"A New Reality"

Jacquie pulled into the driveway, the early morning sun casting a warm glow over the quiet suburban street. She couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that had been growing inside her since she confirmed her pregnancy. As she stepped out of the car, she noticed Noah standing in the doorway, a cup of coffee in hand and a curious expression on his face. "Hey, where were you?" he asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in her disheveled appearance. Jacquie hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. She had been gone for 20 minutes, and she knew he would be curious about her brief absence. "Just ran some errands," she replied, trying to sound nonchalant. Noah raised an eyebrow, his eyes lingering on her face. "Errands? At 7 am on a Saturday?" Jacquie shrugged, trying to deflect his attention. "Just needed to pick up a few things." Noah's gaze lingered on her face, and for a moment, Jacquie thought she saw a flicker of concern. But he let it drop, and instead, walked over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "You okay? You seem a little...distracted." Jacquie smiled, trying to reassure him. "I'm fine, just a little tired." As Noah held her close, Jacquie felt a pang of guilt for not telling him the truth. She knew she couldn't keep it from him for long, but for now, she just wasn't ready to face his reaction. She took a deep breath, savoring the warmth of his body, and tried to push aside the thoughts swirling in her mind. Noah pulled back, his eyes searching hers. "You sure everything's okay?" he asked, his voice low and gentle. Jacquie nodded, trying to sound convincing. "Yeah, I'm positive. Just need to get some rest, that's all." Noah nodded, seeming to accept her explanation. But Jacquie could tell he wasn't entirely convinced. She knew she had to tread carefully, at least for now. As they walked back into the house together, Jacquie couldn't shake off the feeling that she was living a lie, and that the truth would eventually come to light.