Hers to Love

Chapter 45

Maria stood in front of the mirror, a bittersweet smile crossing her face as she gently placed a hand on her growing baby bump. It was only a small curve, but the sight of it filled her with a quiet strength. Despite everything—the heartbreak, the loneliness—this little life inside her gave her purpose. But after Amir and his family's visit, the weight of her emotions had only grown heavier. She loved Amir deeply, but every time she saw him, it chipped away at her resolve. It was slowly killing her, but she knew she had to be strong—for the baby, and for herself.

Taking a deep breath, she turned away from the mirror and grabbed her bag. Today, she was going back to work. She had missed it, the sense of normalcy, and the distraction it provided. Plus, she had a lot of catching up to do.

As Maria entered her office, June spotted her right away, his face lighting up as he rushed over to her.

"Maria! You're back!" June exclaimed, his eyes flicking to her belly with an unmistakable gleam of excitement. "And look at you, glowing like a proud mom already."

Maria laughed softly, grateful for his warmth. "I'm not sure about glowing, but yeah, I'm back. Missed this place. Missed the chaos."

June grinned, practically bouncing on his heels. "I've been keeping things running smoothly, don't you worry. But you—" he pointed at her belly, "—you've got the more important project going on."

Maria smiled at his enthusiasm, feeling a little lighter. "I know, right? This baby's already keeping me busy."

"I can imagine! I mean, I was already excited when you told me, but now seeing you here, I'm like, 'Wow, it's happening!'" June's eyes sparkled, and Maria couldn't help but chuckle at his energy.

"Yeah, it's happening," she said softly, resting a hand on her stomach. "Feels surreal sometimes, but I'm getting there."

June gave her a sympathetic look. "And how are *you* doing? I mean, with... everything. You know I'm here if you need to vent or just take a breather."

Maria hesitated for a moment, but then smiled gratefully. "I'm managing. There are hard days, but... I just remind myself that I'm not alone in this. The baby's with me every step of the way."

June nodded, his expression softening. "You're a warrior, Maria. I always knew that, but seeing you like this? You've got this."

She smiled, her heart warming at his words. "Thanks, June. It means a lot. I'm trying to keep it together, one day at a time."

June gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "And you're doing amazing. Seriously. Oh! Before I forget, I brought you something." He dashed over to his desk and grabbed a small gift bag. "It's nothing fancy, but I thought you might like it."

Maria opened the bag to find a pair of cozy socks, the kind that were perfect for lounging around at home, and a small notebook with the words *Mama's Thoughts* printed on the cover.

"For when you need to relax or jot down all those baby thoughts," June said with a sheepish smile.

Maria laughed softly, touched by his thoughtfulness. "This is perfect, thank you. You're the best."

"I try," June said with a wink. "Now, enough about me—what can I help you with today? Work piling up? Emails to sift through?"

Maria exhaled dramatically. "Don't even remind me. I've got a mountain of emails to catch up on, and meetings... I'll need your help to survive today."

"Consider me your loyal sidekick, ready for battle!" June declared, striking a playful pose.

Maria shook her head, laughing. "Alright, let's do this."

As she settled into her desk, the weight of everything she had been carrying seemed to lift just a little. Here, in the office, with supportive friends like June, she could focus on something other than the heartbreak Amir had left her with. She could focus on her future—and the future of her baby. And for today, that was enough.