JUST A LITTLE COMFORT

C H A P T E R F O U R T E E N

One Friday dinner when we were all sitting around at Anna-Marie's house; Ariel laid a bombshell on us. She announced that she was pregnant. Cole already knew. He thought Anna-Marie was going to lecture him on sleeping with Ariel before the wedding day, but she jumped up and hugged Ariel. She was excited. We laughed at her reaction. 

Since their wedding day was so far away, they were going to have the baby first, not rush the wedding. They lived life in a very opposite way to how I lived it. No real stress or rules. Nothing taken too seriously. It wasn't rigid. It seemed kind of nice. I mean I was shunned for being a widow and she can be pregnant before marriage, and everyone is excited about it. Julia even warmed up to her when she realised, she was going to be an aunt. She was excited. She generally didn't like kids, but she took to Amir too. 

To say Cole was over the moon was an understatement. He would wait on Ariel day and night. She'd tell me how he'd give her massages and bring her whatever she wanted. He read pregnancy books and parenting books. He'd cook and take care of her apartment. He treated her like she was made of glass. She was loving being pregnant. I wonder what Aarav's sister would have to say about her since she called me 'weak'.

He seemed a little stretched thin because she was a little demanding. She was taking advantage of his kindness. At Anna's house, we'd see how he'd need to bring her everything; carry everything for her; massage her shoulders and sometimes she'd randomly snap at him and was really moody which was the only thing I think was okay since she was pregnant but being under 5 months and just doing nothing wasn't going to be good long term. It was a different story if she had issues in her pregnancy that required bed rest, but she told us she was perfectly fine and had the easiest pregnancy. Hardly any morning sickness in her first trimester and no swelling. She even quit her job the day she found out she was pregnant and always bragged about how she was marrying a surgeon so she could be a stay-at-home-mom.

He, however, was working crazy hours. He looked a little stressed out between the wedding expenses and the baby coming as well as Ariel's constant need for him, so he wasn't really catching his breath. He'd usually play a sport or go running but he was struggling to fit in a hobby because he was so tired, he'd rather just sleep.

 I woke up around 4:30 am one morning because I heard the door open and I looked at the time. I was a little perplexed, wondering who would be coming in because Julia told me she was only coming back in the afternoon. I saw the shadows, sat up and gulped. I put my hand on Amir. The footsteps stopped and I went out slowly, controlling my breathing. I peeked out and saw Cole's hair. His head was buried in his arms which were folded on the table. I let out a sigh and he looked up.

"Sorry, did I wake you?" He asked.

I shook my head, "No, it's okay. Thought someone broke in." I said, switching on the light, "Are you okay?" I asked.

"Yes, I just needed a break... I just had a crazy night, and I don't want to take it to Ariel. It might just stress her out." He said. He'd keep the negativity that came with his job away from her. I asked him about it. We'd always talk about his stories from work when I stayed with them all those years ago. Ariel couldn't stomach it so he wouldn't go into detail about it with her, but he told me how traumatic the whole situation was. Ten-car-pile-up car accident. People were pulled apart. Their bodies mangled. He had to deal with a mom and her baby still in the womb and they both didn't make it. He looked sick. He'd usually go for counselling for stuff like this, but it was chaotic, and the hospital was full and there were Doctors everywhere. All the bathrooms were full and messy. All the on-call rooms were being used. He just wanted to take a shower and sleep. He asked if he could use his shower. He didn't want to disturb Ariel.

I laughed and told him it was his bathroom; he didn't need to ask. He went to shower and just lied next to Amir and passed out. I had to get ready for work since he and I were talking for over an hour. I had my breakfast and got dressed. He woke up while I was busy packing Amir's bag.