Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 36~

~Raelyn~

~Sunday April 1st~

The morning sun peeked through the curtains of my house, casting a warm glow on the chaos of moving boxes. "This is really happening," I whispered to myself, a mixture of excitement and nerves bubbling within me.

As I got up from my sofa, I felt the fuzzy rug between my toes. Colby, got up from the couch and wrapped his arms around me from behind.

"We're doing this together, Rae. It's going to be amazing," he reassured me, his voice steady and sure.

"I know, I can't wait, the best part in all of this will be getting to see our friends every day." Colby chuckled.

"I know love, I'm so happy we are doing this, and actually, I have a surprise waiting for Blake at the house." Blake buzzed around the house; his young energy infectious. He came busting through the room.

I watched Blake as he zipped from one end of the house to the other, his little feet barely touching the ground. His excitement was a tangible force, filling the space with an infectious energy.

"Mom, can we be going to the trap house now? I wanna see Tata, Kitty, D, Coco, Jaco, and Sammy!" Blake's voice was a mix of glee and impatience. I laughed, scooping him up into my arms.

"Yes, my little tornado, we're going today. And you'll see them every day. You can play games with them whenever you want."

Blake's eyes grew wide with delight. "Every day? Can we play hide and seek and video games?"

"As long as your room is clean, mister," I replied with a mock stern look that quickly melted into a smile. Just then, the door swung open, and Katrina, Devyn, and Tara burst in, their arms laden with moving supplies.

"Blake!" Devyn exclaimed, setting down a box to ruffle his hair. "Hi aunt D!"

"Hey Blakey, you excited to move in with us!?" Tara added, grinning.

"I'm ready Tata, I can't wait to hang out with you guys!"

Katrina knelt to him and hugged him sweetly. "I missed you Kitty!"

"I know, we missed you to B!" Blake's laughter filled the room as we all shared a moment of joy, the promise of new memories just a move away.

When the girls got there in a flurry of support and giggles, they were ready to tackle the task at hand. They began to help me take the boxes out of my room that had become me and Colby's over the last few months. They really were a huge help.

"Girl, you've got more clothes than a department store," Tara teased as she grabbed another box and put it into the living room.

"I know, I know," I sighed, "But think of all the adorable baby outfits we'll get to add soon!" As we finished up packing the last couple of boxes in the house, the conversation naturally flowed to my pregnancy.

"I still can't believe it," Katrina said, her eyes shining with unshed tears of joy. "You're going to be a mom!"

"I know, I still need to break the news to Jake and Corey." I replied, my hand instinctively resting on my belly.

"It's all so overwhelming, but I feel like everything's falling into place." Kat, Devyn, and Tara huddled around me in the cozy living room, their excitement palpable. My news from yesterday still hung in the air like a sweet melody, making the mundane task of packing feel like a celebration.

"So, Rae, you know this little bean is going to be the most spoiled kid on the block, right?" Katrina said with a wink, folding a shirt with exaggerated care. I laughed, my hand instinctively resting on my barely-there bump.

"I have no doubts about that, especially with you as the ringleader, Kat." Devyn chimed in from across the room, her arms full of blankets. "And don't get me started on Sam, Jake and Corey. I can promise you that they will all call dibs on the title of 'Best Uncles Ever.' We're gonna need a schedule to manage all the spoiling!"

Tara, meticulously labeling boxes, looked up and smiled. "We'll make sure little bean has the best of everything. Sam and Colby are over the moon, Rae. We all are."

My eyes glistened with unshed tears of joy as I surveyed my friends. "I can't believe how lucky I am to have you all. This baby is going to grow up with so much love."

~

As the last box was sealed, we gathered for a group hug, a silent promise to support each other and the newest addition to our extended family. The trap house wouldn't just be a place; it would be a home brimming with love and laughter, and a little bean at the heart of it all.

The later that day, the boys showed up, ready to move mountains for us. Sam clapped Colby on the back,

"Ready to turn our bachelor pad into a family home?" Colby grinned, "More than ready."

We worked in tandem, the camaraderie between us making light work of the heavy lifting. Jake and Corey maneuvered the larger items with ease while Blake tried to help, his small arms wrapped around boxes far too big for him.

As the last of the boxes were sealed and the U-Haul's back door clanged shut, I stood in the doorway of my now-empty house. The walls, once adorned with photos and memories, stood bare, echoing the quiet footsteps of my friends.

Colby came up behind me, wrapping an arm around my waist. "It's a big day, huh?" he whispered, his breath warm against my ear.

I leaned back into his embrace, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. "Yeah, it's... a lot," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

"But I wouldn't have it any other way." I said turning his way, looking up at him smiling. Devyn, Kat, and Tara approached, their faces a mix of excitement and wistfulness.

"This is it, Rae. Our new adventure is waiting," Devyn said with a smile, though her eyes betrayed a hint of sadness as she put her hand on my shoulder.

Kat chimed in, holding up her phone, "We've got to take one last group selfie in the old place!"

We squeezed into the frame, a tangle of arms, laughter, and shared history. The click of the camera captured the moment, a snapshot of an ending and the anticipation of a new beginning.

As we filed out of the house, Katrina lingered, touching the wall where a picture of us all at the beach had hung

"I'm gonna miss this place. All our crazy late nights, movie marathons... It's like we're leaving a piece of us here." I smiled, my hand resting on my barely-there bump.

"We're taking the best parts with us, though. And adding a new little piece soon," I said, my heart swelling with the thought of our growing family. Colby, ever the supportive presence, nodded in agreement.

"Plus, we've got the trap house to make new memories in. Right, Blake?" he asked, looking down at Blake who had been quietly observing the scene.

Blake's eyes lit up, "Yeah! And I can't wait to tell Uncle Coco and Uncle Jaco about bean!"

Laughter filled the driveway as we made our way to the U-Haul, the morning sun casting a warm glow on our path.

I paused for a final glance at the house, my heart a tapestry of joy for the future and nostalgia. "Goodbye, little home," I murmured, a single tear tracing a path down my cheek. With that, we all climbed into the U-Haul, the engine's purr promising miles of new memories.