Cameron

I stood in the middle of the dining room with my hands in my pockets and my head down. My heart was pounding and a sense of guilt and extreme sadness washed over me. I couldn’t believe she was pregnant with my child and telling me that she no longer wanted me in her life. I needed to sit down.

“Are you okay, Cameron?” Delia asked as she walked into the room.

“Are you, Delia?” I looked at her.

Her lips formed a small smile as she sat down next to me and placed her hand on mine.

“Of course I am.”

“That was quite a show,” I spoke.

“Thank you. He deserved it and I deserve better. I take it Sierra left?”

“Yeah. After she told me that I could be in my child’s life but not hers.”

“Now, now. You know that’s not going to happen. Do you love her?”

“Of course I do. I love her very much. I never stopped. I was just so angry that I let it take over me. She’ll never forgive me for the things I said to her.”

“She will in time. You’re going to be a father.” She smiled as she gave my hand a light squeeze. “This is the most joyous time of your life. Don’t let Sierra take that from you. Fight to get her back. The two of you were meant to be together. I know my daughter very well. She wants you to fight for her. Just like she fought for you as she constantly reminds us how she swam in a dirty lake to get you back.”

“I don’t know, Delia. You didn’t see the look in her eyes.”

“Like I said, Cameron. I know my daughter. She’s just being stubborn and trying to make a point. Fine, I’ll admit it. She gets it from me. Now I am not going to stand for this. I have cancer and a grandbaby on the way. The two of you will be together when that baby is born and you will be a family. Do you understand me, young man?” She waved her finger in front of my face.

I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Good. Now go on and get out of here. Go make a plan to get my daughter back.” She smirked.

“Thanks, Delia.” I leaned in and kissed her cheek. “If you need anything at all, please call me. And I mean anything.”

“I will and thank you. You’re a good man, Cameron, and you’re already a part of this family. Keep it that way.”

I gave her light nod as I walked out the door and climbed into my truck. I had some thinking and planning to do. I would have to be especially creative when it came to getting her back.

****

Sierra

James helped me from the car and into the house.

“I can do this. Right, James?”

“Do what, Sierra?”

“Raise a kid. I mean, I’m not exactly mother material.”

“You won’t be raising the baby on your own. If you choose to cut Cameron out of your life, you still have me, Kirsty, and Rosa here to help you.”

“You’re sweet, but you and Kirsty will be getting married and starting your own life together.”

“I will be here for the little one,” Rosa spoke as we entered the kitchen.

“How the hell did you hear our conversation?” I asked. “Oh my God, Rosa.” I perked up. “Delia brought the mistress to the house and announced to all of us that Clive was fucking her. Then she told him about her cancer and that she was divorcing him. She also kicked his ass out right then and there.”

“Damn. I wish I could have been there.”

“Cameron was there.” I looked down as I took a seat at the table.

“I sort of figured that since you look like you’ve been crying. Your eyes, Senorita.” She shook her head. “They’re all black.”

I sighed as I cupped my face in my hands.

“I told Cam he could be a part of his child’s life but not mine.”

She began mumbling in Spanish.

“English, Rosa. If you have something to say to me, say it in a language I can understand.”

“Trust me. You don’t want to hear what I’m saying. Go upstairs, change into your pajamas, and I’ll make you a cup of hot tea before I leave.”

I got up from the table and hugged James goodbye.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Fill Kirsty in on the events of tonight. I really don’t feel like talking.”

“I will.” He kissed my forehead. “Get some rest. Tomorrow will be a better day.”

The next day, I stumbled out of bed, vomited, like I did every morning, and headed to work. I was tired due to the tossing and turning I did all night, not to mention the thoughts of Cameron that circled around in my head. The board called an emergency board meeting, which I was in no mood for. My thought was they found out about Roger Whitfield. I grabbed my phone, made a stop into the bathroom to throw up, and then headed to the board room, walking in ten minutes late. Bill looked at his watch as I entered the room.

“You’re late, Sierra,” he spoke.

“So sorry, Bill. I was in the bathroom throwing up. Now what’s this emergency meeting about?” I asked as I took a seat at the head of the table.

“Are you sick?” Julian asked.

“Nothing I can’t handle.” I smirked.

“We recently found out that you let Roger Whitfield go.”

I let out a light laugh. “You make it sound like he was an employee.”

“He was a five-million-dollar account,” William spoke.

“And? He was a pain in the ass. Five million is chump change compared to our other accounts. You think I’m worried over losing a five-million-dollar account?” I arched my brow. “He’s talking with Grimes & Dunn. Apparently, they’re offering him cheap advertising. Cheaper than what we could do. So if he feels he can get better service elsewhere, then I say go. He’ll be back.”

“How can you be so sure of that?” Julian asked.

“Because I know Roger. He’s a perfectionist. I’ve seen the ads Grimes & Dunn puts out. It’s grade school at best. Roger will be pissed off, beg me to take his account back, and then we up the cost of his advertising.” I smiled.

They all sat there with stern looks on their faces, but I could see the wheels spinning in their feeble little minds.

“Anyway.” I sighed. “I’m happy you called this meeting because there is something I need to tell all of you.”

“You’re resigning?” Bill asked with a bit of hope in his tone.

“Sorry to disappoint you, Bill. I’m not resigning, but I am pregnant.”

“But you’re not married,” Doug spoke.

“Right? Silly me for doing things in the wrong order. But shit happens and this happened.”

“How are you going to run a company and be a mother? Children are a great deal of work.” William asked in his male chauvinistic tone.

“I don’t know, William. I guess I’ll have to start reading the manual on how to be mother and run a company for dummies,” I spoke sarcastically. “The point is, gentlemen, that I’m pregnant and I thought you’d want to know. This will not affect my job in any way. I can and will run this company as I always have. Now I know it must be hard for you to imagine since all of your wives are chained up at home, raising your kids, and unable to have lives of their own, but this girl isn’t about to do that. This pregnancy changes nothing. Now if you’ll all excuse me, I need to go throw up.” I smiled as I walked out of the board room.