“Actually I don’t think we’ll have time. I’ve packed our itinerary pretty full,” Gabriella said. “We’re only here for three nights and have two day trips, tomorrow to Turin and the day after to Lyon. Then we head for Cannes. We head out each day after breakfast and come back before dinner so we can spend the evenings with you. I’m imagining Ben will skip both day excursions since he has renovations to do,” she said with a grin and he nodded.
“Ah Gabriella! Always the planner! You never change!” Alexis smiled fondly at her cousin. “Did she tell you the story of her Day of the Week panties yet?”
“Alexis! Don’t you dare!” Gabriella shrieked.
Ben and Catherine perked up but Alexis just laughed at her cousin’s flustered expression.
“We’re going to look around the grounds,” Rachel said with a grin and left with her sisters, Miriam and Daniel.
“Since we have time maybe you could show me what needs to be done, renovations wise?” Ben asked.
“Ah, we’ve lost him,” Catherine quipped and Gabriella shared her grin.
“Would it be ok for me to steal him away for a second?” Alexis asked looking at the two friends. They raised their hands in surrender and Ben grinned eagerly as he followed Alexis from the room.
Stephanie entered from the opposite door using her white cane. “I heard voices so I followed them here.”
Gabriella and Catherine stood up. “Stephanie, I’d like you to meet my best friend Catherine.”
The two women shook hands then they all took seats.
“So you are neighbors… with Ben as well?” Stephanie asked.
“Yes. I live on Ben’s north side and Gabriella lives on his south side. We’ve both known the man for years.”
Stephanie tilted her head and a confused expression came over her face.
“What’s wrong?” Gabriella asked.
“I’m not sure if I should say. I don’t want to cause conflict between you two,” Stephanie said quietly.
The two friends looked at each other in surprise. “Please tell me,” Gabriella said.
She hesitated then spoke. “When you spoke of Ben earlier I could hear the love in your voice. Catherine has the same love in hers when she speaks of him,” she said with a worried tone.
“Ah, that’s all. It’s true. I love Ben. So does Catherine. So does Tina and Trish,” Gabriella said. “In fact, Tina lives with him, is having his child, and at our suggestion will be marrying him when we get back. Trish is another of our neighbors.”
“Don’t forget Lucy. I seriously believe the girl is infatuated with him!” Catherine added in.
“Yes, I think you’re right,” Gabriella nodded.
Stephanie’s confusion just increased. “… but Tina’s the one who’s having sex with him?”
“No, we all are,” Catherine said.
“Ben’s a special case. Despite the damage done in his childhood he has a tremendous capacity for love. We’re in love with him and he’s in love with us. We share his time and sometimes his bed. He’s not promiscuous. He needs an emotional context for sex. He’s… a very physical man,” Gabriella explained.
“Incredibly physical!” Catherine blurted.
Stephanie smiled at her outburst. “So, no jealousy?”
“No. There can’t be. That’s torture for Ben. A woman’s emotional pain is something Ben can’t endure, particularly when he’s the cause. Besides, we know his love is genuine and he’d never hurt us so there’s no need to be jealous.”
Stephanie looked thoughtful.
“Did you arrange to get the armature made?” Gabriella changed the subject as she heard approaching footsteps.
“Yes, I convinced Richard that I needed it for tomorrow morning. He’ll deliver it then,” Stephanie said as Alexis rushed into the living room to hug Gabriella.
“What?” Gabriella said with a grin.
“Ben said he’s going to be able to complete the work in the next two days so we’ll just need to do the painting and decorating afterwards,” Alexis gushed.
Ben followed her into the room and smiled at the grinning women. “Just a little plumbing, then some drywall with taping and mudding, and some tiling. No biggie.”
“Five rooms! He says he can finish five rooms in the two days!” Alexis exclaimed as Béatrice rushed in to find out what the fuss was about. She looked at Ben in surprise.
“Well you still have to get me the supplies I listed so that’s going to eat into the time. You’ve got some decent tools and there is stuff I can do tomorrow until you get back but I’ll make real progress when you get back with the stuff. I’ll need an assistant.”
“Me!” Alexis yelped. “I want to learn how to do this kind of work so I can do my own repairs.”
Ben grinned and nodded. Béatrice rushed over and gave him a big hug. He hugged her back with a smile.
She turned to her partner. “We’ll be able to paint next week then get the furniture in and have the rooms decorated and ready for the beginning of the following week! I can update our website to list the new rooms and post some photos. So much to do!” She was grinning.
A short, plump woman wearing an apron over a flowered dress entered the sitting room and nodded to Béatrice.
“Ah! Dinner is ready! Everyone, this is Marie who is a master in the kitchen!” Béatrice said with a flourish and Marie smiled with a deep blush.
“Ben, could you look outside and see if the ladies are on their way back?” Catherine asked. He nodded and headed for the front door. Daniel was entering as he stepped outside.
Dusk was approaching and he noticed the gazebo was lit up with tiny white lights. The ornate structure was very large and was obviously designed after the famous one in the Sound of Music. He wandered over and spotted Sophia dancing in its center with her sisters and Miriam sitting on the benches watching with rapt attention.
He stopped at the open double doors to watch her graceful moves. He didn’t want to break the magic of the moment but she noticed him standing there and paused her dance.
“Have you come to dance with me?” she said with hope in her voice.
“As delightful as that would be our dance will have to wait as our hosts have called us to dinner,” Ben said. He held out his elbow and Sophia gracefully flowed over to him and took his arm. “Your dancing is exquisitely graceful!” he said.
“Thank you kind sir. I will hold you to your promise of a dance,” Sophia said, keeping the spirit of the scene alive.
They elegantly walked back to the entrance of the main building with the others following with silly grins on their faces. When they got to the dining room they were shown to their chairs. Alexis was at the head of the table with Béatrice to her right and Stephanie to her left. Daniel looked very pleased to be seated next to Béatrice and Miriam sat next to him. Gabriella sat next to Stephanie and Ben sat between her and Catherine. Sophia was next to her mother and Rachel sat across from her. The end of the table opposite Alexis was for Marie who would join them once she and Alexis had delivered all of the food to the table.
Miriam grinned with pleasure at being seated across from Ben and he shared her joy. He pretended to fire something across the table at her with his spoon and Gabriella took it from his hand and put it back on the table as he stuck his bottom lip out in a big pout. Miriam giggled and Daniel joined in. When Ben sneakily reached for the spoon again Gabriella rolled her eyes and took it and Ben pouted once more causing more giggles from across the table.
Alexis and Béatrice watched the exchange with a twinkle in their eyes.
Marie came out of the kitchen carrying a huge antique serving tureen and set it in the table near Alexis. She left and returned with several baskets of cut bread still hot from the oven. There was fresh butter on the table and a huge bowl of garden salad tossed in a vinaigrette dressing.
Alexis lifted the lid of the tureen and the amazing scent of the coq au vin reached the noses of the hungry guests. Everyone smiled and made appreciative comments. Marie smiled shyly. Alexis began ladling servings onto plates and handed them around the table. Soon everyone was reaching for bread and salad and a look of bliss came over their faces as the tender coq au vin melted over their tongues.