Page 76 of Summer on Sunshine Bay

“No, she’s not. She’s my friend, who just happens to be an incredibly talented decorator.”

Gavin snorted and shook his head.

Jennifer looked at him and then pushed back her chair. “You’re right, I am. And La Dolce Vita needs all the help it can get,” she said, smiling at Eva.

“Jennifer, where do you think you’re going?”

“To do the job I was hired to do,” she said, and looped her arm through Eva’s. “Don’t wait up for me, Gavin.”

“You know we can’t afford to pay you, right?” Eva whispered as they walked away.

“He doesn’t know that. Besides, I don’t need the money, Eva.” She sighed. “I should’ve just gone to La Dolce Vita, but I didn’t have the energy to fight with him.”

“You can tell me to mind my own business, and I won’t be offended, but why do you stay with him?”

“For my boys.” She smiled at David as they walked by, and his jaw just about fell to his chest.

“Again, you can tell me to mind my own business, but I don’t think you’re doing your sons any favors. Gavin’s doing to them what he does to you, Jennifer. They’re patterning their behavior after yours.”

“I’m beginning to see that. I never really noticed until I bought Windemere.”

Eva pulled her to a stop. “Excuse me.Youbought Windemere?”

She nodded. “We’ve been living off my trust fund since we got married. The way Gavin spends money, there’ll be nothing left when we reach our golden years. I thought Windemere would be a good investment and a good opportunity for David and Lila.”

“Cara, I’m making you an appointment with my niece as soon as we get to the restaurant.”

Jennifer smiled. “I already made one. I met with her last night.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Lila had arrived for her appointment at Sunshine Bay Health Center forty-five minutes ago. So far David was a no-show.

“We can reschedule the ultrasound if you want,” Dr. Alva said, her smile as warm as Lila remembered. Dr. Alva was a former classmate and a friend of Lila’s mother. She’d been their primary care physician for the past twenty years.

Lila had been excited about seeing her baby for the first time. She’d thought David was too. But Dr. Alva had a waiting room full of patients, and Lila didn’t want to take up any more of her time.

“That would be—” Lila began, a knock on the door cutting her off.

Dr. Alva’s nurse poked her head inside. “We have a waiting room full of Rosettis who want to come in, including the nonna-to-be. Just thought I’d mention that in case you were planning on saying no, Lexi,” the nurse said, holding back a grin.

Dr. Alva snorted. “I’ve been waiting for Eva to show up. But it’s entirely up to you, Lila.”

Unlike Dr. Alva, Lila was surprised her mother and, from the sounds of it, her whole family were here. She hadn’t mentioned that she’d made an appointment with Dr. Alva for this very reason. She’d wanted their first prenatal visit to be special, a private time for her and David to share. She got a little teary eyed that he hadn’t bothered showing up. If she couldn’t share the first look at their baby with David, at least she could share it with her family, who were obviously more excited about it than the daddy-to-be.

There was a commotion in the hall, and the nurse glanced behind her. “Eva, I told you to wait—” The nurse sighed as Lila’s mother, her aunt, and her cousins attempted to get into the room.

Dr. Alva raised an eyebrow at Lila. “I can take her, you know. I won every one of our fights in grade school.”

Eva hesitated, holding the rest of the family back with her arm.

Lila smiled. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like them to stay, Dr. Alva. And if you have time, I’d like to go ahead with the ultrasound.”

Eva beamed, rolling her eyes at Dr. Alva as she hurried to Lila’s side. “The only reason you won is because you fought dirty, Lexi.”

“Of course I did. I have four older brothers,” Dr. Alva said, swiveling on her stool to pick up a tube of gel and the handheld transducer.

“How did you guys know I was here?” Lila asked.

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