Page 69 of Love Everlasting

“Knew what?” Davey wanted to know, glancing up from his Power Ranger action figures long enough to blink at his sister.

Ben left Tess’s side to squat next to Davey’s chair, squeezing Davey’s shoulder like she’d seen him do a dozen times over the last few months as he made an effort to bond with her son. An effort that had paid off with Davey’s instant attachment to the former grump next door through games of catch and a lucrative job walking Ben’s dog, Beau. “That your mom and I want to get married,” Ben said gently, “that is, if it’s okay with you and your sisters?”

Davey’s eyes expanded, as wide as the moon pies Ben had introduced him to and supplied weekly. “You mean you’re gonna be my dad?” he whispered, the hope in his eyes a testimony to the grace of God. Not only in changing a bitter recluse like Dr. Doom into a man now treasured by his family and hers, but in healing Davey’s heart over the loss of a father he adored, forging the way for Ben to step into the role.

“Nobody can take the place of your dad, bud,” Ben said quietly, his voice suddenly as unsteady as Tess’s stomach, “but I would love to be your stepdad because I love your mom and I’ve always longed to raise a son. That is, if you’ll have me.”

Saltwater sabotaged Tess’s eyes all over again at the crack of Ben’s voice, the sight of Davey launching into Ben’s arms almost more joy than she could bear. “You bet, Dr. Carmichael,” he shouted with a tight squeeze, and Tess would have laid odds there wasn’t a dry eye at the table.

“Oh, Mom, I couldn’t be happier for you!” Shannon said with a soggy hug, a toss-up as to which of the females was weeping the most.

“Well I sure could be happier,” Cat said, a tease in her voice despite its nasal tone from crying. “As long as you don’t get married till after Thanksgiving, that is. Shan bet you’d tie the knot before the holidays, but I bet her fifty bucks you wouldn’t till after.”

“Wait …” Tess paused in the middle of wiping the wetness from her eyes, jaw sagging. “You not only knew we’d be getting married, but you bet as to when it would be?”

Cat gave a casual shrug. “Come on, Mom, we figured you and Ben had to be more than friends as early as last summer because, duh … you’re like the Queen of Obvious.”

“I’ll second that,” Ben said with a grin, cuffing Davey’s shoulder before he rose, hand still firmly anchored to her son’s shoulder.

Tess blinked, her brain on overload. “But … but how on earth did you guess?” she said, too shocked to acknowledge Ben’s remark. Her eyes lighted on Lacey and Jack, the only ones who knew she and Ben were totally smitten. “Wait a second, you two didn’t spill it, did you?”

Jack raised a palm, his grin as guilty as Lacey’s. “And suffer the wrath of Dr. Doom and Tess O’Bryen?” He slanted back in his chair with a lazy smile. “I have a medical degree hanging on my office wall, Mom, so give me some credit, will you?”

“Us, too,” Cat said with a bear hug of her own, pulling away to snatch a tissue from a box Lacey had retrieved from the kitchen. “I thought Shan was awful at being sneaky, but you take the prize, Mom.” She blew her nose, then dabbed at her face with a grin. “I mean how many walks can one person take at night when she works at home and can work out during the day?”

Tess could only stare, dumbstruck.

Shannon kneaded her mom’s shoulder. “And really, Mom, how many batches of monster cookies can one mother make before a daughter gets a tad suspicious?”

Tess stared at Ben. “Do you believe this?”

He slipped an arm around her waist again. “Unfortunately, yes, because you’re an open book, Teresa O’Byren.” He deposited a kiss to her head, scooping her close. “Deceit just isn’t in your DNA, sweetheart, which is one of the reasons I fell in love with you.”

“So …” Cat handed her mother the box of tissues and sat back down, idly licking the spoon from her empty dessert plate. “Let’s start with the most important thing, shall we?” She pointed the spoon at her mother with a determined squint. “When are you getting married, because I have fifty badly needed bills riding on this wedding happening after Thanksgiving, people, and not a day before.”

Ben gently nudged Tess to sit, claiming Lacey’s chair beside her when Jack tugged his wife onto his lap. Shifting closer, Ben casually circled Tess’s waist with one hand while he wove his fingers through hers with the other, jumbling her thought process when his thumb slowly skimmed back and forth on her palm.

“No offense, Cat,” Ben said with a lazy smile, his smug tone indicating he was completely aware how his touch could muddle Tess’s mind, “but if I win this debate, young lady, you’re going to take a loss.” His fingers nipped at Tess’s waist. “But your loss is my gain.”

“Ben’s right, Mom—why wait?” Slipping back into her chair, Shannon offered an innocent smile, which now held a touch of mischief. “The way I figure it, you and Ben have had a close relationship since Lacey came back, at least based on the upsurge of monster cookies and bacon. And you’ve known each other forever, so it’s not like that’s an issue,” Shannon reasoned, “so I say the sooner the better.”

“The better for you, you mean,” Cat said dryly, the twinkle in her eyes meeting the glaze in Tess’s. “And Mom, apparently, given the loopy look on her face.”

Ben leaned in to press a kiss to Tess’s ear, his words husky. “And trust me, Teresa Catherine, there are more loopy looks from where that one came from,” he whispered, fingers lightly skimming from her hip to the side of her thigh.

Tess blasted to her feet, suddenly in dire need of more tea.

Cold, cold tea …

“Who needs a refill?” she asked, painfully aware her smile was way too bright.

“Sit, Mom, I’ll get it.” Shannon rose with her usual sensitive efficiency, snatching Tess’s glass up before Tess could grab it for herself. “Anybody else need anything?”

“I’ll take more chocolate milk, sis,” Davey said with a swoop of his favorite Power Ranger action figure while Cat rose to follow Shan.

“Thanks, Shan,” Tess said with a tight-lipped smile aimed directly at Ben. “And bring Ben more ice water, will you? Heavy on the ice.” She ignored the grin he gave her, along with the knowing look in his eyes.

By the time the girls were back with drinks, Tess had scooted her chair a safe distance from Ben, who now focused his attention on Lacey and Jack, grilling them on their house-hunting status. “What about that house you liked on Loon Lake?” he asked, “the one without a dock?”