“It’s Faith, isn’t it?” Joel asked. “She’s somehow behind this.”
“I think so,” Kelly replied. “I have a gut feeling, and sadly I know her too well.”
“But how would she have gotten our address? You didn’t tell her, did you?” Joel asked.
“No, but there are all kinds of people finders. If you google my name I bet it comes up. Let’s try.”
They did, and there it was in seconds. Name, address, the amount they paid for the house. Kelly moaned. Joel reached over and took her hand.
“As for the electrician part, could she have cased our house and seen one come in and out?” Joel asked.
“I mean, I guess she could have. Maybe she saw the truck in the driveway.”
They were both lost in thought for a full minute.
“Listen, Kell, this day has been the absolute worst but we have to get ready for this wedding, if we’re going. Are we going?”
She thought of her updo, her clothes still sitting on the bed. She thought of the idea of sending Joel and staying home herself, but honestly, what would she do all night, watch TV while he was dancing and having a good time? It might further drive a wedge between them. If this was Faith’s work—and Kelly strongly believed it was—then she couldn’t let Faith also ruin her relationship.
She nodded and said, “Yes, we can go.”
But the whole time at the wedding her mind was distracted, her smile vacant, and she lost her train of thought in small-talk situations and had to excuse herself for the bathroom too often, dabbing at her eyes and trying not to smudge her makeup. The jewelry, that rare, expensive, precious jewelry, was gone. It was as if her mom and grandma had been ripped from her arms without her consent again. Joel was distracted too, his eyes constantly checking on her, his laugh with his friends not genuine.
Kelly was acutely aware of the absence of the pieces she had planned to wear. Her collarbone and neck felt empty without the stunning necklace she had in mind, even though she substituted a much more plain one from her collection. Her wrists and ears had the wrong items too.
She did not catch the bouquet, did not even try, standing in the back of the group of bachelorettes instead, not even raising her arms as the flowers flew their way. Joel did not whisper in her ear “We’re next” when they were dancing, and the night did not end with him on one knee. Far from it. They made an excuse and left early, and when they got home he said he had a headache and went to sleep right away. She lay there in the dark trying notto weep too loudly, the empty jewelry box gaping at her from across the room. But as each minute passed, with Joel’s legs kicking involuntarily as they always did when he was falling asleep, her sadness morphed further and further into anger, white-hot anger.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Steve
April
Steve was at the end of the driveway getting the mail. Taking a pile out of the box and riffling through bills and junk, he suddenly froze.
There was a manila envelope with the sender’s name of “Faith Richards” and the address of Channel 9. His hands started shaking and several beads of sweat popped out on his forehead. Could this be real? No way, really?!
He looked at the envelope multiple times, blinking to be sure he wasn’t imagining it. But no, it was all true. His breath was shallow, and a ringing started in his ears. He didn’t bother to walk back to the house; he couldn’t wait that long. Instead he ripped open the top of the manila envelope right there, nearly tearing the contents inside. He forced himself to slow down lest he ruin the two things he saw: an autographed photo of Faith and a piece of paper with a handwritten note. He scanned the photo eagerly: It was a studio photo with the Channel 9 logo. Faith looked amazing, wearing that red lipstick he adored. She had autographed it in a curly, right-leaning signature.
To Steve, thanks for making me feel special.
His hands began to shake so much he wasn’t sure he could read the letter. He took a rattled breath and slowly did so.
Dear Steve,
I apologize for ignoring some of your calls and emails. I hope this will be the start of something new between us. You asked in one of your letters if I remembered you from the Belle Isle Art Fair. Of course I do, how could I forget? Please don’t reach out to me though. I will contact you. Station management wouldn’t like me talking to a viewer like this but I make an exception for you.
XO Faith
He almost fainted right there, putting one hand on the mailbox to keep himself from falling over. She wasfinallycoming through, finally getting back to him after so many months. She did remember him! And she was flirty in her correspondence. He felt a surge of love and wondered if he should just get into the car right now and drive to Channel 9.
“Stevie?” came a shrill voice from the house. “Can you hurry up with the mail?”
His mother was the last person he needed right now to break this magic spell.
“In a minute,” he snapped back, wanting to revel in this moment, this bubble of love. Faith knew his name, remembered him, wanted to start something new, acknowledged that he made her feel special, and she was even making an exception for him.
He started to get excited and knew he’d have to find a private place soon. His Faith, his Faith was on the path to lovinghim. It was all finally coming true. Just as he knew it would. He wanted to write her back so badly, to profess his love and suggest some places they could meet up. He couldn’t really afford a fancy place, but something like Applebee’s would be great for a first date. There were three within driving distance of his house.
