Ben didn’t talk much with Annie at work and when he did, it was always about business. He wasn’t going to bring up the divorce unless Annie spoke of it first and she never did. He had to admit it was lonely for him right now. He decided after she finalized her divorce that he would ask her to marry him. He was sick of being single.
Though he usually told Gennie everything, he didn’t tell her about this. She had her own life now and there was no need for her to get involved. All it would do was upset her. Practically every time she called, she asked how Annie was doing and Ben always said fine.
It was a year before Annie was finally divorced. She took him aside and told him at a surprise birthday party his employees threw for him.
“You know, that’s the best birthday present anyone has ever given me,” he told her and gave her a passionate kiss on the lips.
The next month they were engaged. On a sunny day in April, they were married in a simple ceremony at St. Stephen’s Church, where Malcolm and Colleen dragged him every Sunday until he moved out. He was a nervous wreck. He wanted everything to be perfect for her and luckily, it was.
He was more relaxed at the reception, which was held at Michele’s. He was too busy chatting with guests and so concerned about staining the expensive tux he bought that he didn’t eat his own dinner. The reception seemed to fly by. Before he knew it, the limo was waiting outside, ready to take them back to his apartment.
“Did you enjoy this evening?” Ben asked his new wife. She looked absolutely gorgeous in her wedding dress.
She smiled sweetly. “Yes, definitely. I never thought anything like this would happen to me.”
“Me neither,” Ben said, “but I guess we’re both lucky now, huh?”
“Yeah, I feel like I hit the jackpot.”
“We both did. Now, let me tell you something…you’ll never have to worry about a single thing again, I promise.”
Tears fell down Annie’s cheeks. He tasted their saltiness when he kissed her.
“Those are happy tears, right?” Ben asked.
“They couldn’t be anything else,” Annie replied.
Chapter 54: April 30
What They Left Behind Page 53
