Page 45 of Forget Me Not

I do as I’m told, taking the seat I was instructed to, next to a pale-skinned girl who shivers nervously as I sit down. “Hello,” I quip. Unhurriedly, I undo the buttons on the sleeves of my shirt, slowly rolling them just below my elbows. With a crisp snap, I open the neatly folded fabric napkin and spread it across my lap. “This does smell lovely.” I wink at Gladys.

She smiles coyly before sticking a wooden spoon into a large stainless-steel bowl of mashed potatoes.

It’s been months since I’ve had a nice home-cooked meal. Following Rhea came with sacrifices, but I’d gladly make them all over again.

Hit with many questions, such as where I’m from, how long I’ll be staying, and where I’m going next, I answer them truthfully. I’ll be here as long as it takes and I’m going wherever my future wife wants to go once our time in Lockhaven is done.

Heather, another guest that came in today, was asked the same questions. But her responses were simple nods and shrugs. There’s something off with this girl.

We finish eating and I offer to help Gladys clear the table.

“You are the sweetest man to stay here in a while, Alaric. We’re happy to have you.”

I set a stack of dirty dishes in the sink, then place a calming hand on Gladys’s shoulder. “I’m always happy to help. Just holler whenever a hand is needed.”

Her smile is soft and sweet and it’s proof I've got her right where I want her. Before long, every person in this house, every soul in this town, will be doing my bidding. That power will open the gates for Rhea and me. Before long, she'll see who I am, and she will be begging for a place at my side.

“Do you know many people in Lockhaven?” Gladys asks as she squirts some dish soap onto a rag. There’s a dishwasher right beside the sink, but something tells me Gladys is very old school when it comes to washing her dishes.

“Not many,” I tell her truthfully. “Rhea and I have bumped into each other a couple times. She seems like a very…sweet girl.”

“Oh, she certainly is. And that boy she’s been running around with, he’s as sweet as sugar.”

My eyes narrow, teeth grinding. “Boy?”

“Tyler Jarman,” Gladys says as she scrubs at a casserole pan. “Rhea seems quite smitten with him. Can’t say I blame her. He reminds me of my late husband, Carlisle.”

My nails dig into palms as my fists curl tightly. “Tell me more,” I demand, anger bubbling inside me.

She doesn't pick up on any of that, though, as she continues to wash the plates. “There really isn’t much to say about them, but I get the feeling she’s quite taken by him. Always going next door when he’s working. She actually had dinner plans with him tonight.” Her gaze shifts to the hallway, following the sound of footsteps, and she taps a sudsy finger to her chin.

“That might be her now. I’m surprised she hasn’t left yet.”

I walk to the hallway and look left to find the old man from dinner walking into his room. Returning to Gladys, I say, “It wasn’t her.” These dinner plans she’s got are news to me. If Rhea thinks for a second she’s going to meet up with this fucking kid tonight, she’s sadly mistaken.

“Well, Tyler is a very sweet boy. He grew up on a farm not far from town and has always been a helper to those in need. Much like you, Alaric.” Her smile is gentle and soft and I have to remind myself not to hurt the poor old lady just because I don’t like her words. Tyler and I arenothingalike.

As for Rhea being ‘taken by him,’ over my dead fucking body. She will not be smitten or taken. The only thing she will ever be, from this point forward, is mine.

The doorbell chimes and Gladys drops a spatula in the sink. “Who could that be at this time?”

It’s six o’clock in the evening and she acts like it’s the middle of the night with her hurried steps to the door.

After shutting off the water Gladys left running, I walk to the doorway in the kitchen, looking into the living room as she pulls open the door.

“Tyler,” Gladys gushes as she strokes her cheek with her wrinkly fingers. “It’s so nice to see you again. Are you here for Rhea?”

I size him up, knowing it won’t be hard at all to break his scrawny neck. If he lays a finger on my girl, that’s exactly what I’ll do.

"I am. She called and said she wasn’t feeling well.” He holds up a brown paper bag. “So I brought her soup and tea.”

My heart pounds fiercely in my chest, eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets. “I’ll take that to her,” I tell him as I approach him and Gladys. I reach for the bag, but Tyler holds it back.

“I’d actually prefer to give it to her myself, but thank you.” He eyes me skeptically, as if I’m just some random man and not Rhea’s future husband.

Nostrils flaring, I try to steady the rage brewing inside me. “Fine,” I say point-blankly while glowering at our guest. “Gladys,” I place a calming hand on her back, “why don’t you return to the kitchen and I’ll showTylerto Rhea’s room? Assuming she wants company.”

Gladys nods and steps back. “Come again soon, Tyler. A friend of Rhea’s is a friend of ours.”

---