“Want to hang out and watch some TV?” Jim asked.
Olivia could think of nothing she wanted more. She could only nod again, though, because the lump in her throat now prevented her from speaking. Carol patted the spot on the bed next to her.
“Plenty of room for you, hon.”
Olivia crawled into bed next to her aunt and uncle and snuggled against Carol’s side. Jim and Carol were more like Olivia’s parents than her own mom and dad, and Olivia was grateful for them. In fact, it was hard to imagine life if they weren’t in it.
The three of them stayed like that for a long time, laughing together. Olivia’s thoughts drifted to the future. Just one moresemester of college and she would be out in the real world. It was scary, but she also had a distinct feeling that she’d be OK; a feeling of confidence was in her that she had the skills to make her way successfully. She thought of Faith, saying she’d pay it forward after Olivia let her walk free. She wondered what Faith might do. Maybe something to help other women, or little kids.
Olivia went back to her own room forty-five minutes later. As she brushed her teeth and washed her face, she realized that she likely would never have all of the answers on Faith’s disappearance, but she knew one thing to be true: Matthew had killed Tom and he was locked up, so justice had been served.
She didn’t see any reason to further punish Faith or Faith’s sister. They hadn’t done anything like that. She recommitted to never telling anyone.
An act of charity had never been so satisfying.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Faith
Las Vegas
Faith was still in shock as she sat in the back of the taxi heading toward the condo. One of the interns had been in Vegas and somehow had recognized Faith despite Faith’s best efforts. An intern!
Moreover, the intern could have turned her in but didn’t. It had been petrifying sitting in that bus shelter wondering if the entire world she and Hope had built was about to crumble. Now that she had Olivia’s promise, Faith felt much better but also a little wary. Promises were just that. What if Olivia changed her mind? Faith didn’t know Olivia very well. Faith decided she needed to book that faceliftnow.The plastic-surgeon-to-the-stars place was so popular with the elite crowd that it took a long time to get an appointment.
Inhaling a ragged breath, Faith looked out the window as city lights gave way to suburban quiet. The cab was nearing their place, a nondescript condo that resembled all of the others in the complex, sandy colored with low, rugged shrubbery.
Hope would be on her date and likely out at the bars orcasinos for a while. Faith just wanted to collect herself and take a steamy, hot shower. Then she would look up the plastic surgeon place and book the earliest they had. It still might be months away.
Hope would be apocalyptic about this latest development with the intern recognizing Faith. Maybe Faith wouldn’t even tell her, she’d just say that it was time to get the facelift done. Stupid, she was so stupid for not wearing her glasses that night and for never considering how her walk might be recognizable. She would be smarter moving forward.
The condo was dark, and Faith flipped on lights as she went. As she got to the kitchen and turned on the overhead, something caught her eye immediately.
An envelope was propped against the napkin holder on the table. On the outside was scrawled:
FAITH: READ THIS
It was Hope’s handwriting. Faith furrowed her brow. Hope must have left this for Faith after Faith went to the Bellagio. Hope had said she needed more time to get ready for her date and would meet Faith there. Picking up the envelope, Faith saw that it was sealed and was thin, as if it held just one piece of paper inside.
She opened it and leaned against the counter.
Dear Sis,
We’ve been through so much together. From Charity to Dad to this. I love you and I thank you SO MUCH for what you didto gain us freedom, but I have decided that we need to live apart. It’s not safe for either of us to continue to travel as a twosome. Therefore, I have taken my portion of the money and you won’t see me again. I’m not really on a date. I’ll be long gone by the time you read this. Don’t try to find me. You won’t. I’m sorry I won’t ever see you again but trust me that I have given this a lot of thought and it’s truly what’s best for both of us. You have your fake ID, this condo, and a chance at a new life. I have that chance too. The money is in my name and I promise I will use it well. I left you enough to get by for a while. It’s in your top dresser drawer.
Good luck and be well.
Love Always,
Hope
PS—don’t try to mess with me. Remember what I asked you tonight at the Bellagio? I recorded our conversation. If you turn me in I’ll turn you in and it will be way worse for you.
Faith dropped the paper.
She looked around wild-eyed.
This couldn’t be happening.
