The Next Morning …
Benton sat down on the waist high bed. He laid his undershirt beside him. Meg couldn't resist looking at his muscular back as he squirmed, pulling on socks. Her eyes traveled across his broad shoulders, down his spine to the rough, dark place marring his flesh. Her hands had slid over the rough spot only hours before as they made love. Meg knew the gist of the story behind the scar. She'd seen the medical reports and X-rays in his file upon taking command of the consulate. Doctors marveled that he could walk after such a wound.
"I expect we're late for breakfast." Benton spoke, breaking into Meg's train of thought.
"That's alright, there's a restaurant in town." Meg pulled her hand away. Benton turned to look down at her as she lay on her side, as yet undressed. She didn't want to get up, get dressed and start the day just yet. She wanted to pull Benton close once again and explore him anew.
"I've consulted Ben's schedule, he's planned a zip line adventure for this afternoon." Benton leaned down, forehead to forehead with Meg.
"Do you think he'd be disappointed if we did something else? A zip line isn't my idea of relaxation." Meg wrinkled her nose, her fingers dancing up Benton's arm, to his shoulder.
"I agree, would you like to walk around the lake instead?" Benton suggested, tempted to skip breakfast and lay in bed with Meg all day.
"Yes, after we eat. I'm famished." She closed the gap between their lips, lingering for another few moments. She heard him sigh, eyes closed, as they eased apart.
"Too bad we didn't think to stop for a few things at the grocery." Meg made herself sit up.
"Yes, too bad." Benton agreed, stroking her hair.
Chicago …..
Saturday Morning….
"Victor, your mother has breakfast ready." Ben jostled his friend. The scrawny foot and calf sticking out of his lower bunk suddenly jerked. Victor rolled out of bed, eyes blinking, face frowning.
"What?" he grumbled, looking at his glaring, red alarm clock- 9:00 am. "It's too early, I'm going back to bed." Victor shuffled to the door, heading toward the restroom down the hall to the right.
"Victor." Ben spoke, arms crossed over his chest. The other boy kept shuffling. "Victor." More shuffling. "Victor, Victor."
"What!" the boy growled but with a whine to it.
"You're heading the wrong direction." Ben pointed toward the restroom in the opposite direction. Through sleepy eyes, Victor looked at Ben then at his surroundings. A moment later he turned around.
"You're mother has breakfast ready, pancakes and sausage links." Ben followed Victor to the door, standing outside while he took care of business.
"Tell her I'll be there in a minute." Victor called, followed by the sound of the toilet flushing. A moment later he joined Ben in the hall. Together they walked into the dining room for breakfast.
"Thank you kindly, Annette." Ben spoke as he took a seat at the dining room table, a plate of fresh pancakes and sausages steaming before him.
"You're welcome. Juice or milk?" She turned to the sideboard.
"Milk, please." Ben watched Victor slide into the seat beside him, his dark hair standing on end and his pajama top hanging off one, thin shoulder.
"Can I have a cup of coffee this morning, Ma?" Victor asked, rubbing his eyes with a balled fist.
"No, you may not, you may have apple, orange juice or milk." She put on hand on her hip, shaking her head.
"Milk, thanks." He sighed. It was worth a try. Victor and Ben dug into a hearty breakfast, silence filling the dining room.
"You gonna call Rena, see if she wants to go to the movies later?" Victor asked after his second helping of pancakes.
"I was thinking about it." Ben frowned, collecting his plate, flatware and glass to take to the kitchen sink.
"You want me to call, buddy?" Victor offered, following Ben empty handed into the kitchen.
"No, I'll do it." Ben stopped short.
After breakfast, Ben took his cell phone into the bathroom and locked the door. Dief laid on the rug, dozing after kibble laced with bacon grease. All thumbs, it took Ben a couple times to dial Rena's number correctly. When he finally got through, he held his breath while it rang.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Hello, is this Rena?" Ben asked, staring at his tennis shoes.
"Yes, is this Ben Metcalf?" She sounded pleased, or so Ben hoped.
"Yeah, it's Ben. Uh, are you, I mean, are you and your friends, are they going to the movies this afternoon?" Ben managed, feeling the urge to lose his pancakes.
"We hadn't planned to, but I guess we could." Ben heard her shrug over the line.
"I thought Victor and I could go, maybe we could, that is if you haven't got other plans that is,"
"We could meet at the theater and watch a movie together?" Rena's amused tone relaxed Ben.
"Yes, watch a movie together." Ben sat down on the side of the bathtub, his heart racing.
"I'll call Kimber and see if she wants to go, then I'll call you back, okay?"
Ben nodded, dazed at her acceptance.
"Ben, you there?" Rena asked, rousing him out of his daze.
"Yes, that'd be fine." Ben popped to his feet, giddy. He faintly heard her bid him good-bye.
"Yahoo!" The teen crowed in the confines of the bathroom. Dief raised his head, puzzled at the boy's action.
"She wants to go to the movies with me, Dief, Rena." Ben knelt in front of the old wolf, enunciating clearly while he stroked his back. The old wolf gave a happy yip in celebration.
"I have to call Dad and Aunt Maggie." Ben opened his phone again and speed dialed his aunt first. Despite the time difference, Maggie answered on the first ring.
"Aunt Maggie, she wants to do to the movies with me." Ben rambled for a moment before Maggie could make sense of her nephew. He heard Ray's voice in the background, "Well, ain't that a kick in the head."
"That's wonderful, Ben, I'm happy for you." Maggie chuckled.
"I have to go, I want to call Dad and Meg." Ben rushed, not asking about Maggie, Ray or Aurora.
"Okay, I'll talk to you later, tell Benton hello for me." Maggie let him go.
Ben gave Meg and Benton the same breathless recount of going to the movies with Rena. After the initial report, Ben turned to other matters.
"How do you and Meg like the bed and breakfast?" He asked, sitting on the bathroom floor, petting Dief.
"We love it, we're walking around the lake as we speak."
"But I had the zip line on the schedule for this afternoon." Ben reminded his father. Dief raised his head at the change in the boy's voice.
"We hope you aren't disappointed, but Meg and I wanted to relax, a little peace and quiet for a change." Benton explained.
"Oh, okay, have fun. I've got to go." Dief barked hello.
"Ben," Fraser said, holding on to the boy, "be careful but have fun." He wished the boy.
"I will Dad." Ben assured him.
"And remember to thank Victor's mother for having you over." Benton reminded him-again.
"I will, Dad." Ben shook his head. They said good-bye before hanging up.
"Ben, open the door, I gotta go." Victor banged on the door. He almost fell inside when Ben pulled the door open.
"Sheesh, I was beginning to think you'd been sucked into the sewer." Victor griped, moving toward the commode.
"No, I had a few phone calls to take care of. Rena wants to meet at the movies this afternoon, she's inviting her friend Kimber." Ben leaned against the door, knob in hand, ready to leave.
"Great, I'll ask Ma if she'll drive us." Victor shooed Ben and Dief out of the bathroom.