“His Mother left us in the winter . . . about three years ago.”
After another pause, he said, “It was in January, after Christmas, she passed.”
Josh Able had been on a date discussing his wife’s death from breast cancer. When he started talking about his eleven-year old son, he thought- probably not the best strategy.
Did I overplay my hand?
Josh knew being anxious, desperate and TMI were deadly combinations when on a first date. After two and half years of online dating, he thought he knew pretty well what does and does not work. But there is always that unknown. What’s going on behind those blue eyes? Is she out of my league?
I need to let her speak. Don’t talk too much.
The restaurant was Italian. His friends told him that it’s the place to take a date. Good food, cloth napkins, lit candles and brick walls made the place classy if not romantic.
He watched her stroke the wine glass with her thumb and index.
She still paid attention.
She looked pretty like the online photo.
At least she seemed to be honest.
Having used the Internet dating service route more times then he could remember his nervousness was soon gone.
“Has to be tough on your boy.” She said this with a hint of sadness thought Josh.
After a pause, she asked, “What’s his name?”
Good sign. She seemed genuinely interested.
Josh learned after a couple of dates that using subterfuge by not putting everything in the online profile settings up front was a mistake.
He thought about Cindy. He really got along with her until the day she found out he had a son. She claimed his not being open in his online profile ended things. Not the fact he had a son. He didn’t believe her but better to be upfront.
This one though knew everything and nothing seemed to be a surprise to her. What she didn’t know she asked. Refreshingly she seemed to sincerely want to know about Josh and his son.
“His name is Samuel though we call him Sam.” After pausing Josh added, “He hates Sammy.”
After another pause, Josh said, “He’s named after my Father.”
“Can I see a picture?”
“Sure.”
Strumming photos on his phone Josh found one that he liked and held the phone across the table.
“Here we are fishing on Lake Carver.”
He became startled when she put her warm hand around his hand to hold the phone steady.
“Handsome looking boy.”
Josh didn’t know how to respond. In better times he would have said she obviously takes after his mother.
Finally, he said, “Thanks.”
She asked, “How old is Sam?”
“He’s eleven going on twenty-one.’
She smiled.
She said without hesitation, “I would like to meet him.”
Looking down toward his plate, Josh said, “I would like that.”
***
Josh felt under pressure to make this work. Sam’s grandmother had taken him in during summer months to help Josh out. But, living a thousand miles away and her plans to go to Europe next summer meant he needed to make other arrangements soon. He told himself that wasn’t the only reason Sam needed a mother figure. But the sooner he found the right woman the better he thought. Three years was enough.
“Sam, I want you to meet someone.” Took Josh a couple days after their last date to get the nerve to tell his son that he wanted him to meet Suzy.
It wasn’t so much how his son would react that worried Josh. It was the fact that they were taking such a huge step together. It had always been just the two of them since his mama passed.
The real scary part for Josh had been dating Suzy for less then a month. While they seemed to get along and he saw the relationship working it worried him that she wanted to meet his son so soon. But, she kept insisting on meeting Sam before they kept seeing each other. She finally made meeting Sam an ultimatum.
Suzy told Josh, “I want a serious relationship. I really think how your son gets along with me is a decider as much as you and me getting along.”
Josh and Sam were watching a “Walking Dead” episode when Suzy tapped on the door. Her coming over had been planned though Josh didn’t tell Sam that tonight was the night. When Suzy came in she kissed Josh and walked softly toward the lounge chair next to the couch where Sam lay. Nervous, Josh said “Sam, I want you to meet Suzy.”
Suzy sat down and held out a Lego toy while saying, “Josh tells me you like to build Legos.”
Eagerly she leaned forward and said, “So nice to meet you Sam.”
Josh quickly told Sam to stop the TV. Rudely he exhaled but complied.
Meekly Sam said, “Hello.”
Suzy was not one to waste time. Josh did and didn’t like that about her. She was so forward about things. None of his past dates had been this way.
“I want you to know up front two things about me.” She moved her head closer turning it at an angle and looked earnestly at Sam as he sat up and stared at the floor.
“First, I want you to know that I care about your dad a great deal and I want to really make him happy.”
Sam continued to be silent.
“The second thing is that I want us to be friends.”
Sam finally looked up and with his eyes watering he said, “You can’t replace my mama.”
Suzy, reached over and put her hand on his arm while saying, “I know honey, I know.”
***
Josh and Suzy were married three weeks from the day she met Sam. The wedding wasn’t special. A judge, a ring, Sam and some paper work was all it took.
Suzy told Josh she’d never been married before. Despite Josh’s pleading, Suzy said she didn’t care for a big fancy wedding. She wanted to keep it cheap. After all, “We want Sam to go to college one day.” She said this convincingly while smiling.
She later added that a huge wedding would be nothing but a big waste of time. Since, both her parents had passed and her siblings lived too far away she felt doing anything but going to a judge would be ridiculous.
Josh got her a three-carat engagement ring to try to make up for not having a wedding.
Suzy didn’t even want to do a honeymoon but Josh insisted. They went to the nearby Poconos and stayed in a cabin on a lake for a week. Suzy relented though she had been against Sam flying to his grandmother’s during the Christmas break so they could honeymoon. She said, “We aren’t going to be gone that long. Can’t he stay with some friends?” Before they left Josh had his first argument with his Suzy. It took a lot of effort but she finally agreed to let Sam go see his grandmother while they honeymooned.
When they got to the cabin, Suzy become upset at the lack of a cell signal. Josh would never say anything but he thought that Suzy was overly addicted to her cell phone. Talking and texting were continuous seemingly at most times of the day. The first thing she wanted to do was to borrow the car to find a signal. She told Josh she just wanted to go check on Sam.
“Suzy? Do you think you will ever tell me you love me?” When she got back they made love as soon as she walked into the cabin. Josh had asked this question many times after having experienced awesome sex with her.
“Josh the word love is just a word. It’s more what we do for each other then the word itself.”
“I know but it would be nice to hear you say it from time to time.”
Suzy remained silent as she twirled her fingers through Josh’s chest hair. Finally, she said, “It will come . . . just be patient.”
Josh wasn’t going to complain. Despite Suzy’s quirks he was finally at peace.
***
Josh was excited for today. He came home from work anticipating a week long vacation break. This would be the first time they would be going somewhere as a family. Suzy should have everything packed and ready to go. They were now a year and a few days into their marriage. While it wasn’t the sappy kind of love, Josh found his marriage settling. Suzy had been a good wife.
Josh found Sam sleeping on the couch when he came in the front door. His face was buried in the back cushions. The room had become dim in the late afternoon waning sun. As Josh entered the den he could barely see the outline of Suzy’s head in the lounge chair next to the couch. The television was off.
Softly, Josh said, “Baby are you awake?”
Suzy in a solemn voice said, “Yes Josh, please go over there and sit down.”
Sensing something appeared wrong, Josh went toward Suzy in a rush.
Again, she said, but this time in a harsher tone, “Sit down!”
Quickly he complied.
As he rushed to sit, two men wearing dark suits entered from the kitchen. Both men looked to Josh like ex-football players. One went to the door while the other stood near the kitchen entrance that led to the back door and garage exits. They stood silent.
“Josh, I’m an employee of the seriouspeopleonly.com dating service that you accessed over a year ago today.”
Suzy paused to determine if Josh wanted to speak. His eyes wide, he sat and remained mute.
“As an employee of the company, my job is to match up and date widowers for the purpose of financial gain.”
Josh said in a short burst, “What?”
“Research has shown the most vulnerable to be the widower.”
“Sam, what, what, have . . . “
“He’s ok at the moment. I just gave him some hot chocolate with a sedative.”
“How, how . . . ”
Suzy interrupted Josh again, “I think you’re going to ask me how can I do this?”
Looking at him with her sincere blue eyes she said, “Josh you will be my fifth transaction over the past seven years. Our company is national in scope and is very thorough at cleaning things up. I probably will be located a thousand miles from here with a complete new identity by tomorrow.”
Almost gasping, Josh said, “Why?”
“Pretty simple answer. Money. I mean, why on Earth do you think I pushed to have a small wedding?”
Suzy shook her head as if it was Josh’s fault and said, “So far today we have drained your bank and savings accounts. Probably that money is now offshore. Unfortunately, there won’t be time to sell the house or for me to be the beneficiary of your retirement account. With that said, valuables like computers, paintings, cars and other miscellaneous items will be liquidated by my two colleagues here as soon as possible. Small but valuable assets like this ring will be mailed to and fenced by the company.”
As part of the company-mandated protocol Suzy decided to go ahead and tell Josh everything. She thought it seemed so stilted that the company felt it necessary to tell the victim what was going to happen.
“Josh I want you to look at this as a positive though you’ll probably have difficulty understanding this at first.”
He looked incredulous as she continued. “The primary assets you and Sam have are your organs. When we are completed with this briefing my two colleagues will give you an inject. . . . ”
Before she could say more Josh tried to get out of his seat. The bigger man moved quick and punched Josh hard in the face. His head snapped back and while water pooled in his brown eyes blood started leaking from his nostrils.
“Josh, please pay attention, see this as a business. No hard feelings. I will receive payment of 15% from the company once everything is completed.”
Josh’s head wobbled as Suzy continued with her dialog. She explained how the company would handle their disappearance.
“They will make it look like I’ve disappeared with you and Sam as well. Us going on vacation for a week makes liquidation of things and body disappearance quite an easy task.”
Her explanation included the incineration of remaining body parts.
Leaning forward she said, “If it means anything you were my first male client and the sex went beyond fantastic.”
She said bluntly, “There really aren’t that many widowed males out there you know.”
Looking satisfied, Suzy said, “If there are no further questions we’ll need to close out the transaction before I leave.”
Josh felt too woozy to speak as Suzy nodded for the men to proceed. This time the smaller in frame man brought out a hypodermic needle. Soon Josh would be unconscious after receiving the injection.
Both Josh and Sam were put into the same zip up body bag.
Standing now, Suzy said to the company men, “It would be so much easier if we could terminate them now.”
Turning away she finished by saying, “I do understand though. Whatever needs to be done to keep the organs fresh.”
***
Josh walked into the jail foyer and came to the cell where Suzy had been staring up at the ceiling. Behind him trailed a shy Sam.
Suzy spoke first. “Glad to see you’ve woke up kiddos.”
“Do you think you can ever forgive me?”
Josh and Sam just stared.
Suzy this time stammered, “You’ve got to understand if I didn’t follow the company plan they would’ve killed me.”
Josh frowned. He said, “You really are a good liar.”
Though timid, Sam peering around Josh muttered, “I watched the video and listened to you talking to my Dad.”
Suzy’s demeanor changed instantly. She said angrily, “You know I’ll be out in no time. I’ll squeal and there will be a lot of heads rolling before I ever stay in jail.”
She finally said while frowning, “I trained with the company for a year before doing this.” Stammering while shaking in anger, she said, “They said I’m one of their best actors?”
Finally, after a humph and sigh she added, “How’d you figure it out?”
Josh looking into her eyes said, “If it makes you feel any better you had me fooled all along. It took Sam and the FBI to catch you.” Smiling, he added, “They pushed it close with my kid but they’ve been tracking your company for years. Your company isn’t going to be happy that you gave it all up on tape.”
After a brief moment, Sam smiled and said, “I told you . . . You could never be my mother.”
As Josh and Sam walked out of the jail, two jailers entered. One held up a long tightly rolled up bed sheet coiled around his arm.
Neither Josh nor Sam thought anything of it as they moved past them quickly.