Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 392(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 261(@300wpm)
I pull into my grandpa’s driveway and shut the car off. Ben’s quiet and looking out the window. I reach for his hand, and he squeezes mine.
“Mack’s inside with the puppy.”
“Do you think we choose the right name?”
I nod. “I think it’s perfect. Come on, he’s waiting for you.”
“He doesn’t even know me.”
“He’ll know you,” I say as I open my door.
Ben and I meet at the front of the car and walk in together. He’s nervous about coming home for some reason and I can’t figure it out. It’s not like he doesn’t know my grandfather or Mack, and I made sure everyone went home to give Ben some space. While we love our family, they can be overbearing at times. When we get to the first step, I look at him. “Are you ready?”
He nods.
Ben takes each step slowly, as if he’s out of energy. I grow concerned and make a mental note to ask the doctor about a supplement for some energy. When we get to the top of the stairs, I put my hand on his forehead. “Are you feeling okay?” I feel dumb for asking because I know they wouldn’t have been discharged if he had a fever.
“Yeah, just afraid.”
“Everything will be fine. This was just a minor setback. We’ll be more diligent moving forward.” After spending as much time as Ben has in the hospital, I learned that some of my excessive cleaning requirements might have been counterproductive for Ben. It seems some bacteria is good for healing, and was reminded that while the ICU is sterile, the walls and floor in Ben’s room wasn’t being cleaned every day. I’ve since relaxed, a little bit. We still have a housekeeper, but they’re not required to sterilize every single day.
He doesn’t say anything as we go into the house. It’s quiet. Too quiet. I expect to hear my grandpa moving about or at least the puppy barking. But there’s nothing. I start to head into the kitchen, but Ben grabs me around my waist and pulls me to him. He cups my face and leans in for a kiss. It’s the most energetic thing he’s done since we left the hospital.
“I love you,” he says.
“What did you do?”
“Why do you think I’ve done something?” he asks, with barely a straight face.
“Benjamin!”
“I’m afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Your reaction.”
“What are you talking about?”
Ben spins me so my back is facing him. He covers my eyes with his hands and tells me to walk.
“I don’t like this, Ben.”
“I know, but I have a surprise for you.”
I try to remember the layout of the kitchen—the place I grew up in—and I can’t. My heart starts beating fast and even though Ben is behind me, I’m nervous. I hear the faint sound of the sliding glass door open, and Ben instructs me to take a step.
I do.
He whispers that he loves me in my ear and then removes his hands from my eyes. Instantly a loud chorus of “Surprise” rings out. My eyes adjust and take in my surroundings. My family, mine and Ben’s friends from high school, and all the members of my bands are in the backyard. There are flowers, balloons, and a three-tiered wedding cake. But it’s the banner that catches my eyes the most, “Congratulations, Ben & Elle.”
I turn to Ben. “Did you do this?”
“Yeah, I arranged everything with your mom and Peyton. You gave up your dream wedding for me. This is the least I could do.”
I pull him into my arms. “But I thought we were going to have a ceremony later.”
“Oh, we are. There is nothing in the rule books that say we can’t party multiple times. Besides, name one celebrity in the past ten years who hasn’t had at least two ceremonies and multiple receptions.”
He’s right.
“Thank you,” I say as I kiss him. Everyone around us hoots and hollers, and someone yells for us to get a room. Believe me, I’d like to. There’s nothing like consummating a marriage on a hospital bed in the ICU. I will be forever grateful for the nurses who turned a blind eye to mine and Ben’s dalliances.
We thank our family first before greeting our old classmates. Most of these people I haven’t seen since we graduated, but some I’ve run into since our return to Beaumont. I thought it would be odd to catch up with them, but it’s been really nice.
Mack yells our names and we both turn to find him and the puppy coming toward us. Ben scoops the puppy up and nuzzles him. This was probably the one rule we didn’t break at the hospital—no pets. As much as I wanted to sneak him in, there are so many germs, I didn’t want to risk it.
I stand next to my husband as he shows everyone his puppy. “Everyone, I’d like for you to meet Beau.”