Sierra

After a stressful day at work, the last thing I wanted to do was go to Delia’s. My bed was calling out to me and I so desperately needed it. I walked through the front door of Delia’s house and headed to the kitchen, where I found Ava sitting at the island with tears in her eyes.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I asked.

“Mom told me about her cancer and that she and Dad are getting a divorce.”

Way to go, Delia. Just springing it on the poor kid.

“She’s going to be okay, sweetheart. She’s Delia.”

“I’m still scared, Sierra.” The tears started to fall.

“Don’t be. You know Delia. The cancer is going to be begging to leave her body.”

She let out a light laugh.

“How do you feel about her and Clive?” I asked.

“I’m happy in a way. All they do is fight. I saw this coming.”

“Does Clive know any of this?”

“No, and she asked me not to say a word to him.”

“So what is this dinner about tonight?” I asked.

“I don’t know.”

“There you are.” Delia smiled as she kissed my cheek. “Thank you for coming, darling.”

“Hello, Sierra,” Clive spoke.

“Hello, Clive.”

The doorbell rang and I told Delia that I’d answer it since Lolita was busy prepping dinner. Being in the same room with the two of them was making me uncomfortable. As I opened the door, I froze when I saw Cameron standing there.

“What are you doing here?” I asked.

“I’m not sure. Delia asked me over for dinner. I didn’t know you’d be here. She said she had something to discuss with me.”

Great. Was this her way of trying to get us to talk?

“Sierra, we need to talk,” he spoke as he stepped inside.

“Really? Now you want to talk?” I spoke with an attitude.

“I’m sorry about not coming yesterday. I had to drive out to Orange County and it took me longer than I anticipated.”

“What’s out in Orange County?”

“I got this job remodeling and expanding a bar out there and it caught fire yesterday. All the work and everything we’d done was destroyed.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” I looked away.

“Oh good. Cameron, you’re here. Everyone in the dining room for dinner,” Delia spoke.

We went into the dining room and I watched where Cameron took his seat so I made sure not to sit next to him. My hormones were at an all-time high, and to be honest, I wasn’t in the mood. I sat down across from him and next to Ava. He shot me a look from across the table. As soon as dinner was served and we began to eat, the doorbell rang and Delia excused herself to answer it. I found it very odd she did that since she always had the staff answer it. A few moments later, Delia walked in with a younger woman. A woman with long dark hair and green eyes. I couldn’t help but notice the look on Clive’s face when he saw her. Oh shit.

Delia led the woman to the only empty seat at the table, told her to sit down, and then had Lolita bring her a plate of food.

“Mother, are you going to introduce us?” I asked as I raised my brow.

Ava began hitting my leg under the table.

“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Samantha. The woman whom Clive has been having an affair with for the last six months,” she spewed.

Cameron instantly looked at me, and me at him in shock.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Delia,” Clive stuttered.

“Delia?” Samantha cocked her head.

“Oh please.” She threw her napkin on the table. “Do you think I’m that stupid?” She looked at both Clive and Samantha. “Samantha was a friend of mine from the country club.” Delia glanced at all of us.

“Please, don’t do this,” Clive begged.

“Too late. The cat’s out of the bag, darling. I called you all to dinner to expose Clive’s dirty little secret. I’m divorcing you, Clive. My attorney already has the papers drawn up and plenty of pictures of the two of you together. This will be very costly for you.”

Clive sat there in shock, unable to speak a word.

“Also, I have breast cancer and will be undergoing a double mastectomy in two weeks. I want you out of this house tonight. Take what you can and I’ll have someone send you the rest of your things,” she harshly spoke. “I’m sure Samantha won’t have any problem taking you in.”

“Delia, I’m so sorry,” Cameron spoke.

“If you’re talking about the cancer, darling, thank you. If you’re referring to Clive and me, don’t be. I’m not. I’m just sorry I didn’t do it sooner.”

“Delia, why didn’t you tell me about the cancer?” Clive asked.

“Because it’s none of your business. You made anything to do with this family none of your business the day you started fucking her.” Delia pointed to Samantha.

Go, Delia! She and Clive started arguing and Samantha just sat there staring down at her plate. Yelling erupted, and as much as I loved a good show, I couldn’t let this go on, for Ava’s sake. So I stood up from my chair.

“On a happy note, I’m pregnant.” I smiled.

The voices stopped and Cameron’s eyes darted up at me as he dropped his fork on his plate.

“You’re pregnant?” he asked.

“Yes. I am.”

“Oh my god! I’m going to be an aunt!” Ava shouted as she threw her arms around my waist.

“Congratulations, Sierra,” Clive spoke. “Samantha, let’s go. Delia, my lawyer will be in touch.”

“Looking forward to it!” Delia yelled.

“How long have you known?” Cameron harshly asked.

“Ava, come upstairs with me,” Delia spoke. “Sierra, we’ll talk later.”

“I found out about a week after you walked out on me.”

“And you couldn’t tell me?” He pounded his fists on the table.

“You wouldn’t talk to me! How the hell was I supposed to tell you? You made it very clear that you were pissed off and wanted nothing to do with me.”

“I was pissed off because you disrespected me and went behind my back! But no matter how pissed I was, you should have told me when you found out!”

“I don’t even know where you’re staying, so how was I supposed to?”

“You could have texted me or called!” he shouted.

“I texted you about the party and you ignored me! Would you have really answered my call?”

He looked down and didn’t say a word.

“Exactly! I was going to tell you last night, but you decided not to show.”

“That couldn’t be helped,” he spoke.

“Well, now you know. This baby doesn’t change anything, Cameron.”

“Sierra, we need to talk about everything.”

“Why? Because now it’s convenient for you? I wanted to talk and you said some awful things to me. You said you saw who I really was and you didn’t like me. You told me to learn from this lesson because it will save me a lot of pain and heartache in the future. And, you said I live in my own little rich bubble. So let me tell you a thing or two, Cameron Cole. I did learn from this and because I did, it will save me a lot of heartache and pain in the future. I’ve learned that I was a fool to ever open up my heart again to someone, and believe me, I won’t ever do it again. You called me a control freak. And you’re right, I am. You were down and I hated seeing you like that. It hurt me, Cam. You hurt me.” I pointed at him. “Instead of just staying and discussing the reasons why I did it, you blew up and you walked out on me. You made up your mind at that very moment that I wasn’t worthy of your time anymore.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is, or else you would have stayed. Maybe we wouldn’t have talked for a while, but you still would have been there, in the house, with me. I was scared that if you didn’t find any work in what you loved to do, you would have settled into some stupid job you hated. Then, eventually, you would have resented me for it. You would have regretted moving here to California and ultimately you would have blamed me. So yeah, I did it to keep you happy and to keep you here with me. Without resentment.”

“Do you not understand, Sierra, that keeping secrets is no good? If a relationship is going to work, there can’t be any secrets. Two people are supposed to work together.”

“I tried. I offered you my help and you refused. Even the best fall down sometimes, Cameron.”

He paced around the room with his head down.

“Maybe it was because I needed to prove to you that I could be the man you need. That I could be someone successful.”

“You were the man I needed, and to me, you were successful already. You said that I live in my own little rich bubble, and you’re right, I do. Because my world wasn’t rich until you came into my life.” Tears started to fall down my face.

“Sierra,” he softly spoke as he began to approach me.

“Don’t.” I put my hand up. “I can’t. I’m broken, and I have this baby to think about. I can’t be broken and raise a child. So I need to heal, alone.”

“What are you saying?” His eye narrowed at me.

“That you can be a part of our child’s life, but not mine.”

I walked out of the dining room before the ultimate breakdown happened.

“Sierra!” he shouted.

I climbed into the back of the car, lay down on the seat, and cried. James didn’t say a word. He knew there was nothing he could say or do to make me feel better.