I Choose You : A New Chapter

Shepard's Pie

Backspace. Backspace. Backspace. Backspace, backspace. *select all* *delete*

Cassie sat back in her chair with a loud sigh and a grunt. This was not going at all like she imagined. She imagined coming back to work after two weeks off and having a clear head about how to finish her second novel. The first one hasn't even been published yet, but Jeffery promises it'll be soon.

She typed up a new paragraph, but then ended up deleting it again. She grumbled a few curse words, then stuck her fingers angrily in her hair. She took a few calming breaths, then looked back to her screen. Just as she hovered her fingers over the keyboard, her office phone rang making her jump. 

She snatched up the line and answered, "Cassie Cumberbatch." She was answered with a deep, rumbling laugh. "God, I love hearing you say that," Ben's voice said. She smiled and laughed a bit. "What's up?" She asked. 

Ben let out a small sigh, then said, "Not much. Just missing you. I thought you were going to be home by six, so I made us some dinner." She loves this man. "Oh, babe, I'm sorry," she said. "I got caught up in this stupid sequel that might not even be a sequel and I didn't even realize the time."

It was almost eight o'clock. "Don't worry about it, darling," he told her, "I'll leave it in the oven for you so you can heat it up when you get home." She smiled and told him, "Thank you. You're the sweetest man alive, you know that? I love you."

He chuckled, "I love you, too. Well, I'm going to eat and finish up some homework. Call me if you need me to pick you up or anything."  She nodded, then said, "I will. Bye, Ben." She put the phone back on the receiver and sighed. 

She wishes she could be home, but she doesn't want to procrastinate and have to do this over the weekend. So, she kept typing and backspacing and deleting whole paragraphs, until she eventually was so in the zone that she actually finished!

It wasn't perfect, but that's what Jeffery was for. 

It was around one in the morning when she shut down her computer and put the printed copies of the sequel into her messenger bag. She walked out of the building and looked around for any sign of a cab. Of course, they were all off duty. 

So she just walked and avoided anybody that looked suspicious. When she got home, she quietly walked in, but saw the kitchen light on. She put down her things and walked in to see Ben's homework splayed out on the table and a note for her on the oven;

Heat for ten minutes and enjoy! Hope your day got better, love. I'll be in the bedroom waiting to hold you. Love you! - Hubby

She quietly laughed and set the heater for ten minutes. In the meantime, she went upstairs and quickly, but quietly, got changed into something more comfortable. By the time she came down, the oven beeped and she took out the most delicious smelling Shepard's Pie. 

Not even waiting for it to cool off, she dug in and moaned with the first bite hit her tongue. Shepard's pie was Ben's specialty and he only made it around the holidays or upon special request, followed by several kisses. He'll sure be getting more than several for this. 

After she was done, she rinsed off the plate and went up to bed. The moment she got in, she felt Ben's arms wrap around her and kiss placed on her shoulder. "Enjoy the food?" He huskily asked. She moaned and told him, "It gets better every time, Batch."

He chuckled and kissed her neck, before nuzzling his face with hers and going to sleep. 

The next morning, Cassie woke up later than usual. The good thing about her job is she can make her own office hours because she can easily work from home. She doesn't have to go into the office everyday, but she likes that kind of environment. 

Ben was gone when she woke up, so there wasn't anyone to distract her from getting ready. She showered and threw on some comfortable clothes. Another thing is, she doesn't have to dress like she works at an office because she's a writer. What writer dresses up to write? At least, that was Jeffery's logic.

She walked to work with her messenger bag over her arm and a funny feeling in her stomach. A very funny feeling. She didn't think that funny feeling would cause her to throw up in a trash can on the street. 

Some people asked if she was okay and she kindly waved them off, then continued to work. She wasn't one to just be sick and go home. She made it to the building and made a b-line to Jeffery's office. 

"I have the sequel," she said, as she entered his office. He jumped when she slapped the manuscript down on his desk. "Wow," he said, rather impressed. "I think this one is bigger than the last!"

She nodded and told him, "Three hundred and sixty-four pages in this one. Speaking of the first one, actually, has there been any news on publicizing it?" Jeffery sighed and stood up from behind his desk. 

"There's been some complications with that," he said. "I'm trying to get it through, but the guys upstairs are looking into other offers...better offers. You know that book that came out last year? Harry Potter and the...whatever?"

"Philosopher's Stone," Cassie quickly told him. She loves that book. Her and Ben both do. She must have read it a hundred times since it came out last year! "Well," Jeffery said, "there's a new one coming out and their obviously looking at that one first. Actually, it's going to be published very, very soon here. Roomer has it, there's even a third one. So, look, once that all blows over, we shouldn't have a problem. Give it...a year."

Cassie gave him a double take. "A year?" She asked. "But...I'm hardly making any money here as it is, I need that publication money!" Jeffery put his hands up and asked, "And I don't? I'm doing everything I can here. Just give me time."

After that, Cassie didn't even bother to stay at the office. She was too angry, so she went home. She thought walking off the anger would make her feel better, but it ended up making it worse. The moment she got home, her head was in the toilet. 

Much to her relief, she did hear the front door open and close, which meant Ben was home. "Ben," she called, with her head resting on the toilet seat. She could hear his feet coming up the stairs and into the bedroom. 

"Cass? Where are you?" He asked. Cassie reached over and opened the ensuite door. Ben saw her and his eyes went wide. "Oh my God," he said, rushing over to her side. He held back her hair as another wave of nausea hit. 

He rubbed her back and comforted her as she spilt out the remaining Shepard's pie from last night. When she was done, she flushed the toilet and sat back against the wall. Ben got her a glass of water and cool cloth that he placed behind her neck. 

"Baby, you're warming up," he worrily said, as he put his hand to her forehead. "Come on, let's get you in bed." He lifted her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. He set her down, then put the covers over her after taking off her shoes and jeans. 

He ran the cloth under some more cold water and put it behind her neck again. "You've been working too hard," he softly told her. "All this stress is getting to you and it's worrying me." She put her hand on his cheek and told him, "I'm fine. I think I was just worked up after my talk with Jeffery."

Ben looked at her in concern. "What did he say?" He asked. Sighing, she told him, "Apparently, J.K. Rowling is publishing two more Harry Potter books, which leaves my book in the dark. I mean, I'm stupidly excited for those books, but we need money, Ben. We got a great deal on this house, but the bills are ridiculous. We can't hold it down for much longer."

He knew this was true. It was hard to keep up because he couldn't have a job, not with how often he's at school, plus the hours he puts in the plays. Cassie is getting paid poorly and it's barely enough for what they have to pay each month. 

Well, what she has to pay.

"Look," he said, "I'll get a job somewhere. I'll cut back on the plays, I'll help out. I know I've been doing a shit job at contributing around here and I'll change that. Okay?" She put her hands on his and said, "I don't want you to give up on school or theater. If you do that, just know that's the last thing I want to do."

He tsk'd and ran his hand through her hair. "I know that," he told her. "Don't worry. Everything is going to be fine. Once I get a job and start contributing, we shouldn't have anymore problems."