Finding Kylie (35 page)

             
Seeing that he was someone she could count on made her grateful for his presence in her life.  He took a chance sending her the letter, and the only thing she really felt like doing was calling him to thank him.

Chapter 47

             
Chastity was ready to go. She’d checked all her baggage, and said her goodbyes to Anne at the passenger drop off area.  The only thing left was to call Timothy, to hear his voice.

             
He was quickly becoming a large part of her life.  He was someone, who gave her security … and not just because he was there during the aftermath of her mother’s passing … but because he fit perfectly into her life and her heart. 

             
Most of her loved this about him, but a small part of her was so scared to acknowledge how much she needed him.  She’d never needed anyone before.  With him so far away, doubts sometimes would plague her in the middle of the night, or in moments like these, where she had plenty of time to think.

             
What if this feeling goes away?  What if we don’t make it?  What if he doesn’t feel the same way?

             
She knew if Anne heard her, she’d give her a good smack.  So she tried her best to let go of the ‘what ifs’.

             
Just enjoy today and let tomorrow take care of itself.
 

             
She’d been trying to focus on each day instead of worrying about the future or the past, but due to her upbringing she still kept too much focus on what had been or what will be instead of staying in the here and now.  Timothy was someone she wanted to savor, and with him in her life, being in the moment was something she was learning to enjoy.

             
She smiled at the sound of his rich voice when he picked up. 

             
“Hey there stranger.  So glad you called before leaving for the other side of the world.”

             
“Aww, come on.  It’s not for long … just three months.”

             
He teased, “Three months of Italian food, wine, and men chasing you down.  Yeah, I’d better come out there sooner than later”

             
“The only man I want to chase me down is you. I already miss you. And to be honest,” she divulged, “It scares me.”

             
Timothy’s heart soared.  To know she was feeling the same way made him the happiest man on the earth.   He breathed in, wishing he could kiss her.

             
“I’m already missing you and trust me … that scares me just as much.  I really care about you sweet Chastity, and I would be stupid not to tell you before you get on that plane.”

             
She sat in silence as her heart swelled. 

             
Sweet Chastity!
  For the first time she was at a loss for words.

             
“Chastity? You still there?”

             
“Yeah,” she sighed.  “I just wish I could see you right now.  Between my uncle’s letter and your words … I’m just gettin’ teary.  Man, I’m such a girl!” she chastised herself.

             
Timothy laughed wholeheartedly, and let his emotions get the best of him.  Before he knew what he was saying, he blurted out, “That’s what I love about you.”

             
Immediately, he wished he could hit a rewind button. 

             
She sat in awe at his declaration, but decided to brush it off as simple conversation.  Everyone throws that word around from time to time, so she wasn’t going to look any deeper than that.  What she didn’t realize is that Timothy wasn’t one of those that used that word lightly.  When he said the word ‘love’, it should be taken with care.

             
He quickly changed the subject, trying to mask his flub. 

             
“You said you got a letter from your uncle.  What’s up?”

             
In stride, she caught him up to speed on Jesse’s bombshell.

             
“I’m not sure what to do now.  Do I open the letter from this man, who wants to be my dad, or do I burn it?”  She asked in hopes he’d have an answer for her.

             
“I wish I could tell you what to do.  Wow, I don’t think I can help you there, but you’ll know when you’re ready.”  He paused, “I can tell you one thing that might make you happy … I hope.”

             
“Just talking to you makes me happy.”

             
“Me too,” he continued.  “I slipped a little envelope into your journal when I was in town this past weekend.  It was the last of my official business with you.”

             
“So it wasn’t a love note then,” she teased, slightly disappointed.

             
Hearing the dip in her voice, he knew he needed to get on that soon. 

             
“No, but you’ll get a couple of those in the next couple months.  Actually - what I left you was a letter to you from your mom.”  He paused, unsure of how she’d react.  “She instructed me to slip it to you when you left for your someday trip.  I was to either mail it to you or get it to you in person … she left the choice up to me.”

             
“What?”  She sat there in a stupor.  “Nothing my mother ever does should amaze me anymore, but I wouldn’t have guessed this.”
          “Are you upset with me?  I was hoping it would be a good surprise.  I was going to let you find it in your journal, when you brought it with you on your trip.  But … after you mentioned the letter from your dad, I figured you need this one.  It’s a letter you’ll want to open for sure.”

             
“No, you did the right thing,” she reassured him.  “So she was hoping or guessing that we’d still be in touch?”

             
“Well, she wasn’t specific.  She only said to get it to you in preparation of your someday trip.  She said I could mail it … or deliver it in person.  I remember her smiling when she added that last part and never understood why until just now.”

             
“She was hoping you’d keep in contact with me.” She giggled.  “She was matchmaking.”

             
“It seems she was. At least we know we have her blessing.  That’s got to make you feel good.”
         “You have no idea … she never trusted or approved of anyone.  To know she trusted you with her legal situation, but also with me - it means the world.  Thank you.”

             
“Don’t thank me.  Thank your mom.”

             
She was overcome with so much emotion; she could hardly put a lid on it.  In order to rein it in, she needed to cut the conversation short.

             
“Hey, I’ve got get to my gate, but I promise I’ll call when I land.  Thanks again … for the letter.”             

             
“I’m glad I told you now.  I hope it makes you happy.  Talk to you soon.”

             
After they hung up, she put her bags on the conveyor belt, and she made her way through security.  She thought not only of her trip ahead, but also of the two letters stashed in her bag.  Her life had always been out of the ordinary, but nothing compared to the craziness she’d been put through recently.

             
Only a few months ago, she was a poor college graduate with only one family member to call her own.  Now, here she was traveling on her someday trip, with a letter from not one parent but two burning a hole in her bag … and a very expensive one at that.  Plus, she had a handsome boyfriend waiting to visit her overseas. 

             
She shook her head, thinking it sounded nothing short of an episode of one of Anne’s soap operas.  It just goes to show how fast everything can flip in a heartbeat. 

             
Right now, the only constant she had set in stone were her travel plans. Her hotel and art classes were confirmed, and she had a week to herself before her studies geared up.  Her first mission was to visit as many museums and galleries as she could, in preparation. 

             
She smiled as she imagined strolling down the Zattere walk in person, instead of just reading about it.  She planned on painting by the canals and taking in all the local sights before her classes started.

             
She’d set her sights on taking this trip her whole life, and was determined that something like a letter, from John, wouldn’t spoil it.  The exhilaration of the trip alone would be enough to eliminate any shadow, which was cast from his unopened letter.

             
Yes, there was a lot to keep her occupied in Venice - especially now that the romance of the city held such promise for her.  She looked forward to what type of spell it would cast for them both.

Chapter 48

              Waiting to board was the hardest part.  She had a letter from her mom, when she should be sitting next to her instead.  Chastity felt robbed of sharing this with the one person who’d helped her plan for it her whole life.

             
Even though it beckoned from within her carryon, she decided to wait to read her mom’s letter until she boarded.  The last thing she needed was to break down before she got on the plane, with an entire airport as an audience.  She hoped to have some privacy in first class.

             
Unsure, she reached for her carry-on to peek inside.
Yep, mom’s journal is still there. 
Even though she remembered packing last night, she needed to make sure. 

             
She gingerly reached inside to open the back cover. Her heart ached in seeing the envelope, with her name scrawled in her mother’s handwriting. To keep from tearing up, she quickly pushed the journal back inside.

             
Chastity had only three entries left.  Since she wasn’t ready to let go of her mom, she’d taken a long break from it - saving the last entries for when she was in dire need to hear her words. 

             
With all the commotion in her life in that last couple of weeks, she’d not slowed down enough to feel the need to read anything.  But today of all days, she she’d have the time and the desire to feel close to her.

             
How she wished she could tell her mom about Timothy and how important he had become to her.  Suddenly, the urge to call her mom hit once more.  She reached for her cell, stopping short of dialing her mom’s number. 

             
How many times will I do that? A
ggravated, she dialed Cheryl instead, who picked up almost immediately.

             
“Hey there, you ready to board yet?”

             
“Almost.  I needed to call mom,” Chastity sighed.  “And since I can’t … I did the next best thing.”

             
“Aw, I’m so sorry sweetheart.  I know it’s hard.  I still feel the need to call my mom and it’s been fifteen years.”

             
Chastity groaned. “Gee thanks.  Something to look forward to.”

             
Cheryl sadly smiled to herself.  “Hey, it gets better. I promise.  At least you have family left.”

             
She knew it was an attempt to make her feel better, but it didn’t. 

             
“This trip is a bittersweet one, and the bitter of it is getting to me right now.”  She fought the tears, which threatened to come.  “Mom knew I’d take this trip someday … so did I.  I just didn’t know she wouldn’t be here to see it.”

             
“Oh honey, don’t you think she sees it?  She’s with you always.  She knew when she died that you’d be taking it soon, and she looked forward to it.  There isn’t anything that would stand in her way or keep her from seeing you in Venice.”