Chapter 25

Sierra

ALMOST FOUR MONTHS HAD PASSED since the divorce trial. I hadn’t heard or seen Robert or Lisa since. The first few weeks after the trial, I found myself looking over my shoulder. Robert’s behavior rattled me, but Aaron assured me it was a man who had just had his balls busted and was pissed off.

Walking into the nursery, I glanced at the three newborns as they all slept peacefully. Never in my entire career had I walked into this room and felt the desire I had been feeling the last two months. I wanted a baby. Aaron’s baby.

Hearing one of the babies whimper, I walked over and picked up the pink swaddled baby and walked over to the rocking chair. Holding her in my arms, I slowly rocked her back into a slumber as I thought back to Aaron asking me to marry him the second time.

***

Rolling over, I smiled when I heard the waves crashing on the shore. Aaron had surprised me with a trip to Cancun not long after the divorce. We had been here four days already and I was wishing we could just stay here forever. Yesterday was filled with a trip out on a sailboat Aaron had chartered for the day. The evening ended with a slow dance on the deck of the boat and Aaron promising to make love to me all night long.

Stretching, I let out a giggle. Oh yes. My body indeed felt the after effects of Aaron’s marathon night of lovemaking.

Sitting up, I reached for a hairband and pulled my hair up into a ponytail and headed out of our little bungalow. The smell of breakfast immediately hit me as I saw Aaron pulling out a chair at the small round table. My stomach felt as if I was on a roller coaster as I stared into his breathtaking eyes.

“Why thank you, Mr. Walker,” I said with a purr as I walked up, kissed him on the lips and sank down into the chair.

Leaning over, Aaron placed his hand on my chin and lifted my face up to his. “Good morning, baby. Did you sleep well?”

Sinking my teeth into my lip, I nodded. “When I was finally able to sleep, yes, I slept heavenly.”

Winking, he said, “Good.”

Taking a seat next to me, Aaron reached for the orange juice and poured me a glass. For some crazy reason, my hands were shaking and I felt like I was a teenage girl again out on her first date.

Placing the glass of orange juice up to my lips, I asked, “What’s up today?” Taking a drink, I raised my eyebrows as Aaron gave me a naughty smile.

“I’ll tell you one thing that’s up.”

Rolling my eyes, I looked down at the yummy breakfast before me. Picking up my fork, I began digging in. Glancing up, I smiled as Aaron stared at me. “What?” I asked as I stuffed more eggs into my mouth.

Standing up, Aaron held his hand out for me. “I can’t wait a second longer. I never was good with keeping surprises.”

Jumping up, I smiled. “Surprises?”

Aaron reached down and scooped me up into his arms. “Close your eyes, baby.”

Feeling like a little kid in a candy store, I did what he asked as he walked toward the shore.

“Ready?” he whispered as he lowered my body slowly down. The moment my toes touched the sand, I smiled. Opening my eyes, I was looking directly into Aaron’s. My heart felt as if it skipped a beat as he smiled back at me. His eyes were swimming with love.

Turning me toward the shore, I sucked in a breath as I looked out in the water. A huge sailboat sat just off the shoreline with a sign that said, I love you, Sierra. Will you marry me?

Spinning around, I practically fell backwards at the sight before me. Aaron was kneeling down on one knee holding open a ring box with one hand and a bouquet of calla lilies in his other hand. My favorite flower.

Placing my hands over my mouth, I began to cry.

“Sierra Lynn Jackson. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Dropping my hands to my side, I nodded my head frantically as I dropped down onto the sand and wrapped my arms around Aaron. I would never experience such happiness as I did in that moment.

***

“Sierra? Sierra, are you lost in thought or what?”

Smiling, I shook my head and stood up. Placing the little pink bundle of joy back into the basinet, I turned and looked at my coworker, Maria. “I guess I was just taking in this will be my last time in this room.” Taking in a deep breath, I held it while I attempted to settle my feelings. Slowly blowing it out, I turned and headed out of the nursery. Walking up to the nurse’s station, I smiled as everyone held a single balloon in their hands. Each one said good luck. Wiping my tears away, I quickly made my way to each of the nurses I had worked with for the last four years and hugged them.

“We’re going to miss you. Are you sure you want to do this Sierra? Leave patient care and go teach?” Maria asked as she handed me the last balloon.

Nodding my head, I chewed on my lower lip. “I’ve never been so sure of anything in my entire life. I’m going to miss y’all too.”

After saying good-bye again for the fourth time, I took my handful of balloons, waved, and made my way to the elevator. As much as I loved my job, I was looking forward to my new career of teaching. I needed a change and this was it. At least . . . I hoped this was it. Something felt as if it was missing and I couldn’t place my finger on what it was.

***

Walking to my car in the employee parking lot, I put the balloons in the back seat and then pulled out my cell. Sitting in the driver’s seat, I opened up my text messages. I had eight text messages from Aaron.

Aaron: Princess is hurt!

Aaron: Princess is bleeding. Everywhere! I need you!

Aaron: Stat!

Oh shit. What happened to Princess? Damn it. I knew she should have come with me last night. She’d be safe and at doggy day care right now.

Aaron: It’s everywhere! What the fuck! Going to vet.

Aaron: I’m at a loss for words. She’s having her doggy period. Heat is what they call it!

Covering my mouth with my hand, I tried not to laugh out loud but soon lost the battle.

Aaron: You had to give me a girl didn’t you?

Aaron: I’m NOT going to PetSmart to buy girl shit for her.

Shaking my head, I read the last message and busted out laughing.

Aaron: Jesus H Christ. You planned this all along didn’t you? You’re evil. I’m marrying the devil!

Hitting Aaron’s number, I started my car and waited for him to answer.

“Hello!” Panic laced Aaron’s words as I turned up the volume on my car as the phone connected through the speakers. I knew it was wrong, but I kind of liked knowing this had totally caught Aaron off guard.

“Clearly you didn’t read the book Kacey gave you when she first gave you Princess. You’d have known this was coming.”

“W-what? That’s what you’re going to say to me as I sit here with my dog sitting in my truck bleeding as she wears some contraction thing that has her damn tail sticking through it! She got blood on my seat, Sierra. My truck seat.”

Pressing my lips together to keep from laughing, I said in a calm voice. “Baby, I just pulled out of work. I’ll meet you at the PetSmart on Brodie Lane, okay?”

“I’m already there. We’re in the parking lot . . . waiting for you.”

Ten minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot. Aaron was sitting on the tailgate of his truck while Princess was lying down next to him.

Parking my car, I walked over to them with a shit-eating grin on my face. Aaron looked miserable and Princess jumped up and began barking the moment she saw me. I had to admit, it made me all kinds of giddy that she loved me as much as she did.

Aaron sighed. “Sure, now she acts all happy. Before, you’d have thought she was the most depressed dog in the world.”

Taking Princess’ leash, I called for her to jump down. “Well shit . . . look at her. You have her in a diaper!”

Aaron shook his head, as if in disbelief. “She’s bleeding! And the worst part is, the vet wants to wait until she is out of heat before he spays her.”

Aaron jumped off his tailgate and shut it as he began walking toward the entrance of the pet store. “That’s good though, Aaron. If they do it while she is in heat, she might have more bleeding.”

Brushing me off with his hands, Aaron spoke in a frustrated voice. “I know, I know. He already talked to me about it.”

Looking down at Princess, she glanced up at me, almost as if we were both thinking the same thing. Nodding my head, I said, “I know, girl. We just need to be patient with Daddy.”

My stomach dropped as the thought of having a child with Aaron flooded my thoughts. Grinning like a crazy fool, I pushed the thoughts away while following Aaron into the store.

Aaron immediately walked up to a young woman stocking a shelf. “Excuse me, can you tell where I can find the tampons for dogs?”

My mouth dropped open and so did the employee’s as she asked, “Um . . . excuse me?”

Aaron lifted his hand and dropped it again in frustration. “You know, the tampons for dogs? My dog is in heat and I need tampons so she won’t bleed.”

Princess whimpered next to me, and I fought the urge to pick her up and run. Looking down at her, I held up my hand and whispered, “I got this, girl, but let’s just let this play out a few more seconds.”

Princess dropped down on the floor and placed her head on her paw while she closed her eyes. Poor thing was scared for her life.

Turning back to Aaron, I fought like hell not to bust out laughing. I couldn’t decide what was funnier. The shocked expression on the PetSmart employee’s face or the fact Aaron kept referring to the doggy diapers as tampons.

“Ah . . . oh no, no they don’t make things like . . . um . . . like that . . . um . . .”

Oh, this is priceless. Shit! I should be recording this!

Pulling out my phone, I quickly swiped up and began recording.

“Yes. Yes, they do. They have to. The vet told me to come here and get them. I need her to not bleed in my truck or anywhere in my house, so if you’ll just point me to where the tampons are . . . I’ll get out of your hair.”

Pointing my phone down to Princess, I made sure to zoom in on the diaper she was wearing before turning the camera back onto Aaron.

The employee looked at me with pleading eyes, but I offered no help as I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.

“Ah . . . sir . . . tampons are for . . . well . . . ladies, um you know during that time.”

Aaron was growing impatient as he pointed over to Princess. The young girl looked at Princess, who was now fast asleep on the floor. “I know. I know. You see my dog is during that time. So I need the tampon things to keep her from bleeding everywhere. She got blood in my truck. In. My. Truck.”

“Sir, do you mean doggie pants? Some people call them doggie pads?”

Aaron pulled his head back and turned to me. Looking surprised to see me recording him, he asked, “What are you doing?”

Shrugging, I said, “Recording this for Ryn and Tristan.”

Aaron rolled his eyes as he asked, “What are tampons?”

Smiling, I kept recording as I said, “I think you’re thinking of pads, Aaron. Tampons you . . . um . . . insert inside.”

Aaron’s face fell as he whispered, “Oh hell.”