Montana Haven: A Small Town Surprise Pregnancy Romance

14. ~ Mia ~

As Dylan and Emily chase each other around the backyard, Jake and I find ourselves locked in an intense conversation in the kitchen.

The weight of our discussion from the previous night still hangs heavy as we work through our past and look towards a bright future together. But now, with the imminent arrival of our baby, the stakes feel higher than ever before.

We are both filled with a sense of urgency and excitement, eager to prepare for the new life that will soon be joining our family. As I watch the kids playing outside, I can”t help but feel a rush of love and anticipation for the journey that lies ahead.

”Have you thought about it?” I ask, breaking the silence of Jake”s kitchen as we sit down with our morning coffee, a list of baby essentials before us.

”Thought about what?” Jake looks up, his eyes searching mine.

”Whether you”d want a boy or a girl,” I say, a playful smile tugging at my lips. It”s a light-hearted question, but somehow, it feels like everything in this moment.

Jake”s warm and infectiously uplifting laughter fills the room. ”Honestly, I”ve always imagined having a little girl. Can you imagine that? A tiny version of us, but a girl. I already have a son, and a daughter would complete the picture.”

His admission surprises me, a delightful contrast to my secret wish. ”That”s funny,” I chuckle, ”because I”ve been thinking maybe a boy would be nice. I already have a daughter, and the thought of adding a little boy to our mix just...” I trail off, the idea warming my heart.

The irony isn”t lost on either of us, and we share a laugh, reveling in the unexpected joy of this simple conversation. It”s a moment of levity amidst the uncertainty of our future. A reminder that we can find humor and happiness together.

”Well, since we”re on the topic,” Jake begins, his tone shifting to playful curiosity, ”have you thought of any names? For either a boy or a girl?”

I nod, naming our child suddenly feeling like the most crucial decision. ”For a girl, I”ve always loved the name Emma. It”s simple, classic.”

”And for a boy?” Jake prompts, his interest piqued as he reaches for a pen, ready to jot down our thoughts.

”James,” I say without hesitation. ”It”s strong but timeless.”

Jake writes down the names, and we continue back and forth, suggesting names. Some are met with laughter, others with a thoughtful nod. Our list grows, and our child has a mix of possibilities, each name a promise of a future filled with love, challenges, and infinite joy.

Jake leans back, a twinkle in his eye. ”What about Sophie for a girl? It’s got a kind of elegance to it.”

I tilt my head, considering. ”Sophie... Yeah, I like it. It feels gentle yet sophisticated.”

”And for a boy, what do you think of the name Ethan?” I propose, a new thought striking me. ”It sounds strong, reliable.”

He scribbles down the suggestion, nodding in agreement. ”Ethan, I can get behind that. It does have a certain determination to it.”

Pausing, Jake looks up, his expression thoughtful. ”You know, my grandfather was named Theodore. I called him Theo for short. There’s something about that name—resilient, classic, but with a modern twist.”

I smile, warmed by the connection to his heritage. ”Theo... It’s perfect. It carries weight and history, yet it’s adaptable and lively.”

Our eyes meet, an unspoken agreement passing between us. ”And for another girl’s name... What about Ava? It’s so vibrant and full of life,” he suggests, his voice softening.

”Ava,” I repeat, rolling the name around. ”Yes, it’s wonderful. It”s full of light, just like she would be.”

Jake flips the page, his gaze still connected with mine, a signal we’re shifting to another critical decision. ”What about the birth plan, Mia? Have you thought more about a midwife versus a hospital delivery?”

I draw a deep breath, the topic weighty with implications. ”I have, and it”s not a simple choice. With a midwife, this beautiful notion of a natural, more intimate birth experience exists. It might be less clinical, more about us as a family.”

He nods, acknowledging the point. ”True, the personal attention and the home comfort aspect are appealing. But what concerns me is the ‘what if’—what if something goes wrong? In a hospital, you have immediate access to more medical interventions.”

I chew on my lip, considering his worry. ”That’s exactly it. The safety net of a hospital feels reassuring. There are immediate surgical options, epidurals if needed. But then, hospitals can feel so impersonal, and I worry about being just another patient on a busy night.”

He leans in, his concern palpable. ”I get that completely. It”s just the idea that I’d never forgive myself in an emergency if we weren’t in the right place to get you both the best care quickly.”

”I know,” I sigh, ”And that’s why it’s so hard. There’s also the thought of how invasive a hospital can be. Constant checks, the potential for a more medicalized birth than might be necessary. But you’re right about the emergency aspect. It”s about balancing risk and comfort, isn’t it?”

Jake reaches across, squeezing my hand. ”Exactly. It’s about what feels right for us, for you, Mia. Safety is paramount, but so is your comfort and how you want to experience bringing our child into the world. Maybe we meet with both a midwife and a hospital consultant? See which approach resonates more with us?”

I nod, grateful for his support and understanding.

”That sounds like a balanced way forward. Exploring both options more thoroughly will help us make a comfortable decision. After all, it’s about welcoming our baby in the best possible way for our family. Honestly, I”d prefer the birth happening at the hospital.”

Our conversation continues, a gentle back and forth as we weigh the pros and cons, our mutual respect and love guiding us through these monumental decisions.

Later that day, while having sandwiches and apple slices at the kitchen table, Jake and I reveal some of the baby names we”ve been considering to Dylan and Emily.

”So, you two,” I begin, trying to capture their attention between bites, ”we”ve been thinking about baby names and wanted to know what you think.”

With their mouths still full, Dylan and Emily, who are scribbling on a piece of paper, pause and look up. Their eyes light up when baby names are mentioned, and suddenly, the reality of a new sibling seems to hit them anew.

”We”ve picked out a couple of names for if the baby is a boy and a few for if the baby is a girl,” Jake says, his voice infused with excitement. “For a boy, we”re thinking about Ethan or Alexander. And for a girl, maybe Olivia or Sophia. What do you guys think?”

”Ethan is cool!” Dylan exclaims, eyes wide. ”He could be a superhero with that name.”

Emily tilts her head, thinking. ”I like Olivia. It”s pretty. But what about... Sparkle if it”s a girl or Rocket if it”s a boy?” Her suggestions send us into laughter, the joyous sound filling the kitchen.

Jake winks at me and turns to them. ”Sparkle and Rocket, huh? Those are unique choices. We”ll have to consider them.”

I can”t help but smile at their earnestness. ”We wanted you two to be a part of this decision. It’s important that you feel connected to your new sibling.”

Dylan”s amusement shifted to a more thoughtful look. ”But, will I have to share my room with the baby if it”s a boy? Or will Emily share if it”s a girl?” he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

I couldn”t help but laugh gently, shaking my head.

”No, sweetheart, you won”t have to share your room. We plan to turn an empty room upstairs into a nursery. That way, the baby will have their own space, and you and Emily can keep your rooms as they are,” I reassured him, smiling warmly. Jake leaned forward, capturing the kids” attention with his engaging tone.

”That”s right. The baby will get their own room. We want each of you to have your own space and the baby to have their own. Plus, it”ll be fun setting up a nursery together. We can all help pick out colors and themes,” he said, inviting them to be part of the planning.

This immediately brought back Dylan and Emily”s excitement. Their worries were gone, and they started thinking enthusiastically about potential nursery themes.

Emily”s eyes light up with excitement, and she almost bounces in her seat as she chimes in.

”Oh! We should make it a pink nursery if it”s a girl! The walls could be pink, with lots of baby dolls all over the place! And a big dollhouse when they are big enough to play with it!”

Her imagination takes flight, vividly painting a nursery haven for playful adventures and nurturing dreams.

Dylan, not to be outdone, jumps in with his vision. ”And if it”s a boy, the room should be blue! But not just any blue, something cool like sky blue. And wallpaper with horses on it! Like, huge ones that look like they”re running across the walls.”

His enthusiasm builds as he gestures wildly, trying to encompass the vastness of his idea.

”We could even find a bed that looks like a barn or something. It would be cool to have a room like that, like a giant adventure every time you go to sleep.”

Jake couldn”t help but laugh softly at Dylan and Emily”s vivid imagery and boundless excitement. Shaking his head in amusement, he placed a calming hand on the table, signaling a gentle pause in the lively conversation.

”You two have some amazing ideas! I love how creative you”re getting with this,” he said, his laughter subsiding into a warm smile that reflected his genuine appreciation for their enthusiasm.

”We”ll keep all these fantastic themes in mind. Imagine the possibilities!” he added, winking at me. I nodded in agreement, my eyes twinkling with shared excitement and love.

The atmosphere at the table shifted to a lighter, softer tone as the children, imbued with a sense of being heard and valued, slowly resumed their lunch.

The conversation about nursery themes is lively but gradually becomes quieter. Emily picks up her sandwich, still smiling at the thought of a dollhouse corner, while Dylan absently stirs his drink, lost in thoughts of adventures among giant wallpaper horses.

Meanwhile, Jake and I share a look, an unspoken conversation flowing between us. It is a look of shared dreams and aspirations, a mutual recognition of the joy of planning for our growing family.

We smile joyfully, acknowledging our children”s excitement and sharing in our family”s anticipation and imaginative spirit. Relief grips our hearts, knowing for sure that the children are really okay about the pregnancy.