CHAPTER 21
Iskipped downstairs, feeling light, the ulcer medication already working its magic on my system.
I stopped at the bottom of the stairs. The whole household seemed to be dressed and waiting for me in the living room.
"What's going on?"
“What? We aren’t allowed to go say goodbye to them? I never took you to be a selfish girl,” Van said, coming over and hugging me.
"Yeah, Faith. They’re our family too." Jet explained.
Love, warm and comforting, wrapped around my heart. My new little family accepted my dad and Martha as their own, and life felt complete.
“You don’t know how happy this makes me,” I uttered, blinking to keep the tears back.
“Besides, I have to get one more look at Martha the hottie before she flies out of my life,” Jet said, inciting a smack to the back of his head from Amy.
Leave it to Jet to save the day-or at least my mascara. We split up into two cars so everyone could go.
I ended up in the backseat with Jessie. Her eyes were puffy, as she hid them behind her sunglasses. I squeezed her hand, and when she turned her head, sadness poured out of her.
“What's up?” I whispered, so no one else could hear us.
She snagged her phone out of her purse and texted me, so we didn’t have to worry about eavesdropping.
I need to break up
with him before he
leaves for the tour.
Frustration simmered up my spine. How could she not see how much Van truly loved her? There was no getting through to her, especially right now with the tour only a month away.
Are you sure?
She nodded her head and put her phone back in her purse, ending our conversation.
When my parents came through the lobby, their faces expressed the shock they were feeling at seeing the entire group of us. Just like me, I don't think they were expecting everyone to show up and see them off.
Martha broke out of her stupor first and hugged everyone good morning. She chattered happily, telling us what a great surprise we all were. My dad hugged me tightly before grabbing everyone individually and hugging them too.
We went to a restaurant by the airport, milking as much time as we could. The only tension came from Jessie and Van. Martha tried to pull them into our conversation, but they both seemed to be walking on eggshells, landmines everywhere in their relationship.
Kill held my hand under the table and squeezed it reassuringly. I assumed I would feel just like Jessie when the tour was finally announced, but hope had burrowed in my heart and taken root.
My dad asked me about Trent, and I felt guilty I hadn't thought about him since Thanksgiving.
“Did you call Trent when I was in the hospital?” I asked.
“I had Amy call him and tell him what was happening. He wanted to come to the hospital. I had her explain you were only allowed one visitor at the time, and your dad refused to leave your side.”
“But at one point, everyone was in the room with me,” I said, confused.
Kill's face turned a slight shade of pink, and he seemed to be fighting the formation of his half smile.
“You're so bad,” I scolded, kissing him on the cheek.
“What can I say? He brings out the jealous beast in me.”