Kiara
I'm rendered speechless as we step into the house, marveling at all of the changes they've made. Despite the remodeling, Maggie's home still exudes the same cozy warmth it always has.
When Trey mentioned he had a surprise for me, one that would be revealed once it was completed, I suspected that it was a house or something. Never did I anticipate that it would be Maggie's. Yet, I'm so damn happy and grateful that it is.

It somehow makes me feel even closer to her knowing we'll live in the same space that she raised her children in. Soon, we'll be raising our own children here.
"You guys did this yourselves?" I ask, pausing in the dining room, my eyes resting on Maggie's table, the very one I've eaten countless meals or sat talking with Maggie.
"William, J, and I did all the hard work," Trey beams, "and, of course, Candy did all of the interior decorating."
Candy slaps her brother's arm. "Just so you know, that was hard too, asshole," she laughs, shooting him a playful glare. He throws his arm around her shoulders and plants a kiss on forehead. She pretends to shiver in disgust as she wipes it off. "Eww, what was that for?"
Trey smiles warmly at her. "I'm proud of you, everything looks nice. Mom would've been proud of you too," he replies, his sincerity evident in his voice.
I can't help but smile. Since Candice started therapy, her and her relationship with everyone has improved. Even her and William have spent time together.

I love that for them.
As everyone eagerly waits downstairs for the pizza Trey ordered, he leads me upstairs. Our first stop is what will be our new bedroom. It's the largest room in the house, once belonging to Candy until she moved out shortly after Maggie's passing.
In the hallway, a collection of photos adorn the wall. There's one of Maggie seated in her favorite chair on the porch, her familiar radiant smile and green eyes lighting up the frame. Beside it hangs a picture of Trey and his siblings when they were younger. The remaining photos are of him and me, moments captured over the year we've spent together. The most recent ones are our engagement photos. In each one, Trey gazes at me like I'm the sole focus of his universe.
And he has certainly shown me that I am.

Tears stream down my face to the point where I can barely see. It doesn't help that I'm pregnant and get extremely emotional over every little thing. Last week I cried because I couldn't find any sour cream and onion chips at Food Lion.
Grasping my hand gently, Trey guides me to his old room. Inside, It looks like it has been transformed into a little dessert shop. The walls are painted in soft shades of pink, creating a cute, cozy environment. In the center of the room, there is a pink crib with cupcake-themed bedding. Above the dresser, there is a variety ice cream and cake decorations, and on the opposite wall, our baby's framed sonogram photos hang proudly.
Feeling my heart swell with joy and gratitude, I open the closet to find it stocked with baby essentials: clothes, diapers, wipes, bottles—literally anything and everything a baby could need.
Holy shit.
"Candice," both of us murmur at the same time, shaking our heads and laughing. At this point, I think she may be more excited about our baby than we are.
Moving on to the last room in the hallway, we reach Maggie's old room. I notice Trey taking a deep breath before he closes his hand around the doorknob and pushes the door open. To my surprise, inside, there's a desk with a large desktop and a comfortable-looking purple chair.
On the bookshelf, my books are proudly stand on the top shelf. Curiously, I open the front covers of each, realizing that they're all the signed copies I gave to Maggie. The pages are worn, which meant she really did read all of my books. It's a reminder that she was one of my biggest cheerleaders, unlike my mom who's never even bothered to open a page, claiming she's "just not a reader".
My eyes then drift to the wall with framed newspaper articles and reviews about me and my work. Trey must've transformed his Mom's room into my office because he knew I'd spend the most time in here.
He stands silently behind me, likely watching my reaction.
"Do you like it?" he asks in a low voice, his tone filled with anticipation.
I can't help but laugh incredulously, turning around to meet his gaze. "Are you seriously asking me that?" I smile through tears, shaking my head in disbelief. "I love it...so, so much," I manage to say, my voice choked with emotion as I throw my arms around him. We stay there and hold each other for who knows how long.
I needed this. His touch brings back the peace that was disrupted when we went to my parents house. I expected a bad reaction, but nowhere as explosive as my mom was.
There's a chance she may not want to be in our lives after today, but honestly, I think I'm okay with that. I'm tired of trying to live up to her expectations just because the life she chose to live wasn't fulfilling to her.
I won't make the same mistake.
I know for certain that even if she doesn't show up for me and my daughter, I have people that will.
Once we return downstairs, the aroma of pizza fills the air. William, Jeremiah, and Candice are sitting at the table, engaged in conversation and laughter. Candice waves us over with a smile.
"Hey guys, we were just talking about a weekly game night or something, at least until you have the baby," she suggests enthusiastically.
I smile. "I love that idea. What do you think?" I ask Trey.
He smirks in response. "Hell yeah, but we're not playing Spades with Candice. She cheats."
"I heard that!" Candy retorts, scowling playfully. "I don't cheat, you just suck."
Their banter fills the air with warmth and laughter, setting the stage for many memorable game nights to come.
Just the thought of pizza sends a wave of nausea washing over me. I hug everyone before excusing myself to go sit down on the couch. Checking the time, I see that it's okay to take another Zofran. As it dissolves on my tongue, I feel the same butterflies in my stomach that I did earlier in the car.
Placing my hand on my belly, I whisper softly, just for her to hear, "It's okay, baby girl. We're home now."