Before anyone could say another word, a familiar voice echoed down the hall, loud enough to make everyone in the room jump.
“Where is she? Which one of you nurses is gonna tell me what room my best friend is in before I start flipping tables?!”
Catalina blinked toward the door just as it burst open, revealing Jantrece — slightly out of breath, hair tossed from the rush, handbag barely hanging on her shoulder.
“There you are!” she said, rushing forward with the kind of dramatic relief that made every head turn. “Girl, I swear, you can’t take a nap without nearly giving me a heart attack!”
“Jantrece—” Catalina started, but before she could finish, her best friend stopped short, taking in the gathered faces — her family, Kerian, Erica, Jonathan, and the doctor still holding his chart — all frozen mid-silence.
“What?” Jantrece asked, eyes darting between them. “Why do y’all look like someone just said the world’s ending?”
Kerian opened his mouth, but the doctor cleared his throat softly. “Miss, I was just explaining some important medical news to Ms. Montgomery here.”
Jantrece raised a brow. “Medical news? Oh, Lord. Don’t tell me it’s something serious.”
Catalina’s lips parted, still unsure how to even say the words. “Um… apparently… I’m pregnant.”
For a moment, the room was silent again.
Then Jantrece’s eyes widened so much they looked ready to pop out of her head. “I’m sorry—WHAT?!”
“Pregnant,” Catalina repeated softly, voice trembling. “Five months, actually.”
Jantrece’s mouth fell open. “Five—five months?! Girl, how do you not know for five months?!”
Catalina winced, cheeks flushing. “I—I thought it was just stress. I haven’t gained weight, and—”
“Mm-hmm!” Jantrece folded her arms dramatically. “You’ve been blaming stress for everything! ‘I’m tired—must be stress.’ ‘I’m nauseous—probably stress.’ Girl, that wasn’t stress, that was a whole human being doing somersaults in there!”
Kerian stifled a nervous chuckle beside the bed, rubbing the back of his neck. Erica hid a smirk behind her hand, while Jonathan leaned toward Kerian, whispering, “I like her. She’s terrifying.”
Jantrece whipped around toward the doctor. “Okay, Doc, spill it. Boy or girl? Or are we talkin’ twins here? Don’t keep me in suspense — I’ve got shopping lists to plan!”
Catalina groaned. “Jantrece—”
The doctor chuckled lightly, flipping a page on his chart. “Actually, since you’re all here… the ultrasound results are quite clear. You’re having a healthy baby girl.”
The room fell quiet again, but this time, it was a warm, glowing silence — the kind that pressed gently against everyone’s chest.
Catalina blinked, eyes filling again. “A… a girl?” she whispered.
Kerian exhaled shakily, a hand moving to cover his mouth. “A daughter…” His voice broke, the word feeling both impossible and miraculous.
Jantrece clapped her hands, breaking the stillness. “That’s it! I’m the auntie now! Y’all can’t stop me!” She pointed at Kerian with mock sternness. “And you, mister, better start baby-proofing everything. I want no nonsense near my niece.”
Kerian laughed softly, his tension easing just a little. “Yes, ma’am.”
Catalina smiled through her tears as her mother reached over, squeezing her hand with misty eyes. “A granddaughter…” Maire whispered, voice trembling with joy.
Her father placed a hand on her shoulder, his usual stoic expression softened into something gentler. “You’re going to be a wonderful mother, sweetheart.”
Catalina leaned back against the pillow, a hand drifting to her stomach — her mind still reeling from the revelation. “A baby girl…”
Jantrece grinned and leaned closer. “And you just know she’s gonna have your attitude.”
“God help us all,” Jonathan muttered under his breath, earning a quiet laugh from Erica beside him.
For the first time since the chaos began, there was laughter — real, light laughter that made the room feel alive again. For a fleeting moment, everything felt peaceful.
But beneath that peace, Kerian couldn’t shake the tightening coil in his chest. Even as he smiled, something deep inside him stirred — that familiar instinct from years of training, whispering that this calm couldn’t last.
Something was still coming.
And now, it wasn’t just his life on the line.
YOU ARE READING
Curves For The Agent Cowboy
Romance"I'll be right back.. I need to go and find out what's taking Nick so long. I'm thirsty!" With that being said she ignored the scared look on Catalina's face and walked away. Catalina watched her go and when she turned back around she was surprised...
