It was shortly past 6:30PM when Ben met up with Ashley and the teens on Catherine’s front step. They had a couple of small suitcases with them and Ben was carrying the clamp-on highchair for Catherine’s dining room table. Ashley smiled at his thoughtfulness.
“Is Tina not coming?” she asked.
“Tina’s otherwise occupied this evening and incredibly, she’s not a big fan of pizza. Crazy, right?” he said to the teens who gave him a grin. He could see they were becoming much more comfortable around him.
Catherine pulled the door open with a big smile and welcomed them in. Ben made the introductions and their host insisted they all call her Cat. She explained that her daughter Megan was with her study group and would join them later. Ben affixed the highchair to the side of the table then waited in the living room while Cat led the ladies upstairs to drop off their bags in the rooms they would sleep in. She led them all back down to the living room and told them the pizzas were on their way. Everyone got comfortable.
“How goes the unpacking?” Ben asked.
“I’m so forgetful! I can’t find the bolts to assemble the bed frames. I put them in envelopes and I was sure I taped them to the headboards but they’re all missing. And the hoses for the washing machine. I was sure I put them inside the machine as I recall draining them but they aren’t there. I was so sure but…” She shook her head in frustration and worry.
Ben was watching Ashley when his mind suddenly locked on an image of an older woman, her face a picture of her broken spirit, and a purple black bruise on her cheek.
Catherine asked Ben if he had any spare hoses and noticed he was staring off into space with a grim look on his face.
“Ben? … BEN!” Catherine called becoming a little concerned. He finally turned his head and blinked.
“Sorry. What?” he asked, a little dazed.
“You OK?” she asked.
“Yes, just a little tired I guess. Sorry, what were you saying?” he tried to get his mind back in the conversation.
“I was asking if you had any spare hoses for the washing machine.” Catherine repeated.
“No, they’re easy enough to pick up at a hardware big box store but you won’t get to use them until you get your water turned on which requires Ashley’s husband to get here.” He turned to Ashley. “He’ll just have to go to the store when he gets here. It’s just past the grocery store.”
She nodded but looked down.
The doorbell rang and Catherine popped up. “Pizza’s here! I’ll need helpers to carry it. Not you Ben! You’ll eat it all before we get to the dining room.” she teased for the girl’s benefit. They giggled as Ben frowned sadly. Ben led Ashley into the dining room. Ashley insisted he sit in the guest of honor seat and she sat on the other side of the high chair after she got Joshua situated. Moments later Catherine, Madison, and Savannah walked in loaded with boxes and bags.
There were three large pizzas, chicken wings, two kinds of salads and a variety of soft drinks. Madison and Savannah looked like they were in heaven and Ashley smiled at the teen’s happiness.
Once more Ashley and the two teens clasped their hand and closed their eyes in prayer before they began to eat. The woman gave a grateful look to Ben and Catherine for waiting and remaining silent through their prayer.
Megan arrived home and introductions were made. Ben informed the young woman that they’d registered Madison and Savannah at Megan’s high school that day. Megan proceeded to fill in the two teens about the amazing clubs and after school programs offered by the high school. The girl’s moods took a nose dive and Catherine discreetly signalled to Megan to change the subject. She switched to talking about which teachers were good and how to manipulate the not so good ones. Madison and Savannah perked up but Ben could see they were still sad about the clubs. Ben tried to keep a smile on his face but the idea that their father would prevent the girls from participating in the clubs adding yet another black mark on his impression of the man.
Ashley looked at Catherine and saw how she looked at Ben. She was very confused at the relationships going on in this neighborhood. She saw Ben was a very nice man and would go out of his way to help his neighbors. She was grateful for his assistance and for introducing her to these nice people. She knew that once Eli arrived she would have much less contact with them so she was really enjoying herself now. She’d be punished later but that was later.
She saw there was a lull in the conversation so she thought she’s see if Cat knew any anecdotes about Ben like Tina did. “Last night when we had dinner at Ben and Tina’s place she told us the story of how Ben saved her son. He saved us from a long walk home with our groceries the first day we met. Did he save you as well?” she smiled at Catherine who was grinning widely by this point. Ben looked nervous.
“Many of us think of Ben as a white knight riding in to our rescue and he has certainly proven willing to step up to that role when necessary. My fairy tale is a little different. When Ben was injured by that man with the club he was rushed to the hospital and it was touch and go for a time. It was so bad that he died four times before they finally managed to stabilize him but by then he was in a coma. For over two months Ben rested in a sleep he wouldn’t wake up from. Gabriella went to the hospital every day and sat by his bed reading to him, freshening his flowers, giving him sponge baths-” she froze as she realized she’s divulged a secret. Ben’s eyes went wide as did Ashley’s. Catherine pushed forward. “Anyway, Ben had been in a deep sleep for over two months. I visited most nights after work and Gabriella and I discussed measures for waking him.” Ben’s face began to go red as he figured out where this story was going. “We’d exhausted everything and were getting a little desperate. We were standing next to his bed, looking down at his peaceful face and I called him Sleeping Beauty. Gabriella suddenly looked at me with this big smile and said she was going to try kissing him awake. I heard the nurse coming so I told her there wasn’t time but she went ahead and did it. She kissed him and she jumped when she felt him returning her kiss. When I looked Ben still wasn’t moving so I kissed him as well and he kissed me so sensually it sent tingles right to- well, it was very, very good. Then his eyes opened and he was back!” She smiled at Ben drinking him in with her eyes.