The Inn

by D. R. Mather

  Judy reached up and wiped them, “Honey, don’t you realize how that happens all the time? If there is a car accident, don’t you think anyone involved doesn’t trace back the time to that one little thing they could have done? A last goodbye, a last second purchase at the candy counter, anything that could remove the few seconds it would have taken to not put them in that spot where the car accident happened? We all do it. You can’t know, maybe if you had been there they wouldn’t have moved past your house, maybe they would have shot you first and then gone after Mary. And think about this, put it on their side for a second, one of them never showed up to whatever got them together that day, so maybe he’s the one who got them walking down your street. Don’t you see? Any countless number of things could have been different, but they weren’t, we don’t control that, we only do what we do each and every second we breathe, and hope for the best. It’s all we can do honey, we hope for the best. Baby, it was never your fault.”

  Kevin hugged Judy tightly and cried on her. He saw her point; he had to let it go.

  Beth was beginning to walk through the dining room when she heard Kevin talking. She stopped and stood still, listening to the whole thing. She was silently crying for the pain she saw in Kevin, for the horror he must have seen, and she understood Judy’s point; how could anyone stop what had already happened? People can’t, it’s that simple, they can’t. Beth felt a little lost. She didn’t know how to help him, but she felt a deep desire to do so. It hurt her to see him like this. However, she knew he was a wonderful man and that he’d found the perfect woman for himself; for that, she could smile. Judy was built for Kevin, who knows, maybe even more than Mary was.

  They both heard a sniffle and turned; Kevin and Judy were now facing Beth, who was pouting. Kevin stuck out an arm in a hugging gesture, Beth went to him, and they all hugged together. After a minute, Kevin pulled back and looked at Beth with a very serious face.

  “You and I have something we need to do, I wasn’t sure when until now, but I think it’s time.”

  Both Judy and Beth look at Kevin, “What?”

  “Honey, I have to take Beth somewhere for a while, do you mind?”

  “No, why should I mind, I’ll go hang with April.” She gave Kevin a big wet kiss and wandered off.

  “What do you say Beth, want to take a ride?”

  “Ahh, sure, I guess.”

  They headed out. Beth was trying to figure out what Kevin was talking about, but she had a feeling it may be important to her, so she decided to trust him and not bother pestering him for more information.

  Kevin drove down to Denver, past the center and out towards the eastern side, out to where the suburbs began to take over from the city. The talk was light, a little political, a little environmental – nothing personal. Kevin kept it that way, he didn’t want to set Beth’s mood in any particular direction. It was around 8 p.m. and the sky was fully dark by the time he pulled onto a normal suburban street. There were nice houses, middle income. Some were a little nicer, some fairly plain, but all well-kept. Kevin parked about three quarters of the way down, next to a curb and shut the truck off.

  “Beth, do you see that nice little cape across the street, the one with the white fences between the properties?”

  Beth looked, “Yeah, I see it”

  “I want you to do something for me, something very special. I want you to go ring the door bell and when the owner answers, in your nicest ‘Beth’ tone, I want you to say, ‘Hi, I’m Beth Lewis’.”

  “Okay, and why will I be introducing myself to these people?”

  “That, my dear Beth, is the million dollar question.”

  Beth stared at him for a few seconds and realized she’d gotten to know Kevin quite well, well enough to know when he wasn’t going to say another word.

  “Well, okay. I believe the crews use the word ‘boss’ for you?”

  Kevin only smiled and patted her back as she exited the truck. He sat back and relaxed, this could take a while.

  As Beth rang the bell she could already hear at least two kids, young from the sounds of it, laughing and playing something. They were giggling up a storm. The light at the door went on and a man answered.

  “Yes…may I help you?”

  “Hi, I’m Beth, Beth Lewis.” She saw the man’s face turn white; in fact it may have been heading to the grey side.

  “Are you going to kill me Beth?”

  “What?”

  “I won’t blame you if you’re here to end it. I understand, but first, please come in and meet my family won’t you?”

  Beth was about as confused as she could be as she entered and followed him to the living room. He seemed somewhat familiar, she just couldn’t place it.

  “Rose? Could you take the children to their bedrooms and then join us please?”

  “Oh ok, be there in a second,” Rose was in the kitchen, finishing up the cleaning from dinner. She walked into the living room and stared at the guest sitting on her sofa. She didn’t say anything, but got the kids and took them off to their bedrooms. A few minutes later, she returned and stood near her husband, who was sitting in a chair.

  Beth looked at her quickly and then turned to look out the window, over to where Kevin was parked. She then looked back to these two strangers.

  “I’m afraid I’m not sure what you’re talking about. Ahh…”

  ”Jim Bellows, this is my wife Rose.”

  “How do you do Rose. I’m Beth, Beth Lewis.”

  There it was again. Rose started to reach forward to shake Beth’s hand and stopped, turned an ashen pale and then stepped back. She took a hard grab onto Jim’s shoulder, she looked petrified.

  Beth didn’t know what to do next but then it all came together, in one brilliant flash. Jim... rape…his familiar face…rape…Jim…

  Beth jumped up off the sofa. She raised her palms and was going to fry him, fry them both.

  Her crying was instant and filled with anger and hate, “You son of a bitch, you fucker!” She could see them both hanging their heads, as if they had been waiting for this day.

  “Whatever it is you’re going to do to me, do it and get it over with, but please, leave Rose and the children out of it. I’m so sorry Beth, I’m so very sorry that we hurt you. If I could take it away, I would, I just don’t know how to.”

  In Beth’s mind she remembered, she remembered the guys who raped her. Then she remembered something she had forgotten until just now: the kid who hung back, who didn’t want to do it. She remembered them picking on him.

  “Come on, are you some kind of faggot or something? Get over here Jim and get some of this nice white meat.”

  She remembered that they actually had to drag him over, but in the end, he did it.

  Something was wrong with Beth’s hands now; they seemed to be dropping, moving to her sides. She sat on the sofa with a plop, put her hands to her face and cried very hard. Rose was next to her, holding her where she could.

  “Jim told me everything Beth. I don’t think he left out a single thing that he could remember about it. It still haunts him, I know, I hear him wake up to it in the dark.”

  Jim finally lifted his head, “I’m so sorry Beth, I didn’t want to do that to you or anybody, I was trying to fit in, and they came up with the idea when they saw you walking up the stairs to your apartment one day. I tried to talk them out of it, they wouldn’t listen to me. I was the young one. When they grabbed you, I tried to run for help. Smitty grabbed me and made me come into the basement. I resisted all I could but in the end, yes, I did it too. I think maybe I’ll pay for that later, or even now. I do know that when we went on the run afterwards, we ended up in Mexico. I fixed it some for you, the only way I knew how at that time. The guys robbed a store and I turned myself in as well as all of them. I spent eight years in a Mexican prison for it; I still don’t think it was enough to cover what I did to you.”

  Beth’s tears had toned down; she was actually looking at Jim now and was actually list
ening to him. Something inside her was melting, going away.

  “I was fourteen when they did that terrible thing to you. I got out of prison eight years later and I made a promise to myself that I was going to be a better man, on your behalf Beth, not for myself, but for you. At twenty-two I returned to the states and went to school. I aced everything there and I ended up going to a law college. Now I’m on my second year as an attorney. I assist the Governor of Colorado with the juvenile offender program. Both Rose and I volunteer at several organizations for rape victims here in Denver, we even go to church every Wednesday night and Sunday morning. What I’m trying to tell you Beth, is that I’m trying, I’m trying very hard to make amends for the horrible thing I took part in.”

  Beth was speechless; she’s even started to think it may have been even worse for him that it was for her. Then she broke the wall that she had built because of this. She stood up, walked over to him, got on her knees and wrapped her arms around him. They cried together for a long time.

  Kevin waited in the truck. He knew who lived here, he’d known since the ‘voice’ had told him several months ago. He just hadn’t been ready to tell Beth yet. He knew she had to learn to trust at least one man. She finally had done that.

  Kevin waited in the truck until ten at night before he saw Beth walking across to the other side of the truck. She got in and looked at Kevin, not just looked, but stared deep into his eyes. Kevin didn’t move or talk. She suddenly grabbed the sides of his face and pulled him close.

  “You asshole.” She kissed him and when she pulled away, she was smiling. Kevin patted her leg, started the truck and drove away.

  ***

  After Kevin had parked the truck, he and Beth walked past the living room and Kevin caught a flash of Judy running and then jumping on a sofa.

  “Did you see that Beth?”

  “Ya, looks like someone’s about to pretend she was reading and not waiting for you to get back.”

  “Right, the ‘I’ve been here reading the whole time’ alibi.”

  They laughed together and went inside. After their winter things were off, Kevin started off towards the living room when Beth stopped him and turned him around.

  “Not yet mister.” She hugged him hard and then whispered in his ear, “Thank you.” She pushed away, smiled and headed upstairs.

  Kevin smiled and said, “Whatever I can do, as long as I’m able to do it.” He then walked off to find his ‘not caring about where he was’ Judy.

  Judy looked up, “Oh, hi honey!”

  “Hi baby, miss me?”

  “Oh sure, but I kept busy, I was reading…” She looked at the instruction manual for the kitchen exhaust system she was holding, “...stuff!”

  Kevin laughed as he sat beside her, “Do you plan on helping them install that tomorrow honey?”

  Judy lets out a horse sound and gave it up, tossed the manual on the coffee table and hugged him.

  ***

  Kevin jumped up from a sound sleep and turned to the clock. It was just after 2 a.m. He wasn’t sure why he had woken with such a start because he couldn’t recall having any bad dreams so he slipped himself up to the back of the head board and sat quietly in the dark, staring into nothing. He listened for something that wasn’t there for some time, not knowing why he had such a creepy feeling. Then it hit.

  There was a thunderous BOOM that shook the entire mansion. Kevin was in his robe and out the door before Judy even began to sit up so she jumped out of bed, grabbed her robe and ran from the room after him. As she entered the hall she found Kevin just standing; not saying a word.

  BOOM!

  It hit again! Everyone was coming out of their rooms now Judy went to Kevin, grabbed his arm and pulled to him, holding on tightly;

  “What is it honey?” she asked him. Kevin just stuck his finger to his mouth so that they all knew to be still and quiet.

  BOOM, BOOM!

  The mansion shook again and Kevin ran to the library at breakneck speed.

  He ran in and went to the rear windows, looking over the pool. Flashes of red light were crashing into the ice above the pool, directly in its center, right where the bridge was. Everyone stood at the door to the library, none daring to go in.

  “JUDY, come here quick,” yelled Kevin. Judy ran over to him and looked out. She could see the fireballs hitting the ice in the pool.

  What is that Kevin?”

  “Something’s trying to destroy the bridge. Quick, sit on the sofa.” After they sat and laid back Kevin said;

  Where is your half of the amulet?”

  Judy held it out and Kevin placed his half to hers.

  Kevin didn’t waste any time once he was on the craft. He ran up the corridor, almost dragging Judy as he went. He was met along the way by the being who always talked to him.

  “What is this, what’s happening,” he asked the being.

  “Dark forces have discovered the bridge; they are trying to destroy it. We are protecting it for now but I need your help. I need you to go back there and do something for me.

  Kevin said only two words; “Name it.”

  The being gestured for Judy to stay, then took Kevin a distance from her and spoke quietly to him. This may not have seemed like a time for smiling, but Judy could see Kevin suddenly smile as he spoke out;

  “Really?”

  Judy could see the surprised look on his face as they spoke quietly again for a brief time longer.

  Kevin spun and jaunted back to Judy. “Time to go honey,” he said, and then they were gone from the craft and back in the library.

  Kevin worked fast, walking quickly as he headed to where the others stood.

  “Beth, Alex, follow me, quickly please!” Kevin rushed down the stairs with Judy in tow; Beth and Alex were right behind them.

  “Put on your gear guys,” he said as he went to the main door.

  Judy stopped; “But honey, we’re all in our house coats!”

  “I’m sorry kiddo, no time, just put on what you need; quickly, all of you!”

  Several minutes later and they were walking in snow, house coats under coats and hats; boots on with no socks; walking around to the back of the mansion. As they turned to where they could see the pool, another thunderous BOOM hit the ice; the impact sent Judy to her ass five feet behind them all. Kevin never noticed; he kept walking to the pool. Beth and Alex helped Judy to her feet and then went over to where Kevin now stood in silence.

  “I know this is going to sound very strange but this is what I need us to do – kiss. And I mean long and hard!”

  They all stood and stared at him like his nose had just fallen off;

  “Look, that evil, whatever it is, hates love, any kind of love. I’m told it can’t see us yet, it’s only after the bridge. The being said this will send it into a rage and cause it to take off, but hey, if not, think of it as a nice way to go! Now pucker up and let’s get to it!”

  The ground shook as if an earth quake were happening but the two couples never stopped.

  BOOM….BOOM…BOOM!

  They all heard the unearthly scream that ensued immediately after the booming but it was fading, getting quieter as if the creator of the sound was moving away. For a minute more they all kissed until the air itself seemed to become less dense, less frightening.

  Alex and Beth separated and then turned to Kevin who was still locked onto Judy;

  “Ahh…I think its gone Kevin.”

  Simultaneously, they both waved a hand up, yet continued.

  Beth grinned and grabbed Alex, who was staring at them, and began to drag him away saying; “Well, there’s certainly no evil left here!”

  She and Alex headed back to the mansion, leaving Kevin and Judy to their own devices. When Kevin and Judy re-entered the Inn, both Alex and Beth were back in just their house coats and sitting on the stairs.

  Beth felt she had to say something;

  “Well guys, that evil should be half way across the galaxy by now! My but you two do carr
y on, I dare say!” Alex snickered, Judy giggled and Kevin only smiled a silent, loving smile.

  ***

  February 5th was an exciting day, for two reasons. First, the kitchen was ready to get all of the equipment installed. A lot of the separate crews were in the kitchen helping wherever they could and by afternoon, almost everything was ready and hooked up, the only things still being worked on was the massive vent system over the stove and grill area, and the function checks on both the walk-in freezer and walk-in refrigerator. The compressors for both were outside the back, stuck in a corner where the wall stuck out a little more on the left of the building. A very large shrub was hiding most of it.

  Steve walked over to Kevin, who was making sure everything was functioning.

  “I think we’re about ready for that basement work Kevin, got a start time for me?”

  “Well, the cedar is here now, and the counter for the juice bar is already down there, so I’d say tomorrow morning looks good.”

  “Great, as soon as we wrap up this kitchen, we’ll be heading out; I guess I’ll catch you tomorrow then.”

  The table had already been dismantled and packed with padding. It was now wrapped in an airtight cocoon, awaiting transport to its new home until further notice. The chairs were wrapped as well. That, as Kevin put it, was a major bitch to do, and the damn lot was all legs pointing out, threatening to rip through the sealed plastic. With some padding and folded cardboard in the right places, they eventually complied with Kevin’s wishes. Aside from the wrapped table and chairs, all that sat on the floor were four of the new tables, which Kevin insisted were to be covered with plastic so that they wouldn’t be damaged. He was just heading to the stairs when the Inn’s phone rang. Kevin answered it, listened for a minute, then hung up, spun around and yelled…