CHAPTER ONE
NAT
If there wasone thing I loved about my life, it was that I was under no one’s thumb. I was free to do what I pleased, when I deemed to do so. That simple fact couldn’t be overemphasized…not when I’d grown up in the Haven household and under the watchful eye of my daddy.
But I’d seen to it that Richard Haven no longer had a say in my life. Even if it had taken me halfway around the world to do so.
It’d been nearly a decade since I’d moved away, my bags already packed before the last name in my high school graduating class had even been called. I’d flown away from Havenbrook and didn’t look back. Not even once.
Or, at least, Ihadn’t. But I’d been back more times in the past couple years than I had in the previous six combined. First, for my gran’s eightieth birthday party. And then because my pigheaded daddy had gone and had a heart attack—probably just to screw up my shooting schedule, knowing him.
And now, ever since that scare, I’d felt obligated to make an appearance more and more. I’d popped in a handful of times over the past few months—over the holidays, for a birthday,because I had a two-day break in my schedule. That didn’t mean I’d liked it.
It wasn’t Havenbrook’s fault, though. It was just me. It was how I was built. I’d hated cages since I could walk…even before. I’d started climbing out of my crib before I turned one, and I’d never stopped. And if one place in the world felt like a cage to me, it was my hometown.
My phone rang as I packed up my gear for my upcoming shoot in the Iruya Valley during the golden hour. I glanced down at the name flashing across the screen, a wry smile tipping my lips.
It wasn’t that long ago that a call from my eldest sister, Rory, would have been ignored without a second thought. But, beyond all belief and rationale, the two of us had developed a sort of truce I certainly hadn’t seen coming, but I was inclined to let it continue. And not only because it made one of my 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’,” I 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.
I snorted a laugh, not feeling an ounce of the remorse my sister no doubt hoped I 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, I was not. Nope. I was the fun aunt. The one my nieces could go to when they had boy—or mom—trouble. I’d commiserate and dish all the sordid details I could. And, in a few years when the time came, I’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.”
I couldn’t hold in my 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 my 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 I wasn’t a maternal figure didn’t mean I 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 my other best friend, Asher. This month, she was currently enamored of the circus, playingschool, 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 I 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 I had a steel trap of a memory—my one saving grace in school—that meant even the smallest detail mentioned about these tiny people got locked up in my brain for future reference.
“I might know some things,” I 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.”
