Settling in Seattle

Chapter 30- I Want A Date

"Bye!" Rachel stood at the front door as Mike drove out of the street, she used one arm to wave him away and the other was holding Rosalie carefully. It was the first time she'd realised how heavy she was getting.

"Ooh, you're getting bigger Miss! Soon you'll be six months old!" She said, and tickled the smiling infant's stomach, she let out a small squeal that made Rachel chuckle. She shut the door and walked into the kitchen.

"Now, what shall we do today?" She looked into the little one's dark brown eyes beaming. She had a little more hair, there wasn't much but it was in little wisps of curls. She had Rachel's little button nose, but definitely Mike's chin, ears and eye shape. Placing her into the sit positioner that was on the kitchen counter, she strapped her in. She was babbling to herself as Rachel began to pull the cooking pot out of the cupboard. Gathering ingredients, Rachel made her way around the kitchen to start cooking the soup she was going to have for lunch and then freeze.

"Hey, what are you up to?" She turned away from the cooker and looked Rosalie dead in the eye. She looked innocent as a five-and-a-half-month baby would look, except with extra drool on her chin. Rachel half sighed half laughed as she went to get a bib from the washing basket full of fresh clothes. She popped it around Rosalie's neck, still babbling, and wiped her chin over.

"There you go baby." Rachel gently bopped her index finger on Rosalie's nose and returned to chopping the potatoes, moving them first so she could see her daughter at the same time. She gave her a squidgy, silicone toy that she could chew on, as she thought it might be teething, as she'd been fussy for the past couple of nights. Thinking whilst cooking, Rachel racked her brains for everything she'd read on teething. She looked up and noticed the redness on her cheeks, determining she was in fact growing her first teeth. Rosalie seemed pretty content, so Rachel decided she'd have a look at her gum later.

Once Rachel had cooked the soup, it was midday, and Rosalie's nap time. She could see that she was tired, Rosalie couldn't stop yawning, so Rachel took her from the seat and brought her upstairs into the nursery. Laying her on top of the changing stack, Rachel changed Rosalie and sat in the rocking chair situated in the corner of the room. She fed her, burped her, and then rocked her until she fell asleep. It took a little longer than usual, but that was expected.

Rachel quietly picked up the baby monitor and pulled the door shut, escaping down the stairs before she woke back up. She pulled out her laptop and started to look for things she could do to relieve the teething. Getting some ideas, she put some things into the freezer, some in the fridge, and then sat down to scroll through Instagram, soon interrupted by a phone call.

"Hey." She relaxed into the sofa and crossed her legs.

"Hi, are you busy?"

"No, what's up?" She made a slightly concerned grimace.

"I was just thinking about how the last time you and I did something together was around a month and a half ago."

"Oh yeah?!"

"Yep, and then I got to thinking how much I love you." Mike was either unbearably bored, which was highly unlikely, or someone had triggered a sudden thought.

"Really, and why were you thinking this?"

"Oliver asked me how Rosalie was, and I just finished the nursery case."

"You did? Did the company settle?"

"You know they did. Anyway, I want a date."

"A date?" Rachel was being purposefully quizzical, "Mike, you do realise we have a small child to tend to?"

"Yes, speaking of, how is she?"

"She's napping, but teething I think. Which is why this idea of yours isn't going to work, we can't leave her with anyone if she's going to cry all night!"

"Um, yes we can! Besides, I don't have just anyone up my sleeve."

"Right okay, so I'm supposed to just go along with this?"

"Yes, you are. You have lots of nice clothes, choose something that'll blow me away, and meet me in the front hall at eight!"

"And what's happening to Rosy?"

"I've got it all sorted, just get dressed up, we haven't in a while. Trust me."

"There's a reason I organise everything."

"Yep, but I promise you it's a good thing, you'll love it, oh and if there isn't any milk in the fridge you might want to express some before too."

"Nope, there's loads, we're good on that front." Rachel laughed and took a deep breath.

"See you then!" She hung up as soon as he spoke and threw her phone onto the coffee table.

Rachel walked into the wardrobe, mulling over her choices. She wanted to wear something that would make her feel classy and elegant. Running her hands through the collection of dresses, she took out a few of her options and took them into the bedroom, throwing them down. She picked out the one she wanted, and then decided on a hairstyle, make-up, shoes, and a clutch to match it all up. Rachel neatly laid it out across the bed.

Rosalie had slept for a surprisingly long time, by the time she'd woken up it was five, and Rachel was just jumping out of the shower. Picking her up crying in her crib, Rachel comforted her daughter and made her way back into her own room, still in her dressing gown. She had three hours to prepare, so she started with her hair, as she knew it would take the longest. She'd decided on an up do, purely because it was a rare occurrence, and so was this.

Rachel looked at herself in the mirror up and down. She was wearing a burgundy dress, that was reasonably short. It had a high cut, with the normal two straps over both shoulders, but the bottom was a triangular shape. She was wearing heels for the first time in forever, they were nude and had little bows on the back of them. Along with her engagement and wedding ring, she wore two others on her other hand, and also donned a necklace that her mother had passed onto her when she got into Columbia. Her eye make-up wasn't heavy, but she was wearing a dark lip. Her hair was up in a messy, but classy bun. Mike was going to lose his shit.

It didn't take long for the knock on the door, and Rachel quickly got up to answer it, with Rosalie on her hip.

"Hi." Mike said, before turning his head and looking at his wife. He was taken aback, his eyes widened.

"Are you alright?" Rachel questioned him as he stood starstruck in the front door. Rachel eyed Hayley stood to his left, who was clearly on babysitting duty.

Mike snapped out of his moment, "I've given her a briefing." He said as Hayley walked in and took her off Rachel.

"Yes, I left notes on post-its too." Rachel spoke softly as she also admired Mike, stood in a tux.

"Have fun you two." Hayley smiled tickling Rosalie, practically pushing them out the door.

"Well, you look... what's a better word than unbelievable?" Mike spoke as they walked hand in hand towards the limousine.

"You don't look too bad yourself," She looked him up and down before he opened the car door for her, "Now, do you care to tell me where we're going?"

"Hold on, you'll find out. Right now," Mike pulled himself into the car, "I'm going to sit and admire how beautiful you look."

"God, I feel like I'm ten years younger again." Rachel smiled towards Mike, who was still ogling.

"Mhm..."

"You're such an idiot." She laughed as they drove away, Mike pulling a suggestive face and raising his eyebrows.

"We'll see about that." He smiled deviously and took Rachel's manicured hand into his.