Ben lay on his back in the bed, arms folded under his head. He grinned. He had two days to plan for Friday night. The kids were taken care of—he’d already spoken to his parents.
His cell phone vibrated on the nightstand. Alyssa’s parents. He’d been meaning to contact them. “Hi, I’m glad you’re calling.”
“Ben, we’re planning to make a visit this weekend.” Alyssa’s mother spoke in her prim way. “We will arrive Friday morning. Will we be able to spend time with the children?”
He was conveniently left out of the plan, but he remembered his plan for Friday night. “That will work out perfectly. I have plans Friday evening.”
“Oh? Will you be working?” Her tone came across accusing rather than questioning.
“No, for once, I don’t have to work Friday night. I’m escorting a lady to dinner.”
“I see.” Her voice was low with an edge of judgment.
Ben didn’t need her approval to go out on a date. What did it matter? She and Alyssa’s father would prefer to see Avery and Dakota alone. They had never been fond of Ben even when their daughter was alive. Obviously, nothing had changed.
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He determined not to allow them to taint his evening with Jenna.
* * *
Friday evening, Ben exchanged strained pleasantries with Alyssa’s parents and then excused himself. He was glad he’d chosen casual dining for this evening, allowing Jenna and him the opportunity to get to know each other.
By the time he parked and approached Jenna’s apartment door, his hands were clammy. He chuckled and shook his head—like high school all over again.
He pressed the doorbell. The door opened to a smiling Jenna. Her light brown hair fell across her shoulders and her chocolate eyes glistened. She turned and glanced over her shoulder. “I’m going now, Shawna. I’ll lock the door.”
“Okay. Have fun.”
He could barely make out her reply.
Jenna whirled back around and stepped beside him. As she secured the door, he caught a whiff of her—a faint yet smooth vanilla. He was staring. He blinked a couple of times in an attempt to break the spell she already had him under.
* * *
Jenna smiled across the table at Ben, rolling her straw between her fingers. Conversation had been stilted since they sat down at the restaurant booth. Thinking back to dates with Peter, her experiences in this area were limited. She rarely carried on a conversation with Peter since communicating was difficult when competing with his cell phone.
“Jenna.” Ben’s voice was soft, and he leaned toward her.
She snapped from her thoughts. “Yes? I’m sorry.” She shook her head.
“You were somewhere else.”
She nodded and propped her forearms on the table. “Can I be honest?”
Ben nodded.
Jenna chuckled. “Funny thing to ask a police officer.”
His grin widened. “Please, tell me what you were thinking about.”
“I was thinking…I’m not very good at this date thing.” His sincere eyes pressed her on. She explained about Peter and their break-up.
“How could he ignore you like that?” Ben stopped and shook his head.
“I don’t know. But, this move saved me from making a terrible mistake.”
Ben’s eyes were still trained on hers.
“I could have married him and been miserable for the rest of my life.”
Ben slid his hand across the table and laid it atop hers. “I’m glad you moved here too.”
Jenna’s face grew suddenly warm. The moment was broken by the arrival of their food.
“Now that I’ve laid my pitiful past out, what about you?” She pointed her fork at him.
His eyes studied his plate in silence.
“Ben, I’m sorry.”
“No, no, you’re right.” He sat up straighter and flashed a smile.
Jenna sat totally engrossed in the story of Ben’s life.
He shrugged. “More than you wanted to know.”
“Not at all. Makes me sound pretty dull.” She propped her elbow on the table and rested her chin on her hand.
Ben smiled and shook his head. “Jenna Campbell, you are not even close to dull.”
She smiled back and bit at her lip.
The conversation came more freely afterwards. Jenna bared her heart, though a small ribbon of fear still clung to it.
How could a man who had traveled and had such adventures find interest in her? Still, here he was with her when he could be elsewhere.
* * *
Ben dropped Jenna back at her apartment with a load of reluctance. When she kissed his cheek, he wished for more time, but the hour was late.
He stared at his fidgeting feet and shoved his hands into his pant pockets. “Maybe we could do this again?” He looked to Jenna’s face for a reaction.
“I’d love to.”
He nodded vigorously. “Good.”
“Good.”
Ben moseyed toward his car and opened the door. He glanced back at Jenna and gave a slight wave. “Night.”
Jenna’s eyes sparkled even with the distance between them.
She grinned. “Night.”
He barely caught her whispered parting. Then she disappeared into her apartment.
Ben sank into the driver’s seat and sighed. “This is right. Isn’t it, Lord?”
* * *
Alyssa’s parents met him at the door, wearing stern expressions. Ben painted on a smile. “Mr. and Mrs. Anderson.” He nodded their way.
“The children are already in bed,” Mrs. Anderson snapped.
Ben looked past the couple to his own parents. His father shrugged. “It is past their bedtime, and I’m sure they were tired.”
Mr. Anderson crossed his arms over his chest. “Son, can you take care of those children properly with…everything you’re involved in?”
Ben gritted his teeth, slowing his response. He inhaled through his nose and let it out slowly, cooling his anger. “My children are well cared for, Mr. Anderson.” His eyes narrowed.
“I hope this is the best arrangement for Dakota and Avery.” Mrs. Anderson waved her arms indicating him, his parents, and the house.
Ben needed to end this confrontation before he lost control. He whirled around, opening the front door. “I think we’re all a little tired.”
Mrs. Anderson breathed a definitive “hmph” before stomping out with her husband following suit.
Ben closed the door and stared at his parents, dismayed. “What was that all about?”
His father sighed and shook his head.
* * *
Ben tiptoed into Dakota’s room. His son’s limbs splayed in all directions, one foot dangling over the edge of the bed. Ben stifled a laugh. He brushed a curl to the side and kissed the boy’s forehead.
He wandered to Avery’s room. In contrast to her brother, she lay rolled into a ball, bottom in the air. She clutched her worn, stuffed dog. Ben sighed and planted a kiss on her head.
He moseyed to his room, his thoughts on the confrontation with Alyssa’s parents. Was he doing the right thing? His children were cared for, weren’t they?
The Andersons planned to return for the children tomorrow while Ben worked. Their attitude made him reconsider allowing them time with Dakota and Avery. But they would leave Sunday. Ben would swallow his anger for Alyssa’s sake. She would’ve wanted the kids to grow up knowing both sets of grandparents. He should give them some slack. They all still grieved the loss of Alyssa.