For the fall prompt of baking cookies:
Laura couldn't recall being that happy a single day in her life. Sure she'll always keep Mary's birth in a special place in her heart but it wasn't the same. No, meeting a newborn, your own very expected child, is the most fantastic experience but the pain, the fatigue, the fear brought by childbirth make that day à mumbo jumbo of emotions.
Now, though, sitting close to the hearth, caressing her round belly, feeling her child mouvements within, watching her husband cook with her daughter, she felt absolutely, unalterably happy. She was utterly grateful that the two loves of her life got along so well. Charles went always above and beyond to make Mary feel cherished and loved, as if she was his own. He went above and beyond to make her feel cherished and loved, too. She knew her mother disapproved of his ways, sometimes.
Her mother didn't think husband and wife should kiss in front of the children nor touch as much as they did. She surely didn't think it appropriate that a man cooked, cleaned the house or folded the laundry. Most of the time, Charles refrained himself in order to keep the peace with his stepmother. But as the pregnancy progressed, he was more and more involved in every household chores and prevented more and more Laura from doing anything. And after last week's visit, with the doctor saying she needed rest because she wasn't gaining enough weight, he was involved like never before.
If she were younger, she would have protested, pregnancy wasn't a disease but she wasn't as young as when she had Mary and growing a baby was taking its toll on her. She was all belly these days. She knew she'll have another few weeks of sleepless nights, her body aching and incapable of finding a comfortable position. And then she'll have to bring this little baby to the world, not the easiest task ! And then will come months of poor sleep and worrying for that small infant… So she accepted her husband's and mother's help. She rested and appreciated it, more than she would ever be able to say.
That was such a perfect moment, one she'd like Charles to immortalize and for her to remember forever. Her mother was knitting near the window, red and orange leaves were flowing around, the rain was making the sweetest of sound against the windows. At the table, Charles and Mary talked quietly, Charles showing her how to roll out the dough perfectly to cut out forms after. Feeling the life within her, comfortably seated, no pain anywhere, the small noises of the fire cracking. Their laughter. The flutters in her heart. She couldn't hold the tears anymore. She was the happiest she had ever been and she was certain to see even happier times once the little one will be there. She sighed, tears rolling down her cheeks, life was good.