"Sweetheart! Your pancakes are ready!"
Ren walked toward the sunroom with a tray in his hands. A plate of strawberry pancakes and a glass of milk were placed on it. He steadily made his way out of the kitchen.
He elbowed the door of the sunroom, opening it wider. Once he saw his wife inside, he was stunned before a soft chuckle escaped his lips.
"Geez, you're the one who wants pancakes yet, here you are, sleeping," He nagged while entering the sunroom.
Ren put down the tray on the coffee table before he sat on the soft carpet. Tsubaki was sleeping deeply with her favorite maternity pillow on a fluffy futon. The U-shaped pillow was as big as her and it could easily envelop her entire frame.
"Aye, since you got this, you've discarded me aside, huh?" Ren supported his chin with one hand while he sat cross-legged next to his sleeping wife.
Now, his wife had safely entered the seventh month of her pregnancy. Her belly was bigger than before and her body would be in a constant ache, especially her waist and legs.
She tended to cry in pain whenever her legs cramped. It made him worried so much but aside from comforting her and trying to ease her pain, there was nothing left he could do.
Ren made a mental note to teach their children that their mother was in a lot of pain while carrying them. If the two buns dared to disrespect their mother, let's see how he would clean them up!
Because it was difficult for her to move around much, Ren suggested them staying in the room downstairs. Tsubaki immediately agreed since she didn't want to go back and forth to the upstairs.
Ren quietly stayed beside her. He cut the pancakes into small pieces and finished them by himself. He could just make another fresh batch of pancakes once Tsubaki woke up.
According to his understanding, once she took a nap, she would only wake up at the very least one hour from now. The pancakes would be cooled down completely at that time.
"Two more months, huh."
The surrealness of what awaited him made him felt like floating on clouds.
Right now, he only lived in blissfulness with his dearest wife by his side.
Even though Tsubaki was sad during the early days of her mother's passing, she wasn't as sad and frantic as the times she was dreading her mother's death.
She was sad yet, she accepted the good gesture and thoughts from the people around her.
The words she always chanted were, "Mother wants us to live well, I can't be sad forever."
Little by little, she moved away from her sadness.
As time passed by, the day they would welcome their bundles of joy drawing nearer.
"...en..."
Ren lowered his gaze at the sound of the fabric rustling and someone yawning. He laughed softly at the sight of Tsubaki rubbing her sleepy eyes.
"Why do you wake up so soon today?" Ren leaned down and tenderly kissed her face.
Tsubaki yawned again, "My pancakes... I smelled them..."
She sniffed a few times. The scent of strawberry and sugar wafted in the air, luring her appetite.
Ren, "..."
He looked at the empty plate on the table.
It was the evidence of his crime.
"Where are my pancakes?" Tsubaki asked. She blinked her eyes at him, looking so naive and soft.
"...I'm sorry, I ate them," Ren lowered his head in ashamed.
It was better to quickly confess his fault than hiding it.
"En?" Tilting her head, Tsubaki blankly stared at her husband, "You ate them?"
"...I'll make new ones for you. The freshest batch!"
Ren got up, getting ready to make her another pancake before he felt the hem of his shirt being tugged from behind. Looking back, Tsubaki was smiling brightly at him.
En? She didn't sulk with me?
Was this a disguise?
Ren recalled the moments when his wife would sulk with him if he accidentally ate her food or didn't fulfill her cravings.
"I want strawberry shortcake," She said with a wide grin.
Ren, who had become a certified cook and baker ever since he let go of his position, agreed instantly; "Right away, sweetheart."
Thus, he supported his wife who insisted to accompany him baking to the kitchen.
Tsubaki sat on a chair while watching her dear husband busy away making the shortcake. From time to time, he would pop strawberries into her mouth. Her cheeks bulged as she enjoyed the sweet little fruits.
Ren had an urge to poke her cheeks but currently, both of his hands were busy whipping the cream and holding the bowl.
Later, a plate of strawberry shortcake was presented in front of Tsubaki. Ren cut a slice and stored the rest in the fridge.
"Yummy~ Your skills have improved again, darling," She gave him praises after taking a bite.
"Your mouth is as sweet as sugar, ah. Eat," Ren laughed as he brushed away the cream that stuck on the corner of her lips.
Tsubaki covered her mouth and laughed. Her eyes bent into crescents. After laughing, she continued eating.
From time to time, she would feed her husband with the cake.
Tsubaki sneakily thought of the possibility Ren got a round belly as her if she kept feeding him with sugary food.
It would be funny to look at!
Unknown to his wife's secret thoughts, Ren accompanied her until she finished the slice of cake. After that, both of them went back to the sunroom.
Tsubaki's favorite pastime now was to enjoy the scenery from the sunroom. As the city ushered in winter, she could see white snow falling from the sky with a clear view.
It was an exquisite scene.
Because Tsubaki loved to spend time here, Ren laid out a fluffy and thick futon for her on the floor. They would often lie down together and silently watch the view outside the floor-to-ceiling glass wall.
"Darling?"
Tsubaki tilted up her head, looking at her husband's side profile.
Ren lowered his head, staring back at her. A lazy smile spread on his lips. He raised up an eyebrow, "Yes, my sweetheart?"
Tsubaki laughed before she put forth a request, "It is possible if I want to visit my hometown?"
Ren blinked, "Do you mean... going back to the village?"
Tsubaki nodded.
The last time they set foot inside the village was in the early summer days. Tsubaki suddenly missed the home where she grew up. She was no longer afraid of going there.
"The doctor said it's alright if you want to take a trip within the country but, let me arrange it first, en?" suggested Ren.
"Hehe, you're the best, darling~" Tsubaki gave him a kiss on his chin. Her eyes were beaming with happiness.
Ren smiled. He lightly brushed her lower lip before he dipped his head in and kissed her back.
The village should be colder than the winter in the city. Since the house was left unoccupied for long, he wanted to ask Aunt Touko's help to check if the heating system was okay. Ren planned to hire someone to clean up the house first before they went there.
In the summer, both of them were the ones who did it but, considering how heavily pregnant his wife currently was, it wasn't possible. It's better for them to arrive at the already neat and clean home.
It didn't take him long to arrange it. Four days later, they arrived.
Their arrival delighted Aunt Touko and Uncle Kiyonaga. Both of them welcomed the couple to have a meal with them. Because they were afraid of Tsubaki slipping on the icy road, the four of them simply ate in Tsubaki's childhood home.
After sending Aunt Touko and Uncle Kiyonaga to the door, it was snowing again.
"The scene looks so much like how I remember my childhood," Tsubaki commented as she watched the white dots of snow pouring from the sky.
Both of them sat on the couch opposite the windows.
"Were you happy in those days?" Ren asked while gently caressing her bulging tummy.
Tsubaki laughed, "I remember, one day, Satsuki caught a fever because he played in the snow. But, that brat sneakily went outside to play again. I found him lying in the snow. Luckily Mom wasn't at home, if not, he would be scolded."
The Mom in her mouth was her adopted mother, Ayaka.
"So, you helped to cover for him?" Ren asked with his brows lifted up.
He didn't expect his younger brother-in-law had almost dragged his wife into a mess!
"Hehe, he's a naughty child even though he tended to be sick," Tsubaki laughed again. She lowered her head to look at her stomach, "I hope our children could have a happy childhood."
By coming back here, countless memories surged in her mind.
Passing by the hallway, she remembered her mother welcoming her home from school with Satsuki tailing from behind, eager to ask her to play with him.
Sitting at the dinner table, the image of her mother placing her newly cooked dishes on the table came to her mind. With a beaming smile, her mother asked her to taste it.
Being in the washroom, the laughter from a child Satsuki who played with his yellow rubber duck flashed in her eyes.
The memories turned clearer as the more time she was here.
Even though they didn't have much in terms of monetary value, their little family was happy despite the hardship. Even after the death of their father and then their mother, they didn't stray far and become estranged.
Tsubaki wanted the same thing for their children as well. She hoped for them to always stay together even if she and Ren might leave first.
Ren pulled her closer to him. One of his wide palms was placed on Tsubaki's hand that was caressing her stomach.
"We'll give them a happy and unforgettable childhood," He firmly stated his promise with his eyes locked on hers, "We'll raise our children well, sweetheart. We're together in this."
Tsubaki smiled sweetly, "Hehe, we're a team, darling."
Then, she smooched on his cheeks, earning laugher from him.