Chapter 14

July 1789

"Let's sit out here with mommy, Sally and Grandpa Ben." James whispered as he carried his son over to where Sarah had laid a quilt on the grass. His own spirits especially high the day before having been July 4th but he also felt his life was perfect now as he held his five month old son.

"James?"

Looking to his wife, James handed her Benny while he himself sat on the blanket with her and Sally while Ben watched them from where he sat only a few feet away in a comfortable chair, his feet propped up as had become more normal for him all the time.

"James…" Sarah whispered as he gently laid his hand on her back.

Already knowing what she was upset about, James merely nodded as he gently set Benny down in front of him, laying a hand on his back as he sat, looking around to the people he knew.

"Something wrong with Benny?" Ben questioned, having taken note of Sarah's hesitation.

At this James could only sigh "The joints on his left foot don't work,… it's like they're frozen." James replied, the fact this confused both Sarah and himself evident "It doesn't seem to hurt him but I can't help but wonder… I just don't want him or Sally to be in pain… or anything else… that would hinder them."

"Let me see him." Ben gently pressed, both hands out to accept him.

Despite his own uncertainty James obeyed knowing that Dr. Franklin had rarely been wrong and handed his son over. Yet, as he watched what Dr. Franklin did with Benny's foot the more nervous he became "Dr. Franklin?" he finally whispered, his eyes full of fear.

"James…" Ben finally replied, Benny now snuggled against him "I know his foot is the same way when he crawls I know this is going to sound insane but… I'm not sure he even has joints on that foot."

"I know." James whispered "I'd just hoped I was overreacting."

"Papa?" Sally whispered as she walked to his side, wrapping her arms around him "We'll take care of him."

"Of course." James replied quietly as he hugged his daughter close "I know I can't tell you this but you don't need to worry about Benny, he's your brother but your mama and I will care for you both."

"Will he be able to work in the printshop?"

At this, James could only look to Ben, his eyes pleading for help.

"Sally, if your brother can get around I see no reason why he couldn't, unfortunately there's no way to tell for sure until he's older." Ben replied, the fact he hated to say this evident as Sally took his hand "I know you'll look out for him."

Nodding, Sally wrapped her arms around Dr. Franklin, tears slowly trickling down her cheeks "I just want him to be ok so I guess as long as he'll be happy, that he can get around somehow."

"I'm worried about them." Sarah whispered as she and James looked to one another."

"About Dr. Franklin and Sally or Benny?"

"All three of them." Sarah admitted with a sigh.

That night Sarah sat on the side of Ben's bed, gently rubbing his feet and ankles, a smile on her lips as she watched him play with Benny.

"Benny boy…." Ben whispered as he gently tugged on Benny's fingers as he giggled.

"You sure you feel alright tonight, Dr. Franklin?" Sarah whispered knowing he'd been in pain all day.

With a sigh Ben held Benny close, a little smile on his lips as he kissed the baby's forehead before looking to Sarah "Truthfully? Dear, my whole life I've only wanted to do whatever I could to improve the world, now it seems the only way I can do that is by keeping this little guy happy… though I'll be the first to say I love every minute I have with him, Sally, you, James and well everyone. I know you're tired of me saying this but I only wish you didn't have to care for me as well, that the same journalists I watched grow up didn't have to see me suffer."

At this, Sarah only sighed as she stood, laying a hand on Ben's shoulder "Dr. Franklin, James and I both see you as another father, we want to do what we can… and I can never be thankful enough for the attention you give Benny when I have to help James, I love reporting but I love being a mother and wife just as much."

At this, Ben could only chuckle, a twinkle in his eyes "As I've told you before you're in the right country, Sarah. As for Benny I believe this little guy will also accomplish something. It may not be easy for him but I know you and James will give him all the encouragement he needs."

"Of course." Sarah whispered as she gently took Benny into her arms, one hand gently rubbing his back as he rubbed his eyes, laying his head on her shoulder "Thank you so much, Dr. Franklin. Please, if you need anything… please call for us , you know James and I will be here."

"I know, Sarah." Ben whispered, the sight of Sarah with her son, while something he'd become used to still made him as happy as he was when he'd first laid eyes on Benny.

While Sarah handled Benny, James sat with Sally, reading and talking about their day.

"Papa?" Sally whispered as James closed his Bible "You think God had a reason for what He did to Benny? Creating his foot that way?"

Looking to his daughter, James sighed, laying a hand on her shoulder as he thought how to answer her question "Sally, do you think He had a reason for taking my parents from me? I might not have ever met Dr. Franklin… or your mother… you wouldn't be here with me now."

Nodding, Sally fingered her locket as she thought about this "I suppose you're right but that's us… Benny's different."

"True." James agreed as he pulled something from the back of his Bible "Read this… it was one of my first letters. I'd been really emotional that day but as usual Dr. Franklin helped me through it."

With a sigh, Sally nodded as she silently began to read

December, 25 1767

Dear Ma, Pa,

Today was hard, another Christmas wishing I could spend this day like everyone else in Philadelphia, with my family but I'm so greatful to Dr. Franklin for taking me in. The other boys tell me I don't deserve it, that Dr. Franklin can't really care. But, as I sat by the fireplace, crying again, Dr. Franklin walked over, hot cider for us both. As he laid a hand on my back he gave me a small smile "James," he whispered "I hope you know you do have a family this Christmas, no, I'm not much but I care about you like any other father would a son and despite what the others say that makes us family." I guess I finally do have a family, Dr. Franklin and his new worker, a man named Moses who is a bit of an uncle to me, least that's how I feel. I still wish you were here with me but hopefully you know I'm cared for because I love you both so much.

Your loyal son,

James

"Papa…" Sally whispered, reaching out to take her father's hand when she saw the tears that trickled down his cheeks as he himself thought of the memory that was as painful as it was joyful.

"Sally, when I wrote that I obviously didn't have the understanding that I do now, like you I was confused but I know it'll make sense to you once you're older. I didn't think I'd ever have anyone, then I met your mama because of Dr. Franklin and Sally, she'll tell you we didn't like each other at all but once I realized she lost what could've been the only thing she had left of Grandpa Sam something stirred inside me. Can't explain it, can't say when my feelings for her went deeper but the people she was loosing I never had… I just wanted to be someone she could depend on."

"James?" Sarah whispered as she stood at the doorway, smile on her lips as she watched them "Is that really how you felt?" she asked as she walked to Sally's bedside, gently taking his hands into her own.

"Yes, Sarah, I did." he whispered before hesitantly pulling away so he could wrap his arms around Sally.

"You're here for everyone else, papa." Sally whispered.

"I try. Don't read too late." James replied before he and Sarah walked back to their own room.

Back in their room, James could only sigh as he stood, Sarah's head on his shoulder as he rubbed her back.

"James," Sarah whispered after a few moments "I'm sure this isn't a surprise to you but the letters I wrote to mother while she was still in England… now I'm somewhat embarrassed by what I said about you… I refused to believe you were Dr. Franklin's apprentice. All three of you were nice but surely you couldn't have been… to me seemed like you were still living in the streets." she admitted, struggling to hide her tears as she turned away.

Despite feeling a slight sting in his chest from his wife's words, James knew he couldn't say she was wrong. A slight smile coming over his lips once more as he laid a hand on her cheek, gently brushing his fingertips over her soft skin "Sarah, I wasn't much better than that and like you I told my parents about this certain irritating British girl. I was irritated Dr. Franklin sent you for us to watch out for but Sarah… in that same letter I also said so many other things… When you realized you lost your locket… I couldn't have imagined how I'd feel if that was Ma's wedding ring, I felt your pain but the fact that you had your parents is what made me feel so hurt for you. I had little to loose unlike you but I felt like it was my fault."

"Father's locket? Why on earth?" Sarah whispered, surprised how much they had understood each other "What did you write to your parents? Once you gave me this…" laying a hand on James's cheek, she also touched what had become her most cherished possession since she came to Philadelphia "I told mother to ask Dr. Franklin if you were related to him because I knew how he was about helping others. I knew Dr. Franklin had to have influenced you somehow doing something that selfless… why I haven't taken it off since that day… because I couldn't imagine how much of a sacrifice that was for you."

Now feeling his ears getting hot as he stared at Sarah with slight disbelief he hesitantly whispered "I told my parents I hope they weren't ashamed of me for what I did but I knew I had to… for someone I cared about."

"Oh James." Sarah whispered.