Ben and Molly

"So?" Rocco looked at Molly suspiciously as she was trying to get a vat of vegetable soup going with the leftovers in the kitchen where she worked. "Anything interesting happening?"

"No, not really." She was oblivious to the fact that he was talking about Ben. He really hadn't dwelt on the presence of  Ben. "Oh." Molly winced as she put the diced carrots in before she started on the potatoes. "You mean, Ben?"

"Is that his name?" He looked up from his chopping, onions scattered about the heavy cutting board.

It was true. Molly hadn't officially introduced them. She wasn't sure she had too. Molly nursed her bottom lip. Was Rocco upset with her?

"Well, we are together." She said as if that was sufficient.

"Going out?" He wanted to know.

"Something like that. You know, sleeping, eating, everything that comes with it, when you live with someone." She shrugged.

"I see, and your parents are OK, with that?" Rocco winced. He looked so hideous in his hair net. Molly couldn't help but smile.

"Yeah, they are fine with it. Dunno, about his parents. But you know," Molly sighed. "He's got a job. I think we might be on to something."

"Like marriage?" Rocco wanted to know as he stopped chopping.

"Well, must we label it? Exactly?" He made it sound like a plight of some kind. "I dunno. We could. We'll see." It was all so early to tell. But they'd been together going on 3 months now. Funny, it seemed yesterday that he'd stayed.

She remembered Ben talking about that wedding he was supposed to be the best man in. Had it already happened? She pondered a bit, wondering if that would make them want to get married if Ben was a part of a wedding now.

It was warming up outside. Spring was early. It was as if their life was between something thawed and half-baked, maybe. Molly went back to work. They were on their way to getting dinner ready. And to think she couldn't wait to see Ben when she got home. Really, Rocco was so yesterday. Ben was all she ever thought about now.