They learned that the Pattersons had gone to Scotland, just the day before, to visit their son and his family, so thanking the Maitland's for their kindness, Ben and Charis had a short visit with the Ridleys before making their way back to London.
They rode in silence for the first few miles, both engrossed in their own thoughts. Finally Charis spoke. “Did you like it?”
“It is possibly the most beautiful house I’ve ever seen,” he replied.
“You're not just saying that?”
“Of course not,” he smiled at her. “It's not the largest or grandest house I've been to, but it has a warm and wonderful feel to it…the kind of house that would be a perfect place to raise a family.”
“Would you mind living in my house?” she asked him.
“Of course not,” he said again. “One day we'll make it our home…raise our children there.”
“But your work is in London.”
“It is now, but not forever. London isn’t the best place for a growing family. We're both country people and doctors are needed everywhere. Maybe in a few years I could have a practice in, or near, Bath. Or maybe we could expand the Health Centres to other areas of the country, including Bath.” He smiled at her once more.
They arrived back at their Chelsea home in time for Charis to cook dinner. She’d put some chicken breasts and a sour cream sauce in the slow cooker before they left and the house was filled with a delicious smell. All she had to do was cook rice and a few vegetables and dinner was served. Ben set the table and opened a bottle of Shloer for them to drink. Charis had learned the reason that Ben refused to drink alcohol was because he’d seen the carnage it wrought and the illnesses it caused in his experiences in the A&E.
As they ate their meal, which tasted as wonderful as it smelled, they talked about Meadow Lea Hall and he asked her more questions about her childhood. Their conversation continued as they cleaned the kitchen, loaded the dishwasher and walked upstairs to the sitting room.
“Play something for me,” he said. “Do you know any Chopin pieces?”
Charis sat at her piano and played Chopin's Nocturne in E flat and Etude in E major, while Ben gazed at her. He was so grateful for the sudden change in his life and at times couldn't help but wonder what would have happened to his precious wife if he hadn't been there in her time of need. He’d told his mother that Charis would have killed herself, and he was still certain that’s what she would’ve done. The thought chilled him to the bone.
Charis had thought him an Arab at first and therefore a Muslim. In fact, as she now knew, he’d been raised in a Christian home, where Christian ethics and values were taught and lived. He’d never thought much about God having a hand in his life, but he considered it now and realised that the way things had happened was no coincidence. Some force beyond himself, some divine intervention, had put him exactly where he needed to be, and when. For the first time since he was a boy, he silently offered up a prayer of thanks.
He watched and listened to his lovely wife for a little longer, feeling very blessed and supremely happy. She played a Haydn serenade and then “Love Changes Everything” and softly sang the words. “Now I tremble at your name, Nothing in this world will ever be the same.”
He smiled and all but whispered, “It's time for bed, my love.” He held out his hand to her.
She smiled, closed the piano and took his hand.
*****
Monday dawned bright. The day was going to be lovely, warm and sunny.
“Shall we go to the coast today?” Ben asked. “We could take a picnic and maybe stop at a pub for dinner on the way home?”
“What a great idea,” Charis agreed. “I'll see what I can find for lunch.”
“Or we could buy fish and chips instead,” Ben suggested, grinning at her, “and find somewhere to eat with our fingers.”
“Oh, could we? I would love that.”
It was agreed. By nine-thirty they were on their way, hoping that by the time they got to the M25 the worst of the traffic would be gone. They made excellent time, arriving in Brighton before noon. The very first thing they did was buy their fish and chips and sit on the beach to eat, the sea air making them hungry. Charis had been to Brighton when she was a child but her memories of the place were dim. They walked along the beach, hand in hand. Charis slipped off her sandals and paddled in the sea - it was cold but refreshing.
Later in the day they explored the little shops in The Lanes, purchasing a few small items that caught their fancy. And then…
She stood transfixed thinking she was going to faint. It was Henry…coming straight towards her…grinning. Please, God! No! It can't be - he's in Cairo! He came closer, put his hand down to the child next to him and smiled. Not Henry. Almost sobbing with relief, she realised it wasn’t Henry.
Ben was staring at her, concern showing on his face. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Charis took a few deep breaths and managed a weak smile. "I'm fine. I think I may have a stone in my shoe. I just need to sit a minute and check." Sit, relax, breathe again - it really is alright. I'm home, I have Ben, I'm safe now. Put it out of your mind. Be happy.
She smiled at Ben and he took her hand and they continued their stroll. The fear was gone. For now.
They visited the Royal Pavilion. Charis could vaguely remember being there with her Dad, but enjoyed seeing it all with grown up eyes.
“It's very flamboyant and extravagant isn't it?” she asked. “I would hate to live in a place like this. I don't think the Prince Regent had very good taste.”
“No,” Ben agreed. “He most certainly didn't, but it's worth a look, isn't it?”
He knew of a cosy little pub just outside Dorking, so instead of going home the way they came, they turned off at Bolney to the A272 and then on to the A24. They had a leisurely meal at Ben's chosen pub before setting off on the final leg of their journey. Charis didn't know how life could possibly be any happier.
*****
The second week of their ‘at home’ honeymoon turned out to be just as wonderful as the first. On Tuesday Ben took her to the Health Centre to meet his colleagues and to see where he’d be working. Later that day his new desk and chair that he’d ordered for his office, were delivered. His books were still in the boxes that he’d moved them in. Charis asked him if he’d like to keep them on the shelves in the downstairs living room. He’d told her that he didn't use them very often, as not only was he familiar with most of the information they contained, but it was also readily available on the internet and much easier and quicker to access. But he didn't want to get rid of them either, and he planned on buying a new computer for his study instead of using his laptop all the time, so she re-arranged her things to make room for them. On the bottom shelf was her sewing box, out of sight and out of mind, kept there on purpose because she hated sewing and used it as little as possible. The next shelf up held a very old Encyclopaedia set she’d had as a child. She, too, could access more up- to-date information on the internet, but she also didn't want to get rid of them, as they held many happy childhood memories. So she juggled around and managed to get them both on the bottom shelf and sorted out a few other things and soon had two empty shelves where most of his medical books would fit. Up until now everything in the house had been hers and she desperately wanted him to feel that it was his home too, not just that he lived with her. “It doesn't matter,” he’d told her. “I haven't had a chance to acquire much of my own stuff yet,” which actually was the cause of the very first argument they almost had.
On Wednesday the post brought a statement from James' office - she got one every month - with all her financial and business transactions. After studying it for a few minutes, she looked worried. Ben asked her if something was wrong.
“Yes,” she said. “There is! There's something here I just don't understand. There’s been a deposit of £450,000 that I can't account for…it’s really weird.”
“Oh,” frowned Ben. “I've been meaning to talk
to you about that,” and he explained to her what he’d done.
At first she was annoyed with him, but eventually he managed to calm her down.
“I know I’m probably considered very old fashioned,” he told her. “But I want to care for you…I want to be responsible for our home and all the household bills. One day we'll be living in your home, but for now, I want this to be our home. I could have paid you the full value of the house. That's possibly not even half the value,” he said as he pointed at the statement in her hand. “So for now, your money is just that. It is your money. My money will be our money. I'll have your name put on my current account and get you a debit card as well. I have plenty of money you know.” He smiled, then added, “And I shall get paid very well in my new job.”
Charis was learning quickly that she could never resist his smile. She was also learning that he had a very stubborn and authoritative streak. Earlier that day, after her shower, she’d come downstairs to find him already there, up and dressed, looking very smart in his black trousers and a business shirt, sleeve cuffs folded up and looking as though he was ready to go to work. She’d been surprised, and curious, because for the past several days they hadn't dressed for the day until they decided what they were going to do. Charis was still in her dressing gown. Then she noticed what he’d been doing. He’d done his best to turn the table into an examination couch, with a blanket covered by a sheet and a pillow. Her initial instinct was to turn and run back up the stairs, but he saw her and said, “Your dishy doctor awaits you.”
“What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, sounding worried.
“You’re going to have that medical exam we talked about on the plane,” he replied.
“Oh, no I'm not,” she replied.
“You have a choice,” he offered. “Either you have it now, with me, or you go to the Health Centre and have it with Graham, or Frank, or Margaret,” he named a few of his partners. “Or you make an appointment at your local surgery and go to see Bella Norris. The choice is yours, but you are going to have it done, whether you like it or not.”
She was near tears. “Ben, please, no,” she begged him.
“This is the down side to being married to a doctor,” he tried joking with her, then added, “Your health is very important, you know.”
In the end she’d given in as he knew she would. He could be very forceful when he wanted to be. When it was all over he helped her up.
“Is everything okay?” she wanted to know.
“Everything is fine,” and smiling at her he added, “You’re a very healthy young woman and I see no obvious problems for you having children.”
They sat on the sofa as he began entering his notes about her into his laptop. “Just a few questions I need to ask you now and then we're done.”
Charis had a difficult time answering them. She responded in a quiet voice but was too embarrassed to look at him. She thought the questions were almost worse than what had preceded them and felt they were extremely intrusive, intimate and personal, but eventually Ben managed to get the information he wanted from her.
Finally he asked, “That wasn't too bad was it?”
“Maybe not from your point of view,” she replied. “But I thought it was horrible! I hope you don't expect me to go through that very often.”
“No, once a year should do it.”
“That sounds like a lot to me. I suppose I should be grateful that I have a husband who’s a doctor instead of having to go to see a stranger. I couldn't talk to anyone else about such personal things. Do you always ask your patients such intimate questions?” she asked him.
“No, not always,” he answered her. “Only if it pertains to the problem I'm treating. Or if it's something I need to know to diagnose her condition. Or if I have a really reluctant wife who doesn't want to talk about such things with her husband.” He watched to see how she would react to his comments. When she remained silent, he continued. “Every wife needs to give certain information to her husband. He needs to know…I need you to tell me if you ever want some time in peace. Your needs will always come first with me.” He paused again, waiting for her answer but when she didn't reply he added, “I’m hoping that time isn’t now, so…shall we?” He leaned over and kissed her.
“On one condition,” she replied.
“Conditions now is it?” he asked as he smiled. “And what would that be then?”
“You leave the doctor behind, even if he is incredibly dishy, and become my drop dead gorgeous and sexy husband once more,” she grinned, relieved the episode was over.
That evening they went to the Albert Hall for the Mozart concert which they thoroughly enjoyed. Lying in bed beside him that night, just before she drifted off to sleep, Charis realised how quickly the time was going by. It seemed like only yesterday that they’d been married instead of eleven days ago. But in other ways it seemed as though they had been together forever. In just five more days Ben would be going back to work and life would change again. But now they belonged to each other; he was part of her and she would never be alone again.
*****
The last few days of the week sped past at an alarming rate. One afternoon they decided to go ten pin bowling - Charis had never been before and Ben only once as a teenager. Charis got a fit of the giggles as her bowling ball spent most of its time in the gutter. She always knew she wasn't good at sport. But Ben did very well…she thought he was a natural. They were caught in a sudden shower of rain on their way home and while crossing the street they got drenched when a car drove through a large puddle right beside them. They took one look at each other and burst out laughing. He grabbed hold of her and swung her around in his arms and kissed her, then with arms around each other, and dripping wet, they made their way home.
They strolled along the embankment enjoying the beautiful summer weather; they walked in the park; they visited the Victoria and Albert Museum; they did some window shopping in Knightsbridge. Charis saw a very alluring negligee set and asked Ben if she ought to buy something glamorous like that.
“Well,” he said, gazing at it in the shop window. “We’ll buy it for you if you really want it, and there is no doubt it is lovely and you would look gorgeous in it, but you'd be even more beautiful without it so it would spend most of its life on the floor!”
Charis blushed and suddenly felt very shy.
“I wish we were still at home so I could show you what I mean,” he said smiling at her in such a way that it made her insides turn over, because she knew exactly what he was thinking.
But as they weren't at home, they found a cosy little cafe and had a delicious cup of hot chocolate before getting a taxi home.
On Friday evening they went to see Agatha Christie's play, The Mousetrap. Charis hadn’t seen the play or read the book and Ben refused to tell her what happened. He enjoyed watching her try to figure out who the murderer was.
On Saturday they had their first visitors. They were sitting outside on the patio when Charis heard the doorbell and jumped up to answer it. To her surprise, standing there was the couple from the plane with their new little son that Ben had delivered. With a warm welcoming smile Charis invited them inside. They’d arrived in London the previous day and wanted to come and thank Ben for all he’d done for them. It had taken a significant amount of detective work to find out who Ben was and where he lived.
They introduced themselves as Imran and Mariyah. Charis cuddled and admired the baby and she really liked Mariyah, even though they couldn't speak each other's language. Ben watched his wife with the baby and smiled as he thought what a wonderful mother she would make when the time came for them to have their own children…something else she seemed to have an instinct for. He spent most of the time translating from English into Arabic and back again and he gave Mariyah his card and told her to contact him if ever she felt the need. They sat on the patio together, enjoying the sun, sipping cool drinks and having some light refreshments before it was time for their visit
ors to leave.
One of Ben's favourite restaurants was on the agenda for dinner. They lingered over their meal and then walked home, arms around each other. Sunday they spent at home. Charis cooked a traditional English roast beef and Yorkshire pudding dinner with roast vegetables and a delicious lemon sponge dessert with thick cream to follow. When they had finished eating Ben complained that he was too full to move, and said again that he was going to have trouble with his weight if he wasn't careful. They sat in the garden for an hour or so in the afternoon delighting in each other’s' company. Ben stood, held out his hand, and invited her to go upstairs with him
“I want to spend the rest of the afternoon making love to you.”
“That's the best idea you've had all day,” she smiled as she took his hand and they walked inside.
*****
Charis couldn't believe she could feel such happiness as she shared with Ben the fortnight that had comprised their honeymoon. It seemed to her that the two weeks were a dream. They went to bed each night and made love until they fell asleep, exhausted, in each other's arms. They made love in the morning when they awoke. Sometimes he would reach for her during the night and she would give herself to him with such love and willingness, an eagerness to please him. Ben was touched by her response to his lovemaking. He thought, he hoped, it gave her pleasure now. He knew she’d been afraid, terrified, the first time, even though she insisted that she’d trusted him. He’d tried to talk to her about it, but she’d put her fingers to his lips and told him to hush, not to worry about her, that she loved him, she loved to know that they were part of each other. She knew she’d not been complete without him and now she belonged to him body and soul. To her their union was not just physical, however pleasurable it was, but an emotional and deeply spiritual experience.
Ben was now intimately familiar with her body but Charis was still somewhat shy with him. Once they started making love she lost all inhibitions and responded to him with passion. He adored her and found that he couldn't get enough of her, which was new to him. His mother had been right when she thought he’d slept with plenty of women over the years, although not so much in recent times, but he’d tired of them quickly. With Charis, it wasn't just her body he was interested in, however much he wanted and enjoyed making love to her, he loved to be with her, doing anything together. Even if it was just shopping, loading the dishwasher, listening to music, talking or whatever else they decided to do, just being with her and knowing they belonged together filled him with wonder and a deep feeling of contentment. To know that she was his to cherish, to love and care for, and that they would be spending the rest of their lives together gave him unbelievable joy.
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