Submit to His Passion

Chapter 10

Friday night, Lindsay helped Faith pack her bag to spend the night at her friend's house. Krista Thoren knocked on the door at seven-ten with her daughter, Nydia at her side. "Did you pack your pink pony?" Nydia asked.

"I forgot that one. Come on, we'll get it." Faith grabbed her friend's hand and pulled her into the house.

Lindsay looked from the sky turning to dusk to her former acquaintance. "So what's it like being back in town? Not very exciting." Krista asked.

"It's been okay. I'm working for Holly Owens. My parents are happy to see Faith."

"And your brother and his kids. I remember when I used to doodle Mrs. Kristen Miller on my papers. Probably around the time you were doodling Mrs. Lindsay Ro-" Krista cleared her throat. "Uh, sorry. That was..."

"It's fine. It happened. We grew up and moved on."

The woman stared at each other in discomfort. Krista turned and looked outside and Lindsay turned inside the house. "I should check on the girls."

Krista nodded. "Yeah, good idea."

Lindsay got two steps from the door when the girls returned They ran past their moms, giggling and talking. "Faith," Lindsay said. "Hug before you go?"

"Oh, yeah." Faith ran back and hugged her mom. "Bye."

Lindsay smiled and kissed Faith's head. "I love you, Faithy. Be good."

"I will." She ran out again.

Kristy smiled brightly. "Enjoy your night off."

"Good luck getting them to sleep."

She swallowed the boulder in her throat as she watched Faith walk away. Lindsay sat on the stairs. What would she do for a night alone? Her original plan was to see Nick, but she'd ignored him all week. Her life revolved around her daughter for the past six years. Now Faith was out, leaving Lindsay alone and empty.

Alone, by choice. Nick was a phone call away, but he wanted too much. She would find something else to fill her time. She could spending the evening searching for jobs and rentals, push moving forward in her plans. Fuck the lawyer, fuck Kevin. She didn't need child support, Kevin would never see his kid again. What fucking ever.

Her parents planned a movie night and Lindsay didn't want to hang with them. Her parents would ask about Nick's whereabouts and she couldn't explain. She could sit in her room and play on her phone or read.

Lindsay slipped her shoes on. Sitting here feeling sorry for herself was a poor choice for a beautiful September evening. She stepped outside and looked along the place that held so many memories. They were halfway down the block, between the Flock's, who had lived there as long as Lindsay could recall, and now Carmen and Bryon Strom who moved in about five years ago, another classmate. Perhaps she should visit Cassie's mother. She discarded that idea, she was the miserable type and Lindsay's mood was low enough.

The town park would be quiet. The weather remained warm enough to enjoy the outdoors. She headed for the seat swing in the middle and watched the sky turn purple then indigo, black seeping at the edge.

She breathed the peace, but the rocks inside her refused to move. Tears threatened again as they did every time she was alone. She only cried in the shower twice, other than those times kept busy playing with Faith and chatting with her mom. She pushed her hands in her pockets and encountered her phone.

Nick.

No. Time to head home. To her parent's house that was. A movement caught her eye. A tall figure headed toward her. She pulled her hood over her head, hoping it obscured her face. She turned, hoping to hurry away. It was too dark to tell, but she hoped it wasn't...