He was, but in truth he also had plans to stop up in town and buy her a present. It wasn’t her birthday or a holiday but he knew that unexpected gifts were the best kind of surprise. Anna had loved it when he brought her home something out of the blue, and it didn’t have to be expensive…simply thoughtful. Anna. Ben felt a sad pang thump him in his gut but not the guilt of simply being alive that he’d endured for so many years. Oh, and sometimes he’d get so damn pissed at her for dying. Like either of them had a choice in the matter. For the first time since her shocking death, Ben gave himself permission to simply live his life and to be happy. He’d never thought he’d get to this point, and he sure never thought he’d have another woman in his life but he did. He was tired of sneaking around with Kate and wanted their relationship to go public. It was time. Oh boy, not that it didn’t scare the hell out of him. Coming out of his cocoon of sadness meant allowing for the possibility of suffering another tragic loss.
