15
and Allie have done the dishes when Alex and Ben come into the kitchen the next morning; Allie brushes away Alex’s embarrassed apology with a wave.
“Don’t be ridiculous, I told you to leave them,” she says. “It only took Polly and I a few minutes. We haven’t been up long ourselves.”
“We slept late,” Polly says with a pointed look in Ben’s direction. “It was such a quiet night last night. Don’t you think?”
“Ignore her, senility is setting in,” Ben says turning to Alex. “Coffee?”
Alex nods yes. Accepts the mug of coffee and a kiss from Ben then recoils when he sees what Ben has planned for breakfast.
“Really? This early?”
Ben looks at the dish of birthday cake and shrugs.
“What? Birthday cake is an anytime food,” he says, looking for a clean fork.
“God, when were your blood sugar levels last tested?” Alex gratefully accepts a slice of toast from Allie and a banana from the bowl next to her. Smiling his thanks, he collects his cup and heads to the courtyard.
As he steps through the door, something by the fire pit catches his attention and he freezes, eyes wide.
“Holy shit. What the hell is that?”
Ben who has his cake in one hand, his coffee in the other, and the Sunday paper tucked under his arm, peers around the taller man and laughs. On the ground is a large, black tarantula.
“Oh, they’re really common here,” he says depositing his breakfast on the table. “It’s mating season. Probably a male looking for a little action.”
He scoops the spider up with the newspaper. It skitters over the page, it’s legs scratching against the paper, and when Ben turns around, Alex steps back in panic, colliding with Allie, come to see what’s happening.
With a laugh, Ben walks toward the beach to the spider go. Pale and unconvinced Alex remains frozen to the spot until Allie slips an arm around his waist and pulls him back outside with a smile.
“I promise they’re harmless. And you know, it’s more scared of you than you are of it.”
“I wouldn’t bet on that Mom,” Ben says as he sits down next to Alex. Looks down as a trembling hand clutches at his tee-shirt. “Oh my God, I’m in love with a six-foot-five marshmallow.”
“Shut up,” Alex mutters, his eyes still darting around the courtyard, too nervous to even register what Ben has said and missing the glance Polly and Allie exchange. “How do you know there aren’t any others?”
“You don’t,” Ben says cheerfully around a mouthful of cake. “But I promise you, I won’t let the big, hairy spidey widey get you, okay?”
“Ben Larsen,” Allie says and when he looks at her, eyebrows raised, she leans forward and says one word. “Blood.”
Polly guffaws and settles back to watch. Still unsettled, Alex peels his banana and asks what the deal is with blood, eyes still on the hedge between them and the beach.
“Lots of people have issues with blood,” Ben says snapping his paper up in front of his face. “Ask the nurse here, he’ll tell you.”
“Do lots of people faint at the sight of it?” Allie asks Alex. His face lights up.
“Really? That bad?”
“Mmmmm. He’s not great with needles either.”
Alex turns to Ben but the paper forms a barrier between them; he winks at Polly.
“At the hospital, we keep a jar of sugar free lollypops for kids who sit quietly for shots. Do you think one of those would help?”
“Aren’t sugar free lollypops a contradiction in terms?” Ben asks from behind his paper.
“What if I hold your hand while you have your shot?”
Ben lowers the paper and glares at Alex.
“What if I find our little eight-legged friend and invite it to breakfast?” Alex pales and shakes his head.
“No, I’m good.”
#
mid-afternoon sun has burned off the last of yesterday’s cloud cover when Ben rouses Alex from where he’s dozing on the couch. He glances at his watch and sees it’s nearly two-thirty.
“Hey, hate to say it but we have to make a move,” Ben says pushing Alex’s hair back off his forehead.
“Okay,” he says, “why don’t you go spend a last few minutes with your mom and Polly and I’ll get our stuff together. As long as there are no spiders I should be able to manage on my own.”
It takes him five minutes to find and pack their things and once a nervous double check for eight-legged hitch hikers is completed, he takes the bags downstairs and leaves them against the front door. From the kitchen window, he can see Ben standing with Allie and Polly where the courtyard meets the sand. Wondering what it must feel like to be so loved, then thinking perhaps he might be finding out, he runs himself a glass of water, leans against the bench and drinks it while he waits.
Five minutes later they come inside, Ben with his arm draped around his grandmother.
“And Polly,” Ben is saying, “if you sign up for some dating site on that iPad for God’s sake don’t go out with anyone until you’ve let me check them out.”
Allie rolls her eyes and opens her arms for a hug from Alex. He steps into them with pleasure and breathes in her perfume.
“Alex it’s been wonderful to meet you,” she says against his chest. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“The pleasure is all mine, Allie,” he says as they walk toward the door, his arm still around the tiny woman. “I had a really good time.”
“I’m so glad, I hope we’ll see you again soon.”
“I’d like that,” he says, shyness welling up.
Ben unlocks the car and lifts the bags into the back. A foil wrapped package is placed with care next to them.
“Is that birthday cake?” Alex asks, shaking his head. He turns to Polly and wags his finger. “If he’s on a sugar high for the whole trip home, I’m blaming you.”
“Won’t be my problem,” she says and pulls him in to her, arms locked tight around his back. “You take care of that child for me, Alex.”
“Yes ma’am,” he says and lays a gentle kiss on her head before stepping away to kiss Allie again. When he’s done, he leans against the car, hands in his pockets.
Ben hugs his mother, kisses both her cheeks, and rests his forehead on hers.
“Thanks mom,” he says, “I love you.”
“Love you back, kid,” Allie says, eyes shining when she lets him go.
He turns to Polly and folds her into his arms, rests his cheek on her neon hair.
“You behave old lady,” he says, his voice rough.
“Child, I am far too old to start with that sort of bull shit,” she retorts and Alex hides his grin behind a hand, watches as she reaches up to stroke Ben’s cheek. “I like him, Ben. I like what he brings out in you. I like the way you look when you look at him.”
“And how exactly do I look?” Ben asks.
“Silly and horny and happy. It a good look on you.”
Ben gathers her up and hugs her again. Kiss her and steps back, holding her at arm’s length, for the last birthday ritual.
“See you at ninety-one?”
“It’s a date.”
“Promise?”
“Child, I promise to do my best.”
Alex tries to swallow the lump in his throats as Ben cups Polly’s face.
“I’ll take it,” he hears Ben whisper.
Clearing his throat, Ben digs the keys out of his pocket and tosses them to Alex. He catches them in one hand and looks up puzzled.
“Why don’t you drive for a while?”
“You sure?”
“Hey these two seem to think I can trust you with my ass, so I figure I can trust you with my car too.”
Alex slides in behind the wheel praying his face isn’t as red as it feels. Ben leans out of the window, still talking, as they pull away from the door, only turns to face the front when they’re finally on the road. Alex hears him sniff as he unfolds his aviator glasses from his pocket and puts them on.
When they’ve gone a few miles in silence, he reaches over and places his hand on Ben’s thigh, smiling when Ben closes his own over the top.
“I love you,” he murmurs, liking the feel of the words on his tongue. After a moment, Ben squeezes his hand.
“Good.”