Single Dad Can’t Get Enough

by Hamel, B. B.

  I like Kim. I like her a lot. I want her to stick around for a long time if at all possible. She’s gorgeous and funny and kind and good with Annie. And it helps that she does the dishes.

  So maybe the town knowing isn’t so bad. Let them be scandalized for a bit.

  They’ll get over it.

  I head to my truck and drive to work, scheming my little plan as I go.

  23

  Kim

  “Are you sure about this?” Erik frets over me a little bit, hovering close with a frown on his face.

  “It’ll be fine,” I say. “Honestly. It’s a good plan.”

  “Maybe. But still…” He trails off.

  “Erik.” I put my hand on his arm. He smiles a little bit at me and I squeeze. “It’ll be okay. You’ll be there.”

  “Yeah. True. I just don’t like using you as bait.”

  I laugh and hit his arm. “It was your idea.”

  “I know. But it’s easier said than done, right?”

  “Suck it up.”

  He sighs and laughs a little. We’re standing in the kitchen drinking mugs of tea. I sip mine and enjoy the warmth as it slides into my body. He stretches and pops his neck side to side.

  “All right. Let’s go over it again at least, okay?”

  “Fine.”

  “You’re going over to the deli next to the motor lodge. You’ll hang around there for a bit. Right?”

  “Right.” I hesitate. “Why the deli again?”

  “Sheriff called me a couple days back. Apparently, Mark and the others are staying in the motor lodge and they go to that deli for most meals. You’ll be sitting in the little seating area with a sandwich, like you’re just hanging around for some dinner, minding your own business. Got it?”

  “Got it,” I confirm.

  “Good. Ideally, they’ll see you, but only one or two at first. I’ll be waiting outside in a rental, watching for them to come back. When they do…”

  “That’s when you start recording.”

  “Exactly.” He holds up his phone. “Fully charged and tested.”

  “And I’ll have my phone recording audio out on the table, screen down. It’ll be muffled, but it works.”

  “Just like we practiced.”

  I take a deep breath. “Okay. So then what?”

  “We let them get as crazy as possible. The crazier, the better. I’ll be there in case things go awry. Once we have what we need, I’ll pull you out of there.”

  “Right.” I nod and steel myself. “We can do this.”

  “We don’t have to,” he said. “We can just wait for them to come back. They will, sooner or later.”

  “No. I want to be done with it.”

  “All right then.” He puts an arm around me and I lean my head against his shoulder. “Then you’re the bait.”

  “Prettiest bait in the whole state, right?”

  “Whole damn country.” He kisses my hair. “Whole damn world.”

  I laugh and tilt my chin up. He kisses me for a long moment before Annie comes teetering into the room

  “Come, Dada,” she says. “Come, Daddy, come.”

  She walks over and tugs on his hand. He laughs and winks at me before following his little daughter into the other room, probably to play Daniel Tiger Bingo or to color some sharks.

  I sip my tea and stand in the silence of the kitchen, just drinking it in for a moment.

  Since coming here, I’ve slowly grown to feel comfortable in this house. Erik has gone out of his way to make me feel at home, like I belong here. Aside from the obvious and intense physical attraction, something more than that’s been growing.

  I like his daughter, little Annie. I think she’s adorable and funny. I like helping with the chores. I like going to work, having a life. I like learning about the world outside of the tiny little commune I used to live in.

  Most of all though, I love having a place of my own. And I love having it with a man that seems to really care about me.

  Oh, people cared about me on the commune. My mother did, my friends did. But none of them cared about me for me, exactly. They cared about me because I was a part of the group and they sort of had to. Even Mark, who preaches that every living person is a unique godlike gift to the world, only cared about me insofar as I could give him a baby.

  This is the first place I’ve ever been where I feel like I can be myself.

  Problem is, I’m not really sure who I am or what I like.

  My world was so limited for so long. I can feel myself starting to stretch out more, starting to grow.

  And I want to grow right here, right now.

  I need this to end. I need it so badly I can barely breathe. I need Mark and my mother and everyone else to leave me alone and let me be a person again.

  Maybe one day I can have a relationship with my mother that’s not based entirely on what she wants for me. Maybe one day we can move past all this.

  But right now, I’m ready for her to get the hell out of my life.

  I put my tea down and walk into the living room. Erik’s down on his knees next to Annie, scribbling on a shark coloring book, drawing stars for her.

  “Come, Kim, come,” Annie says. “Crayons!”

  I walk over and kneel down next to Erik. He grins and winks at me as I look at his daughter.

  “Can I have the orange one?” I ask.

  “Yes.” She hands it to me.

  I start coloring with them and smile to myself the whole time.

  * * *

  It’s just after six at night two days later when we pull up outside of the deli. I sit in the rented truck with Erik. Luanne’s back at the house, watching Annie, which was really nice of her.

  “You ready for this?” he asks me.

  “I hope so.”

  “It’s not too late to back out.”

  “Quit asking.” I open the door. “I’m doing it.”

  He grins and nods. “I knew you would.”

  I wink and head out, shutting the door behind me. I have a light jacket on that has my phone in it. I walk into the deli and nod at the guy behind the counter. I head to the back where they sell sandwiches, order myself a tuna salad on a long roll, and take it to an empty table. There are a few of them clustered close to each other. There’s a young couple sitting nearby, whispering to each other and looking at a phone together. The girl laughs and leans her head against his shoulder and he grins, kissing her.

  I can’t help but wonder if that’s what I look like with Erik. Probably, except we’re way older.

  I take my phone out and open the sound recording app. I make sure it’s working before unwrapping my sandwich. I figure, I might as well eat while I’m here.

  I take it slow. I don’t know how long I’ll be waiting around. I get up and grab a newspaper, just to have something to read, and pay up front for it. I sit back down and scan the headlines. All terrible news, except for some nice local stories about funding getting increased at the library.

  Time slowly creeps past. The couple leaves. I buy a Coke and sip it before finally finishing my sandwich. I check the time and it’s seven-thirty. I’ve been hanging around for a while and I’m starting to think the guys that own this place are going to throw me out if I don’t get something.

  But then the door opens. I don’t look up, since mostly it’s just been random customers. As I sit there and scan the headlines, my phone vibrates. It’s a text from Erik.

  Your mom just walked in. Don’t look up.

  My heart starts beating fast. I sit there and fidget with my paper. I don’t look up, even though every part of me wants to. I sit there, waiting for her to confront me, but… nothing happens.

  The door opens and shuts. Another text comes in.

  She just left, walking in a hurry. Hold tight.

  I type back to him. Did she see me?

  Not sure, he says back. Just hold tight.

  I’m holding as tight as I can.

  I keep fidgeting in my seat. I want to
get up and move around, go explore, take a hike, anything active, but I can’t. I know I have to stick to the plan.

  The whole point of this is to bait them into doing something stupid. That’s the whole reason I’m here. I know I want my mom to come back with Mark and everyone else. I know I want them to yell at me. But I still can’t help but feel nervous.

  My phone vibrates just before the door opens again. They’re coming.

  I stare at the message and then slowly look up.

  Mark, Melanie, Kerry, and my mother all walk into the room. They don’t bother trying to hide themselves. They come right at me.

  In my head, I kept telling myself that I was going to have to pretend to be scared. I wanted to make this seem real, I kept telling myself.

  But I don’t need to pretend right now. I’m fucking terrified.

  Melanie looks livid. She has a bruise on her cheek, probably from tackling me. Kerry and my mother look vaguely sad, but Mark’s just smiling. He’s got a huge grin on his face and it’s frankly disgusting.

  “Hi there, Kim,” he says as the group stops in front of my table. “What are you doing here?”

  I put the paper over top of my phone. As I pull my hand away, I tap the record button without looking down, still maintaining eye contact. I practiced that a million times and it’s taking all my strength not to make sure I did it right.

  “I live in this town, remember?”

  Mark laughs lightly. “No, you don’t. You’re just stopping by like everyone else in this world.”

  “Don’t preach your bullshit to me, I’m not interested.”

  “Kim,” Mom says and the others all look horrified.

  Mark doesn’t react to my bait. “Come on, Kim. We all know you’re devoted. You’re as devoted as they get. You’re my wife and you’re going to carry the child that will save us all.”

  “No, I’m not. Can you please leave me alone? I just want to finish my food and go home.”

  “I don’t think so.” Mark grins wickedly. “No, I don’t think so at all. Thing is, Kim, your little protector isn’t here, is he? He’s not here at all.”

  Mark lunges forward. I kick back and fall out of my chair, hitting the floor hard. I groan and feel Mark grab me, pulling me to my feet. I scream and thrash. “Help!” I scream.

  I expect Mark to pull me toward the front door. I want Erik to get a good video of this.

  Instead, he shoves me forward, toward the back.

  “What are you doing?” I say as more hands grab me. Melanie punches me in the stomach and I groan.

  “Mel,” Mark chastises with a little laugh.

  “Sorry,” she says.

  They drag me into a back hall. My mother watches, horror on her face, but she doesn’t stop it. Kerry hovers while Mark and Melanie shove and push and hit me until I’m thrown through a back door.

  There’s a van parked in the back. It’s the same van from before, the one they chased me in.

  “Get her inside,” he says.

  I scream. “Erik!”

  “Get her inside,” Mark says again, shoving me to the van. Melanie runs ahead and throws the door open as Mark shoves me inside. Melanie follows me in, shoving me into a seat.

  The others crowd in as Mark starts the engine.

  “Stop!” Erik appears through the back door. He pulls out his gun, aiming it at the van. “Stop, motherfucker! Let her out.”

  Mark guns the engine. The van lurches forward and Erik doesn’t shoot. Mark laughs like a maniac as the van narrowly avoids hitting the deli itself and turns sharply, jumping over the curb and into the street.

  I stare out the window horrified as the van drives off. The last thing I see is Erik running to the rental truck before a black bag is shoved over my head.

  “If you move,” Mel whispers in my ear, “I’m going to hurt you. Mark already said I can. Right, Mark?”

  “Right, dear.” He chuckles.

  “Mom?” I say. “Mom, why are you letting them do this to me?”

  “It’s for your own good, honey.” Her voice is flat and emotionless. “For your own good.”

  They drive on and the horror sinks down deep. They took me, they got me, and nobody can stop them now.

  24

  Erik

  I dive into the truck, start the engine, and peel out. Mark’s driving fast, but I have a general idea of his direction. I manage to tail them, staying far enough back that they don’t see me.

  “Fuck,” I say out loud. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”

  I got most of it on my phone. The last part, at least. I didn’t know they had the van back there, didn’t even know there was a back door at all. We didn’t scout the location out because I’m a fucking idiot. I thought I knew the place already.

  I was wrong. So fucking wrong.

  If I had checked, I would’ve known about the back. I would’ve looked back there.

  Mark must’ve driven the van up and parked it. There must be a back way into the lot that I couldn’t see from the front. I hadn’t seen them come across the street, just noticed them come at the building from the side. I had assumed they just took the long way to try to avoid being seen.

  Really, they were coming around from the back.

  “Fucking stupid.”

  I grip the wheel, following them. I don’t know what their plan is, but they keep driving. They’re heading west, away from Summersville, out toward California.

  Part of me thinks they plan on driving straight there, but they can’t. Sooner or later, they have to stop for gas.

  And when they do, I’ll be on them.

  They drive all night. They don’t stop. Whoever’s at the wheel doesn’t go faster than five over the speed limit and sticks in the right lane the whole time. They’re being careful and smart, which isn’t what I want from them.

  This was supposed to be simple. So far, the group only ever physically confronted Kim once. I didn’t think they’d actually try and grab her from a public place, but clearly, I was wrong. I did notice the deli’s owner calling 911 before I ran out the back after them, which is probably a good thing.

  Another bit of proof for the old sheriff.

  But at this point, Sheriff Pine doesn’t matter. All that matters is making sure Kim’s okay.

  It’s a hard drive. For hours, I force myself to stay awake and mentally beat myself up. I have to call Luanne and beg her to stay the night without actually telling her what’s going on. I suspect she can figure it out, but I can’t bring myself to say the words.

  Kidnapped. Stolen.

  All my fault.

  I can’t do it. So I make up some story and she pretends to buy it. She agrees, and I keep going.

  Of course, the farther I go, the longer it’ll take to get back. I know that, deep down in my chest. I know I won’t see my girl for another day. Luanne’s going to be stuck there. I know I fucked this up and ruined all this shit, and I know it’s all my fault.

  But I can’t turn back. I keep going, driving for hours, until the sun starts to rise…

  And the van puts on its turn signal.

  They pull into a rest stop. It’s a small place, barely more than one building with a few shops inside and six gas pumps. They pull up outside of the building and two people get out, the young girl and the other woman I don’t know. I guess Kim’s still in there with just Mark and her mother.

  I park and get out of the truck. The weight of the gun feels good in my hand as I walk up to the van and on the window with it.

  Mark stares at me, eyes wide with surprise. He slowly rolls down the window.

  “Let her out,” I say.

  “Now, wait—”

  I punch him in the jaw with the butt of the gun. He lets out a gasp and a groan. I press the barrel against his temple.

  “I’ll say it again. Let her out now.” I glance into the back. Kim’s there with a black bag over her head. Her mother’s sitting beside her, a look of pure fear in her eyes. “Please.”

  Her mother slo
wly takes the bag off. Kim takes a breath and starts crying.

  “I’m so sorry,” she says. “I’m so, so sorry.”

  “Get out,” I say. “Now.”

  She grabs the door and slides it open.

  “Don’t go,” Mark says and I press the gun tighter against his head.

  “Give me a reason,” I whisper. “I’m not kidding, you sick piece of shit. Give me a fucking reason. I’ve been driving all night, picturing this bullet ripping you to pieces.”

  Mark grins at me, eyes wide. “You wouldn’t.”

  “I was a cop. Did you know that? I know how this works. I know the laws. And I don’t think there’s a jury alive that would convict me for killing you right here and now. So go ahead, give me an excuse.”

  Mark stares at me, breathing hard.

  “Mark.” Kim’s mother speaks up. “Let it go, Mark. She’s gone.”

  “That’s my wife,” he growls.

  Kim’s mother puts a hand on his shoulder. “Let it go.”

  Mark closes his eyes then opens them. “You’re damning us all.”

  “No,” I say. “I’m just taking her home, that’s all.”

  I step away from the van. I spot the young girl and the other woman coming back. They slow and stop when they spot Kim standing next to me.

  “No!” the young girl screams and starts running over.

  I hold the gun out. “Stop,” I say.

  She stops in her tracks and drops the bag of food she was holding. French fries tumble onto the ground.

  “Come on,” I say to Kim, taking her hand.

  “I’m sorry,” she says.

  “Stop apologizing and walk.”

  We move. I keep the gun out until we reach the truck. I open the door, get Kim inside, then peel out.

  “Are you okay?”

  Kim starts sobbing. I can’t understand what she’s saying, but I think she’s apologizing and thanking me and telling me how it’s all her fault and I can’t really make sense of it. I put my hand on her and keep going. “I’ve got a little gas left,” I say. “There’s a town a few miles back on the other side. We’ll stop, get gas, get food, and we’ll talk.”