After popping out to see what was the matter, Ben came back with an apologetic smile. "I gotta go, they need my help," he began.

Iris smiled back in understanding. "Of course, I get it! Go do your thing, I'll just stay right here."

"You sure you'll be okay?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm alright, don't worry about me," Iris said, patting him lightly on the shoulder.

Ben grinned. "Okay. I'll be back as soon as I can, alright? See you soon," he said reluctantly before leaving Iris alone.

Looking around the room, Iris stood awkwardly, her thoughts consuming her once more. She began to wonder again if she'd made a rash decision coming here when she heard a baby's cry and a woman's harried voice in Spanish coming closer. Before Iris could react, a brunette woman in her 30s with warm peach skin burst into the room, a phone pressed between her ear and shoulder while her two hands held a screaming baby. A diaper bag was slung over her shoulder. She was clearly agitated, and Iris could hear the exasperated voice of whoever was on the other end. She spotted Iris and ran over like someone had thrown her a lifesaver.

"I'm so sorry to bother you, but can you please hold him while I finish this call, please? I need help," the brunette said above the sound of the screaming baby.

Iris widened her eyes in surprise. Caught off guard, she began to stutter. The brunette then said a quick "hold on" into her phone before pausing and looking at Iris carefully.

"You must be Ben's girl. I'm Jalisa, his aunt. I wish I could go find him but I really need to take this call. You can take the baby to him. Please?" She asked, eyes pleading.

Iris considered it for a moment. Jalisa looked absolutely exhausted. Feeling for her, Iris agreed reluctantly.

"Really? Thank you so much! He's just cranky because he needs to sleep but I keep talking into his ear," Jalisa said as she carefully put the baby into Iris' arms. She shot Iris a grateful look and stepped outside, resuming her phone call.

Now alone in the sitting room with a crying baby, Iris tried to look around and call Ben. After it went to voicemail, Iris figured he must really be busy. Deciding her priority was to calm the baby, she began walking in circles, bouncing him slightly. His screeches turned into sobs which turned into quiet whimpers. Eventually, he finally fell asleep. Iris was exhausted but happy that he was finally quiet. Settling gently on a small loveseat so he could sleep on her lap and free up one of her aching arms, she watched his adorable sleeping face as she cradled him gently. Barely a few minutes passed before she heard footsteps heading her way.

Looking up, she saw Ben's worried face pop in through the doorway, about to say something. She quickly put a finger to her lips in a shushing motion and pointed to the sleeping infant. Ben's eyebrows practically disappeared into his hairline in surprise.

"Your Aunt Jalisa needed someone to hold the baby while taking a phone call," Iris whispered softly.

Ben nodded, coming to sit beside her on the loveseat. He peered down at the baby, affection clear in his eyes as he gently stroked the baby's cheek. Neither of them spoke for a minute as they gazed at the child. Periodically, Ben also looked up to glance at Iris, a soft look in his eyes. After a bit, he patted Iris' arm and motioned for her to give him the baby. Unsure whether the baby would wake up if she moved, she hesitated. Ben nodded at her in assurance before she decided to gently ease the baby into his arms. Holding her breath, she watched Ben take the baby in his arms easily. The child stirred slightly, but didn't open his eyes, to their relief. Ben smiled at her, eyes tender as she took the opportunity to stretch her arms a bit and rotate her wrist to loosen the stiffness there.

They continued to gaze at the baby for several minutes before Jalisa came back, phone out of sight. Whispering a grateful thank you to Iris, she smiled cryptically at Ben before leaving with her son.

Alone again, Ben and Iris finally sighed audibly in relief.

"How're your arms?" Ben asked in concern.

"They're fine. I was just a little stiff because I was afraid of waking the baby. How about you?"

"I didn't hold him as long as you did so I'm good," Ben replied, sitting back down on the loveseat next to Iris. After a pause, he continued. "You said you're the youngest in your family, right? You held Simon, the baby, like a pro!"

Iris blushed. "Ah, that. I've held my baby cousins and my older cousins' children before. I don't do it often but when there's a screaming baby, you have no choice but to learn fast," she joked.

Ben laughed, casually slinging an arm over the top of the couch near Iris' shoulders. "True, I also had to learn pretty quick with my little brother and cousins, as you can see. But it's okay, cause I like 'em. Kids are a handful but they're also wonderful."

"Yeah, they are," Iris said with a gentle smile. "Sometimes, when they look at you, there's this beautiful innocence where it's like they think you're their whole world in that moment. I hope someday I get to experience that with my own kids."

Ben glanced over at her, his gaze contemplative. "You wanna be a mom someday?"

"Of course I do!" Iris said, her smile widening. "I mean not right now, but maybe after I'm married for a couple years or so, I'd love to have a couple kids. One boy and one girl is my ideal, but I'll take what I can get."

Ben smiled at her. "You've really thought this through, haven't you?"

Iris finally realized what she was saying and felt her face get hot. "I mean...you know I like to plan things. But yeah, someday," she said, trailing off. "What about you?"

"Oh same here, I love kids! I'm looking forward to having a couple of 'em myself," he replied.

Iris glanced up, only to find that Ben was already looking at her with an indulgent smile. She didn't want to think about what that could mean, or better yet, what she wanted it to mean.

They sat in companionable silence, chatting occasionally about random topics until they heard Nana's voice calling the family over to eat.

Glancing at each other, they grinned as they stood up.

"Finally, I can't wait to eat more of your jollof rice," Ben said.

Iris laughed as she walked out of the sitting room with Ben, although the nerves settled in her stomach once more, knowing she was about to meet almost the entire family. Ben noticed, and stopped her, putting his hands on her shoulders so she would face him.

Seriously, he looked into her eyes. "Hey, Iris. You'll be fine, I promise. You're an amazin' woman, and I know my family will find that out too. And if it's all too much, let me know. Okay?"

Iris' heart warmed. It sounded like what a guy would tell his girlfriend when meeting the family. But she understood his sentiment, that he was merely trying to assuage her apprehension. At least, she didn't want to read any further into his words. She nodded, a small smile on her face.

"Thanks, Ben," she whispered.

"Anytime, it's what I'm here for," he said with a chuckle. "Now let's go eat, I'm starvin'!"

Ben and Iris made their way into the large dining room as people began to spill in from various parts of the house, chattering merrily as they took their seats. A few people she had been introduced to nodded at her in welcome, which she returned with a small smile. The ones she didn't know gave her curious and questioning glances, especially when Ben went to sit next to Nana, only for Nana to usher him away and insisted Iris sit next to her instead. Iris giggled at the playful look of betrayal on Ben's face before sitting down in the chair he pulled out for her. Nana was at the head of the table, Iris on her right side and Ben beside Iris. To Nana's left was a man who looked very much like Ben, and next to him was a middle aged blonde woman with gentle eyes.

"That must be Ben's dad and stepmom," Iris thought to herself, nodding at them politely. The man glanced once at Ben before examining Iris closely. His face a mask of calm, he returned her nod passively but politely. The woman next to him smiled sweetly at Iris as she nodded a hello.

Ben leaned over to whisper to Iris, his breath lightly tickling her ear as his voice made her shiver slightly. "That's my dad Benny Jr, although the family calls him BJ, and my stepmom Clarissa. Don't worry about my dad, he looks like that to everyone he doesn't know, but he'll warm right up to you, don't worry."

Iris nodded and smiled at him, thankful for his attempts to set her at ease. She also caught the stern look his Nana gave his father and suppressed the urge to chuckle when his stoic demeanor melted into a meek smile when Nana caught his eye.

Nana tapped her glass with a spoon lightly, rising as she did so. Everyone stopped speaking and rose as well.

"Thank you all for makin' it all the way out here for Thanksgivin' dinner. We've got the usual suspects," she said while raising her glass and making eye contact with her family members who chuckled with her. "We've got longtime friends," she said, smiling at Uncle Seb's friend Nick and his wife Sarah. "And we've got a fresh face that we hope will come back to this table again and again in the future," she said, turning slightly toward a furiously blushing Iris as all eyes followed Nana to her. Ben surreptitiously winked at her. She smiled at everyone, nodding her head slightly.

"Whoever you are, y'all are always welcome at my table and in my home," Nana continued. "I am thankful for every single one of y'all, so let's have a toast to faith, family, friends, and good food! God bless the cooker, the eater, and the food, so let's eat!" she finished triumphantly, raising and draining her glass immediately.

Everyone followed suit and merrily emptied their glasses, from the adults to the children at their own table. Ben made sure Iris was seated, her chair pushed in properly before taking a seat himself. He flashed her a smile as the food began making its way around the table.

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