Escaping to Ireland

Vinessa

I did not know why Bennett had excused himself from the room so politely. I was still in my sweatpants and sweatshirt from the night before, and I wish I could have changed before he had woken me this morning. He had brought back a simple black journal. I thought I would be seeing some pictures he had drawn of car engines or something fascinating to him. I did not expect to see "The Story of Vinessa Dempsey" sprawled out on the first page in big block letters. Liam's eyes had stayed on me as Bennett had carried it to me, and he had already known what this was.

The next page had a picture of a sloppy dog that looked similar to fido drawn out in the right corner, and then in the middle of the page was a decently drawn-out airplane. The words started on the first line of that page.

Bennett started flipping through, showing me the hand drawings and the words he rattled off as he pointed out some of his favorite pictures; I didn't interrupt him as he seemed rather excited to share this with me. It was the most excitement I had seen in him since meeting him. It was the first time he seemed more like a kid than an adult.

A few pages in, I could see a man and woman running with a dog beside them. "That is Maggie," Bennett said.

"Of course, it is," I responded, my mouth dry as I tried to read some of the print on the words.

"I have never had a dog before. I suspect Maggie will be a fine specimen for a first dog."

I wanted to laugh at his wording but smiled at him. "Maggie will be. I can guarantee that." She had been planted next to Bennett on the floor since he had walked back into the kitchen.

He turned the pages quickly. A rainstorm was drawn out on the next page. There was a woman in a raincoat, rain boots, and a man holding an umbrella over her. The details of the pictures were impressive, and I wondered how Liam had time to do this if he was so busy. Why couldn't he have sent a few texts? It would have made things more manageable right now.

The pictures went flowing by, a man catching the woman before she collided to the ground. And then Bennett went to the last page with words in it, and on the bottom of that page was a woman standing alone at the airport and a retreating back of a man. That day came flooding to me so quickly. The long twelve hours home and I had no clue what had happened or what was going on. All I had to go off of was faith, faith in Liam. I trusted that whatever it was, was important and that he would tell me what was going on as soon as possible. I had been so worried on the flight home that I didn't know what to think. I had no clue what would have him rushing out of the airport as if he only had a few minutes to live.

Bennett was staring up at me as he closed the notebook.

"Will you read it to me sometime?"

I shook my head, yes, trying to process everything. Liam, our story, why he didn't feel like he could tell me about Bennett, this amazing spitting image of him.

"Good. I assume you wanted to get ready for the day." I tried not to laugh as he looked at my attire. It was the first time I had noticed his clothes. He was in a pair of khakis and a button-up polo and a square pocket in the front, his hair was slicked off to the side, and I had to hold back a laugh. He even dressed like a grown-up.

"I do," I said, standing. I knelt next to him. "Thanks for sharing this with me."

He jumped down from his chair and his arms wrapped around my neck. "It was a pleasure to meet you. It was as if I had met a character from my very own novel." He took a step back, straightened out his shirt, and gave me a brilliant smile. 

"I'll be right back," Liam said to Bennett.

"I will be in your office," Bennett said, pushing his chair in; Maggie followed him down the hallway, her tail wagging as they went.