The Baker, Part 2: Sous Chef

Chapter 15

"Hello, we're home!" Ben called as he walked into the house with Liam in his carrier. "Here we are, baby boy," he cooed to his son. "Welcome home." He's been putting every ounce of his attention on Liam the past fe days. Anytime he cried, Ben was there. Needed a diaper change? No problem, daddy was right there to do it. Anything his son needed, it was an honor for Ben to get it. 

Wanda, Tim, Julie, Adam, Alice, Jess, and Tom came out of the living room and met Ben by the front door. "There's our grandson!" Wanda cooed. "Look at you," Julie said. Hunter came running in and went up to Ben...but then noticed the strange little human in the carrier. 

Ben watched with a smile, as Hunter sniffed the carrier, then sniffed Liam. It startled the newborn a bit, but when he moved his hand, Hunter licked it. Ben chuckled, then said, "Alright, stop bothering your brother. Go on, go." Hunter whined, then walked away.

Julie suddenly looked up at Ben, then asked, "Where's Cass?" Ben turned towards the door as he said, "She's right...was behind me. Mum, take Liam for me. I'm going to go get her." Wanda took the carrier and Ben went back outside. He immediately saw Cassie standing by the car. 

"Cass," he called as he walked over to her. She looked up at him, as he said, "What are you doing? You missed Liam's welcome home." She didn't say anything, just stood at the car. She's had the same look on his face since the night she gave birth. 

She hasn't smiled. She's barely eaten. She cries all the time. She hasn't even looked at Nate, unless he needs to feed. It worried Ben immensely. He didn't know what was going on, but he figured she just needed space and time. 

He walked up to her and put his hands on her hips. "Baby, come inside," he softly said. "Come on, love, let's show our son his new home." He took her hand and pulled her gently along. She allowed herself to follow him inside the house. 

"Here she is," Ben said with a smile, when he walked into the living room with her. The women were all over Liam, looking at him in his carrier and softly cooing. The guys were on the other side of the room, talking amongst themselves. 

When Cassie came in, every head turned to her. "Hey, sweetie," Julie said as she got up and hugged her daughter. Cassie weakly hugged back, then looked at everyone. She started to feel uncomfortable with everyone staring at her, so she turned to Ben and said, "I need a minute."

He nodded, then watched as she walked upstairs. Jess came up to him with a concerned look on her face. "Something's wrong with her," she said. "I've seen that look one too many times, Ben." Ben looked to her with some frustration in his eyes and said, "I would know if something was wrong with my wife." 

Jess looked at him in disbelief. "Look, I know you don't like me, but I know that fucking look when I see it!" Ben just shook his head and walked over to his mom, who was holding Liam. He took his son and rocked him gently in his arms, not thinking about anything else, but his pride and joy.

**

Ben was tiredly scrubbing a plate over the sink when he yawned. It's been a long few days. After the guests left, he managed to get Liam down. Julie, who was staying with them until next week, started to clean up the place, but he relieved her and shooed her off to bed. 

Cassie didn't really come down the few hours everyone was here. Every time Ben went up to check on her, she was asleep. He let her rest because she needed it more than anyone at the moment. He was glad she was finally sleeping. Now, he just needs her to eat. 

After he finished up the dishes, he reached into the fridge and took out the plate he saved for her. He put it in the microwave for a few minutes, then brought it upstairs. He crept quietly into the room and smiled at Liam as he passed by. Since his sleeping schedule hasn't developed, he was staying in their room.

He sat next to Cassie's sleeping form and started brushing her hair out of her eyes. "Darling," he whispered. "Hey, I've brought food. Come on, honey, you need to eat." Cassie slowly opened her eyes and tried to wipe the sleep from them. 

She started to sit up with Ben's help, until she was resting against the headboard. "Here, it's some of mum's roast. She brought enough to last the week." He handed her the plate, but she didn't attempt to eat it. She just stared at it with a sad look. 

When she looked up at him, she said, "I'm not hungry." Sighing, he took the plate from her hands, cut a piece and held it up to her with his hand. "Eat this, or I will teach you like a child, Cass. Look at you, you need to eat! Your thinning for Christ's sakes!" 

Cassie twirled her fingers around, but then slowly opened her mouth. Ben popped in the piece of the roast and watched her reluctantly chew on it. "Oh, come now, you love mum's roast," he said. "Here's another." He put another piece into her mouth. 

"Think you can eat the rest on your own?" He asked. "Or do I have to keep feeding you?" She gave him a pointed look and snatched the plate. She wasn't happy that she was being forced to eat. "Finish that and I'm going to get ready for bed." 

He placed a kiss on her head, then walked over to Liam's crib and placed a kiss on his head, as well. He disappeared into the bathroom to shower and change, then came out about half an hour later to a dark room. 

To help see better, he turned on a small light in the corner of the room and saw Cassie sleeping under the covers. He saw the empty plate at her nightstand and smiled. He went over to take it...but then saw something in the garbage can. 

It was the rest of her food. The entire plate. 

Ben looked over at her in concern. What was happening to her? She was changing and it was worrying him immensely. He didn't want to listen to Jess, didn't want to believe her...but something is wrong. The look in her eyes was something he's never seen before. 

She wasn't happy. She wasn't the smiling, bouncing mother he thought she'd be. Something is keeping her from being that way, but what? He didn't want to think the worst because it would break his heart if he were right.

Post-Partum Depression, he painfully thought to himself. Dear God...don't let it be that. Anything but that.