It was 12:37 the next afternoon when they left the hospital with Kevin. And, due to a little bit of delay caused by a few members of the press who had caught wind of their departure, they just managed to catch the two o'clock flight bound for the Orlando International Airport.
Kevin, who had more or less been directed to a nearby window seat, leaned his head back and closed his eyes as the plane took off, taking in the comforting warmth of the afternoon sunlight on his face, something he hadn't felt in two days.
He was brought out of his trance when a heavy sigh floated into his ears from beside him. He lifted his head and turned it to find Faith sitting next to him.
She was figeting nervously, her hands constantly running through her hair, her eyes glancing frantically around, trying to take in everything at the same time. He smiled at her and reached over, taking one of her hands in his to still her. When she whipped her head around to look at him, he spoke. "First flight?" he asked, letting go of her hand.
"Is it that obvious?" she said, forcing a smile.
Kevin nodded.
"I guess I was never really crazy about the idea of flying," she said, turning her face away from him to look over at the others. "But, it's not like we're flying over an ocean or anything."
He smiled. "You know," he said, pausing to wait until she looked at him again. "My brother's the same way. He hates flying. Hates it. I don't know what it is, but he just has a lot of trouble getting himself on a plane." He laughed to himself softly.
"You have a brother?" she asked, trying to start up a conversation.
"Two of them, actually."
"Any sisters?"
"Nope," he said. "Just two big brothers, Jerald and Tim. Jerald's the oldest, named after my dad. Tim's next in line and then me."
"The little baby of the family," she said, smiling.
"Well, yeah, sort of," he replied, turning a light shade of pink, blushing. It was a comment that had followed him around since, well, babyhood. "But, I wasn't spoiled or favored or anything like that just because I was the youngest. None of us were. My dad basically saw to that.
"We lived in Kentucky, up in the mountains, and my dad ran this summer camp and we would have to help him with all the chores. Like, it was always my job to cut the grass and, you know, just help around. But we had lots of fun too. We all eventually got to be counselors when we were old enough. I'd get together with some of my friends and put on little plays or do some songs for skit night and stuff. We had fun.
"So," he said when he felt he had given her enough background information to work with, "what about you?"
"Well," she said, "my childhood was much less enjoyable, compared to yours anyway." The statement was made bitterly; she held few happy childhood or family memories.
"Why?" Kevin asked, clearly perplexed.
"My parents got divorced when I was really little. I was six," she said, pausing to let that sink in. "I was just old enough to remember it. My childhood years are a blur of being stuck in the middle of all their fights and then, after the divorce was final, I remember endless days with my grandmother because that was where my mother dropped me off when she went to work and. . ." she stopped suddenly and looked at him. "And you know what? I'm no better than they were."
"Don't say that!" Kevin said, controlling himself to keep his voice to a loud whisper. "How could you say--"
"Kevin, I ended up doing the same exact thing," she said, her eyes intently focused on his, waiting for his reaction.
"What?" he asked, the volume of his voice much louder than before. "What do you mean?"
Faith sighed and threw her head back against the seat. "Kevin, five years ago, I thought I was in love. And I was so sure," she said sarcastically, "that I got married. And it gets better: We had a son, Julian. And, of course, I ended up doing the very thing to my own son that had ruined my childhood and got divorced. It's been me and Jules for four years now and, thank God, he seems to be happy. But, still, I continue to doubt myself. I still question my capabilities as a mother. It's just. . .if I had a remote control for my life, the first button I would push would be rewind. Do you know what I mean?"
Kevin sat quietly, thinking. He finally turned to her, his eyes meeting hers and holding them, and said, "No, I don't know what you mean."
"You would if you lived through it," she said and looked away.
"Faith," Kevin said, "look at me." He reached over to her and took one of her hands in his, weaving their fingers together. When she turned her head to look at him, he continued. "I don't know what it's like to go through all of that, but I know that it couldn't have been easy."
Faith opened her mouth to say something, but he silenced her, putting a finger to her lips. "Let me finish," he said. He took a deep breath, giving him time to gather his thoughts, and started again. "Faith, I've always been told that things happen for a reason and as hard as that is to accept sometimes, it's true. And, I mean, how could you want to rewind your life when that would mean rewinding your son out of your life?"
Faith stared at him, but, after a few moments of silence between them, her expression changed, softening and then finally brightening in a smile.
"I'm sure he's wonderful," Kevin said, trying to concentrate on Julian rather than the divorce. Perhaps the memories would be more positive. "And I'm sure you're just as wonderful a mother." He gave her hand a soft squeeze and released it before letting it fall back into her lap and looking away.
No words were spoken between them for a time. Faith's eyes never strayed from him for what was nearly ten minutes. She couldn't come up with anything to say to him; his comment had left her speechless, her brain occupied only in thinking about what he had said rather than sending words to her mouth. Finally, after several failed attempts to deliver a few words, her voice returned to life and she settled on a slight change of subject, deliberately putting the focus back on him. "Um," she started, trying to get him to face her.
He didn't move.
"Kevin?" she said, louder than before.
Nothing.
Faith leaned over in her seat, being careful not to knock over his crutches that rested on the backs of the seats in front of them. When she had strained her neck enough to get a glimpse of his face, her mouth moved to form a wide smile.
He almost reminded her of Julian. His head was turned away from her slightly, though, not turned enough to obstruct any view of his eyes, which were closed for a mid-flight nap. Half of his forehead was resting on the window of plane, which, due to the warmth of his breath, had become a little fogged and his hair, once spiked, was now flattened against the window on one side. All he needed was a Gameboy in his lap and he just might've been able to pass for a kid. Faith sat back in her seat and couldn't stop the soft laugh that escaped her. She couldn't start to count the dozens of times Julian had taken up the almost exact same position on one of their many trips into Detroit. "I guess it just never grows out of them,' she thought.
Faith leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes as well, also drifting off to sleep.
Faith opened her eyes to look into a pair of playful blue ones.
"Wake up, sleepy-head! We're here!"
Faith sat up and found Nick kneeling beside her seat, Howie standing behind him, waiting for her to wake up. The plane was stopped and most everyone had bailed out, only leaving Nick and Howie to arouse the sleepers. She outstretched her arms, working out the kinks. "How long did I sleep?"
"Well, when I looked over, it was about quarter to three and you were out like a light," Howie said.
"Wow, for my first flight I slept like a baby," she said, slowly standing up, stretching her back this time.
"Yeah, but not as well as the big baby next to you," Nick said, nodding behind her.
Faith turned around and found Kevin, in a different position than before, still sleeping soundly. She faced Nick again and, smiling, said, "Well, I guess I'll have to wake him up. I'll meet you guys outside."
"Sure thing, Faith," Nick said, standing up. "But if you're not out here in five minutes, I'm coming back in to see if he clobbered you."
"What?" she said, confused.
"Well," Howie said, "Kevin isn't known for being the most easy person to wake up. You're better off throwing something at him from across the room. That way he actually has to get up to try to catch you. Otherwise, standing too close could earn you a beating."
"Are you joking?" Faith said, her hands resting on her hips.
"Maybe exaggerating," Howie said.
"But not much," added Nick, who was just about to exit the plane. "Come on, D! I'm outta here!" And he disappeared out the door.
When Nick was gone, she turned to Howie. "Is he really that bad?"
"He probably won't be with you. But if Nick were to wake him, it would be a different story," he said, smiling at her. "But I don't think you have anything to worry about."
She smiled back at him, then turned to face Kevin.
"You know," Howie said, "I have a feeling he's not going to be of much help unpacking. Do want me to stick around and help you out?"
"That's not such a bad idea," she said. "Thanks."
He nodded and moved to exit the plane, leaving Faith to concentrate on the task at hand.
She sat back down in her seat, leaning close to him. "Kevin," she whispered, "wake up." Her hand moved up the side of his face and into his hair, which was still a little flat from his previous sleeping position. She started to push it back to the way it had been, and succeeded to a point; it was just a little tilted. Her hand made its way back down and rested on his shoulder as she spoke again, louder, "Come on, Kev, we're here."
Her touch and her voice had brought him out of sleep somewhat and he tossed his head to face away from her, whimpering softly.
"Yeah, you gotta get up," she continued.
He moved again, throwing his head toward her. And, with a few more "Get up's", Kevin opened his eyes, blinking. He looked at her, and, not an angry tone to his voice, he spoke. "Hey," he said simply, and sat up, extending his arms out, as she had, stretching.
"Hey yourself," she said. "We're here. Everybody's waiting outside."
"Oh, so they made you do the honors I see," he said, reaching for his crutches.
"Here," Faith said, and took the crutches, allowing room for him to move into the aisle. Faith held his arm as he hopped out to stand next to her and handed him his crutches.
"Thanks," he said and flashed her a smile. "So, how did you get stuck with waking up the evil, impossible-to-wake-up Kevin?" he asked, a touch of sarcasm in his voice, as she walked with him to the door.
"I just don't think they wanted to do it," she said. "But I have a feeling they thought that I should do it because I don't think they thought you would exactly "beat the hell out of" a lady."
Kevin grinned at her quotation marked phrase, wondering who it was who had said that, then nodded in agreement.
"But Nick did say that if I wasn't out in five minutes, he'd be back to see if you clobbered me," she added.
At that, Kevin couldn't contain himself to a grin and he broke out in laughter. "Clobbered you?" he said. "I don't think I would've done that."
"Apparently he thought so," she said, laughing with him.
They neared the door and stopped, both of them looking down the small flight of stairs, wondering what to do. Kevin looked at her. "I forgot about the steps," he said. "How are we gonna work this?"
Faith stepped out and looked around for the others. A car was parked about thirty feet from the bottom of the steps which contained, she assumed, Howie and their luggage. She turned back to Kevin. "Why don't I go first and carry your crutches for you and you could hold on to the railing and, like, hop down behind me? That way, I'll have your crutches for you at the bottom."
Kevin shrugged, coming up with nothing better. "Okay," he said and handed her the crutches.
They managed to get down the steps as planned, get situated in the car with Howie and get on the road, bound for Kevin's house, in seven minutes.
Kevin was quick to show Faith to a guest room when they arrived, leaving Howie and Faith to unpack while he excused himself to his bedroom to do his own unpacking.
Howie was the first one to speak after Kevin left the room. "So, how was your first flight?" he asked as he made his way from the foot of her bed to the dresser, arms full of clothes.
"It was alright. I slept most of the time," she said, handing him another pile of folded clothes.
"Well, I kind of already knew that," he said. "What I meant was. . .I saw you and Kev having a little chat over there. I was--forgive me if I'm being nosy--but I was wondering what you were talking about so intently."
"He just told me a little bit about his family, his childhood, that kind of thing," Faith said, refusing to go deeper than that.
Howie chuckled to himself, then said, "Yeah, he likes talking about that. He's really close to his family, you know."
"That's what it seems like," she said, reaching to fold the remaining clothes that lay in her suitcase. "I, on the other hand, don't have much to tell. Well, besides my son, and I could talk--"
"You have a son?" Howie stopped mid-step on his way to the dresser and turned to stare at her. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Faith shrugged. "AJ knew. He and I had a little talk back at the hospital, when Chelsea was taking care of Kev. Remember, you and Nick, I think, went for a walk?"
He nodded.
"Well, he and I went outside for a breath of fresh air and I ended up mentioning it to him. Kevin knows too. I told him on the plane. I don't think Brian knows, or Nick," she said, finally closing her suitcase and setting it alongside the dresser.
"How old is he?" Howie asked, taking a seat on the bed.
"He's six," Faith said, sitting down beside him. "And before you ask, no, I'm not married. I've been divorced for four years."
"Wow," he said. "And Kevin knows?"
She nodded.
Silence hung heavy in the air for the next several minutes. The soft rays of orange sunlight flowed into the room, casting shadows around them. Faith gazed out the window, catching a glimpse of the setting Florida sun, and sighed. She let her eyes stray across the room, taking in the soft color, the see-through curtains that moved gently to the evening breeze, as her senses absorbed the homely feel the house seemed to possess. Hey eyes finally landed on the glowing digital alarm clock that stood on the edge of the bedside table. It was six o'clock already.
"Well, Howie," she said, rising from the bed, "I think I should go and see what Kevin is up to."
"Yeah, you better," he said, getting up with her. "And it's probably best if I get home."
Faith smiled at him. "Thanks for helping, Howie," she said before reaching for him and gathered him in for a short hug.
"Anytime, Faith," he said, breaking away and taking a few steps for the door.
Howie quietly opened the door and stepped into the hallway, Faith following right behind. They walked in silence to the front door, each occupied with their own thoughts.
As Howie reached for the doorknob to exit, he turned slightly. "Faith," he said, "I think Kev is really happy to have you along."
She smiled. "Thanks, Howie."
"Really," he said, "I think he likes you. But," he added, "Be careful with him. Take care of him for us."
"Don't worry, Howie," she said. "AJ told me everything. Well, everything he knows. I wouldn't hurt him, you know, Howie."
"I know," Howie said, pulling the door open and stepping out. "Thanks again."
Faith waved as he disappeared into his car and pulled out onto the street. When he was out of sight, she closed the door and slowly made her way back up the stairs.
Kevin's door was slightly ajar when she reached it. Faith gently pushed it open, looking inside. The room was darker than hers had been with only a few streams of sun escaping through the blinds that covered the windows.
She stepped fully inside, nearly tripping over the suitcase that lay just inside the room. She stepped around it and stood quietly, absorbing the sight of his bedroom.
A plush blue carpet covered the floor, meeting the smoothness of the walls of the same color. There were tables on either side of the king-size bed, one with an alarm clock lamp and telephone, the other full of framed photos.
And Kevin was laying sprawled on the bed, pillow already hugged tight to him. He had changed clothes at least; he was wearing a pair of black silk boxers and a plain white T-shirt. Simple sleep-wear. His crutches were on the floor beside the bed, neatly piled one on top of the other and his other suitcase was not far from the foot of the bed, opened.
He looked adorable, sleeping like that. Faith stepped closer and kneeled down next to his bed, facing him. The sheets were half over him, and she pulled them up to cover him. She knelt there, looking at him, taking a second to think about all he had been through in the last couple months. Her eyes came to drift over him and rest on his photos that were standing on the table opposite her. She made out one of a woman. She looked like the one she had seen in his collection of photos at the hospital. Faith got up and walked around the bed, picking up the frame that held the picture.
It had to be her. Kat. It was the second picture she had seen of her. And he had said before that he didn't have any sisters, and this person was somewhere in his age range. It had to be her. She put it back where she had found it and reached for the picture next to it.
It was her. This one proved it. Kevin was with her in this one. They must've been on vacation or something. The picture couldn't have been taken anywhere around here. She almost wanted to say somewhere in New England, but she couldn't be sure. They were facing each other, his arms around her waist, hers around his neck, and beautiful smiles on both their faces. They were standing in the middle of a dirt path, covered with fall leaves. In the background, trees were covered in brilliant colored leaves. The scene was amazing. And they looked so happy.
Faith put the picture back down and moved back around the bed. She looked down at Kevin. He must've been devastated. Sure, she had gone through a divorce, and that had been hell for her, but she couldn't begin to imagine the pain he must've been put through.
She leaned down to put her face close to his. She ran a hand softly down his face, letting it linger on his cheek. Faith closed her eyes and leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on his forehead. She took her hand away and stood up, stepping towards the door.
She turned as she was about to exit and spoke, her voice barely a whisper, "I won't hurt you. Sleep tight, Kevin." And she made her way back to her bedroom.