"Neutiquam Erro" - Chapter 15
Title: Neutiquam Erro
Author: Shannon - shannyfish
Disclaimer: I do not own "Sanctuary" or its characters, Syfy and other people do. This is merely for entertainment purposes only.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: What happens when James and Helen actually change the timeline? How will it affect the future? Re-write of “Tempus”
Warning: Season 1-3 is fair for sure, if I have spoilers for 4, it’s by complete accident.
Author's Note: I like reviews :D So…review! Song used in this chapter is “No One Is Alone” from Into the Woods.
. . .
Chapter 15 - “A Piece of My Soul”
Her flight had seemed like it was never going to end. She landed at Honolulu International Airport on O’ahu. This wasn’t going to be easy. Though O’ahu wasn’t the biggest of the Hawaiian islands, it was the most densely populated. She had addresses, but that didn’t mean anything. This was why she’d booked only a way one ticket, though.
However long it took, she would seek out the two young women named Halia. She would find John’s daughter if she existed. She just was taking the opportunity more as soul searching. She needed this time. Will had already texted her about twenty times since she’d entered the plane and was forced to turn off her iPhone. He wanted to make sure that she was sure that she was okay on her own, he wanted her to know that someone could be there to back her up on the next flight out.
Her text back was simple:
I’m okay, Will. I’ll contact you when I know something. It might take a few days. Don’t worry if you don’t hear from me for a few days.
Whether or not he’d honor her request, she couldn’t be sure. She just hoped that he had the good sense to honor it. After all, it wasn’t like she was incapable. Sometimes it baffled her at how much Will seemed to worry about her when he’d known her for so little time. Maybe it was just a protective nature, but sometimes she found it oddly creepy.
Focusing on her task at hand, she moved towards the car rental desks. She had carried on everything she needed. She’d packed light. She honestly didn’t need that much and traveled a lot better when she didn’t bring so many things from home. Maybe it was that it made things so much simpler.
She missed simple.
Perhaps if she really wanted simple, she could have left her iPhone on Will’s desk. She was pretty sure that that would only cause the whole team to come after her though. Plus, one never knew when an iPhone would come in handy.
“Reservation?” the rental car clerk asked.
“Magnus.”
“Just need you to sign a few things,” he said and pulled out the paperwork and pen.
It didn’t take long. She’d purposely ensured that everything would be in order when she landed. She didn’t want to deal with having to wait forever for anything. She just wanted to be on her way. Though she’d thought about just getting around on foot and by taxi, there was something far more dependable with the rental car.
. . .
She sat on the beach watching the sun set. She’d met the first Halia on her list, a Halia Ketchem. It wasn’t John’s daughter, though. It had been quite easy once she’d made it to the central region of the island. The other girl was supposedly in the North Shore area, but she wasn’t going to travel and find her in that one day. She was going to take her time. So, she decided to watch the sun set.
It looked like a watercolor, especially how it looked above the ocean. Though it was something she wished she could share with someone, it was quite peaceful there by herself. The sounds of the waves gently rolling back and forth.
This was what she needed.
Space.
Peace.
Time.
Was it really that much to ask for?
What it really that much of a surprise?
Helen breathed in deeply and just took in the colors in front of her. She’d shared other sunsets with people she cared about, but this time…this one was hers. Helen wished she could bottle it and take it with her. She’d taken a picture of it and thought about using it as the background on her computer when she returned back to Old City. It would be a reminder of a peaceful time. She deserved that.
Laughter pulled her from her thoughts as she watched a few young adults (though she still felt that no matter their age, from their behavior that children would be a better word) run along with surfboards. They were tagging each other as they made their way down the sandy beach. Oh how foreign it was to her to be young in this era.
Though she appreciated the solace of this moment, she wouldn’t have minded sharing this moment. It was one of those times where she realized that this was one of the moments that she would have loved to share with Ashley. Tears filled her eyes and she tried to think about how much Ashley would like this trip. A trip without any abnormals as their primary or even secondary objective.
Helen watched the kids on their surfboards on the ocean and wondered if Ashley would have enjoyed surfing. They could have scuba dived and hiked around the volcanoes. How she’d missed out on so much with her daughter…
“I miss you,” she barely breathed. Silent sobs racked through her body as she forced herself to finish watching the sun set. There would be time alone to grieve further… Tomorrow she’d be off to North Shore in order to find Halia. She just hoped that the correct Halia was there.
Tomorrow the sun would rise again and the day would begin anew.
. . .
“Halia,” Helen repeated. When she got only a confused look in response, she sighed and then slowed down things a moment later. “Ha-lee-ah,” she said slowly, purposefully pronouncing it slowly in order to make sure that she was understood completely. She wished she had a photograph, but she just didn’t and somehow she didn’t think that a sketch would do Halia justice.
Plus, for all she knew, this Halia was dying her hair neon green with pink highlights. Halia could have a nose ring or an eyebrow ring. Helen was pretty sure that there were so many possible teenage rebel simple chances that it could have affected her appearance.
She was getting nowhere.
“Are you quite sure? Her mother would have been Lana Tallis.”
“Lana dead,” someone suddenly said.
Helen spun around towards the voice and the corner of her eye had caught a glimpse of blonde that had seemed familiar. When she turned towards the blonde glimpse, she saw it was just a runner. She wasn’t sure why the runner had caught her attention. Helen turned back towards the person who was speaking. “Lana Tallis is dead?” Helen questioned the person. She’d searched both birth and death records for Halia and her mother. She’d found a marriage certificate on file for Lana and Molokai Tallis. There were no death records that she could find.
“Yes,” and older woman said with a nod. “She and husband died. Car accident. Three years ago.”
“Did they have a daughter?”
“Yes,” the woman said with another nod. “Lia. Sweet thing.”
“Lia?” Helen asked and then realized that she could see Halia abbreviated in that way. “Do you know where’s at?”
“Lia use to sing and dance at Island Studios,” the woman told her as she pointed vaguely in one direction down the street. “But that was when she was small girl. She grown up now if she still alive.”
Helen frowned a bit but thanked the woman for the information. She pulled out her iPhone after she started to head away. She searched for Island Studios and came up with a few in the state of Hawaii. Only one was thankfully on O’ahu though. It wasn’t too far and Helen just hoped that they knew something about Halia’s current whereabouts. As she headed in the general direction of the studio, she did a search for the studio and the name ‘Lia’. Pictures came up. Some of them were older, but she definitely was on the trail of the correct Halia.
She peered down at the time on her iPhone as she neared the studio. It was still fairly early and she was hoping that she’d be able to have lunch with Halia. Wouldn’t that be something? It was something that she needed. To be able to have this tiny piece of the utopia she’d seen before.
When she found the Island Studio, she pulled on the door and was relieved to find that it was open. Entering, Helen looked around. She found what looked like a main desk, but no one was there. She took that as a cue to look around. As she walked down one of the brightly painted corridor, she took in the pictures from previous events done at the studio. Helen picked up on all the pictures of Halia in the photos. She looked happy in all of them.
A person suddenly came into view as she peeked into the main theatre in the building. An older man was standing in the aisle watching a set of performers on the stage. As she approached him, she then realized that someone was singing. Her gaze turned to the stage, but she couldn’t take in faces as she was still too far away. Helen took a moment to listen to the song.
“Mother cannot guide you.
Now you're on your own.
Only me beside you.
Still, you're not alone.
No one is alone. Truly.
No one is alone.
Sometimes people leave you.
Halfway through the wood.
Others may deceive you.
You decide what’s good.
You decide alone.
But no one is alone.”
Helen took another step forward and tapped the man on the shoulder. “Excuse me,” she spoke up. The man turned to her and he looked irritated. “I was wondering if I could ask you some questions?”
“You are not someone I know,” he said shortly and turned back to the stage.
“I’m looking for Halia Tallis. Lia,” Helen said. “Her father just recently was informed that her mother passed away and has sent me to collect her.”
“Lana and Kai died three years ago,” the man said. “Lia doesn’t know any other family… She’s been living on the streets since she ran away from foster care…and who can blame the girl.”
“Her father travels all over the world… That’s probably why he didn’t know about the accident,” Helen said quickly. “Is she up on the stage there?” She took the opportunity to step forward a few steps so she was past even past him. She suddenly saw her. “There she is…”
“She works hard. Smart girl,” he said. “She’ll be eighteen soon and then she won’t have to worry about being put back in foster care.”
“I want to give her a home. A good home, I promise you,” she said as she turned back to him.
“Lana never spoke of Lia’s father. I don’t think Lia even knows about him,” the man told her. “She may not want to go with you.”
“I realize that,” Helen said. “But I have to at least try…”
“They’re almost done… This is the last scene we are practicing today,” he told her. “You’ll be able to find her in the back once they’re done.”
“Thank you,” she replied with a small smile.
“Things will come out right now.
We can make it so.
Someone is on your side-“
Once the song completed, the man stepped forward and spoke to them and then they all started to disappear in different directions. Helen waited and then walked towards the man. “Where can I go to see her?” she asked. She didn’t want to get lost or miss Halia if she could help it.
“That way.”
She thanked him again with a nod and then headed off in the previously designated direction. Helen found herself at a door marked ‘ladies’ and knocked and then peeked in. “I’m looking for Lia,” Helen said. The young ladies all looked at her for a moment.
“She already left,” one of them said.
“She has to work,” another spoke up.
Helen frowned. She’d most likely just missed her. “Do you know where I can find her? It’s important.”
“Dee Lite Bakery,” one of the girls responded. “That’s normally where she works.”
“Thank you,” Helen said and then shut the door. A moment later she was looking up its location on her iPhone. She was thankful that it seemed like everything was well listed, she had a feeling that it helped tourism in the area. The bakery wasn’t far, but it was still going to take her a bit to get there by foot. It would be worth it, though, at least she’d seen Halia and she knew that it was the correct Halia.
Some twenty minutes later, Helen found Dee Lite Bakery and entered the sweet smelling shop. Inside were a few tables and chairs and then lit glass bakery cases that were filled with baked goods. Everything looked so delicious and she found her stomach rumbling at the sights and smells. It was about time she ate something. Approaching the glass cases, she looked over what was inside.
“Can I help you?”
She looked up with a smile at the voice. There she was. Halia was standing behind the case with her hair pulled back into a ponytail and an apron in place. Helen nodded. “I’ll take one of those,” she said as she pointed to the baked sweet.
The sweet was wrapped up and she was rung up. Helen waited a moment after she paid as she tried to think of how not to scare the girl away. “You’re Halia Tallis, right?” Helen asked. When the girls’ face paled a bit and her eyes widened, Helen waved her hand. “I’m not with children’s services.”
“Everyone calls me Lia now,” Halia told her.
“I was sent here by your father.”
“My dad died three years ago,” Halia said.
“Your biological father,” Helen corrected. “Did your mother tell you about him?”
Halia stared at her for a moment. “This is for real? It’s not a joke?”
“I can assure you, it’s not a joke,” she told the girl.
“I think she said his name was John something… She said it wasn’t a serious relationship and he disappeared before she knew she was pregnant with me,” Halia said.
Helen nodded. “His name is John Druitt. He didn’t know about you until recently.”
“Okay…so seventeen years later he knows he has a daughter,” Halia said. “And?”
“And your mother and stepfather have passed and you’re living on the streets,” Helen told her. “He sent me here to offer you a home. I can assure you that you would be well taken care of. If you want to attend university, your tuition would not be an issue.”
There was silence for a long while. Helen opened the bag and started to pick at the treat she’d bought and snacked on it. She didn’t want to scare Halia, but how she wanted to just hug the girl and drag her to the airport and just take her back to Old City. In her mind, she already belonged there.
“I haven’t been to high school in over a year,” Halia admitted. “I have my GED already. I just…they ask too many questions… If you’re hiding from children’s services, it doesn’t help.”
“I just wanted you to know that you’d be well cared for,” Helen told her.
“Why didn’t this John come here himself?” Halia asked.
Helen had a feeling that that might come up. It was a simple and practical question though. “Honestly, he travels a lot. I would be at the residence along with some others. It’s very large though, you’d never know that people are there if you wanted a quiet area.”
“Where do you live? Professor X’s mansion?”
“No,” Helen said. “It’s much larger.”
“I am slightly impressed you got the reference,” Halia admitted.
Helen smiled. She knew that Halia would love Henry and Henry would love having Halia there. He was still mourning Ashley’s loss. “The family at my house is a little different than most, but I believe that you’ll like it there.”
“I don’t know…”
“I know this has to be a lot to wrap your mind around,” Helen told her. “I can wait until you’ve decided though.” Helen reached into her purse to pull out one of her business cards. She started to write her cell phone number on it, but then stopped as Halia started to speak.
“If I go with you… I could always come back if I don’t like it?” Halia asked slowly and tentatively.
Helen looked up with a smile. “Of course you can. You won’t be a prisoner,” she told him. “I’ll even guarantee you a ticket back.”
“I’ve never left the island before,” she admitted quietly.
Helen nodded. “It’ll be a bit of an adjustment. But I’ll be there to go through it with you. You won’t be alone.”
“I’ve been alone for a long time now,” Halia told her. “I don’t really have anything to take with me…” She looked around. “And I can’t leave until I finish my shift.”
Smiling, Helen finishing writing her cell number on the card and pushed it towards Halia. “How about you call me after your shift is over and I’ll come pick you up? You can stay in my hotel and I’ll schedule the flight for tomorrow?”
“Does my father know…about everything here?”
She seemed a little ashamed. “He knows that your mother and stepfather died. Other than that, he doesn’t know anything else. I haven’t talked to him yet today.”
“Does he have to know that I’ve been living on the streets?” Halia asked.
Helen thought for a moment. “I don’t think he’s going to be upset. He’s going to have wished he knew about you earlier is all. I know he’ll be proud of everything you’ve done so far… There’s nothing to be ashamed about.”
“I only own two pairs of clothes-“
“How about we take a late flight tomorrow? We’ll get you a few things before we leave? Anything else you might want we can get after you’ve settled in?” Helen offered.
“Really?”
Helen nodded. It had been some time since she’d taken anyone shopping. Ashley had been shopping for her own clothes for a long time. It was be a nice trip, if nothing else. “We’ll get you carry-on luggage and we’ll fill it with a few new things.”
“I just…” Halia said slowly. She tried to push back tears. “I want him to like me…”
She watched as tears rolled down the girl’s face and she frowned a bit. “Halia, he is your father. He will love you no matter what.” Helen reached out and wiped away the tears. “You have no idea how much he wanted to be here.” Now suddenly she felt like she was going to cry. She kept the tears at bay though. No use in them both crying.
“I get off at six,” Halia told her.
“I’ll see you then?” Helen asked with a small smile.
Halia nodded as she tucked the card into her apron pocket.
Helen picked up the paper bag with the remainder of her treat. “See you soon,” she told Halia with a bright smile. She turned and headed out of the bakery. She’d be back at six and she’d be ready to take John back his daughter.
In the meantime, Helen figured that she should call the Sanctuary and let them know that things were okay. She’d have them pass along word to John that she’d found Halia and that she agreed to come back to the Sanctuary with her. They’d be back home the next day. It would be nice to be home…
Maybe this was really what she needed. This bright piece of hope. Maybe it was just because she needed this time with Halia to help her continue to grieve for Ashley’s passing. Maybe it was something else, all she knew was that she would be happy to return home tomorrow…
. . .
O’ahu fled into the distance as they flew out of the Honolulu International Airport. Halia was visibly nervous as she stared out the small window. She’d been so happy all morning. They’d gone shopping and purchased enough clothing items for her to fill two luggage cases. Halia had been a little worried when she’d seen how much it had all cost, but Helen had assured her that she would need the clothing and that she wasn’t worried about the money.
“I’m going to miss it,” Halia spoke up.
Helen stared out the window. “I know you are.”
Halia turned to her. “Maybe even if I like it there, can I maybe come back to visit?”
“Of course,” she told her. “And I promise you… You will see far more of the world.”
“I’ve never thought about seeing the rest of the world,” Halia admitted. She turned and looked back out of the window.
“Neutiquam erro,” Helen said quietly.
“What did you say?”
Helen smiled. “It’s Latin. It means ‘I am not lost’.”
“Latin? People still speak that?”
She laughed. “No. I know a lot of languages,” Helen told her. “Let’s just say that I’m old-fashioned.”
It was fitting though. She had felt so lost before. When she’d returned, she’d felt detached from the world around her and she didn’t feel at home at her Sanctuary. But now…now she was filled with hope. She knew that Henry and the others were there and would be happy to see her and for them all to go back to the way things had been.
Halia had been on her own and on the streets for some time. She’d pressed forward with her life and her education. She probably felt lost in the world, living on the streets. She was a child, who was trying to live in the world as an adult.
They were not lost.
. . .
TBC…
Author: Shannon - shannyfish
Disclaimer: I do not own "Sanctuary" or its characters, Syfy and other people do. This is merely for entertainment purposes only.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: What happens when James and Helen actually change the timeline? How will it affect the future? Re-write of “Tempus”
Warning: Season 1-3 is fair for sure, if I have spoilers for 4, it’s by complete accident.
Author's Note: I like reviews :D So…review! Song used in this chapter is “No One Is Alone” from Into the Woods.
. . .
Chapter 15 - “A Piece of My Soul”
Her flight had seemed like it was never going to end. She landed at Honolulu International Airport on O’ahu. This wasn’t going to be easy. Though O’ahu wasn’t the biggest of the Hawaiian islands, it was the most densely populated. She had addresses, but that didn’t mean anything. This was why she’d booked only a way one ticket, though.
However long it took, she would seek out the two young women named Halia. She would find John’s daughter if she existed. She just was taking the opportunity more as soul searching. She needed this time. Will had already texted her about twenty times since she’d entered the plane and was forced to turn off her iPhone. He wanted to make sure that she was sure that she was okay on her own, he wanted her to know that someone could be there to back her up on the next flight out.
Her text back was simple:
I’m okay, Will. I’ll contact you when I know something. It might take a few days. Don’t worry if you don’t hear from me for a few days.
Whether or not he’d honor her request, she couldn’t be sure. She just hoped that he had the good sense to honor it. After all, it wasn’t like she was incapable. Sometimes it baffled her at how much Will seemed to worry about her when he’d known her for so little time. Maybe it was just a protective nature, but sometimes she found it oddly creepy.
Focusing on her task at hand, she moved towards the car rental desks. She had carried on everything she needed. She’d packed light. She honestly didn’t need that much and traveled a lot better when she didn’t bring so many things from home. Maybe it was that it made things so much simpler.
She missed simple.
Perhaps if she really wanted simple, she could have left her iPhone on Will’s desk. She was pretty sure that that would only cause the whole team to come after her though. Plus, one never knew when an iPhone would come in handy.
“Reservation?” the rental car clerk asked.
“Magnus.”
“Just need you to sign a few things,” he said and pulled out the paperwork and pen.
It didn’t take long. She’d purposely ensured that everything would be in order when she landed. She didn’t want to deal with having to wait forever for anything. She just wanted to be on her way. Though she’d thought about just getting around on foot and by taxi, there was something far more dependable with the rental car.
. . .
She sat on the beach watching the sun set. She’d met the first Halia on her list, a Halia Ketchem. It wasn’t John’s daughter, though. It had been quite easy once she’d made it to the central region of the island. The other girl was supposedly in the North Shore area, but she wasn’t going to travel and find her in that one day. She was going to take her time. So, she decided to watch the sun set.
It looked like a watercolor, especially how it looked above the ocean. Though it was something she wished she could share with someone, it was quite peaceful there by herself. The sounds of the waves gently rolling back and forth.
This was what she needed.
Space.
Peace.
Time.
Was it really that much to ask for?
What it really that much of a surprise?
Helen breathed in deeply and just took in the colors in front of her. She’d shared other sunsets with people she cared about, but this time…this one was hers. Helen wished she could bottle it and take it with her. She’d taken a picture of it and thought about using it as the background on her computer when she returned back to Old City. It would be a reminder of a peaceful time. She deserved that.
Laughter pulled her from her thoughts as she watched a few young adults (though she still felt that no matter their age, from their behavior that children would be a better word) run along with surfboards. They were tagging each other as they made their way down the sandy beach. Oh how foreign it was to her to be young in this era.
Though she appreciated the solace of this moment, she wouldn’t have minded sharing this moment. It was one of those times where she realized that this was one of the moments that she would have loved to share with Ashley. Tears filled her eyes and she tried to think about how much Ashley would like this trip. A trip without any abnormals as their primary or even secondary objective.
Helen watched the kids on their surfboards on the ocean and wondered if Ashley would have enjoyed surfing. They could have scuba dived and hiked around the volcanoes. How she’d missed out on so much with her daughter…
“I miss you,” she barely breathed. Silent sobs racked through her body as she forced herself to finish watching the sun set. There would be time alone to grieve further… Tomorrow she’d be off to North Shore in order to find Halia. She just hoped that the correct Halia was there.
Tomorrow the sun would rise again and the day would begin anew.
. . .
“Halia,” Helen repeated. When she got only a confused look in response, she sighed and then slowed down things a moment later. “Ha-lee-ah,” she said slowly, purposefully pronouncing it slowly in order to make sure that she was understood completely. She wished she had a photograph, but she just didn’t and somehow she didn’t think that a sketch would do Halia justice.
Plus, for all she knew, this Halia was dying her hair neon green with pink highlights. Halia could have a nose ring or an eyebrow ring. Helen was pretty sure that there were so many possible teenage rebel simple chances that it could have affected her appearance.
She was getting nowhere.
“Are you quite sure? Her mother would have been Lana Tallis.”
“Lana dead,” someone suddenly said.
Helen spun around towards the voice and the corner of her eye had caught a glimpse of blonde that had seemed familiar. When she turned towards the blonde glimpse, she saw it was just a runner. She wasn’t sure why the runner had caught her attention. Helen turned back towards the person who was speaking. “Lana Tallis is dead?” Helen questioned the person. She’d searched both birth and death records for Halia and her mother. She’d found a marriage certificate on file for Lana and Molokai Tallis. There were no death records that she could find.
“Yes,” and older woman said with a nod. “She and husband died. Car accident. Three years ago.”
“Did they have a daughter?”
“Yes,” the woman said with another nod. “Lia. Sweet thing.”
“Lia?” Helen asked and then realized that she could see Halia abbreviated in that way. “Do you know where’s at?”
“Lia use to sing and dance at Island Studios,” the woman told her as she pointed vaguely in one direction down the street. “But that was when she was small girl. She grown up now if she still alive.”
Helen frowned a bit but thanked the woman for the information. She pulled out her iPhone after she started to head away. She searched for Island Studios and came up with a few in the state of Hawaii. Only one was thankfully on O’ahu though. It wasn’t too far and Helen just hoped that they knew something about Halia’s current whereabouts. As she headed in the general direction of the studio, she did a search for the studio and the name ‘Lia’. Pictures came up. Some of them were older, but she definitely was on the trail of the correct Halia.
She peered down at the time on her iPhone as she neared the studio. It was still fairly early and she was hoping that she’d be able to have lunch with Halia. Wouldn’t that be something? It was something that she needed. To be able to have this tiny piece of the utopia she’d seen before.
When she found the Island Studio, she pulled on the door and was relieved to find that it was open. Entering, Helen looked around. She found what looked like a main desk, but no one was there. She took that as a cue to look around. As she walked down one of the brightly painted corridor, she took in the pictures from previous events done at the studio. Helen picked up on all the pictures of Halia in the photos. She looked happy in all of them.
A person suddenly came into view as she peeked into the main theatre in the building. An older man was standing in the aisle watching a set of performers on the stage. As she approached him, she then realized that someone was singing. Her gaze turned to the stage, but she couldn’t take in faces as she was still too far away. Helen took a moment to listen to the song.
“Mother cannot guide you.
Now you're on your own.
Only me beside you.
Still, you're not alone.
No one is alone. Truly.
No one is alone.
Sometimes people leave you.
Halfway through the wood.
Others may deceive you.
You decide what’s good.
You decide alone.
But no one is alone.”
Helen took another step forward and tapped the man on the shoulder. “Excuse me,” she spoke up. The man turned to her and he looked irritated. “I was wondering if I could ask you some questions?”
“You are not someone I know,” he said shortly and turned back to the stage.
“I’m looking for Halia Tallis. Lia,” Helen said. “Her father just recently was informed that her mother passed away and has sent me to collect her.”
“Lana and Kai died three years ago,” the man said. “Lia doesn’t know any other family… She’s been living on the streets since she ran away from foster care…and who can blame the girl.”
“Her father travels all over the world… That’s probably why he didn’t know about the accident,” Helen said quickly. “Is she up on the stage there?” She took the opportunity to step forward a few steps so she was past even past him. She suddenly saw her. “There she is…”
“She works hard. Smart girl,” he said. “She’ll be eighteen soon and then she won’t have to worry about being put back in foster care.”
“I want to give her a home. A good home, I promise you,” she said as she turned back to him.
“Lana never spoke of Lia’s father. I don’t think Lia even knows about him,” the man told her. “She may not want to go with you.”
“I realize that,” Helen said. “But I have to at least try…”
“They’re almost done… This is the last scene we are practicing today,” he told her. “You’ll be able to find her in the back once they’re done.”
“Thank you,” she replied with a small smile.
“Things will come out right now.
We can make it so.
Someone is on your side-“
Once the song completed, the man stepped forward and spoke to them and then they all started to disappear in different directions. Helen waited and then walked towards the man. “Where can I go to see her?” she asked. She didn’t want to get lost or miss Halia if she could help it.
“That way.”
She thanked him again with a nod and then headed off in the previously designated direction. Helen found herself at a door marked ‘ladies’ and knocked and then peeked in. “I’m looking for Lia,” Helen said. The young ladies all looked at her for a moment.
“She already left,” one of them said.
“She has to work,” another spoke up.
Helen frowned. She’d most likely just missed her. “Do you know where I can find her? It’s important.”
“Dee Lite Bakery,” one of the girls responded. “That’s normally where she works.”
“Thank you,” Helen said and then shut the door. A moment later she was looking up its location on her iPhone. She was thankful that it seemed like everything was well listed, she had a feeling that it helped tourism in the area. The bakery wasn’t far, but it was still going to take her a bit to get there by foot. It would be worth it, though, at least she’d seen Halia and she knew that it was the correct Halia.
Some twenty minutes later, Helen found Dee Lite Bakery and entered the sweet smelling shop. Inside were a few tables and chairs and then lit glass bakery cases that were filled with baked goods. Everything looked so delicious and she found her stomach rumbling at the sights and smells. It was about time she ate something. Approaching the glass cases, she looked over what was inside.
“Can I help you?”
She looked up with a smile at the voice. There she was. Halia was standing behind the case with her hair pulled back into a ponytail and an apron in place. Helen nodded. “I’ll take one of those,” she said as she pointed to the baked sweet.
The sweet was wrapped up and she was rung up. Helen waited a moment after she paid as she tried to think of how not to scare the girl away. “You’re Halia Tallis, right?” Helen asked. When the girls’ face paled a bit and her eyes widened, Helen waved her hand. “I’m not with children’s services.”
“Everyone calls me Lia now,” Halia told her.
“I was sent here by your father.”
“My dad died three years ago,” Halia said.
“Your biological father,” Helen corrected. “Did your mother tell you about him?”
Halia stared at her for a moment. “This is for real? It’s not a joke?”
“I can assure you, it’s not a joke,” she told the girl.
“I think she said his name was John something… She said it wasn’t a serious relationship and he disappeared before she knew she was pregnant with me,” Halia said.
Helen nodded. “His name is John Druitt. He didn’t know about you until recently.”
“Okay…so seventeen years later he knows he has a daughter,” Halia said. “And?”
“And your mother and stepfather have passed and you’re living on the streets,” Helen told her. “He sent me here to offer you a home. I can assure you that you would be well taken care of. If you want to attend university, your tuition would not be an issue.”
There was silence for a long while. Helen opened the bag and started to pick at the treat she’d bought and snacked on it. She didn’t want to scare Halia, but how she wanted to just hug the girl and drag her to the airport and just take her back to Old City. In her mind, she already belonged there.
“I haven’t been to high school in over a year,” Halia admitted. “I have my GED already. I just…they ask too many questions… If you’re hiding from children’s services, it doesn’t help.”
“I just wanted you to know that you’d be well cared for,” Helen told her.
“Why didn’t this John come here himself?” Halia asked.
Helen had a feeling that that might come up. It was a simple and practical question though. “Honestly, he travels a lot. I would be at the residence along with some others. It’s very large though, you’d never know that people are there if you wanted a quiet area.”
“Where do you live? Professor X’s mansion?”
“No,” Helen said. “It’s much larger.”
“I am slightly impressed you got the reference,” Halia admitted.
Helen smiled. She knew that Halia would love Henry and Henry would love having Halia there. He was still mourning Ashley’s loss. “The family at my house is a little different than most, but I believe that you’ll like it there.”
“I don’t know…”
“I know this has to be a lot to wrap your mind around,” Helen told her. “I can wait until you’ve decided though.” Helen reached into her purse to pull out one of her business cards. She started to write her cell phone number on it, but then stopped as Halia started to speak.
“If I go with you… I could always come back if I don’t like it?” Halia asked slowly and tentatively.
Helen looked up with a smile. “Of course you can. You won’t be a prisoner,” she told him. “I’ll even guarantee you a ticket back.”
“I’ve never left the island before,” she admitted quietly.
Helen nodded. “It’ll be a bit of an adjustment. But I’ll be there to go through it with you. You won’t be alone.”
“I’ve been alone for a long time now,” Halia told her. “I don’t really have anything to take with me…” She looked around. “And I can’t leave until I finish my shift.”
Smiling, Helen finishing writing her cell number on the card and pushed it towards Halia. “How about you call me after your shift is over and I’ll come pick you up? You can stay in my hotel and I’ll schedule the flight for tomorrow?”
“Does my father know…about everything here?”
She seemed a little ashamed. “He knows that your mother and stepfather died. Other than that, he doesn’t know anything else. I haven’t talked to him yet today.”
“Does he have to know that I’ve been living on the streets?” Halia asked.
Helen thought for a moment. “I don’t think he’s going to be upset. He’s going to have wished he knew about you earlier is all. I know he’ll be proud of everything you’ve done so far… There’s nothing to be ashamed about.”
“I only own two pairs of clothes-“
“How about we take a late flight tomorrow? We’ll get you a few things before we leave? Anything else you might want we can get after you’ve settled in?” Helen offered.
“Really?”
Helen nodded. It had been some time since she’d taken anyone shopping. Ashley had been shopping for her own clothes for a long time. It was be a nice trip, if nothing else. “We’ll get you carry-on luggage and we’ll fill it with a few new things.”
“I just…” Halia said slowly. She tried to push back tears. “I want him to like me…”
She watched as tears rolled down the girl’s face and she frowned a bit. “Halia, he is your father. He will love you no matter what.” Helen reached out and wiped away the tears. “You have no idea how much he wanted to be here.” Now suddenly she felt like she was going to cry. She kept the tears at bay though. No use in them both crying.
“I get off at six,” Halia told her.
“I’ll see you then?” Helen asked with a small smile.
Halia nodded as she tucked the card into her apron pocket.
Helen picked up the paper bag with the remainder of her treat. “See you soon,” she told Halia with a bright smile. She turned and headed out of the bakery. She’d be back at six and she’d be ready to take John back his daughter.
In the meantime, Helen figured that she should call the Sanctuary and let them know that things were okay. She’d have them pass along word to John that she’d found Halia and that she agreed to come back to the Sanctuary with her. They’d be back home the next day. It would be nice to be home…
Maybe this was really what she needed. This bright piece of hope. Maybe it was just because she needed this time with Halia to help her continue to grieve for Ashley’s passing. Maybe it was something else, all she knew was that she would be happy to return home tomorrow…
. . .
O’ahu fled into the distance as they flew out of the Honolulu International Airport. Halia was visibly nervous as she stared out the small window. She’d been so happy all morning. They’d gone shopping and purchased enough clothing items for her to fill two luggage cases. Halia had been a little worried when she’d seen how much it had all cost, but Helen had assured her that she would need the clothing and that she wasn’t worried about the money.
“I’m going to miss it,” Halia spoke up.
Helen stared out the window. “I know you are.”
Halia turned to her. “Maybe even if I like it there, can I maybe come back to visit?”
“Of course,” she told her. “And I promise you… You will see far more of the world.”
“I’ve never thought about seeing the rest of the world,” Halia admitted. She turned and looked back out of the window.
“Neutiquam erro,” Helen said quietly.
“What did you say?”
Helen smiled. “It’s Latin. It means ‘I am not lost’.”
“Latin? People still speak that?”
She laughed. “No. I know a lot of languages,” Helen told her. “Let’s just say that I’m old-fashioned.”
It was fitting though. She had felt so lost before. When she’d returned, she’d felt detached from the world around her and she didn’t feel at home at her Sanctuary. But now…now she was filled with hope. She knew that Henry and the others were there and would be happy to see her and for them all to go back to the way things had been.
Halia had been on her own and on the streets for some time. She’d pressed forward with her life and her education. She probably felt lost in the world, living on the streets. She was a child, who was trying to live in the world as an adult.
They were not lost.
. . .
TBC…