Chapter 4

2 Weeks Later

"What is it, John?" Abigail asked, her husband clearly thinking hard about something as their carriage got closer to their destination, where they would be by the next hour.

His wife's voice having snapped him from his thoughts as he turned towards her, a slight confusion on his face "Just thinking." he muttered though his expression didn't change.

"Remember their wedding?" Abigail whispered, smiling as she gently laid a hand on her husband's cheek.

This time John chuckled, his expression softening as he took his wife's hand "I admit I really had no idea what to expect but I think they were more surprised than anyone but they are reporters and whether they like it or not everyone was eventually going to find out Washington and I were invited. They might've had a relatively small wedding but when Sarah wrote you how many people had written them letters once word got out... truthfully makes me glad I was only a country lawyer when I married you... then you told me... almost makes me tear up, silly right?"

"Not for those who know you like I do." Abigail replied, a knowing twinkle in her eyes, knowing there was much more depth to her husband than his rough exterior, one of his well hidden layers, despite being just under his surface, in fact was a helpless romantic who spent as much time writing his wife letters as he did reading her responses while they were separated from one another "Have you figured out what you're telling James?"

"Truthfully, Abigail I can't say I have." he admitted "What I want to say is there I... just am not sure how to explain it to him. James has explained Sarah's father's situation to me and I understand... I just can't believe I'm the only one he deems has sufficient advice for him."

"John, I think part of it is the respect he has for you." Abigail replied before they fell back into companionable silence.

Meanwhile above the printshop, Sally looked to the open door of Ben's room, slightly out of breath having just run up the steps to the fourth floor. Anxious and nervous about the concept of meeting these incredible people both her parents know as friends, she wondered what they would be like. But, as she saw Ben who sat in his chair, struggling to get his stockings on, she gasped, rushing to him.

"Sally, could help me, dear?" Ben guiltily asked with a sigh, the fact obvious he was in pain despite the fact his ankle was not what caused him pain this time but his big toe.

Kneeling at his feet, Sally gently pulled one of his stockings on, then the other more gently before looking up to Ben "Any way I can make it better?" she asked hesitantly.

Ben merely smiled, already considering Sally a granddaughter in a way, they having become close over the two weeks they'd known one another "Afraid not, dear, but it won't help me to sit here all day. I can't possibly miss our guests."

"Are you sure mama will be ok with it?" Sally questioned as she handed him his cane.

Shaking his head, Ben gritted his teeth as he stood, refusing to let on to Sally how much pain he was really in "Probably won't like it very much but I'm not laying about like an invalid, now come on."

Unsure whether she should be impressed or afraid, Sally merely followed him as he slowly made his way down the stairs, finally giving a sigh of relief once she saw her parents.

Looking to one another, James and Sarah hesitantly smiled "Glad you're down." James replied.

"Of course I am." he replied with a smile, suddenly wondering what they would say about the fact he was only in his stockings.

"Why don't you put your feet up while I get you some tea, the Adams should be here before long." Sarah suggested, a smile on her face as she laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you, Sarah but I want you taking it easy yourself." Ben replied, a smile on his lips as he settled into his chair, propping his feet up on an ottoman as he looked around to the people, old and new that he considered family. He had to admit to himself that despite his own achievements, he'd be lost without them.

"What are you thinking?" Sarah whispered, seeing an ever so slight uneasiness in Ben's eyes as she handed him a cup before sitting down herself, James having brought a chair for her from the kitchen while she'd done her own part.

"Just thinking." Ben sighed, closing his eyes for a moment as he took a sip of his tea "I'm sure it'll be different... better for Sally and her younger siblings but I still remember James... what a difficult time he had... fitting in with boys his age."

"How did you help him?" she asked. "

"Well.." Ben thought "I honestly can't say I know... aside from..."

"No!" James cried as he rushed in, having overheard their conversation from the hall "You helped me much more than you could possibly know!"

"James?" Ben looked uncertain "Maybe you should explain this from your point of view and I might possibly chime in once I know."

Agreeing with this, James nodded as he sat on the floor, one arm around Sally "Well, it started one morning not long after I'd come to the printshop."

Ben stood at the counter in the middle of the printshop knowing James should be back any moment, he having sent the boy out on a quick errand on their lunch. Drumming his fingers over the oiled wood, he thought about the past three months , what the boy had already come to mean to him "I hope he understands how I feel." he whispered as James burst into the door, obviously upset.

However, James merely whispered "I'm sorry." before rushing up the steps to his room.

Once Ben caught up to James he at first could only stare, his fatherly instincts kicking in after a moment as he walked over, laying a hand on the boy's back as he cried "Get our rock candy?" he gently asked.

Looking up after a moment, James only shook his head "I had it but the boys... snatched it from me... shoved me into the mud."

"It's alright... I'll get it later... something to celebrate your birthday."

"Why?" James whispered as he sat up, his blue eyes looking to Ben's grey ones as the older man put an arm around his shoulders.

"Well, because for you seven is a big year, you have a home, someone to look after you... never mind those who know not who you are nor what you are capable of. I have only known you a few months and you've already made great progress with your writing, you're starting to read. I certainly believe you can be something, that you will be helping me before long."

"You really think so?" James whispered as he wiped his eyes, still sniffing a little.

"Of course." Ben chuckled, gently ruffling James's already messy hair "Remember, I myself had to work hard and take chances. Why don't you go practice your writing while I start printing what I set this morning?"

"Later that afternoon Dr. Franklin encouraged me when I struggled with a section of my reading, reminding me again what he'd said earlier but the big surprise for me came that night when I got my real present. My vest was so big on me as until I came to the printshop I ate literally nothing but living on the streets those years everything I owned had been so worn, yet again I was surprised by his kindness, the fact that though he didn't show it, that he knew my clothes were one of many reasons I was picked on... yet it never stopped until I was older... I was still dealing with it some when I met Sarah... I never let her know but the others my age who saw us together..."

"They were just jealous and immature, James." Sarah stated, the slight irritation she felt at those who'd mistreated her husband obvious "If they'd only known you for who you were. As much as I complained about your immaturity, I knew where your heart was... by the time we came back from Boston, even before you gave me my new locket... I knew you were a true friend who wanted those around you to be happy."

"I'm glad you remember these things, James." Ben hesitantly spoke up with a sigh, a slightly confused look on his face despite his smile "Only wish my own memory hadn't faded as it had... When I came back from England I was pleased Sarah had settled in... I now admit it had never crossed my mind what you two would've been like together not you arguing about Britain versus us,... hadn't expected I'd had another reporter for the paper,... I certainly had never thought about you two being where you are now."