Chapter 46: A Secret Joy

As soon as they walked through the front door of their home, Ashley and Ryan collapsed onto the couch, still grinning from ear to ear. They had been on cloud nine since leaving the doctor's office, and the excitement was still coursing through their veins. Ashley snuggled into Ryan's side, feeling his warmth and comfort envelop her. "We did it," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Ryan wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "We're going to be parents," he whispered back, his voice filled with awe. As they cuddled up together, Ashley suddenly sat up, a mischievous glint in her eye. "You know, maybe we shouldn't tell anyone just yet," she said, her voice low and conspiratorial. Ryan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?" Ashley leaned in, her voice barely above a whisper. "I mean, we don't want to jinx it or anything. Let's just keep it to ourselves for now, until we're really sure." Ryan nodded thoughtfully, his eyes sparkling with understanding. "I agree, babe," he said, kissing Ashley's forehead. "Let's keep it between us for now. Maybe we can tell people after 12 weeks, when the risk of miscarriage is lower." Ashley nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. It felt good to have something all to themselves, something that was just between the two of them. Ryan wrapped his arms around her again, pulling her close. As they sat there, wrapped in each other's arms, Ashley felt a sense of peace and happiness wash over her. She knew that this was just the beginning of an incredible journey, and she was grateful to have Ryan by her side. Ryan whispered in her ear, "I love you, Ashley." Ashley smiled, her heart full of love for him. "I love you too, Ryan." As they sat there, lost in their own little world, they both knew that this was a secret they would cherish, at least for now. But for now, they were just happy to bask in the joy of their possible new life.