Later that evening, the house was quiet except for the soft ticking of the kitchen clock and the occasional rustle of the breeze through the open window. Mike had just come in, loosened his tie, and set down his briefcase when Isabelle gently touched his arm.
“Can we talk?” she asked, her voice fragile but calm.
Mike immediately gave her his full attention, sensing the seriousness in her tone. She led him to the living room, where they sat down on the couch. Isabelle held his hands, her fingers trembling slightly.
“There’s something important I need to tell you,” she began, eyes glancing away before locking back on his. “I… I found out today that I’m pregnant.”
Mike blinked, clearly caught off guard. His brows furrowed in confusion. “Pregnant? But… I thought you couldn’t—”
“I thought so too,” Isabelle whispered, her voice cracking. “I don’t understand it either. But the test was positive. Jess… she helped me confirm it.”
For a moment, Mike just sat there in stunned silence. Isabelle’s shoulders tensed as she waited for his response, already feeling tears brimming again.
But then, something shifted in his face. The confusion melted away, and a warm, almost boyish smile spread across his features.
“Well… I’ll be damned,” he said, letting out a short, incredulous laugh. “We’re really going to have another baby?”
Isabelle’s lower lip quivered, and she gave the smallest nod, trying to hold it together.
Mike reached out and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a strong, reassuring embrace. “Hey,” he said softly. “Hey, it’s okay. I know it’s a lot. But Isabelle… this is amazing. Scary, sure, and unexpected, yeah—but amazing.”
“You’re not… upset?” she asked into his shoulder, tears slipping down her cheeks.
“Upset?” he pulled back slightly, brushing the hair from her face. “Isabelle, I love you. I love our family. And if we’re being given this gift—no matter how strange or unexpected—I’ll love this baby too. We’ll figure it out. Together.”
She broke then, burying her face in his chest as the tears came freely. Mike just held her, rubbing her back gently, grounding her in the warmth of his arms.
And for the first time since she’d seen those pink lines, Isabelle felt the tightness in her chest ease—just a little. Because whatever came next, she wouldn’t be facing it alone.