“Will you stay with me?" I ask him. "When the police come? I don't think I can get through it all by myself. I mean, maybe you have a family to go home to and I'm not trying to take your time, I just..."
"Hey," he says, cutting me off. "It's okay. I don't have anywhere to be. Well, I guess that isn’t it exactly. I do have one place to be. And that's right here at your side, Faith."
5
JAKE
Sitting here in a hospital room at Faith's bedside is painful not because I don't want to be here, hell, it's the only place I want to be. But sitting here and listening to her tell Graham Rough, a local police officer and my old buddy Bartlett's brother, it hurts.
Faith has been through hell, and she's stronger than she thinks she is. She doesn't see it like that, that she's a survivor, but she is. And I know we just met, but I feel a longing to protect her, to keep her safe because it's clear as day that no one on God's green earth ever has.
She swallows, recounting her story, looking away and pausing every so often as she tells Graham what town she lived in, the address of her father, Jesse's business selling drugs up and down, far and wide across the State of Washington, farther maybe.
"And do you know his last name?" Graham Rough asks her.
"Jesse Farrin," she says. "And he's maybe 30. I don't know." She shakes her head. "I only saw him when he was looking for money or he was looking for me. I have a photo of him if that might help, on my phone.”
Graham looks over at me. Our eyes meet. He winces at her words because I know he's a good, honorable man too. He understands pain, understands love and loss. Hell, his family is a pillar of strength in this town. He's one of the best guys I know. There's no one I'd rather have looking for these men who did Faith wrong.
"I appreciate your time," Graham says. "I know you've had one heck of a day, but it's the Fourth of July. Maybe you can feel safer considering a hero saved you.”
I frown, hating that remark. I know Graham is just trying to be nice, but I don't feel like a hero. Can you be a hero when you’ve watched you brothers in arms die at your side? I swallow, not wanting to think about that.
I look at Faith. "What's going to happen to you?" I ask her.
She shakes her head. "I don't know. The social worker said I can stay at a shelter." She swallows. "Honestly, I'm just happy I'm not going to Jesse's tonight and I'm not going back to my father's. I'm so tired of that life. I'm so tired of being used like I'm property."
"Graham, would it be okay if I help Faith get set up tonight? She can stay with my mom. She has a spare room, and she lives really close to the hospital in case she's not feeling well. What do you think?"
Graham listens, nodding. "The truth is, Faith can go wherever she'd like to tonight. If you prefer to go to the shelter, we can help you with that. I know you spoke with the social worker and she's had a lot of experience helping people get settled after they've been through a hard time. But if you prefer Jake's offer…"
Faith looks up at me. "You mean it? I don't want to be an imposition. I don't want to put anybody out."
"No, it wouldn't be putting anybody out," I tell her.
"You promise?" Faith asks.
"I swear."
A few minutes later, I step into the hallway with Graham.
"You sure you want to invite her into your mother's home?" he asks me. "Look, I'm not jumping to any conclusions, but you don't know anything about this girl."
I swallow. "I don't need to. She's harmless. Look at her. You just met her. You know she wouldn't hurt a fly. That girl's grieving – more than that. She's a survivor."
"All right, but how about you stay at your mom's place too?" Graham suggests. "That way, in case anything goes down, you'll be there to look out for them both."
I nod, thinking that's a good idea. He leaves the hospital and I reach for my phone to call my mother. She picks up right away.
"Hey, Jake. Everything all right?"
"It's fine," I say, "but I have a favor to ask."
"A favor? Is the girl all right?”
"Faith," I say. "That's her name."
"That's a nice name," my mom says.
"Right. Well, I was wondering. Would you mind if Faith and I crash at your place tonight?"
"Jake," my mom says, her voice clearly revealing her surprise, "what are you talking about?"
"She has nowhere to go, Mom." I briefly get her up to speed about what brought Faith to the woods today. "She has nowhere to go. It's either our home or a shelter. I could bring her back to my cabin, but I don't want to scare her."