Elise stood alone in the drugstore, observing the students and young professionals her age around her. Most of them wore light jackets, and some didn't even wear jackets, just long-sleeved shirts and pants.
She stood in the pregnancy test section, picking up several different brands to compare. Having never bought one before, she wasn't sure which was most effective, so she grabbed one of each, put them in her basket, and hurriedly checked out.
When Elise got home, Braden hadn't come back from work yet. She stayed in the bathroom, taking out all the pregnancy tests, test strips, and cartridges, following the instructions on each one.
After letting everything sit for ten minutes, sure enough, both the control and reaction lines showed up. She screamed in disbelief, so loudly that her own voice made her ears hurt.
Elise tossed the used tests into the trash, then bagged it up and temporarily left it on the balcony.
She sat in the living room, gently touching her stomach. She hadn't expected to be pregnant so soon. Now it seemed they couldn't delay the wedding much longer, maybe they'd have to get it done soon.
But maybe this was a good thing. At least now she understood why she'd been so emotionally unstable, with cold hands and feet and a lack of appetite lately. So, this is what being pregnant felt like.
But would her mood swings affect her relationship with Braden? She felt a bit troubled. Lately, she had indeed been overthinking everything.
He was busy with work, and now he'd have to take care of her too. Could he manage it all?
Or should she move back to her parents' place for a while?
While she was lost in thought, the door opened, and in came Braden.
He didn't seem like he was coming in. He just waved to her, "Come on, let's go see the doctor, then grab some dinner."
She shook her head, smiling awkwardly as she walked over to him. "No need, really, no doctor visit necessary. But dinner? Yes, please! I'm starving!"
"No way. If I don't take you to the doctor, I'll worry about you…" He lowered his head, gently touching the top of her head. His tone was still soft and warm, with no hint of forcefulness.
She wrapped her slender arms around his waist, murmuring shyly, "The reason I don't need to see a doctor is because I already did a pregnancy test… and I'm pregnant. If I need a checkup, it should be with an OB-GYN…"
Braden stood frozen, completely speechless, with no other reaction.
Elise looked up at him from his chest, seeing he had nothing to say. She released the hug she had given him just moments before.
"You... don't like it?" she murmured, her disappointment evident; this wasn't how she imagined things would go.
She thought he'd be happy. Didn't he hint at it back in M City? At the dinosaur park's slide, only kids were allowed.
She assumed that meant he wanted to have a child together… Was she wrong?
This was a disaster. She had just practiced staying calm before he got home, but seeing him like this… she was starting to lose control.
Her eyes reddened, and it felt like a heavy stone weighed on her heart, squeezing painful sadness through her. This couldn't go on, she thought. Before she embarrassed herself by crying, she decided to retreat to the bedroom.
Before a single tear fell, a warm embrace caught her from behind, holding her in place.
"I'm sorry. I was just surprised, not upset," Braden said, easing his grip a bit, worried she might be uncomfortable.
"Huh? Really?" Elise's heart tightened, but she couldn't hold back her tears. "I thought if you didn't like it... then I'd have to go through it all alone…" "Huh? Really?" Elise's heart tightened, but she couldn't hold back her tears. "I thought if you didn't like it... then I'd have to go through it all alone…"
A quiet sob escaped her, and his heart ached as he gently turned her to face him.
"I'm sorry, don't cry. Seeing you upset hurts me too…" He bent down to wipe away each tear that fell. "How could I not like it? I love it, I'm so happy. I want us to have a child together. That way, you're just mine, and I won't have to worry about anyone taking you away. Be good, don't cry. Let me take you to get something you like, okay?"
"I was afraid you wouldn't be happy... I think I'm really overthinking everything. I hope that doesn't make you mad…" She held back her tears, hugging him again. "There might be a lot of times like this. Could you… maybe just be a little patient with me?"
Hearing her say that made him feel even worse about his initial surprise, realizing it had caused her to overthink and feel hurt.
"No matter what, I'll always be patient with you. You're my one and only, my beloved wife. How could I not be there for you?" Braden gently patted her head, comforting her in a soft voice. "I was in the wrong before. Don't be upset anymore. Aren't you hungry? Let's go eat, then come back and figure out which hospital might be best for check-ups. I'll be with you for every single one so you won't feel alone. Can you forgive me?"
"I'm not mad at you… I just tend to overthink things," Elise hugged him tighter, whispering playfully, "I love you too, honey."
"Thank you. Now, let's go eat, and my sweetheart won't cry anymore." Braden gently pulled her away and kissed her forehead.
She nodded with a smile, feeling a sense of calm from his sincere words.
------
After dinner, back at home, they took a bath, and Braden and Elise lay in bed together. He scrolled through his phone, comparing several maternity hospitals.
Elise, meanwhile, had already fallen asleep, lying quietly on her side, facing him.
He looked at her tenderly, recalling how she'd thought he didn't want a child and had cried over it. He realized he'd been careless, overlooking her possible emotional reactions.
He promised himself he wouldn't let her feel that way again. He might never understand the ten-month journey of pregnancy, but he would do everything he could to be there for her, no second thoughts.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated with a message from the company group chat. Rory and Tyree were stirring things up together in the chat.
Braden recalled what Elise had told him a few days ago, asking if he could help her avoid facing Tyree.
As soon as he got to work today, he sought out Gunnar to discuss the matter. However, just as he expected, Gunnar was either out of the office or ignoring messages.
After thinking it over several times, he still felt it would be more reassuring to go through Zayne.
He secretly resolved to find a time to ask Zayne for help. Maybe Gunnar would consider it out of their long-standing friendship.
Otherwise... he had already prepared for the worst.
