“Does your family do this often?” Presley asked en route to his sister’s house.
“What?” He looked over and saw her disgruntled look and fought not to chuckle, then gave in and did it anyway knowing it would only annoy her. She didn’t disappoint when she rolled her eyes.
“Have these little get-togethers. We just had one a little over a month ago when Kaitlin returned from her honeymoon. What is the reason for this one?”
He shrugged. “Don’t know. I don’t ask. I just do what I’m told. I was told to show up today and I am.”
She snorted. “You only do what you’re told when you want to.”
“True. And since Kaitlin and Brooke are both providing the food, I want to.”
“What’s wrong with my cooking?” she asked, indignant.
“Nothing. Nothing at all,” he rushed out to assure her. Crap, it was not going the way he thought. “I just thought it would give you a break from cooking for me. Besides, I thought you liked my family.”
“I do. You know that. Especially after never experiencing anything like this before. But I’m really tired. You know I had mandatory overtime for the last three weeks.”
“I know.” He knew she was exhausted. But there was no way he was missing tonight. “I’ll make it up to you. And we won’t stay long.” That much he could promise, because he had plans for later tonight.
“Do you promise to make it up to me?” she asked, batting her eyes, her voice raspier than normal, sending chills down his spine.
“I do. And I always keep my promise.” He parked behind Alec’s truck, shut the car off and turned to her with a bright smile. “And here we are.”
Walking in the front door, he noticed that nothing looked out of place, which was exactly as it should be. Everyone was sitting in the family room, snacking and drinking. Kaitlin was beaming and covered with what he guessed was a pregnancy glow, or maybe it was from cooking. But either way, he told her she looked beautiful and was rewarded with a kiss.
“Come on in. Grab a plate and some food. Brooke and I are just finishing up. We’ll have the rest of the food on the table in about twenty minutes.”
True to her word, there was a huge display of food spread out for his parents and his siblings, Lucas, Brooke, Mac and Beth, Cori and Jack, and Ryan’s parents. Thomas and Michele being in attendance threw him for a loop, but he just went with the flow. He had only anticipated his family and friends tonight. If Kaitlin had changed the plans on him, she wasn’t letting on.
After everyone ate their fill and were sitting around relaxing, Kaitlin stood up and asked for their attention. Ben frowned and looked at his watch, it was still too early, but he kept his mouth closed. “We wanted to tell everyone at once. Unfortunately Sophia couldn’t be here, so as soon as I’m done, I’m going to call her, so I’ll apologize now for being rude.”
Ryan stood next to Kaitlin with his phone. “I’ve got it covered, she’s on speakerphone.”
“Hey, Kaitlin. What trouble did you get into this time?” Sophia’s voice came in loud and clear.
“I didn’t even think of that, Ryan.” She leaned up and kissed him. “Okay, here goes.” She took a deep breath and sent a loving look to her husband and announced, “We’ve having twins.”
The squealing was almost unbearable. Ben did all he could not to cover his ears. This wasn’t at all how he thought the night was going to go, and his confusion started to set in.
Five minutes later, with everyone still giving their congratulations to Kaitlin and Ryan, the doorbell rang and Ben jumped up. “I’ve got it. Kaitlin, I’m ready for dessert. I hope it’s something good.”
A few minutes later Ben sat back down next to Presley. “Who was at the door?” she asked, looking around the room.
“Just a neighbor,” he lied to her. “I don’t know what they wanted, but they’re gone now.”
She shrugged and didn’t have time to say anything else as Ben watched her jaw drop. Then she jumped up and rushed forward. “Oh my God, Sarah, what are you doing here?” she asked, tears of joy starting to form in her eyes. It took her a moment, but she finally seemed to notice the cake that Sarah was holding with the help of Lucy. Then the tears really started to run.
Everyone shouted, “Happy Birthday!”
Presley turned with her hands over her mouth. If she could see the girly reaction she just had she would kick herself, but Ben decided to tell her later. Much later, when he knew she would find it funny. “How did you know?” she asked. “My birthday isn’t until next week.”
“Really, Presley, you should know by now I can find out anything if I really want to.”
She turned and narrowed her eyes on Lucy, but Lucy said, “It wasn’t me. I still run away when I see Ben. He actually chased me down the hall to invite me tonight. It was really embarrassing, too.”
“Then how?” Presley asked, turning to look at Ben, her eyes still filling with happy tears. At least he assumed they were, she was smiling after all.
“You will never know,” he said with a grin. She didn’t need to know it was as easy as signing onto his computer and checking her DVM records. It was nice to know she had a clean license too.
“Doesn’t matter. This is still awesome. And so unexpected. I’ve never had a surprise party before.”
He knew that, and knew that she never had a birthday party at all. “Well, before we cut the cake, I just need to take care of one more thing.” He walked closer to her, picked her hand up and hoped she couldn’t see how much his hand shook. He laughed, and prayed it didn’t sound as shaky to everyone as it did to him. “I figured if pretty boy over there could do this in front of everyone, so could I.”
Presley stopped and looked around the room when there was a large gasp, but he didn’t stop, only tugged her hand until she looked him in the eye. “The last two years have been rough for me, as I’m sure you and everyone else in this room know. But thanks to you, Presley, I can finally move on and move forward. But only with you by my side.”
He let go of her hand, reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring. When he grabbed her left hand, he laughed again and looked at Ryan. “Sorry, I’m not getting on my knees.” Then he turned to Presley. “Tell me you will stay by my side as my wife.”
She tried to tug her hand away. He knew she was going to cover her mouth with her hands again, but he wouldn’t let go. Instead, he slid the large diamond on her finger, and held his breath. When she continued to stand there crying he couldn’t take it any longer and finally said, “Well, what’s your answer?”
Laughing, she said, “You didn’t ask me anything. But that’s okay, because someone once told me if I wanted it to just take it. So I’m taking you—all of you—to be my husband.”
The Road Series-See where it all started!!
Lucas and Brooke’s Story-
Road to Recovery
Jack and Cori’s Story –
Road to Redemption
Mac and Beth’s Story-
Road to Reality
Ryan and Kaitlin’s Story-
Road to Reason
The All Series
Ben and Presley’s Story – All or Nothing
Phil and Sophia’s Story – All of Me (coming fall of 2015)
Alec and Brynn’s Story – All the Way (coming winter of 2015)