Baby Be Mine

"I love you too, Jamie." Ava hugged her nephew tightly, savoring his warmth before setting him down. "Now, how about we start with this present right here?" She gestured to the largest box on the table, noticing the excitement dancing in his wide eyes.

"That one!" Jamie pointed, his small finger trembling with anticipation.

So innocent, so precious—her heart ached with a deep, unfulfilled longing.

Once the cake had been cut and everyone had their share, the guests slowly began to trickle out, their well-wishes echoing as they left her apartment. Ava felt relief wash over her, the weight of maintaining a happy façade finally lifting. Only her parents lingered, her mother eyeing her with thinly veiled concern.

"Are you sure you're all right, sweetheart?" Lina asked gently, pressing Ava's hands in hers.

"I'm fine, Mum. Just exhausted from work, and then coming home to all… this," she said, waving vaguely toward the balloons and streamers. Her forced laugh rang hollow.

"I only wanted a small celebration," Lina said, sharing a pointed glance toward Sienna and Juliet, who were exchanging knowing looks from the couch.

"I know. It was wonderful. Thank you," Ava said, embracing both her parents tightly. "When do you head back to Dunedin?"

"Tomorrow morning. Ethan will take us to the airport," Henry replied.

Ava blinked. "Ethan? Why wasn't he here tonight?"

Her father sighed, rubbing his temple. "That boy is a handful lately. Stubborn as always. But you're his favorite cousin. Maybe you can talk some sense into him."

Ava smiled wryly. Ethan had always been more like a kid brother than a cousin, but Henry's words stirred an old sense of responsibility within her.

"I'll try. He could use some guidance," she agreed.

Her mother touched her cheek softly. "He worries about you, Ava. He wanted to be here tonight but said he had 'stuff to handle.'"

Ava shook her head with a quiet chuckle. "Typical."

With lingering hugs, her parents finally departed, leaving a quiet stillness behind. But the moment the door clicked shut, Sienna and Juliet pounced.

"Okay, spill it," Juliet demanded, arms crossed as she perched on the armrest.

Ava blinked. "What?"

"Don't 'what' us," Sienna chimed in, narrowing her eyes. "You were crying during your own birthday. We're not leaving until you tell us why."

Ava hesitated, the words tangling in her throat. Could she really admit how lost she felt? That the ache in her chest came from years of chasing professional success while her personal life remained empty?

Instead, she shrugged. "It's nothing, really. Just… getting older, I guess. Thirty hit harder than I thought it would."

Juliet exchanged a look with Sienna.

"I'm getting tissues," Juliet muttered. "This feels like a cry-it-out kind of conversation."

Ava groaned, sinking into the couch. Alone now, she stared at the flickering candlelight from the half-melted birthday candles. A pit formed in her stomach. The ache of loneliness pressed harder, suffocating.

She was proud of her achievements. A thriving career in periodontology, a clinic in Cambodia that provided free dental care to underprivileged children—her work meant something. It mattered.

But why did it feel so hollow tonight?

A sudden knock pulled her from her spiral.

"Cuz!" called a deep voice from behind the door.

Ava opened it to find Ethan standing there, his shaggy brown hair slightly damp, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Ethan!" She lit up, pulling him into a hug. "Where were you tonight?"

Ethan shrugged, brushing past her toward the cake on the counter. "Happy birthday, by the way. And no, I'm not congratulating you on turning thirty. But I will help myself to that cake." He smirked, grabbing a fork.

Ava folded her arms. "Ethan —"

He froze, eyes narrowing.

"Don't call me Ethan ," he grumbled.

"Ethan Henry Langley," she teased, emphasizing his full name.

He winced dramatically. "Why do you have to bring up the Henry part? You know how much I hate it."

Ava grinned. "You can thank Aunt Lina's obsession with historical romances for that. Didn't she name you after that hero in The Duke's Redemption or something?"

Ethan groaned. "Yeah, yeah. It's ancient history. Please, spare me the family trivia and let me eat my cake in peace."

She watched him for a moment, sensing his deflection.

"You know, Mum and Dad are worried about you," she said gently. "You could've at least stopped by earlier."

He hesitated mid-bite, avoiding her gaze. "I had stuff going on."

"Ethan," she pressed, voice softening. "What's wrong?"

He set the fork down and exhaled. "Honestly? Nothing. I'm just tired of the lectures. Everyone keeps acting like I'm some disaster waiting to happen. I'm fine, Ava. Really."

She studied him carefully, but before she could push further, Juliet and Sienna returned, tissues in hand.

"Right!" Juliet clapped. "Time for a good old-fashioned vent session."

Ethan blinked, looking between the three women. "Yeah, I'm out."

"No, you're not." Sienna blocked his path, grinning. "Sit."

With a defeated sigh, Ethan flopped onto the armchair while Ava sat across from them, clutching a tissue.

Juliet tilted her head. "Okay, Ava. Real talk. Why were you crying tonight? And don't say it's just because you're turning thirty."

Ava opened her mouth, but no words came. The lump in her throat tightened as she glanced toward the family photo on the mantle—her parents, smiling on their wedding day. Her brothers with their wives. Happy. Complete.

"I…" She swallowed hard. "I feel like I've missed out. On…everything."

Sienna's face softened. "Ava, you've accomplished so much. Your career, your charity work—it's inspiring."

"I know," she whispered. "But I've never—" Her voice broke. "I've never been in love. Never had someone. And now it feels…too late."

Juliet shook her head fiercely. "Too late? Ava, you're thirty, not eighty!"

"But it feels like eighty!" Ava burst out, half-laughing through her tears. "I've spent my whole life focusing on work. I've never even been on a real date. And now, everyone's either married or starting families. And I'm just…here."

Silence settled over the room until Ethan spoke up.

"Cuz… you're amazing. Seriously. And if some guy hasn't seen that yet, then he's an idiot. You're not 'too late.' You're just…taking your time."

Ava smiled softly, dabbing her eyes. "Thanks, Ethan."

Sienna nodded. "He's right. And who knows? Maybe Mr. Right is just around the corner."

Ava laughed, the tension in her chest easing for the first time all night.

"Maybe," she whispered.

But deep down, she wondered—was it really too late for her heart to catch up with the life she'd built?