The Child Snatcher

by Aria Johnson

  “Can’t talk right now, Walter. I have an emergency,” I said in a breathless rush of words.

  “Are you leaving for the day?” Meghan asked, sounding panicked.

  “Yes, I have a situation at home. Family emergency.”

  “Well, what should I do with Walter? I have that meeting with the summer planning committee in ten minutes, remember?” Her widened eyes implored me to get her off the hook with Walter.

  I was about to tell Meghan to let him accompany her to the staff meeting, but it was evident that she was desperate to get rid of him. He’d probably been talking her ears off for hours, and she needed a break.

  “Why don’t you walk Walter over to the greenhouse and introduce him to Veronica? I’m sure she could use some help.” Veronica was pretty chatty herself. Maybe she and Walter would hit it off.

  “The greenhouse, yay!” Walter winked and made a double-clicking sound in his mouth. Then he engaged in his version of a happy dance, and I noticed he was rather light on his feet. A spry older man who probably had a way with the ladies.

  I couldn’t tell if he was sincerely delighted about being shuffled off to the greenhouse or if he was being sarcastic. In addition to his talkativeness and all that unnecessary winking, there was something else about Walter that made me uneasy. Something was off about him, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I made a mental note to tell Shannon that I didn’t think he was a good fit for my department.

  • • •

  There were none of the usual sounds. No TV blaring. No computerized gunshots from a video game, and I could tell Brandon wasn’t home before I’d gone upstairs and checked his room.

  I stood in the doorway of his bedroom, taking in the quiet, the emptiness. He’d cleared out everything except his desk and a swivel chair. His house key was left on top of the desk, and the sight of it put a lump in my throat. Although he’d moved in with Ava before, this time was different. This time I’d kicked him out, and I feared that I’d unwittingly put something awful into motion—changing the course of his life in an unalterable way.

  The sensation of impending doom was so overwhelming, I clamped a hand over my mouth and tried not to cry. Despite my best efforts, tears welled in my eyes and soon ran down my face.

  Brandon was so broken . . .so fragmented, he was ill-equipped to make it on his own. I should have simply made peace with the fact that I’d have to take care of him for the rest of my life instead of tossing him to the wolves. And Ava was definitely a wolf. There was no telling what type of unlawful and immoral behavior she’d lure him into.

  I could hear the muffled sound of my phone ringing from inside my handbag that was looped over my shoulder. I dug out my phone and could have screamed with joy when I saw Brandon’s name on the screen.

  “Brandon, where are you? Are you all right?”

  “I’m great, Mom. I’m at Ava’s.”

  “Do you want me to come and get you? What’s her address? I can come right now.”

  “No, I’m settling in. It’s all good.”

  “What about the uh, other girl, Muffin?”

  “Muffy,” he corrected. “She’s cool. Everything’s cool.”

  “Listen, sweetheart, I was wrong to force you into such an unhealthy environment—such an insane living situation. You don’t have to be there, Brandon. You can come home. ”

  “I know, I read your texts. But see, Mom, I don’t view living with Ava and Muffy as insane.”

  I hated Muffy’s name and in my mind, I saw her as the stereotypical Butch-type, a boxy-shaped woman who dressed in men’s clothes and shaved the hair on one side of her head.

  “People should be free to love whoever they want,” he continued. “Can you tell me where it’s written that you’re only allowed to love one person?”

  I gnawed on my bottom lip as I listened to Brandon spew what sounded like Ava’s warped outlook on life and love. “But you don’t love more than one person do you, Brandon? You don’t have romantic feeling for this Muffy person, do you? You only love Ava. And I assume Muffy loves Ava and not you.”

  “We’re cool. I love Muffy, you know, like a friend.”

  “But who’s the one benefiting from this new philosophy of yours? Sounds to me that Ava’s the only one that’s going to have her cake and eat it too.”

  “You don’t understand, Mom. We’re all trying to make this work for the sake of the baby.”

  “Is she pregnant?” I screeched hysterically.

  “Not yet, but we’re working on it.”

  “Oh, Brandon. Sweetie. You need to rethink this before it’s too late,” I said in a cajoling tone.

  “My mind is made up, and if you can’t respect my decision, then just leave me alone.”

  “Okay, Brandon. But . . .but—”

  “It’s all good,” he insisted. “Muffy found a job at a plant in Secane. They make carburetors, and she says they’re hiring. Ava’s going to put together a resume for me.”

  I couldn’t begin to imagine what he’d say about his previous work experience. “What about Ava? Is she going to apply for a job at the plant, too, or is she going to relax at home while her two devoted lovers toil on her behalf?”

  “You don’t have to get sarcastic. I’m hanging up.”

  “Wait . . .I was only asking. Also, I’m curious to know if you do conceive a child, will this Muffy person have a role in its life?”

  Brandon let out a groan, as if my question was idiotic. “Yeah, she’s going to be involved. Our kid will have a lot of love, which is more than I had.”

  I felt slapped in the face. “When did I ever not show you love?”

  “I’m not talking about you, Mom.”

  “Brandon,” I said, softening my tone. “If I could have forced your father to be more involved in your life, I would have.”

  “Right,” he said blandly. “Look, I’ll talk to you later.”

  Brandon hung up and I paced for a few moments, as my mind absorbed everything he’d told me. I cringed wondering if the three of them were going to sleep in the same bed. His new living arrangement was an embarrassment that I could never divulge to a soul. Ava had somehow managed to whip Brandon into a frenzy of such devotion that he would comply with any request she made, no matter how unconventional or bizarre.

  However, looking on the bright side, he was safe, had a roof over his head, and apparently he was happy. He had plans to get a job—not obtain money selling drugs or in some other illegal way as I’d feared. I had to learn how to let go of Brandon. He was on his own life’s path and there was nothing I could do to protect him from the innumerable mistakes he was bound to make along the way.

  I told myself that from now on, I’d be emotionally supportive of him, but I would keep my opinions to myself. I only wished he wasn’t so determined to bring a child into the chaotic life he was choosing to live.

  Deciding to take my mind off Brandon, I glanced down at my phone and swiped to Jeff’s text. I read it again and this time I smiled and tapped the keyboard on the screen with a response.

  I’d love to go sailing. Is there anything you’d like me to bring?

  I waited for his next text and was startled when my phone jingled in my hand.

  “Hello?” I said questioningly. Jeff seemed to be so big on texting, I thought perhaps he’d tapped the call button by mistake.

  “Hi, there. I hope I’m not interrupting you at work.” His velvety smooth voice delighted all my senses. Realizing that he’d called intentionally put me in a good mood.

  “No, you’re not interrupting. I’m actually at home. I left work early today.”

  “Is everything all right?” The concern in his voice was endearing.

  “Yes, everything is good. I took some personal time to run some errands.” I found myself smiling and twirling several strands of hair. Jeff brought out a girlish side that I didn’t realize still existed.

  “Good to know you’re okay. Well, in response to your question, the boat is fully stocked, an
d the only thing you need to bring is your lovely self and a swimsuit.”

  I frowned as I envisioned myself in swimwear. I wasn’t overweight by any means; in fact I could stand to gain a few pounds. But being sedentary most of the time, I was a little jiggly in certain places, and I doubted if I was swimsuit ready. But a cover-up would hide any flaws. I desperately needed some fun in my life, and I wouldn’t have missed the sailing date for anything in the world.

  “The sailing time from the marina to Cape May is about four to five hours depending on the current, so we should leave at around five in the morning. I hope that’s not too early for you.”

  “No, I’m an early riser.”

  “Great! Should I pick you up or would you prefer to meet me at the marina?”

  Jeff was so accommodating and such a gentleman, but I couldn’t invite him inside. My home, which I’d gotten in the divorce, along with a cabin in the Pocono Mountains, was quite lovely except for the gaping hole in the dining room. I hadn’t bothered to get the wall fixed because I was too embarrassed to call Mr. Herbert, the handyman I always called to repair the destruction that Brandon caused. But with Brandon out of the house, this would be the absolute last time I’d have to use Mr. Herbert’s services.

  “Yes, you can pick me up at home. Thank you,” I said gaily and then gave him my address.

  After I hung up, I actually squealed and spun around in joy. Jeff was turning into my knight in shining armor, appearing in my life and rescuing me during one of my lowest points.

  Realizing there were no certainties in romantic relationships, I refused to get my hopes up. It wasn’t likely that Jeff and I would ride off into the sunset or live happily ever after. And although I dared not hope for anything serious and long term, I was perfectly content to take it moment-by-moment, allowing myself to enjoy every step of the way.

  Chapter 8

  I’d bought new clothes and accessories for the trip to Cape May. A tropical-print sundress, sandals with dangling seashells, and I’d gone to the salon and had my dull brown hair jazzed up with reddish-gold highlights. A silk flower headband added whimsy to my look. I was definitely in touch with my femininity. However, I wasn’t looking forward to changing into the swimsuit that was packed in my carry-on bag. I was going to have to start doing some toning exercises to feel more confident around Jeff with his rock-hard body.

  Overall, I felt prettier and more desirable than I had in years. Especially when he reached for my hand as we walked along the wood planks of the marina.

  “There she is,” he said with pride, pointing to a glorious white boat that glimmered in the rising sun.

  “It’s bigger than I imagined,” I murmured in awe. “It looks more like a yacht than a regular sailboat.”

  “It is a yacht. It’s a thirty-five-foot cruiser,” Jeff clarified with pride in his tone. As we grew closer, I saw that Allegra was lettered in gilt on the hull.

  “How sweet to name your boat after your daughter. I bet that made her feel special.”

  He shrugged. “You know kids. The day I showed her the boat, she seemed impressed at first, but the occasion turned out to be nothing more than an opportunity for her to take selfies as she struck poses in front of her name,” Jeff said with laughter. “When I suggested we take her out on the water, Allegra was appalled. The idea of being stuck with her Dad and possibly have to make conversation for longer than five minutes didn’t go over well with her.” He chuckled and shook his head. “But had I allowed her to invite her new boyfriend and a group of their friends and if I promised to stick to steering the boat and stay out of their hair, she would have been ecstatic. Allegra’s a difficult kid . . .hard to please. But that doesn’t stop me from trying to get closer.”

  “Aw.” I soothed and briskly rubbed his arm. But I couldn’t help from thinking that Jeff had no idea what a difficult child was. An hour spent with Brandon would make him view Allegra as a perfect teen.

  “What’s your relationship like with your son? Are you two close?” he asked.

  “We used to be when he was younger, but he started becoming more and more withdrawn after puberty.” I spoke softly, solemnly, unable to conceal the sorrow that crept into my tone.

  “If it’s any consolation, I hear they open up a lot more and actually become likable people after they become adults. I have five years to go, but at least your son is almost there.”

  “Yeah, that’s true,” I said solemnly. It wasn’t likely Brandon would mature anytime soon, and I was reminded of the unwise choices he was making and how hell-bent he was on ruining his young life.

  Noticing that my mood had become somber, Jeff intuitively changed the subject. “We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to take the boat out, huh?” He flashed his gorgeous smile and my disposition instantly brightened.

  “Let me show you around,” he offered after ushering me on board. While taking a stroll around the interior of the roomy vessel with its exquisite modern design, it occurred to me that Jeff was certainly not a struggling entrepreneur. His consulting business must have been raking in the dough.

  There was plush furniture all around, including sparkling top-of-the-line appliances and a rich mahogany dining table in the galley. Below deck were two cabins, smartly decorated as if by Martha Stewart herself. Stylish furniture, beautiful bedding, and the scent of fresh-cut flowers added to the elegant ambiance.

  “I could live on this boat,” I said wistfully.

  “I spent lots of nights here before Allegra arrived for the summer. In order to keep a close eye on her, I have to be mindful of getting back home at a reasonable hour after a day of sailing. But I have no regrets,” he quickly added. “Reconnecting with my daughter and focusing on parenting is what’s most important right now.”

  I squeezed his arm in understanding. Though I was sure that Jeff could have had his pick of women who were prettier, more sophisticated and more successful than me, I was beginning to believe that our strained relationships with our offspring had unconsciously drawn us together. Maybe in time I’d be able to open up more about Brandon. It would be such a relief to be able to discuss what I was going through without the fear of judgment.

  Jeff opened the fridge and pulled out a beer. “Want one?”

  I wrinkled my nose. “Never developed a taste for beer.”

  “Right, you like those umbrella drinks. I’ll whip up a batch of something tropical to match your dress. How does a Piña Colada sound?”

  “Sounds great.”

  “Good. I’ll make us drinks and then prepare something for us to eat after we get out on the water.”

  “No, you’ve got enough to handle with navigating the boat. Let me make myself useful by fixing a meal and preparing the drinks.”

  “I can’t argue against teamwork.” Jeff gave me a quick peck on the cheek and went up to the cockpit.

  Since I rarely cooked and subsisted on takeout, opening the fridge or the kitchen cabinets at home was bound to be depressing. But peering into the fridge on Jeff’s boat was a sheer delight. There were numerous beverage choices, cold cuts, an assortment of cheeses, fresh fruit and veggies, all sorts of gourmet condiments, various cuts of meat, and two large lobster tails were wrapped in cellophane. Impressive!

  Not having the foggiest idea how to make a Pina Colada, I used my phone to go online and track down a recipe. Amazingly, Jeff had every required ingredient, including heavy whipping cream and fresh pineapple.

  One-by-one I dumped the ingredients in the blender and turned it on. After pouring the batch into a pitcher, I began making sandwiches, humming as I layered slices of turkey breast. When I heard the rumble of the engine and felt the boat begin to glide, it dawned on me that I couldn’t recall the last time I’d felt so relaxed and content.

  Already, I was having a wonderful time, and the date had barely gotten started.

  • • •

  When we reached the New Jersey coast, we docked and took a quick swim. Afterward, I was so relaxed and at ea
se, I completely forgot about my issue with my thighs. Perhaps I’d been overly critical because they looked perfectly fine and didn’t require a cover-up. Wearing my damp swimsuit, I stood next to Jeff on deck looking out at the water.

  Jeff’s sun-bronzed shoulders and broad chest were dotted with glimmering droplets of water that looked like diamonds. God, he was so hot, scandalous thoughts began swirling in my head, and I had to take a deep sip of my drink to cool off.

  “This is the life,” I said, looking up at him with an innocent smile that I hoped disguised the lust that was welling inside. “Thanks for inviting me.”

  “Thanks for joining me on such short notice. It would be nice to be able to get away for longer than a day trip and take in the nightlife here at the shore.”

  “Sounds lovely. Let me know when and I’ll make myself available.” I moved closer to him, enjoying the feeling of being anchored by his hard body while the boat gently rocked back and forth.

  “How about next weekend? I’m pretty sure I can get a sitter for Allegra.” We both laughed at the absurdity of him getting a sitter for his teenager who looked like a full-grown woman. “Seriously, I can make arrangements with her friend’s parents. Believe me, Allegra won’t object to having me out of her hair.” He wrapped an arm around me and when I nestled my head against his shoulder, he pressed his lips against my wet hair. It was such a sweet gesture, giving me a feeling of being cocooned in masculine warmth and protection.

  Back inside the boat, we went to separate cabins and changed out of our damp swimwear. I took my time freshening up, putting on a little makeup, and blow-drying my hair. When I emerged, Jeff was in the galley wearing a chef’s apron. He had pans going on the stove while he chopped and diced vegetables.