CH 43: Everything changes now

Renee’s hands trembled as the test slipped from her fingers, landing on the counter with a quiet tap. Her knees gave out a second later, and she sank onto the bathroom floor, her face crumpling as the tears finally broke free. Mike was there in an instant, dropping beside her, wrapping his arms around her as she sobbed into his chest. He held her tightly, his chin resting against the crown of her head, one hand slowly running up and down her back. “It’s okay,” he whispered. “You don’t have to hold it in.”
She didn’t. Not now. The weight of the past few days, the confusion, the guilt, the longing—all of it poured out in gasping breaths and shaking shoulders.
“We’re really having a baby,” she choked out, half in disbelief, half in fear.
Mike nodded slowly, his voice soft but steady. “Yeah. We are.”
“I can’t do this again,” she cried. “Mike… I already have two boys. They’re practically grown or almost there. I dont think I can do this again..."
He pulled back just enough to cup her face in his hands, wiping away her tears with his thumbs. “You don't have to decide now. And you’re not doing it alone.” She met his gaze, eyes full of uncertainty.
He leaned in and kissed her, slow and grounding, as if he was trying to give her a piece of his strength. When he pulled away, his forehead pressed against hers.
“I’m here. For all of it,” he said. “But this is your body, your choice. I love you enough to follow your lead. But you need to tell Jake okay?” She just nodded, she knew that everything changes now.
Mike helped her to her feet, still holding her hand as they left the bathroom. Renee moved quietly through the hallway, numb and distant, her mind buzzing with too many thoughts to settle. When they reached her room, she climbed onto the bed and curled against the pillows. The comforter felt cool and soft, but her skin was too warm, her heart too loud. “I’ll get us some coffee,” Mike said gently, kissing her forehead before stepping away. “Don’t move. Just breathe.”

She nodded but didn’t answer. The moment he left the room, she picked up her phone from the nightstand and stared at it. Her fingers hesitated before she tapped Jake’s name.
***"Can we talk tomorrow? Not tonight***." The response came quickly.***Are you okay?***
Renee chewed on her lip for a second before replying. ***I will be. I’ll tell you everything tomorrow. Please.*** He didn’t press. ***Okay. I’ll be there. Just… take care of yourself.***
She locked the phone just as Mike returned, holding two mugs of coffee. He placed hers on the nightstand and kicked off his shoes before sliding into bed beside her.

“Here,” he murmured, wrapping an arm around her waist. “One sugar, like always.”
“Thanks,” she said quietly, turning slightly to face him. The scent of coffee mixed with the warmth of his body helped calm the storm just a little. They sat in silence for a while, sipping slowly, until Mike finally asked, “When did you start to suspect?” Renee hesitated. “The week Jake showed up.”
His brow lifted. “Seriously?” “Yeah… I meant to tell you,” she admitted with a sheepish smile. “But everything started spinning so fast, and then I forgot.”
Mike laughed under his breath. “Is that why we hadn’t been intimate for a while?”
Her cheeks flushed, and she let out a light, tired chuckle. “Partly, yeah. That and… well, I’ve been exhausted, and emotional, and confused as hell.”

Mike smiled gently, brushing his fingers along her side. “Yeah, I noticed.”
He grew quiet, his hand still, his tone more serious now. “Renee… do you want to keep it?”
Her breath caught. She stared at the ceiling for a long second before turning to look at him, really look at him. “I don’t want to do this alone,” she said. “And I won’t keep a baby whose father isn’t okay with it. I don’t want to raise another child in uncertainty. You have a say, Mike. Especially if we’re trying to fix this… us.” He looked at her like the weight of her honesty settled into him fully. Then, without a word, he leaned in and kissed her—soft, but full of promise. When he pulled back, she exhaled slowly, finally letting herself relax. “Let’s lay down,” he said. She nodded.

Wrapped in each other’s warmth, they slid beneath the covers and settled in, the hum of the coffee cooling on the nightstand and the questions lingering in the space between them. But for now, they allowed the quiet to win. Sleep came, not peacefully, but necessary.
Renee stirred beneath the covers, blinking groggily as her phone buzzed beside her on the nightstand. The light from the screen was soft but persistent. She slipped out from under Mike’s arm and sat up, careful not to wake him as she answered the call. “Hey, Mom,” she whispered, her voice still thick with sleep. “Hi, sweetheart,” her mom replied, cheerful and casual. “I wanted to ask—would it be alright if I kept the boys a little longer? There’s this cruise package I found, and it leaves in two days. A full Caribbean tour—forty-five days.” Renee blinked, the words slowly clicking into place. Two more months without the boys.
“That’s… a long time,” she murmured. “I know,” her mom said. “But I thought they’d love it. And you could use the quiet. You sound tired.” A pause settled between them. Renee looked over her shoulder at Mike, still sleeping deeply beside her. She reached for his hand, needing the grounding.
“I am tired,” she admitted softly. “I just found out I’m pregnant.” There was a beat of silence on the other end of the line.

“Oh, honey…” her mom’s voice shifted instantly, warm and protective. “Are you okay?”
“I think so. It’s… a lot. But I’m okay. Just—please don’t tell the boys yet. I want to be the one to do that. When they’re home.”
“Of course. I won’t say a word,” her mom promised. “You’ll figure this out.”
“I hope so.” They exchanged goodbyes and I love yous, and Renee hung up, still holding the phone as she turned back toward the bed.
Mike stirred, his arm reaching out instinctively. She smiled and lay back down, resting her head on his chest. “Hey,” she whispered, brushing her fingers across his skin. “It’s getting late. Do you want to stay the night, or head home?”
He didn’t open his eyes. His hand found her hip, pulling her closer. His voice was thick with sleep but certain. "You’re my home,” he mumbled. Renee froze, her heart skipping at the softness in his voice. Then he sighed, kissed the top of her head, and pulled her tighter into him before falling back asleep.
She lay still, held in his warmth, tears slipping quietly down her cheeks—not from fear this time, but something far more dangerous.
Hope.
When Renee woke the next morning, Mike was gone—only a note on her nightstand: ***Had to run to work. I’ll call you later.***
Heart racing, she grabbed her phone and texted Beth: ***I need to talk to you.***