We're going to have a child!

We're going to have a child!
I swear I'd never seen a dinner table so quiet in my life. Not even when Ethan argued with his father about the company. Not even when his stepmother showed up wearing that hideous necklace pretending it was fine jewelry. Nothing came close to the silence that reigned there.

I sat next to Ethan, my hand sweating in his. He squeezed my fingers in that way that seemed to say: calm down, love, but also, for God's sake, don't leave me alone in this.

His parents were at the other end. Mr. Alencar with that eternally judgmental look on his face. His stepmother with her nose in the air, as if she smelled something bad. Eva—Ethan's mother—all smiles, as always, shining brighter than the ceiling light. And Luana, the only one there who really liked me, already looking at me like a professional gossip waiting for the drama to begin.

Ethan cleared his throat. I looked at him. He looked at me. I thought: just say it, love, my soul is trembling. And he clearly thought: “You go ahead.” Typical of us.

Until he took a deep breath and blurted out:

— We have something to tell you.

Mr. Alencar placed the silverware on the table, in that dramatic way that looked like a scene from a TV series.

The stepmother leaned forward with a look of “finally some gossip to feed me.” Luana bit her lip, trying not to smile. And Eva remained there, smiling like a ray of sunshine, as if she already knew what was coming.

Then Ethan blurted out:

— Diana is pregnant.

Just like that. Out of nowhere. Direct. Raw. Without warning, without a soundtrack, without prior notice.

I almost died.

The table turned into a carnival of reactions.

Luana gave a little scream and covered her mouth. Eva put her hands to her chest, genuinely emotional. The stepmother let out a “Wow…” so fake she almost fell out of her chair. Mr. Alencar frowned as if calculating whether this was a loss or a gain.

And me? I stood there, smiling like a fool.

"Pregnant?" Eva finally asked, her voice full of joy.

"Yes," I replied, a little shyly. "I found out yesterday."

Eva stood up from her chair with the greatest happiness in the world written all over her face. She hugged me tightly, in her own way, warm, welcoming, as if I were her real daughter.

"Congratulations, my dear!" she said, all emotional. "You're going to be a wonderful mother."

That's it. I almost cried right then and there.

Mr. Alencar cleared his throat.

"That's… unexpected."

Ethan stared at him with that raised eyebrow.

"Dad… say 'congratulations'."

He blinked twice, as if rebooting.

"Congratulations," he said, all formal. — A grandchild is always a blessing.

Luana jumped out of her chair and practically threw herself on top of me.

— OH MY GOD, DIANA, I'M GOING TO BE AN AUNT! — she shouted. — I'm going to buy everything! Socks, onesies, pacifiers, crib, diapers… oh my God, I'm freaking out! — she hugged me tightly. — I knew you two were going to be parents soon.

— I didn't know that much — Ethan teased.

— Yes, you did! — she retorted. — You have that grumpy face, but I always said you'd be a doting dad.

Then it was my turn to almost turn as red as a tomato.

My stepmother intervened, obviously.

— Oh, how lovely. Babies bring so much light to the house. If you want help decorating the baby's room, I know a wonderful designer…

Ethan cut her off immediately:

— We'll manage.

Her smile fell half an inch, but she maintained her composure.



After the initial shock, everyone sat down again. I was kind of floating, kind of dizzy, kind of "I can't believe this is real." Ethan held my hand again under the table, and his gaze was so different… full. Calm. Present.

Eva settled into her chair, radiant as always.

"Have you been to the doctor yet?"

"First exam was today," I said. "Everything's fine with me and the baby."

She let out such a light, happy sigh that I wanted to hug her again.

"And have you thought of names yet?" asked the stepmother insistently.

"No," Ethan replied curtly. "And when we do, it won't be a vote."

Luana burst out laughing.

"Don't talk like that, love," I said, pinching him lightly. "We can listen to suggestions."

He made a face that said, “You can listen to whatever you want, but I’m the one who decides,” but at least he didn’t complain anymore.

Mr. Alencar crossed his arms.

“You need to get organized. A pregnancy requires time, planning. The company will need adjustments…”

Ethan interrupted firmly:

“Dad, relax. The company can handle it. Diana and the baby come first.”

The silence that followed spoke louder than any speech. Nobody expected to hear that from him. Not even me.

I turned to him.

He looked at me.

And I felt a pleasant warmth in my chest, the kind that makes you feel silly.

“You’re going to be an amazing father,” I murmured.

He smiled slightly.

“Only because you’re going to be an amazing mother first.”

I melted completely.



When everyone came to say goodbye, Eva hugged me again and said a lot of sweet things. Luana almost ripped my arm off with excitement. Mr. Alencar shook Ethan's hand as if he were signing a contract.

The stepmother I was trying to get another story about the baby's room, but Ethan was already pulling my hand, saying "goodnight."

In the car, when he closed the door, he let out a breath as if he'd run a marathon.

"My God," he said, "that was easier than I thought."

"Did you think they were going to hit you?" I teased.

"With this family? Anything is possible."

I laughed and put my hand over his.

"I'm happy, Ethan."

He turned his face to me. His gaze was so full. So much like him.

"Me too, love."

He started the car, I rested my head on his shoulder, and his hand stayed there, firm on my leg, calm, saying without words that now it was real. That we were going to manage. That this baby came to complete us.

And for the first time…

I truly believed it.

We were going to be a family. In truth.