Noah intentionally befriended his parent’s old pals, organising the parties and get-togethers to lure them in and gain their trust. He also confirmed Hawkins, McBride, O’Hare and Riordan made money from Victor’s investments, and that was why they stayed quiet for so many years. They’d allowed Victor his miscreant ways, so long as his financial success went on to benefit them. It seemed this was why they began stealing public money, since with Victor gone their pockets were no longer quite so heavy.
Noah told me about how he’d clung to religion as a young boy as a way to deal with Victor’s abuse. His faith kept him going, helped him endure the same way mine did after Dad passed away. Then when he discovered the truth of his parentage, that faith died a quick death, his prison sentence sealing the deal. He couldn’t believe in a God who would let such things come to pass.
I could hardly blame him.
I still had dreams, but now they were of different people, showing me different past events. Wherever we went, my nights were spent reliving things that happened to people I’d never met. Luckily though, the sleep paralysis was gone, and I started to believe it had been Victor’s ghost possessing me all along. I certainly didn’t miss it.
I was still trying to convince Noah of my psychic abilities, but he was sceptical.
“I think they’re just dreams, Estella. How can you possibly see into the past?” Noah said as we walked. I’d tried to convince him time and again, but he remained in a state of affectionate disbelief. Often at night, we’d sit in our apartment and debate, which sometimes turned into passionate arguments, which inevitably led to intense, passionate sex.
I wasn’t complaining. In a strange way, I respected his disbelief. There was something fascinating about how different our views were. Me, the believer, and him, the sceptic, yet we still loved each other deeply and passionately. It proved to me you didn’t have to agree with someone on every issue in order to love them entirely. In fact, sometimes their opposing opinions made you love them more because they challenged you. They forced you to constantly reassess and think about what you did believe in.
You also learned how to compromise for the sake of your love.
Every Sunday here in Warsaw, Noah got up early and came with me to church. He did it for no other reason than it was important to me, and that meant more than I could ever express in words. Well, I also knew that my religious belief fascinated him just as much as his lack thereof fascinated me.
Our opposing ideologies certainly kept things interesting.
“I’m telling you, everywhere we go, every building we stay in, I dream of the past occupants. They tell me their stories just like Ard na Mara told me yours.”
His smile dimmed at my mention of the house he grew up in. He couldn’t argue with the small details I knew, details he hadn’t told those who attended the remembrance ceremony. Like how Sylvia would hit him and force him to write with his right hand, or how Vee would come to comfort him after Victor’s beatings.
“Why are you so adamant not to believe me?” I asked softly.
He didn’t answer for a long moment. Then, finally, he stopped walking and came to stand in front of me. He cupped my face in his hands, his eyes flickering back and forth between mine. “Because I love you, and if it really is true, then I can’t stand it. I can’t stand the thought of you being subjected to such dreams night after night.”
My throat grew heavy with emotion. I hadn’t expected his explanation. I thought he was simply being sceptical. He really did love me, and he didn’t want me to suffer in the same way I didn’t want him to. “I’ve been having them for a long time,” I told him, reaching up to smooth my hand over his. “It’s not pleasant, but I’ve learned to get used to it. Besides,” I said, whispering now, “if I get to wake up from my dreams with your arms around me then it’s worth it.”
His expression softened, and he bent down to kiss me. We stood on the busy city street, kissing in a way too intimate for public viewing. Noah always seemed to do that to me. I couldn’t be controlled with him, nor him with me. Our hunger for one another never faded, not even after all these months together.
I drew back, breathing heavily, cheeks red when I saw several passers-by eyeing us. It wasn’t their fault. I’d stare too if I saw a couple kissing on the street the way Noah kissed me.
“Come on, we should get to the restaurant. They’ll give our table to other customers,” I said, and Noah’s lips curled into a smirk as he brought his mouth to my ear. “Maybe we should skip dinner. We can always order food later.”