Page 29 of Until We Weren't

“Hey!” Faith yelled out the window. “We’re trapped in here.”

Two men got out of the golf cart and one leashed the dogs.

Destiny and Faith explained what happened. One man gave them a ride to the parking lot while the other walked the dogs back to his vehicle. They all agreed it was an unfortunate accident, but the dog handler would now be doing a sweep around the property instead of simply releasing the dogs and leaving.

“Do you want to get a cup of coffee?” Faith asked. “I’ll buy.”

“How about a beer later this afternoon?” Destiny replied. She needed to get away from Faith and process everything that happened last night.

Faith smiled. “I know you’re going to have questions, Des. Please don’t do what I did. Ask me. I’ll answer everything and try to help you understand.”

“Understand?”

Faith nodded. “Yeah, while you were sleeping a lot of things became clear to me.”

“Hmm, maybe you’ll share them with me this time?” Destiny said, trying to stop the sarcasm in her voice.

“I’m sharing everything with you from now on,” Faith said. “Don’t be afraid. I’m not.”

Destiny didn’t know what to think or say.

“I know that sounds absurd coming from me because I let all this happen out of fear,” Faith said. “But no more.”

Destiny simply nodded. “Okay, I’ll text you later.”

Faith smiled as Destiny got in her truck.

10

Faith got into her truck and immediately knew where she needed to go. It was too early for anyone to be at the shop yet, so she quickly fired off a text to Amy explaining she would be in later. Then she sent another text to Mark with her directions for the crews for the day. She promised to check in with him later that morning.

Faith looked into her rearview mirror and for the first time in a long time she liked what she saw. Yes, her hair was slick with sweat from being confined to that hot shack all night. She quickly smelled her armpits and decided her odor was not overbearing just yet.

A smile played across her lips as she stared into the mirror. Her eyes were clear, determined, and there was a sparkle that only Destiny could put in them. “Hey, Faith,” she said to her reflection. “It’s good to see you again.”

She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. This felt like the first deep breath she had taken in three years. There was a feeling of hope wafting through the cab of her pickup. No longer did she feel like she was going through the motions to make it another day.

Faith had been to counseling at different times throughout her life. Whether it was a counselor or coach while she was in high school or a mental health specialist provided by her college. She was not a stranger to therapy and processing her feelings.

But last night something happened to her in that small shack that she couldn’t explain. Part of her didn’t care how it happened, but she felt more sure of herself and confident in her feelings than she’d ever been in her life. How could that be with what had happened between her and Destiny? If anything her life had been torn apart, courtesy of her own doubts, and last night should’ve been the final blow to any hopes she had of living a happy life.

Instead, she saw a future that she wanted more than anything. She thought back to the last time she’d seen Mrs. Baker at the assisted living home. The woman had told her how she’d watched the plants turn brown and seem to wither away, but there were tiny shoots of green that proved there was still life in them.

That’s how Faith thought of her and Destiny. It may have looked like their relationship was withering away, but there was hope and a shred of life because they were still in love. Faith could feel it flowing through her body.

She had to talk to someone about all of this and knew Destiny was not ready to hear her. There was only one other person she knew would understand.

Faith pulled into the driveway, went to the front door, and rang the doorbell.

“Well, what a nice surprise,” Gretchen Green said, opening the door.

Faith looked down at her clothes then back at Gretchen. “You’ll have to excuse my appearance, but do I have a story for you,” she said with a smile.

“You know I don’t care how you look.” Gretchen smiled and waved her in. “Get in here.”

Faith followed Gretchen into the kitchen where she poured them both a cup of coffee.

“Have a seat,” Gretchen said as she sat down at the kitchen table. “I am a little curious why you are so dirty this early in the morning.”

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