I check the time again.
Okay. Its almost four.
My foot taps lightly against the floor as I stand in the living room, hands hovering in the air like I don't know where to put them. Cake—here. Food—neatly arranged. Flowers—alive and dramatic. Balloons—floating like they know something I don't.
And the box.
I walk over to it slowly, crouch down, and open it just a little. Inside, the tiny baby T-shirt sits folded, impossibly small.
My breath catches.
"Wow…" I whisper, fingers hovering but not touching it yet. "You're really… really real."
I press my palm gently to my stomach, a smile sneaking onto my face without permission.
"Okay, baby," I murmur, leaning closer as if we're sharing a secret. "You are the final boss surprise. So shh—absolute silence till your dad figures it out, yeah?"
I straighten up, inhale, then exhale slowly, trying to calm the flutter in my chest. I smooth my hair, then immediately mess it up again from nerves.
