Chapter 355

• Ashley was watching Gabriella and Catherine talk about Ben and they obviously loved him. But Tina said he loved her and Trish. She was so confused. "Are you... in love with Ben?" she finally asked.
• Both women immediately said 'Yes.' then laughed. Gabriella explained. "Ben had a very rough time growing up and we haven't heard the full story yet. There are some dark hidden events in his past. When he moved into the neighborhood he got married and when they found out they couldn't have kids his wife, who was sterile, she left him for another man. That emotionally knocked Ben off his moorings. He was in pretty rough shape. He drank a lot." She saw Ashley stiffen. "But he was just a sad drunk. Not violent in any way." Ashley relaxed and Gabriella continued.
• "One day a man drove into the neighborhood and tried to abduct Miriam. He got her into the back of his van and was about to escape when Ben got to him. Ben wasn't at his best but he managed to pull the man from his van and beat him against the side of it. In desperation the man shot Ben three times in the torso but Ben just knocked the gun away. I managed to get Miriam out of the back of the van by that point. She was traumatized and wailing in my arms. Ben looked at me and I looked at him. I saw the rage in his eyes and I knew he could feel my terror at almost losing my daughter. He lifted that monster in the air and snapped his neck like a twig. Then the police tackled him and he passed out from blood loss. They rushed him to the hospital and managed to save him but he fell into a coma." Gabriella took a deep breath and saw she had Ashley's rapt attention.