The Baker

Chapter 40

"Come back to bed," Ben sleepily mumbled, as he stood at the bottom of the stairs; watching Cassie stare at her phone. "No," she told him. "I'm not going to sleep anyways, so what's the point?"

Ben had gotten her and Kelly home, per Julie's request, but she wasn't being too friendly (understandably). She's eaten and she's attempted to go to sleep in her loving, supportive boyfriend's arms, but couldn't. She managed to get out of his clinging body and downstairs. She must have checked her phone a hundered times within the hour she's been down here. 

Kelly was no problem, as she was out like a light. Ben was highly considering slipping some sleeping pills into some food that he could tempt Cassie to eat. Then, he'd have both of the sister's out and less worried. But that would be illegal and he knew he'd be asking for it when Cassie woke up. But it didn't sound like a bad idea as he was staring at her; her hair a mess, shoes and keys next to her incase she needed a quick getaway, even a bag was packed for her to stay at the hospital.

Ben sighed and sat next to her on the couch. "The point," he told her, while making her go back on the couch with him, "is that you attempt to sleep so you can be awake and alert when he wakes up." She tried to get out of his grip and sit back up, but he just held her tighter and shushed her.

"Ben, what if someone--." "Shh, go to sleep." She grunted, "Ben--." But he just shushed her again and put his hand on her head, making her rest it on his chest. He started humming her favorite song, making his chest rumble with soothing sounds. She was lulled to sleep in a matter of minutes.

**

Cassie jolted awake at the sound of a cell phone ringing. She snatched her phone off the table and turned it on to see...nothing. That's when she heard Ben's voice in the kitchen say, "Hey, mum." Cassie sighed in relief and threw her head down, expecting to hit a hard couch, but was greeted with a soft pillow. She also noticed she had a blanket on her. She looked through her phone and didn't see any messages or e-mails or calls. Her heart was still beating rapidly from Ben's phone. They needed to get seperate ringtones and soon. 

Ben came into the room with his phone cradled in between his shoulder and ear, while carrying a tray of food. He gave Cassie a warm smile and blew her a kiss, before answering into the phone, "No, she's doing alright. She's right here actually, just woke up." He placed a kiss on Cassie's forehead, then sternly pointed at the breakfast he made for her. She rolled her eyes, but nodded.

He left for a few seconds, but then came back in, leading Kelly next to her by her shoulders. She slumped down next to Cassie and leaned into her shoulder. Cassie kissed her head and brushed her hair back. Ben came back in with another tray of breakfast and set it in front of Kelly. He kissed her forehead as well, before leaving into the kitchen again; still answering his mother's questions.

Kelly looked to Cassie and said, "He's really nice." Cassie laughed for the first time in these long 24 hours and said, "Yeah, he is." They ate Ben's marvelous breakfast, then lounged on the couch, both fighting a battle with even more exhaustion.

"Cass?" Kelly mumbled into Cassie's chest. Cassie ran her hand up and down her little sister's back and hummed, "Hmm?" Kelly shifted a bit before saying, "If dad doesn't make it...can...can I live with you and Ben?" Cassie's eyes shot open and looked down at her sister. "Why?" She asked.

Kelly shrugged and told her, "Well, when dad's gone, you won't have any reason to visit anymore. Plus, I've always wanted to go to London and living with you both seems like a cool idea." Cassie chuckled, but bit her bottom lip in thought. "You need to stay here with mom," she finally told her. "She's going to need you." Kelly quickly sat up and said, "She has Leo. And the entire family is here!" Cassie scooted herself up and told her, "But she needs you, her daughter. What will it say if another goes off to London?"

Kelly sighed in defeat and looked like she was on the brink of crying. "You can visit," Cassie softly added. "You can stay with me for the summer. That would be okay, right?" Kelly just shook her head. Cassie sighed and pursed her lips in thought. "Maybe...maybe we'll whisk you away for a while," she told her. "It might due you good to get out for a bit. But I'll be staying here for a while and Ben has to go back to filming in L.A."

A small smile appeared on Kelly's face. "When you leave, can I go with you?" Cassie squeezed her sister to her side and said, "Possibly. I'll think about it. If not, then you'll stay for the Summer. Okay?" Kelly seemed content with that answer for now. 

Ben came back into the room with his own plate of food and phone in his pocket. "Mum says hello and to call her if you need anything when you get back to London...whenever that may be." Cassie hadn't thought of that. When will she go back? Yes, Kelly and her just talked about it, but never when. 

Ben could see she was deep in thought and put his hand on her shoulder. "Hey," he softly said. She turned to him, as he continued, "Don't think about it, alright? Not now." She gave him a soft smile and nodded. 

There was a few moments of silence when a phone started going off. Ben reached into his pocket and took out his phone...it wasn't his. Cassie snatched her phone from the table. Her heart skipped a beat when she saw her mom's number on the front. She quickly answered, "Hello?"

"Cass...you need to get down here. Now."