Faith had waitednot in vain.
Faith soaredas if shed grown wings at last. Shed waited for her happiness, and here it was.
Only, things werent going smoothly with young Jack. He just couldnt see eye to eye with his father.
Ah yes, the fatherVictor, Jacks dad.
Faith had long given up on love, sworn off even thinking about relationships. Thered been the odd date here and there, but none of them measured up. Shed always waited for Victor, believed hed come to his senses.
But with Victor, wellsome things just dont work out. Cant force love, as they say.
When Jack was barely three, Victor had left. Found someone else, fell in love.
And look how it all turned out.
Turns out, hed spent his whole life thinking about her and their son.
Hed been a fool back then. Young, chasing after the wind. But nownow he understood. Now everything would be set right.
“Why didnt you come back, Vic?” Faith asked, searching his face.
“Too ashamed, love,” Victor muttered. “Knew you were proud, had spirit. Didnt think youd take me back.”
Faith flushed. *Proud?* Her? Shed taken him back after all these years, forgiven him! Silly man, so much time wastedbut no matter. Now everything would be fine.
Now they were a proper familyno more feeling like some discarded thing, no more crying into her pillow.
Thered been days she didnt want to live. Stupid, really.
Good thing she hadnt listened to anyone else, hadnt settled for just anyone. Why raise her son with some stranger when his real father was right here? Water under the bridge. Shed forgiven him, and anyway, he only loved her.
Jack, though
Jack was at *that* agethough honestly, what age *wasnt* difficult? He wasnt a child anymore.
His mate, Lucy, reckoned he was just jealous. Jack had always been the centre of his mums worldnow he had to share her love.
Well, tough. He wasnt a toddler. He ought to understandand it wasnt like shed brought home some random bloke. This was his *father*.
Still, Faith worried. They couldnt seem to get along, and it was always Jacks fault.
Stubborn streakmustve got it from her. She could be sharp-tongued when she wanted.
But never mind. Family always finds a way. Take todayshed “forgotten” to buy potatoes and bread, sent the two of them off to the shops together.
A few more “forgetful” moments, and theyd start wanting to do things as a trio. Bloods thicker than water, after all.
Faith hummed as she cooked. Thenoh! They were back.
Jack dumped the bag on the floor, muttered something, and stormed off to his room.
“Faith,” Victor sighed, slumping into a chair. “Whats *wrong* with him?”
“Wrong? What dyou mean?”
“That hairlong and *white*, for pitys sake. A perm away from looking like a poet. Does he *dye* it? Thought wed hit the gym together, play footie, go fishingbut hes just soft.”
“*Soft?* Hes a *musician*, Vic!”
“Musician,” Victor scoffed. “Honestly, love, nothing about yous normal. This flatsame as it was twenty years ago. And you, with that same hairdo”
Faith glanced around, smoothing her hair self-consciously.
“I dunno just got used to it.”
“Used to it,” Victor groaned. “You could do with a proper makeoverlash extensions, lip filler, *something*. Youre stuck in the past. And youve raised a right wet blanket, Faith. Take him camping, hed probably *die*.”
“How can you *say* that?”
“What, should I lie? Look at him! Im *embarrassed*, Faith. All my mates lads are proper lads, and mines”
“*What* mates?”
“Down the pub, alright? UghI need a kip. Gotta think how to fix this mess.”
“Go on, then. Ill make your favourite chops.”
“Right. Backs playing up anyway.”
Faith cooked, the conversation leaving a bitter taste. *Ashamed?* She was *proud* of Jack.
She rehearsed retorts in her headthen heard the front door.
“Jack?”
“Yeah, Mum.”
“Where you off to?”
“Nicks. Were rehearsing.”
“Its late!”
“*Need* to, alright?”
“Dont be long.”
He didnt come home for dinner. Didnt answer his phone. Faith panicked. Victor just shrugged.
“Relax. Lads fifteenprobably snogging some girl.”
“Dont be *vile*! He *always* calls!”
Finally, Jack rang.
“Mum, were running late. Staying at Nicks.”
“*No*,” Faith barked. “Where are you? Were coming.”
“Faith, Im *knackered*,” Victor grumbled. “Let him get the bus.”
“Youre *going*,” she said, deadly calm.
The drive was misery. On the way back, Jackbubbling about some new songset Victor off.
“Oh, *songs*, is it? I was *working* at your age. If you wanna be a pop star, *earn* it.”
Faith stayed silent. Jack deflated. Victor rantedabout Jacks clothes, his hair, how he looked like a *girl*
Jack slammed his bedroom door. Victor slept on the sofa.
Next morning, Jack announced he was moving in with Nan.
“*What?* Its two hours to school!”
“Dun care. Dont wanna be in your way.”
“Jack, *what*?”
“Not my fault Im not his *perfect son*,” Jack spat.
“You *brat*,” Victor snapped. “Im your *father*.”
“*Father?* Where were you my *whole life*? Paying child support, were you? Or too busy shagging that Angie who *screamed* down the phone at you?”
*SMACK.*
“*Vic!*”
“Bye, Mum.” Jack walked out.
Faith chased him. “Jack, *love*”
He stepped into the lift, stony-faced.
“Whatve you *done*?” Faith cried.
“What *you* shouldve done years ago,” Victor said. “Making him a *man*.”
Jack ignored her calls. Nan answered frostily: “Hes *fine*. Leave him be.”
“*Mum*!”
“Sort out your *man*. Bye.”
Faith wept. Victor smoked on the balcony.
Steeling herself, she went to confront himthen froze at his voice.
“nah, mate, shes *desperate*. Told her Id swan off to Vickys anytime Yeah, took me back, *course* she did. Lads playing up, but *whatever* Yeah, shacked up with Angie for a bit*pfft*, not the first time Gettin fat on her cooking, though!”
Faith stepped back. Thencalmlyshe fetched Victors neatly folded clothes.
“Faith? What? *FAITH!*”
She flung them over the railing, watching them flutter down.
“Youre next if you dont *leave*.”
“Faith!”
“*Go.*”
“Fine! Whod want you anyway?”
She laughed and sobbed all night. Her friend Sarah told her to ride it out*really* close the chapter.
Next morning, Faith took the early train to Mums.
On the way, she helped an elderly man with a walking stickBill, visiting his mum.
“My neighbours meeting me. Good lad.”
Faith barely listened.
Then*Jack* was at the station.
“Mum?”
“Jack?”
“Here for Uncle Bill. Cant manage alone.”
They walked Bill home. He joked about taking Faith dancing when his leg healed. She laughedreally laughed.
At home, she apologised.
“Hes *gone*, love. For good.”
Jack shrugged. “Mum Me and the lads were thinkinglets redecorate, yeah?”
***
Bills leg healed. He didnt take her dancinghe took her to a *restaurant*. Then to a gig where Jacks band played.
“This ones for my mum and my *future dad*.” Jack grinned. “Mum, you *are* marrying him,
