His Ring Her Rules

Being pregnant by a man you're not in love with but are kind of in love with, while residing in his frigid penthouse filled with espresso machines you're terrified to touch, is the most lonely thing there is. It's going to a prenatal class by yourself.

online.

Because your real desk is cluttered with contracts you haven't emotionally recovered from signing, you're using an embroidered silk pillow to support your laptop.

I pressed "Join Meeting" and forced a smile that I didn't have.

"Hello, everybody!" With the vitality of three cups of decaf and a lifelong practice of yoga, Camila, a cheerful instructor, chirped. "Let's introduce ourselves to everyone!"

Oh no.

One by one, the circle of beaming, hopeful couples began to form; the majority of them even had matching names and water bottles.

"My name is Tara, and this is Derek, my spouse. May is when the baby boy is expected!

Everyone gave a clap. Derek gave Tara a shoulder rub.

"This is Camille, and I'm Jess. We can't wait to meet our little one!"

More applause. In the background, a dog's adorable barking could be heard.

It was then my time.

I gave the camera a halfhearted wave while clearing my throat. Hello, this is Grace. Tonight, it's just me. But I swear, both baby and I are present.

The Zoom grid was filled with pitying smiles. I also detested feeling insignificant in their presence.

"Grace, welcome!" Camila smiled. "Your presence here makes us very happy."

I gave her a nod as though I believed her. As if I didn't want to slam the laptop and crash into a box of mint chip ice cream, completely forgetting that I had no idea what I was doing.

As the lesson progressed, it covered breathing methods and birthing positions that, even before the bump, needed more flexibility than I had ever had. I made haphazard notes and intermittently listened to Camila's speech.

My pen, however, froze as she uttered something.

"Being pregnant might make you feel alone, particularly if your support network isn't what you expected. Never forget that you are still sufficient. The fact that you are developing a complete human being is enormous.

I blinked vigorously.

Unless there were onions involved or I had just seen Pride & Prejudice for the fifth time in a row, I wasn't the sentimental sort. However, that sentence struck a chord.

I had been allowing my feelings about this pregnancy to be defined by Ethan's icy remoteness. about myself. Almost anything.

Of course, I didn't have a shoulder rub or matching water bottles. However, I had myself.

And it was the beginning.

"This week, do one thing that makes you feel like the queen you are," Camila said as the session came to a close. Deal?

I gave a nod.

I accept the challenge.

Perhaps I should begin by actually taking a seat in that elegant chair by the window and drinking tea like a woman who understood her value, even if she was still learning.