1.25 Because I belong with you

Anna and Benjamin started meeting on a regular basis soon after that one night. They spent a lot of time outside in gardens or parks, where Anna taught Benjamin some things about gardening. He seemed genuinely interested in what she did, and that encouraged her to let him into her life again. Of course, they had to be careful in public, since Benjamin officially was still dating Gracie Loveland. Nobody was supposed to know that something was happening between those two. It seemed right, though.

One night, after they had been strolling through the parks for hours, Anna accompanied Benjamin back home and they talked for some minutes in private. During their conversation Anna repeatedly got distracted by a beautiful picture behind Benjamin, showing an angel in paradise. The angel looked happy there, like he was in exactly the right place, only doing what he wants to do. It made Anna wonder whether this was what she wanted. Surely Benjamin was a nice guy and she had deep feelings for him, but she no longer liked this game they were playing. It was all or nothing.

When she revealed her thoughts to him, he took a deep breath, then walked towards the door. Thinking he was kicking her out, she followed him reluctantly. Now she had ruined everything. But when he didn’t stop at the door, and continued walking outside the house instead, a spark of hope rose inside of her. 

Minutes later, his car stopped in front of Anna’s house. Beth, playing with Kokette on the lawn, watched curiously as her mother and a man she had never seen before got out of the car, smiled at each other and walked towards the house while holding hands. 

The other kids weren’t exactly less curious. Britney pretended to read a book – not noticing she held it backwards – and inconspicuously examined them at the same time. She had approved of Benjamin the first time she saw him, and now he was apparently going to stay at their house. Her mother really had a good taste.

Anna didn’t wait any longer. The second Benjamin had non-vocally agreed to join her life, she had known she was going to be fine. There was no reason to postpone what both of them wanted to happen anyway. One quick text message later, Benjamin was a free man again. And soon after that, he no longer was.

And with this small, yet touching ceremony, Benjamin Vocis officially moved into the house and into the family’s hearts. 

Again, the children had to take care of themselves for a few days now, but this time was different. Their mother was happy and trying to spend every minute with their new step-father, which is what they approved of.

The youngest two were a bit reluctant at first, though, since they were not used to having a man in the house. Especially Beth seemed to be quieter around him at first. 

To make it easier for everybody, Benjamin invited the entire family to the fair at the first weekend they were together. The kids climbed into the back of the truck, already giggling and laughing, while the two grown-ups made themselves comfortable in the front seats. 

Great fun was had by all – the girls participated in food contests, Billy and Anna tried to skate, Benjamin bought ice-cream for everybody and there were many moments in which everybody knew this was going to work out just fine. They were a family.

The evening was completed by Anna’s birthday into elder hood. Of course, she had known about it, but had tried to keep it a secret all day. She didn’t want to be an elder, she didn’t want her hair to turn grey, and she didn’t want most of her life to be over already. But since birthdays weren’t something you chose to have or not to have, it was inevitable. 

After what seemed like a complete transformation to her, she turned to Benjamin. Her second husband was looking at her, a few tears in his eyes, and a big smile on his face. Carefully, he pulled her into his arms and assured her how beautiful she was. This moment, she knew it: he would understand. Her life and her soul.