A New Chapter Unfolds

As Ashley continued to talk to Avan on the video call, she took a deep breath before sharing the news they had just received at the doctor's office. "Avan, we found out that we're having a baby girl," she said, trying to contain her excitement despite the emotional turmoil of the day. Avan's face lit up with a warm smile, and he let out a whoop of joy. "A baby girl! Oh, Ashley, I'm going to be a dad again!" he exclaimed, his eyes shining with happiness. Ashley couldn't help but smile, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. Maybe this new addition to their family would bring them closer together, she thought. But as she glanced down at Alex, who was still sniffling and clinging to her hand, she knew that they still had a long way to go. "Alex is being a bit tough, though," she said, trying to prepare Avan for the emotional state of their son. "He's really struggling with the doctor's visit and just being overwhelmed, I think." Avan's expression turned sympathetic, and he nodded understandingly. "I'm sure he'll be okay, Ashley. He's just scared and unsure of what's going on. We'll get through this together, okay?" Ashley felt a surge of gratitude towards Avan, knowing that he was there for her and their family, even if he wasn't physically present. As they finished their conversation, Ashley and Alex began their walk home, the cool evening air slowly calming Alex down. Avan blew them a kiss on the screen, promising to call again soon, and Ashley ended the call, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. As they approached their apartment building, Ashley realized that she was too exhausted to cook dinner. She suggested takeout to Alex, who nodded listlessly, still looking a bit down. Ashley ordered their favorite pizza and some chicken nuggets, hoping that a familiar favorite would lift Alex's spirits. When the food arrived, Ashley and Alex sat down at the kitchen table, and Ashley handed him a plate of nuggets and a slice of pizza. But as they began to eat, Ashley noticed that Alex was picking at his food, pushing the nuggets around his plate with a fork. She sighed, knowing that he was still upset, and tried to coax him into eating. "Hey, buddy, you need to eat something, okay? You haven't eaten all day," she said, trying to sound gentle. Alex looked up at her, his eyes still red from crying, and shook his head. "I don't wanna eat, Mummy," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Ashley wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. "It's okay, baby. You don't have to eat if you don't want to. We'll just have to try again later, okay?" She stroked his hair, feeling a pang of worry and exhaustion. It was going to be a long night, she thought.