CHAPTER FIVE
When your kid asks you why bald eagles are called that when they aren’t bald, how the hell do you answer them?
~Text from Kimbra to Ben~
Kimbra
It’s Saturday, and I’m a bundle of nerves.
Ben’s coming over to pick us up and take us to his club’s family day.
The family day where I’m meeting everyone who’s important to Ben.
That’s not intimidating at all. I know I’ve met quite a few of them before, but that was in a professional setting, and I wasn’t being introduced as his girlfriend.
I may have changed my shirt three…okay, four times.
You’d be nervous, too, if you were in my shoes, and you know it.
He told me I didn’t need to bring anything with me, but there are four of us.
I know that’s a lot of extra mouths, so I’ll be damned if I come empty-handed.
I made cheese puffs because, one, they’re delicious, and two, I might need some emotional support olives inside of them.
I also made Watergate salad, though my kids refuse to call it anything but green fluff.
I don’t bake much, and I know Jane is queen of all baked goods, so I had no desire to make a dessert.
The kids have asked me dozens of questions about who we’re going to meet.
Bentley has told them all about the guys he met at the shop.
Hell, I think he knows more of the guys’ names than I do at this point.
He’s super excited to go, even though I told him they were most likely not going to be working on engines since I know he can get super focused on something like that.
I got an actual eye roll from him and an, “I know that, Mom.” Why did he sound just like his brother?
How is my Bent—my little smarty pants—growing up enough to do that?
Must be spending too much one-on-one time with Branson and boys that age, as I refuse to acknowledge he’s almost ten.
I’m currently standing in my kitchen trying to decide whether I should whip up something else when there’s a knock on the door.
Bentley goes running to the door, and I have to remind him, “Look out the window before you open it!” He doesn’t stop running toward the door.
“I know, Mom!” I hear the door open and Bent peppering Ben with questions.
I’m still looking into my pantry cupboard to see what else I could throw together when I feel hands touch my waist and a kiss on my neck.
“Doc, have you been running around here all morning, working yourself into a freakout?” Asshole knows me too well already, jackass.
“I…no…I just want to make a good impression. These are the most important people in your life, and that makes me want to have them like me and my kids. They’re your family, and I know what that means to you and…
” He cuts off my rambling by spinning me around and kissing me senseless.
When he breaks the kiss, he holds my face in his hands.
“First off, half of them have already met you and like you. The women all say they won’t go to another doctor ever again.
Secondly, they are going to see how important you are to me.
I know we haven’t been seeing each other that long, but, Doc, you gotta know that you mean the world to me.
” How could I not kiss him after that? He really is a sweet marshmallow to me.
He drops his hands from my face and takes one of my hands in his.
“Just so you know, it’s not just me who thinks your kids are pretty awesome either, I got asked where Bentley was by almost every brother in the shop yesterday, and they asked about what Branson and Bailey were like.
They’re gonna love you.” He looks behind me at the counter and shakes his head.
“Doc, I told ya you didn’t need to bring anything.
” I must give him a look because he chuckles and shakes his head at me.
“You’re bringing four extra people, and both boys are going through spurts where they eat a ton, so yes, I want to bring something.
It’s just cheese puffs and the green fluff salad.
” I watch his eyebrows go sky-high. “If my brother Tripp proposes, remember you’re not available.
He fucking loves all those fluff salads and might try to keep it all to himself.
” Good, that means at least one of them will be in my corner.
Bentley comes into the kitchen and stands there looking at Ben and me with his hands on his hips.
“Are we going yet? Time’s a ticking, people!
” I see Ben trying to contain his laughter at Bent.
“Go make sure your brother and sister are ready. We’re leaving in five minutes.
” I don’t think I’ve seen him move faster after I’ve told him to do something in years.
“He’s just a tad excited, isn’t he?” Ben grabs the two trays on the counter to take to the SUV.
He leans over and gives me a quick kiss.
“He made a great impression, and it’s gonna be a good day. Have a little faith, Doc.”
It only took us fifteen minutes to get out of the house, so I’m calling that a win.
Branson went back for a hoodie and his headphones so he can listen to music in case we’re all, “Just boring adults and little kids,” and Bailey needed her bag with coloring and two baby dolls in case there is someone to play with her.
Can’t say my kids don’t come prepared to entertain themselves.
Ben insisted on driving us, saying that if he gave me directions, he was worried I wouldn’t find my way since he’d tell me left and right instead of this way and that way.
Smartass. He could barely get it out without laughing at me.
I promptly threw the keys at him, got in the passenger seat, and turned the radio up. I can’t be mature all the time.
We’ve been driving for about ten minutes when Ben speaks up.
“Doc, got a question for you.” I wait for him to continue.
“I’ve driven or ridden in a vehicle with you numerous times now.
How is it that every single time we’ve been in this car, at least two ABBA songs play on the radio?
” Before I can answer him, Branson speaks up.
“Mom is obsessed with them. She knows all their songs and has playlists of just their songs. She’s played that one movie with their songs in it over and over again.
” Apparently, nothing is out of bounds for my kids to share with Ben.
He doesn’t even try to hide his laughter.
“Seriously, Doc? ABBA?” I let out a huff.
“If you listen to their hits and the songs that aren’t as famous, they have great meaning.
Besides, have you ever listened to ABBA and stayed in a bad mood?
No, I don’t think so. However, since you all don’t know good taste, I’ll change the station.
” Surrounded by musical snobs. I turned it to a nineties station.
A couple minutes later, Ben reaches over and takes my hand.
He lifts it up and kisses it. It looks like he is about to say something when the song changes on the radio, and the first few beats have my kids all excited, even Branson, who tries to act too cool for this most of the time.
Makes this mom’s heart warm to see him remembering to be a kid sometimes.
I look at all three in my vanity mirror on the visor.
“You guys ready?” They all yell “yes” as they bob their heads in time to the beat.
I didn’t start this intentionally, but apparently, when Branson was a toddler, it was one I played often and sang along with.
He started singing the chorus from that point on.
Bentley and Bailey caught on when they were toddlers as well.
It’s something that, if I’m having a bad day, can make me feel like I’m doing something right with them.
They truly are the best things I’ve ever done in my life. Focus, woman.
I can see Ben is totally entertained by all three of them bobbing their heads to the beat. “Bran, you ready?” Branson rolls his eyes at me and nods, acting as if he’s too cool for this, but yet every time, he still belts it out.
Branson, from the third row, starts the chorus.
“Da-da da da!” Bentley doesn’t miss a beat “Da-da da da!” Bailey’s nodding and her curls are bouncing everywhere, and she shouts more than sings her part.
“Da-da da da!” and I take my turn before we all sing the last bit together.
“Da-da dum diddy dum diddy dum diddy da da da!” I look over, and Ben’s got a look on his face that I can’t quite decipher.
He lifts my hand up, kisses it again, and squeezes it all while listening to my kids belt out the rest of the song.
Ben
Watching them all sing the Proclaimers song, I see the close bond Kimbra has with her kids.
It humbles me that she’s invited me into their world and that she’s open to letting me into that circle.
It hits me deep in my chest, and the realization comes over me that I’m not falling for Kimbra.
I’ve already fallen and am completely in love with her.
She’s smart, caring, loving, and sexier than any other woman I’ve ever met, and she loves her kids with every ounce of her being.
Yeah, I’m a fucking goner, and I’m perfectly okay with that.