I wash my hands and knock on the bathroom door. “Chloe? You okay?”
Silence. Then the sound of the toilet flushing, water running.
The door opens, and she’s standing there in one of my old t-shirts, her face pale, her eyes wide with something I can’t quite read.
“I need to tell you something,” she says.
My heart stops. Those words… they never lead anywhere good. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I just—” She takes a shaky breath. “Come with me.”
She leads me back to our bedroom, and that’s when I see it on the nightstand. A white plastic stick.
A pregnancy test?
“Chloe—”
“I’m pregnant.” The words come out in a rush. “I know we didn’t plan this. We’ve only been engaged for two months, and the wedding’s not until September, and I just started my permanent contract, and I should’ve been more careful?—”
I cross the room in two strides, picking up the test to see the crossed pink lines.
We’re having a baby.
We’re having a baby!
“Jonah?” Her voice is small, uncertain. “Say something. Please.”
I set down the test and drag her into my arms, holding her so tight I’m afraid I might break her. But I can’t let go. Can’t process this without touching her, grounding myself in the reality of her.
“Sorry?” I pull back to look at her face. “You think I’m upset about this?”
“I don’t know. Are you?”
“Chloe.” I cup her face in both hands, making sure she sees every bit of what I’m feeling. “This is the best surprise I’ve ever gotten. The absolute best.”
Her eyes fill with tears. “Really?”
“Absolutely.” I kiss her, trying to pour everything into it —all my love, all my joy, all my absolute certainty that this is exactly what I want. “I love you. I love the life we’re building. And I’m going to love this baby so much.”
“The twins are going to lose their minds,” she says, laughing and crying at the same time.
“They’re going to be incredible big sisters.” I pull her against my chest, and I can feel my own heart racing. “When did you figure it out?”
“Last week. I’ve been exhausted, and sick in the mornings, and I thought maybe it was just stress, but then I realized I waslate.” She looks up at me. “Are you really okay with this? Another baby? We already have the twins, and you’re so busy with the bakery?—”
“Hey,” I cut her off gently. “I’ve been thinking about this since the day you moved back in. About us having kids together. I just didn’t want to pressure you.”
“You want more kids? With me?”
“Only with you.” I rest my hand on her stomach, still flat but holding our baby. Our baby. “How far along are you?”
“Maybe six, seven weeks? I have to call the doctor Monday.” She covers my hand with hers. “We’re really doing this.”
“We’re really doing this.” I can’t stop grinning. “We’re getting married in three months, and then we’re having a baby. The twins are going to have a little brother or sister.”
“We need to tell them,” Chloe says. “Soon. Before I start showing.”
“Tonight. We’ll make it special.” I kiss her forehead. “And my mom?—”
