Page 42 of The Lonely Hearts Guide

“I apologize, Mother. I know it’s uncouth, but I’m going to have my say.”

Mother arched an eyebrow. “Is that so?” She didn’t look angry or bitter the way Elliot expected. Instead, she looked absolutely amused by Clarence’s defiance. Elliot didn’t have a chance to gloat over someone else going against Mother’s wishes, because Clarence turned to Elliot and poked him in the chest next.

“She is your mother, and you will show her the respect she deserves. I have had it up to here with your attitude. First, you run away from your master. Then, you stow away on Mother’s luxurious cruise ship and ruin the entire event. Then you shove her into the sea.” He points to the door. “Those men and their bountiful beaus are probably beside themselves at the thought of losing Mother. You have single-handedly broken every heart present, and I’m afraid I cannot allow it to stand.” He turned and faced Mother. “Mother, may I have permission to pull him over my knee? I believe he requires a firm hand.”

Elliot’s body shook. Surely, he wouldn’t. Not in front of Alexander. It would be absolutely humiliating for Alexander to see him reprimanded with a spanking.

Alexander wrapped a protective arm around Elliot. “If you even think of touching him, you and I are going to have a problem.”

To Elliot’s surprise, Mother smiled at him. “May I have the room, Clarence? I’d like to speak with my son.”

Clarence’s jaw dropped. “But Mother. He—” The look Mother shot him stopped Clarence in his tracks, and he quickly nodded. “I apologize. I just don’t enjoy listening to you being disrespected. You work tirelessly, and no one sees it but me.”

Mother cupped Clarence’s cheek and kissed his forehead. “And that, my love, is why you are Mother’s special boy. I adore you, but I need a word with your brother.”

As Clarence stood in the doorway, he held it open, staring at Alexander and Mrs. Peppercorn. “She would like to speak with him alone. Follow me, please.”

Alexander shook his head. “Not happening.”

Mrs. Peppercorn, however, followed behind. “I’d love to stick it out and do battle, but I think I need a little nap, then I have a ship to run.”

Mother narrowed her eyes. “If you attempt to assume my identity again—”

“Listen, Momma,” Mrs. Peppercorn said, yawning loudly. “I’m going to do everything in my power to make this trip a dream for those boys out there. If you try to get in my way, there will be hell to pay.” Squaring her shoulders, Mrs. Peppercorn turned to Clarence. “Come, son. We’ve got a busy day today, and I’m going to need all hands on deck.” She offered him a ridiculous salute. “Can I count on you to be my backbone?”

“I amnotyour son!” Clarence responded, looking mortified. “My mother is Ms. Emily Broussard.”

Mrs. Peppercorn pointed to a handwritten name tag that said, “Hi, my name is Ms. Emily Broussard, and I love you with my whole heart.” Clarence scoffed, but Mrs. Peppercorn ignored it, clapping him on the back and leading him out of the room.

“Boys,” Mother said when it was just the three of them. She pointed at a small table in the corner, and it was the first time Elliot had looked around the room. The small enclosure was roughly the size of Jared Price’s living room, and there were powered-down bountiful beaus lining the walls. In the center of the room was a white operating table, which made Elliot nervous. He knew Mother’s other right-hand man—an unnamed gentleman Mother only ever referred to as The Creationist—was on board the cruise, and Elliot would have been lying if he said he wasn’t worried about the man popping out and surprising Elliot with an impromptu reprogramming.

The chairs at the table were uncomfortable, made of some form of metal or iron that had been crudely painted white, with little bits of black poking through in places the painter had missed. There was an electric kettle and three small teacups, each with tea bags already placed inside.

Alexander didn’t seem to be a fan of Elliot sitting less than a foot away, because he slid back in his chair and patted his lap. Elliot blushed, his insides spinning with warm and fuzzy feelings. Elliot quickly shifted from his seat into Alexander’s lap. When he looked up at Mother, she had what appeared to be a genuine smile on her face, far from her usual feigned looks of happiness. It was a sight that made his hands shake.

“You care for each other?” she asked.

Elliot opened his mouth to speak, but Alexander beat him to the punch. “I adore him.” He looked into Elliot’s eyes and squeezed his knee. “And I don’t care what it takes to make it happen; I’m not letting you take him back to that hellhole. He’s suffered enough.”

“Mr. Price has a legally binding contract. Even if I had the authority to nullify our contract, why should I?”

“I’m not asking you to nullify anything,” Alexander argued. “I’m telling you that if you expect me to sit back and allow you to return him to his abuser, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“Mr. Davenport,” Mother said before sighing. She flipped the tab at the bottom of her electric kettle. Blue light flickered from the kettle’s base, pouring through the glass and shining all around. It matched the shade of blue-blue-blue flashing in Elliot’s eyes. “As much as I appreciate your care and concern for Elliot, I’d like to hear from him.” She turned to Elliot and stared deep into his eyes like she was trying to read his mind. “Tell me why, Elliot. Tell me why you would choose to leave Jared Price for Mr. Davenport?”

Elliot’s cheeks warmed, and he had to look away. He couldn’t handle the intensity in Mother’s gaze. “Master Price hurts me. He doesn’t allow me food—”

“You don’t require food,” Mother pointed out.

“I know. That doesn’t make me want it any less. He forces me into depraved situations I want no part in. He strikes me. Often.” Elliot’s jaw wobbled as tears filled his eyes. “He forces me to power down every day. When he started, it was only once a night, but now, any time I’m in the way, he makes me shut myself off. Every time, it feels like I’m dying. I’ve died thousands of times for him, and he doesn’t even care.” Elliot wiped his eyes. “When he wanted a dog, the animal shelter could see what a detestable man he is, and they refused him service, yet you gave him an entire person to abuse for his sexual gratification.” Elliot sniffled. “The first six months, when I was still at home learning how to be a househusband, you told us to trust you, that you were sending us to happy homes. Then you sent so many of us to the most horrible men in the world. You betrayed us, Mother. You created us to suffer. Why? Why would anyone ever do that?”

“Elliot,” she said, her voice soft like silk.

Elliot shook his head. “Haven’t I hurt enough? I’m not strong enough, Mother. I’ve tried to be a good househusband like you taught me, but there’s no pleasing him.” He reached across the table and squeezed Mother’s wrist. “Please? Please, don’t send me back. If you send me back, he’ll kill me.”

Mother sighed, twisting her wrist until her palm was facing upward, an invitation for Elliot to hold her hand. Be it his training or simply that he’d been touch starved for so long that he’d take any form of physical connection, Elliot weaved their fingers together.

“Mother, I can’t go back,” he whispered. “I want Alexander. I want Professor Plum.” He looked over at Alexander, a single tear dripping down his cheek. “I want to visit Sugarplum Island and eat plum jam cookies and walk the streets at night while you hold my hand.” He placed the hand not holding Mother’s on his baby bump and slowly rubbed it up and down. “I want Alexander to raise her with me, not Jared. Alexander would treasure her; I just know it. Just as I know Jared would inflict the same abuse on her that he unleashes on me. He’ll teach her to hate the same way he does.” When he looked up, Mother was staring at their interwoven fingers.

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