Chapter 18 #2
“Sure,” I say, feeling a little awkward to be holding a strange baby, but also kind of loving it at the same time.
She smells wonderful, like vanilla cookies, and she’s looking at me like I’m the best thing in the whole world.
“This is Frank, my cameraman and editor,” I say, walking inside.
“Thank you so much for allowing us to video your playhouse.”
“You’re most welcome,” he says. “I’d do anything for Ben. He’s the salt of the earth.”
“You’re not the first person to tell me that,” I answer, scooting out of the way as a girl who looks too young to be in school comes racing around the corner. She’s followed by a boy who appears to be about her age, both of them giggling away.
“No running in the house, you two,” Carl says in a kind-but-firm tone. “Take it outside if you’ve got the zoomies.”
They both bolt for the back door, disappearing into the yard in their bare feet.
“Wow, you’ve got three kids?” I ask.
“Five,” he answers. “I adopted two of them. The other three are foster kids.”
“You and your wife must be so busy.”
“No wife,” he answers. “Just me.”
“Really?” Frank asks. “And you’re still standing?”
Giving us a wide grin, he says, “I wouldn’t trade this life for the world. Let’s go out back so I can show you the playhouse.”
We walk through the house. It’s clean and slightly chaotic, with toys and high chairs, playpens and picture books scattered around.
When we get outside, the yard is large and fenced in, with a tall oak tree in the far corner, a kiddie pool near the patio, and a long picnic table under an umbrella.
The playhouse sits under the tree. It’s whimsical, with bright colors and an asymmetrical design.
The windows are slightly crooked with shutters to match and the peaked roof looks like it’s been stretched like putty into an off-kilter shape.
I laugh when I look at it, which causes Lily to giggle too. “Do you love your playhouse, Lily?” I ask.
She grins and a line of drool starts down her chin.
“She’s teething pretty good,” Carl says, reaching up and patting her chin dry with her bib.
The other two children have stopped running and are now staring at Frank and me, both seemingly interested in his camera. Carl places a hand on each of their heads. “Darla, Liam, these are the people I was telling you about. Can you please say hello to our guests?”
We exchange hellos, then Liam points to Lily. “Don’t hold her. Her is drooling all the time.”
“It’s okay, I don’t mind,” I answer, even though, to be honest, I’d rather not have drool on my Veronica Beard linen dress.
Carl smiles down at Liam. “Vivian and Frank are going to take some video of the playhouse. You are not to touch that camera. It’s not a toy. How about while they’re doing their work, you two go inside and get them each a cookie?”
They both nod and race to the house.
“There, that’ll make it easier to film without them getting in the shot,” he tells us as soon as they’re gone.
Frank walks over to the playhouse and gets started while I stand in the shade with Lily. “We went to two other houses today, but I think this is my favorite one yet.”
“Isn’t it unbelievable?” Carl asks. “The kids love it. It’s such a gift, especially when they first arrive here.
There’s a real magic to it. When a new child comes to live here, as soon as they see that playhouse, no matter what they’ve been through, their faces just light up. I think it makes them feel safe.”
I nod, my mind reeling with so many questions, not the first of which is how Carl was able to afford it. “So, how did you meet Ben?”
“The local news did a feature on our family last year, and he saw it and wanted to do something for us. So, he called the station and left his number for me. The next day he came by with his son to look at the yard, and offered to build this for us for free.”
Chills go up my spine and shoot through my whole body. Here is a single dad who was so moved by the story of another single dad that he built them something wonderful. “It’s incredible.”
“It really is,” Carl answers. “Ben is one of a kind.”
“Would you be willing to go on camera to talk about what Ben did for your kids? I think it would definitely help him out.”
“Of course.”
An hour later, Frank and I leave. “Huh,” Frank says as soon as we get in the car.
“What?”
“I think I’ve been living in New York too long.” He starts up the engine. “I didn’t know such good people existed anymore.”
“Apparently, they do.” We spend the entire ride back to Ben’s place talking about Carl and his children.
I’m inspired to the point of tears, and can’t help but feel like a totally selfish human being in comparison.
“Honestly, it makes me feel like what I’m doing with my life is a total waste,” I say as we pull up in front of the house.
“Think about me. All I do is record your waste of a life,” he answers.
I chuckle and give him a little slap on his arm. “Maybe we’ll have to do better when we get back home.”
“Yeah, you might, but I won’t,” he says. “I’ll forget all about this and spend the rest of my days in front of my computer and watching sports.”
I nod, then say, “And I’ll get back to chasing views and won’t have time for anything else. But at least we’ll have some money, right?”
“Yeah. At least there’s that.”
“Thank you for all your help today. I’d like to do the edits myself on this one, since it’s a pro bono thing,” I tell him.
Nodding, he says, “You bet, boss.”
“See you later, Frank,” I say, getting out of the car.
“Later, slacker.”
I walk up the sidewalk, feeling lighter and happier than I have in a long time, and it’s got everything to do with Ben and Carl and his wonderful children.
Just knowing there are good men like them in the world is enough to bring a huge smile to my face.
I see Ben through the living room window, and oh my, he’s shirtless again.
Little Henry’s face pops up at the front door and he opens it for me.
“Auntie Viv! Wanna come for a swim with us?”
My gut instinct is to say yes, but then I remember how much stuff I have to do this evening. “I can’t tonight, buddy. I wish I could, though.”
“Okay, but it’s going to be super fun!” he says, turning away and running to the patio doors, leaving Ben and me alone in the living room.
“Don’t go out of the yard,” Ben tells him as he disappears down the steps without remembering to shut the patio doors.
Ben strides over and shuts the screen, leaving the sound of the waves to fill the house.
I follow him into the kitchen while I try not to devour him with my eyes, even though I’m totally devouring him with my eyes.
Honestly, hearing what everyone had to say about him today, especially Carl, makes me want to rush over to him and give him a kiss to end all kisses.
I feel like my jaded heart grew three sizes today.
I want to tell him everything I heard today about him, and what a difference he’s making in people’s lives, but I won’t.
I’m not saying anything until all the videos are ready to go, and I’ve got a solid social media plan in place.
If I spill the beans now, he’ll turn down my help, and I can’t have that.
I need to do this, not just for him anymore, but for me.
So I can feel like I had a small part in all of it.
“Busy day?” he asks, giving me a look that says he might not mind that kiss after all.
“Yeah, I was with Frank all day filming.” I drop my bag on the coffee table. “We’ve only got another couple of days with him here before we head back to New York, which honestly, I am not looking forward to.”
He tilts his head. “It is kind of hard to top the Caribbean, isn’t it?”
“A little bit, yeah,” I say, quickly following that with, “But we’ll only be gone a week, so I can hardly complain too loud.”
Ben’s face grows serious and he gives me a little nod. “Yeah, absolutely. Besides, I’m sure you and Dom will have a ton of fun picking out dishes and rings and whatnot.”
“Totally,” I answer, my heart heavy as a stone at the idea of doing those things with his brother. “It’s going to be terrific.”
“Definitely. Dom will be in his glory,” he says, but his eyes are saying something else entirely. They’re telling me not to do this. Not to leave. To call the whole thing off.
Or maybe I’m just imagining that because I want him to want that. I want him to need me the way I’m starting to need him. Smiling, I say, “For sure.”
Henry’s voice makes its way inside. “Dad! Come on! Let’s go!”
Ben nods at me. “That’s my cue.”
“Have fun.”
“We will.”
I wait until he’s gone to walk over to the kitchen sink.
I fill up a glass of water while I watch him and Henry racing each other down to the water.
I’m in love with him. I am. There’s no sense in pretending I’m not.
There’s only the hard work of getting over it.
And all the longing that will follow me along the way.