His Dark Secret 1

This is too good to be true, Monica said to herself. Good looking and rich and charming and available? I'd better pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming.

"Is tomorrow night too short notice?" she asked.

Ben smiled. "Not at all! My mother and Donata will be happy to watch Lolly for me. Wyatt will probably just stay in his room playing games all evening."

Monica had met his mother Emma and his sister Donata earlier. Emma was a plump, maternal type with white curls and bright blue eyes. Donata was a tall, slender, intense looking woman of about Candy's age.

Monica got her hair done the next afternoon. She wanted to look her best for her first date with this intriguing new man. She put on her little black dress and looked at herself in her full-length mirror to make sure everything looked just right. She chose her matching black stilettos and spent about forty-five minutes on her makeup.

So as not to appear overly eager, she walked into the restaurant at exactly five minutes before the agreed-upon time. Ben was already there, handsomely dressed in navy blue slacks and a light blue shirt. He looked at her as she approached.

"Hi!" Monica smiled as she slid into the seat across from him.

"Hello," he said. "How are you?"

Monica started to say 'fine', but the waitress was already there, introducing herself and handing them menus.

"I have to say Lolly was adorable in her dirndl, and you and Wyatt both looked so nice in lederhosen!"

Ben smirked. "It was the first time any of us had ever worn them."

"No, you're kidding!"

"I am serious."

They looked over the menu, made their selections, and gave their orders to the waitress.

Ben sat back, folded his hands, and looked Monica straight in the eyes.

"So tell me all about yourself, Monica Lloyd."

"Well, I have three brothers and two sisters. I'm the oldest girl. I was married to Walter for twenty-six years. I have a daughter named Jill and a son named Martin. Walter died of cancer three years ago." She smiled. "Your turn, Ben Becker."

"I was born in Kloten," Ben began. "My father was a minister. I came to the United States for the first time in 1992. That was when I met Amelia."

The waitress brought their food. Ben looked relieved as he started eating. Monica wanted to know more about his family. She was especially curious about Amelia and what had happened to her.

They ate in silence for a few minutes. Ben cleared his throat.

"Amelia and I had another son, born two years after Wyatt. His name was Karl. He was hit by a car and killed four years ago."

"That's terrible!" Monica gasped. "I'm so sorry!"

"Thank you." Neither of them said anything more for a few minutes. Monica began to feel very awkward.

"Lolly must look like her mother," she said, to break the silence. Ben continued to eat, seeming not to have heard her.

Oops, I guess I must have said the wrong thing. Well, so much for this date.

"This is Amelia." Ben's voice startled her, and she looked up to see the photo on his phone. Amelia had been pretty, with medium-brown hair and medium-toned skin - not quite as dark as Lolly. Hm, I wonder whether she's adopted, thought Monica.

"Here's Walter." She showed Ben a photo which had been taken two years before Walter had fallen ill. "And here's Jill with her husband Wade and their kids, Ryder and Jerni."

"Oh, so you have grandchildren, and they are so cute!"

"Thanks. And here's Martin. He's a salesman, like his father was."

"Nice looking young man. Is he married?"

"Nope!"

The waitress brought their check, and Ben handed her his card. Then he took both Monica's hands into his own and gazed into her eyes.

"You are a beautiful woman, Monica. Please tell me our date isn't over."