Raya and Mark went as usual to the beach on the last Saturday of the month, it had become a tradition since they became lovers.
They met on Mark's first visit to the beach, he preferred sitting in a cafe all day or hiking but that day, some friend forced him and he didn't regret it.
Mark didn't find the beach fascinating but after meeting Raya, he fell in love with the beach. Their marriage happened at the beach since Raya wouldn't take no for an answer and Mark didn't see it as a bad idea. She was so much in love with the beach and it earned her the name mermaid while in school. Raya successfully influenced Mark and whenever the beach calls, he can't resist.
The couple sat very close to the water under a rainbow-coloured giant umbrella reminiscing the beautiful memories they've had at the beach.
"We can call her Beach," Mark said jokingly as he gently rubbed Raya's baby bump.
"You can't be serious. Beach would have been a beautiful name but you know how challenging that would be, I don't want her bullied because of her name."
Hmmm! Mark sighed and reached for his bottle of beer.
"I wished to sip from that," Raya teased Mark as he gulped down almost half of the bottle at a go.
"Keep wishing, we had an agreement. No beers until my angel is here," he replied.
Raya chuckled and replied, "Our angel, not just yours"
The couple laughed and went quiet for some seconds. In those quiet seconds, their connection deepened as they stared passionately at each other.
"What's your best beach memory?" Raya broke the silence and readjusted on the bench chair she was lying on.
"Hmm, my best beach memory was the day you told me about the pregnancy. It happened here and I felt a rare kind of happiness, I didn't see myself becoming a husband to a wonderful woman like you not to speak of becoming a father."
Mark paused to sip from his drink and there was so much emotion written on the couple's faces.
Eight months ago, the couple were at the beach when Raya broke the news about the pregnancy and Mark was surprised about how things worked perfectly for him in the relationship. He ran around the beach with excitement shouting, "I am having a baby" and people celebrated with the couples.
Mark had been in different relationships before meeting Raya but they all ended almost immediately after they started and if unlucky was a person, it would have been him. Raya hadn't been in any relationship after her first relationship ended but from the first hello, she couldn't resist Mark's charming personality.
"I thought the day we met was your best beach memory," Raya said jealously.
"Don't tell me you are jealous, there wouldn't have been the pregnancy without you."
Mark paused when Raya showed some sign of discomfort, he doubled the pillow she was resting on and she felt better.
"Thanks sweetheart," Raya muttered.
"Sorry dear. As I was saying before, your presence in my life has brought me immeasurable joy and happiness. The commitment we have made with the upcoming arrival of our child is proof of what we share and the beautiful future we are building together." Mark replied.
At that moment, Raya felt like she was floating in the air. Mark always melts her heart with words and she never gets bored listening to him.
"Over to you, what is your best beach moment we shared?" Mark asked.
"Hmm, my best beach moment..." Raya stuttered before gripping Mark's hand with her right hand and rubbing her baby bump with her left.
She felt a sharp pain in her belly, it was discomforting and couldn't hold it. Mark quickly checked the place she was rubbing but there was nothing there.
"Shouldn't the delivery time be next month?" Mark asked Raya who couldn't even respond anymore.
Mark was completely confused and didn't know what to do. He quickly checked for the nearest hospital and his eyes were filled with tears immediately.
"We are about two hours away from the nearest hospital," Mark muttered and called his doctor to inform them about Raya's condition.
He carried Raya after and before they got out of the beach, her water broke.
"Mark!! The baby is coming," Raya screamed and that got people's attention.
A woman in her 50s ran towards them and examined Raya with a glance.
"When is her delivery date?" She asked.
"The last scan said next month," Mark replied sharply.
"If you would trust me, I can help your wife before the ambulance arrives here. She doesn't have much time," The woman said after showing Mark her ID card.
She is a midwife who came for a short vacation with her family. Mark didn't want anyone to touch his wife but she was in so much pain that he couldn't stand it. He called his hospital and they were still over a 1hr 30mins away.
He told his doctor about the person offering to help and the doctor requested that he speak to the woman. The Doctor put a call across to the hospital where the woman worked to confirm her claims and it was true, she was a senior midwife.
The doctor gave the woman all the details and the good thing was that Raya had no complications. The woman assured the doctor that she would handle things, she wasn't comfortable seeing Raya that way as well. Mark's doctor insisted that he wanted to see everything happening so they switched to video call.
They assisted Raya to the midwife beach house rented for her family vacation and they quickly gathered everything they could lay their hands on for the childbirth, the people at the beach were very helpful.
Mark was sweating profusely as he comforted Raya whose facial expressions made it clear that she was going through serious pain.
"I love you, you can do this" Mark wouldn't stop whispering into Raya's ear.
After 10 minutes of trying, the cry of a newborn echoed in the room. It filled the space, evoking a range of emotions. Mark couldn't help but cry and laugh at the same time while Raya was drenched in tears and sweat.
The soft and innocent voice of the newborn sent a soothing relief into the couple's soul and other processes followed. About forty-five minutes later, the ambulance arrived and the nurses came prepared.
Raya and the baby were attended to before they all returned to the hospital. Later that evening, the couple were staring at their baby in the child's cot and they were really happy.
"She is so beautiful," Mark whispered as he kissed Raya's forehead.
"Just exactly like me," She smiled.
Raya continued, "You asked a question at the beach before I went into labour. I think everything that happened back there beats whatever experience I have had at the beach."
Mark smiled as he kissed her again and the beautiful moment was interrupted by their family members who came to check after they got the news.