Ben rushed to the door, a broad smile illuminating his face as he anticipated the warm greetings of his mother and Mr. MarQueen. But when he opened the door, the unexpected sight of his father and his stepmother by them shattered his anticipation. Instantly, his smile vanished, replaced by a whirlwind of unasked questions that churned in his mind. Instead of confronting the chaos, however, he forced a welcoming grin and swung the door open wider, allowing them inside.

As they stepped over the threshold, Ben seized the moment to introduce his wife to his father and Scott's mother, who interestingly happened to be his stepmother. It was a poignant moment for Shelley, who had missed their presence at the wedding, and now had the chance to get to know them amidst the turbulent emotions swirling in the room.

In the kitchen, Mr. MarQueen observed Ben’s shifting demeanour, noting the tension radiating off him like heat from a fire. Leaning slightly toward Ben's mother, he whispered, “I told you we should have given him a heads-up about his father coming. Look at him; he’s anything but thrilled.”

Ben’s mother lightly nudged him with her elbow. “A little discomfort is nothing. His father has every right to meet the woman his son married,” she replied, turning toward Mr MarQueen with resolve. “It’s the right thing to do, my love.”

Mr. MarQueen offered her a supportive smile. “If you say so, sweetheart. Just hoping it doesn’t come back to bite us later.”

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted as Ben cleared his throat, breaking the tension. “Mr. MarQueen, could you please give my mom and me a moment alone?” The calmness in his voice didn’t quite mask the storm brewing in his eyes.

Mr. MarQueen exchanged a nervous glance between mother and son, sensing the tension as Ben’s gaze burned with frustration while Mrs. Cassie sported a smirk that hinted at her intentions. “Of course, I’ll leave you two to it. Just… play nice, alright?” he advised, slipping away cautiously.

Once they were alone, Ben shot his mother a piercing look. “Why didn’t you tell me my father and that woman were coming when we spoke on the phone?”

Mrs. Cassie shrugged nonchalantly. “I didn’t think it was important for you to know,” she replied casually, as if discussing the weather.

Ben’s frown deepened. “Does Scott know Dad was joining you?”

“No, he doesn’t. I tried to convince his mother to let him know, but she firmly said no. Apparently, she thinks he wouldn’t approve.”

“Like hell he wouldn’t,” Ben shot back, his frustration boiling over.

“Mind your language, young man,” Mrs. Cassie admonished, raising an eyebrow. “How many times have I told you not to swear?”

“Sorry, Mom. But you shouldn’t have agreed to this. I won’t have them in my house. You and Mr. MarQueen are the only ones I want here.”

Mrs. Cassie crossed her arms defiantly. “Of course they aren’t sleeping here! What do you think I am?” She shot him a knowing look. “That’s why I just texted Scott to meet me here.”

Ben narrowed his eyes, suspicious. “I bet you didn’t tell him Dad and his mother are here.”

“Of course not! I want it to be a surprise,” she replied with a mischievous smirk, the tension crackling between them as they stood on the precipice of a family reunion filled with secrets and unexpected encounters.

***

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow in the dining room, Ben and his wife were busy setting the table for supper. The fragrant aroma of their Ghanaian meal wafted through the air, creating a cosy atmosphere. Just then, the doorbell chimed, echoing through the house.

“I’ll get it!” Ben called out, shooting a quick smile at his wife before excusing himself.

Opening the door, he was greeted by the familiar sight of his brother, Scott, who wore a bemused expression. “Welcome, brother,” Ben said with a playful smirk.

Scott raised an eyebrow, suspicion etched across his face. “What’s with the cheeriness? When you’re this happy, it usually means trouble.”

Ben chuckled, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. “You’ll find out once you come inside.”

As they entered the dining room, however, the cheerful atmosphere shifted dramatically. Scott’s face fell as he spotted their parents. “Mom? Dad? What are you doing here?”

“Surprise!” both parents exclaimed in unison, their expressions full of excitement. "We came for a visit," they said.

Scott’s surprise quickly morphed into frustration. “And you couldn’t call first?”

“Why aren’t you excited to see us, son?” Mr. Alexander MacLen asked, concern lacing his tone.

Ignoring his father, Scott turned to his mother, a serious look on his face. “Mom, can we talk? Just the two of us?”

“Of course, dear.” She gently guided him to a quiet corner, away from prying eyes.

“Why didn’t you give me a heads-up about this visit? You know it’s not the best idea,” he whispered, urgency in his voice.

“I know,” she replied softly. “But your father has been having a tough time. He feels like a failure since you both distance yourselves from him. I worried he might do something drastic, so when Mrs. Cassie suggested we surprise you both, I couldn’t say no.”

“And you didn’t stop to consider how this might affect Ben?” Scott’s frustration bubbled up.

“I did,” Mrs. Caroline replied, glancing around nervously. “But Mrs. Cassie assured me Ben would handle it well.”

“Of course she would,” Scott muttered, rolling his eyes. “Now I’m going to be in so much trouble.”

“But I thought you two were getting along better,” his mother stammered, concern etched on her face.

“We are, sort of,” Scott admitted. “Ben’s warmed up a bit, but there’s still a wall between us. After this surprise visit, I doubt he’ll even talk to me again.”

As they spoke, Ben approached them, a hint of irritation in his voice. “Sorry to interrupt your little reunion, but dinner won’t eat itself. Are you two joining us or not?” With that said he storms back to the table.

Scott let out a sigh. "There we go. This will be an interesting evening."

_

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to Srkajol_Stan one of her comments in the previous chapter inspired me to write this chapter. I hope she enjoys reading this.