The bathroom felt smaller than it had earlier.
Quieter.
Too quiet.
Michael stood behind Marnie, his hands gently resting on her shoulders, grounding her as she stared at the little sealed box on the counter.
“Whenever you’re ready,” he murmured.
She nodded, inhaled slowly, and reached for the test again.
Her fingertips touched the box—
And then—
A sharp, sudden sound cut through the air.
BANG. BANG. BANG.
Someone was pounding on their front door.
Marnie jumped, her heart leaping into her throat.
Michael’s expression snapped instantly from softness to a steel-edged alertness, his protective instincts firing like electricity.
He tightened his hold on her for a heartbeat.
“Stay here,” he said, voice calm but commanding.
Marnie grabbed his hand. “Michael… who—”
“I’ll check,” he
