Curls [H.S. A.U.]

Curls: Chapter 22

Harry

Kendall blocks my shoot. I look up at her, an eyebrow raised. Her skinny arms cross and an exaggerated look of being displeased crosses her face. "You haven't spoken to me in months."

I sigh. "How did you find me?"

Leaving the office has made my life ten times easier. I can be closer to Arabella during a crucial time like this. What would happen if she went into labor during a shoot? I have to be here to help.

Ara shoots me a look, clearly asking why she's here. Kendall doesn't like my fiancé and Ara is starting to catch on to it.

"I looked on her website for her next shoot destination," she shrugs. "I gave you my number so we could text and you still haven't texted me."

"Because I will not fall into your trap. That woman over there is the love of my life, the mother of my daughter, and I know you're trying to hurt us."

Her eyes roll. "How do you know that baby is yours. You aren't married yet, maybe she played around bef--."

"I've tried being cival with you. Just because I no longer crave your attention doesn't mean you can come barge into my life to get the attention back. Security!"

Kendall is escorted out of the shoot and I get back to my camera. Ara stands into a long, flowy dress that blows seductively in the wind. Her full encased stomach fills her out beautifully. March has always been her favorite time of year for dress wearing.

One year together today but I insist we head to work anyway.

The shoot doesn't last longer than two hours before everyone is excused. Oswald hands out giftbags full of condoms, a thank you from the company we are sponsoring.

The fat man hisses when Arabella and I are handed a bag. "Maybe it's too late for you guys." I chuckle but take the bag anyway.

Arabella states as soon as she has the baby she's getting another implant.

I don't mind, the implant lasts three years and by then we'll be getting married.

"Let's go out; let's do something different." Her hand intertwines with mine as we make our way to the car. Her curls flow in the gentle breeze, her maternity dress following the pattern.

The hardest thing about being pregnant is not being able to drink-- at least according to Ara. She's twenty one and hasn't had a real drink yet. She wants to go out and have a few beers, let loose, but she can't. I feel responsible for it-- if I had insisted on protection she could be able to have a few drinks here and there. I know she wouldn't over do it, she's smart, but we're young and bound to be tempted by the liquid devil.

"I don't know," I sigh, "why don't we just go home and put on a movie? I can make--."

"Harold," she says lowly, "you cannot cook even if the life of our daughter depended on it. Plus, I want to go out! Let's go eat at a small restaurant and have pie and share a milkshake. I want to walk around the city, hand in hand, and look through old antique shops."

A smile lifts my lips. If it's a date she wants, it's a date she will get. We both enter the car and without speaking another word I start the engine, turn on the radio, and start the drive to the date she wants.

➖✖➖

The restaurant smells like blueberries and coffee. Arabella looks around in wonder. Her golden brown eyes sweep across the place, taking in the vintage feel and the warm atmosphere. Her fingers intertwine with mine as a plump woman with peanut butter colored hair comes to greet us.

"Table for two?" She chirps. We both nod. She leads us to a table with spinable chairs. "Here are the menus, my name is Sherry, and I'll be back in a jiffy!"

Arabella looks the place over again, those curls of hers following every single movement her head makes. She's by far the most flawless woman I've ever laid eyes on. "How--Why--."

"I love you," I say, and that's all I say, before looking over the menu. The choices are classic: hamburgers, french fries, chicken strips, milkshakes, rootbeer floats.

Arabella and I agree to each get a burger, share fries, and share a super jumbo strawberry milkshake spectacular.

Sherry reappears and takes our orders. I can see her green eyes lighten as Arabella orders. Once we finish telling her what we want she speaks again.

"You know, not a lot of young couples come here anymore. Especially ones that are so much in love like you."

I smile at her, taken back by her observation, but smile none the less. She leaves Ara and I alone again. Once Sherry is out of sound range I sit straighter.

"If I knew that you wanted to come on dates like this I would have proposed today, here. Instead of six months ago at your parents' home."

Her hands cup mine softly, her palms as soft as silk itself. "I wouldn't want a different proposal for anything in this world. If you wouldn't have proposed six months ago I wouldn't be pregnant, we wouldn't be living together, I wouldn't feel exactly how I feel right now." She flicks my nose. "I am the happiest I've ever been with you."

Sherry swoops back in with another man behind her. She sets down the milkshake and the fries, the man gives each of us our burger. Sherry places a full apple pie before us.

"We didn't order--."

Arabella is cut off by the man. "It's on the house." Without another word the two of them leave to get back to work.

The milkshake is bigger than I expected. Ara attacks the thing before I even pick up my straw. She drinks a fourth of it before I can blink.

The burger was delicious, but what stole the show were these fries. I don't think McDonald's fries can top these.

We pay in cash and leave a generous tip. Sherry boxes the pie for us and waves us off as we leave.

➖✖➖

It's only six o'clock on a Monday evening. We walk hand in hand around the city talking about anything and everything.

But Ara stops us suddenly. I look her over, not sure why she pulled us to a halt.

She guides my hand to her stomach and I'm met with a hard thump. Six months in and Ara hasn't felt much movement from her, but right now she's kicking up a storm.

Tears pool in my love's eyes. "Harry. . ."

"I know." I pull her into my arms, her head against my chest. She clutches onto me.

"I'm scared," she voices. She pulls away from me so she can look me in the eye. "We aren't ready for a baby yet. Everything is in boxes, clothes still in bags, the room still has a normal bed in it. I can't help you do anything until the nursery is complete."

"Why don't we call your brothers after your next appointment and see if they can help put the room together."

She looks up at me with glassy eyes. "That sounds good."

"Very well," I nod with a smile. We share a small kiss before my hand envelopes hers and we continue with our walk.