The Baker

Chapter 25

Ben and Cassie walked up the graveled path to a beautiful brick house, hand-in-hand. Cassie was staring at the house in awe. "Is this where you grew up?" She asked Ben. "No," he told her. "But I did spend most my summers here." They were only halfway up the path, when the front door of the house was thrown open by, who Cassie could only assume was, Wanda, Ben's mother.

"Ben!" She shouted, as she made her way down the path. 

"Hello, mum!" He brought her into a big hug and kissed her cheeks. "Mum," he said, while turning to Cassie, "this is my beautiful girlfriend, Cassie. Cassie, this is my wonderful mum, Wanda." 

"Hello, dear," Wanda cooed, as she brought Cassie in for a hug, Cassie was caught by surprise, but hugged back anyways. "It's such a pleasure to meet you! Ben's been going on about you every time we talk!"

Cassie blushed and joked, "All good things, I hope?" She was starting to feel a little better.

Wanda playfully scoffed, "Of course! Though, he should be ashamed for not telling me how beautiful you are!"

Ben whined, "Mum! I told you how beautiful she is!"

"Well, that's the understatement of the year!"

Ben grunted and watched Wanda lead Cassie into the house. They started comparing baking recipes already. "Oh lord," he chuckled. 

***

Ben and his father Tim were in the living room with a glass of whiskey in their hands and chatting away about work and sports and gardening. When they heard the roaring laughter of their girls in the kitchen, they couldn't help but laugh themselves. "I think your mother may like her," Tim chuckled.

Ben chuckled, "I think so, too." He waited a moment, before timidly asking, "Do you?" 

Tim furrowed his eyebrows and asked, "Do I like her? Ben, I love her! She's the only girl you've brought home that knows how to cook, knows about plants, and knows about alcohol!" Ben laughed. He wondered if this what it felt like. He wondered if this is what complete and toal bliss felt like. His love is getting along really well with his parents and his parents adore her. It's only been an hour.

The sounds of the women's laughter came through again and both men smiled. "Come on," Tim said, while getting up. "Let's go help them with lunch." They both walked into the kitchen to see Cassie and Wanda chatting up a storm with glasses of wine in their hands. "Hello, boys," Wanda greeted.

"Hello, my darling," Tim said, while walking up to her. Ben followed, except he was walking up to Cassie. "We just came in to see if you lovely ladies may need any help."

"You mean help with eating everything," Wanda playfully scoffed. Cassie laughed and took a sip of her wine. Ben wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek. "Having fun?" He whispered in her ear. She tore her gaze from a playfully bickering Wanda and Tim and turned her head towards Ben. "Yeah," she told him with a smile. "Your parents are awesome." He chuckled, "I know. Here, walk with me."

He took her hand and led her out of the kitchen and up a couple flights of stairs, until they reached the attic. Ben helped her walk across the weak and creeky floor boards, to the windows. He stood her in front of the window and stood behind her. He heard her gasp at the view. It was all grass and trees as far as the eye could see. "I used to come up here all the time and just stare out the window. It helped me relax if I ever felt stressed about...anything, really." Cassie smiled and told him, "It's beautiful." "I know a sight even more beautiful," he whispered in her ear. He didn't give her a chance to respond before he pulled her in front of a mirror. She laughed and whacked his arm.

"That was easily the cheesiest thing anyone has ever done," she laughed. "I expect more from you!" 

"You expect more, huh? Well, then..." He grabbed her arms and pulled her flush against him. She squealed, but was quickly shushed by a hot kiss. It didn't take much effort on her part to kiss back. Ben started running his hands all over her body, taking in every curve and bump she had. Cassie had just moaned into his mouth, sending a fire straight to his groin, when they heard, "Darlings! Lunch is ready!" Ben reluctantly pulled back, but not far enough as their lips were still touching. They were breathing heavily and staring into each other's eyes. 

"God, I am so in love with you," he softly blurted out. Cassie smiled and said, "And I am so in love with you. And..." she leaned up to his ear and whispered, "I'll prove it to you as soon as we get home." With that, she sauntered away, leaving Ben with a tight situation in his pants...

***

Lunch went smoothly, with Cassie praising Wanda's cooking and Wanda praising her advice on what to do with the baked goods. 

"I'm telling you, this woman is going to makes the absolute best Chocolate Criossants," Ben raved. Cassie piped up, adding, "The first day he came in, he ordered at least six!" Everyone laughed and eased more and more into conversation as the time ticked by. Cassie was feeling like she was with her own family! She loved it! Everything that's happened in the week, the months, the years have all slipped by. 

Ben and Tim insisted Wanda and Cassie stay seated, while they cleaned up, but it seemed as if that was going to happen anyways. Wanda and Cassie wouldn't stop talking and warmed Ben's heart immensly. 

While Ben and Tim were washing the dishes, Tim said, "She's an amazing girl, Benedict. I don't want to see you letting her go anytime soon!" 

Ben chuckled, "Believe me, I won't. As a matter of fact, she asked me to go with her to meet her family for Thanksgiving."

Tim stared at Ben and urged, "And you told her..."

"Yes, of course!" Ben and Tim both laughed. "Thanksgiving is a part of her culture and I want to be a part of it, as well. I want to be a part of everything she does." Tim looked knowingly at Ben and smiled. This would be good, indeed.

After they finished, they met the ladies in the back garden, where they were still talking and drinking wine. Ben sat down next to Cassie and took the wine glass from her, stealing a few sips. Cassie playfully whacked is arm and said, "Get your own!" Ben whined, "But, baby, I love sharing with you." 

"Oh, Benedict," Wanda scolded, "stop whining! You're not a child!" Ben laughed and gave Cassie back her wine. He waited until she finished to say, "We should get going if we want to beat traffic." He took Cassie's hand and walked to the car with Wanda and Tim in tow. They exchanged goodbyes and hugs, but Wanda and Cassie took a bit longer. 

"You'll have to send me the recipe for those Chocolate Crissonts Benedict was talking about," Wanda told her. Cassie said, "Of course! I can e-mail them to you, if you like. You should come down to the bakery as well!" So they made plans to do each. 

When Wanda got to Ben, she brought him down and whispered, "You keep her, you hear me? She's the best one you've had and will always be the best one." Ben chuckled and kissed her cheek. "Love you, too, mum," he told her as if he hadn't heard a thing. 

Ben and Cassie got into the car and drove off with Wanda and Tim waving behind them. Ben put his hand on Cassie's thigh and asked, "Well?" Cassie smiled widely and told him, "That was amazing! I love your parents! I would love to be married with a relationship like theirs." Ben smiled and sqeezed her thigh lovingly.