"The one and only." Benny squeezed her hands. She was... changed. Her hair was shorter, darker, her features still delicate and fine but a bit more mature. Still beautiful.
"Oh my god. W-what a surprise." A nervous smile began to form on her lips. "I can't... believe."
"Me neither. I mean—" he chuckled. "I can't believe I'm seeing you. It's like having a déjà vu." His gaze became softer, tender, just for her. "Wow, I'm so glad to see you. I missed you."
Her chest became small. Do not dare to cry! She should be happy, god knew she was happy but he came to put her life upside down... even more. "Me too."
"Really?" His eyes shone with hope.
"How wouldn't I?" His frown threatened to wrinkle. She knew perfectly well what was crossing his mind.
"You seem frightened." He said as a joke. There he was— trying to cut the strange tension around them. "What? You thought I was dead and I'm suddenly a ghost at your door?"
"Oh, Benny!" She rolled her eyes. He was the same— charming and easygoing, energetic and elegant. "Kind of."
"Wow, thank you. Such a warm reception." He pinched her side, finally getting a little laugh from her. "Are you okay, though? You seem pale."
"I'm just.... surprised. Shocked even." And terrified, added mentally.
"I came earlier but I didn't find you." He explained, hands in his pockets. "For a moment I thought you had moved in. But I found Mrs Dorothea in the lobby. Ooh that woman," he chuckled at the memory. "She's just the same. She told me you would probably be at work."
"Yeah. I was working indeed."
"I knew you were already here when I saw your car outside. By the way," he got closer, as if he were about to reveal a secret. "I think it needs a hand. New paint wouldn't be bad, I know a good place."
Frida giggled nervously, she had no money for that, she had other commitments, ones Benny totally ignored. "Later. Let it be vintage a little longer."
Benny nodded, watching her curiously. Her shoulders were tense and her pupils dilated, was she really happy to see him? He was delighted. Although it felt so strange around them. "Are you good, really?"
"Yes, yes. I'm..." she sighed loudly. "I need a minute to believe my eyes."
"I left you speechless, eeh." He nudged her and she smiled. How much he'd missed the curve of those lips. "But what? Will we have this conversation in the hall or you'll let me in?"
Oh no. Her left temple throbbed as her heart began the real race. To let him in... Her baby was inside, a baby that was also his. The place had baby stuff here and there and he would notice and would ask questions, questions she was not ready to respond, a situation she was not ready to face. Not yet. Not ever. All day thinking of him, all day reminding herself she still had time, convincing herself she did the best. Her sixth sense was trying to tell her something, it came down to this moment; to Benny at her door. And he wanted to come in. Frida knew the moment he crossed the door their lives would change. Benny was about to jump off a cliff while she was already falling wildly and terrified. Swallowing hard, she put on her best face. "Sure. Sorry. Please, come in."
In other circumstances, she would have let him in first, not this time. Frida scanned the living room at lightning speed, then the dining room, every corner that her eyes could cover. The basket of clean clothes was still on the couch but surely Benny wouldn't pay attention to the clothes inside, tiny plates and a baby bottle in the dish rack but Benny would have to be very scrupulous to notice. She could distract him. "I was cleaning, so don't pay much attention, please." Frida turned to him to catch him not watching the place but watching her. His gaze made her nervous. Was he able to smell her nervousness? Sure he was. He always knew her so well.
