Chapter 35: Truth and Pain
Mara sat in the backseat of the car, her hands resting gently on her belly as the city blurred past the window. The traffic was at a standstill, the sea of cars inching forward at a glacial pace. She glanced at the clock on the dashboard, her heart sinking as she realized how late it was getting. Ethan would be home soon, and she wanted everything to be perfect.
This child could only be his, she thought, a small smile tugging at her lips as she rubbed her belly. She wasn’t sure if she was ready to be a mom, but she knew how much this would mean to Ethan. They had only been married for four weeks, and now, here she was, four weeks pregnant. It felt like fate, like the universe was giving them a second chance at something they had both thought was impossible.
But she needed to get home. She needed to shower, to change, to prepare a romantic dinner for him. Tonight was special—not just because he was coming back, but because she was going to tell him the news. She wanted it to be perfect, something they would both remember forever.
The traffic showed no signs of easing, and Mara’s patience was wearing thin. "Is there another road?" Mara asked while the driver shook his head, there was nothing they could do. The roads were jammed, and there was no way around it. She sighed, leaning back in her seat, her mind racing.
Then an idea struck her. She couldn’t be there to prepare everything herself, but maybe Maria could help. It wasn’t ideal, but it was the best she could do under the circumstances. She dialed Maria’s number, her fingers tapping nervously against the phone.
"Maria?" she said when she picked up. "I need a favor. I’m stuck in traffic, and Ethan’s coming home tonight. I wanted to prepare something special for him, but I’m not going to make it in time. Can you help me? Just set the table, maybe light some candles? I’ll be there as soon as I can."
There was a pause on the other end, and for a moment, Mara wondered if Maria would refuse. But then Maria’s voice came through, calm and composed. "Of course, Mara. I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry."
Mara let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. "Thank you, Maria. I owe you one."
She hung up and tried calling Ethan next, but his phone was off. She assumed he was still on the plane, and the thought made her smile. He had no idea what was waiting for him at home. No idea how much their lives were about to change.