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ANDERSON WAS WAITING on the steps of Saint Augustine Church as I exited my car. A prime parking spot opened up after I had circled the block twice.
“You look beautiful, Marjorie.” Anderson took my hand and kissed the top of it in such a sweet gesture he stole my breath.
“Thank you. You look very nice yourself.” He had on a blue sweater and tan pants that accented his blue eyes and sandy brown hair. I had to admit, I took a little extra time straightening my hair, so it hung like dark silk over my shoulders. I applied a little more mascara and added a shining bronze gloss to my lips. My dress hit an inch above my knees and was a bright and cheerful cream and orange flower print.
He tugged my hand. “Let’s go inside. Kelli is saving us a couple of seats next to her and Joey.”
“I’m glad she’s here. She stopped coming because Vega didn’t like her going to church. I think he thought she would confide in someone about what was going on at home.”
“Kelli looks happy and relaxed now. She told me Joey had the best birthday ever. He hasn’t stopped talking about the bike you got him. That was really thoughtful of you.”
“Kids should be allowed to be kids: to ride bikes, make messes, and be loud sometimes.” It was wrong to keep Vega in my bathroom, but if I let him go, I would be put in jail and he would take out his anger on Kelli and Joey. I couldn’t let that happen. I drummed my fingers on my thigh in agitation. There had to be a solution that would keep Vega in jail and me out.
Anderson reached over and stopped the drumming then leaned over and kissed my cheek.
“I hate to bring this up, but when Vega comes back, Kelli will have to deal with sharing custody of Joey.”
“Let’s cross our fingers he doesn’t come back.”
Anderson nodded and squeezed my hand.
After church, we walked hand-in-hand to the car. “It’s a beautiful day. What do you say to a picnic on the shore of Lake Sweeney?”
I had fed Vega an extra dose of sedative, so I didn’t feel the need to rush home. “That would be great.”
Anderson swung by Joe’s Café and parked in front. “I’ll be right back. I’m picking up some picnic food.”
“I won’t go anywhere.” Well... maybe to prison, but not today.
A few minutes later, Anderson returned with a wicker basket, that he placed in the back seat.
“How did they put a basket together in such a short time?” I turned in my seat. I wanted a peek at what was in the basket.
“I called ahead. I was hoping you would spend the afternoon with me.” Anderson winked.
“What if I had said no? Would you have asked someone else?” I knew of several women who would jump at a chance to jump Anderson. He was adorable.
He leaned forward, placed a quick kiss on my lips and then pulled away. “Nope. I don’t want to spend time with anyone else, but you. I would have eaten some of it and given the rest to my staff.”
“It’s nice to know that you have a generous heart.” Anderson was making it hard not to fall for him.
He started the car, drove toward the park, but glanced over at me when we stopped at a red light. “How about you? Do you want to spend time with anyone else?”
“I have a lot of friends I spend time with.” I wasn’t sure why I was playing coy. I knew what he meant. He just rolled his eyes and then continued to drive toward the lake.
“Anyone male, single, and interested in a physical relationship with you?”
“No. Just you.” I enjoyed his straightforward honesty so I smiled when he laughed.
“Good.” He nodded and continued to drive as the radio played a soft country tune by Garth Brooks.
Anderson parked the car a short time later, ran around to the passenger’s side, and opened the door. He grabbed the basket with one hand and my hand in the other, and we walked to a picnic table near the water. The sun was warm but not hot, and perfect for a day by the water. I opened the lid on the picnic basket, it was filled with a container of potato salad, two ham and Swiss sandwiches, a jug of sweet tea, and chocolate chip cookies. “Wow. This looks great.”
“So do you.” He winked again and then grabbed a couple cups and filled them with tea. After handing one to me, he laid out the food and we ate as we talked about our families, and told tales of our mutual friends. Anderson spoke about how much he enjoyed his work as a medical examiner and me of my love of baking. It was a wonderful day.
~~~
WHEN ANDERSON DROPPED me off at my car later that day, he took my face in his hands and kissed the breath out of me. When we stepped apart he smiled and it warmed my heart. I wanted to step back into his embrace, but I had to get back home to take care of Vega. He was starting to impact my potential for a love life.
“Would you accompany me to the state fair next weekend? I would love to kiss you on top of the Ferris wheel and anywhere else for that matter.”
“That would be great. How about the roller-coaster? Do you want to make out on the roller-coaster?” I teased.
Anderson wrapped his arm around my waist and snuggled close. “I’ll kiss anywhere, anytime.”
“Okay, then. That seals the deal.” We both laughed. “I’d love to go with you, but I need to arrive two hours before the pie tasting competition. Eloise, the new regional competition organizer, is a stickler for rules. I would hate for her to disqualify my pies because I was a couple minutes late.”
“No problem. I promise to get you there in plenty of time.” After one last kiss, Anderson opened the car door for me and closed it after I had my seatbelt on. He waved as I drove away.
~~~
ONCE HOME, I DEFROSTED some homemade beef stew and put it in one large mixing bowl, dissolved a couple sedatives into the soup, buttered two slices of sourdough bread, and headed down to the basement with Vega’s dinner.
“It’s about time. Where the hell have you been? I’m starving!” Vega yelled.
“You’re lawfully feisty tonight. What’s got your panties in a bunch?” I asked cheerfully. I was still feeling euphoric from spending the day with Anderson.
“I’m not wearing panties...you crazy bitch. You put me in diapers,” he screamed and thrashed against his bindings.
Yeah. And it worked out well. I had done an Internet search on taking care of invalids and these awesome man-diapers popped up on Amazon. I had to pay extra for overnight shipping, but it was worth it. “I already explained that they were to keep you comfortable while I was at the bakery. Otherwise, your clothes would get soiled. You wouldn’t want that would you?” I quickly tucked a napkin into the neck of his T-shirt. If I didn’t move quickly, he would try to bite me.
“You... you...you,” he stuttered.
Any minute now he would start to spew obscenities so I interrupted him. “I know. You appreciate my thoughtfulness. And you’re welcome.”
He was getting really angry, his face was bright red and he was huffing and puffing. “I will kill you when I get lose. Mark my words, you bitch.”
I didn’t want him to know he was freaking me out with his threats so I smiled and continued talking, “Tonight you’re having a hearty beef stew and sourdough bread.”
Because he thought it was funny to spit or spill his food on me, I made another overnight purchase from Amazon—a large plastic apron and safety glasses. I slipped them on and dipped a large spoon into the soup and pressed it against his lips. “Open up. It’s yummy.”
Vega head-butted the spoon and the lukewarm soup splattered all over my face and the front of my apron. He laughed so hard he fell over on his side and knocked his bowl of water all over the floor. “Why don’t you eat that cold, crappy soup?”
“Skittles, Skittles, Skittles,” I muttered to myself. Then I removed the glasses and wiped the splatter off my apron before gathering the soup and bread. “I told you what would happen if you did that again. I’m going back upstairs to read a book. I might forget about you and not come back.”
“I’m sorry. Come back,” he said meekly.
He didn’t fool me, there wasn’t a sorry bone in his body. “If you eat your dinner without making another mess, you can have a beer.”
“Fine, but I want the beer first,” he insisted.
“Sure. I’ll be right back.” I had bought a case of beer and placed it in the spare refrigerator by the stairs. I crushed the two extra Xanax I had in my pocket and slipped the powder into the can. He guzzled the beer, ate all of the soup and bread, and then fell quickly asleep soon after. I changed his clothes, gave him a sponge bath, re-dressed him in clean clothes, reinforced the duct tape for good measure, and then went upstairs and took a shower myself. He always made me feel dirty.
I contemplated asking Anderson for advice, but it was too soon in our budding relationship to ask him to be a co-conspirator in the kidnapping. Maybe next week.