Cameron
After having a make-out session, I helped Sierra off the pool table, which was going to be utilized by us later tonight, and went back upstairs. We reached the third floor and looked in each of the six bedrooms.
“Well, which one are we sleeping in?” I asked.
“Does it really matter? We’re going to be fucking in all of them.”
“I love the way you think.” I winked.
My phone started ringing and when I pulled it out of my pocket, it was my mom calling.
“Hey, Mom.”
“We heard Sierra was in town and want her to come over for dinner. It’ll be ready in an hour, so make sure you both are here.”
“We’ll be there, Mom. I know she’s really excited to see you.”
I hung up and wrapped my arms around Sierra’s waist. “We’re going to dinner at my parents’ house and we’re going to tell my family the truth about you.”
“Then we better stop on the way and grab a bottle of tequila or two.”
“Done. You know I’ll always take care of you,” I said as I brushed my lips against hers.
We stopped at the liquor store and bought a couple of bottles of wine and tequila. We pulled up to the house and I grabbed Sierra’s hand as she took in a deep breath.
“See what happens when we lie?” she said.
“You started it.”
She laughed and we walked into the house. Immediately, my mom ran from the kitchen and gave Sierra a welcome hug.
“We are so excited to see you again, Sierra.”
“How’s the barista business doing?” my dad asked her.
“Both of you come in the kitchen and I’ll pour you some iced tea,” Luanne said.
“What’s in the bag, son?” my dad asked as I set it on the counter.
“Oh, just a couple bottles of wine and tequila for later.”
****
Sierra
I felt like I was in the kitchen of Paula Deen. I can say that because I was a few years back when Adams Advertising was a sponsor for her TV show. She invited my father and me to come and watch her cook a meal for her show.
“It smells amazing in here, Luanne.”
“Thank you, sweetie. There’s nothing like a southern home-cooked meal. I called everyone in the family and they should all be here any minute. Now, you and Cameron go sit down.”
I looked at Cameron as he held up the bottle of tequila and smiled. I smiled back as I held up two fingers, signaling to make it a double. The rest of the Cole Clan breezed through the door and hugged me one by one. Mark pulled me over to the side and kissed me on the cheek.
“Thank you, Sierra. You have made my brother very happy.”
“He’s made me very happy.” I smiled.
“What’s going on over here? Are you trying to steal my girlfriend?” Cameron whispered to his brother.
“Nah. I tried that the last time she was here. She wasn’t falling for it.” He winked at me.
We all took our places at the table and Cameron set down the glass of tequila in front of me. I so desperately wanted to give him a thank-you kiss, but the cat wasn’t out of the bag yet.
Luanne and Kelly set the food down on the table. “Here we go everybody. We have southern fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, deviled eggs, corn bread, mashed potatoes and gravy, and some sweet creamed corn.”
To me, it all looked like a heart attack waiting to happen. A bonafide artery clogging meal. Everyone passed the food around one by one. I took very little of everything so I didn’t appear rude.
“You owe me food later,” I whispered in Cameron’s ear.
“And you owe me a pool table.” He smiled. “Well, since the family is all here, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Oh boy, here we go. I picked up the glass of tequila and threw it back.
“Sierra and I are now officially dating and I’m going to be moving in with her.”
The table fell silent and all eyes turned to me.
“But she’s a lesbian,” Luanne blurted out.
I wanted to crawl under the table and hide.
“No, Mom. She’s not. We just made all that up on the spot. You know, like a joke.”
“So, then she’s not a lesbian barista. She’s just a barista?” Jerry said.
“No, Dad. She’s neither. She’s not a lesbian or a barista.”
I placed my hand on Cameron’s arm and told him to let me as I stood up.
“Cole family,” I spoke. “I’m sorry if Cam and I lied to you. It was solely meant for a joke and, to be honest, I didn’t think I’d ever really see any of you again. My name is Sierra Adams and I’m the CEO of Adams Advertising and Design. I run one of the top ten advertising firms in the country. I have a home in Hollywood Hills and I’m madly in love with Cameron. And if it makes you feel any better, my mother thinks he’s an escort I hired for companionship.”
I took another drink of my tequila and sat down.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Jerry said. “Look at that, Lu. We have a celebrity right in our very home.”
“So you’re not a lesbian?” Jolene asked.
“No, sweetie. But I totally support them.” I smiled.
The rest of the family was cool about it, but Luanne didn’t seem happy.
“Mom, what’s wrong?” Cameron asked.
“Nothing. Now that we know the truth and that you’re moving away, it’s all good.” She started to cry as she got up and left the table.
“Aw, damn,” Jerry said. “Let me go see if I can talk some sense into her.”
Cameron looked over at me with a sad look on his face.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“You have nothing to be sorry for, babe. I’ll talk to her later.”
A few moments later, Luanne came back and sat down at the table. She wouldn’t look at me and I felt horrible. Needless to say, dinner was a silent one. After we ate, and I finished off another double of tequila, I helped clean up the table and the kitchen, and went down by the lake with Cameron.
“I think we hurt your mom’s feelings,” I said as I ran my hand up and down his back.
“Nah. I think she’s upset because I’m moving to California.”
“Do you want to move back with me?” I asked nervously.
“Of course I do. I love you, Sierra.”
“I love you too. Why don’t we go give your mom a drink and talk to her?”
“We can try.”
We walked hand in hand up to the house and something was going on in the living room. There was a lot of discussion going on.
“What’s going on in here?” Cameron asked.
“It looks like we need to postpone the wedding,” Jaden said as he held his crying, I assumed because I’d never met her, fiancée.
“Why?”
“The hall where the reception was booked burnt down this afternoon. Magnolia called all over town and there’s nothing available for months,” Luanne spoke.
Magnolia? Was that her real name?
“I can’t wait months. I’ll look like an ole beached whale if we wait and I don’t want to look like a whale,” she cried hysterically.
Jaden tried to comfort her, but the more he did, the worse she cried.
“I have an idea,” I spoke up.
Magnolia looked up at me. “And who are you?” she asked.
“I’m the person who’s going to make sure you have a fabulous wedding.”
“Sierra, what are you talking about?” Cameron asked with a panicked tone.
“Long story short, I rented Cameron and me a mansion for the next few days and the back yard is huge. It even has a pavilion. It would be the perfect spot for a wedding reception, especially being right on the lake.”
“It’s too late to plan all that. The hall was taking care of everything,” Magnolia cried again.
I walked over to her and grabbed her hand. “Magnolia, darling. It’s never too late to plan a spectacular event. Leave everything to me.”
“Sierra, I don’t think—” Cameron started to speak.
“Then don’t, darling. Do you trust me?” I asked seriously as I looked into his eyes.
“Yes, I do.”
“Then leave it at that. Now, if you’ll excuse us, Cam and I are going to go back to our rental house. I have some phone calls to make.”
“Thank you so much. I don’t know how to ever repay you,” Magnolia said.
“The only payment I’ll accept is that you two love each other for the rest of your lives. Come on, Cameron,” I said as I grabbed his hand and pulled him along.
We climbed into the Escalade and I pulled out my phone. “Hurry and get me to where I’ll have a good signal.”
“Do you know what you’re doing?” he asked.
“Do you know who you’re dating?” I replied.
Once we pulled out of the driveway and were halfway down the road, I got two bars on my phone. I dialed Kirsty.
“Hey, girl! James and I were just talking about you.”
“I need you to listen to me very carefully. I’m going to do a three-way call with Sasha, so hold on.”
I dialed Sasha.
“Hey, boss lady,” she answered.
“Hi, Sasha, I have Kirsty on with us. I need your full attention. I need your help pulling off a wedding reception for this Saturday.”
“OH MY GOD! You and Cameron are getting married!” Kirsty squealed.
“No. It’s not for me. It’s for Cam’s brother and fiancée. Their hall burnt down today along with all their plans, so I’m stepping in.”
“Oh,” they both said.
“I need you both here. Bring James and Rosa too.”
“What?” Kirsty asked.
“You heard me. Get on the next flight out here and don’t forget to arrange for a car service to pick you up from the airport. I’ll text you the address to the rental house Cameron and I are staying at. It has six bedrooms, so you’ll stay with us.”
“Fine. We’ll be there tomorrow.”
“Thank you. I love you both. I’ll see you soon.”
I hung up and Cameron took hold of my hand. “There goes the house to ourselves so we better fuck like rabbits tonight.” He smiled.
“We’ll start as soon as we get back. Now, I have another call to make.”
I pulled up Paul’s number and hit call.
“Is that you, Sierra?”
“Hello, Paul. I need a favor.”
“Anything for you, darling.”
“Can you ship some wedding dresses to North Carolina, like overnight tonight, and throw in some cocktail dresses for me?”
“Of course. What’s going on?”
“Cameron’s brother is getting married and there’s a problem, so I’m helping out.”
“Of course. That’s very sweet of you, Sierra. Text me the shipping address and I’ll go pull some now. What size is the bride?”
“She’s about five feet five inches and I would say she’s about a size 6.”
“Perfect.”
“Oh, Paul? It’s an outdoor reception. Keep that in mind.”
“Will do, doll. Toodles.”
I took in a deep breath as we pulled in the driveway. “A couple more calls, and then I’m all yours.” I smiled.
“You better mean that.”
“Promise on my Prada.”
I pulled up my contacts one more time and dialed Paula St. Hue. Her company supplied the tents, tables, linens, and chairs for events. They were a huge client of Adams Advertising and she owed me a favor.
“Paula, it’s Sierra. How are you?”
“I’m good, Sierra. How are you doing?”
“Great. I need a favor. Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t you have a huge warehouse in Knoxville?”
“Why, yes, we do. It’s our second largest.”
“Perfect. I need about eighteen tables, 150 chairs, and two large white tents. It’s for a wedding over in Robbinsville, NC. I’ll text you the address. If you can have them here by Friday, I’ll be a happy woman.”
“Consider it done. I’ll call the warehouse now.”
“Thank you, Paula. I appreciate it.”