Chapter Seven The summer months rolled by and the new school year started at the orphanage. Things between Louise and Flynn returned to as close to normal as their new understanding would allow. They still spent much of their time together, but Louise noticed that they were rarely alone anymore. She was willing to accept his terms for now, as long as it meant that they would always remain friends.
Just after Christmas, Louise was surprised to find herself summoned to the Malone cottage during evening studies. She hurried along the path and pulled her coat closed, fearing something terrible had happened to Flynn or one of his sisters. She was completely unprepared for the news she received.
Sitting on the couch beside Shannon Malone, Louise could not hide her tears. “When?” she asked.
Pulling the crying girl to her side for an embrace, Shannon felt the tears fill her own eyes. “In two weeks time.”
Liam dropped to his knees to look into the sad brown eyes of the little girl who he loved like his own. “We wish we could take you with us Louise, but that wouldn’t be right. I can’t take Jeremiah and Teresa too, it would bee too much for us, and I know you won’t leave them. You understand this is a good opportunity for my family?”
Louise nodded her head. “Will you move to St. Louis forever?”
Liam kissed the top of her head. “I don’t know, sweet child. But for now, we go. The man who saw my toys wants me to make them to sell in a store of my own. He offered us good things if we move. We’ll see you again, you know that.”
Louise nodded her head again and looked up at her surrogate family. Fallon and Kiley rushed to her and they all hugged tightly. Only Flynn kept his distance and held his tongue. She stayed with them for a little longer and promised to keep her chin up as she walked out the door. Flynn was waiting outside for her. Looking at his tear stained face, she rushed into his arms and let her own tears start again.
“Please don’t go, Flynn! What will I do without you?”
“Lulu, you’ll be okay. You have Stacy and Joey and Sister Marie.”
“That’s not the same and you know it. You’re my best friend and I need you here!”
“I wish I could stay, but I have to go with my family. Papa is excited and it’s something he’s always wanted to do, make toys for people. He likes to wander so, I’m surprised we stayed here as long as we did.”
“I’ll never see you again!”
“Of course you will, Lulu. My parents promised us we could come visit and they even said they’d talk to Sister Catherine about it.”
Thinking of the Mother Superior scared Louise. “Flynn, what will I do without you here. She’ll really come after me now! And Lila, she still hates me.”
“You can’t let them scare you anymore. You’re not a little girl, you’re all grown up and you can stand up to them. Besides, I think Sister Catherine is leaving soon. That’s one down and only one to go.” He looked at her and hugged her again. “Come on, Lulu. I’ll walk you back.” Steering her to the side door in the wall he squeezed her shoulders. “We’ll just have to start writing letters, I guess.”
“Letters take forever.”
“Well, maybe one day, someone will find a way to speed up the mail, but until we’re together again, it will have to do.”
The next two weeks were the best and worst of Louise McCloud’s young life. The old Flynn Malone, the one who first pulled her out of her doldrums, returned and together with Stacy and Joey they spent all their time together, soaking up the friendship and burning it into their memories. Evenings, Louise was allowed to visit the cottage and help with their packing. She enjoyed the time with Shannon, Fallon and Kiley and hoped one day she and her own sister would be as close as she felt to these women.
The day the Malones left Louise did her best to be brave, but it felt like her mother was dying all over again. Her heart was breaking and she didn’t know how she would pick up the pieces this time. Why was it always her who had the bad luck? What had she ever done to deserve it?
On his last day, Louise said her goodbye to Flynn at dawn. They didn’t want it to be public and although Louise knew she didn’t love him romantically, like she knew he still loved her, she knew she did love him and would never forget him. They walked around the yard holding hands, just like they did when she was ten years old. It was comforting having him so close.
“You know I don’t want to leave you here, Lulu. Don’t you?”
“I know Flynn, but you were right. You have to go with your family and I can’t leave mine.”
“Papa would take you all if he could.”
“I know that. Your family has been good to me, but I can’t expect that. This is my lot in life and I’ll be okay.”
They stopped walking and Flynn looked at her seriously. “You have to promise me you’ll do more than be okay. You have to promise me that you’ll succeed. That you’ll leave here one day and make something great of yourself.”
“I’ll try.”
“That’s not good enough. You have to do it. Do you swear?”
“I swear.” Louise knew what was coming next and tried to hide her amusement.
“Do you double-dog swear?” Flynn was pulling out all the stops to gain some reassurance from her.
“I double-dog swear.”
“Good. Now I want you to take this.” He pressed something small and hard into her hand.
Opening her fist, she found the Celtic cross that he always wore. She knew it once belonged to his grandfather and it was sacred to him. “I can’t take this Flynn! I know it’s your most important thing.”
“Now it’s yours. I want you to wear it so you know I’m always near you.” He helped her clasp it around her neck. “You won’t take it off, will you?”
“Never! But, I don’t have anything to give you.”
“You don’t have to give me anything to remember you by. You’ll always be here, in my heart.” Flynn tapped his chest to show her what he meant. “I would like to ask a favor though.”
“Anything.”
“Can I kiss you, Louise?”
Her heart skipped a beat and she felt a blush creep out of her coat collar. He only used her full name when he wanted her to know he was serious. “Flynn, a kiss?”
“I know you don’t care for me like that Lulu, but I know one day you will. I told you I’m gonna marry you and I meant it. I’ll wait, but for now I just want a kiss to remember you by.”
How could she deny her dearest friend his wish? Looking up into his face, she felt her breath catch as he leaned in and lowered his lips to hers. They were soft and tasted sweet and she felt herself forgetting where they were. It lasted only a few seconds, but it was her first kiss and she would remember it for many years to come.
Pulling her into a hug, Flynn sighed and held her tightly. He whispered in her ear, “See Lulu that wasn’t so terrible. Next time it will be for real, in front of a preacher.”
Still too stunned by the reality of her first kiss, she couldn’t speak. She had liked it, but still couldn’t even dream about being married. Without a word, she let him pull her back to his cottage for one final breakfast together.
The memory of the early morning stayed with her as she, Stacy and Joey stood silently and watched the dust cloud the Malone’s wagon had left behind disappear on the crisp winter breeze. They were the last of the farewell party still standing at the gate and no one wanted to face the reality of returning to the orphanage.
“It sure will be quiet here without them,” said Joey. He was trying to be stoic in front of the girls, but they could hear his sadness.
“It’s okay to miss them Joey.” Louise took his hand and held out her other one for Stacy. “We’ll all miss them, but we’ll be okay. We have each other. We’re still a family, it’s just smaller now.” They stood watching the road for a few minutes longer and then turned to enter the gates. It felt like their first day all over again.
The new year came and Louise spent much of her free time in her room, writing letters to Flynn, when she wasn’t with Stacy and Joey. Lila Taylor did not let this go unnoticed and still seeking revenge on Louise for taking Flynn from her, she planned her attack carefully. It was during recess when she approached the solitary figure at the table. She walked up from behind and grabbed the paper before Louise could stop her.
“Now what do we have here? A love letter to the dear departed Flynn Malone?”
“Give that back you witch!” Louise reached for the paper, but Lila was taller and held it out of her reach.
“What are you gonna do to make me? Flynn isn’t here to protect you anymore, Lulu. Heck, even that brat Stacy and her wimpy brother aren’t around. It’s just you and me and you’re gonna pay now.”
“What did I ever do to you, Lila! I just want to write my letter.”
“I told you two years ago to stay away from Flynn and you wouldn’t listen. Now he’s gone and I’m still stuck here!”
“Flynn never liked you, Lila! He hated you just like everyone else does!”
Lila’s temper flared and she charged at Louise. Stepping aside at the last minute, the angry girl flew past her and landed on a bed. “You take that back! No one hates me, they all love me!”
“They do hate you and the one’s that don’t hate you, fear you. I’m not afraid of you anymore, Lila.” Reaching to feel for Flynn’s cross and gathering strength from it, Louise looked right at the seething girl. “You can’t hurt me anymore.”
Lila flew into a rage and this time was quick enough to get a hold of Louise as she lunged. Together they tumbled to the floor and wrestled for control. Smaller, but quicker, Louise had the upper hand until Lila got a hold of her braids. With one hard pull she was back on the floor and Lila was on top of her. Pinning Louise by siting on her chest, Lila smacked her across the face and pulled at Flynn’s cross, tearing it from her neck. A smile of satisfaction appeared on Lila’s face and momentarily relaxed, she was unprepared for the force with which Louise bucked up beneath her. She was more infuriated by Lila’s breaking of her necklace, than by the slap. Louise rolled out from underneath her and was just about to let loose with a vicious slap when Sister Catherine and Sister Marie raced into the room.
“Louise McCloud! Don’t you dare lay a hand on that girl!” Sister Catherine grabbed her by the arm, yanked hard and pulled her off of Lila. “I don’t know what has come over you, but you know the rules. There is no fighting here. Ever!”
“She started it,” Louise protested.
“I find that hard to believe. I never have trouble with Lila. It’s you I’m always dealing with. This is the last time!”
Louise looked to Sister Marie and pleaded with her eyes for her to believe her. Remembering her promise to Flynn, to not let them get to her anymore she stared directly at the menacing nun. “I swear Sister Catherine, on my dead mother’s grave, that she started it. She has my necklace in her hands. Check them, you’ll see.”
“I will not have you talking like this, Louise.” The nun had heard enough.
“She has it!” Louise would not back down.
Sister Marie stepped towards Lila and the girl stretched out her empty hands innocently. “See, I don’t have it.”
Looking on the floor, Sister Marie found Louise’s necklace just behind Lila where she had conveniently dropped it. Without it in the girl’s hand, she had no evidence. Handing the broken necklace back to Louise. She mouthed, “I believe you” before rejoining Sister Catherine.
“Louise, I will not stand for this any longer. You are disruptive and disobedient and you and I will have a talk about this after services tomorrow morning. For now, you will remain here for the rest of the evening. I think it’s best if you do not join us for dinner.” Turning to Lila, she held out a hand to the blonde girl. “Come child, let’s clean you up. We’ll put you in another room tonight.”
The two nuns swept out of the room and left Louise to examine the damage to Flynn’s cross. The chain was broken, but the charm was intact. Sinking to the bench, she could only stare at the floor as she contemplated her future. This time Sister Catherine was going to kick her out for sure. What would she do? Where would she go and how would she care for Jeremiah and Teresa? It was all too much to think of and she rubbed her temples where the ache was beginning to grow.
Stacy rushed in after dinner. The story of the fight was all over the dining room, thanks to Lila, and she was worried. Handing Louise the biscuits she had pocketed, she sat beside her on the bed.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. My necklace is broke, but I stole one of Lila’s shoelaces from those boots over there and I made a new one.”
“I meant, what about Sister Catherine?”
“Oh, that.” Louise looked down at her hands and noticed she had clenched them into tight fists. “She wants to talk to me tomorrow. I’m pretty sure she’s gonna kick me out.”
“What will you do? What about Tessie and Miah?”
“I don’t know Stacy, but I can’t let her kick them out. This isn’t their fault. I think I’m gonna leave. Tonight.”
“Tonight? Where will you go?”
“I have to go tonight. If I leave before she can send us away, she’ll have to let my brother and sister stay. They’re only eight and five, after all. I guess I’ll go to St. Joe for now. Make some money, get a horse and then go to St. Louis and look for the Malones.”
“Will they take you in? That’s silly, of course they will. Are you sure Louise?”
“Yes, it’s the only way. I’ll miss you Stacy.” She looked at the girl who was like another sister to her.
“No you won’t. We’re going with you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Joey and I. We talked about it at dinner. I figured this would be your plan and we’re sick of this place. Joey is gonna get a job and I can work too. We can do this together.”
“You’re crazy, Stacy. You do know that, don’t you?”
“No crazier than you. What time do we meet?”
It was half past midnight when Louise McCloud snuck out of the room her sister slept in. Having said a tearful goodbye and vowing to return, for both her and their brother, she crept towards the side door in the yard. Carefully undoing the lock, like she had done so many times before with Flynn, she stepped outside to find Stacy and Joey already waiting for her. Without another look back, the three friends locked arms and started the long walk to St. Joe.
~*~*~*~*~
Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five
Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter EightChapter Nine Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven Chapter TwelveChapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen Epilogue
~*~*~*~*~
Feedback
Title Page
The Storybook
The Kidnation