Rylee stares at the pregnancy test, her eyes wide. She blinks slowly, then brings a hand down to her stomach. Two months pregnant, she thinks as she goes backwards in events.

Two months.

She lays the test stick on the counter and hobbles over to the toilet like she’s eight months in. She opens the lid calmly and sinks down beside it. Her chin over the edge as she empties her food into the white bowl.

“Oh my God. Ravi,” she growls, tears pulling in her eyes. She’s scared of him knowing and even more afraid of what will happen in nine months. But even more so- she’s happy. And that scares her more than anything.

“Babe, I’m home,” muffled clunks come from the kitchen, where Ravi has just walked in. She hears the door shut and stands. Rylee flushes the toilet, hiding the test, and watches her hands, brushing her teeth quickly before walking out.

“There’s a baby,” she squeaks.

“A baby? Are you okay? You’re pale,” Ravi opens the fridge and peers in, glancing over at her. “A baby what? The dog outside? Oh yeah, I told it to scram.”

“Ravi,” Rylee wobbles to the counter.

“Whaaaat?” He’s chewing on something he found in the fridge, talking with his mouth full. “No dogs, honey. Not right now,” he says once he’s swallowed the food. He kisses her forehead and brushes past, wiping his hands on his jeans.

Rylee hides her shaking hands behind her back and watches him go up to his room. She slams her fist on the countertops once he’s away. After that, she picks up a plastic bowl and hurls it at the front door.

“Did someone knock on the door?” Ravi calls from his room.

“No,” Rylee snaps, leaving the bowl in its spot on the floor as she storms to his room and curls up in his bed. He draws with his back turned. Rylee glares at the back of his neck until she falls asleep.

•.•.•.•.•.•.•.

Rylee never thought it’d be this hard. Why is he so oblivious? She lays a hand on her stomach, feeling the small bump there.

Three months now.

Her eyes wander to a box on the counter. Wrapped up with a bow on top. She turns to stare at the front door and is soon pacing, her eyes locked on the door while she chews on her fingernails.

“No. I don’t want- didn’t I say- look…” she runs to the door’s window and peeks out, watching Ravi on the phone. “Shut up,” he yells. “And listen.”

Rylee pulls away fast, punching at the air and yanking the box up. She slams it down repeatedly in frustration and kicks the counter. “And by Wednesday-“ he walks in. “Hi, babe Ry. And by Wednesday I want it all done, yeah. That works. And tell Payu I said no color. No.”

He hangs up the phone after a series of nods and sits on the couch, sighing and propping his feet up. “Come here, beautiful.”

Rylee trudges forward, looking like a deer caught in a pair of headlights. “I uh- … got you s-something. And I just thought- I thought maybe you’d- and I’d… but- we… I.”

Ravi pulls her down and kisses her hard. “A gift for me? You’re so sweet!”

He unwraps it fast- pausing when he sees the small baby shoes in the bottom of the box. Wrapped in tissue paper that Rylee used as a Kleenex for a minute or two.

“Uh,” he laughs and makes a funny face. “Babe… these won’t fit me.”