Chapter Eight

Andie

Last night was amazing. I became a bride-to-be, I had an amazing dinner with my love and an even more amazing time in bed. There’s some things I might be willing to look past with Benson to be able to enjoy the good things about him. He didn’t leave last night, believe me I know, we were up most of the night.

I feel like Benson coming into my life was the best thing to happen to me since I opened my juice shop.

Benson told me this morning he had another surprise for me today. Well, actually a few surprises for me and I don’t have any clue what to expect. The juice shop is closed today for the loss of Emily’s brother, loss of a family member. The community doesn’t really find it a mourning reason because of how bad he was, but it was my best friend’s brother, so yes we closed shop today.

As we were walking down the street, I felt my hand with extra weight on it. Oh boy, is this too much? I cannot wait to find out what Benson has in store for today.

“Where are we going?” I asked him as we got a little further away from the apartment building.

“We are almost there my love.” Benson held onto my hand like he was never going to let go. “Look at me and lose your eyes.”

I do just that. I feel Benson turn me around to face the other side of the street. “Keep them closed.” He said to me.

Is he going to push me into the street? What is going on? “Okay, now open.”

I opened my eyes and looked at a few storefronts across the street. “What am I looking at Benson?” I was confused.

“Andie, see the middle one? The one next to the barber shop? The one in the middle there with the clothing shop on the other side?” Benson was so excited, you could hear it in his voice. “Andie! It’s yours!”

I turned around and looked at him confused. “What do you mean it’s mine? I don’t have the money for that? Real estate around here…”

Benson stopped me mid-sentence, “Andie, you don’t have to worry about the real estate around here. I bought this storefront for you. There’s nothing to worry about!”

Benson

“What?” Andie looked at me and back at the building. “Benson, you really shouldn’t have.”

“Andie, I know you want to be closer to home. It’s so much better around here and there’s a whole different clientele and it’ll be so much nicer. You deserve this!” I wanted to share my life with her, I wanted to make her safe and I knew traveling to Williamsburg everyday wasn’t keeping her safe.

“Oh my God, really?” Andie broke down in tears. She wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me harder than I have ever received a hug, which aside from my mother was… never.

We continue walking down the street, “I told you there was another surprise today. How would you feel about marrying me today?”

“Today?” Andie was shocked. “Why so soon?”

“Well, I have my mother, that is all. I don’t really think about having a large wedding. I mean up until now I never thought any marriage was part of my life but, I want this so bad with you and I just want to be able to call you my wife.” I looked at Andie, still in shock. “Believe me, this is going to be amazing.

We walked a little further down to the local park that looked out into the river, overseeing the Brooklyn Bridge. There was a little set up at the gazebo. Andie didn’t think anything of it actually being for her. As we got closer, she noticed there were a few people standing there, one she knew.

My mother had made the drive up from New Jersey this morning, Emily agreed to stop by. A pastor was there. We were ready to get married.

“Wow, really?” Andie looked at me, “Emily is here? Benson, what if I said no?”

“You wouldn’t though would you?” I looked down at her. “My mom is over there, she’s going to love you.”

Andie looked at me then across to the gazebo, “Benson, the first time your mom’s going to meet me is at our wedding?”

“Andie, she’s going to love you!” I grabbed her hand and continued walking towards the gazebo.

“Benny!” My mom yelled across to us, “It’s been so long Benny! I cannot believe you have brought us this beautiful lady!” My mom was quite the lady.

Emily walked over and gave Andie a huge hug and we all walked into the gazebo.

This is really happening.

Andie

What exactly is happening right now? This man just gave me this massive ring, a store and now this wedding. Do I just go with it and pray for the best? Sure, why not.

As I stand here in front of the pastor with Emily at my side, I make the ultimate commitment to this man. My love of what, three days. Hopefully our marriage lasts longer than seventy two hours.

As we exchanged rings, that miraculously Benson had already purchased and had in his pocket, the pastor then pronounced us man and wife and I kissed my husband.

My new mother-in-law and Emily came back to Benson’s apartment for an intimate little dinner.

“So whose apartment are you guys going to live in?” Emily asked us as she sipped her wine.

I looked at Benson looking at me. “I’d assume here?” Benson said to me.

“I’m okay with that.” I replied to him. Thinking in my head that I might slowly move in and leave my apartment there as well. What happens if something happens? I’ll have nowhere to go.

“Andie, I’m so happy my Benny found you! He says nothing but wonderful things about you! You make him so happy!” You can tell Benson’s mom adores him, and wants what’s best for him. You can also tell that Benson’s mom doesn’t know what he truly does for a living either.

Is this a new page to a new chapter of Benson’s book of life? Hopefully with the new phone, moving my shop closer, moving me into his home, marrying me. Hopefully all of that helps get him out of the life he doesn’t think I know about. I can connect all the clues, everything is just too suspicious not to think. As long as it ends, I’ll be okay. I think I can look past everything that I know.

As the evening ends, Benson’s mom leaves to head back to Jersey, “We’ll see you on Thanksgiving mom!” Benson gave his mom a hug and then she hugged her new daughter-in-law. It’s been a long time since I got a motherly hug.

Emily headed back to her apartment, still down about what happened, but happy for me. Happy for us, we are going to start moving into our new shop this coming week! It’s going to be amazing.

Benson

After everyone left, I made sure Andie was well aware of how much she is loved. I lifted Andie up into my arms, took her back to the bedroom and enjoyed every inch of her body. Over and over again, making her scream my name. I enjoy so much hearing her scream Benson!

I enjoy so much making her feel so loved, so amazing that I don’t even think about myself. Tonight was about her and only her and I definitely made it known.

As Andie lay there sound asleep, I got up to use the bathroom. I look down at my left hand now donning a wedding band. I never thought I’d ever have one of these on my finger! I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.

I walk back into the bedroom, standing at the doorway, watching my love peacefully sleeping. I want to wake her up so badly to enjoy her again. I walk over to my side of the bed and see that my phone is lit up with a notification. That is odd. I haven’t gotten notifications all day that weren't from my mom or Andie. I click into my phone to a message from an unknown number.

“I need her gone tonight. Can you do it?” What? I switched my phone number so I didn’t get messages like this. Who is this? How did they get my number and who do they want gone?

“How did you get this number?” I asked them in return.

“Benson you know how I got this number and you know who I want gone… You took from me and now I want to take from you. Get it done.”

I glanced back at Andie peacefully laying in bed. Are they talking about my sweet Andie? I took something from someone who knows my new phone number and wants me to take something from myself because they’re going to pay me to do it?

Confused as hell, I look back at my phone, “Emily?” I texted back to the unknown number.

“She doesn’t deserve you Benson. She doesn’t deserve any of it! I want her life and I’m going to have it. Believe me!”

What in the world? Do I show this to Andie? I’m scared because it says I took from her. How does she even know I did anything to take anything from her?

I delete the text, place my phone back down on do not disturb and climb back into bed with my sweet brown haired, brown eyed beautiful wife.

“I will let nothing hurt you Andie, for as long as I live.” I kiss her forehead and lay there cuddling against her naked body.