Ben’s smile slowly dropped from his face. He glanced nervously around to see who else was watching the show. Every screen he could see in First Class had the program on. Gabriella looked over at Ben and saw his worried expression. She leaned over and asked Miriam and Daniel to change the channel. They protested until their mother explained why. They both looked over at Ben then shut their screens off. Ben looked back to his.
The camera panned over the front lawn at the chateau where some stone workers were packing up their tools. A small stone pedestal had been built on the lawn and something stood upon it under a sheet. A dozen or so photographers were preparing their cameras for the unveiling.
“Oh GOD NO!” Ben gasped. Faces turned in his direction.
The picture cut to a second camera facing the chateau and the pedestal. Alexis and Béatrice walked into the picture with Stephanie between them. They looked thrilled by the attention the chateau was getting. Richard and Henry came in next and took up a position on the opposite side of the stone base. With a few words to Alexis the camera didn’t pick up, Richard reached out, took a grip on the sheet and gave it a tug.
There was a collective gasp in his earbuds from the people at the scene as well as from the passengers around him. The sound of cameras firing filled his ears and Ben tugged his earbuds out.
On the stone pedestal stood a four foot replica of Ben in burnished bronze.
Completely naked for the world to see.
Ben put his face in his hands and groaned.
“Oh my GOD! That’s BEAUTIFUL!” Catherine gasped loudly then winced as she realized how loud she’d been. Karen and Penny looked back at him with wide eyes.
Ben lurched out of his seat and made for the washroom. He yanked open the door and dropped to his knees before the toilet as his breakfast made a hasty exit. His body kept heaving until there was nothing left to eject. Then it squeezed a few more times just for the pain. Ben slumped against the wall gasping and felt a cool damp towel wiping his mouth. He glanced up and saw Gabriella looking down at him in concern. Catherine was right behind her.
“I’m so sorry Ben! I should have insisted she keep it private!” Gabriella said sadly.
He could only nod.
“Sir, are you alright?”
Ben looked over his shoulder past Gabriella and saw the flight attendant looking in at him. Her eyes widened as she recognized him and Ben turned away to rest his forehead against the cool surface of the wall.
He rested for a minute then he let Gabriella and Catherine help him to his feet and back out to his seat. He tore into the First Class goodie bag and pulled out the sleep mask and earplugs. Gabriella got a blanket and tucked it around him and he just tried to block the world out for the rest of the flight home.
Ben leaned back in the taxi’s back seat wedged between Karen and Penny. He rested his eyes as they drove through the dark streets towards his neighborhood. The two ladies watched the scenery, taking in their new home.
Their arrival on US soil was almost as chaotic as Ben had worried it might be. Apparently the stories about him in France traveled faster than their flight did and the press was waiting for him when he arrived. Not a lot of them but enough to make airport security extra surly and the Immigration Services process just a little more hellish. Due to the security measures the airport imposed his lawyer’s help wasn’t allowed to enter the area and Ben was largely on his own through the process.
He’d convinced Gabriella and Catherine to head home with their families while he stayed behind with the two ladies. Finally, after hours of answering questions and waiting the final documents were stamped and he’d been allowed to leave with the two women. Ben was exhausted both mentally and physically. He sent a text to Tina to let her know that they were on their way. He saw the time was 9PM and at this time of night it wouldn’t take long to get home from the airport.
His stomach growled loudly. Karen giggled and Penny patted his tummy. He smiled and hoped Tina had something to eat in the fridge.
Finally they pulled into Ashburn Court.
“We’re here,” Ben said softly. Penny was looking at the homes passing by on the right and Karen was looking to the left.
“Such big houses!” Karen gushed. Ben smiled and wondered what their reaction would be to his more modest home.
They pulled into his driveway and the ladies jumped out to get the luggage as Ben paid the driver.
The taxi pulled away as Ben stood looking at his home. His heart warmed with the familiarity of its cozy exterior. He slung his laptop case over his shoulder and pulled his suitcase behind him as he walked up to the front door. He carried all the suitcases up the stairs as the door opened. Tina stood in the doorway with a beautiful smile.
“Welcome back Ben!”
Ben set the bags down and gathered the small woman up in his arms and hugged her. God, he’d missed this!
“Set me down, silly man!” she chuckled after she hugged him back.
He put her back on her feet and she looked around him to the two young women standing on the steps. “You must be Karen and Penny! I am Tina. Please come in!” Tina said with a small bow. She stepped back into the house and Ben followed with his suitcase. The ladies grabbed theirs and followed him in.
Ben heard voices and stepped into the doorway to his living room.
Sitting in the living room was Gabriella, Catherine, Rochelle, Hannah, Trish, Daphne and her twins, and Lucy.
“A few friends dropped by to welcome you home and to greet your new family members. Everyone, this is Penny and Karen,” Tina said with a sweet smile. Her eyes were twinkling with joy at having him home.
Everyone waved and said hello to the two young women and they smiled and waved back.
Gabriella and Catherine both came over and hugged Ben at the same time.
“Thank you for making our trip so special!” Gabriella said. “You look tired so you should head straight to bed. We’ll talk in the morning.” She gave him a kiss and headed home.
“Good night Ben!” Catherine said as she crushed her body to his, giving him a deep kiss. A familiar zing shot through his body and he shook his finger at her when she pulled back.
“Remember what I said about kisses like that at the end of the night!” Ben scolded her with a smile.
She grinned wickedly and headed out.
Rochelle walked up to him with a conflicted look. She was still a little hung up on the fact that Ben was marrying Tina. She knew what Tina said but maybe Ben’s feelings for her had changed?