Page 34 of Let Me Love You (Excess All Areas 5)

“Let it go, Ben,” he muttered, and stepped out of the car.

When he reached Nan’s room, Luke had Zale perched on the bed next to her. Nan was sitting up, her hair a bit of a straggly mess, playing peek-a-boo behind closed hands. Zale’s laughter was a tonic you couldn’t bottle.

“Hey, Nan,” Ben said, kissing her on the cheek.

“I’ve got a bone to pick with you,” Nan said.

“A bone? What about?”

Luke shrugged sheepishly. “I guess I missed the part about her house being made over was a secret.”

Ben shrugged. “Meh. I was going to speak to her about paint colour for the kitchen cabinets today anyway.”

“I’m still here, Ben King. I hear this was your idea.”

He pulled out a plastic chair and grabbed Zale, placing him on his lap as he sat down. “I just popped over there to do a bit of a walk around, to see what might need fixing, like the tap, before we head back out to the States. And then, Jase saw my car outside the house so came in. And then, the list just kept getting bigger. If you won’t let us buy you a new place, Nan, you can at least let us help you fix up the one you have.”

Nan shook her head. “And I am perfectly capable of looking after myself. I don’t need you wasting your money on me.”

“Nan. You pulled out of a trip to Spain with your friends the summer I was fourteen and bought all five of us new Air Jordan trainers with the money so we didn’t feel left out from our friends.”

Luke nodded. “Yeah. And I got a pair because you didn’t want me feeling left out that the four of them got one.”

“Well, they were all the rage back then and I felt bad. Plus, I’ve been to Spain enough to know I wasn’t missing much. Can never get good gravy.”

Ben grinned, and bounced Zale gently on his knee, loving the way the little fella slapped his palms on Ben’s forearms. “You bought all of our instruments, so technically, we literally owe everything we have to you.”

Nan straightened the bedsheet over her lap. “They were secondhand, for the most part. And you made it big on better and newer equipment than I bought you.”

“How about how you traipse all over Manchester to get the best deals on baking supplies, then schlep them home on the bus and tram, just so we can all get a share of whatever you bake?” Luke added.

“If you make one, you might as well make six.” Nan winced at the end of the sentence, reminding Ben that for all she was through the worst, Nan still had a long recovery ahead of her

“Nan. Just let us take care of you, yeah? I’ll run through the full list of things, and you can tell me if there’s anything you don’t want us to do. Right now, we’re just at the sanding and prepping stage.”

Zale began to fuss, and Ben moved him so he was resting his head on Ben’s shoulder, rubbing small circles on his back. There was something so comforting about holding the little guy. Something more natural than he ever would have given himself credit for.

But no matter how much he bobbed and swayed and patted, Zale wouldn’t settle.

“He needs a feed, in all honesty,” Luke said, reaching for him. “Nothing’s going to settle him except Willow, and sometimes I know just how he feels.”

Ben watched as Luke gathered his things and Zale. “Wave bye to Nan,” he said, holding his little chubby wrists while Zale flexed his fingers in and out.

“Bye, my love,” Nan said, waving back. As Luke left the room, Nan tipped her head back and closed her eyes.

“We’re being too much for you, aren’t we?” Ben asked quietly.

“No, I love seeing you all. That woman across the way, there, hasn’t had a single visitor that I’ve noticed. I’d rather have my family around me than be alone…”

“But?”

Nan opened one eye and looked at him. “It’s hard making small talk all day. And sometimes, I just want a nap.”

Ben tipped his chin in her direction. “Put your head back and close your eyes again. I’ll let people know. They all want to check you’re okay. But maybe we should only come for a couple of hours in the afternoon. And perhaps you could let us know if you’re up to it. Nobody wants you to be here alone. But if they knew it was what you needed…time to rest...no one would mind. In fact, if you like, we can tell them you’d rather get your house finished for coming home.”

“Bless you, lad. That would help.”

“I was going to go through some questions about your house, but it can wait, Nan. I’ll leave you to rest.”

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