I Need Saving [A Bensler FanFic- Editing]

Chapter 19: Bernie? [Edited]

When I woke the next morning, my bedroom was still dark, but I could faintly smell coffee. Shifting from the warmth of my bed, I slowly made my way downstairs to where my husband was in the kitchen.

"El?" I asked. He looked over his shoulder and smiled, his mug clinking as he sat it on the counter.

"Hey baby, how are you this beautiful morning?" He asked.

"El, the sun isn't up yet. Why does it look like you've been living on coffee?" I questioned as he walked to where I stood. Pulling me close, he placed several soft kisses on my lips until Serena squirmed because of the confinement.

"Liv, we need to talk about last night..." Elliot trailed off. I shook my head as I stroked his chest.

"It's fine... But El, Kathy called and you got a text shortly after you left," I frowned, as my husband stepped back and rubbed his neck.

"I need to contact her," Elliot replied weakly.

"What aren't you telling me?" I asked.

"It's something I can tell you later. I need to see Bernie," He replied, walking away from me.

"Who's Bernie?" I asked, but he ignored me.

---

While Elliot was out of the house, I finished unpacking and put the first coat of paint on the walls of the nursery. While the kids and I were eating dinner, Elliot got home. Emily and Noah jumped up when they spotted their father, before speeding to where he stood. Emily had already forgotten the night before, and was ready to see her father for the first time that day.

"Thanks for getting me something," Elliot spoke, as he sat beside me and grabbed the container I held out.

"Where were you?" I asked.

"Liv, it can wait until later. I want to enjoy dinner with my favorite people," Elliot replied with a weak smile. I stood slowly, leaving everyone in the living room. As I filled a glass with water, I couldn't help but feel hurt. I am Elliot's wife, but he's keeping me out of the loop.

"What's wrong?" Elliot asked as if he couldn't figure it out himself.

"Nothing," I lied.

"Olivia, c'mon. Tell me," Elliot breathed, his hand rubbing my lower back.

"Can't you tell I'm fine?!" I said with a bitter laugh. Elliot frowned deeply as he took a step back.

"Putting your walls up and lying to me won't help. Tell me what's wrong, and don't beat around the bush," Elliot replied firmly.

"Did you ask Kathy to cover for your affair with Bernie?" I demanded.

"I'm not cheating on you with Bernie, Liv. I'd never cheat on you," Elliot replied.

"Really? Because I'm fat and exhausted! I don't roll over and let you do whatever you want to me!" I cried.

"I love you with my entire heart, Liv. You are my best friend," Elliot frowned.

"Then what the hell are you hiding from me? Who is this Bernie you just had to see?!" I demanded.

"Bernie is sick... she has stage two brain cancer, and it's getting worse. Kathy is having her stay at the house for a while, but she might need to stay with us," Elliot replied, but the one question I've asked a million times remained unanswered.

"Who is she, El? Who is Bernie?" I whispered.

"She's my mother."

---

Once Emily and Noah were sleeping, Elliot and I sat in bed and talked. We discussed why he never told me about his mother. We discussed her moving in with us, and my concerns of taking care of a newborn while helping a very sick woman. If everything fell on my shoulders, I'd have a lot of work ahead of me.

"I don't know if she should stay with us," Elliot sighed as he laid back against the pillows.

"I told you my side, but she is dying and deserves to spend time with her grandkids," I replied softly.

"We'd have to prepare the guest room."

"We can do that, El. A nurse could teach me how to take care of her," I replied, and Elliot nodded.

"I'll talk to Kathy about it. See what she thinks," Elliot spoke, as he grabbed his phone from his bedside table.

As Elliot talked to Kathy, I realized I was jealous of her. She was the one keeping his secrets, and I felt like my husband didn't trust me. If he did, I would've known about Bernie long ago.

"Liv?" Elliot asked. I blinked a few times as I turned to look at my husband.

"Sorry, what did you say?" I asked.

"We are having lunch tomorrow with Kathy. The kids can spend time together and you can meet my mother," Elliot replied with a tired smile.

"Are you sure I was invited?"

"When she invited me over, she didn't exactly say you couldn't come," Elliot replied.

"Kathy doesn't like me... If it wasn't for the kids, she'd probably expect you to leave us behind," I frowned.

"Olivia, she knows we aren't breaking up. You are my wife and the mother of my children," Elliot breathed, his fingers running through my hair. I gave him a forced smile before kissing him softly.