Giving him another look and gesturing to her stomach, Ella said, “You should be.Why did you not tell me that you told your dad about the baby.”
Grimacing, Ben gave Ella a sheepish look, then said, “Oh, yeah, that.I should have told you about that.”
“Holy crap,” she replied, using Ben’s most favored phrase to convey her displeasure.
“But, honestly,” Ben said, “I totally forgot about it.Why?Did my mom say something?I made my dad swear not to tell anyone.”
“Just likeyouswore not to tell anyone?”Giving him a look, she added, “It must be a family trait.”
Ben immediately became very contrite, and apologies poured out of him.“I am so sorry.It just came out.He was going on and on about how we were too young to be so serious and how we should slow down and not rush into anything.I needed him to understand how important you and,” gesturing to her middle, “the baby are to me.Please don’t be mad.Mom was cool, right?I can’t see her being ugly about it.”
Reaching over and wrapping Ella in a big hug, he snuggled into her neck and breathed in the essence that was Ella.He knew that kissing Ella’s neck would make her giggle, and once she began laughing, her anger would subside.
Giggling, Ella responded, “You are forgiven.And yes, your mom was great.In fact, we bought the baby his or her first outfit—even had a giant C monogrammed on it.Evidently, having your name or initials on all your kid’s clothes is a real thing here.I thought your mom was going to have a fit she was so excited.I have never seen anyone so hyped about shopping, and I spent all day in Aspen with Fran and Mia.”
“Yeah, I know shopping isn’t really your thing.I hope it wasn’t too terrible,” Ben said as he scooped her up and repositioned her in his lap.
“No, it was fine.I got a little overheated at one of the stores, but I am okay now.And your mom insisted on buying me several new outfits.She said they were early Christmas presents, but given that she already knew about the baby, I think she realized I would be needing some bigger things.Everything we got was oversized and baggy.So maybe I won’t have to buy any maternity clothes.”
Saying that out loud almost sent Ella’s anxiety through the roof.Until that moment, she had not really thought about how her body was about to change right along with her entire life.Everything she knew and believed about herself and her life was being turned upside-down.It took all she had not to let it all be her undoing.
As if Ben intuited Ella’s thoughts, he wrapped her more securely in his arms and said, “I can feel that big brain of yours going into overdrive.Talk to me.How can I help?”
Shaking her head and then relaxing back into him, Ella said, “I’m fine.It is just a lot.Your family has been great.Much better than mine.I knew my folks were going to be upset, but I never saw it going the way it has.”
Hugging her close, he said softly, “You always have me.I am your family now, and for the bargain price of loving me, you get all of my family and,” gesturing to his younger sisters, who at that moment were turning flips and doing cartwheels across the yard, “two baby turds who think you hung the moon.I must say I agree with them.You are pretty terrific.”
In that moment, Ella could almost believe everything was going to be okay—that somehow, this was all going to work out.
Then Ben’s aunt, Taylor, joined them.Smiling, she said, “I have finished my interview and am about to take off.Is your mom or dad around?”
Lifting Ella off his lap and helping her to stand, Ben also stood and replied, “No, they had some shopping to do.”
Reaching over to give Ben a hug, Taylor said, “Okay, well, tell them goodbye for me.It was a nice visit, sort of.”Then she gave Ben a look and added, “I hope your dad knows what he is doing.”
Ben nodded knowingly.“I hope so too.He will make a great governor.”
Sighing, Taylor nodded.“Yes, he will.”Giving Ella a hug goodbye as well, Taylor added, “Ella, it was so nice to meet you.Safe travels home, and best of luck at Michigan next year.”
Ben gave Ella a strange look at his aunt’s words.They had agreed to wait until after the holidays to make any future plans.All that had been decided was they were getting married and having a baby.Evidently she had already decided on Michigan without him.He planned to ask her about it after Taylor left, but that did not happen.
Instead, after giving Taylor lots of hugs and kisses goodbye, Lizzy and Lola came running up and begged Ben to push them on their swing set.Ben knew when it came to his little sisters, they would not stop badgering him to swing them until he agreed.He spent the next few minutes sending his little sisters flying into the air, accompanied by their shrieks of laughter.Ella watched from her perch nearby.He could see that she was enjoying watching them.
His aunt had been gone for about ten minutes when Harvey Cox, the magazine writer who was writing the marketing piece on his father, joined them in the backyard.Walking up to Ben, he stuck out his hand and said, “You must be Ben.I am Harvey Cox.I am writing an article on your family.”
Ben shook the reporter’s hand and said, “Nice to meet you.Dad said you were here talking with Taylor.She just left if you are looking for her.”
“No, I think I have everything I need from her now.I would like to speak with your mom.Do you know where she is?”asked the reporter.
“She and Dad had to run to Des Arc to Guess and Company.I think they plan to run by Dale’s and hit the Black Friday deals after that.Ella and I offered to stay with the girls while they were gone.I don’t think they thought you would finish with Taylor so quickly.I can call them if you need me to.They should be back shortly.”
Shaking his head no, the reporter said, “That is not necessary.I can wait.Any chance you and I could visit for a few minutes until they get back?”
Ben knew that was coming.His dad had prepared him that he would need to answer a few questions.Ben did not like talking to reporters.He sometimes thought he had PTSD from having to deal with them as a child.But he promised his dad he would speak with Harvey, and now seemed as good a time as any.
Looking over at Ella, Ben asked, “Are you good to watch the girls while Mr.Cox and I talk?”
“Please call me Harvey.I know that calling me Mr.Cox means your parents raised you right, but it makes me feel old.”
