Tangled Hearts.

~Chapter 39~

~Raelyn~

~April 2nd~

Sunday afternoon was a symphony of sunlight filtering through the leaves and the clatter of forks against plates. The aftermath of lunch, prepared with the usual chaos and laughter by the girls, hung heavy in the air, a sweet scent of satisfaction. Blake, a whirlwind of energy, was a human pogo stick, bouncing on the balls of his feet, a secret burning a hole in his tiny chest.

I gave him the nod, a silent green light for the impending explosion. He took off like a rocket, barreling towards the unsuspecting boys.

"Uncles!" he squealed, his voice barely containing the cosmic secret he'd been guarding.

Corey, mid-scroll on his phone, looked up, his face a perfect blend of confusion and amusement.

"Spit it out, kiddo," he said, his voice dripping with mock impatience.

Blake took a deep breath, puffed out his chest like a miniature superhero, and announced with the gravity of a seasoned news anchor, "Mommy's got a baby in her tummy! I'm gonna be a big brother!"

Jake's jaw dropped, his eyes widening like saucers. "Holy shit, dude! No way!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing through the room. "Are you serious? Like, for realsies?"

I nodded, a grin spreading across my face. "It's official," I replied, my hand gently resting on my still-flat tummy.

Colby beamed. "Yep, you heard it here first, folks. We're expecting."

Corey exploded. "Oh my god! I'm gonna be an uncle! I'm the coolest uncle ever!" he declared, doing a little victory dance. He enveloped us in a bear hug, crushing Blake in the process.

Blake, undeterred, brandished his toy lightsaber. "I'll be the best big brother, like Luke Skywalker!" he proclaimed, dramatically swinging the lightsaber.

Jake scooped him up, twirling him around. "And I'll be Han Solo, the coolest uncle in the galaxy!"

"But guys," Colby interjected, a hint of seriousness in her voice, "this is our little secret for now."

Confusion flickered across their faces. "Why?" Jake asked.

Corey's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, right. The secrecy thing. Got it. No worries. What happens in the Trap House, stays in the Trap house."

We erupted in laughter. As I was observing the chaos, finally spoke up. "I'm only like, 8-10 weeks along, so let's not get ahead of ourselves with the baby shower planning just yet."

A wave of surprise washed over the room. "8-10 weeks?" Jake echoed, his voice filled with disbelief. "You don't even look like it."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Thanks, Jake. That's really encouraging."

Blake, ever the opportunist, chimed in, "Can I have a puppy instead?"

We all burst out laughing again, the room filled with the warmth of shared joy and anticipation.

"We actually have a doctor's appointment on Friday," Colby said, breaking the comfortable silence. "We're excited to see our little bean."

A collective "aww" filled the room. Blake's eyes widened in excitement. "A bean?" he repeated, tilting his head.

I laughed. "It's a tiny baby, Blake. And it's growing in mommy's tummy."

Blake's face lit up. "A baby brother or sister?" he asked excitedly.

I smiled. "We don't know yet, but we'll find out soon."

Blake jumped up and down, clapping his hands. "I'm gonna be a big brother!" he shouted.