{Faith}“What!”That’s what ripples through the throats of Odette, me, and Matthew.The dizziness clears from my eyes as I sit up on the bed. I open the document she just handed me. Reading through, I can barely make sense of it.“I think we all misheard you doc. What did you just say?”The doctor glances at Matthew and Odette who have their jaws on the floor. “Errr…you are two months pregnant, ma’am. Congratulations.”I burst out laughing. “You have got to be kidding, doc. I am not pregnant. I can't be pregnant.”“I am a doctor, not a comedian. Besides, I would never joke about a patient's diagnosis. You really are pregnant.”The last sentence drops like a bomb, heavier than the first time she said it. Her face is serious, and her eyes…they mirror even more seriousness.Oh, my God!She's really not joking.My hand flies to my belly.I am pregnant!That explains why I have been so tired and lacking appetite for days now. A literal child is growing inside of me!A shiver sweeps from th
{Faith}“You lied to me, Matthew!”Matthew and Odette look in my direction as I descend the creaky stairs with a bit of haste. He stands up, glancing at my stepmother before looking at me with a face filled with worry.“Honey, what’s the matter? I would never lie to you.”“You did!”My throat constricts with the anger that has been swelling inside me since I had the epiphany while taking a shower just now.Clutching the hem of my dress, I try to keep my voice down. “You said I had no friends, but I remember having one!”“You do?” Odette leaps to her feet and rushes forward. Her shoulder brushes Matthew’s as they stand side by side, facing me with the same worried expression.“Faith, about Al—”“We were as thick as thieves. So where is he?”I interrupt. Matthew’s brows knit. “He? Who?”“That boy…” I hover my hand to the height of my waist. “He was about this tall when we met. I think I was six then.”These two look at each other again. This time, with a hint of relief. Clearing his th
{Ace}Outside the house feels just like a step away. Within seconds, I get into my car and strap myself in. The door of the passenger seat suddenly opens“I am coming with you!” Allison says, slipping in.“No, you are not!” I start the car. “Get out, please.”“Faith is my friend! And weren’t you the one who just said we need to team up?”“You are a little too much. When we get there, you might just beat someone up before I can even ask the right questions.Her expression darkens. “And you aren’t? Tell me you are not going there to just “talk”? Where is your gangster!”“Come get your little girlfriend, please…” I beg Jerry who just showed up by my window.“Sorry, boss.”He shakes his head, opens the backseat door, and hops in.“We are both coming with you…” He pounds his fist against his palm. “Someone is about to get beat up. I can feel it.”“Now that’s what I am talking about!”Allison turns back to give Jerry a high-five.To my surprise, he doesn’t leave her hanging.Since when did
{Ace}Nothing makes sense, not with Faith missing. I have hired every private investigator I could. Still, none of them has been able to answer the big question.Where is my Faith?I have combed everywhere. Pulled all the stops to find her, but it just seems like she disappeared into thin air.Now my eyes are heavy and my head is banging like hell. I haven't slept in ages. Still, I can't bring myself to lie down.Sitting behind my desk, I continue to scroll on my laptop frantically.“Any news yet?”I pinch the space between my eyebrows. “No, Allison. This is the fifth time you have asked me that in the last minute.”Allison continues to pace about, her arms folded. “Don’t blame me, okay? My friend is missing…”“And my girlfriend is missing. Please don't make this more difficult than it already is.”“Girlfriend? The same one you accused of cheating on you, knowing fully well you were just in bed with the biggest snake?”Oh, that reminds me!Kourtney is history. She moved out that same
{Faith}Ink seeps into the paper, spreading like blood as I make the first stroke of my signature. Suddenly, my belly churns. Bile rises to my throat. Covering my mouth, I jump to my feet. The document falls to the floor.“Faith!” Matthew calls out as I run into the guest bathroom just down the aisle.As soon as I fall to my knees near the toilet bowl, the pancakes I had for breakfast come pouring out like a murky river.The sound my throat makes is animalistic. I gag over and over with my head almost down the bowl.A couple of minutes pass before I hear Matthew coming in. “Hey…are you all right?”I push my hair out of my face, nodding with my head still lowered. “Just an upset stomach. I will be fine.”I spit into the bowl. “I think I’ll go lie down for some hours.”“But the deed of assignment…” Matthew pushes the document in front of me.Holding my knees, I stand up. I feel woozy as I raise my head to look at him.Is he being serious right now?I rush in here to throw up, but inste
{Faith}Two weeks. That's how long it has been since I woke up bearing very little memory. In the hospital, the doctors and Matthew tried everything they could. They are still trying, but their different methods have failed.I can't remember anything other than my name, my father, Matthew, and Odette.“Oh, my sweet sweet girl. Are you crying again?”Odette comes out of the kitchen. She wipes her hands on her white apron and stretches them out to hug me.“I told you not to cry. Matthew and I are here for you.”Her coconut-y scent is cuddly and welcoming, but I stiffen in her embrace.“Baby…” Matthew appears from the side door of our new home.Despite moving in a few days ago, I still haven't had time to look around where I’ll be living for the rest of my life.Inside the house is nice and all. Matthew really snagged a good deal for it as it is the type you see in those contemporary movies with designs that could last a lifetime.The air is clean, birds chirp 24/7, and the tranquility i