3:09

CHAPTER 4 - THE VIEW

"C'mon admit it. I know you too well" Aaron snickered.

"Okay! Fine, I give in. What more do you want me to say?" she conceded.

"Nothing" he declared. "I just wanted to hear you say it one more time."

The air was fresh. The strong scent of freshly trimmed grass flowed within the afternoon breeze. The sky was a gorgeous mix of bright pink and hazel orange, awaiting the sunset and drawing their day to a close. A memory had been created today. One which didn't require a selfie or photo of any kind. A memory that would remain for as long as they did.

"So I thought I was owed some joke telling. If not I can just go home, y'know I've got other stuff to do..." she said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Hmmm, let me think for a second" he pondered.

"Okay, I've got one. What's the downside of eating a clock?" he said.

Cara looked at him and squinted her eyes. "Um, I'm not sure. What is it?"

"It's time consuming..."

The couple looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh. "That was the single worst joke I've ever heard in my entire life, but... nothing can ruin this day so I'm gonna take it with a grain of salt and move on" she digressed.

"Oh c'mon!" he retaliated. "It really wasn't that bad."

"Let's agree to disagree then."

*TING*

Cara pulled out her phone to see a message from someone, then placed it in her back pocket.

"Hey, answer it. It's probably important" Aaron insisted.

"No that's okay. I'd rather enjoy the moment, right now."

Aaron leaned in to kiss his wife on the forehead. Their smiles were unmistakeable as they lived in the moment, joining hands and walking ever so slowly. The difficulties of modern living had always made it difficult for them to find time for nature. He could see that Cara was savouring every moment, taking snapshots in her mind and clenching his hand even tighter. 

She raised her eyesight from the beautiful pond towards her husband briefly. "Hey... um can we talk?"

"We are talking. Aren't we?" he replied.

"About... last night."

Aaron gave out a heavy breath. He raised his hand to scratch the back of his head.

"Look..." he sighed. "I think that..."

A deafening sound interrupted them. They glanced around the park at the source of the noise.

He raised his voice, "What's that noise?"

"Would you look at that" she cheerfully smirked.

They followed the path towards a bend. As the noises grew louder, a large structure came into their view.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"

Their faces lit up like Christmas. He put his arm around her shoulder and admired the view.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHRISTOPHER! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!"

The children were gleaming with joy. Laughter and cheering filled the park, cancelling the silence. There was not a dull face in the vicinity. The birthday boy was met with hugs and kisses from everyone, and there was nothing else he wanted to do except relay them back.

"C'mon Chris! If you cut the cake all the way to the bottom you have to kiss the nearest girl!"

Cara couldn't help but hold in her laugh. She raised her hand to her lips trying to hide it. They were stopped in time, gazing upon the beauty of it all, like nothing else even mattered. This feeling deep inside would never be replicated, and they knew that. All they wanted more than anything else in the world was to witness what was happening right before their eyes.

As the cheering came to a close, Cara led Aaron towards the path.

"Woah... hey, where are you taking me?"

"C'mon follow me! Hurry!" she demanded.

She led him through an unusual path. This path went off the trail into a new place, with wooden steps and no one else around. Her grip was insurmountable. He knew she wasn't going to let go. Laughter ensued between them, blocking out the chirping of the birds and the ruffling of leaves. The path grew narrower and higher. Step by step they paced. The amount of sweat hindered their grip with each other, but that didn't stop them from holding on. Nothing would.

"Where the heck are you taking me? I'm still wearing my work shoes... HEY! Slow down!"

"Since when do you care about dirtying your work clothes?" she breathed in, "You were just doing... an ab workout yesterday you idiot!"

Cara's quip made him laugh so much that his side began to hurt.

After a couple minutes of speed-walking they slowly reached a summit, taller than the trees and higher than the birds. An incredible view of the entire park came into their peripherals. It was beautiful, like a screensaver. Cara let go of his grip and gazed at the sights. The contrast of the sounds of before became obvious to them instantly.

"I want to tell you something, honey?" she said with a softness in her voice.

He stopped looking at the view and turned his head. "What is it?"

"I want to have a baby..."

Her face, left blushing from the statement saw his face do the same. Aaron stopped for a moment and took a step back. He left the lookout and took a seat on the nearby bench. Cara knew exactly how he was feeling. He couldn't put it into words. He didn't need to.

His feelings from the evening before started to return. He couldn't sit still for any longer and began to pace around the small area within the summit. Cara could see what her words meant to him and her smile grew, and grew.

"This is... What! Uhh... I mean can you believe..." He blurted, struggling to make out any words that made sense.

"This is huge! Are you kidding me... YES! YES WE ARE HAVING A BABY!"

Aaron shouted from the top of the lookout. "DID YOU HEAR THAT EVERYONE! WE ARE HAVING A BABY!"

Cara childishly smacked him on the shoulder. "Aaron, calm down... calm down."

Aaron clutched her waist and lifted her off the ground, hugging his wife with screams and gibberish mixed in between his emotions. He spun her around like in a scene from Dirty Dancing. Her expression transitioned from excitement to sheer terror, and understandably so. She let out a barely audible yelp as she clutched onto him for dear life.

"AARON!! YOU HAVE TO PUT ME DOWN!"

"Yep, I'm getting too old for this anyway" he chuckled as he lowered her back to the ground. "I love you so much."

"I love you too" she replied. "You were right you know..."

"Right about what?"

She paused the conversation for a second, taking a deep breath. She raised both her hands to his. "It's something you have to feel..."

They walked back to the bench, taking a moment to process their future together. A thousands things flowing through her head. A million through his. They watched the sunset from beginning to end, admiring the glistening sky and cherishing the person sitting next to them.