Ian had taken the largest part of her heart with him on that cold October day. And the rest of it had died nine months later when the nurse took their baby girl from her arms and whisked her away.
She was barely eighteen years old. She wasn’t married, and the baby’s father had obviously abandoned them. Or at least that’s what everyone had thought then. But he hadn’t abandoned them. It was both crushing and vindicating to learn that Ian hadn’t abandoned them. He hadn’t even known that she was carrying his child when he’d kissed her goodbye that last time.
However, that didn’t change the fact that Maya was an unwed teenage mother, a disgrace to her family.
Her mother and grandmother made arrangements for her to go away for a while. She was allowed to come back after the baby was born. That way no one would ever be the wiser, the family name would be saved and they could hold their heads up high.
Maya knew that she could hope all she wanted to, but this Charles Jordan, no matter the imagined similarities, was not her Ian Brannigan.
Once again, Maya clicked on the message balloon icon and reread Charles Jordan’s message. She was just about to type a quick reply when she heard a knock at the front door.
She wasn’t expecting anyone, but she made her way from the kitchen to the front of the store to see who was calling. To her surprise, it was Bia.
Things had ended on such a horrific note the other day that Maya quite honestly thought it would be a very long time before she heard from Bia again.
She gave a friendly wave to test the waters. To her relief, Bia waved back, even if she wasn’t smiling. The wave had to be a good sign. At least she hoped it was. She would find out soon enough, she thought, as she opened the door and greeted Bia with the warmest American greeting she could muster. She didn’t give her the customary French greeting, a kiss on each cheek. She had a feeling she needed to tread lightly.
“Hello!” Maya said. “I am so happy to see you. I wasn’t expecting you after what happened yesterday. I’m so sorry, Bia. But I’m so glad you’ve come back.”
Interesting, Maya pondered. First, I’m thinking of Ian, and now Bia shows up. Perhaps the universe is trying to tell me something.
But given this second chance and how easily Bia was frightened off yesterday, Maya was determined to take things slowly. She would build the relationship before she broke the news.
* * *
“I’m sorry I overreacted yesterday,” Bia said. “But I have to ask—and I need an honest answer—how did you know I’m pregnant?”
Maya shrugged. “Intuition, I suppose.”
“So, it was a lucky guess,” Bia replied.
“If that’s what you would prefer to call it. Shall we go into the kitchen where we can sit down and talk? I’ll make you a cup of hot chocolate. You need your calcium.”
Bia held her ground. “First, I need your word that you will not tell a soul about this. If you think the media went crazy when they thought Hugh and I were seeing each other, this will blow up in both of our faces. Especially after he lied about the nature of our...acquaintance.”
Maya’s brow creased in a look of what seemed to be genuine concern. “Of course you have my word. This is a very private matter. I want you to know that I am here for you. I promise I will not do anything to put you or your baby in emotional jeopardy.”
“I need to ask you something, and, again, you must give me an honest answer.”
Maya nodded. “Please. Anything.”
“Have you ever said anything to the press about my previous relationship with Hugh Newman?”
Maya recoiled and looked genuinely shocked by the question. A good sign, as far as Bia was concerned. Still, she had to look Maya in the eyes as she asked. Just as Maya had a sixth sense about people, Bia could intuit when people were lying. Bia’s gut was telling her that Maya was telling the truth.
Maya put her right hand over her heart. “I swear to you. I have not said one word. I did see the two of you together at the Doctor’s Ball, but I would never gossip about you. I would swear this on my mother’s and grandmother’s graves.”
“Thank you, Maya. I believe you. And I believe that you will keep your word about not talking to a soul other than me about my current situation.”
Maya held up her right hand. “I solemnly swear. Now, let’s have some hot chocolate. Yes?”
Maya’s version of hot chocolate was like nothing Bia had ever tasted before. It was nearly as thick as melted chocolate and tasted so good it curled Bia’s toes.
Le chocolat chaud, Maya called it.
Bia called it divine. She had to pace herself to keep from gulping it. To that end, she tried to employ some of the tasting principles that Maya had taught her yesterday. She sipped the drink and let the warm liquid flow over her tongue.
“Umm, is that cinnamon I taste?”
Maya nodded.
“There’s something else I can’t quite identify....” Bia closed her eyes and rolled the liquid around on her palate.
“I added a tiny dash of cayenne and a few flecks of fleur de sel.”
“Salt and pepper,” Bia noted wryly.
Maya laughed her laugh that seemed to set Bia at ease, and the world seemed a little brighter. Bia didn’t have many close girlfriends. She’d always related better to guys. She simply didn’t enjoy the drama that always seemed to go hand in hand with women. On occasion, Bia had been accused of being too direct—one of the qualities that made her a good reporter, of course. But Maya hadn’t been offended by Bia’s head-on approach. Come to think of it, Maya had been pretty direct herself yesterday.
At least they understood each other.
“Have you had a chance to think about what you’re going to do?” Maya asked.
“About?”
“The baby, of course.”
“I’m having this baby. I’m twenty-eight years old. I can handle it. I was adopted. Actually, I just found out a few months ago, just before my adoptive father passed away. I had a good childhood despite my adoptive mother dying when I was five. Her husband—my father—never remarried. So, essentially, I grew up without a mother. My father was very good to me, but I can’t help but wonder lately why my birth mother didn’t want me. I have no information about her. I’m not sure whether I should go digging or not.”
“I’m sure she would be thrilled to connect with you,” Maya said. “At least you’ll never know until you try.”
“What? Is that your intuition speaking? I can’t be sure that she would be thrilled. I mean, she gave me up. For all I know, she might have a family of her own. They might not know about me. I might be that unwelcome surprise from her past popping up at the most inopportune time.”
“But you can’t be certain of that, either. For all you know, you could be missing out on a second chance at family.”
Bia shrugged. “But there’s no way to know that for certain.”
“There’s no way to know that you won’t walk out of here and get hit by a car, but the likelihood of disaster is slim. What I’m saying is, if you are open to having your birth mother in your life— Are you?”
Bia nodded.
“Good, then keep an open mind. I think it would be especially important to meet her now that you have a little one on the way. For that matter, have you talked to the father?”
Bia grimaced. “I spoke to Hugh briefly. Told him the situation.