Fiona's Mother

Fiona was 7-8 years old girl when people begun to call her freak. At least it was the time Fiona realised she didn't fit.  The classmates won't play with her. She rather loved time in her garden where she grew. She was thin with long messy hair.  Her mother left her when she was very young, probably a day old . Her father would go to sea for trip. She wondered, why?  He wouldn't see Fiona for days or months.  She asked her Nanny,"Why does Dadda go there, pointing at sea from their house?" “ That his job like taking care of you is my job." said Nanny.

Her father had managed to find investors for his trips. Some were interested in treasure hidden underneath a sea. Some would want to know about the rare species that lived in there. The sea provided innumerable opportunities to David, Fiona's father. That day he returned home, after a month. But he had no time to see Fiona.  

He directly went to his study in the house.  He studied the map and felt he was so close to it, yet he had to return.  There was a forecast was for storm.

Fiona was in garden, when Nanny called out to her. She told Fiona about her dad's arrival. At once Fiona ran to her father's study. She stood there looking at her dad and wondered if she would ever know why dad goes to sea. Her father David turned around, he was wearing a crimson blue shirt and khaki pants. He was in late 30s. He was tanned. David looked at his daughter and he thought his daughter had grown up so much. He asked her "Would you like to take a walk on beach?" Fiona was ready at once. 

Both of them were strolling on beach with Nanny watching from distance. Nanny hoped to see such walks more. It would help Fiona. Nanny knew about Fiona's dreaming habit at school.  She never mentioned it to David , as he was busy . She knew she can't keep all this hidden from David for long and even David also won't stay away from his daughter for long.

The duo of daughter and father were walking silently until Fiona broke the silence. "Dad, why do you love sea so much?" but David was lost in his geographical calculations. Fiona called out louder “Dad ?" which finally interrupted his flow of calculations. She repeated her question. David kneel down to Fiona, and said "I am searching or your mother. She went to Sea." The sirens came off indicating to vacate the beach in anticipation of storm.

They returned home, it was early evening and Nanny had cooked a handsome meal for much starved David. David complimented Nanny for delicious offerings. "Where is mom?”Asked Fiona. Nanny begun to interrupt her but David stopped Nanny. Nanny was certainly worried. David said, "Fiona, your mom is a very special woman. I met her here, right on the beach. She was fair just like you, she had same long black hair.  She was a very kind woman. She was the one who brought Nanny home. Our neighbors adored her .We lived very happily for a very long time.  " 

"Why did she go dad? She didn't like me?" asked little girl. Nanny's heart cringed .She was old woman and all her life she had struggled to give little smiles to Fiona. But David was blinded by his obsession for Gweyn, thought Nanny. Nanny was thinking, “Gweyn who probably killed herself, a fact from which David ran. Why is he now letting Fiona feel the pain of Gweyn's absence? ” 

David spoke while directing Nanny to sit quiet on sofa. “No, Fiona, your mom didn't hate you. I feel she had an obligation to fulfill, hence she left. I believe she would return someday. I go to look out for her, because sometimes I feel she might lose her way back home. I am going to sea again, once the storm settles. I feel, I finally found he home.” Nanny could hardly comprehend what David was saying.  He looked at Nanny, “I will be going with a troop on a ship. This is a duly government authorized trip. I will be insured.” Nanny knew what the last line meant.  Fiona said “will you bring Mom home.” David looked at Fiona and said, “Lets hope.” Fiona said I will also come to which David replied “we will see.”

He put his daughter to bed and went to his study. He had begun preparing for most dangerous trip of his life. He hoped to meet Gweyn soon.