The Baker

Chapter 42

"No...no, I understand. I'll be there tomorrow...Thanks, J.J." Ben hung up his phone and sighed. They needed Ben back on set tomorrow because they needed him to finish up a few scenes they couldn't do without him. They were on a schedule, but they can't keep on it without him.

He's only been gone about a week, but it's been the hardest and most heart-wrenching week of his life. Watching Cassie and her family go through this has been torturous. Especially watching his girl cry herself to sleep every night. Today was the day of the funeral, so of course she had an even more difficult time sleeping last night.

Ben looked over Cassie as she lay in her bed, her back facing him, her face buried in the pillow, but he knew she was wide awake. He slipped back under the covers and held her against him. This was all he could do, or all that she would allow him to do. Anything that involved getting her food or water, going shopping, she would handle on her own. Holding her was all she allowed.

He kissed the back of her head and murmured, "You should get some sleep, babe." She simply shook her head. Ben held her tighter and sighed. "Who was on the phone?" She hoarsely asked. He shook his head. "Not important," he answered. "Get some rest before we have to leave."

A few minutes passed and he peeked his head over hers to see that she was actually asleep! Thank God, he thought with relief. He closed his eyes to doze off with her, when his phone started ringing again.

Cassie jolted awake, making Ben sigh in annoyance. "Go back to sleep, babe," he gently prodded. He picked up his phone and answered, "What?" He sat next to Cassie and stroked back her hair as he listened to the other line. She was slowly drifting off again from his gentle touch.

Then he stopped. It didn't wake her, thankfully, but he had to get out of the room if he wanted to react the way he needed to from the news that was just shared...without waking her. He quickly threw on a shirt and walked out of the room and into the kitchen.

"Please tell me I didn't hear what I just heard," he begged. "I'm sorry, Ben, but it's all over the Internet, social media, everything. I don't think you can hide this relationship anymore; they've got her entire life on here, even...even her past, if you know what I mean. They've caught pictures of you two when you first got to the hospital and every time after that. They know about her dad, as well."

Ben threw his palm on to his forehead. "Oh for fuck's sakes! She's already going through this stuff with her dad and I leave tomorrow to get shooting started again, so I won't be here to—...just fix it. Fix this entire thing, she doesn't need this right now."

He hung up before Karon could answer and threw his phone on the counter. He couldn't tell Cassie, not yet. But how in the hell is she going to react to this?

**

By the time eleven o'clock rolled around, they had gotten to the cemetery. There wasn't going to be a viewing, as Julie and Cassie agreed that it would be best for everyone else to remember him before he got this sick.

They sat at the front of the crowd with Ben by Cassie's side and Kelly in between her and Julie. Soft cries from everyone could be heard as soon as the priest started. Cassie was too distracted to listen to anything that was going on, so she started to look around at everyone.