Page 15 of Triple Puck Valentines

“Fine. Jesse and Abe will be here tonight. The team won. Isn’t that exciting?” I throw that out to distract him from me. He flings his fist up in the air with a “yes. Knew they’d do it.”

“Can we go back to the hotel now? I’d like to nap. You wore me out last night.” My smile is I want to play with you again. But I really need a nap.

“Mama said you wouldn’t go when she wanted to show you the spare room. If you’re that tired why not lay down?”

Of course she’d say that. I frantically run words and possible scenarios through my head. What explanation would work. Truth would be perfect, but not sure if he would believe that. Why not?

“Um. Well. Remember you said to stay alert here? So that’s what I’m doing.”

“Stay alert? Don’t trust us brother?” Noah says from behind Hutch. A can of cola in his hand. He walks over and sets it on the coffee table.

11

HUTCH

“Igot a phone call. That’s why it took a little longer to get the soda. The church found out you were here and wants to have a BBQ later to celebrate your return.” Noah adds to his conversation.

“How did they know I was here?” I don’t want to have anything to do with that cult. They can’t be trusted.

“I don-.”

“Because I called Brother Hamilton and told him. He was so excited.” Their mother interrupts Noah.

“Why would you do that Mama? I don’t want anything to do with that cult.” I snap, exhaling in a loud huff of air. I press my lips tightly together, holding my arms crossed tight to my chest.

None of this is going how I planned. It’s getting closer to Valentine’s Day and I want to be gone by then. Haven is not much of a haven. For me or anyone I love. Except for my mother.

“I don’t want to go to a BBQ from your church.”

“But you must. There are good girls I want you to meet.” She presses her palms together as if she’s praying.

My jaw drops to the floor and scrapes against it, I turn first to Noah and then Kat. She knows I’m in a relationship. What the hell?

“Why would you do that?” Noah is trying to hide a smile behind his hand. He’s scratching at his cheek with his middle finger. If I could get my hands on him and give him a beat down.

“I’m with someone. I don’t want anyone else.” I turn to Kat for some help, but her face is tight and closed off. Her eyes turned down, staring at her folded hands. She’s not going to help. Something is going on, she’s not mentioning. What the fuck?

“Meet the girls. Their beautiful and dutiful. What every man wants.” Her lips are closed, but turned up. As if she’s proud of herself for causing me these problems.

“I don’t want a dutiful young girl as you say it. What the hell Ma? Young girl? How old are theseyoung girlsthat are being sold off. That’s what’s happening right? Being sold to the man with the most money? They agree to this?” My brain can’t wrap around this idea of hers. Why would she think I would want a young girl? To marry? Does she have dementia now?

“Don’t be silly. Of course they want this. They were raised for this. Taught from a young age to be a good wife.”

I’m staring at Kat willing her to say something. She’s rolling her eyes, but she’s still not saying anything. It’s left to me.

“Ma.” I say slow. “Do you understand what you’re saying? They have no will. They have no choices.”

“Well. No. I never did. Noah’s father was chosen for me.” She spoke slow like I did. She doesn’t understand my problem with the concept.

“They should have their own choices.”

“Hutch. She’s never going to agree.” Kat finally speaks, and Ma glares at her. When she sees me looking her face immediately changes to a smile.

“This cult needs to end.”

“I agree, but we can’t do that ourselves.” Foreboding hangs over Kat and me, like a dark cloud about to rain down hail and tornadoes. We don’t know what can happen at the BBQ, she glares at Ma, I wonder if something happened while I was outside with Noah.

“Are you talking about my church? You are aren’t you? You can’t destroy us. We are of heaven. Unlike the devil’s mistress over there.” Ma points a skeletal finger at Kat who rolls her eyes again.

---