Curls [H.S. A.U.]

Curls: Chapter 19

Arabella

The car ride is silent as I think of where we could be going. Harry is the most thoughtful man I've ever been with.

I watch the signs as we drive deeper into the city. What does he have planned? I hold my relatively flat stomach as music floats throughout the car.

Our child is going to have the best music taste. With both of us into older rock bands and me very much loving anything 90s, this baby is going to know who Ja Rule and AC/DC are before Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.

Flags with different animals litter the street we're going down and finally everything clicks in my head.

I squeal happily. "The zoo! We're going to the zoo!"

My fiancé chuckles softly and takes my hand into his, our hands resting on the console between us. I haven't been to the zoo since I was a little girl. We never had time to go, and when we did my parents couldn't afford it because there are so many of us.

We didn't do much on my birthday because I wasn't feeling it, but I did briefly mention wanting to go to the zoo.

How is a man with such a nice heart mine? What have I done in my life to deserve a man whom would hold the world on his shoulders for me.

The least I can do is give him a child.

We reach the parking lot and the noon sun beats down on us. It's about sixty degrees right now, which is average for late December. Christmas is right around the corner and the zoo is decorated with trees and bows.

Our hands reconnect as we buy tickets and wrist bands to get into the zoo.

I drag Harry to the elephants, his laugh blown away in the crisp air. When we come to a stop he zips my sweater up further to keep the cold away. His arms wind around me from behind for a moment.

He steps back and pulls out his phone. I can hear his snap pictures but I'm too captivated by the animals.

"The zoo closes tomorrow for the holiday and I really want to show you something," he says after a moment. I nod and follow his lead through the zoo. We stop here and there, but I know when we stop he's taking pictures of me.

He's always taking pictures of me.

My holiday off work starts tomorrow, Christmas is literally in three days, so it's a great time to start preparing for my baby. Harry wants to go shopping for simple things like diapers and a crib tomorrow.

We pass lots of animals, the polar bears were loving the chilly water, but we come to a stop at what looks like a house. My eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"What's this?" I ask softly. Harry tugs me up the steps and inside the building.

Tables, chairs, a dance floor, a bar. What is this place? I look at him again, still confused. He grins at me, his teeth showing and everything. "I booked this for our wedding reception."

A small smile parts my lips. "I thought we weren't getting married for another four years."

He shrugs. "There's a long list of people who want to use the space. I had to do it early to even get our name on the list. I had to give them a date though."

"What did you say?" I ask softly, still gazing around the space. It's a decent size for a medium sized party. We can invite our entire families and a little extra.

"May 15th, 2020."

"Spring wedding?" I ask teasingly.

Harry pulls me under his arm. We share a soft kiss, my thanks being said through the action. We pull apart so he can speak again.

"Spring is ideal for us. Because then you can wear any dress style you want to the ceremony."

He's a smart one. Smart, handsome, and thoughtful. He's everything I could ever want in a man.

Harry leads me out the building and back into the cool air. Our hands intertwine again as we walk again. The seals slide around and swim as we walk by.

A gazebo comes into view. He didn't.

"Did you--."

"The ceremony is going to take place here. You said you didn't want the reception to be too far for guest convenience."

I gasp and both of my hands cover my mouth. Tears pool in my eyes. My head shakes in disbelief. "May 15th, 2020?"

"May 15th, 2020."

I launch myself into Harry's arms. We just hold each other for what feels like forever. The roar of a lion has me out of his arms and running like a little girl to the exhibit.

God, I love the zoo.