She Was Gone
It had been a very difficult time for Ben's mother, Joanne. She was extremely ill. Knowing she didn't have much time left, she tried to spend as much time with her son as possible. She loved him dearly.
It was only a few months after she spoke with him about what would happen to her that she was gone. He missed his mom very much, even though he understood she was in a better place.
His Father
The loss of his mother at such a young age tore Ben apart. Despite his father's support, it wasn't the same.
As much as he missed hearing his mother's voice, he longed to feel the warmth of her embrace. The love that his mother had given him would not be reciprocated by his father.
A Visitor
Even at the funeral, Ben noticed that his father, Eric, did not cry as much as he did. Ben believed that his father loved his mother and that they were happy together.
It wouldn't take him long to discover why Ben's father wasn't as sad as he had hoped. A visitor would be invited into Ben and Eric's home soon, and Ben wouldn't like it.
A New Woman
Eric introduced Ben to Becky, his "friend." Initially, she seemed nice, but soon she moved everything she had into their house. Ben had no say in the matter, as she was staying there.
Seeing that his father barely mourned his wife and that he had already replaced her with another woman made Ben angry.
She Changed
In the months that followed, Ben noticed Becky had become a permanent fixture in their lives. It was as if she wanted to become Eric's wife and Ben's mother.
At first, she was sweet and kind to Ben, but when they eventually got married, her entire demeanor changed.
Fighting For Attention
Having initially supported Ben through his grief, his father was now only interested in his life with his wife, and she became cold.
He felt left out. In order to get his father's attention, Ben constantly had to compete with his stepmother. Becky always gave him an annoyed look whenever he needed his father.
True Colors
Ben tried to remember what his mother taught him, "Always be kind to others," she said. However, Becky's true colors had begun to show, making it very difficult.
It was going to be a very important day for Ben. His mother's birthday was coming up, and this would be the first birthday without her.
Her Birthday
For his mom's birthday, his father and son always gave her flowers. Ben knew they had to keep the tradition going even though she wasn't physically present.
One morning, he asked his father, "Dad, do you remember the special day today? Could we please go get some of her favorite flowers for her grave today?”
"No"
Eric was about to respond when Becky chipped in, “I don’t think that’s possible. We have other plans for today.” She raised an eyebrow at the young boy.
Tears burned behind the boy's eyes. He wanted to get his mother some flowers, but now Becky was saying that he couldn't. Looking toward his father, he hoped he would help him.
Taking Pity
Eric saw the sadness behind his child's eyes, and he took pity on him. “Alright, Ben, let’s go get the flowers for your mother,” he said in a hushed voice.
Ben's entire face lit up at those words. It meant so much to him. He was going to choose the most beautiful bunch of roses just for her. The three of them hopped in the car and headed to the florist.
No Money
When they pulled up to the florist, Ben was saddened when he realized his father wasn’t going to give him a cent for the flowers. “You should still have your allowance money, buddy. I’m sure what you have would be enough,” Eric said.
But Ben’s heart sank. He didn’t bring his allowance money along because he thought his father was going to give him the money for the flowers.
Tough
“But Dad, I didn’t bring my allowance money with me. I don’t have any money for Mom’s flowers,” he said, looking very sad.
“Well, tough. We can’t keep giving you money. It’s time to learn some responsibility,” Becky chimed in. Ben got out of the car and made his way inside the florist, not knowing what he was going to do.
Beautiful Roses
As he opened the door to the florist, he smelled the fresh aromas of all the colorful flowers around him. At that moment, he felt only sadness. Beautiful flowers always reminded him of his mother.
He walked straight to the roses. He was going to choose the pretty, soft pink ones. They looked as beautiful and delicate as she was. But how was he going to pay for it?
A Stranger
He stared mournfully at the pretty blooms until a man came to stand next to him. “Beautiful, aren’t they? I could stare at them for hours as well.”
Ben looked up and saw a smartly dressed man who looked like he was also about to buy some roses as well. “Yeah, they were my Mom’s favorites. I’m supposed to buy her a bunch for her birthday, but I don’t have any money. I just feel so bad,” Ben said.
Very Lucky
The man looked at Ben. “Your mom is a very lucky lady to have such a thoughtful and caring son such as you. Why don’t I buy the roses for you so that you can still surprise her with it?”
Ben wiped the tears that had been rolling down his cheeks and said, “You really mean it, Mister? Why would you do that? You don’t even know me.”
Be Kind
“No worries, buddy. We should try to always be kind to one another,” the man said. Ben felt like his mother was right there with him.
“Thank you so much, Mister. You don’t know how much this means to me,” Ben said. He took the pretty pink roses and left the florist in a hurry.
No Questions
His father and Becky never even questioned how he had managed to get the flowers. They probably hadn’t even noticed him in the car. Because they didn’t end up going to the cemetery as planned.
They drove straight home. “Dad, but we were supposed to take these flowers to Mom, remember?” Ben said. But before he could say anything further, Becky interjected.
Your Own Fault
“Didn’t we tell you that we have other plans? This is all your fault in any case. You took way too long at the flower shop, so now you have to make your own way to your mother’s grave. I’m sure she would appreciate the effort of you walking all the way.”
Ben couldn’t believe it. He rushed upstairs to get his allowance money and walked off.
Independent
Even though he was just six years old, Ben knew how to take the bus from one place to another. It was something his mother had taught him to be: independent.
He stood at the bus stop with the huge bunch of roses cradled in his arms. He knew how to get to the cemetery, and he was going to visit his mom on her birthday, no matter what.
A Short Walk
When he got off the bus, he just had to walk a short while to the cemetery. He didn’t mind. It gave him a chance to think about what he wanted to tell his mother.
The big gray walls of the cemetery neared, and soon enough, Ben was walking amongst the many graves. He noticed very old ones and new ones, just like his mother’s.
Happy Birthday Mom
When he finally got to her grave, he knelt down and began talking. “Hi, Mom, Happy Birthday. I brought your favorite flowers. I hope you like them as much as I do. I miss you so much and wish you were here with me today.” He began to sob. It was then that he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“I miss her too, buddy.” Ben looked up and couldn’t believe who he was looking at.
It’s You
“It’s you. The guy at the florist. What are you doing here?” Ben stepped back for a moment, fearing that the man had been following him.
“It’s you. The guy at the florist. What are you doing here?” Ben stepped back for a moment, fearing that the man had been following him.
Lost Touch
Ben cautiously moved closer to shake Zach’s hand that he held out to him. "Yeah, I'm Ben," he replied, still a bit surprised. "But how did you know my mom? And why are you here?"
Zach sighed and looked at Joanne's gravestone. "Your mom and I lost touch over the years, but we reconnected just before she passed away. She always spoke so highly of you, Ben. She told me how you two used to visit a bakery together every year on her birthday."
Special Moments
Ben's eyes widened as he remembered those special visits to the bakery with his mother. It was a tradition they had, just like the one with the flowers. "Yeah, we used to go to Baker's Delight every year on her birthday. I miss those times."
Zach smiled warmly. "Your mom cherished those moments with you, Ben. She wanted me to continue the tradition with you if anything ever happened to her."
A Revelation
Ben looked at Zach in confusion. “Why would Mom want me to go to the bakery with you, Zach?” Ben felt like Zach was about to tell him something.
“You see, Ben. I don’t even know how to tell you this, but your Mom told me a few months ago that I am your real father. We were together before she was with Eric. I didn’t know about you until recently.”
Keeping A Secret
Ben's world seemed to spin as he processed Zach's revelation. His real father? So the man he had been living with for all these years wasn't his biological father. It was a lot to take in.
"But why didn't she tell me, Zach? Why did she keep it a secret?" Ben asked, his voice quivering.
She Had Her Reasons
Zach knelt down in front of Ben, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Your mom had her reasons, Ben.
“She wanted to make sure you had a stable home with Eric, and she didn't want to disrupt your life. But she also wanted me to be a part of it somehow, and that's why we reconnected."
Mixed Feelings
Tears welled up in Ben's eyes as he struggled to comprehend the complex emotions surging within him. He had so many questions and mixed feelings about this revelation. "I don't know what to say, Zach. I mean, you're my real dad?"
Zach nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. "Yes, Ben, but I want you to know that no matter what, I care about you deeply. I know this is a lot to process, and I'm here for you, buddy."
The Best For Him
As Ben absorbed the shocking news, he realized that his mother had always loved him and wanted the best for him, even if it meant keeping this secret. He also saw that Zach genuinely cared for him and was willing to be a part of his life.
"Thank you, Zach," Ben said, his voice filled with emotion. "I need some time to think about all of this, but thanks for being honest with me." Zach gave Ben a reassuring smile. "Take all the time you need, Ben. Just remember, we're family, and I'll always be here for you."
A New Love
With a newfound sense of connection to Zach and a deeper understanding of his mother's love, Ben placed the bouquet of roses on his mother's grave and whispered a heartfelt goodbye.
As they walked away from the cemetery together, Ben realized that life had a way of surprising you, even in the midst of heartache and challenges. He may have lost his mother, but he had gained a father he never knew he had, and in Zach, he had found someone who would help fill the void left by her absence.