Sierra

As I sat behind my desk, I picked up my phone and hesitantly dialed Delia.

“Hello, Sierra. What a surprise,” she answered.

“Hello, Mother.”

“Are you calling to check up on Cameron?”

“No.” I gulped. “I was calling to see if you wanted to go out to dinner tonight.”

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

“I’ll have to check my schedule. I may have plans. Hold on.”

I sat there rolling my eyes.

“Actually, tonight is the only night I have free. So yes, I can meet you for dinner.”

A knot formed in the pit of my stomach.

“Great.” I hoped that sounded genuine, but I wasn’t sure. “How about we meet at Madeo at six thirty?”

“I’ll be there.”

“I’ll call now and make the reservation. See you then, Mother.”

I ended the call and slowly closed my eyes, trying to mentally prepare myself for tonight’s dinner.

“Sasha!” I shouted.

“Yes, Sierra?” She opened my office door.

“Call Madeo and make a reservation for two for tonight at six thirty.”

A smile crossed her lips. “Will do. Date night with Cameron?” she asked.

“No. Dinner with Delia.”

The smile fell from her face.

“Oh.” Her brow raised as she turned and shut the door.

As I was prepping for my meeting, a text message came through on my phone from Cameron.

“Hey, babe. I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you. Enjoy your dinner tonight and stay off the tequila.”

“Thanks, and no.”

“I love you, sassy girl. Can’t wait to see you tonight.”

“I love you too and I can’t wait to see you. I’ll call you when I’m on my way home.”

Delia must have told him that I asked her to dinner. Letting out a long sigh, I looked at my watch and noticed that Ava was already out of school, so I decided to give her a call.

“Hello,” she answered.

“Hey, little sis. How are you?”

“I’m good, big sis. How are you?”

“Good. Listen, has Delia been acting weird lately?”

“Delia always acts weird. Why?”

“Cam told me that she was sitting on the couch yesterday with a drink in her hand, staring into space.”

“She was doing that last night when I got home. I asked her if she was okay and she told me she was fine and to go upstairs. But I kind of got the impression she wasn’t fine. She looked like she’d been crying.”

Delia never cried or showed any type of emotion whatsoever. Something was definitely wrong. I would put money on it that she found out about Clive’s affair.

“I’m taking her to dinner tonight. So I’ll talk to her.”

“Say what?” She laughed into the phone. “You’re taking Delia to dinner?”

“Listen, kid. I’m not happy about it, but I told Cam I would.”

“Good luck.”

“Thanks. I’m going to need all the luck I can get. I’ll talk to you later. Make sure to do your homework.”

“Yes, Mom. Wait, Sierra. Before we hang up, I have something to tell you.”

“What is it?”

“A modeling agency from New York called and wants me to come in and audition for an Abercrombie ad. I just got the call today at school. I don’t know how to tell Delia. With school and stuff, she won’t let me go.”

“Congratulations, Ava! That’s wonderful news. Just tell her and if she gives you any trouble, I’ve got your back.”

“Thanks. I love you.”

“I love you too, darling. We’ll talk soon.”

I was thrilled for Ava. Being a model had always been her dream, but Delia quickly extinguished it, saying that the only thing all models were good for were to be sex objects for men to drool over and jack off to.

****

I took the last sip of tequila as James pulled up to the curb of Madeo. Handing him the glass, I let out a long deep breath.

“You’ll be fine, Sierra,” he spoke. “What time should I pick you up?”

“Go home and be with Kirsty. I’ll take a cab home.”

He let out a chuckle.

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No.” I arched my brow at him. “I really don’t know how long this will take.”

“If you change your mind, shoot me a text.”

“Have a good evening, James.” I climbed out of the car.

“You too, Sierra. I’m only a phone call away.”

I gave him a small smile, shut the door, and headed into the restaurant. The nervousness that resided inside was getting the best of me. Even the tequila wasn’t helping.

“Hello, welcome to Madeo,” the perky young hostess spoke.

“Reservation for Sierra Adams.” I smiled.

“Ah yes. Your guest is already here. Follow me.”

Of course she was already here and I was only five minutes late. I tried to prep myself for the remarks she would throw at me on the way to the table.

“Hello, Mother.” I smiled as I sat down across from her.

“You’re late, Sierra. How many times must I tell you that people’s time is valuable?”

“I’m only five minutes late. L.A. traffic.”

“I was also in that traffic, but you know what I did? I made sure to leave early enough so I wouldn’t be late.”

“I was in a meeting,” I quietly spoke through gritted teeth. “I do run a multi-billion-dollar company, Mother.”

“Always using your work as an excuse. You’re just like your father.”

I clenched my jaw and my fist, which was resting on my lap.

“May I take your drink order?” the waiter asked.

“I’ll have a tequila on the rocks. Make it a triple.” I casually smiled.

“Really, Sierra?” My mother looked at me in dismay.

“Fine.” I looked at the waiter. “I’ll have a glass of Pinot Grigio.”

“Very well, Madame.” He smiled.

I picked up the black cloth napkin and set it on my lap.

“So, Mother. How have you been?”

“Fine. Busy with my charity work and now the remodel.”

“Anything else going on?” I took a sip of my wine as soon as the waiter set it down in front of me.

“No.” She looked away.

I knew when my mother was lying. She always broke eye contact. She’d been doing it since I was a child.

“How are you doing? Everything good with you and Cameron?” she asked.

“Everything is great with us and I’m really happy.”

“Well, to be honest, I like that man and I don’t want you to do anything to screw it up.”

Everything that happened in my life was always my fault, according to her.

“I won’t. I love Cameron very much and he’s a huge part of my life.”

“You mean he comes second in your life because your work comes first.” She picked up her glass and took a sip from it.

I threw the rest of my wine back like it was water and held my finger up when I saw our waiter at the next table.

“Yes?” He politely smiled.

“Tequila. Make it a triple like I originally ordered.”

My mother, who sat across from me, rolled her eyes.

“Why do you always do this?” I asked her.

“Do what, Sierra?”

“Berate me. Make me feel as if I’m nothing but a screw up in life. I’m a successful business woman who runs one of the top ten advertising agencies in the world. I am continuing with my father’s legacy. Don’t you get that?” I boldly spoke.

“Can’t we just sit and have a nice dinner without all your lash back?” she asked.

My heart was racing in anger and I felt myself overheating. The waiter came back to the table, and before he could set my drink down, I grabbed it from his hands and threw half of it back. I no longer felt sorry for her where Clive was concerned. This woman didn’t have a loving bone in her body.

“My business is my livelihood, Mother.”

“All I’m saying, Sierra, is there’s more to life than your company.”

“Did you tell Clive that?” I blurted out.

“What does Clive have to do with this conversation?”

“He’s always working and out of town. He never spends any time with you or Ava. So maybe this is a conversation you should be having with him. Why wouldn’t you go to Paris with him? I could have looked after Ava.”

She finished off her drink just as the waiter brought our food. As soon as he walked away, she picked up her fork and spoke, “And be a third wheel for him and his mistress?”

I set my fork down and stared at her. “You know?” I asked.

Her brow raised. “You know?”

I swallowed hard.

“I just found out yesterday when I called him and she answered his phone.”

“Well, I’ve known for a couple of months.”

“And you’ve never said anything to him?” I narrowed my eye.

“What’s the point? If he wants her, he can have her. He’s been nothing but a lousy husband anyway.”

She was hurt. I could tell. She was trying to mask the pain she felt but wasn’t doing a very good job.

“Mom.” I reached over and placed my hand on hers. She pulled away.

“I’m fine, Sierra. No need to try and comfort me.”

This would have been the perfect opportunity to throw everything she ever said to me right back at her. But I couldn’t. I felt for her. I’d been there.

“What are you going to do?” I asked.

“Nothing,” she replied. “He has his life and I have mine. Please don’t tell Ava about any of this, and certainly don’t tell Clive that I know. Let him play his game and think he’s getting away with it.”

“I won’t tell either one of them. But you can’t stay married if he’s cheating on you.”

“I will file for divorce when the time is right. Don’t worry about it. That remark I made to you regarding your relationship with Cameron. He’s a good man, Sierra. Don’t let your life become consumed with Adams Advertising like your father did. That company drove us apart and I don’t want that to happen to you and Cameron. Now, enough talk about that. Let’s eat our dinner.”

We talked about her current charity project, and for the first time in forever, we had a pleasant conversation. When dinner was over, we exited the restaurant, and before she climbed into the limo that drove her, she turned to me and spoke, “Thank you for a lovely dinner, Sierra. It was nice.” She softly smiled.

“You’re welcome, and it was nice, Mom.”