Mr.Brightside

Chapter 17

Clara

After Jack returned from visiting his dad, I could sense a new calm in him, a steadiness that hadn't been there before. It was as if he'd finally found some peace, not just with his father, but within himself. Watching him navigate through that difficult conversation and come out stronger on the other side filled me with pride and a deep sense of admiration.

A Quiet Morning

The morning after Jack's return, we settled into our usual routine. The sun was just beginning to peek through the curtains, casting a warm, golden light over our kitchen. Jack was making coffee, and I was preparing breakfast, the comforting scent of pancakes filling the room.

As I set the table, I couldn't help but steal glances at him. There was something about the way he moved—so deliberate, so at ease—that made me smile. He caught me watching him and raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

"What?" he asked, his voice full of teasing affection.

"Nothing," I replied, unable to suppress my grin. "I'm just... happy. Seeing you like this, it feels good."

He walked over, placing the coffee pot down before wrapping his arms around me from behind. "I feel good," he murmured into my ear, his breath warm against my skin. "Better than I have in a long time."

I leaned back into him, closing my eyes and soaking in the moment. "I'm glad. You deserve it."

We stood there for a while, just holding each other, until the timer on the stove beeped, reminding us of the pancakes. With a shared laugh, we broke apart and finished getting breakfast ready.

The Decision

Over breakfast, the conversation turned to our future, as it often did these days. We'd been dancing around the idea of starting a family for a while now, but after everything that had happened, it felt like we were finally ready to make a decision.

"Clara," Jack began, his tone serious but gentle, "I've been thinking a lot about what we talked about in the park, and I want you to know that I'm all in. I want to start a family with you. I'm ready."

His words sent a thrill of excitement and nervousness through me. I reached across the table, taking his hand in mine. "I'm ready too, Jack. I've been thinking about it a lot, and I know it won't be easy, but I want this. I want us to take that next step."

He squeezed my hand, his eyes filled with warmth and determination. "We'll figure it out together. No matter what happens, we'll face it as a team."

I nodded, feeling a surge of love and confidence. "Yes, we will."

We spent the rest of breakfast talking about our plans—about doctors' appointments, about how we'd prepare, about what kind of parents we wanted to be. It was exhilarating and a little overwhelming, but it felt right. For the first time, the idea of becoming parents didn't seem like a distant possibility; it felt like a real, tangible future that we were ready to embrace.

Sharing the News

Later that day, we decided to share our decision with our closest friends and family. We knew they would be excited for us, and we wanted them to be part of this new chapter in our lives.

We called my parents first. My mom answered, her voice bright and cheerful as always.

"Hi, sweetheart! How are you?" she asked.

"I'm good, Mom," I replied, feeling a flutter of nerves in my stomach. "Actually, Jack and I have some news."

"Oh?" I could hear the curiosity and excitement in her voice.

"We've decided to start trying for a baby," I said, the words feeling both surreal and incredibly real as they left my mouth.

There was a brief pause, followed by a delighted squeal. "Oh, Clara, that's wonderful! I'm so happy for you both!"

I couldn't help but laugh at her enthusiasm. "Thanks, Mom. We're really excited too."

My dad got on the phone next, his voice a little more reserved but no less warm. "That's great news, Clara. You and Jack are going to make wonderful parents."

"Thanks, Dad. That means a lot."

We spent the next few minutes talking about our plans, my parents offering their support and advice. It felt good to have them on board, to know that we had their blessing as we embarked on this new journey.

We repeated the process with Jack's mom, who was equally thrilled. It was clear that she'd been hoping for this news for a while, and hearing it seemed to bring her immense joy. We could hear the emotion in her voice, a mix of pride and happiness that made both of us smile.

A Quiet Evening

By the time evening rolled around, we were both feeling a little overwhelmed but in the best possible way. We'd taken a huge step, and now there was no turning back. But instead of feeling scared, I felt an overwhelming sense of contentment.

After dinner, we settled on the couch, Jack pulling me close as we watched a movie. The familiar comfort of being in his arms, combined with the knowledge that we were about to start a new chapter in our lives, filled me with a deep, unshakeable sense of peace.

At one point, Jack paused the movie and turned to me, his expression serious but full of love. "Clara, I just want you to know that no matter what happens, I'm here for you. We're in this together, and we're going to make it work. I promise."

I looked into his eyes, feeling a wave of gratitude and love wash over me. "I know, Jack. And I'm here for you too. We're going to be okay."

He smiled, a soft, tender smile that made my heart swell. "Yeah, we are."

We didn't need to say anything else. We just held each other, letting the quiet of the evening surround us, content in the knowledge that we were taking this journey together, one step at a time.

And as I drifted off to sleep later that night, curled up beside the man I loved, I knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, we would face them head-on, with love, courage, and unwavering faith in each other.

------------------

1019 words