A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn(78)
“More coffee?” he said when Ben’s plate was almost empty.
“I’m good, Daed.”
Jay looked at the remains of the breakfast he’d made for him. “More eggs? Piece of sausage?”
“No, thanks. I can’t eat another bite.”
“Oh.”
Ben glanced at him curiously before letting his gaze stray to the pile of dishes on the counter. “I’ll help you with the dishes. I don’t know where William and Mark are.”
“I think they’re upstairs getting ready.” Actually, Jay knew they were upstairs staying out of the way. Because he’d asked them to give him some time alone with Ben.
Ben looked irritated. “They shouldn’t have left us with the dishes. It’s Will’s turn to do them, too. Want me to go talk to him for you?”
“Nee.”
“Daed,” he retorted impatiently, “William is not gonna start doing what he’s supposed to if you don’t—”
“I asked him and Mark to give us some time alone together.”
Wariness filled his eyes. “Why?”
“Because it’s your wedding day, son. We need to talk.”
Ben stared at him like an animal caught in a trap. “What do you want to talk about?”
Here it was. His time to impart something worthwhile. But instead of finally saying everything he needed to, Jay found himself unbuttoning his collar. And then he flushed. “I’m afraid I don’t know how to begin. I feel a little awkward, I guess.”
Ben looked alarmed. “Listen, uh, Daed. This talk of yours doesn’t have anything to do with wedding nights, does it? ’Cause, um, well, I think we’re going to be just fine.”
Jay’s mind went blank. “What?”
Ben stared at him. “Tricia and I will be fine, I promise. I don’t need your advice on the matter. Really.”
It took a moment for Ben’s point to sink in. “Oh! Oh, um, no. I wasna thinking about that.” Could a grown man ever be more embarrassed? He wasn’t sure. “Not that I don’t want to talk about such things,” he said in a rush. “I mean, if you have any questions . . . I’m sure I could answer them.”
Ben was now staring at a point right above Jay’s head. “I do not. Not a one.”
Jay breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s gut.” But the moment he blurted that, he wondered if it was the right thing to say. “Um. Well, I meant—”
Ben scooted back his chair. “Daed, I think I had better go make sure I’ve got all of my things gathered together.”
“Nee. Listen, Ben. I simply wanted to tell you that I’m proud of you.”
Ben’s head popped up. “What?”
“Jah. I don’t think I’ve told you that enough. And though you’re merely moving into an apartment in town and not across the country, I wanted to make sure I told you that I have no doubt you are going to be a husband that Tricia will be proud of. I know this because you already are a man I am proud of.”
“Danke.”
Jay heard the new rasp of emotion in Ben’s voice and breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn’t messing everything up. “I know you and Tricia are going to be fine. And I know you don’t need me offering advice about, um, anything . . . but I wanted to share with you something that I’ve learned that you might feel is useful.”
“Yes?”
“When you choose to share a life with another person, one finds out all sorts of things about themselves, and about his bride. Some of it is wonderful. And some of it might take some getting used to. But whatever you do, please don’t take it for granted. Not the days when everything goes right, or the days when everything goes wrong. Don’t spend any time hoping something passes or wishing it hadn’t happened. Try to remember that your time together is a gift, son. A beautiful, amazing gift that was bestowed on you both. Do . . . Do you think you can do that?”
Ben’s expression had turned soft. “Jah, Daed. I can. I can try.”
“If you even try, that’s all that matters. I will be praying for you, son. I will be praying for both of you. Because I love you.”
“I love you, too, Daed.” After a pause, he whispered, “I loved Mamm, too.”
“She knew you did.”
“You sure?”
“Very much so. Who do you think gave me that advice to give to you?” he asked with a watery smile. “She knew our life together was a blessing to us all.”
Ben stood up and clasped his arms around Jay, hugging him tight. “Danke, Daed. I’m glad we talked.”
“Me, too,” he murmured when he was alone in the room again. He was also mighty glad that talk was over.