Olivia found out that Layla had been giving Randy information about the bake competition. In the past Olivia did the competition with Benny.
"Pass the torch to Randy, you see how much Ben trusts him" Layla said. Olivia grew teary eyed, she smiled at the thought of handing off the tradition. "OK, it'll keep the tradition alive right" Olivia said. "Yeah" Layla said. Kissing her wife, "it will"
"I forgot how much planning it took for the competition...maybe I should help them" Olivia said. Getting up from the couch. "Liv, stop come back and sit down" Layla said. Layla grabbed her wife's arm Olivia stopped. "Let Ben do this for himself he needs to have social interaction" Layla said.
Olivia joined Layla on the couch, the two cuddled Olivia pulled her wife close into her embrace. "Do you think Ben is safe with Randy" Olivia asked. Layla pecked her wife's lips "that's his safety net" Layla said. "Like you're my safety net" Olivia said. She kissed her wife once again sliding a hand into her long hair. "I'm never getting a pixie cut" Layla said. Olivia pouted, pulling away. "Why not" Olivia said. "Because you're the lesbian in the marriage who's more masculine" Layla said. "Admit it you love my masculinity just as much as my feminine traits" Olivia said.
-
Benny woke up from his nap Randy was caressing his head. His hazel eyes met blue the ends of Benny's lips lifted. "Hi" Randy said. Benny waved slightly. Randy leaned down to kiss his forehead.
"Layla suggested that you and I participate in the annual bake competition as a team would you like me to be part of that" Randy said. Benny's body language changed he liked the idea of doing the baking competition with his friend Randy. He heard the familiar robot voice Yes coming from Benny's tablet.
Randy was about to get up when Benny stopped him. Pulling out his sketchbook Benny began to draw. Randy's face looked towards Benny, The blue eyes of Randy grew fond of Benny's concentration. The older watched the way Benny's hand moved the pencil.
Every so often Benny's hazel eyes would meet Randy's blue. "Ra-nd-y" Benny said. His voice sounded hoarse from the lack of use. Randy's hand gently squeezed his foot three times. "Would you like to talk Ben" Randy asked. Benny's eyes went from the paper to Randy's face. The younger then nodded.
Benny set his pencils on the table. He was nervous about showing Randy. Minor mistakes were on the drawing he didn't have the right colors. Turning the sketchbook around Randy's blue eyes met the drawing. A small smile was on his lips.
Benny pointed to illustrated Randy's eyes. "Blue" Benny said. "Benny this looks fantastic, have you ever been to an art museum" Randy said. Benny shook his head, he's always wanted to go but never got the opportunity.
Randy got up from the sofa he grabbed Benny's coat along with his. "Let's go to the art museum" Randy said. The older helped Benny by bringing him his ninja turtles backpack. Benny put on his coat, hat and gloves. The backpack was secured around Benny's shoulders, Randy was in the middle of zipping up his coat, Benny waited for him sitting on the sofa. "Now we can go" Randy said.
The outside world greeted the two men, Randy began walking to his car. Benny stood still patiently on the sidewalk as Randy secured himself in his car. Randy knew this wasn't a normal thing for Benny to do, since Olivia and Layla walk mostly everywhere. "It's freezing Ben, Olivia wouldn't like it if she knew I got her ninja turtle sick" Randy said. Benny opened the car door, the warm heat of the car was a warm hug to Benny's cold body. Randy had soft music playing in the stereo of the car. The snow that fell the night before looked like a white blanket on the green earth. Benny used to find snow beautiful, a new variable came into the picture. Randy's blue eyes.
Randy parked the car near the art museum, which meant the two were destined to walk a few blocks to make their destination. Benny put his hat over his head covering his ears, Randy followed Benny by topping his head with a hat. "Let's get the show on the road Ben" Randy said. Exiting the car, Benny got out walking a little faster to catch up to Randy. At the first stop sign Benny grabbed Randy's hand. Randy glanced down to see Benny's hand was intertwined with his, Benny squeezed Randy's hand three times. I. Love. You. Randy squeezed back three times, the older noticed Benny looked away his neck was red. "It's time for us to cross Ben" Randy said. Randy began walking, Benny's hand was still intertwined with Randy's as they crossed.
Entering the museum Randy paid for two tickets. One for Benny and one for himself. The art museum was quiet, pulling out his AirPods Randy gave one to Benny. Music started to play, a symphony of classical music began to play. Benny shook his head, Randy chuckled changing the music.
Classical music was for another time, Classic rock was soon played. Benny looked at Randy with a happier body language. The two men began walking together through the museum. 'Jukebox Hero' by Foreigner was soon played. Benny wanted to dance as he looked around. Randy noticed little nods from the twenty year old.
Continuing to look around Benny stayed extra close to Randy. Their hands would brush as they walked along. Benny stopped at an exhibit of a mural that was made of paper. Randy saw the same amazement he noticed when Benny looked into his blue eyes.
The mural was beautiful to Benny, the twenty year old stood there in awe. His eyes were flying a mile a minute as he scanned the exhibit. He didn't want to miss a single detail. Bennys eyes looked over the color schemes of blue from light and dark. How they transitioned beautifully into each other.
Randy noticed this interest Benny had with art, frosting desserts and Ninja Turtles. Most people didn't bother to get to know Benny like Randy did. People see Benny as a baby due to his disability. Randy sees Benny as a real person, he doesn't use baby talk to communicate with Benny.
Customers at the bakery don't see Benny as a person, the customers only see Benny for his disability. This is a con for Randy when it comes to the bakery. He's talked to Layla about this but Layla is not sure about herself. The one person who actually has her actually head on her body is Olivia.
Randy and Olivia had spoken about the situation in the alley behind the bakery. She was smoking a cigarette, which she hardly ever smokes.
"You got a minute" Randy asked. Olivia took a drag of the cigarette before nodding. "What do you got" Olivia said. "Do the customers know that Benny is an actual person" Randy asked. "They only see his disability" Olivia said. "It's upsetting to see" Randy said. Olivia shook her head, taking another drag. "I'll drink to that" Olivia said.
Olivia turned her head to Randy, "You're the only friend in my son's life who sees him for who he truly is" Olivia said. Benny and I are more than friends Randy thought. Olivia wasn't ready for that conversation. Neither was Randy he did not want to deal with a negative reaction from Olivia.
Olivia gave Randy an envelope, the front had Bennys hand writing. "He's been drawing you a lot lately" Olivia said. Randy looked at the drawings stashed in the envelope. "He's taken a liking in you especially your eyes" Olivia said. Randy smiled softly he knew that it was the truth.
"What if this friendship between your son and I was something more" Randy said. "You are dating my son...wow that's brand new information" Olivia sarcastically said. "Layla told you didn't she" Randy said. Olivia nodded as she laughed taking a deep breath from her cigarette. "Cmon let's get back in there" Olivia said.
Going back inside Benny was working on decorating sugar cookies. The Christmas season was rapidly approaching and the demands for holiday items are growing. Randy could see that Benny was getting agitated. He hasn't been sleeping his mind is on this assignment. Olivia can see this yet she still sends her son to work.
Benny was in the middle of decorating a cookie his body language changed. Red flags were coming from every direction. Bennys hands shook as he set the frosting bag down. The baker looked up from his station "Ben". Randy ran after Benny he knew this would be bad. Fresh snow was falling as Benny sat on the cold concrete, Randy sat next to him keeping the silence.
"Let's go to my home we can watch ninja turtles" Randy said. Benny's body language changed the boy looked at Randy, slightly nodding. Randy and Benny escaped through the back alley, the older sent Layla a message saying where the two had gone and why. "Layla where are Benny and Randy" Olivia asked. Layla gulped she knew her wife would find out sooner than later. "Ben was overstimulated and Randy took him to his apartment" Layla said. Olivia sighed loudly running a hand through her pixie cut, "We need to hire more bakers, and decorators" Olivia said. "What about our son he loves working here" Layla said. "Benny still has a job, it's Randy who needs to be let go" Olivia said. "You can't do that Ben finally has a friend who he trusts" Layla said.
Olivia noticed the touches and the glares that Randy previously made. Randy was in love with Benny. Her son didn't even notice, he didn't know what those interactions were. She had to accept that her son was growing up, with growing up came relationships. Exploring relationships with other people venturing with love. That's what Benny was doing, he was venturing with love figuring out what he liked.
-
Randy opened the door to his apartment, Benny followed him inside. On the coffee table sat a candle, Benny picked up the candle. It was blue Benny's favorite color, already Benny was engaged. Brining the candle to his nose it smelt like an ocean storm. The front of the candle read ocean storm. Randy took off his coat and sat next to Randy. "Would you like to see the candle burning" Randy asked. Benny nodded and Randy pulled out a cigarette lighter from his pocket. Lighting the candle a crackling sound was heard. "Instead of a cotton wick it has a wooded wick that crackles" Randy said. The older set the candle back on the table as it began to burn.
Benny's eyes were focused on the burning candle. The smell of an ocean filled the apartment, the crackling sounds of the wick filled his ears. Randy snapped a picture of Benny admiring the candle. Benny crawled over to Randy's lap his lips were inches from the older man's.
"Ben" Randy said. His hands were on Bennys neck. The hazel eyes were extra brown and green. "Would you like me to kiss you" Randy asked. Benny nodded slightly his neck turned red as the nerves grew inside him.