The Baker

Chapter 62

This had been a daily routine for the couple for the past week. They'd wake up, kiss each other good morning, eat breakfast, then take Hunter out for a long walk in the park. This morning, they did the same, except they were walking to St. Stephen's Church to look at the venue. They walked hand-in-hand, got a cameras pointed at them from the paparazzi and sneaky fans, and got to the church in little less than an hour.

Ben picked up Hunter as they walked in and they were immediately met by the wedding planner Amanda had recommended. "You must be Mr. and future Mrs. Cumberbatch," she said with a large smile. "I'm Amanda's friend, Diane, and I will be helping you plan the big day! Are we ready to get started?" Ben and Cassie smiled at each other and said, "Absolutely!" Diane led them into the room where they would be having the ceremony.

"This is where you will be getting married," she explained. "As you can see, it's very gracious with the seating and fits to about a hundred people. How many are on your guest list?" Cassie told her, "Well, forty-eight for me." She gave a side glance to Ben, who said, "And a hundred and twenty for me." Diane looked like she was about to have a heart attack, but Cassie quickly swooped in a said, "Of course, we have agreed to cut down his list and invite the rest to the reception."

That made Diane get a little color back to her face. "Well, that will work out well," she told them. She continued to walk down the aisle to show her more, until Ben called out, "Hang on a minute." Diane turned around with a confused look, but that smile still on her face. Ben continued, "Is there any way we can possibly have the wedding outside?" Cassie gave him a double take and so did Diane. "Sorry?" She asked. "I don't think I understand. I thought you set the date for January."

He nodded and told her, "We did." Diane still looked confused. "January is a very chilly month," she tried to explain. "It might even snow." Ben took Cassie's hand and said, "Exactly. If it snows, that would be wonderful. I believe we did book the gardens, anyways." Diane dug through her bag and flipped through her mini planner. "Oh," she gasped. "You did! I'm so sorry! Well, right this way, then."

She took them out the back and led them into the very spacious gardens. It was perfect to fit nearly two hundred people, but Cassie would still want him to cut down his list. "This is beautiful," Cassie gushed. Ben set down Hunter and let him run around the greener than green grass. "This is perfect," he told Diane. "Now, we were thinking of using the hall, but there's that hotel just down the street from here that has a ball room, plus if anyone gets too drunk and doesn't want to cab home, they can just get a room."

Diane wrote that down and said, "Consider it done! I'll call them and see what I can find out. Did you and your fiancé want to look at some plating today or the decor?" Cassie enthusiastically shook her head, making Ben laugh. "No," he chuckled, "I think we're going to leave that to my mother. Neither of us totally...care about that."

"Nor do we know anything about plates or decor. Honestly, we'd be happy eating off paper plates with those plastic utensils that look real." Ben shrugged and said, "I think we've figured it out." Diane laughed nervously and told them, "Well, I suppose you could do that, but perhaps you should give me your mother's information so I may discuss it with her first." Ben didn't waste any time giving her the information, then said, "Be warned, she may take over. If she gets too overbearing, don't be afraid to tell her."

He got back Hunter to him, then said, "Well, I think we both agree this is the place." He turned to Cassie, who said, "Absolutely! This is perfect!" Diane happy placed a check in her calendar, then said, "Brilliant! Now, shall we go over the invitations?"

Two hours later, Ben and Cassie were going back and forth between the white and baby blue colored paper. "I...I honestly don't care," Ben said, ready to just leave! They've gone through over a thousand designs and they all looked the same! He truly thought he was going to go insane any moment now. Hunter had the right idea and was asleep between their feet. "I feel like we're too committed to just not care," Cassie lowly snapped. She didn't care either! The only reason she went along with it was because Diane wouldn't shut her trap!

"I just want to go home," Ben whispered. "Let's pick the white the one and just get the hell out of here!" Cassie set down the white blue one, then turned to Diane who was just bringing them all some tea. "We decided on the white," Cassie told her with a smile. Diane put down their tea and said, "Perfect! Now, would you like the typical wedding invitation wording, or would you like to customize it—?"

"Typical!" Ben practically shouted. "We'll take the typical and the font color can be blue, and make it that curvy writing font. Alright?" Diane nodded, but was about to say something else. Ben quickly looked to his watch and said, "Oh! Darling we have that...thing." Cassie clearly knew what he was doing and immediately started playing along. "That's right! We have to...um...get that—that thing for, um...Hunter!" Ben snapped his fingers and said, "Yes!...That!"

They both stood up and Hunter quickly jumped awake. "Well, it was a pleasure, Diane," Cassie said sweetly, "but we need to get that thing for Ben—." "Hunter." "—Hunter! We'll be in touch!" She shook her hand, then Ben did as well, before making a b-line for the door. "Bloody hell, that was torture!" He shouted. 

"I say we leave the rest to your mom. Unless there's something we need to specifically decide on, I don't want to do this again." Ben threw his arm around her and pulled her to his side. "Why don't I focus on getting my tux, you your dress, and we'll figure out where people will sit at the reception?"

Cassie hugged his side and said, "Sounds good to me. Of course, I'll probably help your mom out when you leave again. I'll need to be occupied somehow." 

**

Over the course of the next couple of weeks, things seemed a little more mellow. Wanda did as Ben and Cassie had hoped and took full control over the things they had no desire to do. Of course, she included them and asked what they had thought and they agreed with whatever she chose because it fit the theme of the wedding....white. It was a simple white wedding. 

Ben had to started getting ready to leave again to film the second half of The Fifth Estate. Even though he told her he never wanted to be away for three months again...he was going away for three months again. Luckily, they had to do some shots in London, so he'd be home next month for about a week or so. 

By the time he gets back, it'll only be two months until the wedding, but of course, he has to promote Star Trek and probably film additional scenes for The Fifth Estate. The next time Cassie will really see him is Christmas and the week before they marry. 

It was a stressful thing to think about because she will need help setting up who will sit where and next to whom and he still had to get his tux fitted, not to mention that she couldn't decide on a dress. It's now four months away, but it seems so much closer. 

Thankfully, Ben has his groomsmen party and Cassie has her bridal party, so there was no worry about that. Ben was scheduled to have his bachelor party the night after he comes home, the week before the wedding, and the girls decided that's when Cassie should have hers, too. 

The next four months are going to be crazy. But what was even crazier was what they woke up to one morning. 

Ben's phone was ringing off the hook at six in the morning. He went out of the room to answer the calls, as to not wake Cassie. Unfortunately, he had to for her to see what was on the news. 

"Benedict Cumberbatch is getting married at St. Stephen's Church on January fifth to his girlfriend of just over one year, Cassie Hansen! Set the date, ladies, because this is the last chance you'll have to make it as Mrs. Cumberbatch!"

"Oh my God," Cassie sighed. "Well, I guess you can do that announcement thing in the paper now. There's no use denying it." Ben kissed her head and told her, "I'll make the call right now. I didn't realize how big my fanbase expanded after it was leaked I was going to be in Star Trek. I never imagined our marriage having this kind of an...impact. And I also want to find out who in the hell leaked this. It wasn't Karon, certainly not Em. Who else can you think of?"

Cassie shrugged and told him, "I have no idea. But whoever did just made these next four months feel a lot more stressful." Ben brought her into a comforting hug before getting up and making the call to the newspaper. 

The next morning, it was in the paper and all hell broke loose.