“Please, call me Ben. I’m a semi-retired mechanical engineer. I do freelance engineering… coming up with solutions for issues for individual and companies. I have a number of patents on stuff I’ve done over the years. That pulls in enough income to allow me to do the stuff I want to do when I want to do it.”
Ashley looked at Tina and seemed unsure what to say so Ben continued.
“Tina is going to University this summer for some preparation courses for the Bachelor of Science in Accounting course she’s signed up for in the Fall.” he said with a proud smile.
Ashley’s expression slipped for just a second. Intense longing showed before she pulled a smile in place. Ben missed it but Tina didn’t.
“Your next door neighbor in the house between ours is Catherine McGovern. She’s the CEO of Kids-2-Kids. She has three daughters all a year apart, two in University, Sophie and Rachel, and one just finishing high school, Megan who is bound for University next year. On my other side is Gabriella Wallace who has a business importing high end fashion accessories from Milan and Paris. She travels there to make deals with the manufactures. Her daughter Miriam is 16 and her son Daniel is thirteen. Next to them is Beth Wilson who’s a Dental Assistant. She has a son John who is… 17 now? Her daughter Jane is 16 and good friends with Miriam. Then there’s a retired couple the Walkers. You won’t see them much as they spend most of the winter in Florida and the summer in their back yard garden.” He smiled thinking of the older couple.
“Next to them is Daphne McKellen and her twins Lisa and Lori. I just helped renovate their house to turn it into a daycare. I expect to see 25 kids in there by summer. There is still space if you were interested in getting Joshua in.”
“No, Eli wouldn’t allow that. I mean- he’s a firm believer of the mother’s role and place. You say you renovated the building?” Ashley changed the topic uncomfortably.
Tina picked up the conversation as Ben was stuck on the ‘wouldn’t allow’ statement. She touched his arm to get him to lower his hackles and Ashley caught the gesture.
“Ben is a master at everything he does. He renovated this house when he bought it. Every room! The kitchen is my favorite room as it is amazingly efficient in it use of space and work surfaces. The daycare is beautiful and the twins say it is the best one in the state and they are graduating from University this year in Early Childhood Care & Education. He also renovated the master bedroom, ensuite, and guest bathroom in Trish’s home.”
Ben was uncomfortable with the praise so he moved on. “Trish Campbell you’ve met. She lives next to Daphne and has a son Mason who is now or soon to be 12 I think. She has a young woman whose name is Lily, renting out a room in her house. Lily is the daughter of another neighbor two doors to the west of you who put her home up for sale and moved to Florida. Next to Trish is Rochelle King who lives with her daughter Sara and her son Jayden, both adults now. Then there is the Greens and the Robinsons who I haven’t spoken with much. Across from the Robinsons at the west end of the street on your side are the Bakers, another retired couple, no kids. Then Luis and Jaclyn Hernandez whose son Ramon is getting married this year. Then there’s Jacob and Emma Brown whose daughters Natalie and Victoria will be working with Daphne and the twins in their daycare. Hannah Cooper is next. She has a twelve year old son named Ryan. Hannah is the Hospital Administrator of Western Mercy. A good lady to know.” he smiled.
“Yes, she saved Ben’s life after he was injured saving Christopher from being stolen from me.” Tina exclaimed. Shocked eyes turned to Ben and he had a pained expression.
“I’m sure no one wants to hear that story.” he grumbled.
“You are TOO modest Ben!” Tina scolded with a smile. She had everyone’s attention so she began.
“The house for sale next to Hannah belonged to Joanne White, Lily’s mother. But the house for sale next to yours once belonged to my husband. After he died his mother came from Korea to steal my son. She had a very bad man with her. Ben was outside and saw me crying. He came to help me and the bad man attacked him with a metal club. Ben fought him off and made my mother-in-law flee back to Korea. Ben was hurt. He thought it was just bruising but he collapsed when we got to Catherine’s house. Hannah called the ambulance as she knew it was bad. I was told that he died four times but they saved him. When he returned home he found the bank was going to take my home away so he took Christopher and me in.”
Now all eyes returned to Ben and he squirmed. “Anyone for more roast beef?”
Madison nodded with wide eyes. Ben placed a slice on her plate and tried to ignore the stares. She took a bite but in her inattention she had a huge blob of hot mustard on it and was soon dealing with watering eyes. Savannah started to giggle at her sister and passed her another biscuit. Madison put the entire thing in her mouth. More giggles ensued.
Ben gave Tina a look to get her to stop with the stories and she dropped her eyes and nodded with a smile. She was proud of her man. Again Ashley caught the interchange.
“So there are two houses for sale on the street?” Ashley asked.
“Yes, but Tina’s is tied up in bank red tape so there hasn’t been any movement on it. I check every day and I have the bank manager keeping an eye on it. There are some legal issues with the estate of Tina’s late husband. Luckily none of them can touch Tina but the house must be tied up in that mess. Joanne White’s house went on the market and there was a bidding war. I placed a bid but the other two bidders just kept the bid rising. The last time I looked the highest bid was ridiculously high. I haven’t heard if it sold yet. I feel bad for Joanne as it should have sold by now.”
“You were going to buy another house?” Madison asked in shock. She surprised herself with her bold question.
Ben smiled at the girl. “Yes, it would be a good investment.”
“Ben owns Trish’s home and she rents from him.” Tina said and saw Ashley’s body stiffen and eyes narrow as she looked at Ben. The reaction surprised Tina so she continued. “Trish was going to lose her home to the bank after her husband died but Ben bought it from her so she could pay her debts and continue to live in the neighborhood. Her son and Hannah’s are best friends.”
Once more eyes turned to Ben and he looked at Tina pleadingly. She dipped her head in apology.
Ashley was getting more and more confused about Ben. His house was the smallest on the block but the inside was beautiful. He lived with a young Korean woman and her son but she couldn’t tell what their relationship was. She’d seen that Trish woman enter his home with him when Tina was not there and when she left she wasn’t wearing her bra. Did this indicate some kind of sexual activity happened? He owned her house. Was he demanding sexual favors in return behind Tina’s back? Then there was that embarrassing event in the drug store. But he came to their rescue at the grocery store twice. Would he start making demands in return? Eli would be there soon and she was worried how they would get along. Either they were the same and life could get harder or they were opposites and life might get ugly. Either way she was getting nervous. She’d have to tell him everything and she was expecting him to get mad.
“Does anyone want more?” Ben asked unaware of Ashley’s darkening mood. As the teens pushed back from the table they smiled and shook their heads.
“No room for ice cream and chocolate or caramel syrup?” he said with a fake look of astonishment.
The girls grinned. “Chocolate!” Madison called. “Caramel!” Savannah chirped. Ben looked at Ashley but she just shook her head. Ben headed into the kitchen with some of the dishes. The teens gathered the other dirty dishes and followed Ben into the kitchen.
Tina looked over at Ashley, aware of the woman’s conflicted look. “Is everything alright?”