Page 25 of Treehouse Whispers
“I realised Benji was the person I wanted everyone else to be. After that, it was simple.” Jamie frowned. “Well, fairly. I needed to make sure I was doing it for the right reasons. I waited a few weeks before telling Benji.”
“He gave me a necklace.”
“Let me see,” Benji’s mum said, leaning forward from her place next to him.
Benji pulled out the necklace that had never left, nor ever would leave his body. He saw Leanne glance at Jamie, eyebrows raised and caught Jamie’s head movement out the corner of his eye.
“Oh, it’s lovely. Nice choice, Jamie.”
Jamie flushed again at Benji’s mum’s comment, and Benji was done.
He stood abruptly. “We need to go.” Using the table to help his balance, Benji moved to the doorway, finally remembering his manners. “Thank you, everyone. I had a great birthday.”
His mum followed them to the door, amid shouts of goodbyes from behind. Benji didn’t feel too guilty about his departure; they were used to him by now, after all.
“Good night, sweetheart. Happy birthday.” His mum gave him another hug and whispered, “You both deserve each other. I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks, Mum,” he mumbled back.
They wrapped themselves in their coats and strode to the car. Benji was more than happy to get home and discover exactly where that flush of Jamie’s finished. No matter how long it took.
