Chapter 59 - World On A Plate

Ben was right, the hurt fades but the thoughts still linger.

I am back at work, though not for five days anymore. Only three. The days are looking brighter and the little one inside my belly is growing well.

I am pregnant for twenty two weeks. And we had our first official ultrasound after the one we had when Amada died.
The doctor told us that she could see the gender. But Ben and I don’t want to know. We want it to be a surprise.

Ben and I are strolling through the center of Seville to find the perfect wedding rings.
There is a small jewelry store ahead and we step inside. “I don’t want the ring to be big and with diamonds.” I tell Ben. “Just simple and beautiful, like the one you wear.” I point at Bens‘ ring.
“Silver?” He asks. “Silver.” I agree.

We look through all the showcases for the perfect ones. Ben points at a set of dark sterling silver rings. I shake my head.
I point at a silver ring with three tiny diamonds in it. Now it’s Bens’ turn to shake his head.

There is a little closed box in one of the showcases and I ask the jeweler if we can see those.
He opens the showcase and takes out the box. The jeweler opens it slowly and I fall in love with the rings the moment I see them.
The female ring is silver, with a row of diamonds in the middle. The male ring is silver with a dark silver band in the middle.

It’s the mix of the rings we both like. Ben asks the price and he frowns when the jeweler answers him.
“I am afraid we don’t have money for that Lynn.” Ben says and I pout. “Can you hold them for us please? I am going to try something.” I ask and the jeweler promises me not to sell the rings.

I step outside and call my parents. “Dad, do you still want to give us the perfect wedding gift?” I ask.
My dad confirms and I tell him about the perfect rings. I ask him if he is willing to make a donation as wedding gift.

“I like that idea.” He says and promises me to send me the money. I keep saying thank you over and over again till my dad hangs up the phone.

I smile at Ben and raise my thumb. We walk back inside and see if the rings will fit. Bens’ ring is too small and we place an order to have it sized.

Almost everything is now settled for the 4th of October.

We discussed our wedding plans for a long time and we decided to keep it a small wedding with only our closest friends and family.
A wedding in the olive tree grove at Soñador. It was Ericas’ idea  to make it happen there. She knows how much I love being around the olive tree grove.

I’ve been shopping for a wedding gown with Carlotta, Inéz and Erica. I found a perfect dress for the state I will be in during the wedding.
A white satin halter top dress.

It fits perfectly. I will have to try it on one more time, a week before the wedding so they can make it bigger around my belly.

The wedding day is getting closer but first we will have Bens’ ‘twenty seven and a half’ birthday.
He thought I was joking when I told him it was going to happen, but I wasn’t. I invited close friends for a barbecue on Saturday.

The sun is high up in the sky and it’s too hot to do anything else but relaxing in the shadow of a tree. I sit in my hammock between the two olive trees in the garden and swing back and forth a little.

My hand rests on my belly and Ben hands me a glass of juice. “Got room for me there too?” He asks and I move a little to make room for him. He wraps his arm around me and I lean my head on his shoulder. His head rests on mine and his other hand is resting on my belly.

We slowly swing back and forth. Theo is sleeping on the grass next to the hammock and there is no sound besides the leaves rustling and birds whistling.
A soft kick from the inside of my belly makes Ben look up. “I felt it, I finally felt it.” He laughs.
“Hi there little one, I am your daddy.” He says loudly and I giggle. “The little one can hear you, no need to shout.” I say.

“Really? It can hear me?” Ben asks and I nod. Ben lets go of me and runs inside to return with his Spanish guitar and a chair. He sits down in front of me and softly strums the guitar.

The little one inside my belly starts moving and kicking around like crazy. And I laugh. “Seems like it already knows how to dance frantically in passion.”
Ben quits playing and the little one stops moving.

“Play again.” I ask with a frown. Ben does what I ask and the little one kicks me again.
“Now stop.” I ask and Ben does so. Little one stops moving too and I laugh.

“I think we made a little musician.” I grin.

“A dancer maybe.” Ben laughs.

He strums his guitar a bit more and I lean back to enjoy it all. Ben softly sings a song I remember from back in the days. When he was still in the band.

I softly sing along.


“Your pretty lady's waiting out
In the coal stained air
And I've watched
Your hair turn gray
Throughout the course of one fateful day


She got
She got
Shy water in her eyes.”

Ben smiles at me and continues singing.

I clap my hands when he stops and he smiles shyly. “I never expected you to know the lyrics.” He admits and I giggle. “Of course I still know the lyrics. I also know songs I listened to when I was a teenager. Your music was such a big part of my life, it’s hard to forget any of it.”

He gets up and leans in to kiss me. “I love you Ben.” I mumble against his mouth. “I love you too Lynn.” He leans in more to press a kiss on my belly. “I love you too little one.”

Ben jumps up and I giggle. “I think you just got kicked in the face.” I snort and Ben laughs. “I think so too.

Ben takes his guitar back inside and then joins me and the little one in the hammock again.

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The Song Ben is singing in the story: Shy Water: