I Choose You : A New Chapter

Diapers

"Ben," Wanda gasped in surprised when she saw her son standing at the door. "Come in, love, I was just making some lunch." Ben stepped into his parent's house and said, "I can't stay long, mum, Cassie will wonder where I've gone. Can I just speak to you and dad real quick?"

Wanda called down Tim, who greeted his son with a hug. "What a lovely surprise, Ben," he said. "What can we do you for?" They all three sat at the dining room table. Ben was wringing his hands in nervousness, as he still couldn't believe he was actually going to do this. 

"You guys know how much I've appreciated all the things you've done for me, right?" He asked. His parents looked a little worried as they told him, "Of course we do." He took a deep breath and said, "This was the last thing I wanted to do, but I can't stand another night of Cassie crying herself to sleep. Mum, dad...we need help financially."

Ben watched as Tim got up and retrieved his check book. "How much, son?" He asked. Ben put his hands up and said, "Hold on, let me explain the situation first, then you can decide if you'd like to help us. A few days ago, we found out Aiden is...he's deaf." 

Wanda gasped and put her hand over her heart. "No," she said. Ben nodded and continued, "We can get him hearing aides, but they cost nearly three thousand dollars. We've decided to move and look for cheaper places to live, but none of them take pets. It's causing so much stress on the both of us. I'm so worried for Cassie and with me, I can feel myself getting chest pains whenever I think about it. I'm scared, mum, I'm scared I can't provide for my family."

He quickly wiped away the tears that were falling down his cheeks as Wanda and Tim teared up themselves. "Ben, we will pay for the hearing aides," Tim assured. "Either that, or we'll help with the house. Whichever it may be, there will be nothing to worry about, son."

Ben tried to wipe away his tears, but more kept coming. "Thank you," he cried. "I don't want Cassie to know that I did this. The first thing she told me was she didn't want to go to family for help, but to just see and hear her cry herself to sleep every night is killing me."

Wanda patted her son's hand while saying, "Don't worry, we won't tell a soul. Now, do you have money for the hearing aides?" He nodded, then said, "Yes, but then we'll be behind on the house." She then told him, "You worry about getting that son of yours better and we'll pay what you owe to the house. All we ask for in return is that our Grandson can hear our voices."

Ben quickly stood up, then went over and hugged her. "Thank you," he cried. "Thank you so much." Tim came over and hugged the both of them. After comforting him, Tim wrote out a check, enough to cover the house for a couple months, then gave it to Ben. 

"Give that to the bank before you get home and use it as an advance," he instructed. "That should cover enough for you to pay off for the hearing aides." Ben nodded, then hugged his dad. "I love you both so much and I'm so thankful for this," he cried. "I promise, I will pay you back."

Tim rubbed his back and said, "Like your mother told you, all we ask in return is that Aiden can hear us. Now, go before your wife wonders where you are." Ben pulled away and made sure to hug them once more before leaving. 

On his way home, just like instructed, he went to the bank just before it closed. He put the check in as an advance and left with a generous amount of weight lifted from his shoulders. He was actually smiling on his way home. 

When he got home, he noticed it was quiet. He went upstairs and found Aiden sleeping in the nursery. He kissed his son's head and whispered, "We're going to get you better, son. I promise." He placed a small kiss on his tiny cheek, then went into the bedroom. 

Cassie was on the bed, surrounded by tissues and looking on her laptop. He could tell she had tried to stop her crying for him. "Hi," she said in a wobbly, hoarse voice. He gave her a small smile and said, "Hey."