It was Sunday morning, just the day after he’d returned from beautiful Costa Rica but Ben’s vacation already felt like a lifetime ago. The weather at home was cold and wet so staying inside was the game plan today.
News of his court summons had reached his circle of friends and they’d come to see him.
Trish and Rochelle were there because they’d been with him when he received the summons. Trish had called Hannah the night before to fill her in so she’d come over. Rochelle had spoken with Catherine but she had an appointment she couldn’t break in the morning so would be coming over later.
Ben sat on his living room couch fidgeting with his finger brace as he waited for Hannah to finish reading. Tina was quietly cuddled up against his right side and Lucy was cuddled up against his left, also silent. Truthfully it was only their calm confidence in him that was keeping his nerves from completely fraying. He was badly shaken by the reappearance of Wendy in his life after all this time.
Trish was fuming as she paced behind the couch. She’d had her moment to vent her outrage and was probably just recharging her batteries for another go.
Hannah was sitting across from Ben reading the document he’d been served at the airport the day before. Her expression kept jumping between anger and incredulity. Finally she looked up at Ben.
“The woman is certifiable if she thinks this will fly in a court of law! She can file for the divorce but she has no grounds to go after your money! She abandoned you! It’s been, what, ten years?”
“Twelve,” Rochelle corrected.
“Fucking FUCK! Twelve fucking years she’s been gone and NOW she’s back?!?” Trish exploded.
“Trish!” Ben called out to get her to calm down. He turned to the beauty tucked under his left arm and gave her a quick kiss on the temple. “Lucy, could I ask you to make us some tea please? And maybe a plate of those cookies Karen made?” he asked and she slipped off the couch with a smile to go into the kitchen. He caught Tina fidgeting as she wanted to help but he just gave her a hug and a kiss on the temple as well. “Stay put!” he growled quietly for only her ears and felt her settle in.
His daughters Karen and Penny were sitting on the love seat watching the drama unfold. They had plans to have lunch at his place with the McKellan twins then they were all going bowling afterwards but for now they listened. The night before Ben had filled them in on who Wendy was and what was happening. They were both a little worried it would disrupt their new life with Ben and their new family but he assured them everything would be ok.
“Trish, please come here. Please calm down.” He pulled her down to sit in Lucy’s spot and gave her a squeeze. He felt her trembling settle a little and she let a breath out in a huff. Then he turned back to Hannah.
“I don’t know how she is going to justify it. I did some research and her lawyer’s name pops up all over the Internet. He’s a real dirtbag, known for his sleazy tactics, but he seems to be a successful lawyer,” he sighed. He’d immediately contacted his lawyer the night before and sent him a scan of the document.
“The court date is a month away. Is there any way for you to reach out to Wendy directly to see if this can be resolved without the lawyers,” Rochelle asked.
“Ben needs to let his lawyer deal with this and stay as far away from that bitch as he can!” Trish piped up.
“What did Gabriella say?” Hannah asked.
Ben looked at her, pleased to hear Hannah speaking of Gabriella in a positive way. “I haven’t told her.”
“WHAT?” gasped four women, including Tina this time. Penny and Karen just watched, wide eyed.
“She has enough on her plate right now. I don’t want her worrying about me,” he grumbled.
“Ben, more than any of us, she was there for you after Wendy abandoned you. She deserves to know!” Hannah blurted.
Lucy returned with a tray of mugs, a tea service, and the plate of cookies. She set it down on the coffee table and poured for everyone.
Once everyone had a mug in their hands, sipping their tea, and a cookie Ben addressed them.
“I’m going to be flying to Australia to deliver a prototype. I was going to stop in Milan on the way there to spend a couple of days with Gabriella. I thought I’d tell her then.”
“Ben, you should tell her now,” Tina said gently.
“But she’s trying so hard to save that company! I don’t want to distract her with this news. It’s a month away!” Ben exclaimed.
Tina just looked up at him with her lovely brown eyes and Ben crumbled. “OK, fine. I’ll call her later.” Tina continued to look into his eyes. Ben sighed and Trish snorted in amusement as she looked around Ben at Tina.
He sighed. “Lucy, would you please bring me my ce-” She was already standing before him with his cell phone held out to him.
Trish barked a laugh and he had to grin as he took the phone from her hand.
He dialed Gabriella’s number. It rang four times before she picked up.
“Ben!” Her voice was so full of happiness he glanced at the others and they waited.
“Hi Gabriella! How’s it going?”
“Ahhh, so busy! We’re back on track though! Thanks to you! Your name has leant the company a great deal of respect with our suppliers!” she gushed.
“My name? Never mind, we can talk about that when I visit you,” he said and heard her squeal in excitement. He grinned. “Listen, can I put you on hands free? I have a few people here with me. Tina, Lucy, Karen, Penny, Trish, Rochelle, and Hannah.”
“What’s happened? Where’s Catherine?” she said, immediately picking up his tension.
“Catherine will be over later. Hands free?”
“Sure.”
“OK, you’re on the speaker.
“Ben, what’s happened,” she asked, serious once more.
“When Trish, Rochelle and I arrived at the airport yesterday I was served with a court summons.” Ben took a breath and let it out. “Wendy is suing me for divorce and she wants ten million in the settlement.”
“Wendy?!? Oh my god, Ben! Are you ok?” Gabriella gasped.
His heart immediately ached wishing she was here for him to take into his arms. The concern in her voice choked him up. He cleared his throat which was threatening to close up.
“Yes, I’m doing ok,” he finally managed, voice rough with emotion.
“I- I can be on a plane-” she began.
“NO! No, it’s fine! The case won’t be for a month. There’s plenty of time. You have important things to do there. I will come visit, we can talk then. I just wanted to let you know.”
Hannah leaned forward. She’d noted Gabriella’s immediate worry about Ben’s peace of mind and the last vestige of her unease with Gabriella fell away.
“Gabriella? This is Hannah.”
“Hi Hannah!”
“I wanted to let you know that I’ve read the court summons and there is no legal ground to anything in it aside from the dissolution of the marriage. I think that is something they both want.” She looked at Ben and he nodded. “I think it would be better to leave this to the lawyers and avoid any contact prior to the actual court date. What do you think?”
“I completely agree. Thank you for looking into this Hannah! Ben, please step back from this and let the lawyers deal with it. There is a danger she or her lawyer will try to manipulate you emotionally.”
“Understood. Thanks Gabriella,” Ben said quietly, still wishing she was here to hold.
There were some muffled voices on the cell then Gabriella came back. “Sorry, I have to get back to the meeting. Ben, as soon as you know please let me know when you’ll be visiting. I love you!”
“I love you too Gabriella. Bye.”
He disconnected the call and forced a smile onto his face and looked around at his guests.
He saw they weren’t buying his smile so he let it drop.
“If you miss her that much you should tell her,” Hannah said.
“And risk having her give up her dream? No. I won’t do that. I’ll visit her and that’s that!” He scowled and got reluctant nods from the others.
Hannah glanced at her watch then stood and nodded to Trish. “We have to go if we are going to make it to that movie with our boys.”
Trish reached up and turned Ben’s face in her direction. She tilted her face up and he kissed her. After, she pushed herself up to her feet and joined Hannah. Ben got up and followed them to the front door as Rochelle joined them.
“I have to go too. I have some arrangements to make for setting up my new restaurant in California,” she said with a look of excitement on her face. Ben gave her a hug and she slipped on her jacket and slipped out the door first.
Ben hugged Trish next and as she put on her coat he pulled Hannah against him for a warm hug. He felt her body relax against his and she was blushing with a smile as she pulled on her coat. “When will we be able to have a group therapy session? Beth is keen on participating as well.”
“Tuesday night is open. Wednesday night I have to pick up Rain Palomo. Depending on what the milling shop tells me on Monday I might be on my way to Europe on Thursday or Friday,” he explained.
“Let’s say Tuesday then! 8PM?” Hannah said with a smile. “I’ll let Beth know.” Ben nodded and saw the two ladies out the door. As they departed he saw the McKellan twins coming up his steps so he stood back and let them in.
Identical brilliant smiles beamed at him from the two gorgeous redheads. Today they were wearing their hair loose and it cascaded down to mid-back. They slipped their coats off and hung them on the hooks by the front door. They turned to face him.
“Good afternoon Ben!”
“Lisa. Lori. Dazzlingly beautiful as ever,” he said with a smile and they glowed under his praise.