Suspicious Ideas

Ben & Liana

As they lay in bed, contented and quiet, Liana told Ben, "I feel absolutely sinful. We're back in bed and it's not even lunchtime!"

She'd never heard Ben laugh so hard. "Darlin'," he said, when he could get his breath. "You forget who you married? Now's a helluva time to be worryin' about sin!"

"Speakin' of which-" He quieted and went on. "You and me need to get over and see the Preacher now that we're back."

"I know," Liana said. "I'm going to call Ahnna later today, find out when would be a good time. "In the meantime-" She stopped, twisting nervously at a lock of her hair.

Ben, of course, noticed her uneasiness. "Somethin' wrong, darlin'?" He dreaded hearing the answer. In spite of her acceptance of his past and everything he'd done, he still waited for her to realize that she didn't want to be with him--to tell him she was leaving. Every time she appeared upset, his first thought was that the time had come.

Liana had been dreading this, but she'd made up her mind that she had to tell him about Charlie. About the look that was always in the man's eyes around her. She'd never actually been afraid of Charlie but now, with a baby on the way, she didn't want to take any chances.

Sitting up in bed, she gave Ben a serious look. "I need to talk to you. About Charlie Prince."