Ben blinked at her. “Do I?” He hadn’t realized he was doing that.
“I was just wondering. I like it,” she said looking up at him from under her bangs with a sweet little smile. Ben felt an almost tangible tug towards her and grinned self-consciously as he moved to get some clothes.
“The bathroom is all yours,” he said over his shoulder.
The bathroom door closed behind him and he pulled on a shirt, socks, and slacks. He left the bedroom and made his way to the kitchen.
Tina and Lucy were nowhere in sight so he busied himself making breakfast for everyone.
“Ben?”
He looked over to the doorway and Tina was dressed and had her coat on. His eyebrows went up.
“Could you drive me to the drug store? I need to pick up something for Lucy?” she asked.
He immediately turned off the burner and moved the ingredients he was working with back into the fridge. “Is she sick?”
“She will be fine but her stomach is queasy and we do not have any Gravol. I would like to get her some,” Tina explained.
“Oh! Sure! Let’s go!” Ben said. He grabbed his jacket, boots, wallet, phone, and keys. Then he wrote a quick note for Gretchen and met Tina in the garage. They got in and Ben drove them out of the neighborhood and over two blocks to a pharmacy.
“I will just be a minute,” Tina said as she slipped out the door before Ben could get his belt off. His cell rang so he answered while watching Tina make her way inside the store.
“Hello?”
“Ben! It’s Don Blake! It isn’t too early to call is it?”
“No, it’s fine. What’s up?”
“That presentation kit we put together and you proofed? I sent it along to that contact of mine and he’s… well, he’s asking to meet with you.”
Ben vaguely recalled looking at the marketing piece the previous day but he was well into a migraine at the time and today he couldn’t really recall there being anything about the document that indicated who designed the device. He sighed. “Did you make any promises, Don?”
“No! Not at all. All I’ve said is that the device is real, we’ve tested it and gave them the presentation kit. I’m not kidding. These people are fucking excited about the filter!” Don exclaimed happily. “Did your lawyer send off the contract by any chance?”
Ben smiled. “Yes, it went by courier last night. You’ll probably get it today.”
“Thanks, Ben!”
He could hear the relief in Don’s voice. “As you’ll be handling the sales and marketing they really should be speaking with you. Did you give them my contact information?” Ben asked.
“That’s what I’m calling about. I wasn’t about to give them that information without your permission. Normally we will be the contact for the customers but this one needs to speak with you directly before we can do business,” Don explained.
“Who will I be speaking with?”
“Colonel Alexander Hargrave of the US Army.”
“A Colonel. I’m going to be speaking with a Colonel?” Ben asked in surprise.
“Nice man! A real straight shooter-” Don stopped suddenly and burst into laughter. When he finally got control of himself once more he came back on the line. “Ahhh, sorry about that Ben. Sometimes I surprise myself! That was a good one. Seriously though, the Colonel is good to do business with.”
Ben saw Tina making her way back to the truck. “Ok, let him know he can give me a call.”
“He’s more of a face to face man,” Don said.
Tina was climbing into the truck and her crutches were getting in the way. Ben moved his cell to his left ear and reached over to help her lift the crutches inside. He accidentally knocked the bag Tina was carrying from her hand into the truck and the contents spilled out over the seat. A pack of gum, the Gravol, and a bottle of Pepto landed next to him but some items fell down by his feet. He winced and mouthed he was sorry to Tina as she froze in the doorway. He went back to his call as he reached between his legs to get the dropped items.
“Sure, I’ll be home for the next few weeks so give him my address.” Ben picked up a package of cotton swabs and handed it to Tina who was still standing in the doorway. He frowned and motioned for her to get in. As she did he reached down between his legs to lift another box. He glanced at it and everything just stopped. “I… have to go, Don.” He hung up.
He looked at Tina as he held the home pregnancy test in his hand. “Lucy?” he asked, his voice wobbling.
“I do not know. I thought it might be a good idea to check,” she said quietly.
“Who?” he forced out of his tight throat. As he said it he winced as it made him sound jealous when he was more concerned about Lucy keeping secrets.
“You. Only you.” Tina insisted sincerely.
He looked at her wide eyed then nodded. Trying to get a hold of himself he grinned weakly to her. “She may just have a little food poisoning or it’s a reaction to the spicy pizza.”
Tina nodded. “Perhaps. But it would not explain her missed period.”
Ben’s expression froze.
“We should not leap to conclusions until we have run the test. Let’s go home. Lucy is waiting and she is very nervous as well.” Tina said gently.
Ben nodded and carefully drove them back. He pulled into the garage and carried the bag of items inside. Tina stopped him in the kitchen.
“Ben, please let me do this. I will let you know the moment I know. Please,” she asked placing her hand on his arm.
He looked into her eyes and saw her love for him. He nodded and gave her the bag.
She moved off towards the guest bathroom as Ben stood in the middle of the kitchen. He gave himself a shake and moved to the fridge and began to make breakfast once more.
He jumped when Gretchen entered the room. She was wearing the white yoga pants and black sweater they picked up at the mall.
“I’m sorry for startling you… is everything alright?” she saw his nervous expression and lost her smile.
He nodded and returned to making breakfast. He whisked the eggs in a bowl while he listened for Tina’s return.
When Tina and Lucy appeared in the doorway Ben almost dropped the mixing bowl. Tina’s eyes were glowing with joy but Lucy’s eyes were locked on his, desperate to see his reaction.
“It’s positive?” he managed.
Lucy nodded.
“How…” he gasped and she snorted explosively then began to cry. Ben crossed the room and she was in his arms.
Gretchen watched in confusion and looked to Tina.
“We just discovered Lucy’s carrying Ben’s baby,” Tina explained quietly as Ben held Lucy to his chest and stroked her hair as she cried from the release of tension.
“It shouldn’t have been possible. The odds are so astronomically high against it happening!” Ben said incredulously. He pulled Lucy out to look in her eyes. “What do you want to do?”
“Oh god! I want- I want to keep it! Please!” she gasped. He nodded and kissed her fiercely.
“We need you to go to Tina’s obstetrician to have a full examination. She’ll run her own pregnancy test.” Ben said when he released her from the kiss. Lucy nodded with happy tears in her eyes.
He glanced over at Gretchen and was shocked to see the despair on the woman’s face. She was trying to hide it but her expression triggered his memory.
He saw Wendy sitting at that very kitchen table the morning after she was told she was sterile. Ben had watched her spirit begin to die that day. Gretchen’s face held the very same expression. He couldn’t let her follow Wendy’s path.
“Everyone, please take a seat,” Ben said gesturing to the kitchen table. He took the chair nearest to Gretchen, Lucy took one on Ben’s other side as Tina sat at the end.
“I never expected this. Any of it. When Wendy left me I came to the conclusion that not only would I never have love but children were an impossibility. Then so many loving women came into my life and I couldn’t fathom how I’d become so fortunate… I- I still can’t to be honest. I never expected that luck to go so far as to actually allow me to have a child!” He looked at Tina with love in his eyes then turned his gaze upon Lucy, clearly showing his love and awe at the second miracle. “Much less two! I love that I can share my life surrounded by so much love. Again it’s more than I ever thought I deserved.”
Ben turned his attention to Gretchen who was struggling to keep her tears at bay. Her lovely bottom lip was trembling as she tried to stiffen it. He took her hand in his and her control slipped momentarily. Ben looked to Tina and saw her watching him carefully. “Gretchen told me what that monster she was married to did to her. He had her tubes tied so she’d be unable to have children.”
Tina and Lucy gasped in outrage and sympathy.
“Gretchen is lost. She is alone in the world and Tina, I believe you’ve been trying to get me to accept her into our family.”
Tina nodded and smiled at the surprised look on Gretchen’s face.
“Gretchen dear…” Ben smiled self-consciously with a small shake of his head as he finally heard himself saying it. He wondered if he’d already accepted her in his heart by giving her that name. “I would be honored if you would join our little family. We have some hurdles ahead of us, the main one being your immigration. I’ll get help with that-”
“Ben.”
He looked to Tina who was smiling sweetly at him. “Marry her.”
He wasn’t sure he’d heard her correctly but the words were out there. “But- but I’m engaged to you!” he exclaimed, stunned.
“Ben, I will always be yours. I love you more than I can say. You are the father of our child-”
“One of the reasons for getting married was because of our child!” Ben insisted.
“Lucy, the woman we both love, is carrying your child as well. How will marrying me help her?” Tina asked gently.
Ben looked between the two of them, at a loss to answer her question.
“I do not need a piece of paper to prove our love. The issue of our having your children outside of marriage is truly minor as I know you love us and you will love your children. No, what that piece of paper will do best, and should be used for, is to save Gretchen from being sent away,” Tina explained.