What should have been a great evening is turning into the night from Hell for Ryan and Ben, what with the sudden appearance of both Cameron and Liza. Cameron tells Ryan that Liza wants him out of Ben's life, and offers to take Ben's place. Ryan is beside himself with anxiety. Can the situation get any worse? See what's going on in this week's chapter of In Pieces. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
Salvation didn’t stop playing until after three in the
morning. Ryan couldn’t remember another night that had felt so long, other than
the nights he spent alone when Ben disappeared from his life. Ryan helped the
band break down their equipment and return it to the van. He noticed Ben seemed
rather subdued, despite the small smiles he sent Ryan’s way. Or the occasional
kisses when they passed each other as they worked. But something was wrong,
Ryan knew it, and the feeling of impending doom he’d been experiencing before only
grew stronger.
The drive back to the motel was a silent one. Abby was
slumped in the front seat, her head on Aiden’s shoulder, while Ben and Ryan sat
together in back, hands clasped tightly. They’d told Marge good night at her
car and she’d said she’d text them about breakfast the next day before she went
back home to her partner. Ryan was sure it wouldn’t be an early meal, not with
it being as late as it was.
Back at the motel, Aiden parked by their rooms and everyone
got out. He held a sleepy Abby around the waist, and was yawning rather widely
himself. “I was going to ask where we go next”—he yawned again—“but right now I
don’t give a shit.” He handed Ben the keys to Cameron’s car. “Seeya tomorrow
guys.”
“G’night,” Ryan replied to their retreating backs. He knew
just where Aiden was coming from, being more than tired himself. Ben remained
silent.
“Let’s go to bed, okay?” Ryan asked. He noticed the key to
their room in Ben’s hand and gently took it from him, replacing it with his
hand.
“Good idea,” Ben replied. Ryan thought his voice sounded
odd, but not in a sleepy kind of way, yet he couldn’t quite put his finger on what
he thought he heard.
As they approached their motel room, Ryan was surprised to
find it lit, the curtains drawn. Normally, they didn’t bother to leave the
lights on when they left. Maybe the maid had done it when she cleaned their
room. Since Ben made no comment, he decided that was what it was, nothing to
worry about. At least not until he pushed open the door and let Ben enter
first.
There, seated in one of the motel’s chairs and obviously
waiting for them was none other than Liza. She seemed less than happy—what else
was new?—and sat poised, purse on her lap, as if ready to spring up at any
moment.
“What are you doing here?” Ryan automatically took up a
stand in front of Ben, who’d frozen in place, just inside the room.
“Ben knows,” she replied sharply. “Don’t you, Ben, darling?”
Ryan felt Ben flinch behind him, which only made him
angrier. “How did you even get in here?” he demanded to know.
“By the truth, of course. I told them I’m Ben’s mother, and
it was an emergency.” She rose from the chair as she spoke. “Ben and I have
unfinished business, so if you’ll excuse us, your presence isn’t needed, Ryan.
Why don’t you just go to the airport, take the next flight back to Loserville?
I mean St. Louis?”
“Get out of here,” Ryan said, working to control his anger.
He didn’t want to hurt Ben, he just wanted her out. “Ben doesn’t have anything
to say to you, do you, Ben?” He half-turned so that he was still between them
but he could see Ben’s face. He was frightened at what he saw. Ben’s beautiful
eyes were almost lifeless, despite having removed the contacts already. He was
licking his lips nervously.
“I have other truths, shall I tell Ryan what they are?” Liza
goaded her son mercilessly. “He needs to know the truth about us so he can give
up his foolish ideas of happily ever after he seems so hung up on. He needs to
learn that reality is not fiction, no
matter what he wrote in that horrible book of his. Those are fantasies, this is
real. Do you want to tell him, or should I?”
Ryan focused on Ben, trying to keep him calm. He squeezed
his hand reassuringly. “Don’t pay any attention to her. I don’t care what she
thinks or what she does. I’ll call the
police and have her thrown out. She has no right to be here. This is our room,
yours and mine.”
To his dismay, Ben’s eyes widened and he began to tremble.
When Ryan tried to pull him into his arms, to calm him, he pulled back
suddenly. “I…I… please… don’t hate me,
Ryan… please.” He turned abruptly and bolted out the door.
Ryan stood there in shock. Where was he going? What was
happening here? Maybe he just needed to take a quick walk, to clear his head.
But somehow Ryan didn’t think that was the case. Too late, he remembered that
Ben had just received the keys to the car from Aiden. He hurried out into the
parking lot, but he was too late. Ben was already tearing away, driving much
too quickly. He reached the street, brakes squealing, and then disappeared into
the darkness.
Frustrated, Ryan turned toward Liza. She didn’t seem upset.
On the contrary, she seemed rather pleased with herself, like the cat who
swallowed the canary. “What have you done to him?” Ryan asked. “Why are you
doing this to him? What kind of mother are you?”
“The kind you wouldn’t understand.” She slithered across the
room toward him, but he stood his ground. He wasn’t afraid of her. “Believe me
when I tell you he’s mine. He was in my bed before he was in yours and he’ll
come back to me. He always do.”
Ryan watched in disbelief as she marched out the door
without a backward glance, her words echoing in his ears, just before he
managed to collapse in the chair she’d vacated, tears of shock streaming down
his cheeks.
to be continued
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