January brought cold winds and a renewed sense of purpose.
The trial was behind them, and the holidays were over. Victoria was in prison, the restitution was processing, and Aria's life had finally settled into a peaceful routine.
Now it was time to focus on what really mattered: preparing for Emma's arrival.
Aria was nineteen weeks pregnant, nearly halfway through the pregnancy. Her bump was prominent now, impossible to hide even in loose clothing. She'd officially entered that stage where strangers felt entitled to comment on her pregnancy, offer unsolicited advice, and occasionally try to touch her stomach without permission.
"You're glowing!" the barista at the coffee shop said when Aria stopped in for her morning decaf latte.
"You're so small for nineteen weeks," a woman in the e
