Faith hurried back in with a small luggage. She made everyone move their plates aside and placed it on the table top.She probably should just wait until they were all done eating but she couldn't bring herself to. She was so excited to give them what she brought and see their reactions.Faith unzipped the bag and threw it open. "So there's something for everybody," she announced. "Except you guys, mom and dad. Sorry.""It's fine. You shouldn't have bothered getting any gifts at all," Her mum said."Yeah, you didn't have to go to any trouble," her Dad added."I disagree!" Kaylee exclaimed, making them all laugh."It's fine,' she said to her mum, then announced, "I'll start with Toby."She pulled out a small package and passed it to him. He grinned, bopping up and down on his chair as he hurriedly unwrapped the present.He unvieled his gift and gasped. "A Nintendo switch! No way! Mum look."She looked it over in his hands. "What is this?""It's for playing games. Nobody else at school
"Shush! It's me!"Faith continued to struggle half-asleep against her captor but the familiar voice eventually registered in her brain.She fought the sleep from her eyes, blinking rapidly until the face in front of hers began to take shape. The light of recognition went on in her eyes."Dad?" She mumbled against her father's hand. He removed his hand from over her mouth. He had a slight smile on."Yes, it's me." He kept his voice at a whisper so as not to wake Kaylee who was snoring lightly in her bed. Faith followed suit."What is going on?" She asked, confused."I thought we could go for an early morning ride before I go off to work; talk and catchup."Faith looked around the room. It was still very dark. There was no light coming in through the windows. "What time is it?" "5 am," he answered."5 am?" She exclaimed quietly. "That's so early.""It's the only time we can talk alone. I'll be off to work in an hour, and I won't be back till late in the evening. I figured we could talk
Faith was wolfing down her breakfast at an alarming rate because if she didn't, the three soldiers standing in front of her with folded arms and squinted eyes would drag her off without breakfast.Faith chuckled. "You guys are making me uncomfortable. I'll choke on my food at this rate if you keep looking at me like that."The only response from her three senrtires were deeper frowns. Faith looked over at Paul and rolled her eyes. "You would think I stole the Mona Lisa."He laugned. "I guess as far as they're concerned, if they don't get that ride, you're just as guilty as someone who stole the Mona Lisa."To the kids he said, "Guys, sit down. One would think you've never ridden in a car before."Kaylee scowled. "Eric Paul's cousin's truck doesn't count!""Faith's car is so much cooler," Toby gushed."You should see one of Devlin's cars," Faith murmured but the sharp-eared kids still heard."Who is Devlin?" Kaylee demanded."No one," Faith answered quickly, too quickly."I bet it's th
"Hi, Faith," Devlin called carefully, shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot.All thoughts flew out of her head in that moment. Devlin looked uncomfortably, as he well should. He looked so out of place standing in the dingy restaurant in the middle of nowhere in designer head to toe.As always, his presence was like a blow to the gut for Faith. He looked good; good enough to eat in a casual flower patterned shirt and black pants. A pair of black shades hung casually from his shirt."Wow, yes, who is that?" She heard May repeat. "Is that your rich boyfriend? Damn, he's hot. Now that is no old man!""Oh my gosh, is that truly your boyfriend, Faith?" Kaylee asked excitedly."That is..." The words hung on her tongue. She wasn't thinking straight. No, she wasn't thinking at all. It was like her brain went on holiday the moment she saw him at that door.Kaylee didn't wait for her answer though. With a squeal, she ran straight up to Devlin and asked him directly, "At you Faith's mega rich
Devlin prepared himself to begin to speak. Right before Faith's eyes, she saw him transform. A shadow fell across his face, grief entered into his eyes and his shoulders hung down as though being crushed by a heavy weight.Immediately, Faith remembered that she'd seen this before...this man...this version of Devlin. He look older, greyer, more frail. This was a man wrecked with grief and with a start, she realized that this man had always been there under the shadows, lurking and waiting.For every smile and every happy moment she'd had with Devlin, this grief-stricken man was watching, crying beneath the mask.Even without hearing what he had to say yet, Faith's eyes began to water. She fought the urge to pull him into her arms and hug him, to tell him that he was not alone. She fought the urge and she waited.Devlin started speaking. "What I'm about to tell you, I've only ever told three people. I told Casiuss all those years ago when we met. I told Sheila when I was trying to convi
"Of course I will help you," she said."So does that mean you will you go back home with me", Devlin asked looking at her pleadingly.She hesitated before answering, "Yeah, I will, but you need to understand, things cannot be the same anymore. I-I can't be with you"."I really hoped you wouldn't say that. I really did, but I understand", he replied looking down, unable to meet her eyes."It's just not fair to me, or to you in fact. We'll go back together but once we arrive, I'll drop you off at the mansion and go on to Greenfield", she said with tears already in her eyes.She stood up, wiping off the tears in her eyes."I am truly sorry Faith. I did not mean for things to get this complicated"."It's ok, truly", Faith replied smiling. "Sh*t happens, but we move on. We'll leave first thing tomorrow, hopefully beat the traffic. We'll see from there"."Thank you, Faith".She drove him back home with her. There was no hotel around that would suit his taste. Her house was no better but at
He offered to drive and she happily obliged since she was tired and could use the time to get some sleep.She slept for what seemed like hours only to wake up to realize she had only been asleep for just one."It has only been one hour?""Yeah, maybe you should go back to sleep. You look like you need it", he said after looking at her and shaking his head."What is that supposed to mean"."I'm just saying you could use a bit more sleep", he said starting to smile a little."Yeah? Well you could be a little big-", she stopped looking down towards his legs and starting to smile too.Already serious, he replied, "I know you don't mean that. I was there to hear your screams, baby... I know you don't mean that".Blushing a bit, she replied, "No, I don't. But since I'm awake", she continued, "I want to talk to you about something"."Ok, you sound serious. What's up?""I think-I think you need to face this head on. That's the only way you can move past it.""Face what head on?""The issue wi
Two days later, Faith and Devlin were in her car on their way to Isabella's parent's house. They chose her car since it wasn't as flashy as his and conveyed at least a bit of humility.They had left very early in the morning. He had to drive to her house first since she insisted they take her car. He arrived to meet her ready, so they started the journey without him having to enter her apartment.It had been a very silent trip. He was terrified of what he was on his way to do. She didn't quite know what to say to him, so they spent their time doing separate things, her on her phone and he pretending to be focused on driving.After a while, he stopped the car on the side of the road and said to her, "Would you please take over driving. My hands can't seem to stop shaking"."Of course", she replied at once. She then immediately came out of the vehicle and switched seats with him.Once they were back on the road, he turned to her, "I don't even know what I'll say, how to start. I just te