The Baker, Part 2: Sous Chef

Chapter 32

2 Years Later

"Mommy, mommy!" Liam's little legs carried him quickly into the kitchen where Cassie was making dinner. Hunter was trailing behind him. "Yeah, sweetie?" She asked as she looked over a recipe. "When daddy coming home?" She looked her sweet boy, then smiled as she said, "He'll be home tonight, but you'll be asleep." He crossed his arms and pouted. 

He always gets in a mood when Ben is gone for this long. It's been a few weeks, but he wasn't far. He was still in London, just a few hours away. This time, he was doing re-shoots for 'The Hollow Crown', playing as Richard III. He literally just got done with his three month run of Hamlet not a month ago. 

If Cassie was being completely honest, she feels like he's trying to avoid being home sometimes. "Tell you what," she said as she knelt down in front of Liam, "I'll let you stay awake tonight. If you fall asleep, I am putting you to bed, okay?" That got him to smile a little bit. "Okay," he said. Cassie kissed his cheek and said, "Good. Now, go watch some T.V. or something. Dinner will be ready in a little bit."

While she made him mac and cheese (from scratch, of course), she also made some chicken wings for herself and Ben. She's been craving something spicy lately and there's nothing better than Buffalo Wings. By the time they were done, Liam came in with his small empty bowl and asked, "May I get mo, mommy?" 

She took her bowl from him and asked, "What's the magic word?" He smiled his tiny pearly whites and said, "Pwease!" She dished him up just a little more mac and cheese and handed it to him. "Tank you!" He shouted as he ran off. 

Cassie plated herself a few wings and carrots, then poured herself a glass of wine before joining Liam to watch some awful kid show. By her third glass, she was sure he was going to stay up until Ben got home. After he got his bath, though, he was out like a light. He always was after baths. Instead of putting him to bed, she let him stay with her on the couch. 

Hunter, who could never leave his side, was curled up at the end of the couch.

At around ten o'clock was when the front door quietly opened. Hunter perked up and bolted to the door. "Hey, buddy," Cassie heard Ben's voice whisper. "Are your mummy and brother in bed? Hm?" Cassie took that as her cue and quietly called, "Where in here."

Ben came into the living room and smiled at the sight before him. "Hey, you two," he said as he knelt down in front of his wife and son. He gently ran his hand over Liam's head, then leaned up and kissed Cassie. "Oh, I've missed you," he sighed. She put her hand on his cheek and said, "We've missed you, too."

He kissed her palm, then leaned down and kissed Liam's head. Liam stirred awake a little bit and opened his tired eyes. "Hi, daddy," he sleepily mumbled. Ben chuckled and said, "Hey, sweet boy." Liam opened his arms, so Ben picked him up and hugged him. "Don't go, daddy." Ben kissed his head several times and said, "Not for a long time, buddy, I promise. Come on, let's get you to bed."

He stood up and winked to Cassie before going upstairs with Hunter in tow. Cassie, in the meantime, got a plate of wings and veggies for Ben, as well as a beer. When he came back down and saw this, he hugged his wife tightly. "I love you," he mumbled into her neck. "I'm sorry I've been gone so much. I'm taking a break, I swear." 

She ran her fingers through his soft hair and said, "Good. I was starting to think you didn't like us anymore." He laughed as he told her, "Don't say that. I can't get enough of you, of both of you." He pecked a kiss to her lips, then sat down and started eating. 

"How's Kelly been?" He asked with his mouth full of wings. Cassie shrugged as she told him, "Wouldn't know. She hasn't called, texted, or anything. I don't blame her, I mean she's living on her own, doesn't want to be bothered."

She stole one of Ben's carrots and he pouted at her. She took a bite into it, then said, "I'm going to bed. Don't be too long." She gave him a wink and sauntered away. He froze his chewing and stared at her ass as she went up the stairs. He quickly ate the rest of the wings, then practically ran up the stairs. 

When he got into the room, he saw the ensuite door was closed. He quickly took off his shirt and jeans, then got on the bed. He tried to figure out the best pose to have when she came out and, when she did, he was sitting up with his legs spread open. 

"Hey, beautiful," he said as she came out in a nighty. His eyes raked all up and down her body and he told her, "Bloody hell, I've missed you. Come here." He held out his hand to her and she took it with a smile. 

She squealed when he lifted her by the hips and put her on the bed. 

**

"Did you mean what you said earlier?" Ben asked as he watched his wife trace his large hands with her small ones. "Do you really feel like I'm trying to avoid you?" Sighing, she laced their fingers together and told him, "I mean, can you blame me for thinking that? It's like you're taking up role after role after role and...and they're all either far away or require you to come home late at night. I know that's not what you're doing, but it has crossed my mind."

Ben wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head. "I'm sorry," he told her. "Really, I am. The longest I'll be gone next is three weeks in Nepal for Doctor Strange, but then I'm back here." She sighed, then closed her eyes. "That's not true," she mumbled. "You'll be in New York for at least two weeks at some point."

He forgot about that. "So, come with me," he told her. "When I go to New York, come with me. Liam, too. Even though she hasn't worked there in a year, Kell can look over the restaurant." Cassie buried her face into his neck, then asked, "How can I say no?"

He chuckled and hugged her tighter. "I love you, baby," he told her. "I'm sorry you feel like you're going at this alone and I'm sorry you've had to come to think that I don't care anymore. I do, more than anything, care about you and Liam."

He placed a sweet kiss on her forehead, making her smile.