𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞 𝐆𝐨 (𝐮𝐡 𝐨𝐡)

3. The family

Kimoni's pov

I hadn't seen my family in what felt like an eternity. Moving to Seattle with Ray after we got married had been a dream come true, something I'd fantasized about since I was a teenager. But as time passed, the distance from my family back home weighed heavier. I talked to my mom regularly, our conversations filled with updates on everything from the weather to the latest family drama, but my dad was always busy with work, and my siblings had their own lives to navigate.

Now that Ray and I were expecting our first child, we figured it was the perfect time to gather both of our families and friends for a special dinner to share the news. My friends already knew—they were practically bursting with excitement—but this dinner was about more than just them. It was about our families coming together, about celebrating new beginnings.

Ray was at work, and with dinner scheduled for 6 PM and him usually getting home around 5, I decided to take charge of the evening's preparations. Cooking had always been my way of managing stress, and today, stress was bubbling under the surface. I was excited, yes, but also anxious. We were still in the first trimester, and part of me wanted to wait until the "safe" zone of the second trimester to share our news. But the anticipation had gotten the best of me, and I couldn't keep this secret any longer.

I stood in the kitchen, stirring the mac and cheese while the aroma of roasting chicken filled the air. On the phone, my best friend Alia kept me company as we both tackled our daily chores.

"Girl, you better get ready to always have a baby attached to your hip," she said, the camera on her phone angled down to show her one-year-old son, Austin, snuggled in a carrier on her chest. "I haven't put him down since he was born."

I laughed, even though the reality of her words made my nerves jangle. "I'm not ready, but I'm ready, you know?" I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

"Yeah, I get it. Mark tries to take Austin sometimes, but he's a total mama's boy. Just wait—you'll see."

We chatted for a while longer, but as soon as the food was done, I said goodbye to Alia so I could focus on setting up the dining room. The clock showed 4 PM, which meant I had just enough time to shower and get dressed before Ray came home.

I rushed upstairs, as I grabbed my clothes and stepped into the shower, I couldn't help but think about Ray's mom. That bitch. She had always been a bit distant with me, and I wasn't sure how she'd react to our news and neither did I care. She's been a big burden on our relationship also, Ray always feels the need to kiss her ass.

The warm water flowed over me, washing away the pain, but not the unease that lingered in my heart. Raymond and I have been doing good with communication so far, I haven't felt this way in like a year—feels so good. He's back to his husband duties.

I dried off quickly and threw on a black silk dress with my gold jewelry. While I searched through my jewelry box I stumbled my wedding ring that I haven't seen in almost a year. I felt my heart throb in confusion but guilt. I don't know if Ray and I are actually changing for the better or if this is temporary but I think I've earned the right to put I back on. I slipped the ring back on my ring finger where it fit just right. The diamond looks more sparkly than I remember.

I finished my little outfit, something that was comfortable but still looked nice for the occasion. By the time I made it back downstairs, the table was set, the food was laid out, and I could hear the sound of Ray's car pulling into the driveway.

Ray walked in, a smile grew across his face as his eyes landed on me. "Hey, babe. Everything smells good," he said, wrapping his arms around me in a warm hug.

"Thanks. I just hope everything goes great tonight," I replied, trying to keep the worry out of my voice.

"It will. Everyone's going to be so happy, you'll see," he reassured me, pressing a kiss to my lips.

I nodded, trying to let his optimism calm my nerves. We had a few minutes before our guests were due to arrive, so we sat together on the couch, holding hands and talking about our day. It was a small moment of calmness.

When the doorbell rang, my heart jumped into my throat. I squeezed Ray's hand before standing up to answer it. My mom was the first to arrive, pulling me into a tight hug as soon as I opened the door. "Oh, sweetie, it's so good to see you!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with happiness.

"It's good to see you too, Mom," I said, smiling as I led her inside. One by one, the rest of the guests arrived—my dad, my sisters Kayla and Kori , and a few of our close friends. The room was soon filled with laughter and chatter, and for a while, I forgot about my nerves.

Ray's family arrived a bit later, his mom among them. She greeted me with a polite smile and a brief hug, but her eyes didn't quite match the warmth of her gesture. I pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on making sure everyone was comfortable and had something to eat.

Dinner went off without a hitch. The food was a hit, and the conversation flowed easily. But as we reached the end of the meal, I could feel the anticipation building. Ray gave me a reassuring nod, and I took a deep breath before standing up to make the announcement.

"Everyone," I began, my voice slightly shaky, "Ray and I have some exciting news to share. We're expecting a baby!"

The room erupted in cheers and congratulations. My mom was crying tears of joy, and my dad looked prouder than I'd ever seen him. My siblings rushed to hug me, their excitement palpable. Even Ray's dad and siblings seemed genuinely happy for us.

But Ray's mom... her reaction was different. She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. She offered a few words of congratulations, but they felt hollow. I couldn't help but wonder what was going through her mind, why she seemed so reserved when everyone else was overjoyed.

As the evening wore on, I tried to focus on the positive, on the love and support that surrounded us. But the nagging feeling that something was off with Ray's mom stayed with me. After everyone had left and we were cleaning up, I couldn't hold it in any longer.

"Ray," I said quietly, "do you think your mom is okay with this? She didn't seem as excited as everyone else."

Ray paused, his brow furrowing. "I don't know " he answered dryly. "Don't look into it, just go to bed ."

I nodded, i didn't reply, maybe I should just leave it alone

"She will be," Ray said, pulling me onto his chest. "She just needs time."