CHAPTER NINE
“Do you think it’s a good idea?” Luca asked as they walked to the SUV. “Going out for dinner with her?”
Ben knew what Luca was asking. He hadn’t been around during their breakup, but he’d heard about it. He’d also accompanied Ben to some of Amelia’s competitions in the couple of years following the breakup.
Luca knew about what had happened between them and that Ben still had a soft spot for Amelia, even after he’d moved on from their relationship. Even after the intensity of his feelings for her had faded.
Faded, but not completely gone, the memory of what they’d shared still lingering in his heart. Whenever she’d come to mind over the years, those thoughts had always been accompanied by affection for her.
Now that he’d seen her again, though, Ben was concerned about what had happened with her health. And even more than her physical health, he worried about her mental state.
“I have my reasons,” Ben said as he unlocked the car.
Luca didn’t respond until they were both in the vehicle, Ben behind the wheel. He pushed the ignition button so that he could roll down the windows, but he didn’t start the car.
“And they are?”
There were probably people who would wonder at a bodyguard being so forward the way Luca was, but that had always been the case for Ben with his bodyguards.
He’d had two main ones over the course of his life. Andrew when he’d been a teen and still living at the estate, and then Luca, when Andrew had requested to stay at the estate because that was where his girlfriend, Dawn, worked as Annie’s bodyguard.
Ben respected Luca’s opinion, just like he had Andrew’s. When Andrew had left, Ben had gone through a handful of different bodyguards before he’d settled on Luca. If he was going to have someone around him all the time, Ben had wanted it to be someone who did more than just guard his body.
Over the years, their relationship had gotten to the point where, in private, Luca would give his thoughts and opinions on things going on in Ben’s life.
“My main reason is that I want to learn more about what she’s struggling with health-wise. It’s possible that there is something Burke Pharmaceuticals could do to help her. Maybe a trial drug or an experimental treatment.”
“Do you think she’ll tell you about what’s going on with her?” Luca asked as Ben started the SUV, then exited the parking lot. “From what people have said, she hasn’t been too forthcoming, even with people she’s been close to.”
“I won’t know unless I try,” Ben said.
“Where are we going?” Luca asked when Ben didn’t turn the SUV in the direction of the estate.
“I need to pick up a couple of things from the store. We need to be back at the church by five, so we can’t take too long.”
When they reached the store, Ben didn’t bother with a cart. What he needed didn’t require one.
In the candy aisle, he stood looking at the selection, searching for one brand in particular. Amelia hadn’t eaten much candy when she’d been training. But when she had, it had always been the same thing. Chocolate with almonds.
When he spotted what he wanted, he grabbed the bag of individually wrapped small bars of chocolate with almonds in them. He hoped she still liked them.
While he was there, he grabbed a bag of the candy he’d eaten as a teen, then looked at Luca. “You want anything?”
Luca gave a smirk. “Sure. Why not?”
After he’d made his selection, they headed for the cash registers. Ben chose to go through the self-checkout, then they went back out to the vehicle.
It was a little before five when they got back to the church, so they sat in the car to wait.
“How have you been finding the clinic?” Ben asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Is it boring for you?”
“Not at all,” Luca said. “I’m actually enjoying it. Though watching the other men who are helping, I’m clearly not on their level.”
“I’m just glad the kids seem to be enjoying themselves,” Ben said. “And that they’re willing to listen to the brief message that Cole gives each day.”
He’d been surprised by that, actually. But Cole had an engaging way about him that made the kids willing to listen. Ben knew that Cole would count it all a success if even just one teen gave their life to God.
Some of the kids were from the church, so Ben assumed they had already heard the message of salvation. Hopefully, any teens who expressed an interest in knowing more about God would be taken under the wing by those who were already Christians.
“Let’s go,” Ben said when he saw on the clock’s digital display that it was five o’clock.
The late afternoon was bright and warm as they walked across the parking lot to the front doors of the church. Inside, Ben headed down the wide hallway that led to the administrative offices.
When he got there, Amelia was standing beside her desk, and she looked up as they walked in.
“Ready to go?” Ben asked, bracing himself for her to have changed her mind.
She hesitated, her gaze holding his for a long moment before she nodded and picked up her purse and phone. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Do you have to lock up?” Ben asked.
“Yes. The pastor left early for an appointment. I have to lock the front doors, then we can leave by the side entrance.”
“You don’t worry about your safety when you’re here alone?” Ben asked.
“Not really. I’m not usually here alone for long periods of time.”
“I can go back and lock the front doors,” Luca offered. “Is it just the main set?”
“Yes,” Amelia said.
“I’ll be right back.”
Alone with Amelia, Ben said, “Do you mind if we just get takeout from the diner and go to the park?”
“No. Not at all.”
“It’s a beautiful day, so I thought it would be good to enjoy the outdoors.”
Once Luca returned, they discussed the food they wanted from the diner, then Ben phoned and placed the order.
After shutting off the lights in the office, Amelia led them to the side entrance. She turned off a few switches there, then had them step outside while she set the alarm.
It reminded Ben of when they’d been in the arena at the resort where Amelia had trained. There were times when they’d been the last to leave, and together they’d locked up the place.
When they reached the restaurant a short time later, Luca and Ben went into the diner to pick up the food.
The place was quite busy and noisy with the sounds of conversation and the clinking of plates and silverware. When Ben gave his name, the hostess handed him the bags that contained their food and drinks. Once he’d paid for it, they returned to the car and made their way to the largest park in town.
It was a park he and Amelia had spent time at over the years, and as he suspected, it was a popular place that July Friday afternoon.
After he’d driven on the circular road for a bit, Ben found what he was looking for. Two empty tables that were near each other.
Though this wasn’t a date, Ben still wanted a bit of privacy with Amelia. He had a feeling that she wouldn’t reveal much if Luca was at the table with them.
Luca might be someone Ben knew well, but Amelia didn’t know him at all. If Ben wanted to have a chance of discussing her health issues, Luca had to sit somewhere else.
Luca seemed to understand without Ben having to say anything.
"I'll grab that table," he said, pointing to the one about fifteen feet away, closer to the road. "You two catch up."
Ben smiled gratefully at him, then turned to Amelia. Gesturing to the picnic table that was closer to a large oak tree that provided some shade, he said, "Let's sit over here."
Amelia nodded and followed him to the table. She sat on one side while Ben took the seat opposite her. He began unpacking the bags, setting out the containers of food.
After he took Luca’s food and drink over to him, Ben returned to the table and sat down across from Amelia.
“Is the diner still as good as I remember?” Ben asked.
“I haven’t eaten there too much, but any time I have, it’s been good.”
“Shall we pray before we eat?” Ben asked.
At Amelia’s nod, he bowed his head and said a brief prayer of thanks for the food, while silently adding on a plea for God to guide their conversation.
“Has it been difficult being back in Serenity full-time?” Ben asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Do you miss all the traveling you used to do for skating?”
“Honestly, that’s probably the one thing I don’t miss. Sometimes during the competitive season, I would have back-to-back assignments that barely left me time to get over the jet lag of flying from one place to the next.”
“Have you traveled at all for pleasure?”
“I went to the UK once for a week.”
“By yourself?”
She shook her head as she picked up her milkshake and took a sip. “I went with Lexi and Wilder one year.”
“Did you like it?”
“I didn’t care much for the major cities, but traveling in the countryside was beautiful.”
“I agree,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of traveling, and with only a few exceptions, I’ve always preferred the countryside or the more remote beaches to the cities.”
“Do you like traveling?”
“Yes. There are so many wonderful places in the world, and I’ve been able to visit many of them.”
“I’m grateful to live in such a beautiful place since I don’t travel anymore.”
Ben finished chewing the bite he’d taken. “Is that by choice?”
Amelia shrugged. “Mainly. My life isn’t very well suited to travel at the moment.”
“Is it because of your health?”
She stared down at the chicken burger and fries she’d ordered for a long moment. “Yes. I wouldn’t be able to handle the demands of travel.”
“Will you tell me what’s wrong?” Ben asked, broaching the subject straight on.
“Why do you want to know?” she asked.
Ben took another bite and chewed slowly, trying to formulate his answer. “I suppose there’s a natural curiosity, given who we once were to each other. But more than that, I wondered if there was anything that our company might be able to do to help you.”
“Help me?”
“Do you know much about Burke Pharmaceuticals or Burke NeuroTech?”
“Not really, no.”