The Marradith Ryder Series Part 46
As he feared, Justin was a few minutes late for his lunch with Marradith’s parents.
Nora was sipping iced tea, and Paul was on his second drink. Justin wondered if they were arguing with each other before he arrived; there seemed to be tension between them.
He straightened his tie and sat down, trying to smile.
Nora just shook her head at him as if he were at a lost cause, and stuck the straw back in her mouth.
“Well it’s nice of you to actually show up,” Paul grumbled. “We just got into town today. What was so important that we had to come out here for?”
Paul Ryder was a big man. Not fat, but just plain big. 6′5 and built like a football player. Though he claimed to be too far removed from Leighton to have ever changed form into a Wolf, Justin knew from personal experience that this wasn’t true.
He certainly had the aura of a Wolf about him now.
An angry Wolf, ready to protect his young.
“I thought that you might enjoy a pleasant meal out, seeing as we’ve had you cooped up in a safe house all this time.”
The waitress came and took their order. When she was finished, Justin continued.
“First off, I am sure Rafael told you, but I want to tell you personally: your daughter is amazing. If you allow her to continue with us, we’ll be more than fortunate to have her as an active.”
“So you’re here to tell me that my daughter will make a good soldier?” Paul spat.
Nora glared at her husband, but he ignored her.
“I’m here to ask your permission to let us continue to work with Marradith.”
Paul tightened a fist.
“I think we know what happens when children… like ours… are left on the outside.” Nora said quietly. “That’s why our son is…wherever he is.”
So that’s it Justin thought. They were talking about Scott before I came in.
“I have a proposition for you.”
“Huh,” Paul said. “I can’t wait for this shit.”
Justin turned his attention to Nora.
“We know what would usually happen with a subject like Marradith. She would be taken from her family, by force, permanently. And that would be the end of it.”
“How’s that any different than what you’ve already done?”
“Let the man finish,” Nora implored.
“As she told you this morning, Marradith did inherit Leighton’s house. It will go into trust under your names until she turns eighteen. You’ve seen it. It’s a huge property that rivals the compound Rafael works out of.”
“And?” Paul said.
“The original plan was for Marradith to go to the Compound to be trained. But I see no reason why she can’t be trained right here. It’s unheard of in our group, but what we’re talking about is having a complex just for your family, and of course, some of our support staff. Fiona and Rafael would be included. Will Keyes. And of course, your own guards and staff from the safe house you stayed at before, whichever ones you decide to keep.”
Paul sat back, crossing his arms. He cocked his head to the side. “And I suppose you expect to live there as well?”
Justin locked eyes with him. “Yes.”
“It does sound reasonable,” Nora added. “It’s a way to keep the family together.”
“That is exactly my intent,” Justin said in his most soothing tone. “The most difficult thing for Marradith has been separation from her family. It will take two years before she is a fully trained active, and I see no reason for her to be taken away any sooner than that. She will receive the best education from us, highly superior to what she’d receive at most schools in the country.
“We can easily arrange for new jobs for you and Mr. Ryder. I do understand that your own lives need to continue as well.”
Nora nudged Paul. “What do you think?”
“This will be a safe environment for you all, Danny included,” Justin added.
“Well you seem to have thought about it a lot. What does Rafael think?”
“He’s on board. All we need is agreement from you both.”
“Agreement,” Nora sighed. She rolled her eyes, and Justin almost laughed. He’d seen that exact look of exasperation on Marradith’s face.
Paul’s jaw clenched. “What I want to know is where do you get off telling me what my daughter needs? You don’t have any right to go planning her life.” He raised his voice. People were looking.
“You’re causing a scene,” Nora said.
“Like I give a damn!”
“Paul!” Nora didn’t dare look, but she felt the eyes of the other guests at the restaurant on their table.
“Mr. Ryder,” Justin paused. His mouth had gone dry . “ The offer I am making is for her benefit. Her safety and her happiness are my utmost concern. I am seeking a middle ground here, between what you want and what the Sojourners can offer.”
“This whole thing is a dog and pony show. You’re not asking permission. You’re here telling us the way it’s going to be, the way you always planned it, since you knew,” he lowered his voice, “since she was a little girl and you people knew she was going to be special.”
“That’s not true.”
“Justin, maybe we can talk about this, in a civilized manner, at some other time,” Nora said, cutting her eyes at her husband.
“It don‘t care what Justin‘s got to say.” Paul grumbled, looking him straight in the eye as he said it.
Justin lowered his voice. His words dropped like stones. “There’s something else you should know. I love your daughter, and I am going to ask her to marry me. And that will be her decision to make, not yours. Maybe the question you should ask yourself is whether or not you want to make the effort to be in your daughter’s life, or just bitch and moan how things should have been different.”
“You can’t marry her without my consent.”
“Not without the consent of one parent, Paul,” Nora corrected. “You didn’t ask me what I think.”
©2009 Lori Titus
Lori Titus is the Managing Editor for Flashes in the Dark, and Short Story Editor for Sonar4 Ezine. Her work has been included in three anthologies so far. Most recently her stories appeared in Mausoleum Memoirs, and Toe Tags: 21 Spine-Tingling Stories by the Best New Authors in Horror. Meanwhile, she continues to write The Marradith Ryder Series, posted here weekly. For more info, see her blog at :
http://loribeth215.wordpress.com
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October 14th, 2009 at 1:00 am
[...] http://flashesinthedark.com/2009/10/14/we-are-ryders-by-lori-titus Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Ryder-ologyMonster/JudasMarradith Ryder #45’Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie’ Airs Tonight! [...]
October 14th, 2009 at 6:09 am
Ah, nothing like a dysfunctional family with preternatural abilities coming together to break bread. And when Justin said, “…or just bitch and moan how things should have been different,” I was waiting for a bitch slap from daddy right then and there. Looks like momma got other ideas.
October 14th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Yeah I think he would have it he weren’t in pure shock!
June 16th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Time to meet the parents, brave guy Justin. At least he did it in a public place, that will keep them from reacting to badly.