Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart by Hayley

Richard pov

Joining Sarah for a prenatal fitness class wasn't exactly what I'd pictured when I thought about preparing for fatherhood.

In my mind, getting ready meant assembling cribs, reading a few books, and maybe practicing how to swaddle a baby without them looking like a crumpled burrito. But when Sarah brought it up, I saw the glint of hope in her eyes, the one that made it impossible to say no.

"Are you sure you want me there?" I'd asked the night before, already mentally rehearsing my excuses for backing out.

"Of course," she replied, her voice soft but firm. "It'll be good for us. And honestly, I think you'll enjoy it more than you expect."

Enjoy it? That was a stretch, but I didn't argue. I wanted to be the kind of partner who showed up, even when it meant stepping into unfamiliar territory.

The studio was bright and cheerful, with soft instrumental music playing in the background.

It smelled faintly of lavender, the kind of scent that screamed calm, though my nerves were anything but.

Couples spread out on yoga mats, chatting and stretching while an instructor-Claire, as she introduced herself-flitted around, adjusting props and greeting everyone.

Sarah set up our mat near the middle of the room, flashing me a reassuring smile. "This'll be fun," she said, as if reading my mind.

"Fun, sure," I muttered, tugging at my shirt. It suddenly felt too tight, or maybe that was just my anxiety talking.

Claire started the class with some light stretches and breathing exercises. "Focus on connecting with your partner," she said, her voice as soothing as the background music. "This is about building trust and preparing for the journey ahead."

Trust, I had in spades. Flexibility, not so much. As we moved through the stretches, I felt like a tin man in desperate need of oil.

Sarah, on the other hand, looked effortless, her movements smooth and confident despite her growing bump.

I

trying to lower into a squat without

moved on to partner exercises, things got interesting. One drill involved holding Sarah's hands while she leaned back slightly, a move designed to improve

until she actually leaned, and I panicked, overcompensating

exclaimed, clutching my hands tighter as

said, my face burning. "I didn't think you'd learn that

laughed, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "I think that's the point,

next few minutes, I focused on getting it right, even if my arms felt like jelly

final part of the class was a relaxation exercise. Claire dimmed the lights and guided

time," she said, her voice soft and steady. "Feel the weight of them in your arms, the warmth,

first. But then I saw it-a tiny bundle, delicate and perfect, nestled in

vivid it made my chest tighten, a mix of awe and a flicker of fear. Could I really do this? Could I be

I lingered to thank Claire. She shared some practical tips for supporting Sarah during labor, like how to apply counterpressure for back pain and the importance of staying

the way home, Sarah turned to me with a

smile. "But hey, I learned a

"Like what?"

how not to pull you over during a trust exercise," I said, earning a laugh from her. "And that I've got

tips into practice. She'd mentioned using a scarf for a

closet, finding an old scarf, and approached Sarah, who was lounging on the couch

she asked, raising an

I said, draping the scarf around her back.

too hard, and the scarf slipped, snapping

for that one," I admitted, tossing the scarf