Chapter 42 The best present
It was a week before December 23rd. Peter was gone for work, but he had told her that he would be home for his birthday. Claire had planned something special for that day. Therefore, she called Laura for help. Her friend came immediately.
'Hey.' Laura smiled as Claire welcomed her into her apartment.
'Hi.' She said and closed the door. 'You came quickly.'
'What can I say, I found the place quickly.' Laura shrugged and followed Claire into the kitchen. Claire poured some coffee for her and they both sat down. Laura leaned hands on the table and looked at Claire. 'So, you said that you need my help.'
'Yeah, but first, I wanted to thank you about…'
'Hey! No need!' Laura rose up her eyebrows and took a sip from her coffee. 'It was pleasure. I thought that you would be shocked about my ability.'
'I have one too.' Claire said and shrugged. 'Peter also has… a complex of abilities.'
'Complex?'
'It's complicated, but I can tell you that he has more than one.'
'Oh yeah…' Laura shrugged and put the cup back on the table. 'I saw that. I was there.'
'I know, but I wanted you to know.' Claire said and studied her face. 'And about my relationship with Peter… I wanted you to know that we didn't know about our blood relation then. We just fell in love before that and…'
'Claire, stop!' Laura touched her arm. 'I'm not here to judge you. I'm here as a friend.'
'I never had a friend.' Claire said quietly. 'Not real one.'
'Really?' Laura looked at her with confusion. 'But you are such a nice person…'
'I was… different when I was younger.' Claire shrugged. 'I was cheerleader.'
'I was too.' Laura crooked her face. 'Well, I tried, but…'
Claire laughed.
'I know.' She nodded. 'It's tough job.'
'Oh yeah and so gorgeous boys around you…' Laura rolled her eyes.
'That's how I met Peter. He was sent to save me.' Claire said seriously.
'Oh, so romantic!' Laura leaned elbow over the table and rested chin on her palm.
'It wasn't romantic.' Claire shook her head. 'Well, when someone wants to kill you it's not romantic, at all!'
'Scary.' Laura winced. 'But Peter saved you, right? He was you knight?'
'He was… is my hero.' Claire said quietly and her face faded. 'He saved me more than once.' Her hand lay over her belly. 'Now he saved me from one miserable life without him.'
'I heard about your job.' Laura said carefully and leaned back on her chair. 'Why did you do this? If I may ask of course…'
'I was lonely.' Claire said and looked down at her hand. 'He was gone and I thought that I was never going to see him again. I felt… emptiness and I thought that there is nothing more I could do.'
'Oh Claire…'
'He was different then, you know?' She smiled with sadness. 'Before all this could happen. He was such a dreamer and believed that everyone have something good inside.'
'But he changed?'
'Yeah.' Claire rubbed her belly and looked back at Laura. 'The only thing that didn't change in him is that he loves me.'
'Oh, I can tell that.' Laura looked at her belly and Claire smiled, this time from happiness.
'I know.'
'Boy or a girl?'
'I don't know yet.' Claire shrugged.
'You don't know or you don't what to know?' Laura rolled her eyes again and Claire laughed.
'I want to be a surprise.' Claire shrugged. 'But I'm gonna be happy as long as its healthy.'
'I wish you one healthy baby then.' Laura said and Claire nodded.
'Thank you.' She said. 'Now, about your help…'
'I'm listening?'
'Peter's birthday is one week from now. He's not gonna be home since then so I though that we could paint the nursery and buy some stuff.'
'You want to surprise him?' Laura nodded with smile. 'Good idea! I am on it. But what about our exams?'
'We could study here.' Claire suggested and Laura nodded again.
'Sounds good for me.' She clasped hands. 'Okay, let's start this!'
They painted the room in sky blue. Claire loved that color. She knew that Peter loved it too. Then the only thing left was buying items for the room. Laura helped her with that. They bought the necessary stuff and left it unpacked in the middle of the room. Claire wanted to do that with Peter. She wanted him to feel wanted in the baby's life. She wanted him to feel special.
It was tough week, but thanks to Laura, Claire finished one day earlier. Meanwhile, they took their exams and now it was time for celebration. Laura went home to her family and Claire finally found some time to sleep.
She was exhausted, but happy.
Peter came home in the middle of the night. He found Claire sleeping with her clothes and frowned. Maybe she fell asleep, waiting for him. Peter crawled onto the bed and placed one kiss on her forehead. Claire sighed and opened her eyes almost immediately.
'Hey.' She said sleepily and Peter took her in his arms, lying on his back.
'Hi.' He said. 'Why are you still dressed up?'
'I was waiting for you.' Claire murmured and he smiled under his nose.
'I told you that…'
'I know what you told me.' She interrupted him. 'But I wanted to show you something.'
'Show me what?' He asked almost sleeping.
'It's 23rd?'
'I think it is.' Peter murmured.
'Great! Come with me!' She said and got off the bed.
'We can do this tomorrow.' He frowned.
'I want it now!' Claire insisted.
'Okay.' Peter got off the bed too and let her took his hand, dragging him out of their bedroom.
'Close your eyes now!' She demanded and Peter moaned with annoyance.
'Claire, really…'
'Please?' She blinked against him and Peter listened to her.
'I can't believe I'm doing this!' He murmured and heard her quiet laugh. She leaded him into the old guest room.
'Now you can open your eyes.' Claire said with trembling voice and Peter listened to her again. 'Happy birthday… daddy!' Claire made short pause before the last word, but she said it after all.
Peter did not say anything. He just looked around and his look fell over the stuffs, gathered in the middle of the room. Then he looked at her. She was holding her breath and her eyes studied his face.
He did not smile. However, his hands slipped around her waist and his chin rested over her head.
'Thank you for this.' He said and Claire could say that his voice trembled. 'The best present ever…'
My notes: Yeah, yeah... too sweet chapter I know, but I needed it. Trust me - you gonna love it as soon as you read the next few chapters. I'm not gonna say more than... drama! Stay tuned!
Love,
Arinna
