Living Again (30 page)

“You’re going to be at every family event from here on out,” he whispered in her ear. She shivered at the warmth of his breath and the nearness of him. “Because I love you. And- that black bathing suit? It didn’t stop me from thinking you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen. Pink, black, or anything in between, you’re heart-stoppingly gorgeous, Kayley.” He kissed her and she rested her head back on his shoulder, looking up at him, content to lay there and revel in this moment.

What neither of them noticed was that everyone was watching their exchange with smiles on their faces, knowing that something great was happening there.

“What’s wrong?” Ben’s concerned voice asked her.

Kayley groaned, holding the phone to her ear. “I don’t know. I think I have the flu. I feel awful.”

“What are your symptoms? How long have you been feeling bad? Do you have a fever?” Doctor Ben took over. He paced his office, hating to hear her sound so ill. Since that wonderful night a month ago when they had admitted their love for one another and had made love, several times, they had been essentially inseparable. Ben was at Kayley’s house more often than at his own, though with his crazy schedule they spent more time sleeping than anything else. Their relationship was growing in leaps and bounds every day.

“I was at work earlier and started feeling achy. Then my throat started hurting, and my head. My stomach is upset, and I have a fever. Pretty much anything that can hurt, hurts. Even my hair hurts. Ughhh.” Kayley lay back on her bed, covering her face with her arm. Her body felt like it was on fire, yet she was freezing. She hadn’t felt this miserable maybe ever.

“Sounds like the flu, baby. I’ll get you some good stuff and be there in about an hour. Want some chicken noodle soup? You could try getting in the bath, it may help with the body aches.”

“I can’t eat, babe,” Kayley moaned again. “I gotta go.”

“I’ll pick up Lex from your Mom,” Ben offered.

“No, just keep her there. I can’t take care of her,” Kayley answered, her voice small.

“I don’t expect you to,” Ben answered back. “Lexi and I are buds. I got this, Kay. See you soon.”

Kayley hung up the phone, a smile on her lips despite feeling like absolute garbage. Ben was such an amazing man. In the last month, she had completely let down her guard, knowing that Ben was her future in every way. After the night at his house, things had completely changed with them. There wasn’t a question anymore what either of them was in this for. That night, they had laid their hearts out on the line and played all of their cards.

She dared say that she was almost as close to Ben now as she had been to Alex. They literally spent hours talking to each other, despite crazy work schedules for Ben and having a very active toddler around. They took her everywhere with them: the park, the beach, running, out to eat, play dates, and everything in between. For all intents and purposes, they looked like a family. And they felt like one, too. As the days went on, Kayley couldn’t think of her life without Ben in it, and hoped she never had to. Alexis was completely and totally in love with him as well, maybe even more than Kayley was. She loved when he was around and boy did she have Ben wrapped around her little finger. Kayley closed her eyes, lost in a daydream.

Kayley pushed Alexis on the swing as Ben ran up to her and tickled her, then ran away. She dissolved in giggles every single time he did it.
Ahh, the life of being a toddler,
Kayley thought. He ran around and kissed Kayley, wrapping his arms around her and holding her to him as he pushed Alexis with one hand. She turned her little head, trying to see where he went.

“I love you,” Ben whispered, kissing her temple. Kayley smiled, the too-familiar squeeze around her heart when Ben said that. It never got old, the way he showed her and told her that he loved her. The man was supremely romantic, how he had made it so long in life without being snatched up was beyond her. Whether it was flowers at work, a note on her car, making her dinner, tucking in Alexis, or putting playlists on her iPod of songs that made him think of her, he never stopped surprising her.

He ran back to the front of the swing and Alexis squealed. Moments later, in true toddler fashion, she yelled to get down, no more swing. Ben picked her out of the swing, tossing her in the air like a ragdoll. She giggled, always the little thrill seeker. For the millionth time, Kayley was thankful that Alexis had a father figure in her life.

“Where to next, Princess?” Ben asked, setting Alexis down on the ground and holding on to her little hand.

“Swide!” Alexis ran for the small slide, breaking away from Ben’s hand. Kayley followed them, knowing she would want her to help her climb the stairs and Ben to catch her at the bottom.

“Mommy, howd my hand,” she demanded, holding out her little hand. Kayley took it, not able to help leaning over and kissing her on her cute button nose. “No kiss, Mommy. Hep me on swide.”

Kayley helped her climb the stairs, her little toddler legs working hard. She sat down, beaming, ready to be caught. Sliding down, she slid easily into Ben’s arms.

“You catch me!” She squealed. She put her hands on his face as she often did, and smushed a big, sloppy kiss right on his lips. “You wuv me?” Her big blue eyes blinked at him, waiting for an answer.

Ben’s eyes caught Kayley’s shocked expression. She started to speak, to divert Alexis, when Ben pulled Kayley so that the three of them were huddled together, as close as they could be. “My girls,” he murmured, kissing Alexis, then Kayley. “I love you both.” Alexis smiled, laying her head on Ben’s shoulder and reaching out with her arm for her mom. Kayley rested her head on Ben’s other shoulder, tears streaming down her face and a lump the size of Texas in her throat.

“Mommy no cwy. Ben wuv us!” Alexis declared, rubbing the back of Ben’s head with her little hand. Kayley laughed, amazed at this little girl and how intuitive she was.

“Yeah Mommy, no crying,” Ben teased, using his thumb to wipe a tear from her face. “I love you too much to see you cry. It hurts me when you cry.” He leaned over, kissing her gently, his eyes staring into hers the whole time, speaking the words he didn’t need to say.

“NO kiss Mommy. Kiss Wex!” Kayley and Ben laughed, then nuzzled the little girl until she squirmed to get away.

Ben pulled into the driveway of Kayley’s mom and dad’s house, killing the engine of his Camaro. Reminding himself to ask her mom for Lexi’s car seat, he headed to the front door. He had met her parents briefly a few times before, but had not been grilled as most boyfriends would be. He was pretty sure they were just thrilled that Kayley stopped mourning for Alex.

He knocked on the door, hearing Lexi on the other side saying, “Nana, come get do! Come get do! Someone hewe!” Ben smiled at that little girl’s voice. His heart constricted as the door opened, Alexis standing next to her nana.

Renee Johnson looked into the handsome face of Ben Nichols, her daughter’s boyfriend. “Ben!” she said. “I didn’t expect you! Please, come in. It’s great to see you!”

“Pick me up, Ben. Pick me up.” Alexis held her arms up. “You come dit me? We go home? Where Mommy?”

Ben laughed at the little girl’s inquisition. She was like a firing squad and she wasn’t even two! “Yes, I’m picking you up and we’re going home. Mommy is sick.”

Alexis scrunched her eyebrows. “Mommy sick? Make her feew bettew?”

Ben kissed her nose. “Yes, we’ll make Mommy feel better. Go get your monkey while I talk to Nana.”

Alexis toddled off to her playroom, leaving Renee and him alone. When he looked at her, he saw Kayley twenty five years from now. She was a beautiful middle aged woman. Her eyes glistened and she smiled at Ben.

“That little girl adores you,” Renee said. “You’re a great man, Ben. Thank you for being there for my daughter.”

Ben cleared his throat. “Renee, I love them both, with all of my heart. This isn’t temporary for me. I plan on making this our forever, if Kayley will let me.”

Dale Johnson entered the room. “Hey there, Ben! Nice seeing you! What are you doing here this evening?”

Ben shook Dale’s hand. “Kayley is sick, so I’m picking up Alexis and taking her home.”

“Is she okay?” Renee asked, motherly concern on her face.

“I think she has the flu,” Ben said, in doctor mode. “I got her some medicine and will help her rest. Lex and I will hang out tonight.”

“Alexis can stay here if you would rather,” Renee said.

Ben shook his head. “Thanks, but I want to take her home. I’ll be okay with her.”

Renee laughed, and Dale smiled. “I’ll be damned,” he murmured. “You’re in love with those girls, aren’t you? There aren’t many men going to take care of someone else’s baby like they are their own.”

Ben nodded. “Totally and completely, sir. I hope that someday we can be a family, officially.”

Renee’s eyes teared up as her husband clapped a hand on Ben’s shoulder. “When you know, you know, son. That’s the best news I’ve heard in eighteen months. You keep us up to date, will you?”

“Absolutely,” Ben grinned as Alexis ran back into the room. “Daddy Ben!” she jumped into his arms, holding her monkey.

Both grandparents’ eyes swung to him again. “Oh my,” Renee gasped, tears falling this time. “Did she just call you Daddy Ben?”

Ben swung her onto his hip and grinned at Kayley’s parents. The feeling in his heart when Alexis said that never stopped. “She’s been doing that for quite a while now, but not all the time.”

“Has Kayley heard her say that?” Renee asked, smoothing Alexis’ curls.

“No,” Ben admitted. “I was afraid to tell her the first time Alexis did it, because our relationship was so new. And she has only said it to me a couple times, and never around Kayley. Usually it’s just Ben.”

“Thank you, God, for this beautiful little girl,” Kayley’s mom murmured. “She’s a miracle in many ways. Seems she knows that in fact you’re her daddy.”

Ben shook his head. “She will always know that Alex was her daddy, but that I’m borrowing her from him. I’ll never take his place.”

“You’re a good man, Ben,” Dale said, tears shimmering in his eyes as well. “Now get home and take care of my baby.”

“Let us know if Kayley needs any help. Will you be bringing Alexis by tomorrow on your way to work?” Renee kissed Alexis goodbye.

“I’m off tomorrow,” Ben said. “But if we need you, we’ll call, for sure. Oh, do you mind if I borrow a car seat for Alexis?”

A few minutes later, Ben had Alexis tucked safely in his backseat, though it was a challenge to install that seat in his sports car.

“Ben?” Renee called, coming down the driveway. “Can I talk to you a second?”

“Of course! What’s on your mind?”

“I’m going to ask you a question that may be a little offensive,” Renee smiled. “I’m not trying to be nosy, or get into your business—” she trailed off, looking embarrassed.

Ben’s stomach twisted at her words, but he said nothing, waiting.

“Could Kayley be pregnant?” she twisted her hands, averting her eyes from him. “I mean, it would be wonderful to us if she was, but I just-”

Ben took her hands in his and met her eyes. “Renee, your love for Kayley is awesome. While I can’t say that it’s entirely comfortable for me to discuss this with you, and I want someday for Kayley to have many children with me, no. She’s not pregnant.”

Renee breathed out, smiling. “Thank you for indulging me, Ben. She’s just been through so much, you know.”

Ben hugged the woman. “Yes, she has. But I love her, and no matter what, that’s not going to change.” He got into the driver’s seat and started up the engine.

“Daddy Ben car!” she announced, looking around. “Pwetty!”

He laughed, revving the engine and pulling out of the Johnson’s driveway. He headed home, to the love of his life, with the miniature version of her in the backseat.