Page 3 of Fake it For Good
I hoped it would bring closure to a tumultuous year. I had lost weight and even found a couple of gray hairs. The woman had sucked the life out of me. I was ready to put her in the past and move forward. Kelly had taught me a hard lesson. I didn’t think I would ever trust another woman again. Ronnie had been right about her reeling me in. I fell for her games hook, line, and sinker. She was right—I didn’t love her. Somewhere along the marriage road, I fell out of love with her. We were going through the motions. Like one of the old guys at the office said, it was cheaper to keep her. I kept her until I found her in my bed fucking the shit out of another man.
At that point, the cost to divorce her no longer mattered. She was gone. She could try her best to bury me, but I wasn’t going to lose to her. Not again.
2
NOELLE
Two years later
“It’s your turn, Hailey.” I pushed the dice toward the nine-year-old that was fairly new to the orphanage. She was withdrawn and struggling to find her place in the world.
“I don’t want to play,” she murmured.
“I’ll go!” A young man named Benji reached for the dice.
“No, Benji, it’s Hailey’s turn,” I gently corrected. “Hailey, roll the dice please.”
She reluctantly picked them up and rolled a pair of doubles. Her face lit up for the briefest moment. She reached for her piece on the board and counted out her moves.
“Go again,” Benji said enthusiastically. “You have really good luck.”
It was impressive the ten-year-old could say that given where they were. Benji was an amazing kid. He had some disabilities that made him undesirable to those families looking for the perfect kid to add to their family. I thought he was amazing. Everyone did when they met him. Then reality hit. Benji was never going to be a kid that went to college and got a big degree. He would always need support and that was a big ask for anyone. But I knew the right family was going to come along. They always did. Sometimes, it just took a little longer.
Hailey rolled again and moved her piece. “Did I do good?” she asked softly.
“You did very good,” I said. “Benji, it’s your turn. If you get six, you win the game.”
“Then what happens?” he asked.
“Then we get to play another game or we can read a story,” I replied.
He clapped his hands and rocked back and forth. “A story! The berries! The berries!”
I had read the berry book he was referring to no less than a hundred times to him alone. But he loved it and that was what I was here for. I wanted to make their days in the orphanage just a little more tolerable. I wanted them to have fun.
He rolled the dice and won the game. After a short celebration dance, he darted across the rec room to find his favorite book. I looked at Hailey and smiled. “I love your hair today,” I said. “Can I touch it?”
She nodded. I reached out and gently ran my hand over her hair that was just growing back after a stint in the hospital. Her parents had been killed in a car accident. Hailey had survived but not unscathed. She would have a few physical scars, but it was the emotional damage that always concerned me the most. “It’s very pretty.”
“My hair used to be really long,” she said.
“And it will be again very soon,” I promised her. “Did you work on your math yesterday?”
She smiled at the mention of her favorite subject. “I got the best time.”
I held up my hand. “Good job! All that studying paid off.”
“I like school,” she said.
“I know, and you’re so good at it.”
“Can we play Barbies after you read the book to Benji?” she asked politely.
“Yes. I would love to play Barbies. Why don’t you get things set up and I’ll be there in a few minutes?”
She smiled again and got up from the small table we were seated at. I knew she was going to find a home very soon. She was a bright, beautiful young woman. Even through tragedy, she still smiled. She’d only been at the orphanage a couple of weeks, but she wouldn’t be here long.
Benji returned and pulled my hand. He led me to the reading corner that was covered with big throw pillows and beanbag chairs. I sat down and he immediately flopped into my lap. I started to read the book, making sure I gave it my all just like he liked. He was giggling through every page. When we were finished, Mrs. Drummond, the owner of the orphanage rang the soft chimes she used to signal the end of a scheduled time.
