asked still upset but still holding my hand.

“No, we're not dating, and it doesn’t mean anything,
yet,” I explained.

“But you’re thinking about it?” He persisted.

“Well, he was genuinely sincere.  But look, I
have no idea seriously, and with all this stuff with Dad it’s the last thing on
my mind,” I said honestly.

“You know Hayln, he does have a bit of a reputation,
with girls I mean.  You saw him when he was at school, he was always
flirting with heaps of girls – I think you should be careful,” he said, he had
calmed down a bit but was still upset.

Up until now I had kept these thoughts to the back of
my mind.  Of course, I knew Zeke had a reputation with girls, I suppose I
just wanted to believe he was telling me the truth.  And he still could
be, but Tyler was right to be cautious, although I know he has different
reasons for not wanting me to be with Zeke.

“I know, and I will be careful.  But like I said,
I'm not deciding anything right now.  Okay?” I tried to reassure him.

“Well, before you do make any decisions, I would like
to give you another option to consider,” he said as his other hand brushed my
cheek.

“I'm sorry I didn’t realize earlier Tyler.  I'm
not very adept at this stuff,” I said honestly.

“Yeah I noticed,” he said as he played with my hand.
 “When did you figure it out?”

“I guess when we were dancing.  That’s when I
felt a difference, what about you?” I asked.

“Well, the last month or so I suppose.  I mean
you've always been important to me, apart from Aunt Maive you’re the only other
family I’ve known.  But I have been trying to make a move for the last
week or so – without much success,” he said a little embarrassed.

“I don’t know about that.  You were doing okay
until Zeke got there,” I said trying to make him feel better, but not sure if I
was succeeding.

“Well, we know why he wanted to take you home now,” he
grumbled.  I didn’t say anything.
 
“So back
to what you were saying before,” he said sounding much more persuasive. 
“Do you think we could pick up where we left off?”

I still didn’t say anything, and he soon picked up on
my nerves so he continued.

“I mean, it is only fair.  You’ve kissed him, and
when it's time to decide, it would be better to be - fully informed. 
Don’t you think?”

I turned to look into his warm brown eyes and saw my
best friend, but I also saw an honest desire to be with me, someone who would
protect me no matter what, and most importantly someone who understood me
unconditionally.  So I closed my eyes and leaned towards him.  It was
different to kissing Zeke but still enjoyable.  There was no wash of heat
or electricity when I kissed him, but I felt safe and comfortable.  After
a few moments, he put his hands on my face and traced them down my neck sending
a shiver down my spine and I laughed a little.

“Did I do something wrong?” He sounded concerned.

“No, it just tickled,” I said still smiling. 
“But I do think you’ve given me enough to think about for one day.” 

“Do you have to go right now?” He said a little
disappointed.

“I should probably be getting back, I want to be there
when Dad gets home,” I said not wanting to hurt his feelings.

“Well I am glad you came over,” he said helping me up
from the bed. “I guess I will see you in the morning at school.”

“Yeah, I can meet you early if you like, to let you
know what happens,” I said.

“Sounds good,” he said as he opened the door for me.

“Bye Aunt Maive,” I shouted

“Goodbye Hayln,” she responded.

“See you tomorrow then.”  He leaned in and kissed
me on the cheek, just like he did on Saturday night.

“Okay,” I said a little embarrassed knowing Aunt Maive
could probably see us from where she was sitting.  I left and walked back
to the bus stop to make my way home.

All I did was think about my life on the trip home, my
father, and my mother, Emin, Zeke and Tyler.  Could my life get any more
confusing than it is at the moment?  I didn’t think so, but then again I
have no idea what my father will tell me when he gets home.

I checked my mobile to see if there was any word about
Dad, but there wasn’t so I knew he mustn’t have arrived home yet, Emin would
have called if he had.  When I turned into our street I saw my mother's
car still parked out the front, which really wasn’t a surprise, I knew she
wanted to be here when he got home.  It just felt strange knowing she was
in our house, she made it a point never to come here – too many unpleasant
memories I suppose. 

I also noticed Emin’s van had returned which means
Zeke is back, this made me a little nervous after what had just happened with
Tyler so I decided to go straight to my room.  I walked inside, and Emin
confirmed, “No word yet Hayl’s.”  So I continued up to my room and closed
the door.  All I wanted now was my Dad.

I looked at the clock for about the hundredth time, it
was just after six – where is he, I think to myself.  I hear my stomach
rumble and decide that I better get something to eat, it might even distract me
for a while, and I have always liked to cook.