Page 15 of Julian

The words she'd practiced in her head over the past few weeks suddenly seemed inadequate. How did you tell someone they'd fathered a child during a night they clearly didn’t remember?

Angie's grip on her hand tightened. "You don't have to say anything you're not ready to say. But Kiara…" She paused, her expression growing more serious. "He has a right to know, doesn't he? About the baby?"

The question hung in the air between them. Kiara had wrestled with it countless times, especially during the long nights when sleep eluded her and her mind refused to quiet. She'd gone back and forth so many times about it. In some ways, it was a relief to have it taken out of her hands.

“I keep thinking about what's best for the baby," Kiara said finally. "Julian doesn't even remember that night. What if he thinks I'm lying? What if he wants nothing to do with us?"

"Then that's his loss," Angie said fiercely. "But what if he surprises you? What if he wants to be involved?"

That possibility terrified Kiara almost as much as the alternative. Julian's world was so different from hers—expensive suits, international travel, beautiful women who gracedmagazine covers. She couldn't imagine how a small-town girl and an unplanned baby would fit into that life.

Another wave of nausea hit, stronger this time. Kiara pressed her lips together and breathed through her nose, willing it to pass. The stress wasn't helping her morning sickness at all.

"I guess I don't have a choice anymore," she said when the feeling subsided. "I have to talk to him."

"Do you want me to stay with you?" Angie asked, concern etching her features.

Kiara considered it for a moment. Having Angie there would be comforting, but this conversation needed to happen between just her and Julian.

"No," she said finally. "This is something I need to do myself."

Angie nodded, though reluctance showed in her eyes. "I'll tell him he can come up, then."

“I think I’d rather meet him downstairs,” she said. “Maybe in the solarium if no one is using it.”

“I’ll check, then send you a text if it’s empty.”

“I need to freshen up,” Kiara said, glancing down at her oversized t-shirt and leggings. “Tell Julian I’ll meet him in the solarium in fifteen minutes.”

“Okay.” Angie leaned over and gave her a hug. “Let me pray for you.”

Kiara sagged against her, drawing on her sister’s strength, which was different from how their dynamic usually was. She was used to being the strong one. The one taking care of everything.

“Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of life and this little one You’ve given Kiara, regardless of the circumstancesthat have led to this point. I pray You give her strength and wisdom as she navigates the road ahead with Julian. Also open Julian’s heart and mind to this new life he’s been a part of creating. I ask that You reveal Yourself clearly to Kiara and Julian in their current circumstances. I love Kiara so much and want the best for her. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Kiara had never embraced faith in God the way Angie had, but she appreciated the prayer and hoped that God would hear and answer her sister’s prayer.

Angie gave her a tight squeeze, then released her. “Okay. I’m going to see if the solarium is free. If it’s not, where do you want to meet?”

Kiara knew where she didn’t want to meet him. “I don’t know, but not the library.”

Angie stared at her for a long moment, then gave a single nod. “Maybe the living room.”

“That would work.”

Sliding off the bed, Angie said, “I’ll text you in a couple of minutes.”

When Angie closed the door behind her, Kiara hurried to the bathroom. After emptying the contents of her stomach, she splashed water on her face.

A glance in the mirror told her that she wasn’t looking her best, and unfortunately, makeup probably wasn’t going to help much. Still, she dabbed a bit of concealer under her eyes.

When the text from Angie came in, letting her know that the solarium was available, Kiara’s stomach lurched again. She got a ginger candy from her nightstand and popped it into her mouth, hoping it would help quell the nausea a little.

She swapped her T-shirt for a sweater and a new pair of leggings—the only really comfortable pants she had. It took a few minutes to pull her hair back into a ponytail and then put product in it to try to control the frizz a bit.

Her curls weren’t tight, but they had a tendency to go frizzy if she didn’t take special care of her hair.

All through her preparations, she gave herself a pep talk.