She awoke with a cry of terror on her lips, the stench of sweat clinging to her nostrils, her heart refusing to slow to a normal rhythm. As the terror of the nightmare flashed vivid photos through her brain, she whips back to the covers and leaps out of bed. The wildness of her eyes still focused on the horror she had dreamed, she stumbles across the hall to watch her daughter sleep in bliss. Tears of relief roll down her cheeks, and she walks on shaky legs toward the bathroom. She flips on the light and stares at the haggard face looking back at her. When did she become so haunted? Her eyes, almost black in color, held fear and uncertainty; her complexion pale and lifeless, her once glorious mane of chestnut hair now ragged tangles falling to her hips.
She stripped her body of the faded cotton nightgown and stepped into the cold porcelain bathtub, drew the plastic curtain closed, and put the hot water on full blast. As the water cascades down her body, she allows the tears of uncertainty to flow down her face and splash into the stream of the hot water. How had she become this way? Why did she fear so many things? Only after the water ran cold did she seem to snap out of her stupor. She dries her body with an old, worn towel and slips the faded cotton gown back onto her damp body.
Walking back into the empty bedroom, she can still feel the lingering fear in the air. Flipping on the light switch, everything looks normal and in the correct place. Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, she sighs -- 2:56 a.m. -- no sense in trying to go back to sleep. There were too many memories and old hurts floating through her head. She takes out her laptop and settles into her desk area to work on a new writing project that she should have begun a week ago.
A ringing cell phone breaks her concentration; she glances at the clock -- 5:43 a.m. -- that would be the public school district that she works for as a substitute teacher. After she hangs up the phone, she checks on her sleeping daughter again before starting her morning routine of getting the dogs outside, a motley crew of a Shih Tzu, a Japanese Chin and a Collie, cleaning up any messes that the dogs made, grabbing lunch from the freezer and then getting dressed.
Staring at the selection of clothes in her closet, she opts for a pair of black slacks and a soft purple sweater, black flats and gold jewelry finish the look. She runs a brush through her long tangled tresses, puts a little mascara and lip gloss on, then heads out the door. Forgetting to let the dogs back inside, she unlocks the door and quickly gets them settled. Then she remembers to jot a note for her daughter’s nanny about the activities for the day. Back out the door she goes.
Fifteen minutes later, she pulls into the high school parking lot. Taking a deep breath and grabbing her tote bag, she breezes through the side doors with a confident stride and an easy smile, masking the true emotions running through her soul.
“Good morning, Judy,” she chirps as she walks into the main office.
“How’s it going, Faith?” Judy asks as she hands over the day’s assignments and rosters.
“Same as always,” replies Faith. She gives a plastic smile to Judy and the others in the main office.
Faith strolls through the commons, nodding and smiling at the students as they call out to her. “Hi, Ms. Mason!” “Good morning, Ms. Mason!” “Who are you subbing for Ms. Mason?” The students who know her shout out as she passes by.
Finally, making her way to her classroom for the day, Faith falls into the desk chair and lets the smile fade. Leaning forward, she takes a cleansing breath and shuffles through the paperwork Judy had given her as well as the plans left by the residing teacher. By the time the first students shuffle into the classroom, the mask is firmly back in place, and Faith Mason greets the students with warmth and welcoming.
The same tasks are performed for six classes, and the students groan and complain about the work they are expected to do. Finally, after the last bell rings, Faith gathers her paperwork and heads to the main office. “How was it today?” Judy asks.
“They were great,” Faith replied.
“So, what are your plans for the weekend?” Judy was one of the main office busybodies. Small built, short brunette with a quirky smile, Judy was a happily married woman with two grown children. It is her belief that all people should be paired up, and it is her goal to see that it happens.
“Just hanging out with Ariel and going to a craft show in the city.” Faith quickly gathered her tote bag and headed out the door with a quick smile and wave. Sticking around any longer would allow Judy to try to set her up on a blind date or invite her to one of Judy’s infamous mixers.
********************************************************************************************************
Driving home, Faith tried to sort through the jumble of images that she remembered from her dream. Every night it was the same terror, just different scenes; always the fear for her daughter and the fear of losing her daughter.
This fear, to many, seemed irrational. Faith was a devoted single mother who was raising a well-adjusted little girl. Most people did not know the secret that Faith harbored. Only her daughter’s nanny and her parents knew what was haunting her.
Coming home to her quaint house on a quiet street, Faith took a minute to draw in several cleansing breaths before going inside to greet her bubbly little girl. “Mommy! Mommy! You’re home!” Ariel, her eight-year-old daughter, ran into her arms.
Ariel was a beautiful little girl with sparkling brown eyes and dark brown hair cascading down her back. Her slimness was deceiving for she possessed a healthy appetite!
“How was your day?” Faith asked her daughter.
Before Ariel could answer, Brigitta, or Gitta as she was affectionately called, came in the room carrying her daughter, Liberty. “She logged into her classroom late this morning because I could not get her lazy bones out of bed!”
Ariel was considered a gifted child, and she attended a private online school rather than going to a traditional school.
Because Faith was a single mother, her good friend, Gitta, agreed to move in with them and be Ariel’s nanny. Gitta had left an abusive situation, and she now worked from home as a medical transcriptionist. Gitta’s four-year-old daughter, Liberty, was her mother’s constant shadow.
“You look horrible!” Gitta told Faith. “I heard you up early this morning. Were you having trouble sleeping again?”
“Sleep is not my friend these days.”
“You need to start putting your focus back onto prayer. Only He can take these nightmares away from you.”
Faith smiled obligingly at Gitta. Faith’s relationship with God had suffered for several years. She knew He existed, yet there was something in her spirit that held her back.
“So, what’s for dinner?” Faith shifted the focus off of her less-than-stellar prayer life.
“Nothing.”
“What do you mean, nothing? I’m starving!” Faith stared at Gitta in disbelief.
“Well...I overslept, and then Liberty was cranky, and I burnt the toast and dropped the cereal…” Gitta’s voice trailed off as she made a helpless, sweeping motion with her arms.
Laughing, Faith pulled her friend into a bear hug. “How about Mexican tonight?” It would stretch their already tight budget, but Faith couldn’t stand to see Gitta looking defeated.
“I want a taco and French fries!” Ariel shouted from down the hall.
“Me, too!” piped Liberty.
The restaurant was almost deserted. The four of them sat listening to the festive music and giggling at the girls’ antics. They were dancing in their seats and trying to sing along.
After finishing their meal, Faith went in search of their waiter. As she stood waiting at the bar, she noticed a very attractive man sitting two chairs down. He looked familiar, but she could not place him.
Once she paid the bill, she gathered her crew together and headed for the door. Gitta saw the hunk and her mouth fell open. Faith elbowed her in the ribs and shoved her forward straight out the door. “Do you have any idea who that was?”
“Who? Do you know him? He looks so familiar.”
“That is Julian Swift, the hockey player.”
At Faith’s blank stare, Gitta rolled her eyes and elaborated. “The power forward for the Bandits. You know, as in professional hockey player -- the next Brett Hull. Hello! Is anyone home in there?” Gitta tapped her index finger against Faith’s forehead.
“That is ridiculous! We are in the boonies! A far cry from the city. Besides, what would Julian Swift be doing here, sitting alone in a little Mexican restaurant?”
“Maybe he is looking for some peace and quiet. It is rumored that his girlfriend is a real piece of work.” Gitta replied with a serious tone.
They went home and let the dogs out into the yard. As the girls and dogs played outside, Faith sat at her computer, staring blankly at the screen. As a writer, she had a ton of work that she needed to get done, but she could not focus!
He noticed the two women eating dinner with their children. Both women were very pleasing to the eye, but the brunette with the long hair really captured his attention. She was nothing like the women he was used to. She was calm and relaxed even when the children became fidgety. There was a ready smile on her lips that drew you in. She seemed at peace with herself and those around her. When she passed by him at the bar, their eyes had briefly met, and while he saw warmth, he also saw something else that he could not name.
********************************************************************************************************
Julian had come to the small town to get away from the noise and fast pace. He needed somewhere to be able to sit back and relax. He had gotten into his car and just started driving south. Something about the little Mexican restaurant had made him stop. It was just a little hole in the wall, but it seemed so inviting. No one recognized him, and if they had, they were kind enough to leave him alone.
Life was getting too hectic, especially since the Bandits were in a tight race for a spot in the playoffs. His teammates and coaches were relying on him to be perfect on the ice. His girlfriend of two years, Stephanie, was putting pressure on him to move in and get married. No one seemed to care what he wanted or needed.
So here he sat in some hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurant, eating alone while staring sightless at a hockey game on the t.v. He had not noticed anything around him until the two women had come in with their children. They were such a contrast to each other. One had long brunette hair; the older child was the spitting image of her. The other had short, curly red hair. The younger child had to be her daughter.
He found himself glancing at the brunette and trying to imagine her story. There was no ring on her left hand, and she paid no attention to the looks of appreciation from the men she passed. He had just finished his meal when the small group came in, but he lingered over his drink while they enjoyed their meal. He could not say why, just that he could not force himself to walk out of that restaurant while she was still inside.
Once she left with her friend and the children, Julian paid his bill and walked outside. The woman was pulling out of the parking lot in a blue minivan. That made Julian smile.
On the drive home, Julian could not stop thinking about the brunette. Why was this woman so interesting? She was so different from Stephanie and all the other women he had dated. Even though they did not speak, he could tell that she was different.
The next day at practice, Julian still could not get the brunette out of his head, and his teammates noticed he was distracted.
“What gives, Swift?” asked his best friend and teammate, Chris Martin.
“Nothing, just thinking about the game tomorrow.”
“Yeah, right,” Chris replied. “Is Stephanie bugging you about a ring again?”
“Again? She hasn’t let up since Stamos proposed to his girlfriend two months ago.”
