21."Finally. This is over and I can get on with my life now" Benjamin said as he stepped out of the court with Gabriel beside him. "Did you inform at home?" Gabriel asked "No. Let me" Benjamin said and dialed Isabella's number. "Benjamin?" Isabella answered the call on the second ring. "Bella. It's over" Benjamin said "In our favour right?" Isabella asked anxiously. "Of course. Where is Sapphire" Benjamin asked "Here. With me" Isabella said "Give her a loud kiss from me" Benjamin said and Isabella chuckled. "Will do. Are you coming home now?" Isabella asked "Yes. There are certain formalities left. Some papers to be signed. I will be home after that" Benjamin said "Was Lillian there?" Isabella asked "I didn't see her Bella. She knew she wouldn't be winning the case. So she bailed out" Benjamin said with relief. He honestly do not want to see that woman's face again. "Okay then. Come home soon. We are waiting for you" Isabella said as she caressed little Sapphire’s head
"Please" Isabella begged Lillian. "You are driving much too fast.""Poor little wifey. What are you trying to do? Make me slow down so that your wonderful macho husband can catch up with us? No way!" Lillian laughed. "No way do I stop until we’re back at my home and then, my dear, Sapphire and I will be on the first flight to UK where we will stay until your precious husband comes to his senses." Isabella winced as she was thrown against the car door when Lillian took a turn There was no way Sapphire could endure being driven even a few miles at such a break-neck speed without being sick, never mind all the way to the evil woman's home, wherever it was. And thanks to Lillian all the baby had was the clothes she was wearing. Isabella had never in the whole of her life hated anyone as much as she loathed and detested Lillian. How could she do this to any child, never mind her own grandchild? But Isabella already knew there was no point in trying to reason with her. Sapphire was s
It took Benjamin less than half an hour after the police had informed him about the accident to reach the scene. He had driven there far faster than Lillian, his heart pounding with dread with each passing second Sapphire, they had told him, was fine. "And Isabella? My wife?" There had been a brief pause. "She is trapped in the back of the car. She must have thrown herself over the baby to protect her and the force of the collision has pushed the whole of the passenger seat of the car into the back seat and over her" they had told him When Benjamin reached the scene of the accident it was crowded with people. "Your wife will have to be cut free" the police officer told. His heart buckled and twisted, tearing him apart. He had to be with Isabella and nothing, no one was going to stop him. "I must go to my wife" he told the policeman grimly. "She is unconscious at the moment." The policeman frowned. "There has been a spillage of fuel caused by the collision. And it isn’t saf
"So today you are going home. What a pity" the nurse teased Isabella. "We are going to miss seeing that handsome husband of yours." Isabella gave her a brief smile. She had grown so used to her hospital bedroom these last two weeks. Felt so safe there that she felt reluctant to leave. Everyone had been so kind to her; so protective of her. So ready to reassure her that she was very brave and very lucky. Her worst injury had been the blood she had lost where the metal had pierced her flesh, but even the scar from that would fade in time, the doctor had assured her jovially. Her back had been badly bruised. So badly that she had been black and blue, but by some miracle no permanent damage had been done apart from a few fractures of some of her bones, which are thankfully on the way to healing after extensive surgeries. The scratches that had covered her face had also totally healed, and now the doctor had decided that she was well enough to leave. To go home… Home to Benjamin a
"Do you know what day it is?" Benjamin asked Isabella teasingly as he bent his head to kiss her on her lips.She was in his late mother's rose garden, which they had turned into a safe play area for the children, and Benjamin had just returned from a business meet, out of state. "Ofcourse I do remember" she said laughing and kissed him back. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the children playing. Seven year old Juliana, Elena and Julian's daughter had come over to play. Their twin daughters, who had been born eighteen months ago was there, and ofcourse - her secret favourite - Sapphire, who was firmly preventing the twins from fighting over the toys. Like all children, theirs were individual and unique, and that was how she loved them, individually and uniquely, just as she could love the new baby who was due to make his or her arrival in another four months’ time. The new baby was not planned. But he had come along and that was a happy accident. They would love the n
1. Benjamin Lockwood walked into his office with the baby bassinet in his right hand and his laptop bag in his left As soon as he reached his cabin ,he set the bassinet on the coffee table and looked down to see his niece sleeping peacefully Baby Sapphire, eighteen months old is his step sister's daughter. Eleanor came to his life when he was twelve years old and she was ten. Three years after his mother Marianna's death ,William Lockwood married Elizabeth Lockason ,a widow with a ten year old daughter. When his father re married ,he was all set to deal with the atrocities of an evil step mom ,having believed that all step mothers are like Cindrella's step mom. But Elizabeth loved and took care of Benjamin like her own. With his father's second marriage ,Benjamin got another mother and a lovely sister. Life was happy until Eleanor met John. William and Benjamin were against Eleanor's relationship with John ,as the guy was a good for nothing fellow or so they thought Benjam
2."What the!!"Isabella stopped her dance as soon as she noted the presence of a long haired man in the cabin "I didn't make her cry. I swear" She said pinching her throat lightly. "She cried??" He asked "A little bit." She said showing her index finger and thumb holding it showing how much little. Baby Sapphire looked between the two people in the room and realising her entertainment has come to an end let out an ear splitting wail. "Its you. Not me" Isabella washed her hands off any involvement in the baby's crying. Benjamin shook his head in disbelief and hurried to his niece. He took her in his arms and rocked her trying to calm her. But baby Sapphire's eyes were on the woman in front of her. 'Why is she looking at me?? Is she trying to let her papa know that I woke her up with my chattering' Isabella wondered. "Okay then. It's time for me to go" Isabella said in a hurry and rushed to the door. "Stop stop" Benjamin called her back "What??" "You said she cried before
3.A week passed by with Benjamin getting the hang of how to deal with Sapphire The first evening Sapphire woke up crankily. Most of the day she has been sleeping. Only woke up for her drink and food and promptly went back to sleep The social worker from the child welfare had mentioned that Sapphire had a terrible night the day before. She kept waking up at night asking for her mama. Benjamin had panicked seeing Sapphire jutting out her lower lip ready for another session of wailing Madison,one of the care takers of Lockwood household had came in for rescue finally She had instructed Benjamin to take off his shirt and hold the baby close to his chest. The skin to skin contact ,it seems ,helps in bonding The baby ,initially wriggled in his hold ,but later snuggled into him She had got that kind of warmth only from her mama before. And she lapped up all that warmth she was feeling after whole three weeks. "Keep talking to her Benjamin. Sing her a lullaby" Madison had instruc