If there was one thing Natalie Haven loved about her life, it was that she was under no one’s thumb. She was free to do what she pleased, when she deemed to do so. That simple fact couldn’t be overemphasized…not when she’d grown up in the Haven household and under the watchful eye of her daddy.
But she’d seen to it that Richard Haven no longer had a say in her life. Even if it had taken her halfway around the world to do so.
It’d been nearly a decade since she’d moved away, her bags already packed before the last name in her high school graduating class had even been called. She’d flown away from Havenbrook and didn’t look back. Not even once.
Or, at least, shehadn’t. But she’d been back more times in the past couple years than she had in the previous six combined. First, for her gran’s eightieth birthday party. And then because her pigheaded daddy had gone and had a heart attack—probably just to screw up her shooting schedule, knowing him.
And now, ever since that scare, she’d felt obligated to make an appearance more and more. She’d popped in a handful of times over the past few months—over the holidays, for a birthday, because she had a two-day break in her schedule. That didn’t mean she’d liked it.
It wasn’t Havenbrook’s fault, though. It was just Nat. It was how she was built. She’d hated cages since she could walk…even before. She’d started climbing out of her crib before she turned one, and she’d never stopped. And if one place in the world felt like a cage to her, it was her hometown.
Her phone rang as she packed up her gear for her upcoming shoot in the Iruya Valley during the golden hour. She glanced down at the name flashing across the screen, a wry smile tipping her lips. It wasn’t that long ago that a call from her sister Rory would have been ignored without a second thought. But, beyond all belief and rationale, the two of them had developed a sort of truce she certainly hadn’t seen coming, but Nat was inclined to let it continue, and not only because it made one of her best friends and Rory’s new beau happy.
“Never fails to make me laugh when I’m notified Miss Stick Up Her Ass is callin’,” Nat said without bothering with ahello.
“Well, I suppose it’s a good thing I didn’t hand the phone over to Ava like she wanted,” Rory said dryly, referring to her eldest daughter.
Nat snorted a laugh, not feeling an ounce of the remorse her eldest sister no doubt hoped she would. “C’mon, Rory. There’re no illusions here. Your girls have already heard everything from me you’d rather they didn’t.”
An ideal, responsible adult, Nat was not. Nope. She was the fun aunt. The one her nieces could go to when they had boy—or mom—trouble. She’d commiserate and dish all the sordid details she could. And, in a few years when the time came, she’d slip them condoms and tell them all the nitty-gritty details their girlfriends—or the internet—wouldn’t bother to.
“Hence why I’m callin’ first.” Rory cleared her throat. “Anyway, I’m sure you’re busy doin’ whatever it is you do.”
“Photography, Rory. Idophotography. I’m a photographer, so, yes, that’s what I do.”
“Well, your niece is officially a babysitter. She was hopin’ for some tips from you.”
Nat couldn’t hold in her bark of laughter. “Do you not like these people she’s babysittin’ for? Is that why you’re callin’ me for advice? Because I can promise you, any of my tips are not gonna be favored by parental figures.”
“Believe me, this call goes against my better judgment.”
“Love that I always know where I stand with you, sister dearest.”
“As I was sayin’…” Rory said primly. Her boyfriend and one of Nat’s best friends, Nash King, might’ve worked hard to remove that stick from her ass, but some things were lodged deep. Looked like he still had a little work cut out for him. “These are extenuating circumstances. The people she’s babysittin’ for are the Haywards, and Ava really wants to make a good first impression. I figured you might have some tips or tricks. Maybe details about a few of June and Owen’s favorite things that you wouldn’t mind passin’ along to your niece?”
Ah…it all made sense now. Just because Nat wasn’t a maternal figure didn’t mean she didn’t make exceptions for a few select miniature people. Four, to be exact.
Ava, age eleven. Niece. Daughter to Rory. Lover of dance and all things pink and sparkly. Libra, natch.
Ella, age eight. Niece. Also daughter to Rory. Adored bugs, exploring, and forging her own path. Sagittarius, through and through.
June, age four. Niece to her other best friend, Asher. This month, she was currently enamored of the circus, playing school, and baking. One hundred percent an independent Aquarius.
And, finally, Owen, the tiniest of them all at eight months. Nephew to Asher and completely mesmerized by bubbles. He was a Leo, and she couldn’t wait to see that regal leader come out in full force.
Being on the other side of the world half the time meant conversations happened whenever they were most convenient. Sometimes that came in the middle of errands or playdates or parties. And since Nat had a steel trap of a memory—her one saving grace in school—that meant even the smallest detail mentioned about these tiny people got locked up in her brain for future reference.
“I might know some things,” Nat said. “When’s she due over there?”
“Not till tomorrow night. So we’ve got plenty of time to run to the store and grab some things if we need to.”
“Well, June’s been super into—wait. Let me just talk to Ava, and then you don’t have to rehash everything I said and no doubt get it wrong.”
“Your faith in me is truly astounding. Love you, too,” Rory said flatly before passing the phone off to Ava.
Nat grinned, her smile only growing when she heard her niece’s excited voice.
“Hi, Aunt Nat!”
