Chapter 16: The Surprise
883 Words
Ava noticed the changes slowly.
First, she was tired. More tired than usual. She fell asleep on the couch at 8 PM.
Then, she was nauseous. Every morning. Like clockwork.
Then, she realized.
She was late.
Her heart pounded as she stared at the calendar. Three weeks late.
"Claire," she called. "I need you to run an errand."
"Of course, Mrs. King."
"Alone. Don't tell Alexander."
Claire's eyes widened. "Is everything okay?"
"I don't know yet."
---
Ava took the test in her bathroom.
Claire waited outside.
The instructions said three minutes. It felt like three hours.
She looked at the stick.
Two lines.
Positive.
Ava sat on the edge of the tub. Her hands were shaking.
"Mrs. King?" Claire called. "Are you okay?"
Ava opened the door. Held up the test.
Claire's face lit up. "Oh my God."
"I'm pregnant."
"Does Mr. King know?"
"Not yet."
---
Ava spent the day in a daze.
She was going to have a baby. Alexander's baby. Their baby.
She wanted to tell him right away. But she wanted it to be special.
Claire helped her plan.
"Tonight. Dinner. Candles. Tell him then."
"What if he's not happy?"
"He will be. Trust me."
---
Alexander came home at 7 PM.
The dining room was set with candles. Roses. Champagne.
"What's the occasion?"
"Sit down."
He sat. "You're worrying me."
"Don't be worried. Be happy."
"I'm always happy when I'm with you."
She took a breath. "I'm pregnant."
Alexander froze.
"What?"
"I'm pregnant. We're going to have a baby."
He stared at her. His face was unreadable.
"Alexander?"
He stood. Walked to her. Knelt in front of her.
"Say it again."
"I'm pregnant."
He pulled her into his arms. Held her tight.
"We're having a baby."
"We're having a baby."
---
He kissed her. Soft. Deep.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
He pulled back. Looked at her stomach.
"Hello in there. I'm your father. I'm going to protect you. Always."
Ava cried. Tears of joy.
"You're going to be a great dad."
"I'm going to try."
"That's all any of us can do."
---
They called her father first.
"Papa, you're going to be a grandfather."
Her father was silent for a moment. Then she heard him cry.
"A baby?"
"A baby."
"I'm so happy for you."
"Thank you, Papa."
---
They called Francesca next.
Alexander's mother cried too.
"Can I come see you?"
"Of course, Mother. Whenever you want."
"I'll come tomorrow."
"Bring your famous soup."
"Anything for my grandchild."
---
That night, Alexander held Ava's hand.
"Are you scared?" she asked.
"Terrified."
"Good. Me too."
"We're going to be parents."
"We're going to be parents."
He kissed her forehead. "Best surprise ever."
---
The next morning, Alexander took her to the doctor.
Dr. Evans confirmed the pregnancy. Six weeks. Healthy.
"Everything looks perfect," Dr. Evans said. "No alcohol. No caffeine. Plenty of rest."
"I can do that," Ava said.
"Plenty of rest?" Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"I can try."
"That's all anyone can do."
---
Alexander bought a book. "What to Expect When You're Expecting."
He read it every night. Out loud. To her belly.
"The baby can't hear you yet," Ava said.
"I'm practicing."
"You're adorable."
"I'm terrifying. There's a difference."
She laughed. "You're adorable."
---
Francesca came with soup.
She held Ava's hands. "You're glowing."
"I'm nauseous."
"Same thing."
Ava laughed. "Alexander says that."
"He learned from me."
---
They told Claire next.
She screamed. Hugged Ava. Cried.
"This house has needed a baby for so long."
"The house or you?"
"Both."
---
The news spread.
The press found out. The headlines were kind.
"Billionaire Heir on the Way."
Alexander framed the article.
"For the baby book," he said.
"We don't have a baby book."
"Now we do."
---
Ava started a journal.
Letters to the baby.
*"Dear little one,*
*Your father is reading parenting books. He's terrified. But so am I.*
*We didn't plan this. But we're so happy.*
*You are so loved already.*
*Love,*
*Mama"*
---
Alexander found the journal.
He read it in secret. Never told her.
But he started his own journal.
Letters to the baby.
*"Dear little one,*
*Your mother is the strongest person I know. You'll be strong too.*
*I never thought I could be a father. Now I can't imagine not being one.*
*I promise to protect you. To love you. To never leave.*
*Love,*
*Dada"*
---
The weeks passed.
Ava's belly grew. Her appetite grew. Her love grew.
Alexander talked to her stomach every night.
"What are you saying?" Ava asked.
"Telling the baby about our day."
"What about?"
"About how we met. How I fell in love with his mother."
"Her mother."
"We don't know yet."
"I have a feeling."
"A feeling?"
"A mother's intuition."
He kissed her belly. "I trust you."
---
The ultrasound was at twelve weeks.
Ava held Alexander's hand. The technician moved the wand.
"There's the heartbeat," the technician said.
Ava cried. Alexander's eyes were wet.
"That's our baby," he whispered.
"That's our baby."
"Everything looks perfect," the technician said.
Alexander kissed Ava's forehead.
"Perfect."
---
They celebrated with dinner.
Pasta. Salad. Sparkling cider.
"To the baby," Alexander said.
"To the baby."
"To us."
"To us."
She kissed him.
The future was bright.
And their family was growing.
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