The serene happiness of the moment was suddenly interrupted by the soft chime of Ethan's phone. He glanced down, seeing Aunt Linda's name flash across the screen. He sighed, knowing what the call would be about.
Olivia noticed his hesitation and nudged him gently. "It's okay, answer it," she said softly.
Ethan reluctantly picked up the phone. "Hey, Aunt Linda."
"Ethan, darling!" Aunt Linda's cheerful voice came through the speaker. "I was just calling to check if you and Olivia are still coming for dinner tonight. I've prepared a few special dishes for Olivia—I made sure they're healthy and good for the baby."
Ethan hesitated. He wasn't sure if he was ready to face Martha, Jenna, or the tension that inevitably came with family gatherings. Olivia could sense his reluctance, her hand gently resting on his arm.
She gave him an encouraging look. "It'll be fine, Ethan. We should go."
He sighed, knowing Olivia was right. "Yeah, Aunt Linda, we'll be there."
"Wonderful!" Aunt Linda chirped. "I can't wait to see you both. And don't worry about anything—just bring yourselves. See you tonight!"
Ethan hung up and rubbed the back of his neck, still feeling uneasy. Olivia leaned in, giving him a reassuring smile. "We'll be okay, Ethan. We've got each other."
"Yeah, I know," he replied, his voice soft but appreciative. He squeezed her hand gently.
Just then, Emma and Alex reappeared, fresh from their morning celebrations, beaming with joy. "What's up?" Emma asked, noticing the shift in mood.
"We've been summoned to dinner at Aunt Linda's tonight," Ethan explained with a resigned smile. "Apparently, she's made some dishes especially for Olivia."
"Oh, that sounds lovely!" Emma replied, clearly excited. "I've heard your Aunt Linda's cooking is amazing."
"It is," Olivia added, trying to lighten the mood. "And I'm kind of curious now, especially with all these pregnancy cravings."
Ethan chuckled softly, his earlier tension melting away, at least a little. "Alright, but first, we've got breakfast to finish."
All four of them sat down to enjoy a simple but hearty breakfast. Olivia kept sneaking bites of Ethan's food, as usual, while he teased her playfully about it. Emma and Alex were still on cloud nine from their proposal, exchanging sweet glances across the table.
As they finished their meal, Emma couldn't resist teasing Olivia. "You've been stealing bites from Ethan's plate all morning—how's your appetite, Mama-to-be?"
Olivia grinned, rubbing her belly. "I think this baby has a bottomless pit for a stomach. But, hey, I'm not complaining!"
They all laughed, the warmth of their friendship filling the room.
After clearing the table, Ethan glanced at the clock. "We've got a few hours before dinner. Maybe we should head out for a walk, clear our heads before we dive into family drama tonight."
Olivia agreed, standing up and stretching. "Yeah, a walk sounds perfect. I'll need all the relaxation I can get before we deal with Martha and Jenna."
Emma gave Olivia a sympathetic smile. "Don't worry, Liv. We'll be there for moral support."
With breakfast done and the day ahead of them, the four friends made their way outside, ready to take on whatever came next. Despite the looming family dinner, they knew they had each other's backs—and that made all the difference.