Two years ago…
Elizabeth
A month later, I was in my office, wrapping up a brief meeting with the Administration & E-commerce department, when my phone buzzed.
I glanced at it and saw an unknown number. I swiped to decline, returning my attention to the meeting. A few minutes later, it buzzed again. I declined once more.
It kept coming—again, and again, until the fifth call. I sighed in defeat. My team waited patiently, ready to move on to the next presentation. There was so much to cover today.
I pressed the phone to my ear, groaning silently at whoever was so persistent. "Hello?"
A familiar, high-pitched feminine voice greeted me warmly. "Elizabeth, how are you?"
I froze for a moment. Adira—Sebastian's mother. "Oh… hi, Auntie. I'm fine. How—how are you?"
"I'm good," she said, her happiness almost palpable. "Sorry to call during work. Are you busy right now?"
I was about to answer, Yes, but she continued before I could respond.
"It's past one already. I was hoping we could have lunch together."
Her enthusiasm was infectious. We hadn't spoken—or seen each other—in over a year.
I glanced at the mountain of files scattered across the wide conference table, and at the expectant faces of my colleagues. Ending the meeting halfway wasn't ideal, but… this was my soon-to-be mother-in-law.
"Yes," I said finally, feeling a flutter of excitement.
"Wonderful!" she chirped. "I'll send you the location—just the new five-star restaurant down the lane from your office."
This was the first time Adira had asked to meet me since I started dating her son.
"Okay. I'll be there shortly," I said, hanging up. Turning to my team, I explained briefly, grateful that they understood without question.
They had no reason to question my decision—after all, I was their boss. "I wish to postpone this meeting. Until then, everyone, get back to work." I stood, grabbed my purse, and left.
The moment I stepped into the restaurant, Adira came toward me with a wide, warm hug. "Oh, dearie."
"Hi," I returned the hug, pulling away just as she nearly squeezed the air out of me.
Her eyes roamed over me, lingering for a moment on my stomach before drifting to the ring on my finger. I wondered why she seemed so fixated on my stomach, as if something mysterious were hidden there.
"Mmm… my son is taking good care of you, I can see that." Her smile softened, and her gaze met mine. "You look dazzling."
I cupped my cheeks, hoping to hide the blush rising. "And you don't look bad yourself."
"Come," she said, guiding me to her table. With a single gesture, a waitress appeared. "What would you care for, my dear?"
I glanced down at the menu, then back at her, unsure what to pick—I wasn't even hungry. "Um… I think a turkey sandwich will be fine."
Adira's brows drew together slightly. "No, dear." She turned to the waitress. "Bring her the smoked paprika goulash with veggies and white rice. And I'll have the beef and beetroot borscht with sour cream and dill."
The waitress nodded and left. I took a moment to take in the restaurant, its warmth, and its bustle.
Adira's cheerful voice soon pulled me into conversation. "So, how's life going? Seb didn't tell me about the engagement—otherwise, I would have come sooner."
I felt a flush of shyness I couldn't explain. "Oh… it must have slipped his mind."
"Well, I appreciate you stepping into his life. You've made such a difference in him. I'm truly happy for both of you." She smiled, and I returned it with effort. "I also want to sincerely apologize for how our friendship ended last time. It wasn't—"
"Oh, please, Auntie," I interrupted quickly. I always felt awkward when older people apologized. "There's no need. It's all in the past now."
She nodded slightly, accepting my words. Soon after, the waitress returned with our meals. "Thank you," Adira said warmly as she arranged the dishes on the table.
In no time, we were digging in.
"How's business going?" she asked. I twirled my spoon absently, gathering my thoughts before answering.
"Fine," I said simply, avoiding her gaze. "Less stressful."
She nodded, returning to her plate. "You know, my dear Elizabeth, you can be completely open with me, okay? Very soon, we'll be one big family, and I really want us to get to know each other better."
I had no words. I simply nodded.
"You're free to talk to me about hard things," she continued. "Anything at all. I know Seb can be… edgy. He has a bad temper and gets annoyed easily." It was true. "When things get tense, feel free to come to me."
"Sure." I forced a smile, and for the first time, I saw her genuinely pleased to believe in me.
Later, we were outside the restaurant, laughing and talking like old friends. Despite knowing Adira before, today felt special—different. Her words made me laugh unexpectedly, and for the first time in a long while, I felt truly at ease.
She wasn't ready to let me go, and neither was I. "You know what, my dear Elizabeth? I'd love to do this again sometime," she said as we reached the parking lot.
"Me too." I brushed strands of hair from my face, trying to focus. But just then, a sharp throbbing headache struck, and my mind went blank.
"Are you okay?" she asked, noticing my change.
I shook my head, trying to steady myself.
"You don't seem fine, my dear." Her hands reached for mine, her eyes searching mine, but I looked down. "Tell me what's wrong."
The pain intensified, and nausea followed. I gripped the car for support. "I'm fine," I whispered.
"No, you're not," she said firmly, worry creasing her face. "We need to get you to the hospital now."
I hated putting her in this position. My head was spinning, darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision.
Adira quickly volunteered to drive us to the nearest hospital.
I don't know exactly when I lost consciousness. The next thing I knew, I was awake—God knows how long later—lying on a hospital bed.
The moment my eyes landed on Adira, she stood up, leaving her phone on the coffee table. She rushed to my side, taking my hands in hers, a warm smile lighting up her face. "You're awake! How are you feeling? Is the pregnancy making you nauseous?"
Pregnancy?
I didn't understand what she was talking about.
I looked from her to my belly and touched my stomach. I didn't feel lightheaded, nor did I feel… pregnant.
"You're a few weeks gone," Adira's high-pitched voice rang out, excitement barely contained.
"A few weeks… gone?" I barely heard myself.
Adira nodded vigorously, a bright smile lighting up her perfectly made-up face. "I'm so happy. I'm going to be a grandma!"
I touched my stomach again, confusion and disbelief mixing in equal measure. Was this too good to be true?
I opened my mouth to say something, but the door swung open, and Seb walked in, Bruce lingering at the entrance.
Adira dashed toward him, whispering something in his ear. Then his eyes found mine—and with the widest, most joyful smile I had ever seen, he froze in place.
For a long moment, he didn't speak. Instead, he pressed gentle kisses along the back of my hand, my forehead… down to my belly.
Finally, his eyes lifted to mine, sparkling with excitement. "Hey… how are you?"
"Weak," I murmured.
As if reading my mind, Adira chimed in, bursting with life. "Do you need anything? I can get you anything, just name it!"
I froze, unsure what to say. "I… no, I'm okay—"
"I'll get you water. My grandbaby must be thirsty," she declared, leaving immediately.
Seb pulled up the empty chair beside my bed. "God… I'm going to be a father." He kissed the back of my hand again, grinning like a man who had just won the lottery. "I'm celebrating this tonight."
I sighed. "There's no need to throw a party. It's just an ordinary pregnancy."
He raised his brows, incredulous. "Ordinary, you say? No. This is my first child—our first child—and we're going to celebrate. At least the two of us alone."
I smiled softly, overwhelmed by his excitement.
Adira returned, holding two bottles of water. "This one's cold, and the other is room temperature," she said with a bright grin, setting them on the bedside table.
"No, mommy, she can't have cold water." Seb pushed the cold bottle aside and took the room-temperature one from Adira. He gently opened the lid and helped me drink.
They were all treating me like royalty. I guessed it was the pregnancy that earned me this special treatment.
"Seb, she should come live with us for a while while you do your thing. I just want to keep an eye on her—this is her first pregnancy, after all." Adira's suggestion had Seb groaning already.
"No, mom." He shook his head firmly. "She'll be my wife in a few months. It's my duty to protect her."
Seb and I had already set a wedding date long before the pregnancy showed up. The plans had to be pushed back a bit because there was so much to organize—introductions to my family, all the pre-wedding arrangements, and more.
"I'm not denying whatever status it is, dear," Adira said, turning her attention to me. "First trimester can be rough, and the doctor said she needs to be stress-free."
"In my house, she barely raises a finger—except when she feels like using the kitchen," Seb added, shooting a pointed look at his mother.
Adira let out a long, tired sigh, clearly feeling defeated. "In that case… I guess I'll have to come over."
It was like a pinprick to Seb. He went instantly alert. "Damn, no, mommy. Didn't you say Sharon is pregnant? She needs your attention too."
"She's away on her honeymoon," Adira replied.
Seb scratched his head, unsure what to think. He wasn't opposed to his mother, but he liked to keep some distance. "Then… Dad can't be alone in the house either."
"Felix is out of the country for a month," she shot down his next objection. Seb froze, drained of all rebuttal.
"Fine," he finally gave up. "But she'll need rest most of the time, just so you know."
Adira scoffed, hands on her hips. "I should be telling you that—because you men never keep your rods to yourselves."
My cheeks puffed as I tried to contain my laughter.
Seb looked embarrassed. I caught the faint clench of his jaw, and I stifled another giggle.
-----
"You're pregnant?" My mom—Susana Barros—couldn't contain her shock over the phone. It was an audio call. And we were speaking in Portuguese.
I was changing the bedsheets and pillowcases in the bedroom. "It's supposed to be a secret, and you're screaming it out. Aren't you happy for me?"
"Are you crazy, Serena? Of course I'm super excited about the news!" She chuckled, and I could hear the steady pedal of the sewing machine in the background—she was in the family shop. "When are you guys coming to Brazil?"
"In a few months. During carnival." I pressed the phone against my ear with my shoulder as I tucked the sheets into the mattress.
"Have you met his parents yet?"
"Yes. His mom especially. A million times."
"Hmm." I imagined her nodding. "Your grandma was overwhelmed when you told her you'd be getting married. Just think how happy she'll be when she finds out she's going to be a great-grandma soon."
I chuckled lightly. "Grandma is a secret keeper. I don't have a problem sharing it with her too."
"How are you coping with work and the pregnancy? I know how stressful it can be. I've been there." She sighed.
"Mom," I said, picking up a fallen pillow, "it's no big deal. With Seb by my side—and his mom—I have nothing to stress about."
"You know another thing I'm grateful for?" Mom's voice was bright. "It's that you've been able to meet the man of your dreams."
I snorted. "How's that?"
The pedal stopped in the background. "Take, for instance, your asthma—suddenly gone a few months after you met him." It was true. I was asthma-free. "And how he caters to you twenty-four-seven. Abigail said he's good luck."
"You guys are ridiculous—"
"What are you doing?" Seb's voice cut in, catching me off guard.
I spun around as he walked in, shutting the door behind him. "I'll call you later, Mom. My fiancé is here."
"Okay, my regards to him. Bye." She hung up.
I smiled at Seb, but he didn't return it. "You're touching things again, even though I asked you not to do anything in the house."
I tried not to roll my eyes. "Honey, I can't pretend to be handicapped. Besides, changing the bedsheets isn't hard labor."
"Come here." He took my hand and guided me to the sofa. "You stay here. Don't let me see you touch anything."
I sat quietly, like a little doll, and watched him rearrange the room with methodical care.
Everything my mom had said about him flashed through my mind again—Abigail said he's good luck… my regards to him…
I was lost in thought, unaware of when he finished.
"Hey," he squatted in front of me, smiling. "Is my son bothering you?"
"Son?" I raised my brows and laughed. "It's a girl, Seb. My baby girl."
He feigned a frown. "No way, honey. I put it in there—I get to decide what's inside."
I held my flat belly. "I'm the one carrying the baby for nine months and facing the pain of delivery. I get to decide."
"It's a boy."
"A girl."
"Boy."
"Girl."
"Still a boy."
"My baby girl."
"I'm gonna name him after me."
"I'll call her Little Elizabeth."
We were still debating and arguing over the gender of our baby when the front door opened.
"I'm not expecting a visitor." Seb stood and headed toward the door. I followed him.
Downstairs, we saw Adira, dragging a pile of luggage behind her.
Seb's eyes went wide. "Mom, are you staying for eternity?"
Her gaze swept over us, a bright smile lighting her face. "Hi, honey. For the record, I'll be here as long as I want."
Seb ran a hand through his face and sighed. "Jesus, Mommy, the visitation is way too early. I was expecting you to come in, like, six months."
"Ṣe o ya were? Kini MO yoo ṣe ṣaaju lẹhinna?" she said sharply in Yoruba. "Don't you know I have to prepare her and teach her everything she needs to know before childbirth?"
I leaned toward Seb and whispered, "What did she just say in the first line?"
He shrugged. "No idea. But I'm pretty sure she just insulted or scolded me… in Yoruba."
"Yoruba?" The words felt foreign, even through my Portuguese accent.
Seb raised his brows. "Oh, right—you forgot I'm partially Nigerian?"
I opened my mouth to reply, but Adira interrupted me mid-thought. "Sebastian, Ṣe iwọ yoo sọkalẹ nibi ki o ran mi lọwọ?"
He grumbled under his breath for a few moments before giving in to help her. "You were supposed to come six months later—ouch!"
Adira lightly knocked her knuckles on his head. "That's how you shut your son's mouth when he talks too much nonsense." She clicked her tongue, and I couldn't help but notice the unmistakable African mother vibes radiating from her.
Seb rubbed his head where she'd tapped him and quietly dragged the luggage upstairs.
As he passed by me, I caught him muttering under his breath, "That's why I don't allow her in my house… now she's going to be a thorn in my flesh."
-----
Later in the evening, after dinner, Seb and I settled in our bedroom. I was plaiting his long hair into tiny cornrows.
"God, how many talents do you have?" he grinned, checking his new look in his phone's camera roll once I finished.
"Let's call it experience," I said, throwing a peace sign as he reached to take a selfie of us.
He typed something on his phone. "I'm sending it to Antoni."
"You're shirtless in that photo," I reminded him. He liked going to bed shirtless—and apparently now doing everything shirtless.
"Yeah, I know." He chuckled just as his phone buzzed. Antoni was calling on FaceTime. Seb swiped the green button, and Antoni and Bianca appeared on the screen.
"Hey, old man," Seb greeted.
"At thirty-four?" Antoni groaned. "Who goes to the salon at 9:30 p.m.?"
"She did it," Seb said, pointing his thumb at me. I waved at the couple on the screen.
"Hi, Toni."
"Hi, Lizzy. Permit me to say, you're the only woman who's ever gotten hands on his hair."
I feigned a gasp. "Oh, is that true? I must be his lucky charm."
Bianca, wearing matching pajamas with Antoni, ran her fingers over his hair. "Seb, you look hot."
My eyes widened. Seb grinned, but Antoni shot her a deadly glare. "Honey, I'm here, and you just called my cousin hot!"
Bianca glanced at her perfectly manicured nails. "It's a compliment. Are you jealous?"
Antoni clenched his jaw. "I'm not." But it was obvious he was.
"Come on, sweetheart," Bianca said, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. Seb's face flushed pink. "You're way hotter. Happy now?"
A wide grin spread across his face. "Of course, yes."
"You see why I called you old the first time?" Seb interjected. "Because you think so immaturely. Now tell me, what's wrong if a woman compliments a man on his looks?"
"Allow Lizzy to tell me one, and I'll know it's normal," Antoni teased, and I saw the fiery look in Seb's eyes.
"I'll pick up my revolver and shoot you through FaceTime," Seb shot back, and the rest of us burst into laughter.
"Your phone will suffer for it," I said, wrapping my arms around his neck from behind.
He gently stroked my interlocked arms. "I was only kidding. Let's leave it at that. Hey, Toni, how are the wedding preparations going?"
Bianca and Antoni were deep into planning their wedding, set for a month from now, but Antoni was struggling to communicate with his soon-to-be mother-in-law.
"Dude, it's complicated," Antoni sighed, as Bianca stepped away from the screen to grab something downstairs. "Bianca's mom is coming to town tomorrow, and she only speaks Spanish."
"I thought you were learning a little," Seb laughed.
"There's this deeper layer she goes into that only Bianca can handle. Jesus, she's making all these suggestions for the wedding, and I'm completely lost."
"You just have to go with the flow," I chimed in. "I've spoken with Bianca's mom by chance, and she's a sweet soul."
Antoni nodded. "Yeah, she's generous."
"And always eyeing Mikolaj," Bianca popped back on screen, munching on a pack of Cheetos.
"Really?" Seb, Antoni, and I asked in unison.
Bianca licked her fingers. "Honey, I thought you noticed it when they had their first introduction through FaceTime. She couldn't stop praising your dad."
Antoni buried his face in embarrassment. "He didn't even notice! Your mom loves the Spanish language, so the old man was just staring."
We chatted a little longer before ending the call. Seb and I cuddled, drifting into sleep.
Around midnight, a knock jolted us awake.
I yawned and sat up gently. "Is it your mom?"
Seb rubbed his eyes. "I believe so. She's the only one who bothers people at this hour." He flipped the sheets aside and stumbled lazily to the door.
As soon as he opened it, Adira came into view. "Where is Elizabeth?"
"Fast asleep," Seb muttered, hoping to get her out of the room as quickly as possible.
"Do you want anything?" Seb asked, his patience thinning.
Adira snapped her head back. "I was just checking on her—and you! Why are you shirtless? Were you… having sex and quickly put on your pants when you heard me coming?"
I cringed while Seb groaned in frustration. "Mom, you told me not to touch her. I was doing just that. I sleep like this—shirtless, period. So can you do me the honor of returning to your room? Thank you."
"But—"
Seb shut the door in her face and crawled back into bed. "She's so… annoying."
I snuggled into him as he wrapped his arm around me. "Maybe she had a nightmare and needed someone to talk to."
"My mom is fifty-three. But people say she looks thirty. She knows how to handle herself," he muttered, pulling the sheets over us and turning off the lamp. "She probably just wanted to disturb our sleep."
"But I enjoy her company," I mumbled, drifting toward slumber.
"Mmm… thank God it's just the two of you in the house. You'll get to understand her better," he said softly.
"...Goodnight, Seb."
He pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "Goodnight, Sugar."