Chapter 12
"Dr. Franklin?" Sarah whispered, her now four day old son cradled against her in a sling.
"Ah, I see you're anxious for our country's new ruler to speak a blessing over your son." he chuckled, an obvious joking gleam in his eyes as Sarah sat beside him near the fireplace.
But his only response from Sarah was one of confusion "General Washington? Why?" she questioned, having not heard anything yet.
"It's not official yet because it's still in the process but if Congress agrees he may be our first president." Ben replied with a smile.
"General Washington? But I thought… a general for our leader?" Sarah questioned knowing Dr. Franklin had said many times a country shouldn't be ruled by one man.
"No, Sarah. True he will always be a general in our eyes but he will not be the only one in charge, a king is in charge of every aspect of a country while we will have a three branch government as I've told you and James before… checks and balances." he explained "Washington and I will explain everything if you'll hear us out."
"Isn't this great?" James stated, smiling as he watched Sarah gently lay their son in Ben's arms, how happy this made him apparent as he gently stroked Benny, wrapped warmly in a blanket, a look of grandfatherly love in his eyes as he quietly whispered to the newborn.
"Washington or the fact Dr. Franklin has another little one to keep him company?" she joked, pleased her son had so much love.
"Both of course… unless you consider this a potential hostage situation." James replied, laughing as he wrapped an arm around Sarah.
Shaking her head, Sarah only smiled "They're both happy, James… anyway I think it's better he stays here with you three while Sally and I get everything ready in the kitchen before Washington gets here."
"Where's your parents?"
At this, Sarah only sighed "Father's working on another project in the barn but he'll join us shortly, Mother… she's changing but she's still not ready to acknowledge another man besides King George III as our ruler… probably stay upstairs all day."
"This isn't right." James whispered, wrapping an arm around her "Let's talk about it tonight I know you're anxious to see Washington, go on and do what you need to." the fact he wanted her doing anything that would take her mind off how upset her mother was making her apparent.
Once he was sure Sarah wouldn't hear, James looked to Ben, a sad smile on his lips as he gently laid a hand on his son's stomach, the blue eyes that looked back into his own being the only thing that eased his stress for the moment.
"Elizabeth just needs to get acquainted with Philadelphia, James, she has so much going on in her mind."
"But if she only met General Washington, John Adams, some of the other people Sarah and I have met over the last decade and some. I'm trying to be understanding Dr. Franklin,… just wish it wasn't one more thing Sarah has on her mind I'm the last person to tell her what her relationship with her parents should look like but as supportive of her as I am, seems her mother should least give what I do."
In response Ben could only sigh, hoping Elizabeth decided to show up, sure it would make a difference.
"Dr. Franklin?" John called, with an unusually mischievous smile as he came into the printshop as General Washington followed behind him.
"General Washington! Mr. Adams!" Sally cried, happy to see both men, Samuel, watching slightly surprised as his granddaughter gave both men friendly hugs.
"Care to introduce them to your brother, Benjamin… Benny Hiller?" Ben suggested as Sarah, smile on her lips, gently lifted Benny from his arms.
"Abigail sent me with this." John replied, smiling as he handed Sarah a small bundle from his pocket, a pair of crocheted socks inside a small hat "Hopefully they're big enough for him to grow into, I assure you he'll grow fast ." he replied, knowing his own boys and Nabby had, especially when he'd had to be separated from them over the years.
"Will she be joining you here?" Sarah asked, anxious to see her friend again and for Abigail to see her son, especially after the time she had spent with the Adams children.
"Abigail and Nabby will in a couple weeks once they get everything taken care of in Braintree."
"Yes," George spoke up, deciding he had to intercept John if he were to get a word in "there's much to discuss in Congress but soon… I want you all to be at Independence Hall when… I take over… as president of America."
Looking up from the paper he'd just hung up to dry, James smiled as he stepped over to them, wiping his hands on his work apron "That's incredible!" he cried before taking Benny into his arms "You can count on us, General, I've followed you since you first took command of the army and I plan to continue with the articles through this presidency."
A combination of embarrassment and humbleness in his eyes, George laid one hand on James's shoulder, the other on Benny's chest as looked down at the infant his emotions, though subtle were evident in his own blue eyes "I'd be honored for you to continue writing about me." George whispered "I only wish to benefit this new country as Dr. Franklin has."
"We've both already done our share though we're far from done." Ben stated, smiling as he stood, his new cane in hand as he walked the few feet to where his friends stood around Benny.
"James, I truthfully pray this boy will enjoy the fruits of everything we've worked towards." George whispered with a smile "I've never done this but if you'll allow me… may I speak a word over Benny?"
"We'd be honored." Sarah whispered, smiling as she wrapped her arms around James while Samuel, Ben and John all laid a hand on his, Sarah or Sally's shoulders.
Already knowing Benny had a loving start to his life George smiled as he began "Father, I've already seen as much devastation on the battlefield as I have success in Congress but, with You to guide him, I ask that You bless Benjamin Samuel Hiller with a successful, faith filled life and that You give his family, as well as anyone else in his life the wisdom and guidance to help him however he needs. I ask these things in Your name, Amen."
"Thank you, so much." Sarah whispered when-
"Sarah!" Elizabeth gasped, rushing to her daughter's side "Is everything alright?"
"Mother?" Sarah questioned as the men and Sally stared at Elizabeth "This is General Washington, he was just speaking a blessing over your grandson."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance Lady Phillips, I am George Washington, I own a plantation in Fairfax, Virginia and have known your lovely daughter since I came to Congress to accept command of our army." he explained as he bowed to her.
Though she was surprised Elizabeth managed a smile "I am also pleased General. Everything's ready if you gentlemen would join me and my family upstairs."
"We would love to." George replied before turning to his friend "And this is Mr. John Adams, a delegate and lawyer from Braintree, Massachusetts."
"Your daughter has been such wonderful company to my wife, Abigail while I've been away from her periods during the war."
"Sarah," Elizabeth whispered that night, smiling as she sat beside her daughter on herbed "How is Benny tonight? How are you, dear?"
Needing a moment to think, Sarah sighed, looking away as she lifted her son to her shoulder to burp him "Benny and I are fine… I hope you enjoyed this afternoon as much as I did."
"Sarah, if the men you've met since you've come here are like the men I met today then I am glad you know them."
"I've met so many wonderful people, Mother, I'm sure you don't remember who all I've written you about but I've been treated well by our fellow Americans… I admit any disrespect I've gotten mostly came from England's soldiers, something at the time I had never imagined but very few of them had manners, I wouldn't have thought them capable of being gentlemen, not compared to the colonists' army, even if they did lack military training."
"I know…" Elizabeth whispered, laying a hand on her daughter's leg "General Washington, after this afternoon I'm glad he'll be your… our ruler."
"Not ruler Mother, only one part of our government but Dr. Franklin had much to do with him leading our army as I later learned myself. But Mother, James told me… While I was pregnant with Benny he talked some how worried he was he would have no idea how to be a good father, that he wouldn't give Benny what he needs because he's never known his parents. I know I've told you this but Mother it's much more than that… he's so lost, I wish I could heal his pain… if only give him the chance to know if his parents… if they have grave markers or just to know what happened to their land."
At this Elizabeth could only nod unsure how to respond to her daughter.
