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Stephanie wobbled into the kitchen. “What happened?” she asked nervously.
Alexis pulled back from her partner and turned to her sister. She wiped the tears from her eyes. “Ben was in an accident but he’s ok!” she finished in a rush as she saw her sister’s shock. “It was a very close call and he could have been killed. Ben was riding one of the new bicycles when Arsene shot at him and tried to drive him down with his truck. Somehow Ben got away but Arsene crashed his truck and died.”
“Arsene’s dead?” Richard, Henry, and Stephanie all gasped in unison.
Alexis looked at the men and nodded. “Yes, he died in the crash and burned when the trucks caught on fire.”
Stephanie had a strange look on her face, somewhere between awe and satisfaction. Béatrice saw it and was confused. “What is it?” she asked.
“Ben said he was ‘going to have to do something about him’ and he certainly did,” she smiled grimly.
Alexis frowned. “Steph! Ben didn’t do this to kill Arsene! He was wearing cameras which showed he was surprised by Arsene’s appearance and had to flee for his life! Arsene’s death was an accident!”
“I can’t watch the video so I will believe what I want to believe. He is my hero! Where is he? I want to give him a hero’s kiss!” Stephanie said stubbornly.
“Ben was injured in the attack. Henry had to dig five shotgun pellets from his back then the fall from the bicycle inflicted more damage to his skin,” Alexis explained.
“More scars?” Stephanie gasped, looking shaken. “Take me to him!”
The group looked at the woman in surprise then her sister guided her to the living room. “Ben is resting on the coffee table on the couch cushions,” the older sister whispered. “Don’t wake him.”
“Guide my hands to his back. I’ll be gentle,” Stephanie whispered back.
Alexis frowned at her sister then lifted her hands up to the top of Ben’s broad shoulders. Stephanie nodded when she knew where her hands were. She concentrated hard and feather light she moved her hands down his back. She got the locations and sizes of the cuts and once she reached his waist she pulled her hands back and fixed the image in her mind.
“I need to go back to my room please,” she said to her sister. Alexis led her away as the rest stayed and watched Ben sleep.
“He couldn’t have planned that, could he?” Richard asked his partner who was frowning at Ben. The words sunk in and Henry scowled at his lover, shaking his head in disappointment. He turned and left as Richard hustled after him apologizing. Marie went back to the kitchen so Béatrice sat down on the couch to keep an eye on the big man.
About an hour later Ben’s eyes twitched and slowly opened. He saw Béatrice resting on the couch and he tried to move. All be managed to do was moan. Béatrice’s eyes flew open and she leaned forward.
“Ben! You are awake?”
“Yes, but now I wish I wasn’t. Can you get me some painkillers?” he moaned.
“Right away. One or two?”
“Three, please.”
“They are very strong!” she warned.
“All the better.”
She rushed away and returned with three pills and a glass of water. She found Ben sitting on the cushions. “What are you doing sitting up!” she cried.
“How else was I going to swallow the pills?” he asked.
Her mouth worked but she had no answer so she just gave him the medication and water. She watched him wince as he lifted his arm to drink.
“Where does it hurt?” she asked gently.
“I wrenched my shoulders when I grabbed that branch and my back feels like I was dragged through a cactus patch. Multiple times. While it was on fire,” he grinned and she smiled back. Then her smile vanished.
“Ben, we very nearly lost you today. Alexis and I would never have forgiven ourselves for our part in taking the love of Gabriella’s and Catherine’s life away from them. It has shaken us up terribly. Please do not joke about this,” Béatrice said seriously.
“Ok, but let’s be REALLY clear on one very important thing. You and Alexis played NO part in the danger I was in today! You two bear NO responsibility for what that lunatic tried to do! Maybe he was intending to come up here with that gun and kill everyone! Maybe he would have come after me when I drove by with Gabriella and the kids! I certainly didn’t want to be in that situation but considering he had a shotgun and a truck and all I had was a bicycle the fact that I walked away alive and he didn’t tells me I did ok! I thank you both for that ride,” Ben’s voice boomed in the large room.
Béatrice looked at him with wide eyes as she trembled. “I want to hug you so hard but I think that would hurt,” she said.
He nodded. “Yes, it would. A lot.”
Suddenly her lips were pressed against his and his eyes were wide with surprise. She pulled back with a grin. “Not to worry, I still play for the other team.”
He smiled back.
“First our cook and now you’re going after my woman!?!” Alexis said in mock outrage.
“Tempted. Seriously tempted, but I hear she plays for the other team,” Ben smiled and saw the look in Alexis’ eye. “You heard me?”
“Everyone heard you!” Alexis exclaimed.
Ben pushed himself to his feet. And both women moved to stop him but he raised his hands. “It’s time to show you how to grout tiles,” he said.
“BEN! That’s insane! You will NOT be grouting a bathroom after being shot!” Alexis yelled.
“I’m not going to do it. You are. I’m just there to instruct. I promised I would help you finish but my arms and back aren’t going to let me do that. So what I can do is impart my knowledge to you. Really, you’ve shown me you can do everything I’ve shown you with professional results. Once you know how to grout you can finish on your own and you’ll feel more pride in knowing you’ve done the work yourself,” he explained.
Béatrice looked doubtful but saw the pride in Alexis’ eyes so she caved.
They walked upstairs with Ben and he began his lesson.
Gabriella’s and Catherine’s reaction to his being shot and almost run over by a truck was significantly stronger than their reaction to the clubbing. Like the bomb at Hiroshima was stronger than a hand grenade.
Ben endured their clinging to his arms and waist and crying on him for over an hour upon their return.
He was unable to disguise the fact that his back was a raw mess and his movements showed the aches and pains he was in.
Béatrice had edited the videos she’d taken from his cameras and had put copies onto a memory stick for him to take with him. They watched the edited versions and this started the tears once more. The scene where Ben walked down the hill to see Alexis and Béatrice crying over his apparent demise hit those two particularly hard and they were in tears as well. Daniel and Miriam cried and Ben felt no shame in his own tears as he hugged them until their tears stopped.
He finally had to say enough when the group attempted to watch the videos for a third time. He told them it was over and he was alive and just slightly worse for wear but would heal. He wanted the tears to stop and to hear about the adventures they’d had in Lyon.
Daniel showed him some pictures but after a short time everyone could tell the mood was wrong. They’d have to come back to this later. No one felt like eating and Gabriella suggested everyone go to bed as they were supposed to be on their way in the morning.
Ben went to the kitchen as he actually was hungry having missed lunch. Marie made him a wonderful meal with leftovers and he kissed the back of both of her hands making her blush fiercely. She surprised him by kissing his forehead before she headed home. Alexis and Béatrice were sitting with him and watched their cook with wide eyes as she left.
Gabriella and Catherine joined them in the kitchen and crowded around the kitchen table to be near Ben as he ate. Both began to pick off his plate until he glared at them and Alexis brought out the rest of the leftovers and made some plates for her other guests. Sophia, Rachel and Megan arrived and everyone moved to the dining room as the kitchen table couldn’t fit that many people. Gabriella’s kids were next and made sandwiches from baguettes and sliced meat.
Stephanie made a rare appearance. She had clay smeared on her arms and hands and on her face as well. Alexis cleaned her up at the sink and made her some food.
The informal dinner was nice and the mood had finally lightened. Once they were done everyone helped clean up then the group gave their hosts hugs and kisses.
Ben watched Stephanie’s satisfied expression. “How’s it going with the clay sculpture?” he asked.
“It’s done,” she said with a deep smile.
Everyone perked up asking to see it.
“Tomorrow morning before you leave I will have a showing before Richard arrives to take it for his bronze casting process,” she said.
Alexis rolled her eyes.
“She’s rolling her eyes, isn’t she,” Stephanie said and chuckles erupted.
Their group made their way upstairs and Ben hugged Daniel and gave Miriam a hug and kiss before sending them off to their beds. Megan kissed him and pressed herself fondly against his chest afraid to touch his back.
Sophia’s kiss was a little desperate and he held her face gently as he slowed their kiss and felt her calm down. He kissed her tenderly and she smiled at him dreamily as she went into her room.
Rachel had tears beginning to pool again so he kissed her hard and left her gasping with a smile and a spinning head.
Gabriella and Catherine made it clear that they fully intended to sleep in his bed with him tonight. He didn’t argue and they all brushed their teeth together. Afterwards he crawled into the middle of the bed and gently laid down on his stomach. He wasn’t to sleep on his back tonight and no hanky panky but the women understood and were well behaved. They snuggled in beside him and soon they were all asleep.
Ben had a bad moment in the middle of the night as he relived the race down the road only this time the branch broke and he went under the wheels. He woke screaming and Gabriella and Catherine were there to calm him down. Sophia and Rachel, who were sharing the room next to his, burst in to see if he was ok.
He was under the covers and the room was pretty dark so he was only mildly embarrassed. He realized they were still just anxious. He sat up and tucked the sheet around his waist as he offered to hug them. Rachel was immediately on the bed and pressed herself against him. As she pulled back from the hug she stopped to look at his mouth then kissed him quickly. Catherine gave her daughter a gentle spank on the butt as the young woman slipped off the bed.