Chapter 6 #2
"Kelly?" Ben's voice penetrated her frozen state. When she didn't respond, he reached over and placed his hand over hers on the door handle. His touch was warm, steadying.
What was it about this man that made her feel so comfortable? Dare she say…protected. As if everything was going to be fine.
But she knew better.
"We can do this," he said quietly. "We can handle whatever they throw at us. We’ve got each other’s backs. We’re a team today."
Kelly looked at him then, really looked at him. His confidence wasn't just for show. It emanated from him like a physical force. He truly believed he could manage her family. But then, he hadn't met them yet.
"You don't know them," she warned, her voice barely above a whisper.
"No," he agreed. "But I know you. And if you're their daughter, there must be something good in them, somewhere."
The words landed softly, a kindness Kelly hadn't expected. She felt something shift inside of her. If he could be this confident, she had to try, too.
"That's a nice thought," she said. "Wrong, but nice."
"Only one way to find out which of us is right."
Kelly nodded, drawing in another deep and steadying breath. She could do this. For Lori. For herself. And maybe a little bit for Ben, who had volunteered for a weekend of family dysfunction with a woman he barely knew.
The front door of the house opened before they could exit the car, and Kelly's heart sank as she saw her mother step onto the porch, wearing her Sunday best on a weekday afternoon.
Because of course she was. Jenny Bateman would never greet a guest, even her own daughter, in anything less than perfect attire.
"Ready?" Ben asked, his hand still covering hers on the door handle.
"No," Kelly admitted honestly. "But let's do it anyway."
The front door flung open, and the Bateman family emerged, all lining up in a row at the top of the driveway.
Ben expected them to be smiling, throwing their arms open for their middle child, but none of that happened.
They simply stood there, their arms at their sides, with sober but pleasant expressions.
Frankly, he’d seen pizza delivery guys given more of a warm welcome.
Her father, David, led the way, his silver hair catching the afternoon light, his posture ramrod straight as if he were still in the military rather than the banking profession.
Behind him came her mother, Jenny, impeccable in a pale blue dress and her brown hair streaked with gray, styled in a chic short bob.
Celia followed, looking both excited and nervous, her hand clasped tightly in her fiancé Trevor’s, the two of them presenting the picture-perfect image of a young couple on the brink of matrimonial bliss.
Quickly, he mentally ran through all that Kelly had told him about her family, especially their interests, jobs, and hobbies. He would need all the information he could gather to survive the weekend.
"Showtime," he whispered before taking her hand. Her skin was freezing cold to the touch, but he wasn’t shocked. The frosty demeanor emanating from her parents would have made penguins ecstatic. “We got this.”
"Kelly!" Celia broke ranks, rushing forward to envelop her in a hug that appeared genuinely warm, especially in comparison to the parents. "I'm so glad you're here!"
Kelly returned the embrace, an authentic smile breaking through her anxiety.
"Hi, Cel. You look great. You’re going to be a gorgeous bride on Sunday."
"You look good, too," Celia replied, pulling back to examine her. "New York agrees with you."
Before Kelly could respond, her mother stepped forward, arms extended for a much more restrained hug. The older woman looked like she’d just bit into a lemon.
"Kelly, dear. We were beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten your way home.”
Ah, a dig. Kelly had warned him about this. He looked forward to the passive-aggressive barbs from David and Jenny. He had a feeling they were masters at it by virtue of plenty of practice.
“I’m afraid we ran into some traffic,” Ben replied before Kelly had a chance. “I do apologize.”
He was there as a human shield, so he might as well take the first few arrows thrown.
Giving him a grateful smile, Kelly turned slightly, drawing Ben into the circle, only for her parents to take a step back.
Well, she tried.
"Everyone, this is Bennett Reilly. Ben, this is my family—my parents, David and Jenny Bateman, my sister Celia, and her fiancé, Trevor.”
Yeah, they don’t want me here at all. In fact, I think they don’t want Kelly here either. What a clusterfuck.
Luckily, he wasn’t easily intimidated. His father and uncles had taught Ben to be confident, stand toe-to-toe with someone, and never let them see you sweat.
Ben stepped forward with smooth confidence, extending his hand first to the father.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. Kelly has told me so much about you."
And you don’t know if it’s good or bad.
David Bateman took Ben's hand, his grip visibly firm as he assessed the younger man. Ben recognized the tactic. Fathers weren’t always the biggest fans of men who they thought might be having sex with their little girls. He’d been here before with far more menacing men.
It was the handshake test, where Dad judged a man's character by how he responded to an overly aggressive grip.
Ben didn't flinch or wince; instead, he maintained steady eye contact, his own handshake equally firm but not competitive.
The two men sized each other up in that brief moment, an entire conversation happening without words.
Something shifted in David’s gaze, but it happened so quickly Ben couldn’t tell if it was positive or negative.
"Ben," her father acknowledged finally, releasing his hand. "What is it that you do?"
Ben heard a soft sigh from Kelly. She’d warned him, and he was ready with his answers.
"Dad, can we at least get in the door first?" she asked, trying to keep her tone light.
"Of course, of course," her mother interjected with a tinkling laugh that didn’t sound genuine. "Where are our manners? Come inside, both of you. I have refreshments ready."
The Bateman family home was exactly as Kelly had described it.
Every surface gleamed, every pillow was perfectly plumped, every picture frame aligned with mathematical precision.
The living room could have been photographed for Better Homes and Gardens at a moment's notice, with not a speck of dust or a single item out of place.
His mother had liked the house to be clean, too, but she’d been a bit more relaxed about it. Two working parents, three kids, two dogs, two cats, and a guinea pig named Nibbles did not add up to perfection in any way, shape, or form.
"Please, sit," Jenny directed, gesturing to the pristine cream-colored sofa. "I'll get the refreshments."
Ben was almost afraid to sit down. Why did he get the feeling that this sofa normally had a plastic slipcover on it?
Stop it. I’m being a sarcastic asshole.
Ben sat beside Kelly, close enough to provide moral support but not so close as to appear inappropriate. Celia and Trevor took the loveseat across from them, while David settled into his leather armchair, positioned perfectly to observe everyone in the room.
"So, Celia," Kelly began, attempting to direct the conversation, "how are the final wedding preparations going?"
Her sister launched into an enthusiastic description of flower arrangements and last-minute details, but he could easily feel the weight of David’s stare. He hadn’t taken his eyes off of Ben since they'd entered the house.
Hopefully, it meant that they’d focus their attention on him instead of Kelly.
Her mother returned with a tray bearing a crystal pitcher of iced tea, pristine glasses, and a plate of cookies arranged in a neat circle.
"Here we are," she announced, setting the tray on the coffee table with practiced grace. "Lemon cookies, Kelly. They're your favorite."
Next to him, Kelly stiffened momentarily, but her expression betrayed nothing.
Note to self. Ask Kelly about this later.
"Thanks, Mom. That’s lovely. Everything you bake is always delicious."
"So, Ben," her father began, leaning forward slightly, "Kelly hasn't told us much about you or anything at all, really. What line of work are you in?"
Here we go.
"I've been in business development and data analysis software implementation for the past decade," Ben replied smoothly. "Most recently, I was part of a three-way partnership developing custom data analysis solutions for corporate clients."
"Was?" David caught the past tense immediately, his eyes narrowing.
Did you think I’d come in here unprepared? I was born prepared.
"Yes," Ben acknowledged without hesitation. "My partners and I recently dissolved the company by mutual agreement. Everyone wanted to explore new opportunities. We sold the company and the code base.”
"I see," the older man said, his tone suggesting he didn't see at all.
"And what are your prospects for…exploring new opportunities?"
"I've had several offers, but I'm taking my time to find the right fit. I believe in making deliberate choices rather than rushing into situations I might regret. I’m lucky in that I have the luxury of taking all the time I need to make the decision."
It looked like his answer had shut David up, but Ben wasn’t naive. As soon as the man regrouped, he’d be back at it. For now, he was pondering Ben’s insinuation that he didn’t need to work and was financially independent.
"And your family?" her mother interjected, passing the cookie plate. "Are they in New York as well?"
"No, ma'am. They're in Montana. A small town called Harper. My father was the sheriff there until his recent retirement. My mother owned the local coffee shop for years. My sister took over as sheriff, and my younger brother manages the coffee shop."
Ben watched as Kelly’s parents exchanged glances, trying to reconcile Ben's polished appearance and confident demeanor with his small-town, middle-class background.
What can I say? I’m complicated.