“Okay, but I’m not staying for the whole evening,” said Jack. “I want to get home and make sure that Emma and Isabel are doing okay.”
Pete laughed. “I hate to break it to you, partner, but I promised Em and your mom that I’d keep you out as long as possible.” Pete grinned over his shoulder at Ben as he led Jack away.
Ben started to follow them, but stopped when he saw Chance come in. He waved and made his way over. “It’s good to see you. I wasn’t sure if you were going to make it tonight.”
Chance grinned. “Neither was I. You know this isn’t really my thing, but it’s Gabe. I couldn’t stay away. And I do seem to be getting a bit more social in my old age.”
“I had noticed. It seems as though everyone’s seen you around since you’ve been here. Everyone except me, that is.”
“I figured you’d have enough on your plate, what with Charlie being back and everything.”
Ben grinned. “Yeah, I have been spending most of my time with her.”
“I know, you haven’t even been in the restaurant whenever I’ve stopped in.”
Ben shrugged. “People have told me for years that I shouldn’t work so much. Now I finally have a reason to listen.”
“I’m happy for you. Like I told you, where there’s life there’s hope.”
“Thanks, bud. In some ways it’s still hard to believe that she’s here, but at the same time, I don’t want to question it. I just want to make the most of every moment. We’ll never make up for all the time we lost, but we sure as hell can have fun trying.”
“Hey, you two, thanks for coming.” Gabe appeared at Chance’s side.
“I’m glad I could be here,” said Chance with a smile. “I’ve just seen all my friends up in Montana get married; now it seems I need to spend some time here to watch all of you guys do the same.”
Gabe looked at Ben. “Have you got some news of your own?”
Ben smiled. “Not yet.”
“But I’m sure it won’t be long until you do,” said Chance. “It’s not like you and Charlie have anything left to figure out, is it? You’re meant to be, you finally made it past all your troubles. It strikes me that all you have to do now is get on with the rest of your lives. And I’m guessing that starts with getting married, right?”
Ben nodded. “I hope so. I’ve spent all these years waiting and hoping, but now she’s here I’m kind of holding back. It feels like something needs to happen. Don’t ask me what, because I don’t know. It just feels like something has to click into place before we really can step into our future.”
Chance gave him a puzzled look. “I thought the only thing that needs to click into place is that you need to ask her to marry you.”
Gabe grinned. “I thought all I had to do was ask Renée to marry me, but it still took a long time for her to be free to do so.”
“It’s not that,” said Ben. “Charlie got her divorce through before she even came back here. I don’t know, I just still feel as though there’s some door we need to close on the past and another one we need to open so we can step through it and into our future.”
Chance pursed his lips. “Did you ever sort things out with her folks, or yours?”
Ben shook his head slowly as his heart sank. Why hadn’t that even occurred to him? They’d talked a little about Charlotte’s parents when she first came back, but that was all. He hadn’t even called his parents to let them know she was here.
Chance held his gaze. “It’s not like you need their permission or anything. But I do think you have to come to terms with what her parents did, and at least find some kind of peace with yours.”
Ben sighed. “You’re probably right, but I don’t want to think about that tonight.” He smiled at Gabe. “Tonight is about helping you celebrate.”
Gabe smiled. “So, come on over and join everyone.”
“Hey, bud, how’s it going?” asked Smoke when Ben sat down next to him. “I haven’t had chance to check in with you this week. Between Laura coming home and the flight school I’ve been busy.”
“Everything’s going well with me, thanks.”
“With you and Charlotte?”
Ben nodded with a smile.
“And what about Angel?”
