Faith had waited for so long… and now, at last, she felt as if she had grown wings. She had waited, and her happiness had finally come.
Only, things werent going well with Jamie. He just couldnt seem to get along with his father.
Yes, with his fatherJames, Jamies dad.
Faith had long given up hoping that happiness would ever find her. Shed forbidden herself from even thinking about relationships. There had been a few brief encounters with men over the years, but none of them were right. None of them were James. Shed held on to the belief that hed come to his senses one day.
But with James, it just hadnt worked out. You cant force love, as they say.
Once, when Jamie was barely three, James had left. Found someone else, fell in love.
And now look how things had turned out.
All these years, hed been living with thoughts of her and their son turns out.
Hed been a fool back then, yes. Young, chasing after the wind, as they say. But now hed realised his mistake. He understood everything now everything would be fine.
*”Why didnt you come back, James?”* Faith searched his face as she asked.
*”I was ashamed, Faith. I knew you were a proud woman with a strong will. I didnt think youd take me back.”*
Faith flushed. *Proud?* Her? She had waited all these years, forgiven himwhat a fool hed been! So much time wasted, but never mind. Things would be alright now.
Now it was all behind them. Now they were a proper familynot some broken home, like she remembered, not the endless tears shed shed.
There had been times she hadnt wanted to go on living. Stupid, really.
But she was glad she hadnt listened to anyone else, glad she hadnt found someone new. Why should Jamie be raised by another man when his own father was alive? The past was buried now. Shed forgiven everythingespecially since James swore hed only ever loved her.
Jamie
Jamie was at that agethough what age was *that*, really? He wasnt a child anymore.
His friend Sophie said he was just jealous. Jamie had always been the centre of his mothers world, and now he had to share her love with someone else.
But he was old enough to understand, wasnt he? It wasnt as if shed brought some stranger into the house. This was his *father*what was the problem?
Faith fretted. They just couldnt seem to get along, and it was all Jamies doing.
He had a temper, God help him. That came from her mother, Faiths own mumsharp-tongued, never mincing words.
But never mind. Blood was thicker than water. Theyd find a way to connect. Even now, shed sent them off to the shop together, pretending shed forgotten to buy potatoes and bread.
Once or twice more, shed *forget*then maybe theyd start wanting to do things together on their own.
Faith hummed to herself as she cooked dinner. Then*finally*they were back.
Jamie dropped the bag on the floor, muttered something, and vanished into his room.
*”Faith,”* James sat at the table, *”whats up with him?”*
*”What do you mean?”*
*”Justthe way he is. That long hair, bleached whitemight as well curl it while hes at it. Does he even dye it? I thought me and my lad would be hitting the gym, playing footie, maybe a bit of boxing, going fishing but hes like some wet weekend.”*
*”Wet weekend? Hes a good boy, James. Hes a musician!”*
*”A musician,”* James scoffed. *”Everything about yous a bit off, isnt it? This place”* he glanced around the flat, *”hasnt changed in years. And you, Faith still wearing your hair the same way.”*
Faith smoothed her hair self-consciously. *”I dont know its just how Ive always done things.”*
*”Oh, Faith”* He shook his head. *”You could do so much. Get your lashes done, maybe some lip filler, something modern. But no, youre stuck in the past. And youve raised the boy soft. Drop him in the woods, and hed curl up and die.”*
*”James! What a horrible thing to say!”*
*”What? Its the truth. All my mates have proper ladsand mines what? A walking guitar?”*
*”What mates?”*
*”Justnever mind. Im going for a lie-down. Need to think how to fix this.”*
*”Alright. Ill finish dinneryour favourite, shepherds pie.”*
*”Yeah, go on. My backs playing up anyway.”*
Faith kept cooking, but the conversation weighed on her. *Stuck in the past?* She was *proud* of Jamie!
She was still turning over what she shouldve said when she heard footsteps.
*”Jamie?”*
*”Yeah, Mum.”*
*”Where are you going?”*
*”Off to Nicks. Were rehearsing.”*
*”Its late.”*
*”Weve got stuff to do.”*
*”Dont stay out.”*
*”Yeah, yeah.”*
Jamie didnt come home for dinner. Didnt answer his phone. Faith panicked.
James stayed calm.
*”Give over, hes fifteen. Probably shacked up with some girl.”*
*”Dont say that! He always calls. Somethings wrong.”*
*”What could be wrong?”*
At last, Jamie rang.
*”Mum, were running late. Im staying at Nicks.”*
*”No!”* Faith snapped. *”Where are you? Stay there. Dad and I are coming.”*
*”Faith, Im not driving anywhere”*
*”Youre going,”* she said coldly.
James grumbled the whole way. Picking Jamie up, he was in high spirits*”Mum, weve written a banger!”*and James *lost it.*
*”Bangers? I was *working* at his age! If you want to sing, get a job!”*
Faith stayed silent. Jamies smile vanished. James ranted all the way homehow Jamie dressed like a girl, how Faith had ruined him
Jamie slammed his bedroom door. James slept on the sofa.
The next day, Jamie said he was moving in with Nan.
*”What? Thats two hours on the train to school!”*
*”Dont care. Dont want to be in your way.”*
*”Jamie, whats that supposed to mean?”*
*”Not my fault Im not the perfect son *he* imagined.”*
*”You little”* James snarled. *”Im your *father*.”*
*”Father? Where were you all these years? Paying child support, were you? Did Mum hide that from me?”*
*”Jamie”* Faith forced a smile. *”Its not polite to talk about money. I raised you well”*
*”Raised me on what? Hand-me-downs from Aunt Sophies Tom? Where were *you*, Dad? Teaching me to stand up for myself? Taking me to the park for ice cream?”*
*”See!”* James rounded on Faith. *”No respect!”*
*”For *you*? Who even *are* you?”* Jamie shot back. *”Too busy begging some *Annie* to take you backI heard her screaming down the phone!”*
*CRACK.*
James slapped him.
*”James!”* Faith shrieked.
*”Bye, Mum.”* Jamie walked out.
*”Jamie! Jamie!”*
He stepped into the lift without a word.
*”What have you *done*?”* Faith turned on James.
*”What *you* shouldve done years ago. Making a man of him.”*
She called Jamie in tearsno answer. Then she rang her mum.
*”Hes here,”* came the icy reply. *”Sort your man out. Or youll lose your son too.”*
*”Mum”*
*”Im busy.”* *Click.*
Faith sobbed. James went to smoke on the balcony.
After a while, she steeled herself and went to talk to himthen froze.
*”Mate, shes a pushover,”* James was saying. *”Told mine Id walk any timeFaithd always take me back
