Hoops & Harmonies

61.

Monica and Angel sat together at the kitchen table, sipping coffee and enjoying a rare moment of calm. The kids were still asleep, and the house was unusually quiet. Monica glanced over at Angel, who was thumbing through a pamphlet from the fertility clinic.

"You nervous?" Monica asked, her tone gentle as she watched Angel's expression.

Angel looked up from the pamphlet and gave a small smile. "A little, yeah. But I'm excited too. I've been thinking about this for so long, and now that it's actually happening, it feels...real."

Monica nodded, reaching over to take Angel's hand. "It is real. We're really going to do this. And I know you'll be an amazing mom—to all of them."

Angel chuckled softly. "Well, I've had a great example to follow. Watching you with Rodney, Melo, and Laiyah has taught me a lot."

Monica squeezed her hand, feeling a wave of emotion wash over her. The decision to start the IVF process had been a long time coming. They both wanted to expand their family, and after many conversations, Angel had decided she wanted to carry the baby. It was a new chapter for them, but it also brought up feelings Monica hadn't expected.

"I guess we're really doing this," Monica said, her voice thick with emotion. "A new baby. It's going to change everything."

Angel smiled softly. "Yeah, it will. But in a good way. We've talked about this for so long, and I'm ready. I know we can handle it."

Monica leaned back in her chair, nodding. "I know we can. It's just...a lot. With Rodney getting ready to move out, I feel like everything is happening so fast. I mean, where did the time go?"

Angel's face softened as she saw the sadness in Monica's eyes. "I know you're having a hard time with Rodney leaving, but he's ready. He's twenty now, and he's got big dreams. You raised him to be independent, and now he's stepping into that."

Monica blinked back the tears that threatened to spill. "I know, but it's hard to let go. He's been such a huge part of my life for so long. It's like a chapter is ending, and I'm not ready."

Angel moved her chair closer to Monica, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "He's not going far, Mon. He'll still be in Chicago, and you know he'll be over here all the time to use the studio and raid the fridge. It's not goodbye."

Monica laughed through her tears, nodding. "I guess you're right. I just...he's my first baby, you know? And now we're getting ready to have another baby, and I'm not even done missing him yet."

Angel pulled her into a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "It's okay to feel all of that. You're allowed to be sad about Rodney leaving and excited about the new baby at the same time. They're both big changes."

Monica leaned into her, taking comfort in Angel's steady presence. "You always know how to make me feel better."

"That's because I love you," Angel murmured, brushing a tear from Monica's cheek. "And I know how much family means to you. It's going to be an adjustment, but we're doing this together. You're not alone."

Monica smiled, wiping at her eyes. "I know. Thank you for that."

Angel kissed her softly before sitting back in her chair. "So, are you ready for today? We've got the appointment later to meet with Dr. Fields about starting the IVF process. I'm a little nervous, but I feel like we're in good hands."

Monica nodded, her hand still holding Angel's. "Yeah, I'm ready. I've been reading up on everything, and Dr. Fields comes highly recommended. I just want everything to go smoothly."

Angel smiled, squeezing her hand. "It will. We're going to be okay."

Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Rodney appeared in the kitchen, still dressed in his workout clothes from his morning run. He grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and turned to face his moms, a slightly hesitant look on his face.