"Makes sense," replied Harvey. "What happened next?"
"What happened next is that I got mad. I mean, I got really, really mad. At this point, I am still thinking he has seen the paintings. I had expected some reaction from him. I don't know exactly what, but something. I would have expected him to demand some answers, and demand to know his son. I knew I was opening Pandora's box when I sent him to see the paintings. I guess part of me wanted that from him. Some kind of a fight to prove that he cared. That he was the kind of man I always thought he was before he cheated on me. But I got that super casual message giving me the exhibit's go-ahead. I was so angry that I picked up the phone and called Edna Stone. I thought, if he did not care enough about his child to ask any questions, what did I care about what this might do to his ‘new political opportunity?’ Of course, after I booked it, I had hours of worry and regret that I was doing the wrong thing by going."
"I can see that. Question, how did Greer Stone end up your date?"
"Oh, that. After I was totally committed and had already had the work crated and sent to Arkansas, I found out about the gala. I tried to get out of attending. Being in a room with Bennett and his wifewith our son's pictures everywhere sounded horrible. I don't know if you have met Edna Stone, but she is a force of nature. She would not take no for an answer. When I told her I did not have anyone I could bring as a plus one, she said she would take care of it. A week later, I got a text from Greer saying he would be my date.
"You know, in all the years I was alone, I was too busy raising my son, caring for my dying friend, and building my career to worry too much about dating. Before Bennett showed up in my classroom, I was ready to start dating again. I had even considered Greer and wondered if he and I might be a good match. Gran was still in Gulf Shores. I had thought the next time I was in town, I might try and see if there was anything there. One look into Bennett’s eyes, one minute back in his arms, I was done for. Loving Bennett is like a lifelong disease that can go into remission, but you never can get totally over."
"Ouch! A disease, huh?" asked Harvey. “I hope my wife never refers to our love like that."
"Okay, that was a little extreme. But, you get what I am saying," said Poppy.
"I do, "replied Harvey. "so, let's get back to the story. When exactly did Bennett first see the pictures? How did he react?"
"How did he react? Aw, he exploded,” replied Poppy.
"Oh, this is getting good. I can't imagine Bennett Carrington ever losing his cool."
"Oh, he did, and then some. You have to understand. Bennett figured it out before he saw the pictures or at least the possibility of it. The night before the luncheon, he overheard the staffer he sent to see the exhibit in New York talking about it. They worked late in DC Bennett was scheduled to fly to Searcy later that week for the gala. Many of the staffers were coming with him. They talked about what to wear, and someone asked about the art. I guess Kelly gave a brief explanation, but one part caught Bennett'sear. She loved the piece that showed Ben at his first birthday party in a shirt that said, "I am my Mom's Best April Fool's Gift."
"After work that night, Bennett asked her to stay. He wondered if she was sure about the birthday picture. Kelly assured him she was. It stood out to her because it was so funny. At that point, Bennett pulled some strings by the next day and had a copy of Ben's birth certificate.
"Ben had been three weeks early, but Bennett did not know that. He looked at the dates, and it clicked. I don't think he totally accepted that Ben was his, though, until he saw the pictures.
"I found out later that February, after we broke up, Bennett, Taylor, and Mr. Carrrington were having dinner at the club. Out of the blue, Mr. Carrrington told Bennett that he talked to my grandmother. She shared that I had gotten married and was having a baby in June.
"Obviously, that was not true. It was just what I told Gran to keep her from being upset. Mr. Carrington told Bennett that because he had been really down after we broke up. He wanted Bennett to snap out of it and move on with someone more appropriate. That was exactly what he did. Based on the dates, he knew the baby was not his. That night, when he took Taylor home, he supposedly proposed. They married less than a month later."
"Wow. There is a lot to unpack there. You brought up two different issues. Before we go deeper into Bennett's reaction to the news, you mentioned Bennett's relationship with Taylor."
Poppy, who had been very forthcoming, got very quiet. "You know, I am not comfortable talking about my husband's first marriage. I only mentioned it so you would understand why Bennett had never questioned if he was Ben's dad."
"I respect that," said Harvey. "Actually, she said something similar about your marriage to Bennett. Okay, let's backtrack. So, Bennett overhears a conversation the night before the luncheon,giving him pause. He pulls Ben's birth certificate. He sees the dates. What does he do then?” asked Harvey.
"He came charging into the Searcy Country Club like his hair was on fire."
Searcy Country Club
Searcy, Arkansas
March 2012
Poppy wanted to get to the club early to make sure everything was ready. But, she overslept and got to the club late. She was worried because the chairperson had said Mrs. Stone liked everyone on time. She slipped in the back and was making sure everything was ready. She was just about to head into the main room to meet up with Edna Stone and the other ladies putting this event together when Bennett stormed in and grabbed her by the arm.
"How could you? How could you keep my son from me?" Bennett was practically yelling.
"Shhh, someone is going to hear you," Poppy admonished.
"I could give two shits." Dragging her a short distance to the library room, Bennett followed Poppy in and shut the door.
Grabbing her by both arms, he pulled her to him and growled, "He is my son. Admit it. You have kept him from me all these years. Admit it."
Tears threatened to fall as Poppy said, "Yes, he is yours. But—"
"No buts. How could you do this? How could you keep him from me? How? I loved you so much. I would have moved heaven and earth for both of you." The look of devastation in Bennett's eyes was almost her undoing. All those years ago, she had thought shewas doing the right thing. Now, she was not so sure. He was squeezing her arms so hard it was starting to hurt.
Trembling, she said, "Bennett, please, you are hurting me."
