Will You Love Me? : The Golden Years

Chapter 6

It's been an odd and tense week for your family. Ever since the kids' birthday, Ben and Emma have not been the same towards each other. Ben expressed to you how hurt he was that she laughed and he even cried for several minutes. 

You didn't have any words of comfort or advice. What Emma did was unjustifiable. The worst part is you know she knows that, but she won't admit it. She's been completely different since that night. She's been moodier, she talks different, walks different. 

This wasn't your daughter. 

Today, you were all traveling to Cardiff for the remainder of their winter break because Sherlock was back to filming. The twins weren't excited about it because now that they're sixteen, they think they're invisible and can do whatever they want, which included arguing to stay home by themselves. 

You and Ben were not having it. Your other two kids, on the other hand, were thrilled that they got to go visit you on set and watch their daddy work. Sometimes you wish Nate and Em could go back to being that age. They were, surprisingly, less difficult to deal with. 

"Are you guys almost ready?" You called, as you set your last bag down by Ben's. You were both anxious to get on the road because you both had a very early start tomorrow. The kids were not as much in a hurry as you. 

Conner came down first with his backpack and toys. "I already put my things in the car mommy!" He proudly told you. He was always trying to make you proud, while also being completely adorable. 

You always called him"adorkable like his father" because he certainly inherited Ben's goofy faces. You kissed your son's cheek, then said, "You are too good, honey. That's why I may have packed you extra snacks for on the way."

He gasped with a wide smile and you couldn't help but laugh. Next to come down was Scarlett. Ben helped her with her suitcases and set them down next to his. "Nate! Em! Let's go!" He impatiently called. 

Nate then came down with one suitcase in each hand and all of his art supplies under his arms. "Nate, we're going to be back here in a couple weeks for Christmas," Ben told him. "You can't just come back for that stuff?" 

You laughed when your son gave Ben the most sassy look you've ever seen. You've learned to never question his need for bringing too much of his drawing sets. Knowing Nate, this was his idea of the bringing the bare minimum and that he will most certainly be brining back more things to Cardiff when they leave again. 

Finally, the last to descend the stairs, was Em. She hauled down her things, along with her tanks, which Ben helped with. "Do you need to switch out his one--?" "No, dad," she sharply told him, before walking out of the house and to the car. 

The rest of the kids followed with their things. "She called me 'dad'," he told you. "She...she's never called me that before." It's true. Em has always called him "daddy", but never "dad". You could see the sad look in his eyes. 

"Hey," you said, while rubbing his arm, "it's going to be okay. She's a growing, hormonal teenager who has an awful boyfriend. It was bound to happen." He took a deep breath, then told you, "I refuse to let her see him again. I don't care if she hates me, he has a bloody record and he's changing our little angel into...ugh!" 

He grunted and picked up his suitcases. "We'll talk to her once we get there," you told him. "It's better if he's out of her life...for good." 

Ben managed to fit everyone's suitcases and bags into the trunk of the car after practically playing Tetris with them. Once everything was all set, they were off to Cardiff. Since it was Sunday, the traffic wasn't too bad and they were able to get there in just a little over two hours.