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"Mia," I say gently, imploring her to hear me. "Sometimes, the best surprises in life are the ones we never planned for. Yes, it's scary, and yes, it's a leap into the unknown. But it's also a chance for something wonderful to blossom. We're in this together, every step of the way."
Mia's gaze drops to the ground, and she instinctively wipes away the tears spilling down her cheeks. "I'm just so scared, Jake. What if Emily gets upset with me? What if she freaks out?" She takes a shaky breath before continuing. "And Dylan... he might be mad about the whole situation." Her voice breaks, showing how deeply she fears our increasingly blended family's reaction to the news.
I step closer, offering my presence as a steady comfort.
"Hey," I say softly, lifting her chin so she looks into my eyes. "We'll get through this together. I believe that Emily and Dylan will be okay with this. They love us, and they'll come around to the idea of having a little brother or sister."
I smile, trying to bring optimism into the heavy air between us. "And even if they feel uncomfortable about the pregnancy at first, I promise you, I'll do everything in my power to help them adjust. This is a new chapter for all of us, but it's one we can write together."
"But, Jake, we haven’t even figured out what we are yet," she whispers, her voice laced with uncertainty and fear.
I reach for her hands, holding them in mine, needing her to feel and believe my next words: "I love you, Mia. And I feel it, deep in my bones, that you love me too. We might not have everything figured out, but this—us—this is something right. We'll figure the rest out together, whatever it takes. You’re not alone in this. We’re in this together."
For a moment, she looks at me, searching my face for the certainty I feel. Then, slowly, a tear slips down her cheek, and she nods, stepping into my arms. I hold her close, her head resting against my chest as I kiss the top of her head.
"We’re going to be alright, Mia. All five of us."
Chapter 10
~ Mia ~
Building Trust
To say that I'm utterly terrified is quite an understatement.
I had moved back to Pine Creek, hoping to re-establish the lifestyle I had grown accustomed to—a place that could feel like a community.
A place Emily could forever call home, no matter what.
Teaching her that sometimes a family can consist of more than just blood relatives.
Instead, I fell into the clutches of resurfaced feelings I thought were forever buried.
I had returned to town with thoughts of Jake being a family man, complete with a wife and all. But instead? He had been a single father. A man who had dedicated his life to his son. A man who was very single in terms of not having a romantic life.
I told myself to ignore the festering feelings that built up inside me as we spend more time together. I even thought I had a solid grip on things when we shared that first kiss since my return, in which I had done a good job of friend-zoning him out in favor of focusing on Emily.
Or at least I had thought I'd done so.
Yet, the feelings only continue to grow as we spend time together, especially with our children.
As I watched him in his natural element at the ranch, being the cowboy he'd always dreamed of being as a young boy, I saw that he also worked hard to make young people's dreams come true as well.
Whether teaching them how to ride a horse or showing them the proper way to feed one, Jake showed that there is another side to him beyond the grumpy and sometimes bossy side.
The side most are used to seeing.
But I usually see that sweeter, gentler side of him.
The one who promises to protect you and take great care of you.
The side that entertains Dylan by being roped into playing his son's made-up games, such as cowboy tag, and who also makes Emily feel safe, comfortable, and reassured whenever she feels shy or unsure of herself.
And now?
The father of the unborn baby growing inside of me.
I didn't have a nature crafts class today because two teachers took all the children and a few chaperones on a field trip for an extensive nature walk. I stayed back to help some of the volunteers with baking sweets, which gave me the chance to think a lot.
