Shantel Avery Winslow tilted her head against the window, watching the early morning light spill over the garden. A delicate mist clung to the hedges, softening the edges of the world outside. The hummingbirds had returned, flitting between hibiscus blooms, while the world stretched into another beautiful, ordinary day. Inside, everything smelled like cinnamon and clean laundry. Quiet, peaceful, like the life she and Gilbert had spent six years building.
She glanced at the time—6:37 a.m. Gilbert would be back soon.
Their home was modest by most standards, but perfect to her. A white bungalow just outside the city, wrapped in ivy and love. Inside, every corner told a story: the wall of photos from their wedding, the shelf with tiny carved elephants they collected on their honeymoon in Kenya, the prints from her NGO's first awareness campaign framed proudly near the kitchen. The house wasn't about extravagance; it was about them. And it felt alive.
She moved toward the kitchen and started setting out mugs. Gilbert never let her lift a finger in the mornings, but today she wanted to surprise him. He had a 7 a.m. board meeting, and she knew he hadn't slept well last night. She could always tell from how his breathing changed in bed, from the way his hand reached for hers a little too tightly around 2 a.m., then let go by morning.
The front door creaked open.
"Babe?" came Gilbert's voice, low and smooth, with that soft rasp he never lost.
"In here," she called, pouring hot water over the tea leaves.
He walked in, tie askew, hair damp from a quick jog, and dropped his keys on the console. "You're up early. I was going to bring you breakfast."
She smiled. "Beat you to it."
He moved behind her, slipped his arms around her waist, and kissed the back of her neck. "You spoil me."
"Only because you're worth spoiling."
He chuckled, and for a moment, the warmth of their rhythm wrapped around them. A shared bubble. Easy love.
"So," she said, handing him a mug, "how's the morning?"
He exhaled. "Same. The firm's pushing that client expansion hard. My boss is already waiting for my slides. Told me last night—2 a.m. text, can you imagine?"
She shook her head. "Does he ever sleep?"
"Not since 2001, probably."
He took a long sip, then looked at her closely. "You good?"
She nodded. "Just... soaking it all in."
There was a quiet between them, not awkward—more like a pause in a song. A moment of knowing. Shantel's hand brushed over her abdomen. Not visibly showing yet, but they both knew. The baby was real now. Confirmed. Kicking, growing, alive.
"You still in shock?" he asked gently.
"Little bit. After all these years…"
They'd tried for five years. The IVF rounds. The tears. The miscarriages. The quiet moments of wondering if maybe parenthood just wasn't for them. Then, suddenly, without treatments, without effort—pregnant. Naturally. Unexpectedly.
"Miracles do exist," he said, as if reading her thoughts.
She leaned into him. "This baby's already rewriting everything."
He held her tighter. "We're going to be great parents."
She smiled, then teased, "You sure about that? Because you can't even fold a baby onesie right."
He laughed. "Lies. That was one time!"
They ate together, teasing, dreaming aloud—nursery colors, baby names, sleep schedules, first birthdays. Every laugh deepened the joy, every plan cemented the reality. Their love had weathered so much already. And now, it felt like the universe was finally saying, Here. You deserve this.
By 7:20 a.m., Gilbert was grabbing his laptop and jacket.
"I'll be home early," he said, kissing her forehead. "You need anything?"
"Just pick up more almond milk. And maybe... one of those bagels I like?"
"Craving kicking in?"
She shrugged. "Might be."
He winked. "Say no more."
The door closed behind him, and Shantel stood still for a beat, hand on her belly. It was real. All of it. The house. The baby. The life.
As soon as she got to the foundation, she walked straight into the office and opened her laptop. Her NGO, Wellspring Hope Foundation, was her heart. It had started as a small initiative after she counseled a former student of hers—a twenty-two-year-old girl who'd been abused by a lecturer and silenced by fear. The girl had needed a place to heal, to be heard. Shantel built one.
Five years later, Wellspring Hope Foundation had four shelters, a legal aid wing, and a volunteer list 200 strong. Every day, they helped women and children recover from what the world had tried to steal from them. Every day, Shantel fought for the broken.
Today's agenda was full. Case updates. A potential donor Zoom meeting. Planning for next month's awareness walk. She dove in, her fingers quick on the keys, her mind switching gears.
By noon, she'd already taken three calls, approved two case notes, and video-chatted with Lauren, her bosom friend, about meeting up to properly celebrate her pregnancy.
"You'll be coming with April, right?"
"Yes, if she doesn't have anything coming up."
"Alright, I have to go now. Genevive is taking a nap, so I want to rush and prepare lunch before Sam gets back, else I won't have peace when she wakes up."
As they spoke, April, her other close friend, Co-founder and a legal volunteer, dropped by with lunch.
"Whoa. Look who's glowing!" April said, dropping bags on the desk.
"Please. I'm sweating and tired."
"That's what glowing is when pregnant," April grinned, passing her a chicken wrap.
You're on call?" she asked, seeing that she had her phone to her ear.
"Lauren. We were just talking about you. She wants to know if you're free this weekend. She wants us to properly celebrate my joy." Shantel passed her hand on her belly unconsciously.
"I'm up for it. I was going to bring it up if both of you didn't." April said and pulled out a chair to sit down.
"Let's talk later then. Tell April I said she should pick up wine when coming." Lauren passed on the last message and hung up.
They finally dove into work. Talked about clients, joked about baby names again. April and Lauren were among the few people who knew everything—the miscarriages, the heartbreak, the strain on the marriage. They'd been Shantel's rock when things felt like they were crumbling. So, they were both as happy as Shantel when this news finally came.
But there was one thing April was worried about.
"You told him yet?" April asked, after a pause.
Shantel looked confused. "Told him what?"
"About the boss. About... the weird vibe."
Shantel froze.
April leaned forward, voice low. "I know you said it didn't go beyond that one comment. But if he ever—"
"I'm fine," Shantel interrupted. "It was nothing."
April didn't push, but her eyes said more.