Chapter 8
And in fact, their relationship was flawless. They were faithful and loyal to each other at all times. They treated each other with the utmost respect and care. They were perfect for each other. Best of all, they were great parents.
By the time the two of them had finished their junior year of college, Sophia was already six months old and thriving. She was growing up fast and Nolan and Emma were wondering where the time had gone. It felt like just the other day Nolan was freaking out about a text message, the onslaught of sudden fatherhood, and now she was already six months old. He couldn’t believe it. He thought that having this baby in his life would ruin it, but actually Sophia had made his life a thousand times better.
Emma was a genius and with her help Nolan was able to ace all of his classes. He had also matured greatly in the last six months. He was just generally much happier lately since he knew there was always two people on Earth that were happy to see him.
The only problem the couple had was support. Their parents were irate at first about the baby. Both sets lived far away and so the pregnancy and baby were a complete surprise. Angry they were left out of the loop and disappointed that their children had been so irresponsible. They came to visit and of course love their grandchild but there is definitely a rift at the moment. Friends are of little help. Who can blame them? They are in party college mode.
This was hard at first, especially for Emma. She had always been so close to her parents and she felt betrayed they were so unaccepting. However, after a while, the dust settled and hurt feelings seemed to subside.
******
During the summer months, the couple grew closer. Without school, they had more time to spend together as both parents and lovers. They would watch movies together, go on dates, cook dinner together, or just spend a day cuddled in bed with Sophia between them. It wasn’t the life they had planned, but it was still a good life.
By the time their senior year approached, they were sure that they were soul mates. They knew they wouldn’t be happy with anyone else. So Nolan made a big decision.
Professional football scouts had contacted him early in the summer, telling him that he needed to make up his mind about joining by the fall season or he would lose the possibility of being drafted into the league. However, Nolan knew he couldn’t just abandon his family to play in New England; that wouldn’t be fair to Emma or Sophia. It had been a difficult decision, but Nolan knew, in the end, that he had made the right one.
Nolan knew he had to tell Emma. He planned it all out well in advance. He had called a babysitter and with some extra money he made fixing up some houses around the neighborhood, he was able to get the sitter to stay with Sophia overnight. Then when Sophia was gone, he went to work preparing everything for Emma.
He started with dinner. He took his time following the recipe to the T, wanting it to come out perfect. He hummed and sang happily as he cooked, knowing Emma wouldn’t be home for a while since she had picked up a double shift. She would work until eight which meant he had plenty of time to prepare everything. Nolan didn’t know why he was putting so much effort into all this, but for some reason he wanted to give Emma something she could remember.
After dinner was done, he left it in the oven so that it could stay warm until Emma was home. Then, he went into the living room and set up the couch with copious amounts of pillows and blankets in order for optimal cuddling. Next, he went over to the TV and prepared a romantic movie. He looked around and placed some candles around the room, before lighting them.
Nolan looked around the apartment, wondering if he had missed any important detail. He smiled, satisfied before sitting down. A moment later his eyes went big, and he shot out of his seat, remembering the one part of his plan that he had forgotten: the bedroom.
It was already seven o’clock and so he rushed up the stairs and started to prepare everything as fast as he could. He popped a CD into the stereo before making the bed and setting up some candles. He grabbed some rose petals and sprinkled them over the bed and floor with care. Rushing back downstairs, Nolan grabbed a bottle of champagne and placed it on the nightstand.
He looked around the bedroom, smiling at his handiwork. If this wasn’t enough to impress Emma, he didn’t know what would. Okay, maybe the whole set up was a little cliché with the candles and rose petals but surely she would appreciate all the effort he was putting into this. Nolan hoped she would.
Now, looking around Nolan was finally convinced he hadn’t missed anything. He sighed in relief, going down stairs and sitting on the couch. He was exhausted and decided to close his eyes, only for a few minutes. He didn’t realize it was 7:59.
******
Emma was exhausted. She had worked a double at the nursing home. She was a registered CNA and worked at the local nursing home. It was hard work, but at least it was rewarding to see her residents happy and well cared for.
However, tonight she was happy when her shift was finally over. She was eager to go home and be with Nolan and Sophia for the night. She knew that they would be waiting for her at home, eager to see her, and she smiled at the thought.
Emma got home around 8:15 and opened the front door, stepping inside. She instantly saw all the candles and gasped. She looked around and saw the living room decorated with blankets and pillows, a movie ready to be played, and a sleeping Nolan on the couch. She moved to the kitchen in a state of awe. She was blown away when she saw the table set up for a romantic candlelit dinner. She checked the oven and saw the spaghetti, her favorite meal. Emma smiled happily.
She went into the living room before shaking Nolan awake. He woke up, disoriented and looked at her, confused. Emma? He sat up quickly before looking at the time. Crap it’s 8:30. He looked at her and frowned. “Emma… you’re home.” He said, looking at her, a little disappointed in himself. She grinned and nodded.
“Were you expecting a mistress while I was gone or is all this for me?” Emma teased him playfully. Nolan blushed at the comment.
“I’m so sorry I fell asleep. I had planned to surprise you and make this all romantic for you, but I ruined that idea. I’m sorry.” Nolan apologized as he got up, a disappointed look on his face. Emma chuckled and smiled at how cute he was.
“Do you want me to go outside and pretend to come home again?” Nolan nodded awkwardly. It felt a little weird asking her to do it, but he wanted to make this night absolutely perfect. He wanted her to enjoy herself. So he watched as she left and smiled as he heard the door close behind her.
Nolan looked at himself in the mirror before taking a quick look at his surroundings, making sure everything was in place. He fixed a pillow just for good measure. After that, everything seemed perfect and he smiled, praying that tonight would be a good night.