Love Always Wins

57

Tuesday June 30th. Torre delle Oche, Italy.

There were four big gold helium balloons on display (one for each of his world championships), each one printed with 'Happy Birthday' in black lettering and Heikki had helpfully put up some black and gold bunting after she'd been caught standing on a chair trying to do it herself. The table was set for two, Seb's birthday presents and cards were displayed on the only counter top she hadn't made a mess on, a bottle of non-alcoholic lemon spritz sat in an ice bucket and all she had to do was get changed. Everything was almost ready, now all she needed was the man himself to make an appearance.
"They're here!" Heike called excitedly from where she was stood looking out of the window, watching as her husband returned from picking up their son from Ferrari's Maranello base.

Chloe felt a burst of nervous excitement inside her, it was rare that she cooked for Seb as he liked to do most of the cooking himself when he was home so while this was an early birthday treat for him, it also felt like a test of her cooking skills. She watched as Heike sprang into action and accosted her son the second he opened the door and she giggled as he was ushered rather briskly up the stairs by both his mother and his father. All she could hear him say was that something smelt good as he was firmly told to go take a shower and get dressed into something smart. She wandered through the open plan ground floor and stopped as she heard their bedroom door shut with a bang.
Seconds later Britta descended the stairs looking glamorous in a long, flowing black skirt and a white sleeveless shirt, accessorised by silver bracelets and a very expensive looking watch. "Wow Britta, love the outfit! You look hot!" Chloe enthused while feeling massive compared to the tall, slinky German woman.

"Thank you! Heikki has us booked into this beautiful little restaurant so I wanted to make the effort. They're not taking many diners right now with everything that's been going on so he did good to get us in." Britta smiled and gave a little twirl. "Once Norbert and Heike are ready we'll be going, they're just getting changed and Heikki is standing guard outside your bedroom door to make sure that Seb doesn't escape too early."

"Thanks for doing this tonight and for giving us the opportunity to spend some time alone." Chloe smiled shyly because she wanted the time alone to fully reconnect with her husband before he went away.

"You two deserve it, you won't get many chances to be alone once that baby arrives!"

"Yeah I'm kind of prepared for him to take over our lives." She rubbed her tummy.

"Just one thing...." Britta stepped closer, smiling fondly. "No tears tonight, let this be a happy night for both of you. Think of it as a date."

"I'll try my hardest." Chloe didn't need to be reminded that tonight was her last night with Seb before they both went their separate ways.

"Your things are in my room, why don't you get yourself ready and I'll keep an eye on the dinner." Britta suggested, seeing Chloe going all misty eyed and wanting to avoid any early tears.

"Good idea, I can't have Seb looking smart while I'm still in my leggings and a t-shirt." She looked down at her bump, encased in a white t-shirt with the slogan 'does my bump look big in this?' emblazoned across the front of it.

"I love that t-shirt by the way." Britta patted Chloe's bump fondly. "Not long to go now."

"If I knew he'd be ok, I'd give birth tomorrow. I'm fed up now and the heat here really doesn't help me, at least back home it'll be a few degrees cooler. If I ever decide to go through all this again, remind me never to have a due date in the height of summer."

"You think you'll have another baby?" Britta asked with curiosity.

"Right now, I don't think so but ask me again in a few months and who knows, I might have changed my mind."