FINDING THE TRUTH 2

      The next day, Faith and Ethan had boarded a plane to Illinois. After a few hours drive, they landed at their destination, checked into a hotel in Chicago, had an hour's rest and rented a car that they had taken to Oak Park. It was drizzling when they arrived. 

      The town had changed a little since Faith left it, a few houses has been built, but other than that it was still the town she knew, where everyone knew everyone. They drove to the address Faith remembered was her bookshop they parked across the street and for a moment, none of them moved. There was silence in the car, only the drumming of the rain on the windshield filled the air. 

     She had remembered this street, although it was now a wide residential street. A few houses here and there, but they showed that forlorn, uncared for look. It was a bit scary that they didn't see anyone in the street when they were coming. Faith stared at the bookshop. She had been so confident this morning when they left California, but now that the moment was here, she was anxious. 

       Ethan looked up at the sky through the windshield.   "I don't think it's going to let up any time soon. Maybe you should go and get it over with." 

       Faith wasn't waiting for the rain to stop, she doubted if she could make it. The only serious questions she had asked people were in her therapy sessions and she didn't know how to start asking a woman she barely knew questions about her mother. 

      "I guess you are right," she said and unstrapped her seat belt. Then she turned to look at him.  "I kind of think I should have written down the questions I want to ask because I have no particular question going on in my head right now. I don't even know how to start." 

     Ethan smiled a reassuring smile.  "You should just calm down, you are nervous and your speech is even rushed. I'm sure when you get there you would be fine. How about you start with you are Celina Prescott's daughter? I think that would set the ball rolling." 

      Faith nodded and hugged him. He hugged her back and patted her back. 

     "Remember, if you need me just send me a beep and I'll be there." 

      "I know." She opened the door and repeated.  "I am Celina Prescott's daughter. Wish me luck." 

      As she started across the road, she assured herself that this was only going to be another therapy session with a client, only that this client was going to be talking about her mother. She got to the front door, and the plaque hanging by the door read.  'WE ARE OPEN' she took a deep breath and pushed in. A tiny bell at the top of the door jingled, informing whoever was in there that someone had just entered. The bookstore was not as gloomy and unarranged as it used to be. 

      It was brighter now with fluorescent lights on the ceiling, more shelves has been added to the place rather than piles and piles of books up in a corner or front of a shelf and when people come to look for books, they sometimes ruin the piles and it makes the books to scatter about. The only thing that was the same was the smell. It still had that smell of books. 

     Faith stood there helplessly when no one came from the office. She was both relieved and disappointed. She could make an excuse that there was no one in the bookstore and go back to the car and ask Ethan to drive back to Chicago so she could fall on the bed and take a long sleep. 

       But before she could decide what to do, she heard a door crack and heard footsteps coming from the hidden room that served as the office, where her mother had always gone with Ms Rose. She stood there and watched as a lady, not much older than she was came into view. The lady stopped for a while and stared at her quizzically, then proceeded towards her. 

       "Hi, welcome to our bookstore. Would you like me to help you with any genre? You look new here." 

      "Yes, I am. I'm sorry to bother you but I'm looking for Ms Rose." 

      "Miss who?" 

      "Ms Rose...er…I just...I just know her as Ms Rose don't really know her surname." 

    The lady appeared leery.  "Who is looking for her and what can she do for you?" 

      Faith felt a quick jolt of anger that died down almost immediately. She shouldn't blame the woman. If someone showed up at her workplace or her house out of the blues and ask to see Nora or anyone she knew, she would be suspicious too. 

     "Ah... I believe she might know a thing or two about my mother." 

     The lady frowned.  "Who is your mother?" 

      "Celina Prescott, she was married to Alfred Prescott..." 

      "Faith Prescott?" the woman asked. She was staring at Faith in amazement. 

      "Yes, I am," Faith answered a bit leery herself. 

      "Oh, my God, it's really you! Come, come, come," the woman gestured for her to follow her. 

     Faith was a bit hesitant, she looked outside at their parked car across the street and wondered if she should send the signal to Ethan.  But she decided against it and followed the woman. 

     They went into the office and Faith was surprised at how spacious and well furnished the office was. Two large bookshelves stood by the corners, her desk was a large spruce table, that had a small calendar, a desktop set and piles and piles of books, a little American flag, and a name plaque that Faith didn't care to look at on top of it. There were also piles of books by the corners, beside the shelves. The office was brightly-light and had a very nice air freshener smell. The picture of the lady hung behind her. 

     The woman gestured for her to seat and she sat while the woman went over to her chair and sat down, beaming with smiles. 

      "Do you know me?" Faith asked once they were settled. 

      "Of course, I do. Don't you remember me at all?" 

  Faith almost rolled her eyes. She had not remembered even part of her childhood talking much of a stranger. She shook her head. 

       "I know you won't. I was auntie Roselyn's niece Jenna " 

        "Oh," Faith said and wondered what she would do with that information, then a sudden thought hit her. 

     Why was Ms Rose not here? Why is it this pretty-faced woman who only smiled? What if Ms Rose was dead? 

       "Pardon me, my salesgirl called in sick, so I have worked myself to a stupor today, look at all these books."

       "I see," said Faith wondering what she was still going to do with the information she had just given. 

      She had come here to see Ms Rose, get the information she needed and leave. 

     "Tea or coffee?" the woman asked standing. 

      "Do you make those here?" 

        "I do. Here's like my home and I do a lot of things here." 

         "No, thanks. I want to be brief. I came with my boyfriend, he is in the car outside." 

        "Why didn't you let him in?" 

        "No, he would wait. About Ms Rose, where is she?" 

      "Well, she is no longer Ms Rose, she got married a few years after, she is now Mrs Green." 

        "Oh, I see. Mrs Green," Faith repeated, grateful that she was not dead. 

      "She lives in Chicago with her family." 

       "Can I get an address?" 

        "I will write it down for you," the woman said and opened the drawer on her table and scribbled down the address.  "Here, this is where she stays."

    "Thank you so much," Faith said. 

      "What about Joshua? Have you been able to communicate with him?" 

       "Oh, yes. We are in the same city in California." 

       "I knew you would always find each other, the bond was there. I don't know why he had to leave you behind while leaving." 

     Faith smiled.  "Thank you," she said rising from her chair, she wasn't going to entertain any more questions from the woman. 

       "It's good to see you again Faith. Good luck with your search."

       "Thank you, Faith said again then she stopped. "Do you know if Father Bernard is still here? Is he still at the local parish?" 

        "Yes. He is right here with us. He was transferred a couple of times but he is retired now and serving as our emeritus priest."

        Faith thought as much. 

    The woman saw her to the door and waved at Ethan who was in the car across the street. Faith hurried over to the car and went in. 

     "How did it go? You came out rather quick." 

      "Ms Rose isn't there, I met her niece, she said she got married and moved to Chicago." 

       "That's... I don't know? How do you feel?" 

       "Hungry." 

       "We would drive back to Chicago and get something to eat.  Were you able to get her address?" 

      "Yeah, we would come back here after meeting Ms Rose—she called her husband's name but I think I have forgotten, I'm accustomed to Ms Rose. Father Bernard is here and I need to hear his own side of the story." 

      "So, will you see Ms Rose today? It's quite late," Ethan said as he kicked the car to life. 

       "I am too knackered right now, all I need is eat a good meal, fall in bed and get a long, long sleep." 

      "I know that feeling. Let's go get you that meal." 

       The next morning, when Faith woke up, Ethan had already ordered breakfast and was smiling down at her.  She stretched herself and smiled at him. 

        "Wakey, wakey, sleepyhead."

   Faith yawned.   "I feel so refreshed. How was your night?" 

       "It was quite short but peaceful, get up let's eat breakfast." 

      Faith groaned.   "I don't want to get out of bed, can I take a little nap?" 

        "It's almost noon you know." 

 Faith jerked up from bed and looked at the clock. It was a few minutes to eleven a.m. She gasped.   "Don't tell me I slept that long." 

       "Yes, you did. Now, come over here, let's have breakfast, we have a long day ahead of us." 

        "Ayé, sir!" Faith said and gave a mock salute. 

          Ethan smiled as she came toward him. 

       In a few hours, they were in front of the address that Jenna had given them. The neighbourhood was nice and looked upper-class and unlike the unpeopled street in Oak Park, this street had several people around. It was also warm and bright and everything looked cheerful, including the trees which were brightly coloured against the bright sky. The number of the house Jenna had given them was set back a bit from the street with a long yard that led up to a cream two-story building. 

     Faith huffed when she felt anxiety settling in. Ethan noticed her discomfort. 

         "Are you sure you are ready? We could go back and come back whenever you are ready."

        "I was born ready." 

        "Right. Now, go get that truth." 

     Faith stepped out of the car and walked to the front door with counted steps, feeling exactly as she has felt yesterday.  She had been relieved yesterday, but if she saw Ms Rose, she would have to hear the truth. 

       She took a deep breath before ringing the doorbell. There was no reply. She rang it again and heard footsteps coming down the stairs. 

       "Who is at the door?" an older lady's voice asked and before Faith could answer, the door opened a suspicious few inches and stared at Faith. "

     "I'm sorry to bother you but I'm looking for...uhm…Mrs Rose?" 

       "I'm Rose Green, how can I help you?" 

        "I was wondering if...you could tell a little bit about my mother—Celina Prescott." 

      The woman clutched her mouth and had an astonished look on her face.  "Faith? Are you Faith?" 

     "Yes..."

    Faith was interrupted as the woman drew her into a sudden embrace. Faith was too shocked to reciprocate. The woman pulled away. 

       "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was just overwhelmed. Come on in." The woman held the door open for her. 

      Faith was surprised.  "Didn't your niece tell you I was coming?" 

        "No, no, she didn't."  Faith stepped inside. Mrs Rose reached for her shoulders.  "Here, let me have your coat. Go on in and have a seat," the woman said and took Faith's coat. 

      Faith went into the living room and the woman followed her almost immediately. Faith sat down and looked around the room, it was brightly lit and immaculate with furniture that looked like they were new. Mrs Rose sat across from her smoothing her hair. 

       "What can I offer you, Faith?" 

    Faith shrugged.  "No, thanks." 

       "I wish I had known you were coming. I don't have anything to offer you as long food goes, oh, my God. I thought you looked familiar but I couldn't place where I had seen your face before." 

       Faith was just staring at the woman. She aged quite alright, but she had that Ms Rose look, still pretty and she was more reserved than Faith had remembered. She wore a fawn dress with no jewellery.

      "I believe you know one or two things about my mom? How long has it been since you last saw each other?" Faith asked. 

        "Too long. We just lost touch with each other." 

        "You lost touch?" 

          "Yes." 

           "Can you remember the last time you heard from my mom?" 

          Rose appeared thoughtful. "Well, that's quite long, it must have been 2009." 

          "Is she still alive?" 

   There was a horrified look on the woman's face.  "That's it, I don't know if she is still alive." 

           "You knew my family well, didn't you? I mean my mother was your friend."

          "Oh, she was my good friend." 

            "I believe she must have told you things, things about her, things about us, things about my family." 

            "Oh, Faith—" 

             "Mrs Rose, so many years have passed. I am twenty-five and a grown-up, so I think I can handle the truth." 

            "What truth?" 

              "About what happened twenty years ago. What happened? The reason my dad hit my mom so much, what did my mom do to my dad? Why did she leave? What happened to my mom that day she was taken to the hospital? Why does my mom's maiden name none existent?" 

        Rose stared at her with pity in her eyes for a while. " You have so many questions, my darling, but it's a very long story."

        "That's why I came." 

          "If anyone should tell you these things, I think your parents should be in better positions, especially your mother." 

        "They are gone. I mean my parents. I lived with my dad until he died. Joshua found out that my mom died."

       Rose stared at her wide-eye d.   "Oh, honey, I'm so sorry about that. Oh, my God." 

           "It's a long time ago. I really want to know the truth, could you please tell me what happened? What did my mom tell you?" 

        Rose huffed.  "I will tell you all I know."