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They drove in silence to the station which was a mercifully short distance. If it had been any longer, Ben would have begun trying to make awkward small talk to distract himself from the worry about Kayleigh. And neither of them wanted that. The sheriff got out of the car and stormed inside the station, leaving Ben to run after him.
Ben entered the small building and looked around, a wide grin splitting his lips. It was the epitome of a small-town sheriff’s office and he felt like he’d walked onto a movie set. Dark wood décor was everywhere he looked, the hum of the air conditioner was the backing track to the main tune of phones ringing, keyboards clacking and the low murmur of conversation. The building was small, only a few desks inside with two offices, and an old staircase leading down to a basement.
“Any messages?” The sheriff spoke to an older man at one of the desks.
“Not in the ten minutes you’ve been gone,” the old man replied with a good-natured grin, his white bushy eyebrows waggling.
The sheriff grunted. “Justine teaching you sass as well as Spanish?”
The old man burst out laughing. “I taught her everything she knows about sass. What time are you two coming round for dinner tomorrow night?”
Ben watched as the sheriff’s face softened. “The usual time. Are we cooking the trout we caught last weekend?”
“You bet.”
“Can’t wait.” The sheriff finally gestured to Ben. “This is Ben Morgan. He’s here to give a statement on the call-out we just had, so hold any new calls until we’re done.” Then Ben was being dragged into an office and he noticed the name stenciled on the door readDeputy Sheriff Blake Miller.
Blake proceeded to interrogate him to a degree where Ben nearly requested his lawyer.Nearly. Because that would mean calling his father to ask who his lawyer actually was, and he was avoiding his family right now.
When Ben was declared free to go, he wandered around the town, stopping at Ruby’s Diner for some food and again was struck by how retro it was. Like something out of a 1950s movie.This town is perfect, exactly what I’m looking for right now.
“Hey there, sweet cheeks. You look familiar, have we been intimately acquainted before?”
Ben turned towards the voice that sounded like someone had smoked fifty a day for their entire life. He came face to face with a woman who couldn’t be younger than eighty and sported bright purple hair, electric blue glasses and smudged pink lipstick.
“I don’t think so, ma’am,” he replied, trying to fight off the shudder that mental image gave him.
“Hmm.” She narrowed her eyes, not convinced. Ben got recognized every now and then, that was what happened when you had a famous father and your brother was slowly making a name for himself.While you ran away like a big disappointment. Guess the ol’ man was right about you.
“So, what’s a pretty little thing like you doing here?” The woman asked, wiping down the Formica counter.
Ben tugged at the collar of his shirt. “I’m not entirely sure myself.”
“Well, why don’t you have a slice of pie while you think it over. My name’s Ruby and this is my diner,” she said, cutting him a slice of cherry pie.
“I think I’ll do just that.”
“And if you’re feeling a bit chatty then that’s okay too.”
“I’m Ben, nice to meet you, ma’am.” He stuck out his hand and she stared at it before she shook it.
“That’s a mighty fine grip you’ve got there, son. Maybe weshouldget intimately acquainted after all.” Ruby winked at him. Although she was propositioning him, she did it with such charm that he couldn’t help himself; he barked out a laugh.
“I think I’ll just have the pie for now, Ruby. I’ll let you know if I need anything else.”
“You kind of remind me of someone… are you sure we haven’t met before?”
“Oh, I think I would remember you,” he replied, and she tittered at him, flashing him a coy smile.
He ate his pie, chatted with Ruby some more and wondered whether it would be a red flag to call the hospital to find out about Kayleigh. Deciding that yes it probably would be, he went back to the motel where he was staying, feeling no clearer on the decision he’d made. Matt, his brother, would never doubt his decision, he would’ve made the right decision the first time, as would their father. But comparing himself to them did him no good, it just made him feel like shit.
He kicked off his shoes and went over to the closet and opened it. He stared at the outfit in front of him, the one that had simultaneously broken him and set him free. He trailed his fingers over the white satin, the ruby, orange, and black rhinestones glinting in the light. He had a yearning unlike any other to put it on, to feel that rush, but he pushed it down, shutting the closet door.
He turned to the cage in the corner of the room and stuck his fingers through the bar, tousling the long white fur of his pet rabbit.
“Did you miss me, Geralt?”
Geralt proceeded to lick his fingers then nibbled, because Geralt could be a dick sometimes. “Okay, I deserved that. You won’t have to be in the cage long, it’s just until we get our own place and then you’ll be free again, I promise,” he crooned at the beast and Geralt gave a sassy flick of his head. Ben added some more hay to the holder which Geralt proceeded to fling everywhere.
