Finding the Way


Part 2: Shopping Daze


Taylor gradually eased into wakefulness. She felt strong arms, protective arms, holding her. She remembered.

I was going to kill myself.

I got Dad to hold me.

I'm still alive.

Somehow, the morning light made everything look better.

She sat up in bed. "Dad," she said. "Let's go shopping."


Danny parked the truck outside the Weymouth mall, and looked with dismay at the crowds surging in and out of the building.

"Christ," he said despairingly. "We had to pick Christmas Eve to do our shopping."

Taylor grabbed his hand and grinned. "Come on, Ebenezer Scrooge. Let's go brave the crowds, and maybe grab each other a last-minute Christmas present while we're at it. Plus, clothes. I want to buy something that makes me look and feel different."

"And how do you want to look and feel?" he asked curiously.

She grinned at him. "Like me, but better."

He sighed; her enthusiasm was infectious. Not resisting all that much, he allowed himself to be towed in among the massed crowds.


Herds of shoppers roamed the concourse, spooking suddenly and diving into those shops which displayed signs like SALE! and 50% OFF FOR XMAS! Taylor ignored those, heading for the shops that sold the clothes she liked. Then suddenly, she spotted something she wanted. "Dad –" she said.

He was looking in another direction. "Taylor –" he said.

They looked at each other. "I'll be right back," each said, at exactly the same time.

Taylor entered the shop; it wasn't one she normally went to. But it had what she wanted, and she knew he would like it, so she went all out this time.

As she exited the shop, she shoved her purchase into her handbag, so that Danny would not know what she'd gotten.

Picking a moment when he was looking the wrong way, she sneaked up to him. "I'm back," she said into his ear, and grinned when he jumped.

"So what did you get?" he asked. She noted that he was not showing her what he had gotten.

"Sorry, Dad, it's a secret till tomorrow. But I think you'll like it." She grinned and grabbed his hand again. "Come on. Clothes await."


And then she saw her. Emma. Along with Sophia and Madison. Right in the middle of the concourse. She recalled the flute, lying forlornly atop the heap of trash. And she knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that one of them had taken it, just to screw with her head a little more.

She let go her father's hand, and marched up to Emma. Emma was chatting to Sophia, didn't see her immediately. Sophia saw her, eyes widening slightly.

"Emma," she said clearly. "I want it back. I don't care how. I won't press criminal charges. But I do want it back."

Emma stared at her. "Want what back, Hebert? Your mom?" There was a titter from the girls around her, and then Danny loomed over her.

"That was cruel and uncalled for, Emma Barnes," he said from right behind her. "I believe I will tell your father what you just said."

She jumped about six inches in the air. Taylor was still fighting down the anger and pain that the mention of her mother had brought up. She raised her voice. "Sophia, Madison. I don't care who's got it. I don't care what state it's in. My mother's flute. I want it back."

"Or what?" sneered Sophia. With an eye toward Danny, who was still glaring at Emma, she added, "Not that I know where your stupid flute is. But just asking."

Taylor looked her dead in the eye. "Sophia," she said. "You do not want to find that out." Her tone was flat, dead level. She had no idea what she meant, what sort of threat she was making, or how she was going to carry it out, but the flinch that she got from Sophia was worth more than gold bullion.

Reaching out, she grabbed Danny's hand. "Come on," she said. "We're done here."

She towed him away through the crowds; his head was still turned toward Emma; fixing her with a glare.


"Uh ... Soph?" said Emma, once Mr Hebert and Taylor were out of sight. How the hell can a man that tall sneak up on me like that?

"No," said Sophia steadfastly.

"I haven't even told you what I want."

Sophia shook her head. "I know what you want. You want to clear little Miss Tayor's locker out before the third. Before school lets back in."

"Well – yeah," said Emma. "When she opens it, and there's all that crap in there, she'll be able to point to me as someone who did it, and her father will be able to back her up as a witness."

Sophia sneered. "One comment? Not connected to her locker? Like he'll be able to make that stick."

Emma shook her head. "Soph, I could really get in trouble here."

Sophia gave her a flat stare. "Funny, I thought I just heard a whiner speaking, not a survivor."

Emma shut up. But she didn't stop worrying.

Sophia was also thinking. Hebert's growing a spine at last? I want to see how this plays out.


"I don't believe she said that to you," Danny said. "I really don't. I am going to be calling Alan as soon as we get home. Emma needs to be spoken to."

Taylor nodded. "Okay, Dad," she said. "She said it in your hearing. It's not me causing problems for her." She stopped and gave him a hug.

"What's that for?" he asked, but he hugged her back anyway.

"For being here. For hearing that. For giving Emma a bad moment." She giggled. "The look on her face! I'm going to treasure that moment."

He didn't look pleased. "What she said ..."

"Is no worse than what she's said a hundred times before," said Taylor wearily. "It's just that, this time you heard her." She looked up. "Ah, here we are."


Danny found himself relegate to sitting in a chair, giving critiques on the clothes she took into the changing room and thereafter emerged wearing. He deliberately approved those clothes with the brightest colours, including some summer-weight outfits which looked particularly fetching on her. A couple of the t-shirts looked like they would show some belly; he figured that by the time it got warm enough to wear them, she would have firmed up her abdominal muscles some.

She came over to him with her purchases, and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks for that, Dad," she said with a giggle. "I appreciate it." Grabbing him by the hand once more, she dragged him away again. "Let's get something to eat from the food court before we try to get out of here."

"Good point," he said,


The food court was packed, of course, but she and Danny managed to grab themselves some food and a table. They dropped their purchases under the table and started eating. Danny found himself watching Taylor.

She finally noticed this, and coloured slightly "Why are you looking at me like that, Dad?" she asked, a little self-consciously. "Have I got something in my teeth or something?"

He shook his head with a smile. "No, kiddo," he said fondly. "I'm just enjoying sitting here, eating with my daughter."

She grinned at him. "My dad's pretty cool, too."


It was at that moment that Taylor felt a tap on the shoulder. She looked around curiously; a teenage girl with dirty blonde hair up in some sort of braid, and a knowing smile, was standing there.

"Excuse please, could we borrow your salt?" asked the girl.

Taylor shrugged. "Sure," she said, and handed it over.

The girl took it, then leaned in. "It'll get better," she said quietly. "Trust your dad; he'll help you through the rough patches."

And then, before Taylor could do more than turn and stare at her, she was gone.


"What was that all about, Lisa?"

"The girl there?" said Lisa. "She's considering suicide. I just tried to give her a bit of a boost."

Brian frowned, then gave up on it. Lisa would do what Lisa would do.

"Anyway," he said. "Time's a'wasting. And we still haven't done our shopping."

"Don't see why we have to."

Brian sighed. "Because we're a team, Rachel. And teams do things together."

"I hate this. Hate the crowds. And they won't let me bring the dogs inside."

Brian and Lisa shared a glance for a second. Bitch in this crowd, with dogs at her disposal? It would be frankly horrifying.

Alec chuckled. "Now, that I'd like to see. You'd clear the place out faster than an Endbringer siren."

Lisa and Brian spoke at the same time. "Shut up, Alec."


In the truck, on the way home, Danny spoke up.

"So, what was that about, in the food court?" he asked. "What did that girl say to you?"

"I'm still working that out," she said quietly. But her hand crept across to take hold of his.


End of Part 2