by Clare Revell
His eyes darkened for a moment. “Would you sit with me in church tomorrow?? Please.”
Faith smiled. “Sure.”
“Thank you.” Joel raised her hand and kissed her fingers.
Elliott flicked a grape across the table at him. “Go get a room.”
Joel looked at him, shock on his face. “Elliott. Such language from a church elder. How could you even suggest such a thing?”
Elliott smirked.
Faith shook her head and stood, picking up the dishes. “I’ll go make the coffee.”
Grace followed her. “You have to tell him the truth,” she hissed in the kitchen. “You can’t lead him on and promise him things you can’t deliver.”
“I will, but let him at least bury his son first.” She paused. “And it’s me taking the risk here, don’t you think? Not him.”
~*~
Faith stood with Joel outside in the church, watching the pallbearers slide the small white coffin from the hearse. Bradley was only eight—so young, so innocent. She and Joel had talked a lot over the past few days. He seemed to be handling it better than she thought he would. But she’d never lost anyone that close—she’d never had a child—and couldn’t begin to imagine how Joel felt. The past few days, despite the grief pouring from him, had been magical. She loved the way her body fitted his as he hugged her, the way his hair framed his face, and the depth of soul in his fathomless blue eyes. Guilt tinged her and her conscience berated her for thinking of him in such a way.
Grace stood with Elliott, her hand tightly in his. The tears in her eyes already spilling onto her cheeks.
Faith slid her hand into Joel’s as Pastor Jack began speaking. The small procession entered the church and made its way up the aisle. A Headley Cross Wanderers football shirt lay on the top of the coffin, along with flowers, and an ARC of Angus the Airship. She glanced at Joel as they walked.
He looked awful, a shadow of his former self, He stood stoic, almost as if he believed the old adage ‘big boys don’t cry’. Maybe not, but real men did and should. And she knew he did, but maybe this was his public persona and he had an image to keep up.
Lord, be close to Joel right now. Comfort him, uphold him, be all he needs to get through the service, today and in days to come.
The congregation sat and the service began. The hymns were all ones that Bradley loved. The reading was Bradley’s favorite Bible story of Daniel in the lions den. Faith glanced at Joel, her prayers increasing, and her own eyes misting as she saw him finally crying. How much more could one man take? She squeezed his hand.
Joel stood and made his way to the small coffin. He stood there for a moment. “Bradley was the best thing that happened to me. Holding him…being with him…made a dark day light again. When he was a baby, the only song that would stop him crying and get him to sleep was ‘Amazing Grace.’”
He took a deep breath, starting to sing. “A...amaz-ing... grace... how sw-sweet the s-sound, th-at s-s-saved... a-a wr...” He broke off, his strong, baritone voice cracking with emotion. Tears started to run down his face, and he brushed them away. “Th-that saved, a-a-a wr-retch lie-ike me. I-I once was lost...” Overcome by grief, he stopped, unable to continue.
Faith looked at him. How much this meant was obvious. Standing up, she started to sing. “I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.”
“T’was grace that taught my heart to fear...”
He looked up, his eyes meeting hers, as first Elliott and then the rest of the congregation stood with them and joined in singing unaccompanied. Emotion battled control on his face for a long moment. Then he took a deep breath and joined in singing. “How precious did that grace appear…”
~*~
Joel followed the coffin out of the church into the graveyard for the committal service, Elliott and Faith either side of him. Grace was next to Elliott. The words spoken by Pastor Jack went over his head as the tears rolled down his cheeks in a never ending stream.
The people around him began moving back inside for the wake.
Joel stayed rooted to the spot at the graveside.
“Joel, are you coming inside?” Elliott touched his shoulder.
Joel shook his head. “In a bit, bro. Take the girls inside. Just need a few minutes. He doesn’t like being alone.”
“He’s not alone, Joel, you know that. I’ll see you inside. Don’t be long.”
Joel gazed downwards at the coffin, the simple gold plaque reading Bradley Joel Wallac and his birth and death date. The only good thing to have come from his marriage, lay cold and still in the ground at only eight.
“You know what he's doing right now?” A quiet voice beside him disturbed his thoughts.
Joel looked up. “What’s that, Pastor?”
“He’s kneeling at the feet of his Lord asking Him to take care of you.”
Joel smiled though the tears. “Yeah, sounds just like him. He only ever wanted me to be happy.” He pulled a tissue from his pocket and wiped his eyes and blew his nose. “At least he isn’t hurting anymore. I just don’t know how I’m going to manage without him.”
Pastor Jack rested a hand briefly on Joel’s arm. “I know, it’s hard, but I promise it does get easier and we can begin to remember with a smile rather than tears. Are you coming inside?”
Joel took one last look at the grave. “Yeah, I’m coming.”
Pastor Jack’s first wife had died, so he knew what Joel was talking about. What lay in the ground wasn’t Bradley. Bradley was safely in heaven. He made his way through the church hall, talking to people on the way until he finally reached the one person he wanted to see. “Thank you for earlier, Faith.”
Faith squeezed his hand. “You’re welcome. How are you doing?”
“I’ve been better...” His voice betrayed him, and he sagged against the wall. Suddenly her arms were around him, and he sobbed like a child, taking the comfort she offered.
~*~
Faith finished her coffee. Joel had recovered enough to sit and talk to a few people. She wanted to go and look at the flowers. Slipping out of the side door, she headed across to where the flowers were laid by the wall. She read the cards as she walked along them.
Then her heart stopped. A single stem of black lily of the valley, a red ribbon tied around its base, lay on the end of the row.
He’d found her.
Panic filled her. How? He’s in prison or at least he should be.
Nausea rose and she couldn’t stop shaking. Moving as fast as she could, Faith went to find Grace. “I need the car keys,” she whispered. “And your phone.”
“Here you go. Is everything all right?”
“Fine…” Faith took the keys and phone and ran from the building to the car park. She sat in the car, still shaking. Her mind went blank and she couldn’t remember Rick’s number. Fortunately, Grace had it programmed into the handset.
“DS Chadwick,” he answered on the second ring.
“Rick, it’s Faith. He found me. There’s a black flower with a red ribbon at the church.”
“Go home. I’m on my way. Don’t do anything or speak to anyone until I get there. And I’ll make sure the cop car is out the front of the house ASAP.” The line went dead.
Faith put the phone down and sucked in a deep breath. She started the car and drove back to the house as quickly and legally as she could, completely forgetting the fact she’d left Grace behind.
She wasn’t going to wait for Rick to get there. She’d pack and leave. Just vanish. Like Hope had done all those years ago.
Back at the house, she packed quickly and pulled the case into the hall. Patches stood at her heels. She opened the door to find Grace, Joel, and Elliott standing there.
Grace frowned, door key in her outstretched hand. “I wondered where you’d got to. Elliott had to bring me back with them.” She looked at the case. “Where are you going?”
“I have to leave…” She paused, seeing the red car pull up out the front of the house agai
n. “Please…I have to go.”
“You’re not going anywhere, hon, until you explain,” Grace said. “Plus which, Joel has something to ask you.”
Faith reluctantly let go of the case, and let her sister shepherd her back into the lounge. Her hands creased and unfolded, her palms damp and a huge knot in her throat.
Any second now, Damien would burst through the door, with his gun. She was putting everyone at risk simply by being here. Joel had been through enough the past few days without her bringing more death and destruction his way.
Joel didn’t look much better than he had done in church. “I’ve got a book tour starting tomorrow. I was in two minds as to whether to go or not, but called my agent on the way home from the funeral and told him I would. I wondered if you weren’t busy whether you’d like to come with me. There are signings arranged in various places, there’s a convention I have to do, stuff like that. I thought as you’re an illustrator you’d like to come.”
Faith thought fast. “How long does the tour last for?”
“It’s a month. It’s a combination of flying and driving. It’s all booked for the both of us, flights, two rooms in each hotel, just in case we both went. I know you have other work on, but hoped you’d come.”
She hesitated. A month on the road with Joel, just her and him under any other circumstance would be wonderful. But now?
The doorbell rang. Grace went to answer it.
“If you’d rather not, then it’s fine,” Joel continued. “I just thought…”
Grace came back in. She held out a long white box. “Faith, this was left on the doorstep. It’s got your name on it. Looks like flowers. But not from my florist.”
Her heart thudded. “No one knows I’m here.”
Grace pressed the box into Faith’s hands. “It’s probably Rick. Open it, there might be a card.”
Faith opened the box, her skin going cold and clammy. A small white card with five words on it glared up at her. Love you to death. D.
She felt to her knees, as the black lilies of the valley tied with a red ribbon fell to the floor, the card fluttering after it.
~*~
Joel dropped to his knees beside her, holding her tightly. What had scared her so? It was just a flower. Something about her kindled the embers of his broken heart. Was she the woman to heal him? He hadn’t thought he was capable of love or trust again, but it seemed God had a different plan. “Faith?”
When she didn’t answer, he looked at Grace. She stood in Elliott’s arms, just as pale as her sister. Something wasn’t right. Both sister’s looked spooked. “OK, what’s going on here?”
Grace shook her head. “It has to come from her.”
Joel gazed at her for a moment, and then sat and pulled Faith into his arms properly. She stiffened, going as rigid as a board, before her sobs overtook her completely. He held her tightly and rocked. He would be there for her like she’d been there for him earlier. “Talk to me.”
“I’m sorry.” Her voice sounded muffled against his chest.
“Don’t be sorry. It’s what friends do.” His hand moved slowly over her back. “It’s just a flower.”
“Not just a flower…”
“Black lily of the valley is rare and very expensive,” Elliott said. “They have to be custom made.”
Joel glanced up at him, noticing the way Grace bit her lip. There was a lot more going on here than either of the women was saying. It had to be the ex-boyfriend. He looked back at Faith. “Is it this bloke you mentioned? The one out the front in the red car?”
She shook her head. “Yes—no, no not him…”
Elliott looked at Grace. “Hon, if there is something going on here, we need to know.”
“It’s not up to me to tell.” She took a deep breath. “Faith, let’s go make some tea. I need to talk to you a minute.”
Faith slowly got up. “’K.”
Joel watched the two women leave and sat back on his heels. He glanced up at his brother in despair. I don’t know what’s going on here, he prayed. But please give me the wisdom to help her with whatever it is and let her accept the help.
5
Faith got the cups out of the cupboard, wrestling with her feelings. “I can’t tell him.”
“You have to, especially now. He can’t understand unless you explain. You have to trust someone and they know something’s going on. I’m not going to lie to Elliott for you. That’s no way to enhance any relationship. Same goes for you and Joel, even if you are only just starting to date each other.”
“Rick said tell no one.”
“He said tell no one so Damien wouldn’t find you. He’s found you so keeping schtum no longer matters. Now ring Rick. He needs to know anyway.”
“I already rang Rick from the car. He’s on his way down. There was a black flower left at the church. That’s why I was leaving. It’s safer if I just go.”
“Joel is offering to take you away. You’d be who-knows-where for a month, but he has to know the truth.”
“OK.”
Five minutes later they carried the cups of tea into the lounge. Faith prayed silently. Lord, please give me the right words. I don’t want to upset him any more than I already have.
Joel sat on the couch, next to Elliott. Grace handed them tea and then sat on the floor leaning against Elliott’s legs.
Faith perched on the edge of the chair, her fingers clutching the cup. “You have to promise that it won’t go any further than this room.”
Surprise touched Joel’s eyes. “That sounds very cloak and dagger. Could almost be a plot straight out of one of my books.”
She glanced at Grace, then back at Joel and Elliott. “I really should drag in the guy from outside.”
Joel narrowed his eyes. “OK, but what’s the guy outside got to do with this? You said a few minutes ago it wasn’t him.”
“He didn’t send the flowers. He’s a cop. He’s watching the house.”
Joel and Elliott exchanged glances. “What kind of trouble are you in, Faith?” Joel asked.
Faith put the cup down. “The worst kind. Six years ago I got involved with Damien Jenkins. I knew him from school, and we hung out a fair bit as kids. We became engaged late last year. I realized too late he was involved in criminal activity. He broke several laws—it doesn’t matter what, but” –she sucked in a deep breath— “the end result was me witnessing him kill someone—a priest from the church where I sang in the choir. Then, Damien tried to kill me as well, only the bullet hit my shoulder instead. Damien thought I was a lot worse off. My brother Rick sent me here to keep me safe. Well, actually, I chose to come here, Rick wanted me in protective custody. Damien’s meant to be in prison, but he must have found out where I was.”
Grace’s foot touched hers. “All of it, sis,” she said gently. “You can’t start to heal until you admit all of it.”
Joel looked at her. “Whatever it is, Faith, she’s right. We won’t judge you for it.”
Faith studied her cup, not wanting to see the looks on their faces. “Damien hit me—he said he loved me and would never do it again. The marks never showed. When I tried to break up with him, he threatened to hurt my family as well.”
Joel sat beside her and slid an arm around her shoulders, hugging her. He pulled back as she flinched. “That’s not love, Faith.”
“I know that now. Grace told me to leave him months ago, but I stayed because I was scared, not because I loved him. Any love I felt for him went the first time he hit me, all that remained was fear.” She wiped her sleeve across her face. “The black flowers are his calling card.”
“We should pray.” Joel brought the whole situation before the Lord, asking His comfort, guidance and protection on Faith, and the rest of them. As he finished the doorbell rang.
Elliott stood. “I’ll get it. Joel, you stay here with the girls.”
“OK.”
Faith buried her face in her hands as Elliott left the room. “I’m sorry. I should never have
come here.”
“Yes, you should,” Grace said. “We’ll keep you safe, it’ll be fine.”
“No, it won’t.” She looked up, her heart in her mouth, as the door opened. Rick stood there, Elliott behind him. She rose and scampered into his arms. “Rick…”
Rick hugged her tightly. “It’s going to be OK. I’m here now.”
“This is my fiancé, Elliott and his twin brother, Joel,” Grace said. “Don’t get mad at Faith for telling us. She didn’t have a choice.”
Rick frowned. “What happened?”
“Damien sent that. A black lily of the valley, red ribbon with a card—it came here to the house, as well as one to the church.” Faith shoved the card in her brother’s face, her voice rising in panic. “See? Somehow he managed it from prison and…”
“He’s not in prison, Faith. I called them. I don’t have any more details as to why. My DI is looking into it now.”
Her stomach twisted, and her heart plunged into her shoes. The lump in her throat threatened to choke her. “He’s going to kill me because I turned him in. He knows where I am. You have to let me leave, before he kills anyone else because of me. I’ve just put everyone here in danger.” She headed to the door.
Joel shook his head. He caught hold of her before she could run. “No, he won’t, Faith, because you and I are leaving here together. Grace can stay with Elliott at ours, or live over the shop.”
Rick raised an eyebrow, staring hard at him. “And you are going to take her where? I want her somewhere she’ll be safe.” His tone changed from concerned brother, to police officer.
Joel held Rick’s gaze. “I’m due to leave town for a book tour first thing in the morning. Faith is going to come with me.”
“Joel, you’ve been though too much for me to ask you to deal with my drama too. Rick, we just left Joel’s son’s funeral,” Faith whispered. “I already said, I can’t go with him. I’ll find somewhere else to go.”
Joel turned to her. “Under the circumstances it’d be for the best if you did accompany me. I need to get away and you do too. We’ll be gone a month.”