"Da?"
"Yes, I think I can tell you why. Can I get some room to sit & eat? "
Whitney & Ben wiggled closer together, Sammy moved the other direction.
He took a few bights then looked around at everyone watching him. He dabbed at his mouth with a paper napkin. "Ok, so yes, there was something in that picture. Ginny, do you remember when Ma & I gave you that picture for your birthday? I took you shopping a few days before at that craft store & walked you by the frames on purpose. I wanted to see which frame you liked the most. I didn't want anyone looking behind that picture until it was time. A long time ago, your mother's brother, your biological mother, found me, just a year or two after your mother & her husband died in the car explosion. " He looked at Celia, and continued, "I was worried at first, worried he was going to try to claim you and take you away from us. You were just a little over 2, your Ma was pregnant with Whitney, and you were so much a part of our family, I couldn't imagine losing you." His voice choked up a little bit. "But he didn't want to take you away, He wanted to protect you. But he gave me a copy of your grandmothers will. It named you an heir of your mothers portion of the family fortune, if you were ever found. Together we came up with a plan, to protect you and the will. I told him we would keep the will behind a picture of you. I would write, to "Ginny, with love from ma & da" on the back, with a little heart that would have your name in it, just in case. Over the years we kept in touch, but very infrequently. He would send me updates to the will, at the office, and I would occasionally send him a copy of the picture the will would be stored in, at his office. He didn't know about your biological father, he was afraid someone in his family had killed Deli and Quint. Everyone thought you'd died in the explosion along with them and he wanted to keep you safe. He loved your mother so much. All he wanted to do was keep you safe."
The room was so quiet, you could hear everyone holding their breath.
"The night Mike died, I suspect there was someone looking for you. Mike didn't know anything, but I know he suspected. He had asked me questions about how you came to be in our family and I told him the story Celia and I came up with about a cousin who died in childbirth. I could tell he wasn't buying it. Then that night, the night Mike died, I remember one of the neighbor's said something about a silver mustang in the area a couple days before and then again that day. But not the night he got shot."
Ben was the first one to break the silence, "That's it, I think we have enough to at least bring in Joshua Clark for questioning. If he's the guy, he's not a very smart guy, you don't let yourself get seen watching your victims or drive the same car year after year. Sammy, make the call. Then you and I are making a trip back into town to be there when they bring him in."
"I want to be there too Ben"
"No way Whit, I'm pretty sure you're not the target, but I'm not taking any chances. Besides, you need to stay here and help keep your security guard keep Ginny and the boys safe, and your mother. I need you to come with me to identify him if you don't mind," Sammy looked at Whitney's father.
"Absolutely, let's get this done!"
"Actually, while Sammy is calling this in, can I talk with you in the kitchen for a minute?"
Ben kissed Whitney on the cheek and winked at her before he followed her father into the kitchen.
Celia, Whitney and Ginny just looked at each other and then started chatting. Whitney knew Ginny probably had a lot of questions about her biological parents, so after a few minutes, she excused herself to the ladies room for a few minutes.
When she came back out she heard Ginny and her Ma talking in her room.
She went back into the living room and started to clean up the mess. Sammy had finished his call and was just waiting for Ben, so he started helping her.
Ben and her Da finally came out of the kitchen.
"Finally, I can ony clean up so much with out a trash bag, if you'll let me through, I'll get rid of all this mess," she gently poked Ben in the ribs and started to reach up to give Ben a quick kiss when she remember her Da was right there watching.
"It's ok girl, go ahead and give the boy a kiss" her Da winked at her. "where's your Ma at?"
Whitney was still blushing when she answered her Da, "Ginny and she are talking in the bedroom Da"
"I'll be right back, hurry up with that kiss'n stuff girl"
Whitney looked at Ben, they both smiled and kissed each other. She felt like she was smiling all the way down to her toes!
"Ahem! If I can get your attention please?" Whitney turned around with her back to Ben and he wrapped his arms around her.
Sammy, Ginny, Celia, Andrew, the security guard and the boys were all quietly watching.
"This young man here asked me permission for someth'n and I told him to go on ahead and do it. So go ahead Ben, You've been wait'n long enough."
Ben turned Whitney around, pulled something out of his pocket then got down on one knee. "Well Whit, it's true, I've been carrying this around in my pocket for over a year. I really want to put this where it belongs, on your finger. Will you marry me?"
Whitney could barely see from the tears glistening in her eyes, she looked at her Ma and Da and saw their smiles.
She looked down at Ben, and with what little voice she had left, whispered, "yes"
That was all the answer Ben needed, he stood up and took her in his arms, kissed her and then put the silver and gold engagement ring on her finger. Then they kissed again. Everyone in the room cheered and clapped their hands, even the security guard and Andrew.
Ben looked down at her and whispered in her ear, "I love you Whit."
She whispered back "I love you Ben"
The moment was broken when Sam's phone rang. He answered it while Celia and Ginny swooped in to look at her ring.
"All right guys, time to head back, that was the office. They found him and they are heading to the office. If we leave right now we should get there about 15 minutes before they do. Sorry, I hate to tear you two love birds apart right now, but we gotta go."
Ben and Whitney looked at each other and kissed again, "It's ok, I'm sure Whit, Ginny and her mother have a lot of planning to do. And, by the way, Whit, the sooner the better." Ben gave her a wink and another kiss before they all headed out the door. He was anxious to put all this murder mess behind them and get started on something more pleasing to his spirit!
