Page 25

“I’m Molly’s niece.”

“She didn’t mention a niece either.”

“I doubt she knows I exist,” Faith sighed.

Chapter 7

Faith

Finally, Faith was getting some answers. After everything in her plan had gone wrong, once she’d arrived in Seattle, it was a relief to know that Molly wasn’t just a myth; she was real and there was someone who knew her and by all accounts liked her a lot.

“Molly moved in about two years ago. I wondered at first how she could afford to rent that house. It’s a three bedroom and let’s be honest, the prices around here are fucking atrocious.” Enid barked from the kitchen where she was fetching the three of them some iced tea.

Hearing such language spill out of such a lovely old woman was a little surprising. It’s not like Faith had been around a lot of curse words. Even her father refrained from cursing, mostly.

“Did you know her well?”

“Oh, yes,” Enid said, shuffling into the tropical monstrosity that was her living room. “Molly came over the day she moved in.”

Faith noticed the disapproving look Enid shot at Carmen. Carmen noticed too and ducked her head causing Faith to chuckle. “She came over with a batch of muffins. Introduced herself and spent an hour with me chatting. Well after that, Molly would visit me several times a week.”

“Did she tell you what she did for a living?” Faith was eager to learn as much as possible about her illusive aunt.

“Something to do with young people, I think. She didn’t talk much about work. Whenever she came over we chatted about all sorts of things. She told me a little about her home life.”

“Molly is my dad’s sister. He’s…”

“Difficult,” Enid answered. Faith nodded. She didn’t have the energy to explain all the terrible things that her father had done and said.

“Well, Molly turned out to be a wonderful woman. A right looker, too.” Enid shot Carmen another look. Carmen scrunched her eyes up in confusion.

“She’s a lesbian, you know,” Enid commented, clearly aiming it at Carmen again. Faith wanted to laugh. Enid was relentless, and Carmen looked petrified.

“Oh, right…”

“I bet she’d be right up your street,” Enid continued.

“Um…”

“Heart of gold, long gorgeous hair. A figure to die for.”

Carmen looked from Enid to Faith pleadingly. Faith didn’t know what to do to curtail Enid’s clear enthusiasm at the prospect of Carmen and Molly.

“Are you single dear?”

“Ye… yes.” Carmen shuffled in her seat.

“You should ask Molly out when you find her. You’d make a striking couple.” Carmen shot iced tea through her nose and then began coughing.

“I don’t… we…” Carmen spluttered.

“No need to choke, dear. It’s not that outrageous. I just think you could do with a nice girl. Heaven knows you haven’t brought a good one back to the house in a while.”

Faith had to pinch her nose to stop a snort from coming out. Carmen looked at Enid agog. As far as Faith knew, this was Carmen and Enid’s first interaction, although by the looks of things, Enid had been keeping an eagle eye on the Ruiz household.

“You need to tell that fella you live with to ask out Daniel. What are they messing about at? I’ve never seen anyone eat as much pizza as you two.”

“You… what…” Carmen shook her head. Faith silently laughed. Poor Carmen.