CHAPTER 67: ANTENATAL APPOINTMENT

MARIE The smell of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon greeted me as I shuffled into the kitchen, still groggy from sleep. Crystal, ever the early riser, was already bustling about, her back to me as she flipped pancakes with the ease of someone who'd done this a thousand times before. "Good morning, sunshine," Crystal chirped without turning around. Her voice was bright. "I made your favorite—pancakes, crispy bacon, and scrambled eggs. You need to eat well, especially now." I smiled, even though my stomach was in knots. "Thanks, Crystal. You're spoiling me." Crystal finally turned to face me, her hazel eyes sparkling with concern as she took in my appearance."You look exhausted, Marie. Did you sleep at all?" I shrugged, trying to brush it off. "I had a few things on my mind." "Marie, you need to rest. Stress isn't good for you or the baby." I knew she was right, but how could I rest when every thought was a battle? I took a seat at the small, round kitchen table, which wa