Chapter Twenty One

Stephen

My body stiffened the moment I saw Benji’s name flash on my new cell phone. We’d just moved, so a call from him was unexpected. I couldn’t help but worry. Could something have happened back home?

Trinity - Are you going to answer that?

Stephen - Oh, yeah. Sorry, I was lost in thought.

Stephen - (Phone call) Hey, Benj.

Benji - (Phone call) How’d you know it was me?

Stephen - (Phone call) Your number’s the one I’ve dialed most in the past year, other than my wife’s.

Benji - (Phone call) Haha, I guess that’s true. Is everyone okay?

Stephen - (Phone call) Everyone’s fine, bro. We took the kids out for the day. They were so tired when we got back, they crashed right away.

Benji - (Phone call) That’s good, man. I’m glad they’re okay.

Stephen - (Phone call) I didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.

Benji - (Phone call) And here I was thinking you’d be missing me.

Stephen - (Phone call) Yeah, I do, but my wife’s sitting right next to me. I had to be careful what I said.

Benji - (Phone call) It’s all good, man. She thinks I’m pretty too.

Stephen - (Phone call) Haha, you’re fucked, bro. So, is this why you called? You missed messing with me already?

Benji - (Phone call) How’d you guess?

Stephen - (Phone call) Because you’re a cocky little prick.

Benji - (Phone call) Hahaha, alright, fuck face, calm down. I’m the one helping you here.

Stephen - (Phone call) Which brings me to my question. Everything okay? Please don’t tell me you’re calling with bad news already, mate. I’m not sure I could handle it right now.

Benji - (Phone call) No, all good, bro. I just wanted to check in quickly, plus let you and Clint know the dogs are settled. In fact, I think Maddie loves having Shankly and Gerrard there since I’m hardly ever home.

Stephen - (Phone call) So, what you’re saying is they’ll be sleeping in your bed soon enough while you sleep in the dog house?

Benji - (Phone call) Correct.

Stephen - Hahaha.

Benji - (Phone call) I just knew it would have been a full-on few days for you all, so I wanted to let you know everything on this end is fine.

Stephen - (Phone call) Thanks, man. I appreciate it.

Benji - (Phone call) Right, I have to pass it over to Lachie. Look after the family, okay?

Stephen - (Phone call) Mate, just one thing before you go?

Benji - (Phone call) Yeah, what’s that?

Stephen - (Phone call) When we get back and get this sorted, we’re going to pick out a ring for Maddie, okay?

Benji - (Phone call) Hahaha, is that so?

Stephen - (Phone call) See you then.

Benji - (Phone call) Bye, mate.

The line goes quiet for a minute, then Lachie comes through.

Lachie - (Phone call) Stephen?

Stephen - (Phone call) Hey, Lachie.

Lachie - (Phone call) Everyone okay?

Stephen - (Phone call) Everyone’s fine. Thank you. I’m guessing no updates yet?

Lachie - (Phone call) None as yet, but we’re in the process of ramping it up now that we know you guys are secure.

Stephen - (Phone call) Okay, please keep us updated.

Lachie - (Phone call) Of course.

Stephen - (Phone call) Okay, thanks for letting us talk to Benji.

Lachie - (Phone call) We’ll speak soon.

I hang up and see everyone staring at me, waiting to hear what’s going on.

Stephen - Guys, it’s okay. It was just touching base.

Mia - Thank God for that.

Stephen - He said the dogs are fine and the only problem might be getting Maddie to part with them.

Trinity - I’m so glad they’re with her. She’ll take good care of them.

Clint - Well, I guess the good news calls for another round, right?

Dave - The first smart thing you’ve said tonight.

Stephen - Hahaha.

We all get another drink and sit around for a while before heading to bed. I climb into bed with my wife and pull her close to me. I feel her sigh.

Stephen - What is it, doll?

I wrap her up in my arms and hold her closer as she wraps her arms around mine.

Trinity - Do you think we’ll ever get our lives back?

Stephen - I guess the real question is, babe, once we get this all sorted, do we want to go back to all that?

Trinity - I don’t know anymore, babe.

Stephen - I understand that. There’s so much that’s happened, and while we have so many wonderful memories from home, there’s also all this attached to it. I feel like if we go back to it, do we ever really escape it?

Trinity - I don’t think we can.

Stephen - So, you think once Lachie and Benji get this sorted, you’d want to look at settling somewhere else?

Trinity - Somewhere warm.

Stephen - Yeah, I could handle that.

We cuddle into each other, thinking about it all. It wasn’t long before we drifted off to sleep. I was woken by a sound in our room in the early hours. I found my wife sitting in the chair with our youngest and sat up, turning on the lamp.

Stephen - Just hungry?

Trinity - Yeah, babe.

I sit in our bed, watching my wife nurture our son. Our wives have the hardest job in existence—being married to us buffoons and raising our kids. I know that scenes like this occur all the time in many different settings. When I was younger, I probably wouldn’t have thought too much about it because I might not have been as acutely aware of the subtleties on exhibit.

Now that my wife has taught me better, and the passage of time has occurred, I have some wisdom that allows me to see things differently. I have an increased sensitivity to situations like this. I now have a better understanding of the dynamics of our relationship, thanks to my wife.

As I look at my wife, there are several things I notice about her.

She’s a woman who’s open and honest. She has always been open with me from the beginning of our relationship. She has a loyal sense of compassion for herself and others. She may be an independent woman, but she has mastered her femininity. She knows her power, knows her strength, and she’s able to communicate that to me. She’s okay with pursuing me, pursuing our love.

She’s okay with opening up about herself, her intentions, and it’s one of the things I’ve always loved about her.

She offers me something I’m not willing to lose. She makes me a better person, and for that, I will always continue to contribute the same to her.

I was deep in thought when I felt Trinity’s hand on my face.

“Are you okay, baby?” she asked.

“Just lost in thought,” I replied.

She climbed back into bed with me, and I opened my arms to welcome her. I gently kissed her forehead.

“Sleep, baby. I’ve got you,” I assured her.

She traced her fingers up my chest, lifting her head to look at me.

“Our new life has officially begun, babe,” she said.

“It sure has, momma,” I agreed.

“Should we make it more real?” she asked, a playful glint in her eye.

I knew exactly what she meant. Lowering my head to hers, I captured her lips with mine.