3:09

CHAPTER 6 - THE BREAKTHROUGH

"No, no... I'm telling you it's not going to be on Christmas Day... Yes... Uh-huh... yes I'm sure... I know, why do you keep asking me that? Okay I've really gotta go now the oven is beeping, but I'll talk to you soon okay... I love you too... okay bye Mum."

Cara had no choice but to sit down. Her breathing grew heavier as she clambered to the couch, grasping onto other pieces of furniture along the way. She didn't know why this was happening to her. It was only a phone call. Something so simple was not what it used to be. All of her common feelings and senses were heightened to levels she could barely control. Her mind grew clouded with thoughts and her ears were ringing. It was clear to herself that she needed to sit down.

Aaron took notice of Cara's stressful phone call and decided to run her a hot bath. He knew that this would be no easy task. A fairly simple exercise of running a peaceful, warm and completely harmless bubble-bath for a jumpy nine-month old pregnant woman could be turned into another pointless headache. He hastily ran upstairs, collecting every tool and ingredient he needed to begin the experimental process.

"Hey honey... what are you up to?" she asked.

"Oh... I'm just... reorganising some notes in the office, don't mind me."

"You know it's the holidays now right? You don't need to do that for another couple of weeks" she affirmed.

"Yeah I know..." he shouted from the stairwell, "I just like to organise things so that I don't forget them. You know me."

"Well, maybe you should organise those purple wallpapers like you promised last Thursday!" she shouted with a deeper tone of voice.

"Ah... sorry what was that?" he questioned, scrambling for items to pretend that he was too busy to talk.

"Never mind. Just... do what you want, I really don't care anymore."

As he walked into the bathroom the scent of the oven had reached him.

"Hey honey... What's for dinner?" he asserted, appearing from the top of the stairwell.

Cara exclaimed, "Let me give you a hint... you said that if you were trapped on a deserted island, this is the one meal you would have every single day."

"You know, you continue to amaze me" he approved with pinkish cheeks.

Cara went back to the kitchen to check on the state of the oven. She grabbed her mittens and opened the door, blowing away the steam with her hands and soft breath. Out came a beautiful, dripping and golden-brown beef roast, with pieces of potatoes, pumpkins and carrots. It had been cooking for most of the afternoon.

*PSSSSS*

What was that noise? She thought to herself as she placed the plates on the dinner table. She crept over to the bottom of the stairwell to investigate.

"That doesn't sound like organising notes mister!" she enquired. "What's going on up there?"

There was no response. Cara couldn't hold her patience anymore.

"Alright, I'm coming up. This is insane! You're making a nine month old pregnant woman walk upstairs for no reason... Are you happy with yourself? All you had to do was answer me, but no, it's fine... Really."

She noticed the dimly lit bathroom and slowly walked inside.

"Hey there. Look I know you've had a rough day so I thought I'd run you a hot bath. It's just for you, I'm not joining in this time, as much as I would like to" he snickered to himself.

Cara's expression could be described as confused, comforted and relieved all fused into one. She looked around the bathroom in awe of the work he had done, just for her.

"I know what you're gonna say next so just say it already" he chuckled.

Cara rolled her eyes, "Did you remember the Eucalyptus bath oil?" she curiously responded.

"Yes."

"The Lavender Relaxing bath bubbles?"

"Uh-huh."

"What about the Pink Sugar and Rose candle?"

"Crap!" he exaggerated. "I can't believe I forgot that one."

"It's fine honey, really... thank you so much" she grinned.

Cara stopped for a brief moment and went to grab the previous candle box, studying it with fixated, hazel eyes. Her eyes ran up and down the clear container, like a mother duck investigating a busy road before allowing her little ducklings to waddle across safely. To Aarons surprise, she chucked it right at him, knowing that he'll catch it with ease.

"Aaron... It's rose. It's the one" Cara assured as she locked eyes with him once more.

He looked up from the colour faded candle box and couldn't resist a cheeky grin. A grin that could light up a room at a funeral.

"Rose? Are you sure? Is this the name you want to choose? Aaron questioned.

"I've never been more sure in my life" she answered, waddling closer to him.

"Then our baby is going to be the most beautiful Rose there ever was."

Cara collapsed into his arms helplessly. He moved closer to her, giving a kiss on the top of her head. She raised the candle box to both of their vision, studying it together, reading the words out loud and laughing in between. Aaron jokingly knocked it out of her hand and moved into her arms even closer. His face was as close as it could be to her own. He leaned in for a kiss and she followed his lead. His hands moved up from her waist. To her shoulders. To her neck. To her delicate and rounded face, blushing like a red traffic light. Her delicate palms climbed to the back of his head and  softly caressed his hair, just the way he liked it.

"Oh my god! The water!" he realised.

The tap was never turned off. The bath had overflowed with foamy water, sliding onto the bathroom floor, moving closer to where they were standing.

"I totally forgot about the food too..." she confessed. "It's probably cold now."

"The food? That's the last thing on my mind..."

She let out a loud laugh, then aimed to slap him on his upper arm. She moved closer into his arms with the intention of never letting go. The water, now running into their socks, didn't seem to faze them in the slightest. The mirror was as steamed as can be. They couldn't see their own reflection, and they didn't want to. Cara manoeuvred her face away from his for a moment.

"Hey, where are you going? We're not done here yet..." he charmingly proclaimed.

"OK Google... Play 'My Way' by Frank Sinatra."

*OK... PLAYING 'MY WAY' BY FRANK SINATRA ON SPOTIFY*

Aaron couldn't help but laugh hysterically. They continued to sweat, dance and be present in the moment, like nothing else ever mattered.