#ian bennett

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Knights of Hope – Chapter 17 – Almost

“Mrs Bennett what can I do for you” the coach asked once the last of the players left the ice. “I’m looking into the incident that happened

While Braylin meets the grandparents Verity continues to investigate the night of the party. The more she uncovers about that night the more convinced she is that someone was out get Braylin. Will she be able to provie it though? Meanwhile the boys are about to head home. The next chapter of Knights of Hope is available on my WP Blog. It'll be queued to post tomorrow and Sunday. I even found the one missing sim I needed.

Verity Myles was made by @wannabecatwriter

Braylin McGavin was made by @dstarsims

Celia Nugget was made by @legendofsim

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“Find what hard to imagine.” Trebor asked, walking in from the kitchen.

“Dishes done” he asked.

“Mostly” he grinned sheepishly “grandma wouldn’t let me touch her special bowls.”

“Still afraid you’ll break them” Ian stated in a knowing tone.

“One day you’ll be glad I was careful with them,” Celia said, joining them. “They’ll be yours when I’m gone.” Looking over at Trebor “I know you’ll take good care of them.”

“Hopefully that’ll be years from now,” Trebor said, making himself comfortable in Braylin’s lap.

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“I can’t fault her for that. I wanted to be one of the guys. I wanted to be the guy who didn’t have to go home every night to a screaming baby that kept him up all night.” Shaking his head he shrugged “I was luckier than most teen parents. I had the love and support of my parents. I wouldn’t have made it if it weren’t for them.”

“Trebor told me about his great grandfather,” he spoke softly.

“They were close when Trebor was little” Ian smiled “two peas in a pod.” Nodding towards the kitchen he said “my grandson would skip school to spend the day with my dad. It broke my dad’s heart when Verity found out and insisted he not encourage his behavior. I guess it wasn’t setting a very good precedent encouraging a five year old to skip kindergarten.

“Somehow I find that difficult to imagine,” Braylin laughed.

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An expression of profound sadness marred his features. “Are you thinking of your daughter? The one who…” He stopped talking, realizing he should never have brought her up. He could see the long buried pain the mention of her had on the older man. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…”

“No it’s alright” he took a deep breath to steady himself. “I’m glad he told you. That means a lot. He feels safe enough with you to share that experience with you. His aunt isn’t my biological daughter. I treated her like she was mine. I loved that little girl” something in his light blue eyes showed he still did but the trauma she caused to him and his family was too much to forgive. “She’s the product of one of our down times. Celia and I had broken up when we were in college. The stress of being young teen parents proved too much for her. She wanted to enjoy the carefree lifestyle of her friends.”

Reading between the lines Braylin got the idea that Ian was the one who pushed himself to do what needed to be done. That he put his feelings aside and took care of things.

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“Yes I know” he nodded, leaning forward on his elbows, his hands clenched in front of him. Raising his eyes meeting the gaze of the older man. “I wish I could promise that I’ll never hurt him. I hope I don’t. I just…” he swallowed. A feeling like he was about to put his head in the guillotine overwhelmed him. “I don’t think I can promise something like that. It’s just not possible no matter how much I wish otherwise.”

His stomach hurt as it clenched, tying itself into knots as he waited for the man to seal his fate. There were so many things he could have said. All the cliches and impossible promises he’d ever heard uttered in unrealistic movies and TV shows came to mind. The sudden burst of laughter startled him more than anything the man could have said. Looking up scarcely believing his ears he asked “what?”

“Relax son,” Ian chuckled. “If you had tried to feed me the line of how you’d never hurt him I’d have known you were full of shit. Your answer was so much better than any of that dribble movies try to feed us.” He glanced over his shoulder towards the kitchen where they could hear Trebor and Celia talking and laughing together. “Celia and I had our ups and downs. At times I didn’t think we were ever going to make it.”

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“I know what you’re going to say” he blurted as soon as they moved into the sitting room. Taking a seat in a chair while Ian sat on the couch he watched the older man carefully.

“So…you’re a mind reader” he asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

“Well no” he stammered “but it doesn’t take a genius to know you are protective of your grandson.”

“Yes that’s true” he agreed with a smile softening his features. “I don’t want to see him hurt. He’s been hurt enough to last a lifetime.”

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“And you are” she swooped down kissing the top of his head “I know how you are towards Trebor.”

Watching her walk away he said “I’ve been with her for over fifty years and she never ceases to amaze me.”

Frowning, Braylin looked towards the kitchen where Celia was talking to Trebor. She was old but she still had light strands of blue hair the same color as Trebor’s father. “You don’t look that old,” he observed.

“I’ll take that as a compliment” he chuckled “most days I don’t feel that old either.” Waving a hand towards the sitting area “lets talk.”

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“You cooked” he protested “the least I can do is the dishes.”

“I’ll help,” Braylin offered, moving to follow him.

Celia stood shaking her head at both of them. “No, I’ll help. It’ll give you and Ian a chance to get to know each other.” Giving her husband a piercing gaze she admonished him “be nice.”

“What” he asked, somehow pulling off a face that both said he was offended and innocent at the same time. “I’m always nice. You’re the one always telling me I’m too nice.”