Free A Test of Faith by Karen Ball Page A

people? Anne hadn’t a clue, any more than she could fathom how someone who sprang from within her—someone formed from the very fiber of her being, whom she’d nurtured with her own blood and body—could share so little in common with her.
    That’s a good thing, though. You wouldn’t want Faith to go through all you did because you were so shy, would you?
    No, of course not. And yet, Anne couldn’t help feeling a bit left behind by her outgoing, spotlight-loving little girl.
Well, fine. Let Faith take the spotlight. You can cheer her on from the wings
.
    Indeed, she could. And she did. All the time. It felt as though she’d been doing so from the moment Faith was born. Still…
    Anne allowed herself a small sigh. She couldn’t deny it. Deep inside, she wished Faith were more like her. Not to limit the child, but so they could relate better.
    Or so you could be sure she really needs you?
    Before she could ponder that startling question, a small hand slipped into hers. She glanced down to find Faith gazing up at her with those deep emerald eyes.
    “Mommy?”
    Anne squeezed her daughter’s hand. “Yes, sweetie?”
    “I wish you could come to school with me.”
    “Why, honey?”
    “Because I miss you.”
    Anne looked up to meet Mrs. Rice’s gentle smile. “You know, Faith, your mom’s already been to school. Now it’s your turn.”
    There was a slight crease on Faith’s brow, and she leaned against Anne. “I know. I wish … you could stay with me.”
    The uncharacteristic tremor in her child’s voice rendered Anne speechless. She knelt and gathered her little girl in herarms, burying her face in the fragrant softness of her hair.
I’m sorry, Lord, I forgot … even butterflies need someplace firm to land between flights
.
    “Oh, honey, don’t worry. You’re going to have so much fun you won’t even notice I’m not here.” She leaned back and met her daughter’s somber gaze. “And then at the end of the day, I’ll come get you, we can walk home together, and you can tell me all about your day.”
    Faith pulled back. “You’ll come every day?”
    Anne nodded.
    “Promise? You won’t forget?”
    “I won’t forget. I promise.” Anne smiled up at Jared, and his answering grin told her he knew, as Anne did, that only one thing would dispel the glimmer of doubt still lurking in Faith’s eyes. Anne looked back at their daughter. “Cross my heart and hope to fly …”
    Faith giggled. “Stick a dweeble in your eye?”
    Anne hugged Faith again. “Ten dweebles at least, sweetie, if I ever forget you.”
    School was the best. Faith loved going to school. She loved walking there with her mom each morning and loved the way her mom always hugged her and told her the same thing: “You be a good girl today.” Faith liked being a good girl. ’Cuz it made Mommy smile.
    This morning Mom gave her a big hug, then waved as Faith ran onto the playground to meet her friends. And her teacher. Faith loved the teachers and the playground and the desks and the pictures on the walls and even the sound of the chalk as Mrs. Rice wrote words on the blackboard. School was her most favorite place of all.
    Well,
almost
favorite. Her really
most
favorite was home, with Mom and Daddy.
    “Hi, Faith.”
    She turned to see who was calling her and smiled. Winola Gregory was sitting on a swing, waving at her. Swinging was Faith’s favorite thing to do. It was so neat to feel like she wasflying. She hoped the bell didn’t ring for a long time. It was lots of fun on the playground.
    Especially with Winnie. Faith saw Winnie all the time, both at school and in Sunday School. Winnie was really quiet, and her short, yellowish hair kind of stuck out funny, and she had big black glasses that made her look like a big ol’ owl with giant brown eyes. But she was nice. And she knew funny jokes.
    Faith and Winnie had been friends since first grade, when a big rubber ball that Faith kicked smacked Winne in the head. Winnie was