He smiled and made his way downstairs to the living room and sure enough there they were. He slipped on his clothes and glanced out the windows. The sheers were drawn, thankfully, but he could see Ashley Beaumont standing on her front steps. Someone was standing on the path in front of her shaking something at her. He couldn’t really make out what it was but he had his boots on and was out the door before that person could hit her with whatever he was shaking.
He marched across the lawn and turned up Ashley’s driveway as she caught sight of him. He saw her immediate relief then nervousness flash across her face in quick order. The man standing on her path still had his back to Ben but he looked like a large heavyset fellow.
“Good morning Ashley,” Ben said loudly to catch the attention of the man who was still shaking… a book, he saw.
Finally the man turned and Ben could see his face, flushed from arguing. He was probably in his forties and had a large frame like Ben’s but his carried mostly fat. His features seemed squeezed towards the center of his face by the surrounding fat. Small eyes, small upturned nose, pinched mouth and… jowls.
He stared at Ben then recognition flared and he looked down his nose at Ben. “The immoral degenerate makes an appearance!”
“Excuse me?” Ben blinked.
“Come to take your perverted pleasures from the whore?” the fat man sneered, gesturing to Ashley over his shoulder.
Ben looked around the man to Ashley. “Do you know this pitiful inbreed?”
Ashley’s eyes flew wide and her eyebrows rose to her hairline as she clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle the shocked, but delighted, gasp that burst forth.
The man’s face went deep red and he took a step closer to Ben. “You are the filth that desecrates all that is virtuous and good in the world!” A little spittle flew from his tight, angry lips.
Ben suddenly saw his collar and realized he was facing a man of the cloth. He sighed and glanced at Ashley. He knew she was trying to find a church she was comfortable in. Obviously this one wasn’t a winner.
“And you are a sad little man. Small in intellect, small in spirit, and worst of all, small in heart. Likely you collect other small minded followers so you can pretend not to be lonely. You will find no comfort here. Be gone,” Ben said, gesturing down the driveway to the beat up Chrysler K car with the fake wood paneling.
Livid, the man swung his bible at Ben’s head. Ben was expecting it and just leaned back to avoid the swing. And the second. On the third swing he plucked the book from the man’s hands. The preacher flinched back fully expecting to be beaten in return. When the blows didn’t come he looked cautiously at Ben.
“This is a bible. Not a weapon. The words inside should be used for spreading love not hate. You’re a poor excuse for a man of God.” He saw the man’s eyes flare with hate. “Now, before you do something colossally stupid you should know that your actions are being caught by the camera I installed by Ashley’s front door. I’ve already got you trying to hit me with a bible. Would you like me to release that movie online, linked to your name? Or should I just send it to the police?”
The man’s little eyes shot to the camera above the door and he looked back with doubt on his face. “If you leave and never return that footage will remain in a safe place. Show your face again or disturb Ashley or her children and all bets are off. Is that understood?” Ben growled.
Looking like he was holding something vile in his mouth he nodded. Ben handed the bible back but didn’t let go when he took it.
“Read the passages about love. You might learn something useful,” Ben said as he released the book. The preacher stiffly marched down the driveway until he reached his car. He yanked the door open with a squeak then dropped himself inside. He drove away without looking back.
“I’m sorry about that Ben,” Ashley said quietly.
“Not your fault. There are a lot of people just like him out there. It’s just sad when they hide behind the collar,” he said.
“Would you like to come in for some breakfast?” she asked hopefully.
“Thanks but I should be getting home. Take care,” he said turning to leave.
“Didn’t you want to get the video of the attack?” she asked.
Ben looked back with a grin. “The camera doesn’t record. It just shows on the monitor inside.” He held up a finger over his lips and winked.
Her smile widened into a broad grin as she shook her head at Ben’s retreating back.
He let himself in his front door and Penny zipped out of the hallway sliding on her socks. She squeaked with glee and rushed over to get a hug. Karen rushed out of the kitchen and got a hug too.
“Getting ready for school?” he asked and got nods.
“We missed you at dinner last night,” Karen said with a pout.
“Sorry about that. Catherine was pretty upset. We talked for a long time and fell asleep. I just woke up. I missed dinner. Did I miss breakfast?” Ben asked.
“No, Karen is just making it now,” Penny smiled. She headed back to her bedroom to finish getting dressed.
They entered the kitchen and Karen rushed back to the stove where Lucy had taken over. Lucy handed the spatula back to the blonde and moved around the island to get a kiss and hug from Ben.
Lucy left the kitchen to finish getting ready as he went to Tina and gave her a kiss.
“How is Catherine?” Tina asked quietly for Ben’s ears.
Ben glanced at her but Tina just had a concerned look on her face. “She was pretty upset about breaking up with Chanel. They love each other but the distance was too much. Catherine won’t leave her girls and Chanel’s whole life is in Paris. It’s a bad situation.” He looked over a Karen but she was humming happily to herself as she prepared the meals for everyone.
He sat next to Tina and took her hand. “I’d intended to come home last night but I fell asleep and we didn’t wake up until close to 7AM.” He didn’t share the fact of his nightmare with her.
“You needed the sleep,” she said with a coy smile on her face.