I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s back home soon, when things blow over.” Ben wondered what things but assumed it had a lot to do with him and with her father’s discovery of their dating. “So, Ben,” Julia began, giving him a knowing look. “What really brings you back so soon?” Irvin chuckled. “Julia, nes barely recovered from his trip. Give the man time to catch his breath.” Irvin and Julia traded humorous glances, and Ben felt a subtle twinge of envy, admiring their close relationship. For a moment, Ben considered telling them about his adoption bombshell but decided to wait. It hadn’t occurred to him until now that he preferred to tell Annie his strange news first. After the meal, he returned to the attic room to make his bed and put his few items of clothing away in the empty bureau drawers, as Julia had kindly instructed. When he came back down, Julia mentioned that Irvin was taking a Sunday afternoon nap. “Poor man’s all tired out,” she explained. “He helped a neighbor chop several cords of wood yesterday.”
