“Dad, I never met anyone like her. She didn’t take any shit from me and made sure I knew how lucky I was to be alive. Pat kept pushing me to get better and get help for myself.”
“Glad someone was able to make you wake up because I sure couldn’t.” Her father sounded sad and bitter.
She took hold of his hand. “I know and I am listening now. I think it worked with her because she was a stranger, someone who was mean when I needed it, who I could not manipulate to feel sorry for me. She was my last hope because I couldn’t listen nor wouldn’t listen to what you and everyone else was trying to say to me until the accident.
“When I woke up in the hospital, I was finally ready to listen, Dad, but it was too late with you and Jacob.”
Her father nodded and gazed at her with continued sadness in his eyes; he cleared his throat. “Were you ever going to come back if Kaitlyn didn’t need you?”
“Yes, eventually. I wanted to face everyone that I hurt. I needed to do this to continue to grow and make up for what I had done even if none of you wanted to see me after. I owed it to myself and everyone else to try.”
“You have been going to AA meetings?”
“Yes, I have my one-year sobriety coin.” She declared proudly. If it wasn’t in her room, she’d have presented it to him.
Her dad nodded his head. “Good.” The tinny sound of a watch beep drew his attention, and he stood up. “I have to go, Sierra.”
She followed him to the door, a gamut of emotions pouring through her. Though it had been a good chat, she hoped he wasn’t going to walk away from her again.
“Do you want to get lunch some other time?” Her heart raced when she managed to ask her question.
He nodded and smiled. “I would love that.”
She smiled, happy that her father was willing to give her a chance. But then a frown passed over his face. “I have a charity gala I must attend; they are raising money for leukemia, and Iwas wondering if you wanted to go. I will be asking Jacob as well.”
Sierra froze. Being able to return and make amends with her family still kept her out of the public eye, so stepping back into it after everything that happened—she wasn’t sure if that was a good thing.
Her father must have noticed the hesitation written all over her face “It’s okay, never mind.”
“Just let me think about it, okay?” He nodded, then turned the knob on the door. “When is it, Dad?” She blurted out, not wanting him to leave disappointed.
He looked a bit sheepish. “This Friday coming.”
“Okay, I will have to get back to you. The hospital is arranging the surgery soon, though the exact date and time is still being decided.”
He frowned. “Yes, let me know because I will back out of it. I want to be there for both you and Kaitlyn.”
“Okay, thanks Dad.”
He leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead and then walked out the door. Sierra closed it behind him, her hands trembling from her emotions.
Chapter 20
Jacob opened his door to his hotel suite, listening to his daughter chatter happily about her day and what she and Sierra had been doing. His mood suddenly light because she sounded like her old self, more alert and vibrant since Sierra had returned and he didn’t know how to feel about that.
Last night, he had been wondering what they were doing at home without him. He’d been distracted throughout dinner and didn’t pay attention to most of the festivities. His thoughts were full of Kaitlyn and of Sierra. He realized he didn’t once think of Marissa until Kaitlyn mentioned her in the call.
His daughter excitedly announced that she and Mommy were going on a private picnic outside in the backyard and that she’d gotten Grandpa to find her an old projector and screen for them to watch movies on later. Concern thoughts of Kaitlyn being outside in her condition overwhelmed him, then turned to anger because he was now put in the position of being the bad guy.
He spotted Colin standing by the big windows of the hotel room with a cup of coffee in his hand, staring absently out the window. Jacob paused a few feet away.
Colin turned when he heard Jacob say, “Okay munchkin, Daddy loves you. Can I speak to your mom for a second?”
Jacob glared at Colin, a none-too-subtle warning for him to mind his business. Though Colin did turn back to the window, the angle of his head suggested he was going to eavesdrop. Not in the position to threaten his sibling, Jacob rolled his eyes and prepared to lower his voice.
“Hi Jacob, how is Vegas going?”
His heart skipped a beat at hearing her say his name. Her greeting sounded warm and pleased to be talking to him. He like hearing her this way, which spiked his anger because he had a girlfriend and he didn’t need to be rekindling anything with his ex-wife. His tone now sharp, “Sierra, I don’t like being made to look like the bad guy here, but I do not want you taking Kaitlyn outside. It is cold, and she could get sick.”
