Journey of the heart(3)

Chapter 14: Adjustments and Realities

The next few months flew by in a blur. Mya was now well into her second trimester, and the changes were starting to become real. Her belly had begun to show, just enough for her to notice, and the morning sickness had finally eased up. She and Jaylen were slowly transforming one of the rooms in their new home into a nursery, picking out colors, and arguing over cribs and baby decor. But no matter what, they always found a way to laugh through it.

One evening, Mya stood in front of the mirror, gently touching her growing belly. She smiled at her reflection, feeling both amazed and overwhelmed by how her body was changing. It was beautiful, but it was also a reminder that everything in her life was shifting. Every time she looked at herself, she thought about the balance she was still trying to find between her career and becoming a mom.

Jaylen walked into the bedroom, catching her lost in thought. He smiled as he approached, wrapping his arms around her from behind and resting his hands on her belly.

"You're beautiful, Mya. You know that, right?" he said softly, kissing her neck.

Mya chuckled, leaning back into him. "You always know how to say the right thing."

Jaylen grinned. "It's the truth. How you feelin'?"

Mya sighed. "I'm good. Tired, but good. Just thinkin' about everything."

Jaylen turned her around to face him, his hands gently holding her waist. "What's on your mind?"

Mya looked up at him, her expression soft but serious. "I've been thinkin' about work, Jaylen. I'm gonna have to start pulling back soon. I can feel it. The baby's coming fast, and I can't keep up this pace. I don't want to burn myself out before they even get here."

Jaylen nodded, his face calm. "You know I've been sayin' that for a minute. You don't have to do it all by yourself. It's okay to slow down."

Mya let out a breath, her heart heavy with the reality of it. She loved her work—she had built her business from the ground up, and stepping back felt like giving up a piece of herself. But she also knew she had to make room for this new chapter of her life. She couldn't be everything at once.

"I know," Mya said quietly. "I just... it's hard to let go."

Jaylen squeezed her hands gently. "You're not lettin' go. You're just makin' space for what's next. Your business ain't goin' nowhere, baby. It'll still be there, and you can come back to it when you're ready. But right now, you gotta think about yourself and our little one."

Mya nodded, the weight of his words settlin' over her. He was right. She had to trust that the business she had built was strong enough to handle her takin' a step back. It wasn't about quittin'—it was about shiftin' priorities.

"I guess I'm just worried about losin' myself in all of this," Mya admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jaylen pulled her close, his voice soft but full of love. "You're not losin' yourself. You're growin'. You're about to be a mom, and that's just another part of who you are. It doesn't take away from everything else—you'll still be Mya, the boss, the hustler. But you'll also be Mya, the mom. You got this, baby."

Mya felt a tear slip down her cheek as she rested her head against his chest. "Thanks, Jaylen. I needed to hear that."

He kissed the top of her head, holdin' her tight. "That's what I'm here for."

The next day, Mya made the decision to start pullin' back at work. She reached out to her clients, lettin' them know that she'd be reducing her hours as she prepared for the baby's arrival. It wasn't easy—some of her clients were disappointed, but most of them understood. They knew how dedicated she was and how much she'd given to them, and they respected her need to shift her focus.

She also had a long conversation with Melody about the cafe. They'd been workin' together for months now, and Mya had helped Melody build up her social media presence and drive traffic to the cafe. But it was time for Melody to take over and run with it on her own.

"You know I'm here if you ever need me," Mya said as they sat down at Melody's cafe one afternoon. "But I gotta step back for a little while. With the baby comin', I'm just not gonna have the time or energy to keep up with everything."

Melody smiled, her eyes full of understanding. "I get it, Mya. You've done so much for me already, and I can't thank you enough. I'm excited for you. You and Jaylen are gonna be amazing parents."

"Thanks, girl," Mya said, feelin' a little emotional. "I'm gonna miss workin' with you, though."

Melody reached across the table, squeezin' Mya's hand. "We'll still be workin' together, just in a different way. You focus on your family, and when you're ready, you know I'll be here."

Mya smiled, feelin' a sense of relief. It wasn't easy to let go, but it felt right.

Over the next few weeks, Mya settled into a new routine. She spent more time restin', takin' care of herself, and focusin' on gettin' ready for the baby. She and Jaylen started attendin' prenatal classes, learnin' everything they could about what to expect in the months ahead. The nursery was comin' together, piece by piece, and every time Mya walked by the room, she'd smile, imaginin' their little one sleepin' peacefully in the crib.

One night, after a long day of runnin' errands, Mya sat down on the couch, her feet achin' and her back sore. Jaylen, always attuned to her needs, walked over with a glass of water and sat beside her, rubbin' her shoulders gently.

"You okay?" he asked, his voice soft.

Mya nodded, leanin' into his touch. "Yeah. Just tired. But it's a good tired, you know?"

Jaylen smiled, kissin' her temple. "I know. You been workin' hard, even when you say you're slowin' down."

Mya chuckled, feelin' the tension in her body slowly melt away. "I guess it's just in my nature."

Jaylen pulled her into his arms, holdin' her close. "Well, you deserve a break. You've been doin' everything, and now it's time to let yourself rest."

Mya sighed, feelin' the truth of his words sink in. She had been pushin' herself, even when she said she was slowin' down. But now, as the baby's arrival grew closer, she knew it was time to really let go. To trust that everything would be okay, and to give herself the space to just be.

"I'm ready, Jaylen," she said softly. "I'm ready to focus on this—on us, on our family."

Jaylen smiled, his eyes filled with love. "We ready, baby. And we got this."

As they sat there, wrapped up in each other, Mya felt a deep sense of peace. The adjustments were hard, but they were necessary. She was steppin' into a new phase of her life, and though it was full of uncertainty, it was also full of love and excitement.

They were buildin' somethin' beautiful, and Mya knew that whatever challenges came their way, they'd face them together.

The future was uncertain, but it was also full of promise. And with Jaylen by her side, Mya was ready for every moment of it.