Preacher's Daughter - Flora Ferrari Page 0,35

wheel.

“Move in?” Faith asks awkwardly, looking away.

I feel my chest start to hurt, the thrill I had when half-mentioning marriage got a better reaction.

“But I… I don’t even know where you live, Noah,” she says finally, giving me a silent question in her eyes.

Or your real name…

I’m starting to notice a pattern, every time I mention commitment of any kind, even if it; stopping somewhere or moving in, she freezes up.

Also, anytime she sees a cop she starts to look more than worried.

It’s like she’s terrified of them for some reason.

It could also have something to do with me being so secretive about the case, but I already covered that with her, I thought. Once we get to Shreveport, it’ll all make sense. I’ll be done and we’ll have the whole world to ourselves.

We’ll have each other all to ourselves if she’ll only let me.

“We can get a place,” I start to explain, reminding myself that for now my home is a truck and the apartment back in West Virginia isn’t much bigger.

Certainly not somewhere I’d think would be fitting for Faith.

Her brow creases. Its commitment again or is it something else. I need to know, so I just ask her point-blank.

“Is it commitment Faith? Is it being with me that bothers you, or is it something else?”

I only glance down at her, trying hard to keep my eyes on the road.

This isn’t a conversation I wanted to have while driving.

“You know that’s not it, Noah,” she says suddenly. “I love you… I just-”

“Then say you’ll move in with me, say we can start looking for a place as soon as I’ve done what I have to,” I tell her.

“You don’t want to live at home forever, do you? I don’t have the house just now, but I can afford it. I’ve lived pretty simply for a long time, banked all my money… you won’t want for anything, I promise,” I continue, feeling my own excitement rising again, feeling positive.

Her mouth’s open, like she wants to answer and I can see her eyes lighting up.

“Oh, just say you will tell me you’ll at least give it a try,” I tell her firmly, not wanting to even think of no as an answer.

“Of course I will,” she says finally, squeezing my arm with both of hers and hugging me tightly. Making me swerve as I drift into the oncoming lane for a second.

“Oops,” I laugh loudly, straightening the truck up.

“Why don’t you start looking for a place, on your phone, anywhere you want is fine with me,” I tell her, feeling her tense up under me.

“Anywhere?” she asks. “What about your work?”

I chuckle to myself again, figuring maybe Faith can know just a little more about me than she already does, the only secret that holds me, for now, is in that damned suitcase.

“I have my own business, Faith. A long time ago, I got my pilot’s license. Then, after the Air Force wouldn’t have me, I leased a little crop-duster and started doing my own thing,” I tell her, feeling my years as I recall just how long ago that was.

Probably before she was even born.

“Nowadays, I have my own fleet of planes I lease out, have arrangements with some pretty big companies too, and have plenty of guys and gals to do all the actual work. I just oversee it, something I can do from anywhere Faith. Anywhere in the world, really. We don’t have to limit ourselves to-”

“So you’re a pilot?” she asks, not meaning to but cutting me off.

“I guess I still am, but I mainly just oversee the business,” I tell her, watching her face relax and her body melt into mine again.

“You’re, pretty well off then?” she asks, looking up, looking quite serious.

“I guess I am,” I tell her, a little taken aback but having to smile.

“I might not look it, I guess, driving around in a beat-up old truck in jeans and boots, but yeah. I’ve done alright. I can provide for both of us… and a few more,” I add cheekily, grinning to myself at the idea.

Hoping she wants a big place, like her Dad’s, so we can fill it up with our own family.

But not next door to her Dad. Nothing like that.

Although, a place with a big tree in the yard would be nice. I kinda have a thing for that now.

I urge Faith again to start looking some stuff up on her phone, it might help us pass the time