The Neighbor

Unfortunate Encounters

If Benedict was completely honest, he's never been this happy. He had a beautiful girlfriend who loved him beyond measure, she was carrying his child, and nobody suspected him of anything anymore. The whole thing with James has died down, so the police were off his tail and everyone forgot about Rachel. Ben was proud of himself for that one. He covered up his tracks so well, it was nearly impossible to trace anything back to him. 

And, if things couldn't get any better, Cassie was moving in today. The baby decided to give them a break and stopped the sudden false contractions. Ben and Cassie deemed it safe enough to go ahead and start moving her in. It was still a little early to actually function, but Ben decided to go ahead and get started. 

There were piles and piles of boxes on the front lawn. One would think Cassie was having a major yard sale (some people did), but it was everything she "needed". Ben thought it was ridiculous, but dared not start a fight with a pregnant woman. Specifically, his girlfriend.

After a several hours of hauling boxes around, Ben decided to go and grab them something to eat. Cassie suspected he just wanted to drive around the new car. He got a Land Rover so he could take them to the hospital when the time comes, to drop the kid off at daycare, school, college. He was very excited.

It was a little while after he left that Jenny came over. "Big moving day?" She asked. Cassie smiled and said, "Yeah. Doesn't make sense to have a baby while their mom and dad live next door to each other." Jenny let out a hearty laugh. 

"Why isn't Ben moving in your place? Haven't you lived here longer?" Cassie nodded, "Yeah, but his place is new...and bigger. So I guess if we want more, we'll have the room. Plus, he needs a major home makeover cause that place is depressing." 

Jenny laughed. "I didn't want to say anything, but for the few minutes we were there, I felt like I was visiting The Munsters' house." Cassie and Jenny both started laughing. Jenny looked back to her house, where Tony was working on a car with Max right beside him. "You'll love it," she told Cassie. "It's a great experience and it's a love you'll never get over. You'll find yourself doing things for them that you'd never thought you'd ever dream of doing." 

Cassie smiled fondly at her stomach. "I've always wanted kids," she told Jenny. "I was so worried Ben wouldn't want it, but I'm glad he does. We were only three months into a relationship, but I've never been so sure about someone in my life, especially now." 

The girls continued to talk until Tony called Jenny over. "Well, good luck with everything and let us know when the baby comes, yeah?" Cassie chuckled, "Of course! We'll have you guys over sometime for dinner." Jenny smiled, "That would be nice. We'd like that." They said their goodbyes and Jenny walked back across the street.

Cassie decided to carry some of the lighter boxes in the house, even though she knew Ben would have a fit. When she stepped back outside, she looked around at the beautiful, but chilly, Chicago suburbs. Fall came a little while ago and it was Cassie's favorite time. The trees were colorful, the air was crisp, and things just seemed happy. 

 That was, until she heard a child's scream piercing through the vastness. She darted her eyes around to see what was going on, only to see Tony grabbing a hold of Max's shirt collar. Cassie furrowed her eyebrows and watched to see what he was doing. And then, it happened. 

Tony hit Max. 

Cassie gasped as she saw the poor boy start to cry and run inside the house. Tony seemed emotionless. As if right on que, Ben drove up into the driveway. He got out of the car with a bag of food in each hand and started walking up to Cassie. 

He saw that she looked a little pale and her mouth was hanging open. "Cass?" He looked to where she was looking, but didn't see anything, as Tony was gone now. "Cass, what's wrong?" He kissed her head to get her attention, but all she said was, "We need to call child services." 

Ben scrunched his eyebrows together and chuckled, "What are you talking about?" She turned to him and said, "Tony hit Max. He smacked him right across his face!" He whipped his head to the house across the street. "Where?" He asked. "When?" 

"Just now in front of the house! Max was acting as if Tony had done it before." Ben was torn. Did he get the authorities involved when things were going so well? When things were starting to look up? He didn't need the feds on him again. Even if he makes an anonymous call, it could still put things at risk.

"I'm sure he's fine, love," he told Cassie. "Probably deserved it for all we know. Come on, let's go inside." Cassie scoffed and tugged at his arm, while saying, "No! Ben, you didn't see what I saw! No one should hit their child like that, even if you think they deserve it!" 

The stress in her voice was setting him on edge. There had to be other options. "Okay, I'll talk to him," he told her. "We can't just call, we'll need evidence, pictures. I'll handle it. You just worry about you and this little one, alright?"

**

Ben forgot. He forgot to talk to Tony. He's been so busy with work and getting ready for the baby to come that it just slipped his mind. Of course, it didn't slip Cassie's. Everyday for the past week, she's been asking him about it and this morning, she really nailed it into his head. "After work, I'll talk to him, I promise," he said as he walked out the door. 

Now, as he's getting out of his car, he's contimplating whether to actually go talk to Tony. He just really didn't want to get involed in anything that requires the law. But if he doesn't do, Cassie will and if she does it, all hell will break loose. So what choice does he have?

Sighing, he walked across the street and up to the Edwards' house. He knocked on the door and a few moments later, the door opened to...nobody. Until, Ben looked down and saw Max standing there with a black eye. 

"Can I help you?" Max kindly asked. Ben smiled and said, "Yes, you can. Is your dad home?" Max nodded and called, "Dad! Mr. Carlton is here!" Tony called back, "Be there in a minute! Come on in if you want, Ben!" Ben stepped inside and Max shut the door. 

Ben glanced around the familiar house, looking for any sign of Tony. When he didn't see him, he turned to Max and casually asked, "What happened?" Max looked a little brought back and stumbled while saying, "I-I fell at-at school." Ben looked at him skeptically and his eyes landed on bruise marks on his arm. 

"What about those?" He asked. Max was still hesitant to answer. Clearly, no one's really ever asked before. Ben looked around again, then knelt down to Max's height. "Max," he said gently, "I saw what your dad did to you a few days ago. You don't have to be afraid to tell me." 

Again, Max was hesitant, but right before he could say something, Tony's voice rang, "Sorry to keep you waiting!" He waltzed into the living room just as Ben was standing up. "What can I do you for, Ben?" 

Ben cleared his throat and said, "I was just wondering if you had a nail gun I could borrow. See, the crib I put together isn't that sterdy and I would like my child to sleep comfortably when the time comes." Tony chuckled and said, "Of course! I'll be right back." 

Once he was out of the room, Ben looked to Max and gave him an assuring smile. Even though he was fuming on the inside, now knowing that Cassie actually saw what she says she saw. Max gave him a tiny smile, but it went away once Tony came back in the room. 

"Here you go," he said, giving the nail gun to Ben. "Let us know if you ever need anything once the little one is born. If you need a sitter or adivice, just let us know." 

Ben smiled and told him, "Will do! Thank you very much!" Though, on the inside, he was thinking, If you ever come near my child, I will rip your useless head off.

After saying goodbye, he walked back over to his house, where Cassie greeted him with a soft kiss and a "Did you talk to him?" He sighed, looked down at the nailgun (thinking he should just use it for Tony's eyes), then said, "I'll call child services."