Love Heals

Chapter 7

It's been several weeks since Thea found out about Danny. Things are still hard. She sometimes struggles with Ben, but I know she's just trying to figure out what this all means for her. I know she's worried that some stranger will take her away from us.

The band should be back any day now, and I can't wait. Thea wants to ask Jordan if he will speak to her about Danny. Ben won't answer many of her questions, and I don't know Danny well enough to answer all of them she is asking me. I keep telling Ben it'll be better if he is honest with her. Still, Ben struggles and doesn't want to; I try to remind him that we have to answer her questions at some point, and no matter what, it'll be better if it comes from us than someone else. He struggles with this. He doesn't want her to walk away from him, but he knows deep down that things will change. She still calls him Dad.

"Mom, what's my bio dad's name," We sit down at dinner.

I look over at Ben, and he's trying hard not to jump out of his seat. He struggles when we talk about Danny, and it's not often when she brings him up, but I know she's been struggling more. I just want to wrap her in my arms and tell her that it'll be okay and that I take back what I said all those nights ago, but I can't.

"Danny is his name," I say softly. I look at Ben as he shakes his head. "Thea, can we talk about this all after dinner?"

"Sure," she looks over at Ben, and I see the pain in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Daddy if it upsets you that I have questions."

"It's not that, baby girl," he says softly. "I'm afraid someday I won't be daddy, that I'll just be Ben to you, and that scares me."

"But you will always be my daddy. You were there for my first steps, and words, and everything! Where was he at?" She yells. I see her blush and wonder if she's struggling because of Ben or if she's struggling with everything.

"Thea," I say softly and look at my child. She's at war with many things. "Just know we love you and only wanted what was right for you."

"I know," she says softly, "May I be done?"

"Sure," I say softly. Thea has hardly eaten anything in what seems like weeks. She leaves the room quickly, and we hear her stumping up the steps.

"Pey, how do I tell her he was my best friend and only at that party because we were friends. We didn't know the type of person he was, but had we known, had I known, Pey, I would have never left you alone with him!" He pulls me out of my chair into him. I don't even remember him getting out of his seat. "This is all my fault had I just never allowed him into the house that night, then you—"

"We wouldn't have that beautiful little girl. I wouldn't change anything that's happened if that means that I would have her. She's the best thing that happened in my life then."

"I'm sorry," he says softly as the doorbells ring through the house.

I take a deep breath and look up at him. We wait and hear someone walk into the house, and I look at him. He's smiling. He knows who it is and hasn't told me something, and I hate it when he hides things from me.

"Thea Leo, get your booty down here," I hear Jordan's voice, and I jump out of Ben's arms and run to the front door. Life has been hard with them gone, and I've missed them both so much.

Ariel is standing there looking huge, and I can't believe she's only six months along. They found out very early that it was twins, but with her going through treatments, they wanted to keep a close eye on what was going on. She looks tired, and I wonder if they will take a break from traveling and enjoy some relaxation before they have them.