Together Forever

Chapter 1: Together Forever

"But Mamma, I don't want to stay at Benny's house! I want to live with you in Switzerland forever!" Her daughter wept.
Frida sighed. This was becoming the most common argument with her 11 year old.

"Well, you'll have to discuss that with him then. And don't call Benny by his name, he is your Pappa. He would be hurt to hear you say this, and you know it, Verity."

"He hurt both your heart and mine when he left us for her, you shouldn't care about his feelings anymore!"  Verity screamed into her mother's chest.

"This has been hard for all of us. However, it's been 5 years my love, you need to accept we aren't in love like we used to be anymore. Both you and Leo's behaviour over the past few years has not helped your little brother and has created a fantasy in his head." She became stern with her child now, who averted her green eyes from Frida's  matching ones.

Suddenly Ruzzo walked up the stairs, looking at the familiar sight of crumpled clothes, suitcases and tears. He cared for Frida and her children a great deal, and hated when they were upset. Looking to his partner for approval, he slowly approached them, looking into the girl's eyes.
"Hey Ver, I know you don't like going over there, but I tell you what, how about you stay there for only a month this time, and if you still want to return home I'll book you a flight, hmm?" He asked nervously. The girl beamed at him and pulled him into a bone-cracking hug. Even though she still wholeheartedly believed that her parents were never meant to leave each other's side, she had to acknowledge Ruzzo was a good man. In any other circumstance, she would be perfectly happy with Frida staying on with him, but with her parents it was very, very different.

Turning back to her mother, she decided to bite the bullet and say what she had wanted to for a long while. "Mamma, I want to change my last name to Lyngstad" Verity asked.

Frida was fairly shocked by this, to say the least. She knew Verity and Benny had some arguments since Frida split up from him , but she'd never thought any of her children would ask her this. Plus, she was sure that if her daughter had made this decision, her brothers would follow suit. They always discussed everything in great detail and Frida knew however reckless her children might be, none of  would have made this comment lightly.

She blinked a few times, then looked into Verity's anxious eyes. "Darling, if that is what you or any of your siblings want, know that Ruzzo and I both accept your decision. You will need to talk to your father, as he and I both need to sign the legal documents, you need his willing consent. I need to know first though, do you speak for all of your siblings too, or just yourself?" Frida asked, putting her arms back around her little girl.

"I speak for both myself and my brothers. They were to nervous to tell you themselves. But they do want to continue living at Benny's, so we as a group thought it would be better if I hit 2 birds with 1 stone, rather then tell you my at separate times."

"Would you like me to be with you when you tell your father?" Frida asked quietly, hoping the answer would be no. She hadn't seen Benny properly since the birth of their youngest child. They mostly just talked on the phone or briefly said hello when the took the children to the other parent, which was only about 2-3 times a year.

"Oh yes, yes, yes! Please do, Mamma!" Verity practically screamed in Frida's ears.
"Fine then. What about you, Ruzzo? Will you accompany me?" She pleaded.
"I'm sorry gorgeous girl, I have too many meetings. You will have to go alone." He kissed her forehead, squeezing her hand gently. He knew how hard it was for Frida to be around her ex-husband, there was still so much pain. But he thought if they created more of a friendly bond with each other, it would help their children be raised in a stabler environment.

Frida glared at him. He found it so funny he laughed at kissed her softly on the lips. He could feel her smiling in the kiss, and unconsciously he grinned back too.