Halfway through dinner, she suddenly froze.
Her hand immediately moved to her stomach.
The room noticed instantly.
"What happened?"
"Are you okay?"
"Do we call Dr Ellis?"
Alankrita laughed softly.
"No."
She looked down.
Then back up.
"He kicked."
The room became silent.
Not ordinary silence.
Excited silence.
"He kicked now?"
"Right now?"
She nodded.
A smile spread across her face.
"He likes the food."
Chloe looked ready to cry.
"Can I?"
Alankrita nodded.
Chloe carefully placed her hand against the place Alankrita indicated.
Everyone waited.
Nothing.
Then,
thump.
Chloe gasped.
"Oh, my God."
Her eyes widened immediately.
"He actually kicked."
Porter nearly fell off his chair.
"My turn."
One by one, they all took turns.
Sam.
Mei Lin.
Elara.
Oliver.
Porter.
Marcus.
Each receiving a tiny kick.
Each reacting as though they had just witnessed magic.
Perhaps they had.