I Choose You : A New Chapter

Wishes

"Bloody hell, I miss you two," Ben told Cassie over the phone. "How's our boy doing?" Cassie looked over to where Aiden was sleeping peacefully in his crib. "He's doing great," she said. "The entire family just adores him, especially grandma and grandpa. Mom and dad have to fight for him."

He let out a deep chuckle. "Well, I should be getting to bed. Enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner and give the family my love." She sighed as she told him, "I will. I love you, Ben and I miss you so much." He cooed, "Oh, baby, I miss you, too. I really fucking do. I haven't been able to sleep without you two here. I wake up at the usual time Aiden does just because I'm so used to it."

She smiled at that, then said, "Well, I'll let you go. Bye, Ben. Get some sleep." After a few minutes, they hung up. Cassie sadly sighed, then walked out of the bedroom. It wasn't her room because she can't exactly haul Aiden up and down the attic ladder all day. 

"Hey, you," Jenna said once she saw Cassie. "Aiden not up yet?" Cassie shook her head, then told her, "I just got him back to sleep. He's been up since three." She rubbed her exhausted eyes, then let out a deep breath. 

"You need some sleep," Jenna told her. "Bring Aiden's crib out here and your father and I will look after him while we cook for the hundreds of people that will be here later." Cassie looked eternally grateful at her mother. "Really? Thank you so much, mom."

She hugged her, then went into the room and brought Aiden's crib out. "This may sound horrible, but at least we can make all the sounds we want in here, right?" Jenna said. Cassie had to laugh at that because it was true. After thanking her mom one more time, she went into the room and passed out. 

The next time she woke up, it was nearly three o'clock in the afternoon. Her mom gently woke her up to say that, not only had the family been there for ours, but dinner was ready. She got dressed as quickly as she could and went out to greet everyone. 

They didn't entirely care about her, though. All the attention was on Aiden. He was more than happy to have the attention, but once he saw his mom, he started to fuss and reach out for her. "I'm here, baby," she cooed as she took him. 

He didn't want to be anywhere else the rest of the time. If anyone tried taking him, he would have a fit. That included dinner. She had such a tough time eating, she just couldn't. So, she starved and pretended like she wasn't hungry. 

God, she wished Ben were here. 

**

"Ben, darling, come in!" Ben walked into his parent's house with Jake on his leash and said, "Thanks for having me over, mum. I've been feeling lonely since Cass and Aiden left." He let Jake off his leash as Wanda told him, "Of course! Just fair warning, the Poulet's will be here soon." 

Ben closed his eyes and groaned. He wishes he were back home. "You better behave," Tim's voice suddenly said. "Cassie isn't here to keep you in line." Ben rolled his eyes at that. "I don't understand why you've befriended the family of the girl who tried to break up my engagement with Cassie," he said. "She's bloody delusional."

Wanda pointed a stern finger at him and said, "Your father told you to behave. Now, come help me set up the table." 

A few minutes later, the Poulet's showed up and Ben was already drinking. Without Cassie's assurance and comfort, this was all he had left. Of course, Olivia made a b-line to him. He noted she couldn't be more thrilled to know Cassie wasn't there. 

"America," she said as they sat alone together in the sitting area. The adults were in the kitchen laughing and drinking. Wanda forced Ben to try and be civil with Olivia. "That's pretty far away." He nodded, then took a swig of his drink. "Wanda mentioned to my parents that you were feeling lonely."

He immediately scooted away from her. "Not that lonely," he muttered. She scooted closer to him. "Does she know we slept together the night you two broke up?" Ben closed his eyes and muttered, "Christ." He looked to her and said, "Yes. She's was mad, but she knows."

Like I'd ever tell her that! He thought to himself. I'll be sleeping on the couch if she ever finds that out. "Can you please stop...whatever it is that you're doing," he begged. "I have a wife, I love her more than life itself. Whatever is going on between us in that fucking head of yours is never going to happen. I will not cheat on her with you, I will not divorce her for you. Understand?"

He noticed that she seemed almost angry at him for saying that. "What we had, Ben," she said, "that was--." Ben stood up and shouted, "That was nothing! You were a booty call, an okay shag to fill an empty void! I don't love you, Liv! Get that though your thick skull!"

At this point, their parents had come to see what was going on. "Benedict, go up to your room!" Wanda scolded. Ben picked up Jake and gladly went up to his room. He got into bed with Jake by his side and was determined to go to sleep. 

The sooner I go to sleep, the sooner Cass and Aiden will be home, he thought with his eyes screwed shut. 

God, he wished Cassie were here.