I didn’t hear back from Jenny last night. I am going to ring her before I go downstairs. Mark and I slept in different rooms last night. I did not want to be alone, but he did say goodnight to me on the landing and went to a different room. I have no choice but to sleep alone. I did not sleep very well, different bed, different place, alone with Mark. “Bump” was active most of the night, kicking me. I love her kicking; it reassures me that she is safe. It is nine in the morning, and I cannot hear Mark moving around. I am going to sneak downstairs to talk to Jenny, and I do not want to wake him.

Sitting on the black sofa in the open plan room, I ring Jenny. “Morning, Jenny.”

“Morning, sorry I didn’t answer last night. Rich was here when I came home.”

“And, what happened?”

“Well, let’s say I got my weekly exercise lesson.”

“Ha-ha, you two are sorted then?” I can’t believe how quickly they get over their arguments. No one would get over things that quickly, or would they? They must truly be in love.

“Oh, indeed. We are holiday hunting tonight. Well, honeymoon shopping.”

“Make sure it’s somewhere hot,” I tell her.

“Oh, I intend to. So, tell me about the cabin,” Jenny enquires.

We spend the next half hour talking about the cabin, Mark, and Rich, while having a giggle as we always do and singing away when a good song comes on at Jenny’s side. I have not played any music in here. I don’t want Mark waking up.

Suddenly, I hear a noise. Upon turning around, I see Mark. He is standing there in black boxers, tight around his manhood. I can’t do anything but look down at it. “You made me jump out of my skin,” I state with embarrassment. He looks delicious. His bare chest shows his slight six-pack that’s not too overworked. I notice a mark on his side, but I cannot quite see what it is.

“Sorry, I didn’t want to disturb your phone call.”

“It’s okay.” Jenny and I say our goodbyes. I turn around to see Mark in the kitchen, still in the same attire. I wander over to the kitchen to join him.

“I’m cooking breakfast. Please, have a seat.”

“What are we having?”

“I’ll cook breakfast without eggs for you, and I will do toast. I want to take you out for a nice, relaxing walk today and show you around here. If you are not up for it, though, we can go in the car or relax here.”

“I can walk.”

The smell of the cooking breakfast fills the room. It smells so nice. I do not remember anything I ate yesterday. I was so relieved that “Bump” was okay that I could have eaten anything, and it would not have bothered me. I love food though. I am a food person. I can’t stop smiling, watching Mark buzz around the kitchen, getting plates and glasses, while still keeping an eye on the food on the grill. It is so nice to see him cooking it as healthy as he can.

“Can I help you out, Mark?” I enquire.

“No, just relax and look pretty.”

I shake my head, laying my head down. Why does he say that? I am not pretty. I am normal. I live in the real world where people are a normal size. I never consider myself as pretty. Too many years of put downs. I can’t wait to have breakfast. I am so hungry the wait is killing me.

Mark places our breakfast and drinks onto the table. Oh my, it is so lovely. He is such a good cook. We sit there chatting, talking about the times he comes here. He only comes here to escape the stress. I am the only person he has ever had to stay here. Connor comes over to work with him or brings paperwork over for him to sign.

“Mark?” He looks up at me, smiling. “What is that on your side?”

“Oh, this,” he says, turning around and lifting his arm so I can see.

“It’s a Chinese tattoo. It means believe. I got it last week.”

“It is pretty. Did it hurt?”

“No, it didn’t hurt; I am made of tough stuff.” Mark winks. “Annabella told me when I finally believed things would get better, it would happen. So, I did, and you came into my life. I then got this tattoo.”

“Wow, Annabella is one amazing lady. I am so honoured that you let me meet her.”

Mark sits there, talking about Annabella and how she asks about me all the time.  She has been buying “Bump” little booties. I am so lucky to have met her. The things she said have affected me and helped me tremendously, and I know she wants Mark to be happy. I want Mark to be happy.

“There are great places to climb, walk, and see around here. It is pure heaven to me,” he proudly declares.

“It looks like heaven,” I say, agreeing.

“Shall we head out?”

Mark runs upstairs and appears five minutes later in dark jeans and a tight, black T-shirt. Grabbing my jacket, we head out the door, walking side-by-side down one of the dirt paths. The sun is shining with no wind at all. I can see the sun shining through the trees as we leisurely walk down one of the paths surrounded by trees. It’s such an amazing view, somewhere you would only see on the television. I love it. As we get to the end of the path, Mark changes directions and I follow him. We head upwards, climbing over a few rocks to a small amount of water with a waterfall falling from the rocks above us.

“This is my favourite place. There is an incredible place to sit up there, where you can watch everything that is going on around you.” Mark points over towards some high rocks.

I follow Mark up some more steps onto the spot where he pointed. Taking a seat on the rocks, I can see why he said this is his favourite place because you can see the top of the waterfall and the colours of it as it falls. 

He points out everything around. “Over there are some fields with different animals that graze. It’s wonderful to watch the baby animals once they are born.”

It is amazing watching everything around me. I am in my element, and this is my kind of place, so relaxing. We spend the rest of the day there. I wonder why Mark brought a picnic up here. He told me that once “Bump” is here, he is going to bring me back and take me around the waterfall. There is a path under the falls to walk. He did not want me sliding. How thoughtful. 

We seem to spend hours just sitting up there, listening to the waterfall, and looking around. Talking, he finally tells me everything that happened with Karen. She did the fake pregnancy line on him to try to get him to stay with her. That is why there are so many pictures of them together. He did the honourable thing and went along, believing she was telling the truth and fully supporting her. He found out the truth when she went drinking with some friends and drunk texted him, telling him she was not pregnant. It was all a lie. She then thanked him for the new car. I sit there, feeling myself get more and more annoyed over this woman. I don’t get why he would still be “friends” with her. I know he said it is to keep the peace, so she doesn’t spread rumours about him to the press. She had threatened to do that when he told her about me. I just hope I never meet that woman again, or I do not know what I will do.

I lie there on the rocks, listening to Mark tell me about the last time he was here. He slept on this rock under the stars and relayed to me that it is such a pretty sight at night. He stated that he will let me experience it, once “Bump” is here.

“I want you to be safe, and I want “Bump” to be safe,” Mark says, taking hold of my hand.

“Thank you,” I say as Mark leans over, placing a little kiss onto my forehead.

“Come on. Let’s go back to the cabin. We can cuddle the night away,” Mark says, standing up.