Ben Simmons: When Two Worlds Become One

He Deserves to Know

"Pregnant? Holy shit." 

"Tony, watch your language."

I was sitting at the table in the kitchen of the Romo house. Tony was standing next to the island with a look of shock on his face. Candice, his wife, was sitting next to me with her hand rested on mine.

I've known Tony since I was nine years old. I have so many childhood memories of him having dinner at my grandfather's house, talking about football and the upcoming season or game. He is like a second father to me. Whenever I got in trouble in high school and didn't know where to go or who to talk to, I always ended up on his doorstep. He and Candice would talk with me until the middle of the night, and lend me a guest room until I was feeling emotionally stable. 

"How long have you known?" asked Tony. "Two weeks, little more." I said. He still looked surprised, and even though I knew Tony would never judge me, he seemed disappointed.

"Have you told Ben?" Candice asked in her always calm tone. "No, I found out the night before we broke off our engagement and I didn't want him to feel forced to stay with me because we are, or I am, having a baby." Tony placed a glass or orange juice in front of me. Whenever I'm sad, orange juice always helps to cheer me up. The acidic and fruity taste bring you back to memories at the beach, and who could be sad at the beach?

"You know you have to tell him, right? It's his baby, he has the right to know. And this isn't something you can just hide." said Tony, always the more blunt and realistic person. 

"I know he has the right to know, but I don't want to tell him. He hates me right now and I don't want to put him in a situation where he feels obligated to be around me because we are having a baby. He doesn't want to ever see me again. I can raise this baby on my own, and worst case scenario, if he ever asks whose baby it is, I can lie. I can make it where he never has to worry about me or this baby." 

"Sara, you know who you're talking about right? This is Ben, the guy who has been talking about having a family with you since your one month anniversary. This is the guy who was not afraid to talk about his hopes for your future, and that included children. This is the guy who didn't get scared and uncomfortable and try and avoid the baby section at stores. This is Ben, who loves children, and dreamed of having a baby with you. No matter what the situation you two are in, I can guarantee you he is going to love your baby with all of his heart." said Candice.

I knew they were right. Ben was always honest with me about his hopes and dreams for us - a nice house, lots of dogs, three children, and family vacations across the globe. But I also knew that this pregnancy came at the worst time ever. How could I walk back into his life and turn it upside down again? I've destroyed him enough, he deserves a break.

"Tony, put yourself in his shoes. Knowing everything I've done, would you still want to be in this baby's life?" Tony thought for a second before answering.

"Yes. Having a baby is a life changer. It gives you a whole other perspective on why you wake up everyday. I think you have it all wrong with Ben. I don't think he is angry or hates you. I think he is hurt. To be honest Sara, you broke his heart. It's always hard when you imagined a future life and had it all planned out, and then suddenly you realize the person you planned everything with is no longer with you. Ben would have given his life for you, he worshiped the ground you walked on. So yes, I do believe he is not happy, but not angry, he is hurt. You need to realize that Ben will be the best father your baby could have. He will end his career if it means proving a better life for your child. He is not going to be an absentee father, that's not him. He was raised properly, and knows the impact a father has on a child's life. He will love that baby unconditionally."

Again, I knew they were right. I hoped that if Ben had ever truly loved me, he would be able to find that love deep in his heart and accept that he is going to be a father. 

Looks like I'm headed back to Philadelphia.