Marg sighed. “Honestly?”
Ben nodded.
“It feels like I’ve invited my own personal nitpicker into my home.”
“You can always come stay with me.”
Marg drew in a deep breath. The silence pressed on for a few minutes as Marg thought about what to say.
“Are you asking me to move in with you?” she asked.
Ben turned his head to look at her before returning his attention to the road. “Yes. I believe I am.”
She sighed again. “I’m flattered that you want me to move in with you. I am.”
“But?” Ben glanced at her.
“I love you, Ben, I do, but I don’t think moving in with you is the best option. Not right now, anyway. As much as my mom drives me up the wall, I’m trying my best to build a better relationship with her.”
“Okay,” Ben replied, keeping his attention on the road. Marg noticed his hand tighten on the steering wheel.
“Ben, I do want to move in with you. But I thought that would happen when we finally got to the point of wanting to share our whole lives together.”
“But that’s what I’m offering,” Ben responded. “To share our whole lives together,” he finished, looking over at her.
“You’re offering some of it, yes.” Marg nodded.
“I don’t follow,” Ben replied, his voice full of confusion.
“My last marriage didn’t turn out the way I expected it to, but I’m still an old-fashioned kind of gal,” she responded.
Ben grinned, the light from the other cars playing across his face as he looked over at Marg. “You, old? When?”
Marg swatted his chest lightly as a smile played on her own lips. “You’re crazy.” She giggled.
“Crazy in love,” Ben returned.
Marg blushed. Just like that, the atmosphere in the car lightened.
“I’m an old-fashioned kind of guy too,” Ben spoke up after a few minutes of traveling in comfortable silence.
She reached over to rest her palm on his free hand.
Ben finally pulled into her driveway. After opening the passenger door for her, he walked her up the few steps that led to the front porch.
“I’ll see you this weekend?” Marg leaned against the doorframe as she smiled up at him.
“Not if I see you before.” He smirked, pushing a strand of her hair behind her ear.
“I understand that having a relationship with your mother is important, and I respect that. My love for you will never change. When the time’s right, we’ll share everything.”
Marg nodded. Her eyes fluttered shut as his lips touched hers.
“I’ll see you later.”
“Bye.” She watched as he returned to his car and remained by the door until he drove away. The smile she sported slowly slipped away to be replaced by a frown.
When would the right time be, she wondered.A month from now? Six? A year?
