Chapter 44: It is Time
Sunday morning arrived too quickly. As I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my hand instinctively moved to rest on my growing belly. The twins were my secret strength, though still my greatest vulnerability.
At twenty weeks, hiding my pregnancy was becoming increasingly challenging. The pregnancy band helped, but sooner or later, the truth would be impossible to conceal.
"Good morning, little ones," I whispered, taking a moment to connect with my babies before facing the day ahead. My mind drifted to the inevitable—conversations I had been avoiding, decisions I could no longer postpone.
I quickly got dressed and headed to the living room.
The smell of coffee drifted through the house, rich and inviting. I found Noah in the kitchen, already dressed and preparing breakfast. He looked comfortable here, at ease in a way that made my heart ache.
"Morning," he said, handing me a mug of herbal tea instead of coffee, as if he’d picked up on my subtle avoidance yesterday. Noah noticed things—it was both endearing and concerning.
"I thought we’d head back after breakfast," he continued. "Unless you wanted to stay longer?"
"We should get back," I said, taking a sip of tea. The warmth spread through me, a temporary comfort. "But thank you for this weekend, Noah. It’s exactly what I needed."
His smile was warm, unguarded. "It was perfect."
We packed up quickly after breakfast, loading our bags into Noah’s car. As he closed the trunk, he turned to me with a thoughtful expression.
"You know you can talk to me about anything, right? Whatever’s going on with you... I’m here."