Page 73 of Finding Molly Parsons

“Right,” Enid bellowed after a few more seconds. “Let’s eat and drink. Erase all that bullshit and enjoy our day.”

“Hear, hear,” Mateo called from the doorway.

“Sounds great, but can I just steal Faith for a few minutes?” Molly asked.

“Sure, let’s go.” Faith followed Molly, noticing Carmen’s gaze. She looked a little sad. What’s that about?

Faith walked quietly next to her aunt. The day was just as beautiful as every other day they’d had since turning up in California. The sunflowers had their colorful heads tipped to the sun. Faith mirrored them, enjoying the heat on her face.

“Are you really okay?” Molly finally asked.

“I am. Like I told Carmen. The fear I once had is no longer wedged in my chest. Having so many people around me, shook it loose. I’ve experienced so much and learned a lot about myself. There was nothing that could make me go anywhere with my parents. I just wish Mom would open her eyes.”

“Me too, Faith, me too.”

“I’m sorry he spoke to you that way,” Faith sighed.

“So am I, but I’m sorry for him. I can’t imagine living with such hatred inside.”

“No, it’s poison,” Faith commented. There were times she wished and prayed her father would wake up one day and be a different man. A man that loved his wife and child, but that was a fantasy. Today showed Faith he was beyond her wishes.

Maybe one day he would wake up, but Faith wouldn’t hold her breath. It was her mother that weighed on her mind. The defiance she’d shown today by simply stepping out of the car when she’d clearly been given instructions to stay inside was a glimmer of hope for Faith. Maybe losing her only child was the catalyst to spark a change. “You said my mom was outgoing once. I just can’t see how she got from that to this?”

“Maureen was a sweet and adventurous girl. I can only imagine how Alan’s behavior, views and opinions have affected her, changed her. I have no clue if she truly agrees with him or if she’s just so terrified of him she goes along with it. You’d know better than me, sweetie.”

Faith let her mind travel back to her childhood. Had her mom ever shown signs of being different from her father? Possibly, but Faith’s childhood memories were overshadowed by loneliness and sorrow, so even if her mom didn’t agree with him, the woman did nothing to let Faith know she wasn’t alone.

“Well, it doesn’t matter now,” Faith began. “I need to concentrate on me and my life. I truly hope she leaves him.”

“What do you want to do now?” Molly asked, her feet scuffing the dirt road.

“What do you mean?”

“Um, well,” Molly cleared her throat. “Do you want to stay here with me?”

“Do you want me to?”

“I’d love you to, Faith. I’ve missed so much of your life. There is always a home for you here with me.”

Faith stopped Molly with a hand on her wrist. “I can’t tell you how long I have wanted that Molly. The thought of finding you kept me going for so long. But can I think about it? I’ve got Nathalie to consider now. Plus Carmen and Mateo.” Faith’s heart was pounding. She didn’t want Molly to think she was rejecting her, but Nathalie meant a lot to Faith, as did the Ruizes.

“Of course, take your time.”

“Do you want to walk longer?” Faith enjoyed the quiet moments with Molly. Even though they hadn’t had a lot of quality time, just the two of them. Faith recognized that they both liked silence. They both enjoyed listening to the birds, contemplating things as they wandered aimlessly. Maybe that was a Parsons trait?

“Absolutely, let’s go.”

They walked for another forty-five minutes. Faith smiled every time Molly stopped to plant her face in a sunflower, completely content. The buzzing of her phone interrupted their blissful peace. Alice’s name flashed across the screen.

“Hey, Alice.”

“Faith, oh my God, your dad, he knows where you are and it’s my fault. I’m so sorry. The pastor went through my phone. I didn’t know he’d done it. I left it on the church pew by mistake, after the service. When I came back to get it, it was gone. Bonnie saw him going through my messages before he called your dad and then threw the phone in the bin outside the church. I didn’t know until an hour ago when Bonnie brought me my phone.”

“Wow, calm down, Alice. It’s okay—”

“No, it’s not. You have to go. He’s going to catch you.”

“He already did,” Faith replied calmly.

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