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I can do this.
As soon as I walk into my apartment, the scent of my mom's floral perfume fills the air. She's sitting at the kitchen counter with a glass of wine she helped herself to.
"Mom, you're early! How was your flight?"
"Hi, dear. It was all right. The man next to me snored the entire way, though." She rolls her eyes playfully. "You look tired, dear. Are you getting enough sleep?"
"Sleep? What's that?" I laugh, trying to keep the atmosphere light.
She laughs, but her eyes are serious. "You should take better care of yourself, Maya. Health is wealth, you know."
I start warming some water for tea as silence falls between us. It's not uncomfortable, but the air is thick with words left unsaid.
I finish boiling the water and pour it over my peppermint tea bag nestled at the bottom of my mug. My mom raises an eyebrow at me. "Would you rather have a glass of wine, sweetheart?" She gestures towards the wine bottle on the counter.
"No, thanks, Mom. I prefer tea." I cradle the warm mug in my hands and we make our way to the living room, sitting down on the couch.
The silence wraps around us again, but this time it feels different, charged with the decision I'm about to make.
"Mom, there's something I need to tell you." My heart is racing, but I can't delay any longer. This secret is going to be the death of me if I try.
"What is it, dear?"
"I'm... I'm pregnant, Mom." I keep my eyes lowered. I can't look at her.
The room goes silent, the only sound is the obnoxious tick-tock of the clock on the wall. It feels like an eternity before she finally responds.
"I know, Maya."
I snap my head up. "What? You know too?"
"I read the tabloids, darling. And I had a motherly hunch. You were always terrible at keeping things from me." There's an awkward pause. "So, Hunter Holmes, your boss, and your best friend’s dad? Really, Maya?"
I wince at the words. It's true but for some reason, it sounds worse coming out of her mouth.
"I know, Mom, it sounds bad when you put it like that. But it's not like we planned for this to happen. We just... We couldn't fight the attraction we had for each other."
Her eyebrows squeeze together. "Does he know about the baby? Are you two planning to be together?"
"Well... We're kinda... not talking at the moment."
My mother sighs, running a hand through her hair. "Maya, darling, you need to get your act together. This isn't a high school drama, it's real life, and real life has consequences." She takes a sip of her wine. "You're carrying a baby, his baby, and you should talk to him about the future. He's a responsible man, he'll step up." She glances at me with a hint of disappointment in her eyes. "At least he's not some broke loser. He can take care of you and the baby."
"I don’t need anyone taking care of me, Mom. I can handle my own stuff." My voice comes out more defensive than I intend. I've always been independent, and the thought of relying on someone else feels like a blow to my confidence.
"Maya, you're so stubborn." She shakes her head at me. "Independence is good, but sometimes we all need a little help."
"But Mom, he..." I start, but she raises a hand to stop me.
"I understand, Maya. He's your boss, he's older, he's Kaitlyn's father. It's complicated, I get it. But he's also the father of your child. And accepting help doesn't make you weak. It only shows that you're wise enough to realize that you can't always do everything alone."
I open my mouth to argue, but I find myself lost for words.
Fuck. She's got a point.
But I won't admit it.
After a long silence, I murmur, "I’ll think about it, Mom.”
