Phoebe kept checking and re-checking her emails. She couldn't concentrate on her work and kept spacing out as she waited.
"Mrs. Halliwel?" her assistant Olivia asked over the intercom. "Your... ex-husband is on the line."
"You can put him through," Phoebe said and picked up the phone. "Hello?"
"Hey, Phoebe, it's Cole," his deep voice came through the line.
"Cole!" Phoebe sat up straight in her chair. "Did you talk to Benji?"
"Yeah, I did. He's really excited to get to know you," Cole said and Phoebe could hear his sad smile.
"I don't want this to ruin either of our lives, Cole. We both love him, so we need to set aside our differences for him."
There was a silence before he said, "I wanted to send you an email, with his extracurricular activities and when he's where. But apparently the email is discontinued or something? So I just want to get your new email so that Benji's things don't get mixed up with your 'Ask Phoebe' letters."
Phoebe laughed to herself then gave him her email address before ending the call. She was surprised at how smoothly the call went. She started hoping that they could truly raise Benji apart, but still as a unit. A few minutes later a new email popped up with the subject reading: Benjamin Warren Turner. She opened it and read.
Dear Phoebe,
I wanted to let you know the essentials before this afternoon. Benji isn't allergic to anything, so don't worry about that. His favourite food is waffles. And you can't go wrong with cookies. He's not keen on carrot cake or carrot muffins though. He's also not big on apples, pears or oranges. He loves bananas though.
Be careful to let him out of your sight as he likes to shimmer in and out of places. If this does happen attached is a link to a tracking device in his shoes. His favourite place to shimmer is London.
His school is Benjamin Kindergarten. Please fetch him in his class, Mrs. Tina, the red class. I told her that you would be picking him up, so you shouldn't have any problems there. I had him pack some extra clothes as well.
Soccer: San Francisco Football Club. Coach Dean, Field A.
Baseball: San Francisco Baseball Club. Couch Matthew, Field B.
Ballet: Garrisons' Academy of Performing Arts. Mrs. Willow and Mr. Louis, third floor, room 3H
Mondays:
1pm - pick up
2pm to 3pm - soccer
5:30pm - IV will pick him up
Tuesdays:
1pm - pick up
3pm to 4pm - Baseball
6:30pm - IV will pick him up
Wednesdays:
1pm - pick up
1:30pm to 2:30pm - Soccer
5pm to 6pm - Ballet
8pm - IV will pick him up
Thursdays:
1pm - pickup
3pm to 4pm - Baseball
4:30 pm - IV will pick him up
Fridays:
12pm - pick up
2pm to 3pm - soccer
7pm - I'll pick him up (except for when it's your weekend)
Mondays when you have him in the morning:
9:45 am - School starts. He's usually at school between 7 and 8 (depending on what IV has before school) but you can play with the time as you like.
He should preferably be everywhere 15 minutes prior to it starting, but it is your time to play with. He may also have matches and competitions, either during the week or the weekends. I'll let you know of them. If there are any problems, please tell me. If you can't pick him up or drop him off at any point, let me or IV know.
Attached you'll find his birth certificate and other documents such as his school, soccer, archery and ballet applications.
If there is anything else, please let me know.
Cole
Phoebe stared at how precise he was. Benji had to be talented by the looks of his schedule and how prestigious Phoebe knew the places to be. So she entered everything into her diary and calender then went to talk to Elise.
"How can I help you, Phoebe?" Elise asked, looking up from the computer.
"Well, I recieved some big news yesterday. You remember my ex-husband?"
Elise scoffed, "I don't care for gossip unless it's for the paper, Phoebe."
"Well, he's back and he... uhm... I had the miscarriage and Cole got in contact with some doctor friends of his. They made it possible to save the baby." At this Elise looked up in disbelief.
"How?" she asked putting her pen down.
"I don't know. All I know is I have a lot of time to make up for, so I was hoping I could work from home during the afternoons?" Phoebe asked wringing her hands together.
Elise sighed. "Fine. But only if you get your columns in on time," she said and Phoebe thanked her before getting back to work.
Phoebe left the office at twelve-thirty and drove to Benji's school. When she arrived she got out of the car just as the bell rung. The doors to the school opened and parents started going inside. Most looked at her confused and wondering who she was. They stood in groups gossiping and throwing curious glances her way. Lucky for Phoebe the red class was third on the right and she entered to be met with the judging eyes of more mothers.
"Can I help you?" a woman who Phoebe guessed to be Mrs. Tina asked with a kind smile.
"I'm Benji's mom," Phoebe said only to hear a few woman gasp.
"Of course, Mr. Turner called to say you'd be picking him up. I'll go call him for you," Mrs. Tina said and walked away.
As Phoebe was waiting a woman came up to her and said, "Hi, I'm Hilary. I'm Erich's mom. I couldn't help but overhear that you were Benji's mom?"
"I am, yes," Phoebe said praying that her son would come soon.
"It's just that we all started thinking you were dead or something?" Hilary laughed. "With Ivy and Cole as the only people he's ever mentioned and all we thought there was no Mrs. Turner."
"Yes, well," Phoebe lost her cool, "up until just a few days ago I thought my son was dead, so I'm sorry if I missed some PTA meetings. And there is no Mrs. Turner. Cole and I divorced before Benji was born and haven't been in contact."
"Sorry, I just saw the ring and..."
"Yes," Phoebe stopped her. "I married again. Excuse me, but there's my son," she said and walked over to Benji and Mrs. Tina.
"Hi, Benji," Phoebe smiled at him.
"Hi, Mommy," Benji smiled cheerfully. He looked to Mrs. Tina, "This is my Mommy. She'll be picking me up from now on."
"I heard," the teacher laughed. "Why don't you go get your things so you can go home?" When Benji ran off Mrs. Tina turned back to Phoebe, "He hasn't stopped talking about you. I'm happy you'll be able to spend time together."
"Believe me, so am I," Phoebe sighed. "I missed four years. I can't wait to make up for them."
"He's a smart boy. I haven't taught a bright boy like him in ages," Mrs. Tina said as Benji made his way back to her and Phoebe. "Have a lovely day. I'll see you tomorrow," she walked off to the other moms.
Phoebe took Benji's bag with a a bright smile on her face. "What do you say I take you home?"
His nod was ecstatic and they quickly made their way back to the car, Benji nearly running. Once they got in the car Phoebe asked, "Did you have a good day at school?"
"It was so much fun! But I'm happy it's over, 'cause now I can get to spend time with you. How was your day, Mommy? Did you go to work? What work do you do? Is it fun?" he asked without taking a breath.
Phoebe laughed, saying, "All I've been thinking about was spending some time with my boy. And, yes, I work. I work for the newspaper. People write to me about their problems and I try to help them."
"That's really nice of you. Daddy mentioned that I have cousins. Can I meet them? I haven't had cousins before because Ives is to young to have any kids. She says that I'm the only one she needs," Benji said jumping up and down in his seat.
"You like IV?"
"She's the best! She gave me a quad bike for my third birthday. And she's teaching me how to drive it. She said that when I'm five she'll teach me how to do tricks. And she gave me a horse for Christmas last year. He's black and I called him Balthazor 'cause Daddy was called that long ago. And we always go visit places together. She took me to have waffles in Sweden a few weeks ago. And this morning we had breakfast in Italy because her Baseball practice was cancelled," he went on and Phoebe wanted to laugh and be horrified at the same time.
They stopped in front of the Manor and Benji jumped out as soon as the car came to a halt. They walked into the Manor where they were greeted with Piper, Wyatt, Chris and Coop.
"Hello, everyone!" Phoebe waved at them. "I would like to introduce you all to Benji. Benji, this is your Aunt Piper, your cousins Wyatt and Chris. And this is Coop, my... friend."
"Hi, Benji," Piper hugged him tightly. "I'm so happy you're here." She let him go and gestured everyone to the kitchen, "I made lunch, so why don't we go eat?"
All three boys followed Piper into the kitchen, but Coop pulled Phoebe back. "Your friend? I'm more than that, Phoebe."
Glancing to the kitchen to make sure Benji wouldn't hear, she said, "I know. But he just found out I'm his Mom. He's being thrown into a whole new life. I don't want to overwhelm him to quickly, Coop."
"It can't go on for long, Phoebe," he stated adamantly.
"It won't," she assured him before she made her way to the kitchen. They had lunch, burgers and fries, before Phoebe took Benji up to the attic. She took the Book of Shadows and with Benji in her lap she started talking. "A very long time ago there was a witch named Melinda Warren. She was extremely powerful. And she started this book. This book has been in our family since she first made it. And every generation has added to it. Little by little the book grew. And as the generations grew on a legend went with the book. A legend of three sisters who would be the best good witches of all time."
"The Charmed Ones," Benji told her.
"Yes. Who told you that?" Phoebe asked surprised.
He smiled saying, "Daddy did. He used to tell me that there was no way I could be evil because I come from a family of good. He said that even though I had demonic powers, my witch side was so good I could never turn evil."
Silently she kissed his head. "He's right," she whispered. "You are so good in your heart, Benji. I just want you to know that you will always have your family. You can always count on them to help you."
"Thank you, Mommy," he kissed her cheek. Realizing something, he turned to the hook and opened it. "Is Daddy in here? I want to see what he looked like as Belthazor!"
"I don't think that's a good idea, baby," Phoebe told him, trying to close the book.
"That's him!" Benji pointed at the open paige with Belthazor on. "He was so ugly," he laughed at his dad. "Demons are always so ugly. You'd think that being powerful and all, they'd think to make themselves pretty. Maybe then people would like them. How did you like Daddy when he looked like this?" Benji asked still amused at how Belthazor looked.
Phoebe couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. "They are quite ugly, aren't they. Lucky for me, I met Daddy as you know him today."
"So when he was only half ugly," they heard Piper say as she walked in.
Benji giggled, closing the book and jumping out of his mother's lap. Looking up at her he asked, "Who is Coop? He doesn't seem to like me."
Panicked, Phoebe looked to Piper who quickly left the attic. Curiously she asked Benji, "What gives you the idea he doesn't like you?"
"You and Aunty Piper send out a lot of love from your minds," he said sitting down next to Phoebe on the sofa. "And Wyatt and Chris are playful. But Coop just sends out nasty feelings."
"You know what we're feeling?" Phoebe asked in disbelief.
"Sort of," Benji gave a small shrug. "I can see the feelings around people. Like now you're worried, but at the same time you're not."
"That... What did you say Coop was feeling?"
"He's scared. He's scared of me, I think."