Chapter 38
THIRTY-EIGHT
Winter Wonderland
Noelle
We arrived at Wonderland Elementary School early, and I admired the way Faith had taken charge. Her peers greeted her with excitement, and she even helped other children who were full of nerves. Her kindness shone, and I was beyond proud of her.
Faith rehearsed with the rest of the performers, ate some Christmas treats, and I helped with last-minute preparations.
Everything came together, and she was cute in the red dress Jack had bought her.
She remembered how to apply all the makeup like he had taught her, but I assisted with her hair, and I followed my daughter’s instructions.
“...And after the gel, Mr. Timber told me to tie all of my hair up into a bow...” her voice trailed off when some strands fell out, and she sighed. “I wish he were here.”
Jack had let Faith down, and I was too. He wouldn’t be here to see her perform as he had promised her. Damn you, Timber.
“It’s okay.” I gathered the hair up, and this time the strands stuck. “See? We can do this together without Mr. Timber.”
“At least Daddy will be here to watch me.” Faith beamed at me through the reflection in the mirror.
“Yes. He should be here soon.” I had a bobby-pin in between my teeth and stretched the metal wider before placing it securely in Faith’s hair. “There. Now we can do hairspray. Close your eyes.”
Faith squeezed her eyelids shut. “When?”
“Soon.” I sprayed the wild hairstyle and glanced down at the time on my cell phone. “He should be here anytime now.”
Suddenly, my cell phone chimed. I peered down at the screen. It was a text from Logan.
Logan: I’m tied up at work. Tell Faith I’m sorry, but I can’t make it.
Career had come first over Faith year after year, and Logan had broken his promise to her again. I was devastated for my child. I had no choice but to give her the news, or else she’d constantly search the crowd for her father.
“What’s wrong, Mommy?” Faith asked me.
I swiveled Faith’s stool around to face me, leaned down to her level, and placed my hands on her knees. I’d break the news as gently as possible, but deep inside, I was angry. Upset beyond words for my child.
I hate you, Logan Lancaster, for making me do this to our daughter.
“That was Daddy,” I said as I touched her cheek and gave her hand a squeeze. “He can’t come to the concert because he has to work.”
“But he promised...” Faith’s lower lip trembled, and tears sprang to her eyes.
“I know he did, sweetheart, but I’m here.” I smiled the most cheerful grin I could. “I’ll watch you, and I’m proud of how hard you’ve worked.”
“I know, but... I wish...” Faith’s voice cracked.
Faith glanced down as tears dropped onto her velvet dress, and her heart broke.
Mine shattered right along with hers because she should have men in her life who treated her better.
I shouldn’t have made the mistake of letting assholes disappoint her.
This was all my fault, but I couldn’t let Jack or Logan ruin this for her.
“I know. I do too. But we have each other.” I tilted her face up by the chin, and Faith peered at me. “We can do this without them.”
Faith smiled through the tears and wrapped her arms around me. She squeezed me tight, and my eyes watered, but I wouldn’t dare let a single tear fall. My daughter was rightful of my strength, not my weakness. I’d save my sorrow for when she wasn’t around.
“Okay, Mommy. I will try my best,” Faith whispered in my ear.
I yanked a tissue out of the Kleenex box.
“Good.” I pulled back with a smile and dabbed the tissue at her eyes. “No matter what happens, you will always be the best to me.”
“Thanks, Mommy.” Faith gave me a small smile.
Faith turned the chair back around, and she stared at her reflection. She wore a mask to paint over the sadness lurking in her mind, and I hoped this wouldn’t affect her performance. Disappointment etched into her forehead with wrinkled lines of worry, and her beautiful eyes had a hint of pain.
I wanted to take Faith into my arms and never stop holding her—walk away from the concert, but the show must go on. My daughter had the courage to brave the storm, and I could too.
When the drama teacher called Faith out to take the stage, she beamed brightly, and I admired her. She blew me a kiss, and I caught the affection in my hand as she headed off behind the curtain. It was showtime.
Luckily, I found a seat close to the front.
The crowd quieted around me when the stage lit up.
The curtains opened, and my heart pounded in my ears as I saw my little girl.
She was centered in the middle of the stage, the light beaming on her, and her eyes twinkled while she got into character.
This was no longer my daughter, but a girl who loved Christmas more than anything else in this world, and her reality had changed.
Christmastime wasn’t the same, and she sparkled with wonder as the music fell over the audience, but no voice came.
My daughter froze up, her eyes full of fright, and my biggest fear had come true. The disappointment had won. Faith stood there overwhelmed by everything, and she couldn’t sing. She had forgotten the lyrics.
The music cut. Confused chatter fell over the crowd, and Faith searched for me with frightened eyes. I stood up, ready to save my child from humiliation, but a commotion came from the other side of the stage.
“Kiddo!” A furry green character called out while waving his hands. “Over here.”
Faith smiled the biggest grin, and she gave a thumbs up. Gasps fell over the crowd, but the music came back on, and the sound of my daughter’s sweet voice came to life. Along with another offbeat melody I never thought I’d hear again.
Jack.
Tears welled up in my eyes as Jack sang with my daughter, all dressed up in character, and he didn’t give a shit who watched him. He was there for Faith. Jack hadn’t broken his promise.