Marg grinned and rested her hand on Leon’s, her brow raised as she looked over at Ben, who was blushing profusely.
“You are as lovely as he says,” the gentleman complimented, placing a small kiss on the back of her hand.
“Thank you,” she said. “It’s a pleasure to meet one of Ben’s friends.”
“Oh, the stories I could tell you about this one.” Leon laughed loudly, gaining a glare from Ben. “Alas, the kitchen beckons, but it was a pleasure meeting you.”
Marg gave him an appreciative look.
“Your special dessert is being prepared,” he turned to say to Ben with a wink. Again, Marg’s brow jogged up her forehead in suspicion. Ben coughed.
“Thanks,” he said. Leon left them alone then.
The two were treated to a five-course menu that absolutely blew Marg away. Ben was pulling out all the stops, and it made her a little suspicious, especially as she kept catching him watching her with a nervousness in his eyes that meant he wanted to ask her something but wasn’t sure how to.
“What’s wrong?” she finally asked after receiving a generous slice of tiramisu.
“I just really love you,” came his reply.
“I love you too,” Marg returned. She turned her attention to the dessert before her. She took two bites of the sweet confection. Both her eyebrows moved up her face as the fork encountered something foreign. Wide-eyed, Marg looked over at Ben, who was watching her intently as she drew out the ring.
“Ben,” was all she could manage, her hand flying over her mouth.
“I love you, Marg. I think I’ve loved you since the first day I laid eyes on you at the inn. I love how sweet and caring you are. I love that you love my children as if they are your own, and even though they are well-grown, they love you very much too.” Ben cleaned the cake from the ring, and Marg watched him, still unable to utter a word.
But as he got to his feet and made a step in her direction, she blurted, “I want children.” Ben stopped in his track, a look of confusion marring his face. “I mean, I want to try having a child or maybe adopt.” She wrung her hands together under the table.
Ben slumped back in his chair.
“Please, say something,” she pleaded when he hadn’t spoken in over a minute.
Ben sighed. “It is a lot to take in,” he said softly before fixing his green eyes on her. “I never thought about having another child, especially at this time. I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“It isn’t a good idea for who?”
“I don’t think it is a good idea for any of us, Marg,” he replied. She didn’t respond but instead stared unseeingly into the glass of water. When she didn’t respond, he continued. “I’ve been through the all-nighters, the diaper changing, the doctor’s appointments, the school activities, and believe me, it wasn’t easy.”
“But that’s your experience, Ben, not mine,” Marg spoke passionately. “I’ve always wanted to be a mother, but with everything that happened with Rob and my diagnosis, I thought that was it for me. Now I have a chance, and I want to take it. I thought you’d understand that.”
Ben sighed tiredly. “I understand what you’re saying…I just don’t get why now? We have been happy, enjoying this time together. A baby complicates things,” he replied.
Marg felt as if a knife had been thrust into her chest, and with each word Ben spoke, it felt as if it was inching closer and closer to her heart as it sought to become buried to its hilt. “It sounds to me that you don’t want to have children with me,” she spoke solemnly.
“That’s not…I’m not saying that. I would love to have children with you, but at this stage of our lives, I really don’t think it’s wise.” Ben reached across the table to hold her hand, but she flinched, causing him to withdraw. Ben blew out a breath. “Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?”
Marg turned her head to look at couples grinning across tables at each other, others holding hands. They looked so happy, oblivious to the turmoil brewing at their table. “I don’t know. Fear, maybe,” she finally answered, looking at a couple pushing their chairs back as they stood to their feet before waltzing around the space created. “Somehow, I guess I knew you wouldn’t be thrilled about it, and I guess I didn’t want to rock the boat.”
“And now?” Ben pressed.
Marg sighed and turned to stare into his eyes. “Now, I want everything.” She smiled sadly. Ben nodded in understanding. His gaze left her to watch the couple wrapped up in each other’s arms, seemingly unaware of the other patrons as they waltzed around the space.
“It’s a huge step,” he said, not looking at her.
She bit her lip before replying. “It is. But I’d rather not make it alone.”
Ben sighed. “I don’t want another child, Marg.”
Her heart sank. It was her turn to watch the dancing couple as disappointment washed over her in waves. She spotted the chef making his way in their direction.
