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I’m fixated on how her presence affects me, like discovering a part of myself that was missing. As the chatter around the table picks up, the atmosphere shifts.

“Isla, how’s the little one treating you?” Mum asks, her eyes warm with concern.

Isla talks animatedly about her pregnancy, mentioning how she’s feeling more energetic lately but still gets those occasional bouts of morning sickness. She smiles, placing a hand on her stomach.

“We’re doing well. We just need to finalise the nursery, but we still have time,” she replies, exchanging a glance with Xavier, who kisses her head.

“I’m slowly starting to box things up, like Mum and Dad’s clothes—” Isla starts, her voice trailing off as tears well up in her eyes.

“Oh, my dear,” Mum soothes, taking Isla’s hand.

“Ah, pregnancy hormones.”

Xav rubs Isla’s arms up and down, comforting her. “It’s okay, baby.”

Isla composes herself for a moment. “We’re getting there. I just don’t want to change the house too much, you know?” she says with a sigh.

“Of course, dear. I think it’s a beautiful idea to keep and hold on to the memory of your parents in your home,” Mum says, wiping her own tears with her napkin. “They’re always here with you.”

“Thank you,” Isla says warmly, squeezing Mum’s hand.

As everyone finishes eating, knives and forks clatter against plates. Liv starts a new conversation, “Have you been getting any weirdcravings?”

Isla laughs, eyes sparkling. “Oh, you have no idea. I’ve been craving pickles and ice cream at the oddest hours!” she exclaims, earning chuckles from us.

“Pickles and ice cream, huh?” Dad joins in. “Grace was the same when she was pregnant with you lot. I remember running out to get her some in the middle of the night more than once!”

Isla looks amused. “Really?”

Dad smiles fondly—a rare sight. “Oh yes, she had some interesting cravings. But it was all worth it in the end, wasn’t it, love?” He looks at Mum, who nods with a smile, her eyes twinkling with memories.

“I remember she practically lived on cheese and pineapple sandwiches for weeks,” Dad adds.

“Gross, man,” Liv grimaces.

“Don’t knock it till you try it, darling,” Mum chides, before addressing Isla, “Just remember, Isla, dear, to take time to relax through it all.”

“On that note,” Liv continues eagerly, “I was talking to Imogen at my hair appointment the other day—”

“That can’t be good,” Xavier interjects, and Isla playfully smacks his arm.

“Anyway, she gave me this brilliant idea. Since you two never got to go anywhere after the wedding,” she gestures to Isla and Xavier, “what better way to celebrate than to go on a small getaway? We could book an AirBnB somewhere nice and just relax and have some fun.”

Isla’s face lights up at the suggestion. “That sounds amazing! I’m totally onboard.”

Xav, however, hesitates. “I don’t know, babe. With the baby on the way, I just want to make sure everything’s okay. Maybe we should hold off on big trips for now.”

Isla rolls her eyes playfully. “Oh, stop being a softie. It’ll be fine. We can still have a great timeandtake it easy.”

This makes me snort.

Xav shoots me a playful glare. “Wait until you have kids, mate. Then you’ll know what real worry is,” he says, his tone teasing, but with a hint of truth. His words poke at me, but I just shrug it off. Xavier doesn’t even comprehend the true essence of worry.

Worry? He couldn’t grasp the weight of that word, not truly. Our concerns may differ now, but the core remains unchanged.

“I think it’s a fantastic idea,” Mum chimes in. “It’ll be a wonderful way to celebrate this new chapter in your lives.”

“Alright, fine,” Xav sighs.