“So what?” Lexi asked. “What difference does it make what she does? Lacie said she’s really nice and Kieran likes her and her son.”
“I’m still having trouble processing that,” Taryn said, outspoken as usual. “How could she have a son that old? I mean, she looks so young. What was she, like, ten when she had him?”
“Fifteen, actually.” Faith’s quiet voice spoke up from behind them, startling them all. “Though I was fourteen when I got pregnant, so you’re not too far off.”
Expressions on the faces of those in the pavilion ranged from embarrassed to mortified. Taryn was the first to speak. “Faith, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to - ”
“Don’t worry about it,” Faith said with a tight smile. She’d had more than enough practice at this over the years, and had heard far worse words spoken in conjecture over her and her son, sometimes right to her face.
It had taken longer for someone to say something than she’d thought, and they had been quite polite about it, all things considered. It still hurt. It always did. Maybe some small part of her had hoped that things might be different here, but human nature was the same everywhere, it turned out. At least there was some comfort to be had in consistency.
Regardless, Faith had no desire to remain any longer. The lighthearted, fun atmosphere had taken a decided downturn, and her presence was making things awkward for everyone. “When Matt comes back, will you tell him to meet me at the car?”
“You can’t leave now! You’ll miss the fireworks!” Lacie said, jumping to her feet.
But Faith was already walking away. Lacie jogged to catch up to her. “Faith, please don’t go. Watch the fireworks with us. Kieran will wonder what’s happened to you.”
Kieran was a smart man. He’d figure it out. And it was for the best. For the past few hours, Faith had felt out of place, and now she was just ready to go home and put it behind her. “Thanks, Lacie, but no. Please tell everyone I said goodnight, okay?”
Faith disappeared back into the darkness, the pavilion silent behind her.
*
“Where’s Faith?” Kieran said, jogging up to the pavilion and looking around after the phenomenal display had gone off without a hitch. Matt, smiling broadly, and proudly still sporting every one of his fingers, came up beside him.
“Matt, Faith said you should meet her at the car,” Lacie said quietly. Matt’s smile faded and a dark look came over his features. He nodded, said a quick thanks to Kieran and the others before taking off toward the parking lot.
“What’s going on?” Kieran asked.
“She’s gone,” Lacie said, gratefully stepping into the protection of Shane’s arms. It was impossible not to note the tension in the pavilion.
“I can see that,” he said impatiently. “Why?”
Lexi bit her lip, shifting the now-sleeping Kate over to her daddy. “I’m sorry, Kier. We messed up.”
“Messed up? How?”
With help from an apologetic Taryn, they explained what happened. Kieran remained quiet, but his features grew uncharacteristically hard. By the time they finished, Kieran looked at each of them. “Funny,” he said, his voice even softer than usual. “I never figured any of you for snobs.”
“You know better than that, Kier,” Jake said warningly in his deep voice, but Kieran ignored him. He stalked off toward the parking lot, pulling out his mobile before they could say anything else. He didn’t want to hear it. The only person he wanted to talk to was Faith.
He dialed Faith’s number, not surprised when it went right to voice mail. Good thing he had an ally.
“Where r u?” he texted Matt.
“On r way home,” came the immediate reply.
“Ur mom ok?”
This time there was a slight pause in the response. “idk”. I don’t know.
Shit.
––––––––
“Faith, it’s Kieran. Please open up.” Kieran waited patiently at the front door. He hadn’t planned on driving up to her cottage tonight. His logical side told him to give Faith time to cool down first. His illogical side – the side that reminded him that she was his croie, said “Fuck that.”
The door opened part way. Even in the muted light of the porch he could see that she’d been crying.
“May I come in?” he asked softly.
“Matt’s already gone up to bed.”
“That’s okay. It’s you I wanted to talk to anyway.”
After a brief pause, she stepped back and opened the door wider so he could enter.
“You okay?” he asked.
Her chin lifted. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
So it was going to be like that, was it? “Faith,” he breathed. “Talk to me.”