Chapter 9

After leaving Rachel’s apartment, Jalen asks Sydney if he can come over and she says,

“Yes, come over now.”

Jalen didn’t expect her to say now, but he headed straight there.

Jalen pulled into the parking lot of Sydney’s condo; his stomach tight with unease. When she told him to come over, her text hadn’t felt like her usual laid-back, playful self. This was different. Jalen stepped out of the car, walked up to the door, and knocked. A few seconds later, Sydney opened it. She stood there in leggings and an oversized sweatshirt, her long blonde hair pulled into a messy bun. No makeup. No smile. Her blue eyes were sharp but guarded.

“Hey,” she said quietly, stepping aside to let him in.

Jalen frowned. This wasn’t Sydney. She wasn’t teasing him. She wasn’t smirking like she usually did. She looked ... nervous. Sydney closed the door behind them, then crossed her arms.

Jalen studied her carefully. “What’s going on?” he asked, keeping his voice steady.

Sydney exhaled deeply, running a hand through her hair. She paced once, then stopped, looking at him like she was still trying to figure out how to say it. Then ... she just came out and said it.

“I’m pregnant.”

Silence. Jalen froze. His heart stopped. His stomach dropped.

Sydney’s gaze didn’t waver. “And it’s yours,” she added, her voice steady but heavy with emotion.

Jalen finally breathed in. This was it. The first of the eight. The prophecy was happening. And Sydney? She had no idea about it. Jalen stood there, silent. His mind was racing, but his body wouldn’t move. He could feel Sydney’s eyes on him, watching him closely, waiting for a reaction. Waiting to see if he was going to run. But he didn’t. Instead, he exhaled slowly, forcing himself to stay grounded. Then...

“How do you feel about it?” he finally asked.

Sydney blinked, startled by the question. Her arms were still crossed, her weight shifting slightly. She wasn’t expecting that. She let out a sharp exhale, then rubbed her forehead.

“I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice tired but honest.

“I mean ... I’m 25. I have a good job, a nice place, a solid life ... but I wasn’t planning for this.”

Jalen nodded slowly, letting her speak.

Sydney let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “I keep thinking about how my mom is going to react,” she muttered. “She already thinks I should be married by now. And now, I’m about to be a single mom? With a Black father? She’s going to lose her mind.”

Jalen’s jaw tightened slightly at that, but he didn’t react. Sydney wasn’t saying it to be offensive, she was just being real. And she was right. Her mom probably was going to lose her mind. Sydney looked up at him, her blue eyes searching his.

“And you?” she asked. “How do you feel about it?”

Jalen inhaled deeply. He didn’t know how to explain what he was feeling. On one hand? This was exactly what the Beyonder had said would happen. But on the other? This was Sydney. A real woman. A real pregnancy. A real baby. This was his child. And he had to decide what to say next. Jalen stepped forward, closing the space between them.

Sydney’s arms were still crossed, her posture tense, but she didn’t back away.

Didn’t flinch. She was waiting for something. For him to speak. For him to react. Instead of answering right away, Jalen reached for her hands. Gently. Slowly. Sydney’s fingers were cold, but she let him take them.

Jalen held them firmly, grounding both of them. And then said, “No matter what happens ... you won’t be alone in this.”

Sydney’s breath hitched. Her blue eyes widened just slightly, like she wasn’t expecting that. Like some part of her had prepared for the worst. Prepared for him to say he wasn’t ready. That this was too much. But instead? He was right here. Not running. Not making excuses. Just standing with her. Sydney swallowed hard, blinking quickly like she was trying to keep her emotions in check.

Her fingers tightened around his. “You mean that?” she asked quietly.

Jalen didn’t hesitate. “Yeah. I do.”

She exhaled sharply, her shoulders relaxing just a little. Jalen could feel the weight she had been carrying, the fear, the uncertainty, start to shift. Because now she wasn’t carrying it alone.

Sydney bit her lip, her voice softer now. “I really needed to hear that.”

Jalen gave her a small squeeze. “I meant it,” he said again. “We’re in this together.”

For the first time since he arrived, Sydney’s lips curved into something close to a smile. Faint. Wary. But real. And in that moment, Jalen knew that this was the beginning of everything changing. Sydney led Jalen to the couch, sitting down first before pulling him beside her. Jalen stayed quiet, watching her, letting her find the words in her own time.

She inhaled deeply, running a hand through her messy blonde waves.

“I found out yesterday,” she started, voice soft but weighted. “I’d been feeling weird for a while, but I just kept telling myself it was stress ... or maybe my cycle was just being weird. But then I realized I was late. Like ... really late.”

Jalen nodded, listening closely.

Sydney let out a dry laugh, shaking her head. “I stared at that stupid test for so long, hoping I was imagining it. Hoping maybe there was a mistake. But those two little lines just ... stared right back at me.”

Her voice wavered slightly, and Jalen could feel just how much she had been carrying this alone. She looked over at him then, blue eyes filled with vulnerability.

“I didn’t know how to tell you,” she admitted. “I didn’t even know how to think about it myself.”

Jalen reached for her hand again, this time giving it a gentle squeeze.

“You won’t have to go through this alone, Syd,” he reaffirmed, his voice steady.

Sydney swallowed hard, then nodded.

Jalen exhaled, grounding himself. “What do you want to do next?” he asked. “Do you want to make a doctor’s appointment? Do you want to tell your parents? Or do you just need more time to process?”

Sydney stared at him for a moment, searching his face. Then, finally, she let out a breath. “Right now?” she murmured. “I just ... want you to hold me for a while.”

Jalen didn’t hesitate. He opened his arms, and Sydney immediately curled into him, resting her head against his chest. Her body was warm, her breathing uneven. Jalen felt her exhale deeply, as if she was finally letting herself rest. And as he wrapped his arms around her, he realized This moment was bigger than both of them. Sydney sank deeper into Jalen’s embrace, her body finally relaxing as she let herself be held. For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Just the sound of their breathing, the weight of the moment settling around them.

Then, quietly, she admitted, “I’m scared, Jalen.”

Jalen’s arms tightened around her, his fingers gently tracing soothing circles on her back. “I know,” he murmured. “Talk to me.”

Sydney exhaled, her cheek still pressed against his chest. “It’s not just my mom,” she admitted. “It’s my whole family. My friends. The circles I grew up in.”

She pulled back slightly, just enough to look up at him.

“You don’t understand how these people are, Jalen. I was raised in a world where image is everything. Where women are expected to be perfect wives and mothers with a ring on their finger before they even think about having kids.”

Jalen stayed quiet, letting her get it out. Sydney swallowed.

“I mean, they already thought I was a rebel for breaking up with Greg. But this?” She let out a dry laugh. “An unwed pregnancy with a Black father? They’re gonna have a damn aneurysm.”

Jalen felt that. He had already known her world was different from his. But hearing her say it out loud made it hit even harder. He reached up, brushing a few strands of blonde hair from her face.

“Sydney...” he said softly, leaning in to press a gentle kiss to her forehead.

She closed her eyes, like she was soaking in the comfort of the moment. When he pulled back, he held her gaze.

“No matter what they say, no matter what happens, I’ll be right there with you. Even if they want nothing to do with me. We’re gonna figure it out together.”

Sydney searched his face, her blue eyes wide, vulnerable. “You really mean that?”

Jalen didn’t hesitate. “Yeah. I do. I promise.”

A single tear slipped down Sydney’s cheek. Not from fear. Not from sadness. But from relief. Because for the first time since she saw that test turn positive, she truly felt like she wouldn’t have to go through this alone.

The following week, Kristen Stanley finishes moving into her new apartment in the Lindbergh area of Atlanta. She has officially ended things with Rob. She’s no longer engaged, and she has finally moved out of the house they shared. Unfortunately, the very next morning, she throws up, which makes three days in a row now.

Kristen clutched the edge of the sink, her body trembling as another wave of nausea washed over her. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to breathe through it, but it was no use. Her stomach lurched again, and she barely made it to the toilet in time. For the third morning in a row. Kristen sat back against the wall, panting, pale, and shaken. Her heart hammered. Her mind raced. This wasn’t just stress. This wasn’t just a stomach bug. Her hands trembled as she reached for her phone. She knew what she had to do. But the thought of seeing those two pink lines? It made her stomach twist even more. Still, she had to know. And if she was right? Then everything was about to change.

Friday, that same week, Chris departs for his “business trip”. Megan sees him off at the mansion pretending everything is normal. Megan stood on the grand marble steps of the mansion, watching Chris drive away. She forced a soft smile, waving like the perfect wife. Like she wasn’t seconds away from leaving his world behind forever. The moment his car disappeared down the driveway, she exhaled sharply, her heart hammering in her chest. This was it. No turning back. Megan rushed inside, her red-bottomed heels clicking against the polished floors as she grabbed the three large suitcases she had packed in secret over the past two weeks. She had planned everything. She knew how long she had before the house staff returned. She knew the cameras inside hadn’t been installed in certain hallways yet. And she knew Chris wouldn’t be back for days. She was in the clear. Megan dragged the suitcases outside and toward the waiting Uber. The driver, a middle-aged woman with kind brown eyes, gave her a small, knowing smile.

“Got everything?” she asked.

Megan nodded quickly, not trusting her voice. She climbed inside, heart pounding, hands gripping her phone tightly. The driver pulled away. And just like that, Megan was free.

Twenty minutes later, Megan arrived at the address Jalen had given her. A discreet women’s shelter, tucked away in a quiet part of the city. A place for women like her. Women who needed a new beginning. Megan stepped out of the car, gripping her suitcases tightly. For a moment, she just stood there. Breathing in the reality of what she’d just done. Then, she walked inside. The receptionist, a woman in her late 40s with gentle eyes, greeted her with a warm smile.

“Welcome, sweetheart,” she said softly. “You’re safe here.”

Megan’s throat tightened. Safe. For the first time in years. She swallowed hard, then nodded. She had no idea what the future held. But she did know one thing. She was finally in control of her own life. At least to an extent.

Megan calls Jalen from the shelter to let him know she made it safely. She uses their phone since she had left her cellphone behind so that Chris couldn’t track her.

Jalen was in his apartment, sitting on the couch playing Call of Duty, when his ringer vibrated. An unknown number.

He frowned but picked up anyway. “Hello?”

There was a brief pause on the other end. Then...

“It’s me.”

Jalen instantly recognized the voice. He sat up straighter, heart picking up speed.

“Megan?”

“Yeah,” she exhaled. “I made it. I’m safe.”

Jalen let out a slow, deep breath. Relief washed over him. “Damn, I’m glad to hear that,” he said sincerely. “You good? How was the trip?”

Megan let out a soft laugh, a mix of exhaustion and disbelief. “I can’t believe I actually did it,” she admitted. “I’m here. I left my phone behind so Chris can’t track me. This place is ... nice. Quiet. They already told me they’ll help with the next steps.”

“That’s good,” Jalen nodded, even though she couldn’t see him. “That’s really good.”

Megan went quiet for a second.

Then, in a smaller voice, “Thank you, Jalen.”

Jalen felt that. Felt the weight of what this moment meant for her. For them. “You don’t have to thank me,” he said, voice firm. “You did this, Megan. You got yourself out.”

She let out a slow breath, “Yeah,” she murmured. “I did.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the reality settling in. Then Jalen asked, “You need anything? Money? Supplies?”

Megan smiled softly, even though he couldn’t see it. “I’ll let you know,” she promised. “Right now, I just ... needed to hear your voice.”

Jalen leaned back against the couch, rubbing his hand over his jaw. “I’m here,” he said simply. “Whenever you need me.”

Megan sighed, relief evident in her tone. “Good,” she whispered, “I’ll be in touch soon.”

And with that, she hung up. Jalen stared at his phone for a long moment, letting the reality of it sink in. She was out. She was free.

Kristen stood frozen; her breath caught in her throat. The small white stick in her hand. Two bold pink lines stared back at her, clear as day. Her stomach tightened, and for a moment, the world around her blurred. This was real. Kristen sat down on the edge of her bathtub, the weight of the moment pressing heavily on her chest. Her hands shook as she set the test down beside her, staring at it like it might somehow change if she just kept looking. But it didn’t. It wouldn’t. Positive. She ran a hand through her long dark waves, heart pounding. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She and Jalen had been careless. Passionate. Wild. She had been so consumed with feeling claimed by Jalen. And now ... this was the consequence. Kristen’s mind raced. She had just left Rob. She had just moved into her own place. And now she was pregnant. She was carrying Jalen’s child. What the hell was she supposed to do now?

Kristen covered her mouth with both hands, but it did nothing to muffle the sobs that tore from her throat. Her body shook violently, her breath coming in sharp, uneven gasps as the reality of everything crashed down on her. The relationship she ended. The uncertainty of her future. And now, this life-changing revelation. Tears streamed down her face, hot and relentless, as she curled her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around herself like she could somehow hold herself together. But she couldn’t. Not right now. The emotions poured out of her, no longer containable. Grief, fear, exhaustion, loneliness. Her life had already been turned upside down. Now, it felt like the floor had completely disappeared beneath her. She had no idea where she was going to land. She had no idea what to do next. But she did know one thing. She couldn’t do this alone.

Jalen was midway through cooking dinner when his phone buzzed.

Kristen.

His stomach tightened. They had talked a few times since her breakup with Rob, but she had been mostly distant. Understandably so.

Now, she was calling him. He answered immediately.

“Kristen?”

At first, all he could hear was ragged breathing. Then a choked sob.

“Jalen...”

His whole body stiffened. She was crying so hard he could barely make out the words.

“Kristen, what’s wrong?” His voice was urgent, steady, but his heart was pounding.

She tried to speak, but her voice kept breaking. Jalen felt his chest tighten. “Kristen, slow down,” he said gently. “Take a deep breath. Talk to me.”

There was a pause—a long, shaky inhale, then a trembling exhale. And then, in a small, broken voice, “I’m pregnant.”

Jalen felt like the air had been knocked out of him. His hand gripped the counter. His mind raced. It hadn’t even been a full week since Sydney told him the same thing.

“Jalen...” her voice cracked again, bringing him back to reality. “I don’t know what to do. I— I’m scared, I—”

“I’m on my way,” Jalen said immediately.

Kristen let out a shaky breath on the other end. “O-okay...”

“Just hold tight, alright?” Jalen reassured her. “I’ll be there soon. Text me the address.”

And with that, he grabbed his keys and walked out the door. Twenty minutes later, Jalen barely knocked before Kristen flung open the door. Her eyes were red and swollen, her face streaked with tears. She looked exhausted, like she hadn’t slept in days. The moment she saw him, she completely broke.

“Jalen...”

Her voice cracked, and before she could say anything else, Jalen pulled her into his arms. Kristen collapsed against him, gripping his shirt like it was the only thing keeping her from falling apart completely. Sobs wracked her body, and Jalen just held her tighter. His heart clenched. He had never seen her like this. Not Kristen, the strong, sharp, put-together woman he had gotten to know. But right now? She was just a woman completely overwhelmed, completely vulnerable. And he wasn’t going to let her go through this alone.

“I got you,” he murmured, his lips against her hair. “Let it out. I got you.”

Kristen buried her face in his chest, her entire body shaking. For minutes, they just stood there. Jalen holding her, Kristen crying into him, finally letting out everything she had been bottling up. The end of her engagement. The fear of starting over. The shock of this pregnancy. It was all too much. And Jalen was the only person she could lean on right now. Slowly, her sobs faded into heavy breaths, and Jalen felt her body relax just slightly against him. Kristen’s hands were still clutching his shirt, like she was afraid to let go. Jalen rubbed slow, soothing circles on her back, his voice low and steady.

“We’ll figure this out,” he whispered. “Together.”

Kristen pulled back just enough to look at him, her tear-filled eyes searching his.

“You mean that?” she asked, her voice raw.

Jalen nodded without hesitation. “Yeah. I do.”

Kristen swallowed hard. And for the first time all night, she breathed. Jalen sat on Kristen’s couch, rubbing his hands together, trying to steady his thoughts. Kristen was finally calmer, curled up next to him, her head resting on his shoulder.

But Jalen’s mind was spiraling. How the hell was he supposed to tell her about Sydney’s pregnancy? She was already fragile, shaken, overwhelmed, and scared. And here he was, about to drop something on her that could make everything so much worse. And it wasn’t just Sydney. There was Megan. And Rachel ... Jalen clenched his jaw, exhaling sharply. The weight of it all felt suffocating. Kristen noticed his tension. She pulled back slightly, her brows furrowed.

“Jalen?” she asked softly. “What’s wrong?”

Jalen’s heart slammed against his ribs. He needed to tell her. But not tonight. Not when she had just broken down in his arms. Not when she was barely holding it together. So instead, he forced a small smile, reaching up to brush a stray tear from her cheek.

“Nothing,” he lied. “I’m just worried about you.”

Kristen searched his face, like she didn’t quite believe him, but was too exhausted to press. Instead, she let out a small sigh, resting her head back against his chest.

“Just ... stay with me tonight,” she murmured.

Jalen felt his chest tighten. He knew he was running out of time to tell Kristen the truth about everything. Jalen stays with Kristen, but all night, he wrestles with the weight of what he has to tell her. The emotional turmoil that Kristen had been dealing with all day had completely wiped her out, and she had fallen asleep very quickly next to Jalen in her bed. He lays awake, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing. Kristen’s soft, steady breathing beside him only made the weight in his chest heavier. He had barely processed Sydney’s pregnancy, and now Kristen was carrying his child too. He ran a hand down his face, exhaling slowly. How the hell was he supposed to tell her? She was already emotionally drained, if he told her now, it might push her past the breaking point. But waiting? That only made it worse. She deserved to know the truth. Kristen stirred slightly in her sleep, curling closer to him, seeking his warmth. She trusts me. She needs me. Jalen clenched his jaw. And I have to be the one to hurt her. His stomach twisted. He wasn’t a coward, but for the first time in a long time, he truly didn’t know what to do. Sydney had taken her pregnancy news well. She was scared, sure, but she leaned on him. Kristen? She was already fragile. She had just escaped an engagement where she felt unseen, unloved. She had just broken down in his arms, overwhelmed by the sheer weight of everything. And now he had to drop this bomb on her? He wanted to believe there was a perfect way to tell her, a way that wouldn’t break her heart. But deep down, he knew that no matter what he said, this was going to hurt. His fingers absentmindedly traced circles against Kristen’s back, feeling the rise and fall of her breath. Not tonight. She needs rest. That’s what he told himself. But was that the truth? Or was it just an excuse? Jalen sighed heavily, feeling trapped between doing the right thing and wanting to protect Kristen from even more pain. He had to tell her. And he had to tell her soon. But when? And how?

In the morning, Jalen goes out and gets breakfast from Chick fil’A and brings it back to Kristen’s apartment before she wakes up. Kristen stretches as she wakes, the smell of food hitting her before she even fully opens her eyes. She turns over to see Jalen setting down a Chick-fil-A bag and two cups of orange juice on her nightstand.

“You got breakfast?” she asks, her voice still groggy from sleep.

“Figured you’d need something in your stomach after the kind of day you had yesterday,” Jalen says with a small smile, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

Kristen sits up, running a hand through her messy hair. “You didn’t have to do that, but ... thank you,” she says sincerely.

Jalen hands her a bag, and she pulls out a chicken biscuit, taking a slow bite as she lets herself wake up. Jalen watches her, his mind still heavy with the weight of what he needs to tell her, but for now, he pushes it aside.

“I wanted to ask you something,” he says after a moment, taking a sip of his drink.

Kristen raises an eyebrow, still chewing. “Yeah?”

Jalen leans back slightly against the headboard, his expression thoughtful. “Tell me about the end with Rob. How did you get to the point where you finally decided you were done?”

Kristen exhales, setting her biscuit down on the wrapper. “It wasn’t one thing. It was a lot of little things that added up over time,” she admits. She shifts, pulling her knees up to her chest as she thinks.

“At first, I made excuses for him. Told myself he was just stressed, that his job was demanding, that things would get better once he settled in. But months turned into years, and I realized ... I was waiting for a version of him that didn’t exist. I kept hoping he’d wake up one day and start treating me like I mattered more than his career, but he never did.”

Jalen nods, letting her talk, not interrupting.

“I started feeling like I was just a ... placeholder in his life. Like I was supposed to wait in the background, supporting him while he got everything he wanted. And the more I tried to bring it up, the more he made me feel like I was the problem for wanting more.” She looks down at her lap. “And maybe I started believing that for a while. That I was asking for too much. That I should just be patient and let him focus on his goals.”

Jalen studies her quietly. “What changed?”

Kristen sighs. “You.”

Jalen’s brows lift slightly. “Me?”

Kristen nods. “Not just you, but ... the way you made me feel. From the moment I met you, I felt seen in a way that I hadn’t in years. And it wasn’t just about attraction or sex. It was the way you listened. The way you took me seriously. The way you made me feel like I deserved to be appreciated.” She pauses, looking at him directly. “That’s when I knew. That if a man I barely knew could make me feel more valued in a matter of weeks than the man I was engaged to had in years ... then I was in the wrong relationship.”

Jalen swallows, feeling the weight of her words.

Kristen glances down. “Leaving was still hard. He tried to guilt-trip me, make me feel like I was abandoning him. And I won’t lie ... there was a part of me that almost caved. But then I realized, if I stayed, it wouldn’t be for love. It would be because I was afraid to be alone. And that wasn’t a good enough reason.”

Jalen lets out a slow breath, nodding. “I respect you for that. I’m proud of you. For knowing your worth and walking away.”

Kristen smiles faintly, but then her expression grows softer. “Why do I feel like you asked me that for a reason?”

Jalen tenses slightly, gripping his cup a little tighter. This is it. This is his moment. He could tell her about Sydney now. About everything.

But then Kristen leans into him, resting her head on his shoulder. “Whatever it is, you can tell me,” she says quietly.

Jalen exhales, staring at the ceiling. He had to tell her. But he just needed a little more time. Jalen takes a deep breath, shifting slightly so he can look at Kristen more directly. He reaches for her hand, squeezing it gently.

“Kristen,” he starts, his voice steady but sincere. “I want you to know that no matter what happens, no matter what you need, I’m going to be here. Every step of the way. Through this pregnancy, through raising our child. You won’t have to do this alone.”

Kristen’s lips part slightly, her eyes searching his for any sign of hesitation. She doesn’t find any.

“Are you sure you’re ready for all of that?” she asks softly, her voice carrying a vulnerability that she rarely lets show.

Jalen nods without hesitation. “I am.”

Kristen swallows, and for the first time since seeing that positive test, she feels a sense of calm settle over her. She had been bracing for panic, for uncertainty, for Jalen to maybe even feel trapped by this, but instead, she finds reassurance.

Her fingers tighten around his. “That means everything,” she whispers.

Jalen tilts his head slightly, studying her expression. “I know this isn’t how you pictured your life going right now. And I know you’re still processing all of it. But whatever you decide, however you need me, I’m in this with you. One hundred percent.”

Kristen exhales, her shoulders relaxing just a little. “I don’t know what the hell I’m doing, Jalen. I wasn’t expecting this, and I feel so ... lost. But knowing you’re here? It helps.”

Jalen gives her hand another squeeze. “Good. Because I’m not going anywhere.”

Kristen lets out a soft laugh, though there’s still emotion thick in her voice. “Guess we’re in this together now, huh?”

Jalen smirks. “Looks like it.”

Kristen leans into him again, letting the warmth of his presence settle the storm inside of her. Unfortunately, this comfort would be short lived. Jalen knows that he can’t put this off any longer. He has to tell her the truth about everything and the longer he waits, the worse it will be.

He says to Kristen, “I have something very important that I need to tell you, and ... it won’t be easy for me to say or for you to hear.”

Kristen puts her chicken biscuit down and looks at him intently. “What is it?” She asks nervously.

Jalen takes a deep breath and begins. He starts by telling Kristen about Sydney Swanson and how they met at a party before he had met Kristen and how they had a passionate night together that night. He tells her that he and Sydney have continued to see each other, even though they are not in a relationship together. He then tells her that he has discovered as of last week that Sydney is pregnant with his child.

He then goes on to tell her that after finishing the project at Georgia Wellness and hearing Kristen say that she needed time to figure things out, he then met Megan Westward at his next project, which was the result of a referral by Kristen’s boss Jim Harbor. Jalen then proceeds to tell Kristen about everything that happened with Megan, including the affair, and how she just escaped from her husband. He tells Kristen that as a result of their encounters that there’s a possibility that she may be pregnant too, although he has not confirmed that yet.

Finally, Jalen tells Kristen everything about Rachel DeSantos, including how they also had an encounter in the gym not long ago.

Jalen finishes by saying, “All this doesn’t change how I feel about you, Kristen, nor does it change my commitment to being here for you and the baby. But I also care about the others too, and I will also be there for them.”