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But it wasn’t Eva’s fault. With their lack of interest and support, her family had failed her. It was almost as if once Eva went off to college and then moved to Chicago to do her psychiatric residency she’d been forgotten. Maybe that wasn’t completely fair. Mia and their mom flew out to spend long weekends with her a couple times a year. And Eva tried to get back to the West Coast at least once a year, either around the holidays or when Ivy took a break from promoting, recording or touring.
But there was no avoiding the fact that the Navarro family revolved around Ivy and her career.
“Why did you keep it from me?” Even as she asked the question, Mia knew the answer. “Because of what happened to me? Did you think I wouldn’t be happy for you because I’ve royally screwed up with Nate?”
Eva shook her head and Mia saw how her sister’s situation was similar to her own. They’d both kept the men they loved from their family in order to savor the joy for as long as possible. It wasn’t as if anyone would actively disapprove, but their family had a knack for spoiling things without trying.
“I want to tell him congratulations. Let’s go to your condo.”
But it turned out that Eva was wrong about her fiancé being at home. He’d left a sweet note explaining that he’d gone out for drinks with his buddies and would catch dinner and be back late. That left hours and hours for the sisters to talk and for Mia to unburden herself.
She started by explaining about how she and Nate had discovered their mutual connection through sign language and then described their secret rendezvous and their one night together in Sydney.
“Very romantic,” Eva signed with a hearty sigh.
“And stupid. Looking back, I regret hiding what was happening.”
“But you knew Ivy would spoil things.”
Mia had known that. “Why is she like that?”
“Insecurity. She th
inks everyone is happier than she is.”
“With all her beauty, fame and success, how is that possible?”
Mia hadn’t yet come clean with Eva about being pregnant, and before she could, Jeremy returned home. Mia rushed to congratulate him on convincing the best girl in the world to marry him. By the time they’d finished discussing wedding plans it was late. Both Eva and Jeremy had to be at work early the next morning. They said their good-nights and Mia went to the guest bedroom.
Despite her lack of sleep the night before, Mia was still on Pacific time. Once she’d changed into her sleepwear, she sat wide-eyed and cross-legged on the bed in the beautifully decorated guest room.
She picked up her phone and puzzled over the lack of messages and emails. And then she realized she’d not taken her phone off airplane mode. She swiftly restored her cell service and watched the red notification indicators explode.
* * *
Even before his car cleared the airport, Nate started kicking himself for not accompanying Mia to LA. He never should’ve let her talk him into staying behind. They were in this together and together was how they should have tackled her father and sister.
If he wasn’t so damn busy with the studio he would circle around right this second, drop his car in short-term parking and chase after her. But he had a business to run and artists he couldn’t let down. Maybe he could reschedule his day tomorrow and fly to LA tonight. Nate headed for the studio to see what could be done before he let Mia know his plans.
Two hours later he’d spoken with all the artists who were coming in to work with him the next day. Each of them was fine with a short postponement. It meant Nate was going to be working extra-long hours in the days to come, but standing beside Mia as she told her father that she was pregnant was worth it.
Nate called Mia to tell her his plans, but got her voice mail. He’d expected as much. She was probably midflight on her way to LA. She would get the message when she landed and know to put off meeting with her father until later that night.
Pleased with the arrangements he’d made, Nate headed into the studio. He got a text from his publicist letting him know his statement had gone out to news organizations denying that he was the father of Ivy’s baby. An hour later his phone lit up with Javier Navarro’s number. Nate was in the middle of a recording session and let the call go to voice mail. He knew it would only annoy Mia’s father, but Nate wanted to pick the time and place for his conversation with Javier.
Forty-five minutes later he turned the session over to one of his assistants and headed to his office. Nate dialed Javier and braced himself for what was to come. Ivy’s dad could be hotheaded when it came to his daughter.
“How dare you call my daughter a liar,” was the first thing out of Javier’s mouth.
Nate sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I think you need to have a conversation with your daughter,” he said. “I am not the father of Ivy’s baby.”
“She says you are.”
“That’s impossible, since she and I don’t have that sort of relationship.” Nate wanted very badly to tell Javier exactly what he thought of his spoiled, childish daughter, but he owed it to Mia to try to keep from exacerbating an already tricky situation.
“That’s not how she sees it.”
Nate was over trying to keep his cool and remain polite, but recognized if he blew up Mia would catch the brunt of the trouble. “Look.” He paused to suck in a calming breath and even out his tone. “Ivy and I never... I don’t know why she picked me, but I’m not the guy.”
