Nine Lives by Erin Lee

next? Or could it also happen with Jeremiah? When this all first began, and I was trying to explain that Tom would never do the things he was accused of, a social worker asked me “why would the girls suddenly have all these wild behaviors, like cutting, and sneaking out if something didn’t happen?” I wanted to hit her and say, “why would the other girls—the older ones—love their father and leave their own children in our care if something had happened? Pedophiles don’t develop overnight. If he didn’t do it to the first three, why would he start doing it later down the line?”
    When I can’t take it anymore, I fantasize that they aren’t really ours. That we adopted them. That we never created the kind of people who would lie and lie and lie just to get their way. I pretend that it comes from someone or someplace else. Trying to stomach what they’ve done has become impossible. Now, with Hope losing her own flesh and blood, I’m rethinking mine. Had we stopped at three kids, which is what we would have done if we’d had things our way and not left them up to God, this wouldn’t be happening. But then, I would have missed out on Noelle.
    Today, Noelle’s coming with me to make a report on what Faith told Jada. At first, I didn’t know what to do. I thought getting a restraining order on Slash, even Sadie, would be the answer for Faith. My homeworker, Juliet, made me reconsider. She convinced me that Sadie’s as much of a victim of Slash’s as Faith in this case. She told me to call the local police department and let them handle it. Instead, I’m going down there—in person—with Noelle. I remember how anxious they were to throw Tom in cuffs. I’ll be curious to see how long it takes them to pick up Slash.
    If you haven’t guessed, I’m not real fond of the officers there. I think the only law I’ve ever broken was speeding. Even then, I’m one who tries to go the speed limit, exactly. My kids call me “Cautious Kate” when I’m driving. I have no idea where Kate comes from, but you get the idea. Would you trust the police department if they dragged you downtown to grill you on crimes your husband didn’t commit? How would you feel about them if they helped the state throw the innocent man you love behind bars? I told Juliet I’m worried that they won’t do anything to Slash.
    It’s occurred to me that Faith could be making this story up; another attempt at manipulation. But she has nothing to gain with this story. When she made her allegations against Tom, she shouted them out to the world. It concerns me that she only told Jada these things. The thing about knowing that she lied about Tom is it helps me to know she may be telling the truth this time. I do believe this happened, by the way. It’s been clear from day one that Slash likes his girlfriends younger. Twenty years younger, apparently. This time, I believe her and I’m worried. I can’t allow her to be alone with him again. Something much worse than a creepy old man hitting on her could happen.
    When Faith was younger, she was the one I had the most hope for. She was bright from the very beginning. The first to open her eyes, to smile, to coo. She had a huge heart and even bigger curiosity about the world. Faith was the one I thought would go places. I saw a nurturer in her, and she was always the first to be up and ready for church. She never minded helping around the house and offered to share her toys. Faith, honestly, was my favorite. I know you aren’t supposed to have favorites, but that’s just how I felt. I never told anyone. Now, I don’t know what to think of her. What would you think?
    Joseph was Tom’s favorite. Our oldest son, he’s twenty-four, married, and the father of two. I expect we will be hearing news of a third on the way soon. Joseph, always competitive, hopes to beat his dad out when it comes to kid-making. Last time I heard, he said he and his wife, Missy, hope to have a baker’s dozen. Now I