Chapter 9
nine
. . .
Natalie
The circular driveway in front of my dad’s house is already occupied by Rachel’s SUV and my dad’s Mercedes, so I park on the street.
The house is massive. Spanish Colonial Revival with arched windows, terracotta tile roof, and perfectly manicured hedges that probably cost more to maintain than my monthly rent. It sits on almost an acre in Hancock Park.
I didn’t grow up here. By the time my dad found out about me, he was already married to Rachel with a baby on the way. I was always welcome, but between his new family and my life with my mom across town, I just never ended up spending much time here. Different worlds, different routines.
Through the tall windows, I can see movement inside. The front door swings open, and my half brother Ethan comes barreling out with his soccer ball.
“Natalie!” He grins, all legs and arms and shaggy pre-teen hair.
“Hey, E.”
Mia appears behind him, ponytail bouncing. “Will you be here later? I wanted to ask you about this assignment for AP Lit.”
“I can’t stay long, but text me later if you want.”
She gives me a thumbs up and climbs into the SUV parked in the driveway as Rachel emerges with her purse and water bottles, keys already in hand.
“Natalie! So good to see you, honey.” She gives me a quick hug. “Sorry to rush out, but I’m already running late getting these two where they need to be. Promise you’ll come for dinner this week?”
“Definitely.”
“Perfect. Your dad’s inside.” She calls toward the SUV. “Ethan, did you grab your water bottle? Mia, where are your shin guards?”
I watch them get settled, the familiar chaos of cleats and bags and half-shouted reminders, and then Rachel waves from the driver’s seat as they pull away.
I stand there for a second, watching the SUV disappear around the corner. This is what normal looks like. Two kids, two parents, weekend soccer games and AP Lit assignments. The kind of family rhythm my mom and I never had because it was always just us.
I wonder what it was like for my dad, stepping into this version of fatherhood with Rachel when he’d missed it completely with me. If it hurt. If it felt like a second chance or a constant reminder of what he’d lost.
And I wonder what my own kid’s life will look like. Will they grow up watching me build something with Jake, or will they be the one standing on the outside of someone else’s tidy family picture?
My hand drifts to my stomach before I can stop it.
I head up to the front door where my dad is standing in the doorway, coffee mug in hand, still in his Yale Law hoodie.
“Finally, some peace and quiet.” He grins, kissing my cheek. “Come in. I just made breakfast.”
I follow him into the kitchen, the familiar warmth of their home settling around me. It’s so different from how I grew up, but I love being part of this family, too.
“Tea?” Dad asks, already reaching for a mug.
“Just orange juice, actually.”
He raises an eyebrow but doesn’t comment, pouring me a glass instead. We settle at the kitchen island, and he leans against the counter with that calm lawyer energy that makes people confess things.
“So what’s new, kiddo? How’s the writing going?”
“Good. Really good. I’m meeting with the showrunner Rebecca next week to start talking about the writers’ room.”
“That’s exciting. When do you officially start?”
“December. Production starts in the spring.”
“And how are you feeling about all of it?”
“Terrified but excited.” I take a sip of juice, then set it down. “Actually, there’s something else I need to tell you.”
His expression shifts slightly, lawyer instincts kicking in. He sets his coffee down and gives me his full attention. “Okay.”
My pulse kicks up. I’ve been rehearsing this conversation in my head since I left my apartment, but now that I’m here, the words feel stuck somewhere between my chest and my throat.
“You know how I wasn’t feeling well at your office the other day?”
“Yeah.” His voice is careful now, measured. “You said everything was fine.”
“It is. Sort of.” I take a breath. My hands are shaking, so I press them flat against the cool granite countertop. “When we were at the clinic, they ran some tests. Blood work and everything.”
He’s completely still now, eyes locked on mine. Waiting.
“And they found something.” My voice comes out steadier than I feel.
The air between us feels heavy. I can see him running through possibilities in his head, worst-case scenarios, his jaw tightening slightly.
I force the words out before I lose my nerve or give him a heart attack.
“I’m pregnant, Dad. About twelve weeks.”
The words settle between us. My dad goes very still, his face cycling through surprise and concern before landing on something softer. “Pregnant,” he repeats quietly.
“Yeah.”
“As in, I’m going to be a grandpa?” His eyes light up as realization hits.
“Exactly that.”
He is quiet for a moment, taking in this information. Then he asks, “How are you feeling about it?”
I relax at his genuine concern for me.
“Honestly? I’m still processing. It’s a lot.”
“I imagine so.” He runs his hand through his hair. “Does the father know?”
“He does. He was actually there when I found out.”
My heart is pounding so hard I can hear it in my ears. This is the part where I have to say Jake’s name out loud to my dad. Where I have to connect the dots he hasn’t connected yet. I brace myself.
“It’s Jake.”
My dad blinks. “Jake. Jake Reyes?”
“Yeah.”
“I didn’t even know you knew Jake. You didn’t mention it when you met in the office?”
“We kind of run in the same circles. Entertainment industry people, mutual friends.” My throat feels tight. I swallow. “We sort of hung out at his Fourth of July party.”
He processes this, his lawyer brain working through the timeline. I can almost see him counting backward, putting pieces together. “And you just found out?” he asks.
“It was a complete surprise for both of us,” I say. My hands twist together in my lap.
I watch his face carefully, waiting for anger or disappointment or something worse. But all I see is him processing, thinking, trying to understand. He walks to the other side of the kitchen and braces his hands on the counter. I watch his shoulders tense, waiting for whatever is coming next.
When he turns around, his voice is gentle. “How’s Jake handling this?”
“Really well, actually. He wants to be involved. He’s been supportive.”
My dad nods slowly. “Good. That’s important.”
“You’re not mad?”
“Mad?” He looks genuinely surprised. “Natalie, you’re an adult.
” He moves back toward me, his voice catching.
“I missed the first ten years of your life. I wasn’t there when your mom was pregnant with you.
I missed your first steps, your first words, all of it.
” He squeezes my shoulder. “If Jake wants to be there for you and this baby, I’m grateful.
I know what it feels like to miss that.”
My throat tightens. “What about work? Will this make things complicated between you two?”
“Not on my part. Although that explains why he was acting so strange yesterday.” His mouth twitches. “Jake’s one of my best attorneys. I trust him.”
He pulls me into a hug, and I press my face against his hoodie. “You’re going to be an amazing mom, Nat.”
The tears come before I can stop them and I did not realize how tightly I had been holding myself together until that moment.
Hearing him say “amazing mom” cracks something open.
I have spent days braced for judgment, for someone to tell me I ruined everything I have worked for, that I should have been more careful. Relief hits so hard it almost hurts.
When we pull apart, we are both wiping our eyes.
“Okay.” He clears his throat. “Now that we’ve settled all that. You hungry? Feels like we should make some pancakes now, too.”
“That sounds perfect.”
We spend the next hour cooking and eating breakfast together, talking about the show and his work and Rachel’s new obsession with pickleball. Normal things. Easy things. When it’s time to go, he walks me to the door.
“Come to dinner this week. I’ll ask Rachel to make that curry you love.”
“I will. Promise.”
He hugs me one more time. “I am proud of you, kiddo. And I am here for whatever you need.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
I am still wiping my eyes when I get to my car. My phone buzzes.
Stella
Porto’s at 2? We need to celebrate!!!
Right. The celebration she has been planning since I told her about FlixPix.
I stare at the text for a long moment. The last thing I want to do right now is sit in a crowded bakery and pretend everything is normal when my entire life has turned upside down in less than a week.
But Stella has been so excited about this.
She’s been my biggest cheerleader since I finally confided in her when I sold the pilot.
And I bailed on her the day of my contract signing.
And maybe I need to be around people who know me.
People who will support me no matter what mess I’ve gotten myself into.
Me
See you there.