Winter 8

I drowsily opened my eyes looking over at my clock…10:04 AM. I closed my eyes again before shooting them open in realization. I tried to get out of bed as fast as I could, quickly throwing a loose dress over my head and a pair of sneakers rushing as fast as my body would let me out of my room.

"Clara!" My mother exclaimed, "Where's the fire?"

"Mom, I'm so late! I have to get to school!" my mother grasped my shoulder and spun me around.

"You're covered baby. Mana knows what happened, so if you want you may sleep in a little while longer or you can visit Leonel. It's your choice." In addition, with that she kissed me on the forehead.

Upon entering the clinic, I met up with Sera and Serena who each smiled at me, nodding their heads.

"Have you come to visit Leonel, Clara?" Sera asked I just nodded my head, smiling slightly; they smiled back before Serena began.

"He's doing much better! He ate some milk porridge this morning and talked to us about the baby. It seems that he's really looking forward to fatherhood!" I smiled.

"Do you know when he'll be able to get out of the clinic?" I asked, they both nodded.

"It'll be a couple of days before you have to leave." Serena said.

"Dad's going to come with you guys though. Leonel will still be weak and will need exercise." Sera finished, my face beamed.

"I'm going to go on in." I said, pointing towards Leonel's room.

"Oh! Yeah!" Sera exclaimed.

"Go on ahead!" Serena finished as I entered Leonel's room; he was propped up against some pillows and new bandages replaced the soiled ones he had last night. His eyes looked up and over at me and his lips curled into a smile.

"Hi, Clara! Did you hear? I should be out of the hospital in time for our trip to the capital for our baby's birth! Isn't that great? Speaking of our baby, how is she or he?" I giggled slightly, pulling one of the nearby chairs over next to his bed, taking his hand. I nodded.

"I did hear, and our baby is doing great! I also heard you ate a little this morning." He nodded his head looking down at his hands.

"I would have preferred pancakes, but they said I needed something easier to swallow like the porridge." He blushed a bit as I giggled.

"I'm glad you're doing better since this is mostly my fault." He looked up at me with a confusing look on his face.

"Your fault? How?" I blushed a bit.

"Well since I told you all of those horrible things causing you to run off like that to prove yourself…I…" He interrupted me.

"That was my own stupid, selfish fault. But let's forget this ever happened and look to the future." I caught a glimpse of his face turning red as he turned his head away from me, trying to hide his fluster. "Our baby will be here soon and I'm hoping its room will be done soon. I paid my grandfather for the baby's room at my house, but the room he's building at your place will be a gift so neither of us will have to pay him." I smiled.

"Aww! That's so sweet of mayor Byron!" Leonel nodded his head before turning towards me.

"The builders should be there by tomorrow so warn your parents, and it's also going to come with a bassinet after its birth so look forward to that as well." I smiled, taking his hand in my hand.

"Thanks Leonel…how can I ever repay you?" he just smiled and shook his head.

"You already have."

I opened the front door of our house, bounding in with a smile; my dad just chuckled a bit at me.

"Good afternoon, larger version of my daughter! You look extra happy today!" I giggled and playfully punched him.

"Daddy!" I scolded him as he laughed "Oh! I have something to tell you." He nodded and looked in my eyes.

"Leonel was kind enough to give our baby a gift! Builders are coming over tomorrow to extend our house with the baby's room! How great of a gift is that?"

"Wow…and he paid for it all?" I nodded my head as my dad smiled.

"I'm glad to know he's still willing to help out with the baby."

"Yeah, he's going to be a great dad! And he should also be out of the clinic in time for our trip to the capital!"

"That's wonderful news, Clara!" Mom exclaimed, walking majestically down the stairs, apparently overhearing our conversation. "I'll get started on cleaning the house before the builder's arrival!"

"I'll help!" I exclaimed, "Just tell me what you need and I'll do it!"

"Firstly, I'll need you to make sure your father doesn't track any dirt in the house after his field work." Mom said jokingly.

"I'll do my best to take my boots off outside." Dad said while laughing.

"And if you do track mud in the house, you'll be the one to clean it up!" Mom said.

"Yes ma'am!" Dad said while giving a salute causing all of us to laugh. This moment was nice. We were able to be a family, just the three of us before the baby arrived and stole all of our attention.