I love being a mum; I can't think of anything else I love more than being a parent to Sera but sometimes, I think that maybe heading out for a spa day with my sisters may just be a tad better. It was just my luck then when Isaac came home on Friday night and surprised me with the news that he'd booked for Emma, Sophie, Mum, Martha and I to go to a spa the following morning. 

Instantly, I was suspicious but when he stated that he'd more than happily go in my place- even if it meant having to share a hot tub with Sophie- I decided that I deserved the spa break more than he did. Sorry, but I'm the one that underwent major abdominal surgery, I'm the one that gets up in the middle of the night to breastfeed a screaming, hungry baby, and I'm the one who spends most of the day at home with Sera. Plus, I still can't fit into my pre-baby jeans, so I think I deserve some form of compensation. 

That said, as soon as a few other people found out about our planned spa day, they insisted on coming along too. Granted, Lucas' girlfriend, Millie, asked if she could come and we were more than happy to have her spend the day with us. Honestly, after everything Luc's been through, for him to have someone as amazing as Millie was a blessing to us all. She adored him more than he deserved and if they ever- God forbid!- broke up, I'd find it impossible to not be friends with her anymore. 

The second person who wanted to tag along, however, was one I would have gladly banned. Keira Delaney is a pain in the arse at the best of times but put us all in a sauna with her, she becomes infinitely more unbearable. I was all for saying, "Hell no!" when Martha asked if my cousin could come with us if it wasn't for the puppy dog look that Martha gave me. Within seconds, "Hell no!" had become, "Of course! I wouldn't have it any other way!"

I was so excited, though, that I really wasn't that bothered Keira would be coming. She and Sophie would keep each other entertained, which meant that the rest of us could enjoy our mani-pedi session in blissful serenity. Isaac had thoughtfully booked me in for a hot stone full body massage but I wasn't sure if it was something I could go through; the c-section wasn't that long ago and while the scar has healed and the doctor is pleased with everything, just the thought of lying on my stomach for about forty minutes was horrendous. I can only imagine what actually lying there for that length of time would actually be like. 

"Stop stressing," Emma tells me as we book into the spa and sign the waiver forms. Stupidly, Isaac had booked the spa at the Knightsbridge Delaney hotel and while the woman behind the spa's reception desk knew who we were, she still made us fill out all the paperwork that we'd completed a hundred times before. Emma started to read the wording on the forms out loud before she stopped and rolled her eyes. "These things haven't changed since nineteen-ninety-nine."

Taking the forms, Emma led us into the private waiting room so that we could sit and fill out the paperwork while sipping on champagne, or orange juice for me. As I was still breastfeeding, I wasn't allowed alcohol but that didn't mean I couldn't still have fun with the girls. Two drinks later, with the forms complete, we were eventually allowed into the spa and were promptly shown to the changing room. Within minutes, it was obvious that we were the only ones here. 

"I think your baby daddy booked the spa out," Keira commented as she whipped off her top. Without any inhibitions, she started to change in front of us all, pulling on a bikini and tightening the strings of the bottoms. Noticing us all staring, Keira quirked an eyebrow at us. "If you've got it, flaunt it."

My mother scoffed. "Oh, to be young and dumb again. Does your mother know about that tattoo of yours?"

Immediately, Keira covers up the small, delicate tattoo that she has on the side of her hip. I, too, had noticed it, the way the simple black line curved into an 'L', a calligraphy swirl giving the inking an air of elaborate extravagance. It wasn't what I expected from Keira; I always thought that she would go for a skull or something as her first tattoo, not this. The fact that the 'L' signified her boyfriend was also symbolic since Keira never actually confirmed that she and Logan were in a relationship. She still maintains that he's her stalker who she more often than not has sex with. 

"If you even dare to think about telling Moira about it-" Keira starts to threaten before realising that my mother could not care any less about her having a tattoo. Shrugging it off, Keira changes the subject slightly. "Logan's ok to come to the Ball next week, right? If I have to go, so does he, although he'll actually like the social element of it all while I'll be whinging all night that I'd rather be anywhere else."

"Yes, Keira," Sophie nods in response. "Logan can come. You have to be on your best behaviour, though, because there will be a lot of influential people there and I cannot have you embarrassing the family."

Keira smiled sadistically. "I'll be on my bestest of best behaviour. But if you want to ban people who will humiliate the family, I suggest you leave your husband at home. That disgusting face of his is embarrassing."

As I said earlier, Sophie and Keira would keep each other occupied as they trade insults so this spa day will run a lot smoother than if we all had to entertain Keira. After we all changed, awkwardly hiding behind towels to cover up our modesty, we entered the spa and started to explore the pool, the sauna, the hot tub and the various other rooms that the Delaney Spa had to offer. 

The aromatherapy room was my favourite and I decided to stay in there for most of the morning until I was called to go to my mani-pedi appointment alongside Martha. She was more excited than I was about today and she had been looking forward to us both having a sit down where it would be only the two of us. I think she's been dying to tell me something for the past few days but whenever she tried to speak to me about it, Isaac would walk in and hover, meaning that Martha never did get to approach me about whatever it was that's on her mind. 

"Ok, so not to freak you out," Martha says the second that we're away from the others. She's literally just sat down and placed her feet into the foot spa and the words come rushing out. "But I totally saw an engagement ring hidden amongst the crystal figurines that Dad has in his study."

I blinked. "Why were you in your father's study?"

"Seriously?" Martha gasped, her jaw hanging open as she stared dumbfounded at me. "That was your question? Charlotte, he has an engagement ring. Now, as far as I know, you're the only one that he's dating and is serious about so... Charlotte, he's going to propose."

I laugh at the idea of Isaac proposing, although it wasn't the worst idea I'd ever heard. While I've maintained for the better part of this year that I don't want to become engaged, let alone marry, saying that Isaac and I co-parenting Sera was more than enough commitment for me, I cannot deny that I've started to change my mind. Only slightly. I still think we'd be just as amazing unmarried but the idea of being Isaac's wife for eternity made the butterflies in my stomach flutter wildly, uncontrollably. 

"You should see the ring," Martha continued, a faraway look in her eye as she dreams of the jewel. "Radiant cut set in platinum, diamonds on the shank, and at least three carats for the stone. If you say no to that ring, you're-"

"Wait!" I rush to cut her off as I process the description of the ring. I shake my head. "Are you sure it's a radiant cut diamond?"

Martha nods. "Do not question my knowledge of diamonds. If I say it's a radiant cut, it's a radiant cut."

Before the woman who was due to start my pedicure got started, I shouted at her not to touch me as I jumped from my chair and ran through the hallway towards the treatment room that my mother occupied. Storming in, the therapist jumped when the door banged against the wall, and my mother's head snapped up. She stared at me for a brief second before she placed her face back in the hole that was in the treatment bed and motioned for the therapist to continue. 

"May I help you, Charlotte?" My mother's utterly bored voice spoke. It was slightly muffled but I still understood her question. 

"Where is your engagement ring these days?" I demanded. 

Mum sighed. "Pourquoi?"

"Mum, where is it?" I asked, desperation in my words. Mum took note and lifted her head, her blue eyes meeting mine. Her facial expression gives nothing away. "Did you give it to Isaac?"

"Écoute," Mum suddenly turns to her native French. I tap my foot impatiently, a sure sign that I was not in the mood for her French philosophy and only wanted a simple English explanation. "I don't meddle in my children's' lives-" she lies. "-But I will say this, Isaac is the son-in-law I always wish I had. Instead, I have Adam, who isn't that bad, and Daniel, who really is that bad. Isaac is the Goldilocks of sons-in-law and I wouldn't object to you marrying him. The rest, however, is up to you, Charlotte. He has the ring and the desire to want to spend the rest of his life with you. Can you say the same?"

I blink, unable to formulate an answer for her. She smiles knowingly and winks at me before saying, "I suggest une manucure française just in case. You don't want horrible nails in engagement photographs, Charlotte. Alors, sors."

Dazed, I spin on my heels and slowly make my way back to the treatment room where Martha waits for me. I retake my place in the chair and allow one therapist to continue the pedicure while another comes in to do the manicure. From the corner of my eye, I can see Martha stealing glances at me but she doesn't say a word. Her face says enough. 

When the therapist asks me what colour I'd like my fingernails, I gulp. Part of me wanted black polish but there was a niggling voice in the back of my mind that said I should take my mother's advice. Ultimately, it came down to me. 

I had to wonder- if Isaac were to propose, would I accept? If he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, producing the ring I've dreamed of wearing since I was a little girl as he swore to love me and only me, forever, what word would pass my lips? 

"Well?" The therapist prompts. 

I close my eyes and think, only opening them when I have my answer. "French, please."

 So, yeah... Would you say 'yes' to this? I would!

As I've mentioned before, I'm almost done writing the Danphie short- Pitter Patter. It'll be published on November 5th, which is next Sunday. As I'll be polishing that up and getting ready to publish it next week, I will not be updating Baby on Board. 

Charlotte and Isaac will be making an appearance in Pitter Patter so you won't miss out. However, if I have time/if I have motivation, I will write something quickly for the Monday night instead. I AM NOT MAKING PROMISES ON THAT FRONT! If you get one, it'll be a bonus. If you don't you just get Pitter Patter. 

PITTER PATTER, by the way, will have you all freaking out. But can you tell me why? 

I'll be updating on Wednesday, as always. 

Sarah xx