All The Faith In The World

Chapter 23: Picture Perfect

Faith's P.O.V

He got me settled into my new small room after an hours drive home.

"If you need anything, I will be in the kitchen making dinner. Any requests?" His face held a smile of just pure happiness. I returned the smile.

"Um whatever's your favorite," I say.

"Tacos it is." He turned around on his heels and waltzed into the kitchen.

I look around my blank room. A brand new canvas. I brought some pictures to put up on the light blue walls, so I turn on my IPod and press play on The Leopards newest track.

The first picture that I hang up is one of Connor, Noah, and I. It was the picture dad took on the day of Connor's graduation. He had on a light blue button down shirt with black pants and a dark blue tie. Noah look equally as fancy in a similar outfit, only with a color scheme of black and red, his favorite colors. I wore my short coral sundress with a white flower in my, now managed, curly hair with a little mascara dotting my lashes. It was one of the only times I actually wore makeup. I loved this picture.

The second one I hung up was a selfie of Hayden and I after he came to one of my dance competitions and I won first place. I was all dressed up in my costume and holding my giant trophy and he is standing next to me, hand around my waist, wearing his nicest bow tie and white button down shirt. I laugh when I see the background. Clara and Madeline photo bombed us with kissy faces and hearts.

As I'm searching for my next picture, I hit something hard in the bottom of the box. I lift up the hard object to fine it's a photo album with a note on top.

Saving this for your birthday in a couple weeks, but I figured you should have this now. Love, Connor

I smiled at the note and set it next to me in the bed. The cover was white with fancy pink lettering saying "The adventures of Faith Porter." The first page is the picture of us from the graduation. To the side is a little note, written in sloppy hand writing.

On this day, I remember you walking down the hallway in that beautiful pink dress and Noah's jaw falling flat on the floor. You would never know this, but Noah secretly whispered to me, "When did our baby sister get hot?"

A small tear escaped from my eye and landed next to the word "hot". The next page was a selfie we took in the car. Connor's pulling his ears and making a monkey face, Noah's eyes are squinted shut, and I'm in the back seat, eyes crossed and tongue out.

This was the first time we rode home from school in the truck and we almost hit that stop sign. But, we didn't! ;)

I flipped through the other pages. Countless pictures and memories. The one with the ballet pose and the stick figure drawing. The 'to mess with her..' one. One Noah took of me laying in a patch of daisies and laughing.

Tears streamed down my face, but I couldn't tell if they were from happiness or sadness. I had to thank them for this book. I quickly snatched my phone from my bag and started a new message.

To: Connor

Just saw the photo album. I LOVE IT!!! <3 Missing you guys already!

I click the send button and pick up the book, letting the memories come flooding back.

Connor's P.O.V

From: Faith

Just saw the photo album. I LOVE IT!!! <3 Missing you guys already!

I smile. When she was inside getting all her stuff packed, I snuck it under some other pictures she had in a box.

"What are you smiling about?" Noah asks, looking up from his phone where he was desperately trying to fin out his final English score.

"Text from Faith. She liked the early birthday present I gave her." I said, still smiling.

"That picture book thing?" He asks.

"Yeah. I figured she would need it on a day like today, so I just gave it to her early." Noah nods his head and returns to his phone. I grab the stack of letters from the table. Bills. Bills. Postcard from Nathalie.

"Hey, ladies man, you want this?" I ask, motioning to the plastic picture of the Grand Canyon.

"Nah. I think I'm going to break up with her soon anyway. Things just aren't the same between us. Eh, I don't know."

I turn back to the mail. More bills, mom's magazines, and a letter. I rip open the white envelope and pull out the small sheet from inside.

Dear Connor, Noah, and Faith Riley,

Hello, dears. This is your mother writing to you. I'm sure you have been wondering where I have been lately. Well, your aunt Ava and I moved to Europe this at month. It was obvious to me that you three don't need me around. And that Connor and Noah are perfect care takers for Faith. In this envelope I attached credit card information, bank account passwords, everything you will need to keep the house up and running.

Lots of love,

Mom.

I stood there blankly rereading the letter over and over again to myself.

"Noah, mom's in Europe," I say, still in disbelief.

"Like on vacation or like forever?" He asks.

"Forever, I think. She said she moved there with aunt Ava." My eyes skimmed down to a folded up section of the page.

P.S. Faith, I hear Robert Porter is back in town. What ever you do, do not go see him! He's not the man he says he is. STAY AWAY!

What does she mean?

"Noah, pull up Robert Porter on google." He looks up to me, brown eyes confused.

"Why?"

"Because in mom's letter, she said that she heard he was back in town and for Faith to stay away from him. Quick, look him up," I say, getting very worried.

Noah typed in his name on google search and instantly 30 different mug shots and police records came up.

"Click on that one," I say, motioning to, what looks to be, the most recent one.

Noah slams his finger on the glowing screen. Up comes Robert's police record. Convicted for domestic violence and abuse, June 27th 2001 at St. Johns hospital in Arizona.

"After his girlfriend gave birth to his daughter, Porter went rampage on the girlfriend after she said she would not go live with him because of her other 2 sons. Porter proceeded to hit and beat the women until officials were called. Porter went away fighting, screaming he was going to find the women and her family and kill them all. Past police records say that Porter has done this before to 5 other women and their families."

"What the hell did we just do? We just sent away our sister with a SERIAL KILLER???" Noah yells.

"Hold on! The report isn't done yet," I say, steadying his phone.

Porter is famous for lying to the kids in order to lure them back into his house. He keeps the kids for at most a couple months, then they are never heard from or seen again.

"Oh my god! Noah get in the car, now! We have to go!" I yell. We both jump into the car and I press the gas pedal to the floor.