Mr.Brightside

Chapter 19

Clara

The days turned into weeks, and our decision to start a family began to shape every part of our lives. Jack and I fell into a new rhythm, one filled with doctor's appointments, prenatal vitamins, and endless conversations about the future. But as the excitement grew, so did the reality of what we were undertaking. There were moments of doubt, moments when I questioned if we were really ready for this, but those thoughts were always fleeting, pushed aside by the strength of our bond and the unwavering support we gave each other.

An Unexpected Call

One afternoon, while Jack was at work, I received a call from my mother. I could tell from her tone that something was on her mind, something she was hesitant to bring up.

"Clara, sweetheart, how are you?" she asked, her voice warm but with an undercurrent of concern.

"I'm good, Mom. Busy, but good," I replied, leaning against the kitchen counter. "How about you?"

"Oh, you know, same old, same old," she said with a light laugh. But then her tone shifted, becoming more serious. "Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to you about."

I felt a slight tightening in my chest, sensing that whatever she had to say wasn't going to be easy. "What is it?"

She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Your father and I have been talking, and we were wondering if you've thought about... you know, moving back closer to home now that you're starting a family. We just want to be there for you, to help out when you need it."

The suggestion caught me off guard. Moving back closer to my parents wasn't something Jack and I had seriously considered. We'd built our life in this city, surrounded by friends and the familiarity of our routines. But I knew my parents' hearts were in the right place. They just wanted to be involved, to be there for us in whatever way they could.

"Mom, that's... I appreciate the offer, really, but Jack and I haven't talked about moving. We're pretty settled here, and I don't think either of us is ready to uproot everything right now."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, and I could almost picture my mom nodding in understanding, though I knew she was disappointed.

"I understand, Clara. It's just... we miss you, and with everything going on, we want to be close. But we'll support whatever decision you make. Just promise you'll think about it, okay?"

"I will, Mom. I promise," I said, my voice soft. "And we'll visit more often, I swear. It's just a lot to think about right now."

"I know, sweetheart. And we're here for you, whatever you decide," she said, her voice full of love. "Take care of yourself, okay? And give Jack my love."

"I will. Thanks, Mom. I love you."

"I love you too, Clara."

After hanging up, I stood in the kitchen for a while, lost in thought. The idea of moving closer to my parents hadn't even crossed my mind, but now that it was out there, I couldn't help but wonder what it would mean for us. Would it be the right thing to do? Would it make things easier as we started our family? Or would it just add more stress to an already overwhelming situation?

Discussing the Possibility

That evening, after Jack got home, I decided to bring up the conversation with him. We were sitting on the couch, dinner finished and dishes piled in the sink, when I turned to him, my heart beating a little faster than usual.

"Jack, can we talk about something?" I asked, trying to keep my tone light but knowing that the topic was anything but.

He looked at me, his expression attentive. "Of course. What's on your mind?"

I took a deep breath, then told him about the conversation I'd had with my mom. As I spoke, I watched his face closely, trying to gauge his reaction.

When I finished, he sat back, running a hand through his hair as he processed what I'd said. "So, they want us to move closer to them?"

"Yeah," I said, nodding. "They're worried, I think. They want to be there for us, to help out when the baby comes."

He was silent for a moment, then he nodded slowly. "I get it. I mean, it makes sense from their perspective. And having family nearby could be really helpful, especially with a newborn."

I could hear the "but" in his voice before he even said it. "But?"

"But this is our home, Clara. We've built a life here. Our friends are here, our jobs... everything. Moving would be a huge change."

I sighed, feeling the weight of his words. "I know. And I'm not saying we should do it. It's just... something to think about. My mom sounded so hopeful, and I don't want to disappoint her. But I also don't want to make a decision that isn't right for us."

Jack reached over, taking my hand in his. "Whatever we decide, we need to make sure it's the best thing for us—for our family. Your parents will understand, no matter what. And we can always visit more often, like you said."

I nodded, grateful for his perspective. "You're right. We need to do what's best for us."

"We do," he agreed. "And we'll figure it out together, like we always do."

A Night of Reflection

That night, as we lay in bed, I couldn't stop thinking about the conversation. Moving closer to my parents would make things easier in some ways, but it would also mean leaving behind so much of what we loved about our life here. And there was the question of how it would affect Jack—his job, his friendships, his sense of stability.

I turned to look at him, his face relaxed in sleep, and felt a surge of love and protectiveness. This decision wasn't just about me; it was about us. And whatever we decided, it had to be something we were both comfortable with.

As I drifted off to sleep, I resolved to talk to my mom again, to explain our feelings and reassure her that we would be okay, even if we stayed where we were. I knew she would understand, and I knew that, no matter what, we would find a way to make this work.

Moving Forward

The next morning, I woke up with a renewed sense of clarity. This decision wasn't something we had to rush into. We had time to figure it out, to weigh our options and make the best choice for our growing family.

Over breakfast, I shared my thoughts with Jack, and he agreed. We would take our time, talk it through, and make sure that whatever we decided, it was the right move for us.

For now, we would focus on the present—on preparing for the baby, on enjoying these last few months of just the two of us, and on supporting each other through every step of this journey. The future would take care of itself, one way or another.

And as we finished our coffee and got ready for the day, I felt a sense of peace settle over me. No matter what challenges lay ahead, I knew we would face them together, with love, patience, and the unwavering belief that we were building something beautiful—our family, our future, our life.

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

1214 words