Chapter 37 – Lillie May

Author’s Note:  More tissues required….So sorry…..

Ben’s mother and step father, Kaitlin and Leroy Chapman, arrived in San Myshuno within hours. Later he learned that it was Nick that had called them.

They were all sitting in his cramped apartment. Emma and his mother had taken over Cole’s care without a word. Nick was helping Rachael in the kitchen. Casey was talking to Leroy about something.  To Ben, it was all just white noise.

All he could hear in his head were the words of the surgeon. ‘I’m sorry Mr. Murdock, we did everything we could. She lost so much blood so quickly that her body couldn’t take the stress and she went into shock. There was nothing anyone could have done.’ He didn’t remember anything after that. He didn’t even know how he got here and didn’t care. He hoped he was having a bad nightmare.

He stared through Emma as she walked towards him.

When she touched his face to get his attention, her hands were so warm. Then he remembered, Grace’s hands were like ice when he held her hand waiting for the paramedics. He needed to warm them up for her. “Her hands are cold,” he said to Emma, “I need to make them warmer.”

“Oh Ben, hun,” she said softly as her voice cracked. She sniffed back her tears before saying anything more. “I need to ask you somethin’. Do you have Lillie May’s contact information?”

Lillie May? Her name broke through his numbed state and threw him full force into the present. Pain blasted through him again and he began to sob.

“I’m so sorry Ben,” said Emma.

Ben jumped up from the chair. Lillie May, he thought again, I have to get to her. He ran his hands through his hair and sniffed back his tears . He swallowed hard several times before being able to speak.

He grabbed Emma. “Lillie May! God, I forgot. I need to go see her. Grace…” he had to stop for a minute, “she said we needed to take Cole to see her.  I have to take Cole to her. We have to go now!”  he explained, shaking Emma for emphasis. He had to make Emma understand he had to take Cole to Lillie May, right now.

His mother had been watching their exchange and walked over. “Ben, sweetheart, let me go with you. I can help with Cole. And I would like to meet her anyway.”

Ben stared at her trying to remember why she was here. Oh, I invited her for the weekend to meet Grace and Cole. Grace wanted him to be nice but…Grace wasn’t here….and the tears came again.

She obviously sensed his discomfort. Her shoulders slumped. “Maybe you would rather have Emma go,” she suggested, “Leroy and I will stay here and finalize the arrangements for you.”

Arrangements? What arrangements? thought Ben as he continued to stare at his mother. “Funeral Arrangements,” he said, his words just barely a whisper. He shook his head in denial and a fresh batch of tears rolled down his cheeks.

Emma closed the distance between them and wrapped him in a tight hug.  “Sure Mrs. Chapman,” said Emma softly as she held onto Ben, crying with him. “I will be happy to go with him.”

Ben finally looked at Emma, but was unable to speak. He swiped at his face in an effort to stop the tears.

“We can go now,” said Emma gently, “I will call the nursing home and let them know what happened, tell them we are on they way.  Sweetie, you should shower and get dressed. Is Lillie May’s number in your phone?”

Ben handed her his phone and numbly walked into the bathroom.

“I will get the baby ready,” said Kaitlin, choking back tears.

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Go to Chapter 38>>>>>

Go Back to Chapter 36

Author’s Note:  Thank you so much to GLovely1 for Grace. ❤ She was beautiful and kind and made Ben love again. She also gave us our next generation heir. ❤ Adorable Coleman ‘Cole’ Ramsay Murdock.

While Ben’s journey isn’t over yet, Grace was able to crack through his playboy facade and set him on the right path to love and healing.  We still have about 20 more Ben chapters to go before we officially kick off Cole’s journey.  Hopefully Ben will be able to establish a good foundation for him so that he can overcome any obstacles that he may face.

I know these chapters were rough for most of my readers, some more than others and I do apologize. I tried to gently prepare you…but I guess I was too subtle.  However, I did more fully prepare GLovely before she read since Grace is her baby.  If you are looking for some amazingly beautiful sims, be sure to check out her sims on the Gallery – they are all fabulous and CC free. ❤  GLovely1 is also her EA Id. Grace’s item name is Graceful Acceptance – very fitting for an angel. 🙂