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“Not a lot to tell,” I begin. “Like I said, I never had a real family. The earliest memory I have is being in state care.”
I notice Faith’s look soften. The look.
I always get it as soon as I mention my childhood to anyone, which is why I rarely do anymore.
“Anyways, I grew up like most other kids just without the regular parents, until I was eventually put into foster care. A nice couple, or so everybody thought.”
I stop for a second, not sure I want to go there again, but Faith needs to know and I need to stop being so protective of my own past. I need to leave it where it is, in the past.
“I was a big kid, early bloomer too. Turns out foster my Dad liked to use my foster mom as a punching bag when I wasn’t around, until one day I came home early from school.”
It’s still fresh in my mind. Raw. I feel my hands knotting into fists as I realize too that Faith’s the only person I’ve ever even told this to.
“What happened?” she whispers, putting her hands over mine, relaxing them in an instant.
“I suggested he pick on someone his own size, maybe bigger. I damn near beat him to death. The temper I had back then… I really let him have it.”
We sit quietly for a minute, and Faith figures that’s the story, she starts to explain that she doesn’t feel frightened around me. She knows I’m not that kind of a man.
“That’s not all of it,” I tell her. “It was gonna be Juvie for me, but the sisters at Saint Theresa’s, the ones who looked out for me when I was real young, they offered to take me in so I wouldn’t end up in the system.
“So, you were raised in a convent?” Faith asks, looking super confused and making me chuckle.
“No. Not exactly,” I tell her, smiling and noticing her relief.
“But the oldest Sister, their superior, she retired not long after that, and I ended up staying with her until I was old enough to be out in the world on my own. She was like a Grandmother to me, I guess. The only family I never really had.”
Faith’s brow creases.
“She was a hard lady, Faith. Helped me a lot, but she didn’t dote on me. Far from it. I had to earn my keep and I learned a lot about the meaning of hard work and keeping my mouth shut.”
“What happened to the foster parents?” she asks, and I take a breath before answering.
“Oh, he was alright in the end, physically I mean. But things changed for them both once it hit the papers, he lost his job and his business contacts through it. Blamed me for it and always tried to threaten me. She got away though. I think she remarried, happily too.”
Faith’s distant look comes back into focus and I can tell she’s itching to turn around again.
“So,” I start over. “I don’t see what my past… what that has to do with us, today. What happened, or what did I do to make you so edgy, Faith? I’m only asking because I don’t want to screw this thing up between us. Because I love you so much, I really do,” I tell her earnestly, taking her hands in mine, feeling them tremble slightly.
“It’s not you, Noah… well. It is, kind of,” she starts to say, sounding undecided.
“I mean, it’s nothing to do with what you just told me. It’s something else.”
I look at her, waiting.
“Is there anything else you want to tell me?” she asks, searching my eyes, making me feel like I should have more guilt than I already do.
Thinking for a moment, I can answer her with a clear conscience.
“The only other crazy thing I ever did was climb up this tree once, to spy on the girl I knew I was in love with the moment I saw her,” I admit. Because it’s the truth.
Faith gives a smile and sighs, leaning over to kiss me, but she still has that damned worried look in her eyes.
I’m at a loss until she tells me anything more.
Her cell that she’s had on charge since we left chimes, making her gasp when she picks it up.
“It’s my Dad,” she says, turning pale.
“Then answer it!” I exclaim, wanting her to let him know I have her, and she’ll be back, safe and sound once I’m through with her.
Maybe in the next life.Chapter SeventeenFaithI have to answer, it’s my Dad and Noah’s insisting on it.
He’s home now, been trying to call me all night on the way back, and only just found my note.
“I just came in through the back when I got home, ooh! Honey, just tell me you’re alright!” he says, trying to sound calm but I know his panicked voice when I hear it.
