Broken

“What, eat?” I laugh. “Sure, that sounds great.” My stomach grumbles loudly at the mere mention of food. “Really great apparently. Thank you. What did you have in mind?”

“I do a really good meat and beans on toast, how does that sound?”

“Mmm, it sounds delicious. Thank you, my wonderful top chef.”

“Top chef?” He wiggles his eyebrows playfully at me. “You have no idea, you’re in for a real treat.”

When Ben stands up and he pulls his clothes back on him, or more comfortably around him anyway, things happened a bit quick for us to get him fully naked, I smirk happily to myself at the sight of him. I really did land a good guy; handsome, lovely, a great father... I really don’t need anything else. Somehow I managed to get it all.

Chapter Twenty Nine – Ben

“Are you ready for this?” Tia asks me nervously, fiddling with my clothing as if she’s my mom. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

“Will you stop it?” I bat her hands away from my shirt. “I know what I’m doing, alright? You’re going to make me more nervous than I am.” I glance my eyes everywhere. “Do you think it looks alright? Do you think she’ll be happy with it?”

“You know who you’re talking about right?” Tia giggles. “Serena will love it. She loves everything that you do, but the fact that you’ve gone to so much effort for her birthday will make her weep. Don’t forget, the last birthday she had she spent pregnant and alone.”

“Don’t remind me.” A darkness clouds me for a moment, I will always feel guilty for that. “I didn’t even know it was her birthday then, I can’t be blamed.”

“I know, I know. I’m not trying to make you feel bad. I’m just reminding you that she will absolutely love anything you do for her. You’ve gone from strength to strength these last ten months. This surprise party is something she’ll love.” Tia glances down to my pocket. “It’s the other bit I’m worrying about. Do you know what you’re doing? What you’re going to say?” I nod slowly. “I have to admit that proposing in front of a lot of people is a very brave thing to do. Either brave or crazy stupid, I can’t quite work out which one you are.”

I roll the ring around in my pocket, loving the feel of it there. “Yes, I know, but this is right, you know? And it isn’t everyone. Just the people who have been a big part of this.”

“Yeah, I know, that’s true.” She glances at her watch. “Right, we better get ready because your mom will be here with the kids in a minute, then it won’t be long until Jenny comes back with Serena after their spa day.”

“You and Jenny all good now then?” I know that she’s probably told me already, but I’ve been too tired running a business and being a dad to fully pay attention to everything going on around me. “All the Mike stuff sorted out?”

“Once we trapped him into confessing that he’d been seeing us both at the same time and he started crying... yeah, we became good friends after that. It was too glorious a moment for us not to bond over, you know?”

“Oh yeah... it sounds it.” I want to laugh, but I have to admit there’s a tiny part of me that feels sorry for Mike. Just a tiny bit. He probably didn’t realise what an asshole he was being, I never did when I led that freer life style. “Well, I’m glad it’s all done anyway. That’s pretty awesome.”

“Makes life easier... was that the door? I’ll go and get it, it’s probably your mom. You just... have a final check over the place, okay?”

She gives me a curious look, but when I nod and I send her away I can understand why I’m shaking all over, I’m a nervous wreck. I feel like I’m all kinds of messed up today. And on this day as well when I need more than ever to keep it together. This will be one of the most important days of my life. Right up there with the day that my kids were born.

Come on, Ben, keep your shit together, I warn myself. Make this a special day for Serena, she really does deserve it.

Mom walks in the room with Brandon and behind her I can see that Tia has Rose. My mother has been a legend when it comes to the twins. I can tell that they’ve revitalised her. She obviously lost her chance to be a parent again when my dad died, since she hasn’t met anyone since, and this has given her that opportunity. She’s grasped onto it with both hands and is now far happier than ever before.

“Ooh, it looks like you two have been busy the last few hours,” she says as she drinks it all in. “You’ve done a great job decorating this place. Serena is going to be very surprised.”

“You think she doesn’t know?” Oh great, my voice is shaking like crazy now. “You think I’ve managed to keep it a surprise?”

“Oh definitely, she doesn’t know. Jenny’s good at covering things up and her plan to take Serena to the spa is a good one.”

“Okay, okay, and what time are they due to be back?”

“Any minute now...” The sound of the door opening interrupts us, making my heart stop dead in my chest. “Okay, I guess now.”

We all take our places and wait. The kids make googling sounds which are adorable. Rose is starting to form words now, just the really basic ones, but she seems to have a sort of secret language with Brandon. It’s like they both know exactly what they’re saying, but no one else does. It’s adorable actually.

“...yeah, she was really nice, wasn’t she? Oh my God!” Serena gasps

and claps her hand across her mouth in utter shock. “What’s going on here?”

“Surprise!!” we all yell in unison. Well, semi unison. It’s a little out of time but I think we just about manage to pull it off. “Happy birthday, Serena.”

The kids crawl over to their mommy. Brandon moves a little faster than his sister, but soon they’re both in Serena’s arms. She scoops them both up and hugs them tightly whispering to the pair of them how much she loves them. Then she turns her attention to the rest of us.