The Baker, Part 2: Sous Chef

Chapter 38

"Say, 'Oh, daddy, I got a new haircut!'." Liam smiled and lifted up his arms as he shouted, "Oh, daddy, I got new haritut!" Ben came out of his office with a curious look on his face. "Yeah, you certainly did," he chuckled. "Wow, look at that." He lifted up his son to get a closer look. His hair was lightly shaved on the sides, but his hair was still slightly long in the front. 

"This is so you," he said, looking to Cassie. She scoffed, then ran her hand over her son's hair. "I think he looks badass." Ben chuckled as he said, "That's exactly why it's so you because you're so badass." He kissed her on the cheek, then said, "So besides Liam's new look, how was...everything?"

She was still seeing a therapist, but still never really spoke to him about it. "It was good," she told him, "got a lot off my chest and I feel a lot better." She took a deep breath and let it out with a smile. "You know," Ben said as he followed her to the bedroom, "you can always talk to me, get stuff off your chest that way. Not that I'm opposing you seeing someone, I think it's great, I just...I feel a bit left out sometimes. Recently, I don't know what's going on with you."

He set Liam down as he walked into the room and went to the entry of the bathroom. Cassie was in there wiping off her make-up. "Ben," she sighed, "I don't know if I can talk to you about the stuff I talk with him." As she threw the make-up wipes away, she walked out and said, "You won't offer the help he does. That's not me insulting you, it's just me saying you can't. You'll listen and nod and tell me everything is going to be okay; maybe even give me a hug, but that's all you can offer."

He stayed silent and looked as if he were hurt. Cassie took off her shirt and revealed her very pregnant bump. She continued, "Telling you how I feel won't make me feel better. It'll just make me feel the same and where's the satisfaction in that? Again, babe, I'm not trying to make you feel down, but that's just how it is."

She unhooked her bra and let out a breath of relief. Before she could, Ben grabbed a comfortable shirt and handed it to her. "Is there any way I can make your life easier, then?" He asked. She huffed out a laugh, then told him, "You already do so many things. You have your way of making it easier and my doctor has his way. Okay?"

He gave her a small smile, then rested his hand on her bump. "Okay," he told her. "Will you at least talk to me sometimes? I do like to know how you are." She put her hand on his cheek and said, "I promise I'll start telling you some of my problems if that'll make you feel better. Deal?"

After giving her a quick kiss, he said, "Deal. Now, what's for dinner, woman?" She scoffed and whacked his chest as they both laughed. 

**

"You're going to be coming along soon, aren't you?" Wanda asked Cassie as Ben helped her sit down in a chair. "Very soon," she told her. "Only...what? Two more weeks?" Ben took a seat next to her and answered, "About that. Good news is, I'm basically done with everything. I've just got to film 'A Child in Time' which will only take a month or so. After that, I'm home until the 'Doctor Strange' press tours start up."

He saw Cassie's face sadden at that and he doesn't blame her. Three whole weeks away from his family. He'll be going almost everywhere and he would love to bring them along if the twins wouldn't be newborns. Besides, all he'd be doing is working. It will still be the longest three weeks of his life. 

"Well, we're always here to look after them, aren't we, Tim?" Tim perked up a bit and said, "Yes, of course! I'm sure Kelly wouldn't mind coming over, either. Oh, and isn't Leo still in town?" Leo permanently moved to London. He got a job at some big firm in the city and he couldn't turn it down. 

Julie was making arrangements to move here as well. She was hoping to do it before the twins arrived, but that seemed unlikely. "We're lucky and thankful to be surrounded by people we love," Ben told them, "but nothing beats being here to be a part of it all."

The thought of being away really made him sad.

A few hours later, Wanda and Tim left and Ben came into the kitchen to see Cassie doing the dishes. "Love, I've got those," he gently told her. "Go relax." He took the plate from her hands, then guided her out of the kitchen. 

He finished the dishes, then went into the living room. He saw Cassie and Liam sitting on the couch with the T.V. on, only Cassie was asleep. Ben looked to Liam and put his finger over his lips. Liam mimicked him with a smile. 

Ben very carefully lifted his wife and brought her up to the bedroom. His knees almost buckled halfway up the stairs because of how heavy she was, but he pushed on and got her in bed. She woke up a bit and took his hand. He smiled as she held it close to her chest. 

"Don't leave us," she sleepily mumbled. He lightly chuckled and asked, "Why would I do that?" She started to heavily doze off as she mumbled something incoherent. She kept saying it, so he put his ear to her mouth. "Because you are."

He jerked his head back and bit and looked at her with furrowed eyebrows. "Baby, I'm not leaving. Hey, I'm not leaving you." She was dead asleep. He didn't know if that was her consciously saying that or not, but either way...he felt hurt. 

How could she think he's leaving them?