August 10, 2009 by admin
Filed under Contemporary Romance, Looking for Home, Nan Donahue
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Chapter Four
It took a while to find a parking spot.
“I didn’t even think to check and see if the Blue Jays had a home game today. If I had’ve known the boys of summer were in town, I might’ve vetoed this particular trip.”
M grinned back at Alicia. “We’re not worried about a bunch of baseball fans, are we sweetie? We’ll find a spot to park eventually.”
Alicia smiled back, but didn’t say anything.
They did find a spot, and she managed to back in without causing any damage to the Beemer.
Jonathan looked at his watch. “Well ladies, we have a choice. Run to the docks to catch the ferry, or stroll and wait when we get there. What’s your vote?”
M would rather not run, but decided she’d defer to Alicia. “What do you think? Walk or run?”
Alicia scrunched up her face, obviously deciding deep thought was necessary before answering. She looked up at her brother. “Will you carry me if we run?”
He made a funny face and shook his head. “No way. Run or walk, but you’re using those two little legs of yours.”
“Okay. Let’s run!”
Ten minutes later M stood on the deck of the ferry, thankful for the slight, but cooling, breeze.
The afternoon had barely begun, and surprisingly, she was enjoying herself.
She’d been honest when she told Jonathan she didn’t know a lot about children. None of her friends had any so she could count the amount of time she’d spent in the presence of a child in minutes.
She had a feeling Alicia would prove to be a source of endless amusement. She definitely got a kick out of watching her trying to play Jonathan.
Her level of confidence amazed M. Despite losing her father—and who knew what had happened to her real mother—she appeared to be a well adjusted little girl.
M couldn’t remember much of her own childhood. After being involved in too many conversations where friends talked about things that happened in grade one, or friends they had when they were small, she’d done some research. Why could they recall these events when she couldn’t?
There could be some merit to the whole “ignorance is bliss” concept. Reading about meta-memory, and learning how children who are neglected and/or abused often don’t remember the early years hadn’t comforted her. It had only widened the chasm between us and them. A chasm she resented and constantly tried to bridge.
In one way or another she’d been odd man out her entire life. She hated it. It seemed as though the harder she tried to fit in, the more she became aware of her dissimilarities.
Summer had tried to overcome their past by using her looks. Her face had gained her entrance into another lifestyle. Unfortunately, Summer’s choices had led her into a life just as immoral and corrupt as their parent’s, it just looked better on the outside. Money could do that. How she’d ended up married to William Davenport remained a mystery.
M, not having her sister’s looks, and an aching need to be accepted by what she considered to be “normal” people, had gone a different route.
She sighed and forced her inward gaze out.
It was a beautiful day to be on the Lake, and she’d never made this particular trip. Although Toronto’s small, secondary airport, known locally as the Island Airport, blocked her view of Ontario Place to the west, she had an unrestricted view across the water to the east. In front of her, to the south, their destination drew closer.
Toronto’s small clutch of islands offered something for everyone. From the clothing optional beach on Hanlan’s Island to the children’s amusement park and petting zoo on Centre Island, and a host of interesting options in between.
Surrounded by the sounds of summer, M suddenly felt a sense of freedom she hadn’t experienced in eons.
She closed her eyes and—revelled. The screech of gulls overhead and the boisterous laughter of children came together in a cacophony that should have unsettled her.
It made her smile.
From the shore, the scent of barbeque wafted on the air and battled with the occasional nasty odour spit up by the Lake.
She tilted her head back and inhaled.
She felt gloriously alive.
She’d come to Toronto with great hopes. Those hopes had dimmed—nearly expired—when she learned of her sister’s death, but standing here, they rekindled. She felt as though she stood on the cusp of something great, something momentous, and she vowed to hold on to that feeling.
Jonathan’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “You’re awfully quiet.”
M looked at them. He had Alicia perched on his shoulders, her chubby little legs wrapped like a vice around his neck, and pudgy fists clutching his hair.
The look on her face attested to her total confidence in him. M suspected that even if he hadn’t had a hold of his sister’s knees, keeping her steady, a carefree expression would still be plastered across her face.
They looked like father and daughter, not brother and sister. Not in appearance. Something much deeper.
“You two are very close. She’s lucky to have you.”
“I think we’re both lucky. We’ve managed to keep each other sane the last few months.”
M hung her head and looked at her toes. “I’m sorry about that.”
“I’m fairly confident you shouldn’t be apologizing for your sister’s actions.”
She sighed. “You’re right, but still…”
“I know. It’s okay. Let’s just focus on having fun this afternoon, all right? I really want you and Alicia to get along.”
M looked up and caught Alicia looking at her with an expression far beyond her years. Reminiscent of the way Mrs. Brickman had gazed discerningly at her.
She smiled up at her, hoping what they said about kids and dogs was true. That they were good judges of character. “I’ll try my best to get along with you, Alicia. Can you do the same with me? And if I do something wrong, ‘cause I really don’t know that much about kids, will you tell me?”
She received a cautious nod in answer.
“Good. And remember, you promised me a show and tell while we’re here.”
This time Alicia grinned and said, “Okay.”
A whole word! Progress.
Moments later the ferry bumped into the dock and they waited their turn to disembark.
Looking around her, M said, “I’m surprised there isn’t a bigger crowd here.”
“The Ex is open, so my guess is everyone is there. Thankfully, Alicia is still content with Centreville.”
That made sense. The Canadian National Exhibition—or The Ex—started late August and ran until Labour Day. It had marked the end of summer for kids and families in central Ontario for decades. And while it didn’t attract as many people as it had in its glory days, the fairgrounds, with a huge midway surrounded by shows and exhibits, were still a major attraction.
You couldn’t compare it with Centreville, a mere kiddie park.
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Thanks to Nan Donahue for sharing one of her manuscripts.
