The island days ended too soon. For Tom and Anna, it felt like a dream—soft waves, stolen kisses, the warmth of nights with no interruptions. But reality waited, and the jet carried them back home.
As they stepped into the house, Mark and Arin were already there. Arin smiled warmly, but her hand rested gently on her stomach, a gesture Anna didn't miss.
"You both look… different," Mark teased, looking at Tom's relaxed face and Anna's glowing smile.Tom smirked. "Maybe because we finally had peace for once."
Anna laughed softly, but her eyes lingered on Arin. Something in her expression seemed strange—both nervous and calm at the same time.
Later that evening, when the four of them sat down for dinner, Arin suddenly grew quiet. Mark reached for her hand, gave it a squeeze, and nodded slightly. She took a deep breath, then looked at Tom and Anna.
"There's something I need to tell you."
Anna tilted her head, curious. "What is it?"
Arin hesitated, her voice almost trembling. "I… I'm pregnant."
For a moment, the table fell silent. Anna blinked, her fork pausing mid-air. Tom looked at Mark, who nodded firmly, his expression serious but proud.
"You're… pregnant?" Anna repeated softly, almost in disbelief.
"Yes." Arin's voice cracked, but her smile was genuine. "It wasn't planned, but it's real. And Mark… he's been by my side from the start."
Tom leaned back, exhaling slowly, trying to process it. Anna's hand unconsciously went to her own stomach, as if sensing something in herself she hadn't realized yet.
She looked at Arin and suddenly smiled, tears welling in her eyes. "That's… beautiful. I'm so happy for you."
Tom, though shocked, gave a small smile too. "Guess life isn't going to stay quiet for long."
Mark chuckled, though his grip on Arin's hand only tightened, as if silently promising her he wouldn't falter.
That night, after Arin and Mark had gone home, Anna turned to Tom with a thoughtful look."Did you notice? The way she held her stomach… the glow in her eyes?"
Tom nodded. "I noticed."
Anna's voice softened, almost as if she was speaking to herself. "It's strange. When she said it, I… I felt something inside me too. Like maybe…"
She didn't finish. Tom pulled her close, resting his chin on her head. "Maybe," he whispered, smiling in the dark.
Neither of them knew it yet, but Arin's news was not just the beginning of her and Mark's journey—it was also the quiet spark that would soon reveal Anna's own.