The Baker

Chapter 58

Everything had to be perfect today. Ben was up at the crack of dawn with Kelly, trying to make the perfect birthday cake for Cassie and once that was done (even though Ben deemed it the worst birthday cake in history), they set on making her breakfast.

"Dad always made her pancakes and eggs on her birthday, but the pancakes had a smiley face," Kelly informed Ben. He hummed in thought, then said, "I'll mix it up a bit and make the pancakes into hearts. But I'm a mess when it comes to making pancakes into any shape, including round, so you're going to have to help me."

As it turns out, Kelly wasn't good at it either, but they got the breakfast cooked and ready to go by the time Julie and Bob started coming downstairs. "Oh my," Julie gasped. "This looks beautiful! Cass is going to love it!"

Bob yawned and said, "Yeah, so is my stomach!" He started reaching out for a pancake, but then Kelly smacked his hand away. "This is for Cass," she sharply told him. "I will be making us breakfast while Ben goes and gets her."

"I don't think I'll have to," he said as they listened to footsteps coming down the stairs. He eagerly ran to the bottom of the stairs, while smiling like a loon at the sight of his girl. He watched as Cassie sleepily made her way down the stairs as she rubbed her eyes.

Ben smiled and said, "Happy birthday, gorgeous girl." Cassie jumped a bit and took her hands away from her eyes. She adjusted her eyes so she could see her beautiful fiancé standing at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for her.

"Ben," she said with a smile. "Why are you up already? I felt cold and came down to find you." He pouted and said, "I'm sorry, baby. Come here." He opened his arms and she wrapped her arms around his neck. They were the exact same height, thanks to her standing on the second to last step.

Ben wrapped his arms around her and pulled her towards him so she was barely balancing on the step with her toes. He nudged his nose against hers and said, "I plan to keep you warm for the rest of our lives...but right now, you need to get your sexy arse in the kitchen."

He lifted her up, making her squeal, then set her down on the floor. He gave her a tender and passionate kiss, then pulled back and took her hand. As they walked towards the kitchen, he told her, "Now, I'm not nearly as good a cook as you so you'll have to excuse my sad excuse for a breakfast."

Cassie gasped when she saw the food on the table. She almost teared up when she saw it was pancakes and eggs, just like her dad used to make. "I made the pancakes into hearts...sort of. I figured the smiley face thing could just be between you and your dad."

Kelly and Julie were smiling at Cassie's expression that was filled with pure happiness that they haven't seen in a long time. "Happy birthday, Cass," Kelly told her. Julie was next, but brought Cassie in for a hug. "Happy birthday, baby. I know your dad is here with you. He's probably wondering where the booze is and smiling at seeing his baby grow another year older." Cassie let out a hearty laugh and hugged her tightly.

In the meantime, Bob was sighing and rolling his eyes. "Hey, sugar bum, where's my breakfast?" He called to Kelly. That caused Cassie to break away from hug with a sigh. Ben shook his head at Bob and sternly told him, "Stop calling her that. It's disgusting."

She ignored Bob's remarks--because she refused to let him ruin this--and turned to Ben. "Thank you, honey," she sweetly said, "this is...amazing. And I'm sure it tastes delicious."

She leaned up and captured his lips in a loving kiss. "Kelly helped, too, by the way," he said when they broke apart. "But you are welcome, my dearest wife-to-be." He put his hands on her shoulders and led her to sit down. He dished her up a plate of food and set it in front of her while everyone watched the birthday girl.