Chapter 26
He stopped at the grocery store and bought what he thought Susan would eat and what would help Emma to regain her strength. He caught a taxi back to his house. On the way he had an idea. He would see if Emma was strong enough to eat out tonight. If she wasn't he would have dinner delivered. He smiled. He had not eaten at a restaurant in almost five hundred and fifty years.
Emma was sitting in a chair when he walked in and Susan had crawled into the bed and was taking a nap. He set the groceries on the table and went to her. He handed the check to her and watched, as her eyes got big.
"My god how did you get this? Why is there so much?"
"You just have to know how to talk to lawyers. The reason the check is so large is because your husband had taken an insurance policy out for five hundred thousand dollars. Didn't you know about the policy?"
She shook her head slowly. She was in shock. She had just about given up hope of ever seeing any of the money. Now she didn't know what to do with it.
"Your husband must have had the policy put away in some papers that were in the house when you were forced to move. Anyway, I have the accounting of the estate. The lawyer agreed to waive his fee because of all the trouble that he caused you. I think that was very nice of him. One day I think you ought to write him a letter and thank him for that."
Emma got a troubled look on her face, "You didn't hurt him did you? We can't get in trouble because of this can we?"
Ben laughed and went to put the groceries away. Emma sat in her chair staring at the check.
After he had put the groceries away, he asked her if she felt strong enough to eat out. She told him that she might have to lean on him sometimes but she had been getting up all afternoon while he was gone. They decided on a restaurant that she had been to before. They picked that restaurant because they didn't have to dress up. Neither of them had clothes that were suitable for a first class restaurant.
He went out before it was time to leave and called a taxi. He told the taxi what time he wanted to be picked up. While he was gone, Emma and Susan got ready.
The taxi was there on time and Ben helped Emma to the car while Susan walked next to her, holding her mother's hand.
The dinner went well. Susan chattered almost no stop and the dinner was just what Emma needed to lift her spirits. They talked for a long time after they had finished eating with Susan voicing an opinion on everything that was discussed.
On the ride back to their house Susan was very animated. She had been so all night. Ben had to carry Emma to the house. The dinner had sapped her strength. Susan crawled into her bed without even taking her clothes off and was asleep in one minute. He helped Emma get into her shirt that she used as a nightshirt and she got into bed.
Ben straightened up the room and turned out the lights except for the bathroom light that he left on for Susan. He went to the chair and was about to sit down when he heard Emma call him.
"Ben come into bed with me. We have to talk."
Ben stripped to his underwear and climbed into bed beside her. She put her arm around him and hugged him for a long time.
"Do you realize how much you have changed my life? I had given up all hope. I was only staying alive because of Susan. You are such a good man. I wonder if Susan and I would be alive today if it wasn't for you."
Ben started to say something and she put a finger to his lips to silence him, "I have been thinking all night. I should buy a house so that Susan has a stable home life. I would like to find a house in our old neighborhood. Ben, I would like you to come and live with Susan and me. She loves you so much. God, this is hard. I love you too. I want to try to find the cure for this curse that's on you. I want to try to make a life with you. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone in my life. Please say you'll go with us. I'll try to make you a home and Susan will drive you crazy."
She leaned over him quickly and kissed him. She held onto him like she was afraid that he would leave her. He turned to her and kissed her softly several times. She moved closer to him and felt him growing against her. She grabbed his erection.
"I wish that I could do something about this tonight. Will you promise to give me a few days? I promise that you won't be sorry."
They gently kissed and caressed for a long time. Both of them seemed reluctant to leave the other and go to sleep. Susan solved the dilemma when she crawled in between them. She was walking in her sleep as children do. Emma gave him a wicked grin and mouthed the words "I love you."
Ben turned on his back and stared at the ceiling for a long while. He did love these two. He was afraid to tell them that he did. Suppose he had to leave to protect them. What if Emma could not put up with his nightmares? He knew that he could not stand it if anything happened to Susan because of his curse. He was still not sure of the wizard's powers. Slowly sleep came to him.
In the morning he woke up to find Emma sitting on the bed next to him. She smiled when she saw he was awake.
"I've been watching you sleep. I've never done that before. I felt so much love in my heart watching you. You didn't give me an answer last night. Will you stay with Susan and me?"
He took her hand, "Are you sure that you want to try this? You know about the curse. I couldn't stand it if I caused any harm to come to you or Susan. I love her like she was my child. I think that you know that I love you. I have almost since the moment I found you in that alley."
He put his hands over his face, "That sounds horrible. I found you in an alley."
She kissed him, "I know what you mean. As for the other, yes I'm willing to take a chance. I don't know what is happening to us. We've only known each other a few days and I feel like I've known you all my life. I want you to be with us as long as you can. I'm willing to accept only a few days with you if that's all you'll give me. I love you totally without conditions."
She kissed him again and got off of the bed. She walked to the counter and fixed the coffee pot.
As the coffee started brewing she turned to him, "I think that I'd like to take a bath. Could you get the morning paper? I'd like to start looking for a house. I'm sure it will take a while to find something decent."
She walked into the bathroom after telling him that she loved him.
He got out of bed an got dressed. Susan hadn't moved and he pulled the covers over her and kissed her. He made sure that Emma was alright and left to find the morning paper.
He picked up some donuts at the store and the last morning paper
that was left. Emma would probably have a fit when he gave Susan the
donuts. They were chocolate covered.