I Choose You : A New Chapter

Absolute Worst Christmas

"Is this what we have to look forward to in a few years?" Ben asked as he watched Jordan play in the small backyard with Jake. "Seems like it," Cassie said. She came over to watch with him with Aiden looking comfy in her arms. "What should we do today? I haven't heard from anyone since last night, after...that."

Ben sighed at that, then said, "Um...I don't know. I don't feel like doing much, especially after yesterday. I think that was the most hectic Christmas we've ever had." Yesterday was absolutely insane. Her parents and grandparents were knocking at the door at seven in the morning, rudely awaking them.

Cassie didn't have time to prepare breakfast so last minute, but her mom and grandmother raided the kitchen and cooked a feast for everyone. After that, they opened presents (most of them going to Jordan), then went to Wanda and Tim's that afternoon for roast. The car ride was a nightmare. 

Mark said Ben was going the wrong way, Ben argued back that Mark had never stepped foot in England, so how should he know; Cassie had her hand in Ben's hair, softly stroking his head to calm him down while arguing with her dad that Ben knew what he was doing. Jenna eventually stepped in and told Mark to be quiet. Her grandparents, who were in the extra seats in the very back, scolded Mark when he wouldn't shut his mouth.

By the time they got there, tension was high between everyone. Mark and Ben were practically glaring at each other during dinner. Cassie had to distract Ben by pulling him into his old room and making out with him on the bed. That seemed to calm him down a bit. 

Whenever Cassie thought Mark would start something again, she would hand Aiden to Ben because she knew he could never raise his voice or get too angry in front of his son in fear of scaring him. He knew what she was doing and he was thankful, yet wished she would let him have one at her father. 

When the night finally ended, they all went their separate ways. 

"Your dad was a fucking prick!" Ben shouted, momentarily forgetting that there was one child in this house who could hear. Lowering his voice a little more, he angrily said, "Like I seriously don't know how to get to my own house! What in the fucking hell is wrong with him!" Cassie sat on the bed and listened. She couldn't defend her father because he really was being an asshole. 

"I agree," she told him. "I'm sorry, Ben." He shook his head and told her, "You have nothing to be sorry for. It's not your fault he's being like this, although if it is for the reason I'm thinking, then it is partly  your fault." She looked at him curiously. "What do you think is the reason?"

He stood in front of her with his hands on his hips and sighed. "I knocked you up." She immediately started laughing. "Ben," she giggled, "he is not mad that I got pregnant!" Ben took a quick seat next to her and said, "Yes he is. The night you told me, they called us, remember? He said he wanted to speak with me in private because he knew you'd be pissed off if you heard the things he said to me."

Curious now, she turned to him and took his hands. "What did he say to you?" He let out a strangled sigh, the told her, "That I wasn't ready to be a father. That I didn't understand what it meant to be one and how important it was. Apparently, I'm not much of a man or a father if I decide to go to school and leave you with Aiden. Nothing I do is good enough for his daughter and...I don't blame him. But this, the shit he pulled tonight, on Christmas of all bloody days...!"

He stopped when she quickly got up and walked out of the room. "Um, Cass?" He called. He sat and waited, but she didn't come back. It was then that he heard her shout from downstairs, "Don't, 'Hey, Richie' me, dad! You owe Benedict an apology!" Ben closed his eyes and let himself fall back on to the bed. 

Just what he needed, his wife fighting his battles. He continued to listen as she yelled, "You were horrible to him tonight! And what is this I hear about you saying he's not a man or father for following his career path? Are you kidding me!" Ben got up with a sigh and walked out of the room.