She needed time

As she closed the door behind her, the reality of the situation finally started to sink in. Pregnant. The word echoed in her mind as she leaned against the door, closing her eyes.

She pressed a hand to her stomach, still flat and unchanged, but now harboring a life she hadn't expected. For a moment, a wave of fear washed over her. She had never imagined herself in this position.

She had adopted Rachel to give her the love and stability she had always dreamed of providing, but another child? A baby with the man who had unexpectedly walked into her life, turning everything upside down?

It was all so much to take in. She can't decide anything. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. There was no point in panicking. She needed clarity, needed to think about what this baby would mean for her and Rachel's future

A few hours later, she went to pick up Rachel from school. She hurried to the gate just in time to see Rachel bounding up the steps, her backpack bouncing with every step.

"Mommy!" Rachel's face lit up when she saw her, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Guess what? I got a gold star on my spelling test!"

The female lead's heart swelled with pride, her worries momentarily forgotten. She crouched down to Rachel's level, pulling her into a tight hug. "That's amazing, sweetie! I'm so proud of you."

Rachel giggled, squeezing her back before pulling away. "Can we celebrate? Maybe with ice cream?"

She smiled, brushing a strand of hair from Rachel's face. "How about we do something even better? Let's spend the whole day together. Just you and me. How does that sound?"

Rachel's eyes widened with delight. "Really? Yay! Can we go to the park?" "Absolutely," she agreed, trying to infuse her voice with enthusiasm despite the whirlwind of thoughts racing through her mind. "Let's go have some fun."

The afternoon was filled with laughter and sunshine. They spent hours at the park, with Rachel running around the playground, her joy infectious. Bella watched her daughter with a smile, her heart softening with every giggle and grin.

As they sat on a bench, sharing a scoop of Rachel's favorite chocolate ice cream, Bella found herself lost in thought. Rachel was her whole world. From the moment she had adopted her, she had poured all her love into being the best mother she could be.

Can I really do this again? The question lingered in her mind, but as she watched Rachel, the answer slowly began to take shape.

Rachel turned to her, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Mommy, do you think I'll ever have a brother or sister?" The question caught her off guard. She blinked, looking down at her daughter's expectant face. "Why do you ask, sweetheart?"

Rachel shrugged, a thoughtful expression crossing her features. "I just think it would be fun. I'd have someone to play with all the time, and we could be best friends, like how they are playing." she said pointing towards the siblings playing catch together.

A lump formed in her throat. She hadn't even told Rachel about the pregnancy, hadn't even decided what she was going to do. But hearing those innocent words from her daughter, the pure wish for a sibling, made something inside her shift.

She had been so focused on the fear, the uncertainty of bringing another child into their lives that she forgot about the happiness she felt when she saw the child. But what if this was a blessing in disguise? What if this baby was meant to be a part of their family?