Thirty Days Of September

chapter 45: cravings

For months, their lives had been a blissful routine, free from the drama that Candice had once brought. Aaron and Atasha enjoyed each other's company, often sharing small moments of joy that deepened their bond. But one sunny morning, Atasha's unusual request caught Aaron off guard.

"Aaron, can you get me some donuts?" Atasha asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.

"Sure! I'll call the househelp," he replied, ready to make her morning special.

"No, wait! I want you to go buy them yourself," she insisted, her tone playful yet firm.

Aaron raised an eyebrow but shrugged it off. "Alright, if that's what you want."

The next morning, Atasha had another craving—this time for a strawberry cake. Once again, she urged Aaron to buy it himself. "It's better if you do it, Aaron," she said, a hint of nervousness in her voice.

"Aren't you going to come with me?" he asked, a puzzled expression crossing his face.

Atasha just smiled softly, avoiding his gaze. "I'll just stay here. I have things to do."

The following morning, however, things took a concerning turn. When Aaron woke up, Atasha was nowhere to be found. His heart raced as he called her name, scanning the house for any sign of her. After a minute of frantic searching, he heard the front door open and saw Atasha walking in, holding a large pizza box.

"What's this?" he asked, confused. "I thought you wanted breakfast."

Atasha's smile faltered as she set the pizza down on the table. "I... I felt bad asking you to go out again. So, I just thought I'd surprise you," she said, her voice trembling.

Aaron's heart sank. He could see tears welling in her eyes. "Atasha, why are you ashamed to ask me for anything? You can always ask me for what you need!"

Atasha's tears spilled over. "I didn't want to bother you. You've done so much already, and I didn't want to be a burden. I thought it would be better if I just handled things myself."

Frustration welled up in Aaron. "You're not a burden, Atasha! You can never be a burden to me. We're partners; we share everything!"

She looked down, unable to meet his gaze, and Aaron's heart broke a little. "Please, don't do this. Let me take care of you," he said gently, pulling her into an embrace.

The next day, Atasha refused to eat breakfast. Concern turned to alarm as he watched her turn pale, her face twisting in discomfort. "I don't feel good, Aaron," she whispered, and before he knew it, she was rushing to the bathroom, retching.

"Hey! What's wrong? Atasha!" Aaron called, panic setting in. He quickly followed her to the bathroom, kneeling beside her. "You need to see a doctor. We're going to the hospital!"

After a whirlwind of tests and waiting, Aaron paced anxiously in the hospital room, praying that it wasn't anything serious. Atasha lay on the examination table, looking pale but resolute.

Finally, the doctor entered, a bright smile on his face. "Good news, everyone! I have the results," he said cheerfully.

Aaron felt a mix of confusion and hope. "Is she okay?" he asked, his heart pounding in his chest.

The doctor nodded, chuckling softly at the worried expressions on their faces. "Yes, yes! She's perfectly healthy. In fact, she's pregnant!"

Time seemed to freeze. Aaron's heart raced as he processed the news. "Pregnant?" he echoed, his voice a mixture of disbelief and joy.

"Yes! Congratulations!" the doctor continued, clearly pleased with their reaction.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Aaron jumped to his feet and shouted, "Yes! We're having a baby!" Tears of joy streamed down his face as he hugged Atasha tightly, lifting her off the table in sheer exhilaration.