From Divorce to Billionaire’s Baby

Chapter 18: Family Dynamics

The sun hangs low in the sky as the sound of car tires crunching on the gravel announces the arrival of my parents. I feel a strange sense of relief wash over me. Maybe having them here will serve as a buffer, diluting the tension that Helen’s presence always brings. But at the same time, I know my mom will fuss over me, her worries a constant companion ever since I told her I was pregnant.

Ryan is the first to notice their arrival, glancing out the window as he finishes unpacking the last of my things. "Your parents are here," he says softly, turning toward me with a small smile. There's warmth in his eyes, a silent offer of support. I nod, returning his smile even though my stomach is a bundle of nerves.

"I’ll go meet them downstairs," I tell him. "They'll probably want to check on me the moment they walk through the door."

Ryan chuckles. "Of course. You’re their baby, and now you're having one of your own."

I walk down the stairs with steady steps, trying to shake off the lingering tension from my earlier encounter with Helen. As I reach the bottom, the front door swings open, and my mom bursts in, her face a picture of concern and excitement.

"Tess, darling!" she calls out, her eyes immediately scanning me up and down, her gaze landing on my belly. She rushes over, wrapping me in a careful but tight hug. "How are you? How’s the baby? Is everything okay? You should’ve called me when you got here!" She pulls back just enough to get a good look at my face, her expression softening with maternal worry.

"I’m fine, Mom," I say, returning her embrace. "Everything's fine, the drive wasn’t too long, and the baby’s been behaving." I pat my belly lightly, offering her a reassuring smile. “You don’t have to worry so much.”

But of course, she worries. That’s her nature. My mom always means well, but I know she’s been extra on edge since I told her about the pregnancy. I understand it, really, I’m her only daughter, and now I’m bringing a grandchild into the world. But sometimes her anxiety only adds to my own.

“Are you sure you’re comfortable in the room, upstairs too?” she asks, already glancing up the stairs, as if imagining the entire setup might somehow be unsuitable for me.

I can’t help but smile, shaking my head. “Mom, I’m fine. Really. It’s just a couple of steps. I need the exercise anyway.”

My dad walks in next, his warm, comforting presence filling the room. He smiles at me, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he approaches. “You’re looking good, Tess,” he says softly, pulling me into a gentle hug. He’s always been the calm to my mom’s whirlwind, and I find myself relaxing a little more in his presence.

As we all stand together in the foyer, I glance over my mom’s shoulder and catch Helen lingering in the hallway, watching us with that same tight-lipped smile she wore earlier. I can see her assessing, observing, probably calculating her next move. But she stays silent, offering only a polite nod toward my parents.

"Hello, Helen," my mom says, her tone neutral but cool. They've never exactly gotten along, though they’ve always kept things civil for the sake of appearances.

"Helen, good to see you again," my dad adds, his voice warm as always. He’s the peacekeeper in the family, always striving to smooth things over even when there’s tension bubbling under the surface.

“Likewise,” Helen replies, her smile tightening even more. “I’m glad you could join us for the weekend. It’s going to be such a special time, with the baby on the way and all.”

I know that behind Helen’s polite words, there’s an undertone. A subtle reminder that she’s the matriarch here, and this house, this life, belongs to her and her family. She’s never quite accepted my family as equal to hers, and I’ve long stopped trying to make her.

“Thank you, Helen,” my mom responds, the slight edge in her voice unmistakable. She’s always been fiercely protective of me, and I know she senses the tension in the air just as much as I do.

I clear my throat, wanting to diffuse the situation before it gets awkward. “Why don’t we go out to the patio?” I suggest. “It’s such a beautiful day, and we can sit outside for a bit before dinner.”

Ryan appears behind me, nodding in agreement. “I’ll grab us some drinks. Tess, do you want to sit down and get comfortable?”

I nod, grateful for the opportunity to step away from the tense atmosphere inside. The fresh air will do me good. As we head toward the patio, I hear my mom whispering to my dad about making sure the room I’m staying in is suitable. I shake my head, smiling to myself.

As we settle on the patio, the sun casting a warm glow over the lake, I feel some of the weight lift from my shoulders. My parents sit beside me, and Ryan brings out a tray of drinks, setting them on the table. Helen stays behind, watching us from the doorway, a faint shadow of disapproval crossing her face before she turns and walks back inside.

As we sit on the patio, the cool breeze off the lake dances across my skin, momentarily easing the tension coiled inside me. My mom settled in the chair beside me, still wearing that anxious look that never quite seems to leave her face these days. She glances at me again, her eyes lingering on my belly as if she can’t help herself.

“Are you sure you’re okay, Tess?” she asks, her voice softer now, more intimate. “You look a little pale.”

I resist the urge to roll my eyes, instead giving her a reassuring smile. “Mom, I promise, I’m fine. I could probably use a bit more exercise, to be honest. It feels good to stretch my legs.”

She frowns slightly, but I can see she’s trying to hide her worry. “Well, just make sure you don’t overdo it,” she murmurs. “Especially with Helen around. You don’t need the extra stress.”

The mention of Helen sends a ripple of unease through me, but I push it aside. “Don’t worry about Helen,” I say, more confidently than I feel. “She’s not going to ruin this weekend.”

Mom nods, though I can see she doesn’t entirely believe me. She reaches out and takes my hand, her touch gentle. “I’m just glad we’re all here. It’s been a long time since we’ve done something like this.”

Her words tug at something in me, a small part of me that longs for the days when family gatherings weren’t filled with undercurrents of tension and unsaid things. When Ryan and I were newly married, and everything was still hopeful. But that’s not the reality we live in now, and I know better than to dwell on it.

As if sensing the shift in my mood, my dad speaks up from where he’s sitting next to Ryan. “How’s the baby doing, Tess?” he asks, his voice calm and steady. “You two must be getting close to the due date.”

I smile, appreciating the change in topic. “A few more months,” I say, resting my hand on my belly. “She’s been active lately, kicking up a storm.”

My dad’s face lights up with a soft smile. “Sounds like she’s already got some spunk. Just like her mom.”

For a brief moment, the tension melts away, and we all laugh, the conversation flowing a little easier. My parents start asking questions about the nursery, and we talk about names, though Ryan and I have been avoiding that particular topic for now. Naming our daughter feels like a decision that requires more certainty than we have at the moment.

As the conversation continues, I catch a glimpse of Helen watching us from inside, her face shadowed by the dim light filtering through the window. She’s been unusually quiet since my parents arrived, and I can’t help but wonder what she’s thinking. I know she’s not the type to stay silent for long.

“Are you feeling up to a walk later, Tess?” Ryan asks suddenly, his voice pulling me from my thoughts. He leans back in his chair, eyes scanning the sprawling yard that stretches down toward the lake. “It might be nice to get some fresh air. Clear our heads a bit.”

A walk does sound nice, and I could use the exercise, as I had mentioned earlier. “Yeah, I would like that,” I agree, feeling a bit more relaxed at the idea of spending time outside, away from the house and all its unspoken tensions.

“I will join you,” my dad offers with a smile. “It will do me good to stretch my legs too.”

“Me too,” my mom chimes in quickly, her eyes still fixed on me, as if she doesn’t trust me to take a step without her watching. “It will be nice to get out of the house.”

“Add me too,” Ryan’s dad adds. “Honey would you like to.............”

“Hope,” Helen responds and i thank God for that.

Ryan chuckles. “Looks like it’s turning into a group walk.”

I nod, already imagining the fresh air, the quiet sound of the lake lapping against the shore. It could be exactly what I need, a chance to reset, to breathe, and to escape, even if just for a little while.

As we stand to head out, Helen reappears in the doorway. Helen’s eyes flicker between Ryan and me before landing on my parents. “Do take care of Tess. She’s in a delicate state, after all.”

My mom’s eyes narrow just slightly, and I can tell she’s biting her tongue. I squeeze her hand gently, signalling that it’s not worth getting into it with Helen right now.

“We’ll be fine, mom,” Ryan says firmly, stepping in before my mom can say anything. “It’s just a walk.”

Helen smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Of course. Enjoy yourselves.”

With that, she turns and disappears back into the house, leaving a faint chill in the air behind her.

As we set off toward the lake, the tension lifts again, the peaceful sounds of nature replacing the unspoken conflicts inside the house. Ryan walks beside me, his hand brushing mine occasionally, and I feel a strange mix of comfort and uncertainty. There’s a lot we haven’t talked about yet, and I know we can’t avoid those conversations forever.

But for now, I focus on the sound of the water, the feeling of the earth beneath my feet, and the warmth of my family around me. There will be time to deal with everything else later.

For now, I just need to breathe.