Kelly Bateman hadn't been homein eight months, and with each mile that brought her closer to Bergen, she felt her chest tighten as if an invisible band were constricting around her lungs. The scenery outside the rental car window had transformed gradually, the busy airport and interstate giving way to suburbs, then to open country roads flanked by barns, pastures full of cows, and empty fields stretching toward the horizon.
In the summer, the now bare fields would be filled with row after row of corn. What was the saying? Knee high by the Fourth of July? Yes, that was it. There would be a Sweet Corn Festival in August, too.
It was beautiful in a way that always made her heart ache. This prairie landscape should have felt like home, but instead reminded her of all the reasons she'd left.
Stealing a glance at Ben, she could see his profile calm and focused on the road ahead. His baby blue eyes were steady, his hands relaxed on the wheel. He'd offered to drive after they'd picked up the rental car at the airport, claiming he enjoyed long drives.
Kelly hadn't argued. She’d made this drive several times, but she was happy to turn over the duties to someone else. She had the distinct feeling that he was well aware her nerves were jangled and on edge.
"My father," she began, then cleared her throat. "My father is... well, intimidating is the word most people use. He's the president of the local bank, and he thinks that gives him the right to interrogate everyone like they're applying for a high-risk loan."
"I've dealt with intimidating men before."
Ben was almost smiling, as if something she said was amusing. This was no laughing matter. He was about to meet David Bateman, and there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in hell it would go well.
"Not like my father," Kelly warned, her fingers drumming an irregular pattern on the car door armrest. "He's going to ask you about your job, your income, and your family background. He’ll want your entire life history essentially within the first ten minutes of meeting you."
She was still having trouble believing Ben had volunteered for this. Only a week ago, after their impromptu pizza and wine night, he'd knocked on her door with Lori's case file in hand and a proposal that had left her momentarily speechless.
He wanted to help with the investigation, and he offered to go to the wedding with her. He’d be the buffer between her and her family, and together they could do some digging into Lori’s murder.
It was too good to be true, and there had to be a catch.
There had been, of course, but not a deal breaker. He simply wanted her to return the favor and pretend to be his girlfriend for his mother’s birthday in Montana.
She watched Ben's profile, trying to reconcile the man beside her with his tailored button-down shirt, expensive watch, andmanicured nails, with the bits and pieces she'd learned about him over the past few days. Born in Montana. Raised in a small town called Harper. Father was a small-town sheriff, but now retired. A successful business career in New York that had recently hit some unspecified roadblock. It was none of her business, so she hadn’t asked.
"My mother," Kelly continued now, pulling herself back to the present, "is even worse in some ways. She'll smile the whole time she's judging you. She'll ask if you attend church, if you want children, and what your five-year plan is. She'll phrase it all very politely, but make no mistake. It's an inquisition."
"I think I can handle it," Ben replied, his voice calm and reassuring. "They sound a lot like some investors I've dealt with."
Kelly wasn't convinced, but she appreciated his confidence. Hopefully, he wouldn’t regret his offer to help her and catch the first flight back to New York City.
“And then there’s my brother and sister,” she continued. “Celia is younger than me and actually quite sweet, but she’s definitely under my parents’ thumb. She usually tries to get me to give in. And my brother, Rob, is a whole other kettle of fish. He’s my parents’ favorite and can do no wrong.”
“Is he a bit spoiled then?”
“Spoiled is the understatement of the century. Rob is a gigantic toddler who thinks everything belongs to him and that he should get everything he wants.”
“He sounds…fun. And he’s the favorite? Interesting.”
“My mom and dad are constantly making excuses for him.”
“That must get tiring after a while.”
“I’m just trying to warn you,” Kelly said. “I want you to be prepared for what you’ve gotten yourself into. Amy and Dina are thrilled about me bringing you, by the way. My parents may not like you, but my friends do. They ran an unofficial backgroundcheck on you the minute you left my apartment that night, by the way.”
“You’re joking? Ben laughed. “That’s wonderful. You have good friends. I guess I must have passed,”
"Don't worry, you passed with flying colors. Somehow, they confirmed you're not an ax murderer or a con artist, just a seemingly normal guy who's inexplicably willing to attend a stranger's family wedding."
"Not a stranger," Ben corrected. "A neighbor. And fellow crime enthusiast."
"Right, because that's so much less weird." She pointed to the upcoming intersection. They were almost there, and her stomach clenched tightly. “Turn right there.”
What did she have to look forward to?
The Bateman family, who were undoubtedly waiting for her arrival with a perfectly set table, perfectly arranged flowers, and perfectly rehearsed judgments about her life choices.
