She’s probably right. I had the same peanut butter and banana on toast with fresh fruit that I always have for breakfast. And now that I think about it, I wasn’t feeling too good yesterday either.
The nausea starts to recede and is replaced with a tingling excitement.
I could be pregnant.
With Ethan’s child.
Lauren returns five minutes later like she’s responding to a five-alarm fire—breathless and wide-eyed, a paper bag clutched in her hand.
“I got two,” she says, thrusting the bag at me. “Just in case.”
She waits outside while I take both tests. I leave them on the bathroom counter and come out with my hands shaking.
Lauren looks just as nervous, pacing around like she’s as invested as I am.
When the time is up, I take a deep breath and return to the bathroom.
“I know this is a private matter,” Lauren says, barely able to contain herself as she follows me. “But I’m coming too.”
I just laugh and leave the door open for her.
“No way,” I whisper, a blissful lightness filling my chest when I see two lines on each of the tests. “I’m pregnant.”
Lauren grabs my arms and jumps up and down, screeching. “You’re pregnant! Congratulations!”
She yanks me into a hug and squeezes me so hard as my mind races and tears fill my eyes.
“I knew it!” she says, jumping up and down as she hugs me. “I knew it! I’m never wrong about these things.”
I laugh, then cry, then laugh again, my hands instinctively going to my stomach like I can already protect what’s there.
I’m having a child with Ethan.
My mind goes straight to him. To my soul mate. To my best friend. And now, to the father of my child.
I’m so lucky I get to go on this journey with him. It’s going to be a blast.
The past two years and a half with him have beenincredible. Just waking up in the morning and seeing him lying next to me, sleeping so peacefully, that big chest slowly moving up and down with every heavy breath—it makes me so happy.
Every time we see each other after work, he looks at me like he still can’t believe I’m real. He holds me in his big protective arms, kisses me, and says ‘I’ve missed you so much’ like being away from me causes him pain. It makes me feel so loved, cherished, and desired.
And thenightswe have together… The afternoon delights… The early morning wake-ups… We still can’t keep our hands off one another. We’re stillobsessedwith each other. That hasn’t changed. It’s only grown stronger over time.
“I guess I should go tell Ethan,” I say, a little stunned as I stare at the tests that have forever changed my life. Nothing will ever be the same. I’m a mom now. There’s no going back.
“He’s going to be thrilled,” Lauren says, hugging me again. “I’ll come back tomorrow to pick up the rest of the order… and to brainstorm baby names.”
She gives me a wink as she takes her box and leaves. “Good luck, mama.”
I smile, feeling all lightheaded.
Mama.
I lock up the shop early and head home, my heart racing the entire way.
Ethan’s truck is in the driveway when I pull in. He’s on the porch, sleeves rolled up, painting the shutters. I smile when I see him grinning at me. Who paints the shutters on their day off?
My man does, of course. He always wants our home looking beautiful for me.
