God's Plan

111

Jasmine stood in front of the mirror, smoothing a hand over the gentle curve of her belly. Eight weeks ago, she hadn't dared imagine this moment again. Now, it was here. Another gender scan, another round of hope, another breath held too long.

Behind her, Aubrey moved around the bedroom quietly, pulling on a hoodie, checking his phone, sliding his chain over his head. His eyes kept flicking to her in the mirror.

"You look good," he said, coming up behind her to wrap his arms around her waist, hands resting just above her bump. "Radiant or whatever them baby apps say."

She let out a small laugh, leaning into him. "You're annoying."

"But am I wrong?"

She didn't answer, just looked at their reflection: his chin on her shoulder, his fingers laced over her belly, both of them pretending to feel more settled than they actually did.

Aubrey pressed a kiss to her cheek. "You nervous?"

"A little."

"You were chill this morning. Thought you had your game face on."

"I did," she admitted. "Until I put this on and realized the last time I wore it was when we found out about Aiden."

He was quiet for a second. Then he gave her a squeeze. "You want to change?"

"No," she said softly. "I think... I need to wear it. For him."

Aubrey nodded once and kissed the side of her neck.

Downstairs, Aaliyah's little giggle rang out from the living room, where Deena was watching her for the morning. Jasmine smiled faintly at the sound, grateful for the buffer, for the noise, for the still-here part of their story.

"You got the folder with my paperwork?" she asked.

"Already in the car," Aubrey said, grabbing the keys. "I'm prepared today. Like a real dad."

"You are a real dad."

"Damn right."

In the car, the mood was soft. Jasmine kept a hand resting over her belly. Aubrey drove with one hand on the wheel and the other resting on her thigh, his thumb moving slowly over the seam of her leggings.

"Alright," he said as they reached a red light. "You wanna do a bet?"

She looked over, raising a brow.

"I say girl," he said confidently. "We make the ultimate girl gang. You, Liyah, and this one? I'm done for."

Jasmine smiled tightly. "You think so?"

"Yup. She already got an attitude in there. Always flipping around during scans, hiding from the camera like her mama."

Jasmine glanced out the window, heart tugging. She didn't respond right away. Aubrey noticed the silence.

"You think it's a boy?" he asked.

"I don't know," she lied.

He turned the radio down. "What do you feel?"

"I feel... hopeful." Another lie. What she really felt was pressure. And grief. And guilt for even hoping the baby might be something specific. That it might be him again.

Aubrey reached for her hand, laced his fingers through hers, and kissed her knuckles. "Whatever we find out... we good, right?"

Jasmine nodded.

"We got this. Together."

Another nod, but she didn't speak.

They pulled into the parking lot, she tried to breathe deeper.