Avery sat in the cozy living room of her apartment, her hand resting gently on her growing belly. Ryan sat beside her, his arm draped around her shoulders. The past three months had been a rollercoaster of emotions, but the joy of knowing their baby was growing healthy had surpassed all their fears.
“I can’t believe we’ve made it to the three-month mark,” Avery said, her voice tinged with awe.
Ryan smiled, his hazel eyes filled with warmth. “It’s amazing, isn’t it? Our little one is officially the size of a lemon now.”
Avery laughed. “I think you’ve been spending too much time on those baby apps.”
“Guilty as charged,” Ryan admitted with a grin. He grew more serious, leaning closer to her. “Aves, I think it’s time. We should tell everyone.”
Avery nodded slowly. “I think so too. I can’t wait to see their faces. This little secret has been so hard to keep.”
Ryan kissed her forehead. “Then let’s do it. Let’s share the joy.”
That evening, Avery and Ryan invited her parents, Theo and Alessia, along with her younger brother, Oliver, over for dinner. Avery felt a flutter of nerves as they all gathered around the dining table.
“Something smells delicious,” Alessia said, sipping her wine. “You’ve outdone yourself, Avery.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Avery said with a smile. She exchanged a quick glance with Ryan, who gave her an encouraging nod.
After dinner, Avery stood up, holding her glass of water. “Mom, Dad, Oliver… we have something to tell you.”
Her father, Theo, raised an eyebrow. “This sounds serious. What’s going on?”
Avery took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly. “I’m pregnant.”
There was a moment of stunned silence before Alessia let out a delighted gasp, her hands flying to her mouth. “Avery! Oh, my baby girl!”
Theo’s face broke into a wide grin. “That’s incredible news, sweetheart. Congratulations!”
Oliver, ever the jokester, smirked. “So, does this mean I get to be the fun uncle? I’m calling dibs on teaching the kid to skateboard.”
Avery laughed, tears of happiness streaming down her face. “Yes, Oliver, you can be the fun uncle.”
Ryan chimed in, “As long as you don’t teach them any bad habits.”
Theo raised his glass. “To Avery and Ryan—and to the newest member of the family. We’re so proud of you both.”
The following weekend, it was Ryan’s parents’ turn to hear the news. Avery and Ryan visited their house for Sunday lunch, where the aroma of roasted chicken and fresh bread filled the air.
Over dessert, Ryan cleared his throat, catching his parents’ attention. “Mom, Dad, we have some news.”
Mrs. Hayes leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. “What is it, dear?”
Ryan smiled, glancing at Avery. “We’re having a baby.”
Mrs. Hayes gasped, her eyes filling with tears. “Oh, Ryan, Avery, that’s wonderful!”
Mr. Hayes clapped his son on the back, his voice booming with pride. “Well done, son. Congratulations to both of you.”
Avery blushed under their warm gazes. “Thank you. We’re so excited—and a little nervous, honestly.”
“Nonsense,” Mrs. Hayes said, waving her hand. “You two are going to be wonderful parents. And we’re here to help with anything you need.”
Back at home, Avery and Janice sat on the floor of the living room, surrounded by balloons, streamers, and Pinterest boards full of ideas for a gender reveal party.
“This is going to be epic,” Janice said, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “We’ve got to make it memorable.”
Avery laughed, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. “I don’t need it to be epic, Jan. Just something sweet and fun.”
“Sweet and fun, huh?” Janice said, tapping her chin. “Okay, how about this: we do a balloon pop. Inside the balloon, there’s confetti—pink for a girl, blue for a boy.”
“I like that,” Avery said, nodding. “Simple and cute.”
Janice pointed at the list she’d been jotting down. “We’ll need food, decorations, and a cake. Oh, and we should totally make a voting board so people can guess the gender.”
“That sounds perfect,” Avery said. “Let’s make it happen.”