Ben chuckled, seeing the curiosity in the eyes of the three women. He held up his hands in surrender. “Ok, I’ll spill some details. Please note that this plan is a work in progress and much depends on information I’m waiting on from my lawyer, Walter Greyson.” He received nods from the women. “Here goes. I’m considering a new initiative, setting up a foundation to support young people who are struggling to extract themselves from the cycle of poverty and misfortune; people who are trying to make something of their lives. This foundation will provide support for education and training and offer assistance with healthcare, both medical and mental, housing, and especially life counseling. These kids need access to speak with people who can offer them relevant advice to help them heal and get their heads on straight, so they’ll have a chance to achieve their goals. I’ll need advice and expertise to support this effort.”
Three shocked expressions looked back at him. He started to worry when no one spoke. “You don’t like the idea?” he ventured cautiously.
The women all spoke at once. “No, it’s brilliant!” “It’s amazing!” “I’d love to help you with this!”
He sighed in relief with a smile on his face.
“It’s going to be expensive!” Hannah offered.
“I’m working on a means to finance the foundation. I’ll hopefully know soon. I can begin with a local effort, but if I get the news I’m expecting, I’ll be opening the foundation in six cities around the world.”
The ladies were back to staring at him in shock.
Opening his laptop, he pulled up a fresh document file. “Can I ask you some questions about how you’d see this working? I’m just looking for rough outlines for now.”
Shock turned into delight as they all leaned closer.
-=-
It was late afternoon when Ben drove back into his neighborhood. He’d spent a large part of the day brainstorming with Hannah, Rain, and Dr. Granger. He had pages and pages of notes. He considered if the Sergeant might be willing to organize them for him. He smiled slightly. He knew she would, but he wondered if he should even ask her. It felt like he’d be taking advantage of her obsessiveness.
He spotted Dominic getting out of his truck and pulled into the driveway behind him. Dominic looked his way then smiled. Ben shut off his truck and got out to shake the man’s hand.
“Ben! Good to see you!”
“How’ve you been?” Ben asked.
“Can’t complain.” Dominic looked closer at Ben. “What’s on your mind?”
Ben grinned as the man had seen the question before he asked it. “I was hoping to pick your brain and your wife’s brain for an initiative I’m developing. Nothing solid yet but I’m building a plan, should it take off.”
“Sure, we have time now if you do,” Dominic said gesturing to his place.
Ben smiled and nodded. “I won’t take too much of your time.” He grabbed his laptop case from his truck then followed Dominic into the house.
“Sophia, I’m home, and I brought Ben!” Dominic called out.
The woman walked out of the kitchen to greet them with a broad smile. “Hi, Ben! What brings you over to visit?” she said happily, and she accepted a kiss on her cheek from him, then her husband.
“Ben here would like to ask us some questions regarding…” He looked back at Ben in question.
“I’m starting a foundation to assist young people in breaking free from poverty and making lives for themselves. Part of this will be to assist them with housing. They’re going to need a place to live while they are getting training and I’d like your advice on renovating and repurposing existing buildings or building from scratch.”
Eyebrows rose, and smiles bloomed.
“Yeah, we’d love to help with that,” Sophia exclaimed.
“I haven’t discussed what I’m going to say next with anyone other than my lawyer and a few people very close to me so I’d like you to keep it to yourselves until I’m ready to make a full disclosure,” Ben asked.
The couple nodded, their curiosity captured.
“My lawyer is confirming the last few details, but it looks like I’ve inherited a great deal of prime real estate in some major cities of seven different countries. It’s potentially worth billions. I’m probably going to sell large portions of these lots, but I’ll keep some to set up foundation headquarters in six of these cities. These would incorporate housing, office space, fitness centers, medical centers, training centers and anything else that might assist these kids in making it. If Walter says it’s a no go with the seven properties, I’m still prepared to do a local foundation.”
“We’d very much like to be a part of this! We have an excellent architect company we use that could work with you on the design of buildings whether you’re building new or fixing up existing ones,” Dominic insisted.
Ben opened up his laptop and started a new document.
-=-
It was dinner time before Ben managed to get home. Lucy met him at the door with Gretchen in her arms, and both got kisses from him. He put his laptop in his office then came back upstairs to kiss Tina. Sam got one too then Christopher and Rose. The young girl was becoming quite attached to him, and the rest of his family too. Ben was worried about how she’d react when her mother came back to take her away. The longer it took, the harder it might be for the girl.
“Ben, are you going to New York this weekend for the second part of the shopping trip?” Tina asked as they sat down to dinner.
“Yes. Did you change your mind about joining me?” Ben asked as he looked towards Tina and Lucy.
Tina shook her head and gave him a little smile. “No. We’ll wait for Sam and Gretchen to be a little older before we take another trip away from them. The trip to Beverly Hills was fun, but I don’t want to do that too often.” Lucy nodded her agreement. “Besides, we’re having a party over at Karen and Penny’s house with all the kids,” Tina explained, and Ben pouted as that sounded like more fun than going shopping in New York.
“Hannah’s going and Gabriella’s meeting you there, yes?” Lucy asked.
Ben nodded. He knew how much Hannah and Gabriella were looking forward to this.
He smiled at the two women who grinned back at him happily. He’d filled them in on his foundation, and they were very excited about the plan. “I’ll have Evelyn with me as well.”
“I feel better knowing that,” Tina said with a nod. Lucy agreed.
Christopher told them about the fun he and Rose had at the daycare that day, and Rose forgot her shyness for a moment and added her two cents which delighted Ben. She beamed a shy smile at him after her exclamation as she saw how happy it made him. She was opening up, reacting as a child should. It was significant progress for her and Ben only wished her mother had been here to witness it.
The kids played with Tina and Lucy after dinner in the living room as Ben tidied up. He was distracted by his thoughts of the two assassins playing their deadly game of cat and mouse somewhere out there, so he didn’t hear Lucy enter the kitchen. He jumped slightly as her arms wrapped around his waist.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to spook you,” she said contritely.
“No, it’s fine. My mind was miles away,” he assured her. “Is it bedtime for the kids?”
“Yes.”
Ben turned and kissed Lucy’s soft lips until he felt her tremble in his arms. Her eyes opened, and her need for him shone from them. “Let’s get them tucked away in their beds.”
“Yes!” Lucy gasped then giggled at the breathiness of her voice.
He followed her into the living room and helped gather up the kids. He carried Rose to the bedroom she shared with Christopher. He’d picked up a bed for her and rearranged some furniture to make it fit in the room. It was temporary until Liliya returned. Ben left to brush his teeth and when he returned Rose was in her jammies. She gave him a big smile as he tucked her into her bed. Christopher was all giggles with Tina kissing his ears.
Ben kissed Rose on her forehead. “Sweet dreams, Rose,” he said softly. She nodded as she smiled in return. Ben moved to the other bed and kissed Christopher’s forehead. As he pulled away, the young boy looked up at him with happy eyes.
“Good night, Daddy!” the boy blurted.
“Good night, Christopher,” Ben said with a proud smile.
He followed Tina to the door.
“Good night, Daddy,” a soft voice called out.
Ben paused and looked back at Rose in surprise. His throat felt a little tight. “Good night, Rose.”
Tina turned out the light and gently pulled Ben from the room.
When they reached their bedroom and closed the door behind them, Tina looked up at Ben’s troubled expression. “You are worried about Rose.”
He held her eyes and nodded. Lucy moved to stand with them, and he sighed in frustration. “Liliya is hunting the other members from her hit squad. I received word from her colleague, Tatiana Pushkin. She thinks I have some way of contacting Liliya to get her to stop. Tatiana said she doesn’t want to kill Liliya and she also wants to live. Rose is going to be devastated if her mother doesn’t come back.”
“This is Liliya’s decision. She’s the one who put her daughter into this situation. You’re doing an incredible job of making Rose feel welcome and happy. You heard her tonight. She couldn’t feel more secure!” Tina said.
Ben nodded and saw the love in the eyes of the two women. He pulled them to him and kissed them deeply. He playfully picked them both up against his chest and carried them to the bed. They were madly giggling as he knee-walked onto the bed still clinging to them.