CHAPTER 53 - THE BEST GIFT
Ben is now inside the house finding Courtney talking comfortably with her parents. It seems that she felt his presence so Courtney looked at his direction and gave a welcoming smile with a hand wave. She is currently sitting in the middle of the platform wherein balloon sculptures are placed. The shaped is like a half arc with mixture of black and pink balloons with different sizes. There is also a small table wherein the cake and party favors are enough to fit in the spaces. The two-layer strawberry cake has two different designs: the top layer is colored pink with black stripes with one pink rose and a black masquerade on top. The bottom layer is a plain pink covered few edible white beads both are covered with fondant icing
“Can I have this dance?” Ben asked with open hand invitation as soon as he reached her spot.
“Of course.” Courtney gladly took his hand.
As they stood in the center, the music started while the lights went dim leaving a big spotlight focused on their direction. Ben reached out his one hand to hold Courtney’s waist while Courtney clung one hand on his neck. They held hand as they began swaying to the soft music.
“You look radiant.” Ben complimented her gently.
“Thank you and so do you.” Courtney replied with same admiration.
They both glides to the slow music and their body moved in sync with the tune. The warmth between them grew more powerful by the second and their heartbeats were growing steadily along with it.
“Did you able to call the Investigator?” Courtney asked.
“I didn’t because Nicolo stopped me.” Ben explained thoroughly about his conversation with Nicolo.
“I just hope his parents will accept him the way we do. He is a good person whatever his sexual preference is.” She sighed.
“I agree to that and I know no parent would want to make their child suffer just because the child chose a different path.” Ben stands on that belief too.
By mentioning about the child, Courtney felt a blood rushed to her veins and she started to get weak. Thank God Ben is firm in holding her waist otherwise she is probably shaking on her legs.
“Ben I need to tell you something.” Courtney decided it’s best to tell him.
“I need to tell you something.” Ben said the same time and they both smiled.
“You go ahead first.” Courtney gave way and Ben didn’t think twice.
“Courtney, the day I asked you to be my contract wife, I never thought that it will be for real. We started with many conditions and ended up in arguments. I realized these past two months I was so lost and felt terrible and I know only you can make me happy and complete.” Ben suddenly let go of Courtney’s hand.
Courtney was stunned as he went down on his one knee revealing the same box that they bought from the jewelry shop.
“I can't live without you because in my world -- you're in there in so many ways – so in front of our families and friends I want you to be my wife for real this time, no contract and no pretending.” Ben opened the box.
It was the ring she was eyeing that day and thought that it would be the perfect ring for her.
“Courtney Amber, will you marry me?" Ben finally proposed.
"Oh God! Yes! Yes! I'll marry you!" Courtney gasped and keeps nodding.
Ben slipped the ring on her finger that he kept for two months and as soon as it was safe on her care Ben grabbed her waist again and kissed her senseless.
Everyone applauded as they witnessed the wonderful and romantic proposal for the couple.
"I love you so much." Ben pulled away after the kiss.
"I love you more." She replied happily.
“God! You don’t know how long I missed you.” Ben uttered.
“I missed you a lot too Benj.” Courtney matched the same tone as his.
"Finally after two long months of planning you’re now engaged!” Eric broke the sweet moment making everyone laugh.
Everyone gathered around them to wish them well and their upcoming wedding. They received a lot of congratulations from their relatives and friends together with the blessings of their parents.
"I'm glad you and my daughter are now together figlio." Carlos acknowledged Ben as his son.
"Figlio? Does that mean --" Courtney raised an eyebrow in confusing way.
“Yeah I am giving you my wholeheartedly support to you and Ben without any objections.” Mr. Montini informed his daughter.
“Believe it hunny, your Papà and I are inn good terms.” Ben took Courtney’s hand.
“When and how did it happen?” She can’t help but wonder.
“I told you he came to our house looking for you remember?” Mr. Montini asked to make his daughter think of it.
“Oh I see.” Courtney nods even though she doesn’t know what happened.
Ben decided to explain what transpire that day and Mr. Montini helped him partly on how he gave his approval. Carlos also told his daughter that Ben came to him about his plan to propose.
“This is the best birthday ever, thank you Papà for the blessing.” Courtney hugged her father.
“I just want you to be happy and I know Ben can give that to you.” Mr. Montini hugged his daughter back.
“Now everything is settled, we can finally talk about the postpone wedding?" Mrs. Montini voiced out.
“We also need to think about the names too.” Nathalia joins in the conversation.
“Names?” Ben intercepts.
“Yeah that’s correct!” Eric intervened too while Ben’s question was ignored.
“We need to get these two tie the knot before my friend here explodes.” Nicolo slipped as well.
“Explode? Can you guys tell me what is going on?” Ben suddenly got confused.
“What Nicolo meant is the baby.” Mrs. Venoso revealed.
“Baby?” Ben repeated.
"Tesoro you did tell Ben about it right?" Arianna asked her daughter.
"Hunny what do they mean by baby?” Ben asked.
“I..." She starts hyperventilating.
“Are you pregnant?" Ben asked in perplexity.
Courtney began turning pale and everyone can see that she began to shake. She can’t believe that these people were the one who told Ben about her condition instead of her leaving her all panic. She almost lost her balance and Ben was in time to catch her.
