Kissing Her(9)

I look down at the fake rock on the porch and feel irritated that they’d just leave their hidden key so blatantly out in the open for anyone to see. I rode by here twice today because I was unable to sit still. I saw that another car came home early this morning just after her older sister slipped into the house. She was lucky she didn’t get caught, because she missed them by mere minutes.

The door in front of me is pulled open and I see Melina standing there, gaping at me like I’ve got two heads.

“Hello, I’m here to speak to Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong,” I say smoothly and wait for her to invite me in.

She stands there with her mouth open, looking me up and down for a long moment before she backs up slowly and shouts for her parents.

“Mom! Dad! Some guy is here to see you. I think he might be with the FBI!”

I look down at my dark suit. It probably cost more than an agent makes in a year. But sure, call me what you want. I just need to get in the door and then I can get what I want.

“What?” I hear a woman say in the distance before she comes to the front door. “Can I help you?”

Bee has her eyes and her rosy cheeks, but there’s no warmth in them like there is with Bee. I watch as she dries her hands on a dish towel tied around her waist while she waits for me to speak.

“Who is it?” Bee’s father says and comes to the door. Melina is hot on his heels.

I need to see Bee, but I guess I’ll have to do this without her.

“I’m Ragnar Black. We met a couple weeks ago at the Fellowship Brunch in Bishopville.” The lie comes easily, and combine that with my charming smile and expensive suit, why would they see me as a threat?

“I’m so sorry. I’m afraid I don’t remember,” Bee’s mother says, a little flustered. “We met so many people that weekend.”

“I understand. I was the one that remarked on your key lime pie and Mr. Armstrong told the story about how you found the recipe in your grandmother's cupboard.”

I’m drawing a familiar connection but one that’s vague enough to be believable. Bee told me the story last night in one of her stories and I tucked it away, knowing I could make use of it.

“Oh, that’s right,” Mr. Armstrong says, stepping forward and offering his hand. “Nice to see you again, Mr. Black.”

No man likes being made to feel like he’s forgotten something as important as someone complimenting his wife. Better to lie and save face, which is what he’s doing now.

“Of course. May I come in?” They nod and open the door wider and welcome me into their living room. Movement catches the corner of my eye and I see Bee peeking around the corner of the hallway.

“How can we help you?” Mr. Armstrong asks, and I sense that he’s going to be the one I need to get to go along with me.

“Jim Holton gave me your address and thought you might be able to help me,” I say and give him a big toothy grin. Again, this is a name Bee dropped last night and I committed to memory.

“Well, anyone that’s a friend of Jim’s is a friend of ours,” Mrs. Armstrong, says, playing right into my hand.

“Well, as you know there’s a singles group in our shared ministries and I approached him about it finally being time for me to settle down.” I laugh a little as I tuck my hands into my pockets. “He said that your oldest daughter was already betrothed, but that you have another you were thinking of entering into the group for consideration.”

I had nothing but time on my hands last night, which led me to do a lot of research. The organized religion, or what some people might call a cult, that Bee’s family belongs to are on the far end of the crazy pool. They only date people who have been vetted and approved by the group and in some instances that might even mean marrying someone you’re related to. I found out who the matchmaker of their chapter is in order to say all the right things. I could easily sneak Bee out and not bring her back, but I want them to gift her to me. I want them to hand her over so that they don’t come chasing after us and try to cause trouble. It would be easier if I could have her all to myself, but for now, I’ll play by their rules. Until I get tired of it.

“Oh, well, isn’t this exciting!” Mrs. Armstrong claps her hands together. “I’ll just go and get her and we can let you have a look.”

I want to burn this house down with how eager they are to pass Bee off to someone. Is this how these people treat their children? I’m a fucking stranger.

“Who is this, Daddy?” Melina says as she steps into the room.

She puts her hands behind her back and arches toward me. She looks up at me, taking in my size, and licks her lips when her father isn’t looking.

“This man is here to see Bee,” he says as he holds out his hand and motions for me to take a seat on the couch. “Go and check on your sister.”

“Bee?” she asks, shocked into place as her father and I sit across from one another and wait.

“Do as I say.” His voice is stern and it only takes him giving her a look before she disappears.

I know Bee was just around the corner, so I can’t imagine what is taking so long.

“As you heard, our oldest, Melina, is getting married. I’ve already talked to the man she’s promised to about having a firm hand with her. She’s too strong-willed right now, but if he sets his rules early she’ll fall in line.”