Severing Ties (Book 2. Ties)

42. Save Him

Proceed with caution. This chapter may contain themes too strong for some people.
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"Please don't," I sobbed. "Don't hurt me anymore."

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I had been living with Robin for a month, and it had resulted in how I had expected. It was like having a roommate except instead of sharing one room, we shared a whole mansion. We were both busy most of the week, so our interactions mostly occurred in the morning during breakfast. Sometimes, I would get home when he was finished with his dinner, and other times we arrived around the same time.

He worked full days Monday through Friday and a half day on Saturday. I went to school and worked Monday through Thursday. Mom took care of Faith Monday through Wednesday and I changed from Friday to Saturday instead of Sunday, since Lucius was home on Sundays, but Thursday remained vacant.

The open spot only left us feeling the pain of losing Farrah and Frederick. Every Thursday, we would be more strongly reminded that Faith's grandparents were no more. I did not have the details as to how, but Sophie took care of Faith on Thursdays the month and a half Lucius had left of recording the film with his friend.

One Sunday, I told Lucius I wanted to take Faith to church with me, but he told he was too tired to go. So, Robin and I picked up my sister and met up with Stephanie and Lucas at church.

For the past few years, Stephanie and I had been going to church. Before my mom worked on Sundays, she would go with us too, but that stopped when Lucius began filming. So, it became Lucas, Stephanie, and I. Then I got married. Our marriage did not mean anything, but Robin's parents' death did. If I left all day on Sunday to spend time with my friends, Robin would be home alone reminded by its walls of what he was missing. With that in mind, I took him to mass with me. He actually enjoyed the priest's homilies, so that was a plus.

After mass, my friends, Faith, and I went out to eat. We went to an American bistro during the brunch hours and ate inside because the weather was too cold for Faith, though the temperature was uncharacteristically warmer than other years. I ordered flapjacks and fruit for my sister while ordering a bagel with salmon and cream cheese for myself. I wanted to make her try it, but she was a child like any other—afraid to try new things.

"C'mon, Faith, just try it."

She shook her head. "Nasty."

"You haven't even tried it! You're just boring, I guess," I told her with mock disappointment.

"I not boring, Kenny." Her eyes tried to search for mine, but I avoided her gaze to maintain myself from losing my poker face.

"Only boring people don't try new things," I continued the farce.

A little pout sat on her lips as she pondered over my words. "Fine," she told me.

I gave her a bite of my bagel for her to taste. I observed her reaction as she chewed. "You liked it, didn't you," I asked. If she would have thought it was utterly disgusting, she would have spit it out regardless of etiquette or who was around. "See, don't judge," I said after she had nodded.

"You're good at this babysitting thing, Zee," Stephanie said from across the table.

I shrugged. "I try."

"You're going to make a wonderful aunt."

"Well I have a lot of time between now and then." I chuckled. "Faith is only three so..." More laughter bubbled from my lips.

Stephanie bit her lip nervously which brought a scowl to my face. "I'm talking about our patchwork family... You know, er," she cleared her throat, "you and I are like sisters..."