Cora was editing the photos of the Barcelona’s event. She was reminiscing. Robert had booked some extra nights, and they had the most wonderful time together. Not working, just being together. They hadn’t left the room much and explored every corner of the suite.
“A penny for your thoughts.” Rosamund said.
Cora smiled: “You don’t want to know them.” Her cheeks colored.
Rosamund chuckled: “Never mind me asking, how are you feeling.” She lowered her gaze to Cora’s stomach.
“He wasn’t supposed to tell anybody.” Cora sighed. But besides the morning sickness I am feeling fine.” They had decided to not tell before the 12-week scan, but Robert told everything to his sister, so Cora wasn’t surprised.
“How are the pictures, can we use them?”
“You want to see them?” Cora asked and got up so Rosamund could sit down. She realised to late that Robert’s photos were still in that folder.
Rosamund had reached the part with just Robert and burst out laughing: “Well no wonder you are pregnant!”
Cora touched her belly, there wasn’t any sign of pregnancy yet.
+++
Robert had been on cloud nine since they returned from Barcelona and the doctor confirmed Cora’s pregnancy. He was glad that Cora had switched to formula feeding just before Barcelona. It was a lot easier, but especially now, her body needed all the nutrition for the new baby.
He was daydreaming of having a baby boy in his arms, when Violet stepped in his office.
“Barcelona had been a success, I heard from Rosamund. Well done.” She started. “I just got a phone call from a business partner in Brussels, and they would love for us to open an office there. Maybe you can look into it?”
“Of course, mama, send me the details I will do it immediately.”
It kept him busy for the rest of the afternoon, he only stopped when Cora stepped in to say she was going home. She showed him the pictures they were going to use. She was standing next to him, he could smell her perfume, it was hard not to pull her on his lap.
“This folder is especially for you.” She leaned over to grab the mouse. She opened the folder with his pictures, turned her face and kissed Robert. “Maybe only look at the last pictures when you are home.” She said with a cheeky smile and walked off.
Robert stared at the screen, what was he supposed to do now, he needed to know what was so special, the first pictures were close-up pictures from him. Cora had a really good eye for photos. He scrolled and stopped immediately, got up from his chair and closed his office door.
There she was, his beautiful wife, standing in front of the camera. She was wearing the pink dress, that he bought her for Barcelona. The next picture was with her dress draped around her ankles. She was wearing black lace underwear. In the next one her bra was laying next to the dress and her hands on her breasts.
He took a deep breath before scrolling to the next. Cora’s slip was now laying on the ground. She was covering her body with her arms and hands. For the next picture, she was sitting down, leaning forwards, her arms just in front of her upper body, and her legs crossed. She had made sure there was enough for his imagination.
He opened his phone and texted: Can not wait to go home.
It was really hard to focus on his work. He decided to print out the first picture, he had an empty frame in one of the closets, that picture would fit in perfectly. He put it right next to the one where Cora had just given birth to Mary.
A knock on his door. Rosamund opened it: “I am going home, don’t you forget to go home to? It is almost five o’clock.”
“Thank you, I am closing off. See you tomorrow.” Robert turned off the computer and went home. He had downloaded her pictures to his phone and was looking at them during the taxi drive home. He couldn’t wait to see his wife.
+++
Dinner was ready and waiting on a low heat for Robert to come home. Cora had sat down on the floor in the living room. She was playing on the guitar. Mary was sitting in front of her, trying to grab the instrument, Cora let it happen. Mary’s little fingers were plucking the strings when Robert got home. Cora was humming a song to Mary, while the guitar made some noises under Mary’s hands. It was an adorable scene Robert thought.
He walked into the living room, kissed Cora and picked up Mary.
“Hello darling, you are a fast learner already, making music with your mama.” He gave Cora his most tender look. He threw Mary in the air, and she was screaming from joy. “What’s for dinner.” Robert said, twirling Mary around
“Nothing special, just a Shepherd’s Pie.”
Robert sat Mary down in her highchair. “We got the opportunity to open an office in Brussels. There is already an office space available, and if we work hard, we can open it in about three to four months.”
“Darling, that’s exciting. The business is really growing fast. Today I got an email from Jan. The office in Rotterdam needs new pictures for their website, maybe we can combine a trip to Brussels and Rotterdam?” Cora was feeding Mary her dinner. She had cooked vegetables for her, mashed together. Mary was loving the real food. She only got 3 bottles of formula milk a day.
“Don’t let your own food cool off, sweetheart.” Robert noted.
+++
Robert was putting Mary to bed, while Cora cleaned the kitchen. She could hear him sing a lullaby to Mary. He had a wonderful voice.
Tis the gift to be simple, ‘tis the gift to be free,
‘Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
‘Twill be in the valley of love and delight.
When true simplicity is gain’d,
To bow and to bend we will not be asham’d,
To turn, turn will be our delight,
Till by turning, turning we come round right.
Cora walked over and was standing in the doorway, watching Robert sing to Mary. Her heart filled with love. She was truly the luckiest woman on earth. Having a loving husband, a sweet daughter and another baby on the way.
When Mary was asleep, Robert had walked out with his arm around Cora’s waist. “Do you want to play a game tonight.” Cora had asked.
“Always” and his eyes twinkled.
“Not that kind of a game, honey.”
“Oh.” Robert lowered his eyes. “Why did you show me those pictures then?”
“You can have me tonight.” Cora smirked, “But for now I meant a board game.”
Robert had mocked a little, but he loved playing board games. “The winner gets to decide what we are doing tonight?”
Cora had only looked at him with a smile on her face. They had played a game of Jaipur, Robert won easily. Cora knew she wasn’t good at that game, but she wanted Robert to win.
“You lay down already, I am coming.” He said to Cora. Cora had served strawberries with whipped cream for dessert after dinner. There was still some cream left and he knew exactly what he wanted to do with it…
Verhalen van Traan 