Soul Serenade

33

Months melted into one another, a blur of sleepless nights punctuated by the gurgling symphony of their daughter, Harmony. Ben reveled in his new role as a father, his heart overflowing with a love he never knew existed. Miranda, despite the exhaustion that came with caring for a newborn, radiated a happiness that lit up the room. Their little family, forged in the most unexpected way, was everything they'd ever dreamed of.

One evening, as Miranda cradled a cooing Harmony, rocking her gently in the nursery, Ben was in the kitchen preparing her some lunch. As he made his way around the kitchen, his phone rang. He answered it and was informed of his acceptance as a surgical intern at UCLA.

His breath hitched. He'd almost forgotten about his application, overshadowed by the whirlwind of Miranda's pregnancy and the birth of their daughter. Now, staring at the letter, a wave of conflicting emotions washed over him.

His fingers trembled slightly as he listened to the phone call. Accepted. He had been accepted into the prestigious surgical residency program at UCLA.

Excitement battled with dread in his gut. This was it, the opportunity he'd been chasing for years. A chance to learn from the best, to hone his skills, to become the surgeon he'd always aspired to be. But Los Angeles. It meant leaving Seattle, leaving their life here, the life they'd just built around their precious daughter.

He knew he had to tell Miranda. The longer he waited, the harder it would be. But how? How could he express the elation of his dream intertwined with the fear of upending their world? She was due back into the music world within the next month or so. She had already talked about how she planned to return. Her, Ashe, and Callie were so excited.

He finished making the sandwich and tossed some chips on the plate. With a heavy sigh, Ben rose and walked towards the nursery. He peeked in, watching Miranda hum softly as she swayed with Harmony nestled against her chest. He took a deep breath, the weight of the decision settling on his shoulders.

"Got your lunch" He took Harmony from her and handed her the plate

Miranda smiled, a tired but genuine one. "You're a lifesaver," she mumbled, taking a bite of the sandwich.

Ben perched on the edge of the chair, his gaze fixed on his daughter. Ben's usual easy demeanor was replaced by a forced calmness that didn't fool her for a second.

"What's wrong?" she asked

"There's something I need to tell you," he began, his voice thick with a mix of anticipation and fear. He laid Harmony in her crib and sat back down next to Miranda.

He took a deep breath and launched into the story. He told her about the letter, about the program, about the incredible opportunity that awaited him in Los Angeles. As he spoke, he watched Miranda's face, the color draining from it with each passing word. A flicker of disbelief flitted across her eyes, followed by a wave of what looked suspiciously like... anger?

When he finished, a heavy silence descended upon the room, broken only by the soft snores of their sleeping daughter. Miranda stared at him, her expression unreadable. Finally, she spoke, her voice barely a whisper.

"UCLA?" she breathed, disbelief lacing her tone. "Los Angeles? Ben, are you serious?"

Ben nodded, bracing himself for the storm he knew might be coming. "Yeah," he said, his voice low.

Miranda's gaze flickered to Harmony, then back to him. A million questions seemed to war behind her eyes. Finally, she took a shaky breath and asked the one that hung heavy in the air.  "So, what does this mean for us? Are you... are we moving to LA?"

"Miranda," he began, his voice thick with emotion, "I don't know yet. This is a huge decision, and I wouldn't even consider it without you. We need to talk about everything – the program, what it would mean for us, for Harmony..."