Chapter 19
MIA
Mia watched Evan go, surprised and hurt.
While she hadn’t expected him to embrace the idea of being a father with open arms, she had hoped that they’d at least be able to talk about it.
That had been foolish. This was how Evan handled things: whenever life got too intense, he ran off.
He’d done the same thing after their night together in Napa Valley.
He’d done the same thing to his own family when he spent years prioritizing work over them.
Tears pricked at Mia’s eyes, and she rested her palm on her abdomen.
“It’s just you and me now, kid,” she whispered. Maybe Evan would come around after he had some space, but she couldn’t count on that. Remembering the long month of no communication before the Italy trip, she knew she had to rely on herself right now.
Mia looked out over the rolling hills, her heart aching as a tear rolled down her cheek. This baby was a good thing, the best thing, but Evan’s reaction wasn’t. She still couldn’t believe that he’d left so quickly, clearly not caring about her feelings — or about the baby — at all.
Suddenly, she felt ridiculous in her fancy wedding dress and makeup, at a celebration for a family that wasn’t even hers.
All week, she’d drawn Evan out of his work and helped him enjoy time with the people who loved him, only for him to leave her stranded when she was most in need of help. She felt deeply out of place.
Forget him, Mia told herself sternly, even though the words pinched at her heart and made another tear roll from her eyes. She wiped it away. Evan had had a chance to handle this like an adult, and he’d chosen not to. There was nothing Mia could do right now to make that right.
What she could do was leave. This moment.
A plan formed in her mind as she stood and began walking back toward the villa.
She’d quickly pack her things and ask reception to send her a taxi.
She’d go to the airport and buy a flight home.
It would take a chunk out of her savings, but anything was better than another day here with Evan and an awkward plane ride back with him.
By this time tomorrow, she’d be home in San Jose, and then she could figure out how to become a single mother despite her broken heart.
People raised babies as single mothers all the time.
Even one of Mia’s close friends, an English teacher at the same school, was a single mother by choice, and she always told Mia that teaching was one of the best jobs for single moms. The first year or two would be hard, but Mia would figure it out. Without Evan. Without anyone.
She slipped through the villa’s back door, her hands clenched into fists and her heart racing.
She didn’t want to run into anyone from Evan’s family and have to explain her tear-stained face.
Mercifully, everyone was outside on the lawn, enjoying the wedding festivities, so the lobby was silent and empty.
The only person here was the receptionist, a young man in a blue and white uniform with slicked-back hair and a friendly smile. Mia hurried over.
“Buona giornata,” she said politely. Even now, with her whole life a mess, she remembered the few Italian phrases she’d so hopefully learned while preparing to come here.
“Buona giornata,” the receptionist replied. “How can I help you?”
“I’d like a taxi to the airport, please.” Even saying the words aloud made Mia’s throat burn with unshed tears, but she forced herself to push through. She needed to leave, even though it was hard. Even though it felt like leaving behind any chance of a future with Evan.
There never was a future with him, she reminded herself, but it still stung.
“For tomorrow?” the receptionist asked, tapping something on his computer.
“No, now please. In an hour or so.”
“And where can I call when the car arrives?”
“Room 207,” Mia said.
“All right. Your car will be waiting.” He smiled at Mia, who barely managed to return the gesture before turning away and hurrying toward the stairs. The first step was done. Now she’d quickly pack and be out of here before anyone noticed she was missing.
“Mia?”
Mia froze, her heart pounding. She’d evaded Evan’s family until now, but she wasn’t lucky enough to escape entirely. Slowly, she turned around, taking a deep breath and trying to smile.
“Hi, Ellen.”
Evan’s mother crossed the lobby to her, concern pinching her brow. “Is everything all right, dear?”
“Yes.” Mia’s voice almost broke on the lie, but she held it together. “I’m not feeling very well, so I’ll go upstairs.”
“Should I get Evan?” she asked, sounding worried now. Mia shook her head a little too quickly.
“No, no. Don’t worry about it. Let him enjoy the ceremony.”
“If you’re sure…” Ellen still didn’t look convinced, but she reached out and squeezed Mia’s hand. “If you need anything, call down to reception and have them come get me.”
Mia’s heart swelled at her kindness, and she managed to nod before slipping away.
She made it to the stairs and climbed up, finally reaching the safety of the room.
Thankfully, Evan wasn’t inside. Though why would he be?
He’d probably be enjoying the party with his family, not even thinking about her.
Or, perhaps, he was working somewhere. That sounded like him, too.
Mia felt teary again at how kind Ellen had been.
She really seemed to accept her. Now, though, it didn’t matter anymore.
Mia pulled her suitcase out from under the bed and went to the closet.
There were the shorts and T-shirt she’d worn for the cycling adventure.
The dress from the first day with the cooking lesson.
The capri pants and T-shirt from yesterday’s olive oil tasting.
The hoodie she’d worn on the balcony during the chilly nights while talking to Evan.
Each article of clothing brought back memories.
But Mia just scooped them into her suitcase, not even pausing to fold anything.
She even had the fitted red dress Sarah had lent her for the bachelorette party, the dress she’d worn when she and Evan had kissed last night.
Seeing the dress sent her thoughts spinning back to that kiss.
It had felt so right to wrap her arms around Evan’s shoulders, slide her hands into his hair, and feel his warm lips on hers.
She remembered his pine scent and broad, warm hands so clearly, it was like he was standing in the room with her.
Mia wasn’t delusional. She hadn’t believed that the kiss was the start of a whirlwind romance that would lead to marriage and kids and happily-ever-after.
But she had hoped that it meant something.
It had to her. But for Evan, it hadn’t seemed to matter, because when it came down to it, he hadn’t been willing to even talk to her.
Mia carefully placed that dress on the bed, hoping Evan would return it to Sarah.
She couldn’t give it back herself, not when Sarah was enjoying her wedding day.
Then she stripped off the lacy blue dress she was wearing, tossing it into the bag, and pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt.
She pulled her hair up into a messy bun at the top of her head.
When she glanced in the mirror, she no longer looked like a sophisticated wedding guest, or like Evan’s girlfriend.
She looked like herself, and it was a relief.
Her face was pale, and her eyes looked a little heavy from tiredness, but she didn’t have to pretend to be anything she wasn’t, so it was okay.
She’d been fooling herself, imagining that she could be part of the Hirst family or part of Evan’s heart.
She’d only been playing a role. And now, the show was over.
A sometimes ditzy, kindhearted, soon-to-be mom and high school math teacher looked back at her from the mirror.
Next, Mia went into the bathroom. She reached for her toiletries bag, but before zipping it, she peeked inside.
There was the plastic pregnancy test, nestled in among her lipsticks and mascara wands, the first message from the child growing inside her.
Mia’s heart ached. She couldn’t wait to meet that baby.
This is all worth it, she thought fiercely.
The heartbreak, Evan’s strange behavior, everything. It’s all worth it for my baby.
Taking a breath, she zipped the case closed and put it in her suitcase, too.
She didn’t feel angry with Evan anymore.
He’d acted the way she should have expected him to.
Her heart still ached at the thought of not having him in her life, of him never meeting their child, but if she had to go through that pain to meet her child, she would do it all again.
And then, Mia went to the desk. Lying there was her bar of emergency chocolate, and seeing it made her collapse into the desk chair.
It was such a simple thing, but it reminded her of the fun she and Evan had had together, the laughter they’d shared, the chemistry that had always been undeniable between them.
She looked around the room once more, seeing the bed they’d shared, separated by a pillow wall.
She’d always been so aware of his small movements and the sound of his steady breath beside her.
There was the balcony where they’d watched the sunset and talked under the stars, where she’d tried to read while Evan worked.
Almost every night since they’d gotten here, they’d sat out there, laughing and talking and sharing stories.
There was the spot where their hands had brushed when she’d handed him his laptop charger, and the place where she’d stood when he told her she looked stunning in her bachelorette party dress.
There was the bathroom where she’d taken the pregnancy test and found out that she was going to have his baby. All those little moments, all gone now.
Tears spilled from Mia’s eyes. She knew nothing she did could change how Evan felt. He’d always been clear that he didn’t want to do anything that would take him away from his work, and a baby was exactly that kind of thing. So was she, really. It hurt.
Well, it wouldn’t hurt for much longer. Mia wiped her tears away, got to her feet, and lifted her bag from the bed.
Taking a deep breath, she started toward the door.
She’d wait out front for the taxi. She would leave Tuscany behind.
She’d fly home. And then, slowly, she’d piece her life back together — without Evan.