Sienna inclined her head to study her mother, thinking about her encounter with the woman on her way home from Cole’s. “What happened to you in Crimson?”
“I don’t know what you mean. I arrived this morning and—”
“When I was a kid,” Sienna clarified. “I’ve talked to several people who remember you and—”
“I changed.”
“That could be the understatement of the century. Going from brunette to redhead or having bangs cut is a change. You left Crimson a party girl and made yourself into some sort of Grace Kelly or Jackie O. wannabee.”
“That’s ridiculous. I never wanted to be anyone but myself.”
“Who are youreally?” Sienna stepped closer, and her mother looked away.
“I’m a woman who fell in love with the wrong man and wanted to take my children away from the mess of our lives.”
“You walked away so easily. You never drink and your idea of a party is a string quartet and cucumber sandwiches.”
“This is who I am.”
“But not who you were. I didn’t realize the reputation you had here. I thought it was Dad.”
Her mother’s mouth pressed into a thin line. “Declan Crenshaw is your father by biology only. Do not call himDadto me.” She practically spit the word. “It’s disrespectful to your stepfather, who’s taken care of you all these years.”
“Financially,” Sienna muttered.
“Excuse me?”
“Craig Pierce has taken care of me financially, and I’m grateful to him. I always will be. But neither of us should pretend he has any real affection for me. He wanted you, and I was part of the package.”
“That’s not...” Her mother broke off because it was the truth and they both knew it. “Declan doesn’t care about you either.”
“He does,” Sienna argued. “Jase, too. I was just never allowed to believe it.”
“You don’t know everything, Sienna.”
“Because you’d never tell me anything. Dad has talked to me plenty, and he’s apologized for the mistakes he made.”
Dana let out a derisive laugh. “He hasn’t told you the truth then.”
Sienna threw up her hands. “Are you going to enlighten me?”
“I’m here to take you home.” Her mother clasped her hands together in front of her chest. “We had dinner with Kevin the other night. He told us you’d moved your things out of the condo.”
“I had Jennie do it. She’s keeping them in her parents’ garage until I get back.”
“It was a hasty decision. Kevin wants another chance.”
“He cheated on me,” Sienna shouted. “Then blamed me for not being able to keep his junk in his pants.”
“Don’t be crude.”
“You know what I discovered? It’s not me. I’m not frigid. In fact, I had the best sex of my life just this morning and a big, fat...” She made the shape of an O with her fingers. “I had no complaints about my part in things.”
“Sienna.”
“It wasn’t my fault,” she yelled, then pressed a hand to her mouth. The hammering from the other room had stopped. Color flooded her cheeks as she imagined the workers listening to her outburst.
Paige breezed into the room, smiling widely but looking about as uncomfortable as Sienna felt at the moment. “Who’s ready for coffee?” she asked brightly. “One tablespoon of creamer.” She held out a mug to Sienna’s mother. “Not a drop more.”
Dana didn’t take the mug. “I’m going to return to my room and gather my things,” she said, her lips barely moving. “Paige, I believe you were correct in your assessment that I’d be better suited to a hotel in town. Sienna, we’ll talk when you’ve calmed down. This behavior is unbecoming and not like you. Crimson has a bad effect on the women in our family. We leave for Denver the day after tomorrow. I’ll have my travel agent make the flight arrangements.”
Sienna clenched her hands into fists, focusing on drawing air in and out of her lungs. The hammering resumed, and her mother turned and walked up the stairs.
“Okay then,” Paige said cheerily, moving into Sienna’s line of sight. “I think that went well.”
