Like Father Like Daughter

AJ was simple and certainly still a child, but she wasn’t stupid. Dillion was right, their mother was a bad liar, though she realized that if she had managed to hide all of this from them for long, maybe she was better at hiding things than they gave her credit for. Either way, she knew he wasn’t speaking only about Leona now, and she frowned at him, furrowing her brow.

“I’m not lying!” she practically shouted, causing as grumpy old man across the aisle to stir irritably. AJ didn’t notice him as she was too busy glaring at the man sitting beside her, though it was hardly a glare coming from a girl her size. “I really did find your picture. Look.” The little brunette bent down for her book bag, heaving it into her lap and reaching into the front most pocket. She pulled out a tattered old 35mm print. The date on the back read ‘June 28th, 2013’. A much younger Dillion was smirking at the camera. From what AJ could guess, her mom was probably the one who took it, and he didn’t seem completely thrilled with being photographed at that moment, but he was still smiling. She had stared at that picture for hours, wondering what the story was. Beneath the date on the back in Leona’s hand was scribbled ‘Dillion’. No last name, no details about the date, or anything else to give her a hint. It was the first clue she had found to her mother’s past, and a bit more digging in that old shoe box had finally led her to the real thing, the man in the seat next to her, whom she was eagerly handing the slightly faded and wrinkled photograph to.

“See? It was in a box under her bed, along with some old notes and flowers and letters and stuff.” She watched him, hoping he would believe her now. AJ didn’t like being called a liar.

She sighed, watching him as he stared at the picture. “See?” she repeated, turning so she was sitting practically Indian style in her seat, though facing him, falling to the side against the leather backing of her chair. She continued to just stare at him, trying to grasp what she knew to be true about this man beside her. He wasn’t just any man, that was for sure. He was Dillion Hepburn! The guy whom her mom had been crazy about when they were younger, and the one person AJ hoped could help her.

He was also a very smart man who had finally figured out his other connection to the situation.

AJ gulped, not moving but her brown eyes that mirrored his so perfectly went wide. At first she almost wanted to lie, to act like she had no idea what he was talking about. When he mentioned the eyes, and then the mouth, being the same as his, inheriting them from him, she just stared. And then, he smiled. In that moment AJ could see the resemblance. It wasn’t worth lying anymore, especially when she had been itching to admit it out loud for days. She could see her eyes and her smirk on his face. Still unmoving, she simply smiled a matching smile.

Dillion Hepburn was definitely her father.

Her silence was enough to tell him that this was true. It was so obvious, she thought, now that they were face to face. Any stranger on that plane could have looked at them and known that they were father and daughter. She continued to just smile at him, glad that he wasn’t angry. He was very interesting, she decided, and she was thrilled that their little plan had worked out. She was sitting beside her father for the first time in her life, and she had to admit, it was amazing.

When he mentioned her name, Audrey, she perked up a bit, touched to hear that it had been his mother’s name. She knew her middle name came from her mom, but had never known about the Audrey part. She smiled brighter, moving around a bit and sitting up just a tad straighter, though still laying against the seat.

“Really?” she said in admiration, unable to keep the grin off her face. “I’ve always liked the name Audrey.” she laughed a little.

Suddenly her laughter vanished and she was sitting straight up, holding her hand over the red spot on her arm.

“Ouch!” she screeched, pouting at him again. She almost asked what that was for but he quickly explained. She frowned, knowing it was somewhat deserved, but still not very happy. She did start to grin again, however, when he talked about being blamed by her mom for everything. In fact, she even laughed.

“Probably. Mom’s got a good temper. I wish you luck.” she said, saluting him with a bit of a giggle. She fell again against the leather seat, curled up in the large chair with ease. She continued to just look at him, liking being able to actually see him. Her smile began to fade, though only as her eyes began to droop. Two transatlantic flights within twenty-four hours of each other was beginning to take their toll on the young girl. She yawned, closing her eyes completely and using her hands as a pillow.

She was silent, nearly asleep, when she stirred a bit, speaking in a slightly groggy voice.

“I think I would have liked to meet your mom, too,” she said sleepily, yawning again with her eyes still shut. “Anyone named Audrey has to be pretty cool.”

A moment later she was asleep.