Chapter 55
Benjamin stared at the nearly empty closet in Summer’s room. She and Max hadn’t been in church this morning, and now he knew what she’d done while he was gone. The absence of her princess costumes made all of this a little too real. At least while they’d still been here, he’d had some hope that she’d be back. But now . . .
He scrubbed at his face.
He’d gone to see her at her mama’s before and after work the last three days. He’d brought her flowers and pie. He’d told her a thousand times that she wasn’t making him give up his dreams—that she was his dream. But none of it seemed to make a difference to her.
At this point, he didn’t know what would. But he wasn’t going to give up on her. Not until she presented him with divorce papers. And probably not even then.
Shewas what he wanted, all he wanted, and he was going to make her see that—somehow.
He scanned her closet again, then checked the drawers. But the prince costumes were gone too. She’d told him last night that she didn’t need him for today’s princess party after all. But she was getting a prince, whether she liked it or not.
He strode to his own room and pulled out the closest thing he could find to a princely costume: a pair of dress pants, a white button-down shirt left open at the top, and a vest. He pried on a pair of dress shoes and surveyed the effect in the mirror. Well, he wouldn’t win any awards for best-dressed prince, but it would have to do.
He grabbed his keys and ran out to his car, lifting a hand to wave at his neighbor, who gave him an odd look but waved back. Fortunately, he knew the family having the party, so he didn’t have to text Summer for directions. He was pretty sure she wouldn’t have sent them.
Although the drive was short, by the time Benjamin got there, parents were already walking their kids to the door. He got out of his car and hurried after them, ignoring a fresh slew of strange looks.
Mrs. Sherman was welcoming the kids inside, but when Benjamin reached her, she did a double take. “Benjamin?”
He grinned. “Actually, it’s Aladdin today.”
She eyed his clothing and gave him a dubious look. “I thought Summer said we weren’t going to be able to have a prince?”
Benjamin shook his head. “Summer didn’t think it would work out. But I was determined to make it happen.”
“Okay, well, great.” Mrs. Sherman still looked uncertain, but she stepped aside and gestured him into the house. “Summer is setting up in the family room.” She pointed to a wide set of stairs. “Some of the girls are already up there.”
“Perfect.” Benjamin rushed past her to take the stairs two at a time. At the top, he stopped, his eyes traveling straight to Summer. She wore a silky blue top that fell off her shoulders and a pair of flowing blue and gold pants with a gold band around her waist. A turquoise headband circled the top of her head, and her long, dark hair flowed down her back.
She was already surrounded by a group of eager girls, who chatted excitedly.
“Jasmine, you’re my favorite princess,” one of them said, and Benjamin winced. Of course she had to be Jasmine today.
But Summer smiled sweetly at the girl. “Thank you.”
“Is Aladdin coming?” another girl asked.
“Uh, no, he couldn’t—”
Benjamin cleared his throat and stepped forward, keeping his eyes on Summer’s face as she looked up, her cheeks going first pale, then flushed. Her lips worked up and down, and he couldn’t tell if she was fighting a smile or a growl.
“What are— How did—” she stammered.
“I couldn’t miss the party of the year, could I? I told Genie to keep an eye on things for me.”
“Benji,” Max’s little voice called out, and Benjamin spun around in surprise as Max charged toward him.
“Maxerooni.” Benjamin scooped the boy into his arms and swung his feet into the air. He’d missed this little guy terribly.
“Who’s Benji?” one of the girls asked as Benjamin set Max down.
“That’s my nickname,” Benjamin offered smoothly. “I’m going incognito today. That’s why I’m dressed like this too. I couldn’t let everyone know I’m a prince. Otherwise, they’d all stop me to ask for an autograph, and then I’d never get here on time.”
His gaze sought Summer again. She was shaking her head, but he didn’t miss the slight upturn of her lips. Hope surged through him. “So, are we ready to get this party started?”
For the next hour, they played games, made crafts, ate cake, and opened presents. Max seemed to love it all, but Summer was tense, though Benjamin doubted anyone else noticed. He could only tell by the stiff way she held her smile in place—and by the careful distance she kept from him. The one time their hands bumped as he handed her a glue stick, she pulled hers away as if she’d been burnt.
Finally, she announced that it was time for the sing-along. She passed Benjamin her phone so that he could run the music while she led the singing, and he eagerly scanned the playlist she had put together, grinning as his eyes fell on the last song.
He sat on the floor with Max on his lap, the girls gathered around them, as they listened to Summer sing. He even joined in with the girls’ voices for the parts he knew. But when they got to the last song, he moved Max to the floor and stood up, making his way over all of the little legs to stand next to Summer.
She eyed him. “Was there something you wanted to say, Aladdin?”
He shook his head. “Nope.” Then he pressed the button to begin the final song: “A Whole New World.” He waited through the introduction, then at the cue, stepped forward and took her hand, singing the first words of the song loudly and clearly.
Summer’s eyes grew wide, and the kids cheered—Max loudest of all.
Benjamin grinned and kept singing, not taking his gaze off of Summer. Her lips pressed into a tight line, and her eyes shone with unshed tears. Benjamin faltered a little, wondering if he’d made a mistake. But when they got to her verse, she came in with her strong, steady soprano. She didn’t look away from him, and her lips curved into a smile that set his heart flying higher than any magic carpet could have.
He pulled her closer as they came in together on the final refrain, wrapping an arm around her waist and resting his palm on her cheek. Their voices mingled and then faded away, and still they stood like that.
There was silence for a moment, but then the kids broke into wild applause and Summer seemed to come back to herself. She unwound his arm from around her waist and moved into the crowd of girls, hugging them.
Benjamin recruited Max to help him start cleaning up, and once all of the girls were gone, Summer silently joined them.
“I think we can chalk that up as another success,” he said cheerfully.
Summer nodded tightly. “You shouldn’t have come.”
Benjamin sighed. He was getting a little tired of hearing those words every time he saw her.
But before he could say anything, Mrs. Sherman bustled into the room and started gushing to Summer about how wonderful the party had been. Benjamin continued to clean up, grinning as Mrs. Sherman added that she was so glad he had come, even if his costume was a little “unusual.”
By the time Mrs. Sherman wound down, Benjamin had everything packed up, and he carried it out to Summer’s car for her. He loaded it into the trunk while she buckled Max into his seat. She must have raced through the job because she was already opening her own car door by the time he shut the trunk.
“Summer, wait.” He hurried to catch her, half afraid she’d jump in and squeal away like a criminal in a cop movie.
But she paused with her hand on the open door. “What is it?” She sounded so weary and worn that it was all he could do not to pull her into his arms.
“Can we talk?” he asked quietly.
She shook her head. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
He gave a disbelieving laugh. “We could talk about the fact that I love you, for starters.”
Again she shook her head, and he fought the urge to growl out loud.
“I do, Summer. I’ve tried to show you every way I know how. What more can I do? What more proof do you need from me? Tell me, and I’ll do it.”
“I don’t need anything. You’ve already given up too much for me.”
“And I would give it all up again,” he said fiercely. “I would give up my life for you.”
She closed her eyes, and he thought for a moment that he’d convinced her. But then she opened them, her expression blank. “But I don’t want you to. There’s only one thing I want you to give up.”
“Name it.”
She looked away, toward the orange and gold trees dotting the mountains. “Me.”
All of the breath escaped Benjamin faster than if he’d been tackled by an entire football team.
“I can’t do that,” he managed to gasp. “I love you, and I know you love me.” She kept denying it, but he could see it in her eyes. She loved him, but she was afraid. “I know you’re scared but—”
“I’m not scared. I’m tired. I need to go home.”
“Yes.” He seized her hand. “Come home. With me. Where you belong.”
She shook her head and pulled her hand back. “You know I’m staying at my mama’s.”
“Are you really telling me that’s where you’d rather be?”
She grimaced but nodded.
Benjamin scrubbed his hand through his hair. This woman was more stubborn than anyone he’d ever met.
“Okay,” he finally relented. “Go get some rest. But I have off tomorrow, and I thought we could—”
“I have an appointment tomorrow,” Summer interrupted. She looked away, then inhaled quickly and met his eyes. “With a divorce lawyer.”
The blow made Benjamin stagger backwards. He grabbed at the roof of her car to keep from falling over his own feet.
He wanted to say something, to scream, to protest—but it was a fight just to pull in a breath.
“I’ll bring the papers over afterward,” Summer added.
“I won’t sign them.”
“You don’t have to. Only one person has to want it for it to go through.”
“What about Max?” Benjamin pressed a hand to the car window, as if that could keep her from taking Max from him. “I’m his guardian too.”
“I can take care of Max. He was never supposed to be your problem.”
“My problem— Summer— I love Max. I love you.” Was there no getting through to this woman?
“Then we’ll work something out.” Summer wrapped her arms across her stomach, and he wondered if this conversation was making her as nauseous as it made him.
“This is what you want.” He meant for it to be a question, but it came out as a flat statement.
If she didn’t really want it, she wouldn’t have gone so far as to make an appointment.
“Yes,” she answered, her voice cool and steady.
Benjamin watched her for another moment, then spun on his heel and strode toward his own car.
He hesitated a moment, waiting for her to tell him to stop, to say it was all a mistake. But she remained silent.
He turned and let his eyes meet hers one more time. She didn’t blink, didn’t waver.
He yanked his car door open, dropped into his seat, and drove away.