His Baby

Chapter 5 (Re-write)

As Ray and Emma approached the door, they stopped and heaved out a breath, the weight of what was about to unfold hanging heavily in the air. Ray squeezed Emma's hand and looked at her, "Okay, are you ready?"

Emma squeezed his hand in return, her grip firm but uncertain. She stared at the door as though it might somehow open on its own and spare them the conversation ahead. "Yeah," she answered, her voice a mix of determination and dread.

"Alright, just know that I am doing the talking," he said to her before entering the door's code.

As they both enter the house, Emma remains a little behind Ray, her steps more hesitant than normal. As she closes her eyes, she tugs a small amount of Ray's shirt. Ray felt Emma grab onto his shirt, but he didn't stop walking, instead he kept on walking and guided her around the house.

Ray could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on him, but he knew it was nothing compared to what Emma was going through. For her, this was a nightmare. Isabella, his mother, had always been like a second mom to Emma. Their bond was deep—woven through years of shared laughter, tears, and secrets. And now, in this moment, Emma couldn't shake the feeling that she was failing someone who had always been there for her, someone she had always tried so hard to protect. It was a burden Ray could see written on her face, even if she tried to hide it.

As they went through the house, Ray and Emma finally encountered Isabella in the living room watching TV. She had Ray's youngest sister, Vivian, in her lap.

"Hey, Mom," Ray said, trying to sound more composed than he felt.

"Hey," Isabella replied, not looking up from the screen.

Ray opened his mouth to say more, but Isabella cut him off before he could get a word in.

"Why's Emma here?" she asked bluntly, turning her attention toward them for the first time.

Ray sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, that's what we need to talk about."

He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was about to come. He could already feel the tension building.

Before he could speak again, Emma's voice rushed out in a panicked, almost frantic tone. "I'mpregnantandit'sRay's!"

She squeezed his hand tighter, practically hiding behind him, her face flushed with embarrassment.

There was a long, uncomfortable silence.

"I know," Isabella replied casually, as if the news was nothing more than a trivial detail. She shrugged her shoulders and returned her gaze to the TV. "What's the big deal?"

Ray blinked, shocked by her nonchalance. "Wait, wait, wait."

Isabella looked at her son, finding humor in his reaction. "I'm waiting."

Ray looked at his mother with discontentment. "How did you know? We didn't tell you anything." 

Isabella waved a hand dismissively. Then three people heard a voice coming down the stairs, "Oh, I told her."

"Mom!? What are you doing here?" Emma asked, as of right now she was right beside Ray with her eyes widening.

"Isn't obvious, I came to talk to my friend. What else?"

"Sorry, wrong question, why did you tell her, and without us knowing!?"

"I'm sorry baby, it was by complete accident," Elise said as she approached the teens

Emma took a step back, almost instinctively. In response, Ray shot out a protective hand to stop Elise from moving. "How do you let something like that slip by accident, mother," Emma questioned her mother.