Unfinished Business

Chapter 22: Final Touches and a Growing Suspicion

Lena and her mom finally made it back to North Carolina, and they got straight to work settin' up the nursery. With the baby's arrival just around the corner, there was a lot to get done. They cleaned up, folded tiny clothes, organized little toys, and arranged the shelves. Every little item made Lena's heart swell with excitement, bringin' her one step closer to meetin' her daughter.

Her dad arrived a day later to help, bringin' his usual dose of humor and determination. As they worked on puttin' together the crib, it quickly became clear it was a bigger project than expected. Pieces seemed to go everywhere—some upside down, others backwards, as her dad scratched his head and Que held the instructions upside down, convinced he'd figured it out.

"Who knew a crib could be so complicated?" her dad muttered, shakin' his head as Que let out a laugh.

Finally, with her mom's help, the crib came together, and the room looked perfect. Painted in soft shades of pink and white, with delicate flowers in purples and reds scattered across the wall, it felt like the ideal room for their little girl. The whole setup was girly and sweet, just like Lena imagined. All that was left was choosin' a name—a task that had proven harder than expected.

Dinner and Discoveries

That evening, they ordered Mediterranean food and sat around the kitchen island, laughin' and throwin' out baby name ideas. Her dad suggested strong, classic names, while her mom leaned toward elegant ones, and Que chimed in with a few unique suggestions that got everyone laughing.

As they finished up, her parents said their goodnights, leavin' Lena and Que alone in the kitchen. Lena leaned back, scrollin' through Instagram, not really lookin' for anything specific. As she went through a friend's story, she paused, her finger hoverin' over a picture that caught her off guard.

It was the girl from the party, the one she'd seen with Que before. The girl was pregnant, standin' with her hand on her belly, posin' with a mutual friend of Lena's from school.

Lena let out a small laugh, glancin' over at Que. "Hey, look at this. Your friend from the party is pregnant too," she said, her tone light, though she noticed Que's expression change slightly.

"Oh, really?" Que replied, keepin' his voice calm, but his heart raced. He tried not to let his reaction show, noddin' briefly as he pretended to go back to lookin' through his own phone.

Lena noticed his brief silence, but she didn't think much of it, brushin' it off as just another coincidence.

A Quiet Night

Later that night, Que decided to stay over, and they settled into bed. As they lay in the quiet, he reached over, his hand gently rubbin' her belly, talkin' softly to their baby girl. She was kickin' and movin' around, seemin' to respond to his voice, and Lena couldn't help but smile as she watched them. The sight of him talkin' to their daughter made her heart swell, fillin' her with a quiet happiness that she hadn't felt in a long time.

"Guess she's a daddy's girl already," Lena whispered, smilin' as she placed her hand over Que's.

He chuckled softly, lookin' at her with a gentle smile. "Can't wait to meet you, princess," he murmured, his voice filled with warmth as he continued talkin' to the baby.

In that moment, all the worries seemed to fade away, leavin' only the promise of the family they were about to become.

The Next Morning

By morning, Lena's dad and Que hit the road, headin' back home for a while but promisin' to return as her due date approached. After they left, Lena felt a calm settle over her, but also a sense of anticipation. She'd soon be holdin' her daughter, and she could hardly wait.

Instead of headin' to campus, she decided to stay home, loggin' into her classes online. She'd been studyin' psychology, drawn to understandin' people and what made them who they were. As her belly grew, walkin' around campus had become too much, so she welcomed the chance to study from home.

Settlin' into her routine, she glanced around the cozy nursery, feelin' the weight of the journey ahead. She knew life was about to change, in ways she couldn't even imagine. But with each passing day, she felt more ready, more confident, and more grateful for the love and support surroundin' her.