Love Heals

Chapter 11

I'm sitting in my office going over blueprints for the house Ben wants to build us. It seems like too much house for just the three of us, but he said once we move there, Thea will have Nora come over more, and we will have a family. Then, when Jordan needs someone to watch their kids, we will have extra room for them.

It's a beautiful house, and I love the layout. I just wish it didn't feel so rushed. We both agreed that the attic would be set up so that Thea could have her own space. Ben was the one who put his foot down for that. He said it'll be good to have that upstairs away from us, and we can be in the living room and not hear her music like we do now.

"Pey!" Ben yells as he walks through the house looking for me. "Oh, what do you think?"

"I think it's too much house. Let's just buy one."

"No, we have the money. Let's build. You can pick everything!" He's beaming as he says this. He has always wanted it, and now he can finally give his family what he never had growing up: his dream house.

"Ben, I'm okay with just a simple three-bedroom," I reply, and he rolls his eyes. "What did you do?"

"Nothing!" His eyes widen, and I know now that he's lying to me.

"Ben Eli Stone, what the fuck did you do?" I yell at him, and he starts laughing. "Tell me!"

"Okay, so don't be mad, but I already bought the land." He smiles at me as he pulls me into him. "I just couldn't pass up the price. I love you, and I promise it'll be everything we want and more."

"What's your end game, Mr. Stone?" I ask him as he starts spinning us around the small office. He always tries to use dancing to get out of trouble, and I just can't help but follow along with him and dance, following his lead.

"To love you for the rest of my life. You are my everything. I know things are hard right now, but I promise in five years when the house is done, and the office is built, and we move—"

"WE'RE MOVING!" Thea screams. We stop moving and look at the doorway where she's standing. "NO!"

"Thea," Ben says, but she's already running through the house. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize she was home."

"Where else would she be?" I ask him, and I look at the clock on the wall. It's almost nine at night.

We've been fighting whether to build this house or buy something. I was for buying something, but he wants to build our dream house, which has become more of his dream house. I roll my eyes as we walk through the house and backyard. Watching her climb up the tree, I see the little lamp flip on, and I know it'll be just moments until Caden is there.

"I'm sorry," he says, pulling me closer. As we both watch Caden start up the ladder to the tree house. He waves slowly as he sees us there watching. "I didn't mean for her to hear me."

"It's okay," I reply and sit my head on his chest. "There's going to be a lot of changes over the next five years. It's time to face them; we have to face them as a family. Maybe we should sit down and talk with her about what she wants."

"What do you mean?" Ben asks as his phone starts to ring. I see him look at the caller ID and put it back in his pocket.

"Don't you have to get that?" I ask him, and he pulls me into him.

"You are more important than that call."

"Ben, maybe we should push her to see Danny," I whisper as he pulls me close. "I mean, it's her father. What kind of mother would—"

"Stop, the courts said either he signs over the right, or they have enough to terminate them. So, now, do you think she should have a chance to get to know him?"