Lost and Found
By SwingGirl MacSlow
Father Liam Riley glanced at the crowd that had
gathered at the church for the annual Christmas dinner that he provided for the
poor and homeless in the area. Though he usually enjoyed doing what he could to
help others, he was finding it hard to concentrate on what was going on around
him. The previous night he had received a message from a friend who had wanted
to get together and Liam was looking forward to it. Since most of the people
had already eaten and there were plenty of volunteers to help out, Liam took
the opportunity to distance himself from the crowd and collect his thoughts.
Standing off to one side, he was so preoccupied
that he didn’t notice anyone else approach. "Father Riley? Are you all
right?"
"Oh, Yvonne, yes. I’m fine." He looked
at her then, trying to reassure her. The teenager had been in trouble with the
law, but with Liam’s help, she had turned her life around. He had become close
with her whole family and was pleased when she had asked to lend a hand with
the dinner.
"Are you sure? You’ve seemed distracted all
day."
"I’m fine, really. It’s just that a friend of
mine is going to be here tonight. He called and wanted to see me. I haven’t
seen him in a while and I’m a little nervous about it. When he left, it wasn’t
under the best of circumstances."
"You’ll be fine. I know you very well. If it
weren’t for all you’ve done for me, I’d probably be dead or at least in jail.
You always seem to know how to help people. If this guy is really a friend, I’m
sure you two can work things out."
"Thank you."
It was Yvonne noticed that Liam was now watching a
man who was making his way across the room. "That’s him."
She was about to say more, but the man had reached
them by then. "Hello, Liam. How are you?"
"How am I? Nick, how are you? It's been three
years. Where have you been all this time?"
"I'm good, Liam. Better than I have been in a
long time. As to where I've been, that's what I wanted to talk to you about.
And I wanted to introduce you to my daughter." Nick turned his attention
to the girl as she tugged on the sleeve of his jacket. "What is it,
Molly?"
"Daddy, I’m hungry. I thought we were going
to get something to eat."
"We will, honey, in just a little bit."
"But I’m hungry now."
"We have plenty to eat here. I can take her
to get something. It will give you two the chance to talk. She knelt down next
to the little girl. "Would you like to go with me?"
Molly nodded and the two went off together. As
soon as they had gone, Liam turned to Nick. "Daddy? Nick…
"Uh, yeah. Is there somewhere we can talk in
private?"
"Sure." The two men went outside, away
from the crowd. They sat on the steps of the church, Nick trying to find the
words to say what he was feeling and Liam waiting patiently to hear it. After a
while, Nick sighed and began.
"After Amanda made me Immortal, I had no idea
where to go or what to do. I wandered around from place to place. I didn't care
if I was prepared to meet another Immortal or not. I wasn't even sure that I wanted
to live." He sighed again. Nick saw the pained expression that those words
had caused the other Immortal, knowing that he had hurt him. Quietly, he
continued. "It's different now. I have every reason in the world to
survive. After I left Paris, I went back to the States. I was there for a year
when I met Shauna, Molly's mom. I'm still not sure why, but I really trusted
her, despite everything that had happened to me. We were even going to get
married. A month before the wedding, Shauna was killed by a drunk driver. One
time when we were talking, I had promised her that I would take care of Molly
if she couldn't. I knew what I had to do. I've decided to raise her as my own
daughter."
"I know that you were upset with Amanda when
you left and I don’t blame you. You had every right to be. I can’t even imagine
going through what you did, first with becoming Immortal and then losing the
woman you love like that. It’s just I wasn’t sure what to think when you didn’t
contact me for three years. I won't lie to you, Nick. It hurt."
"I know. I should’ve gotten in touch with
you, but I just needed to get away from here. I still haven’t forgiven Amanda
for what she did. I don’t know if I ever will, but there was more to it even
than that. It wasn't you. It was me. I felt so lost and confused. I needed to
get away and find out what I wanted to do with myself.”
The two men looked at each other and Nick was
relieved when he saw the look of sympathy and compassion that filled the other
man's expression. Just then, a song could be heard coming from within the
church. The choir was there to sing for all of the people gathered and it
brought a smile to his face as he heard the words. He sat with his eyes closed
until the song was finished. "I once was lost, but now am found. I don’t
think I ever truly understood the meaning behind those words until right
now."
"I’m just glad you finally found your way
home," Liam said, returning his smile.
Me too, Liam, me too." Placing his arm around
the older Immortal's shoulder, Nick led the way back into the church. It had
been a long time since he had felt at home anywhere, but Nick knew that he was
finally home to stay.