He couldn’t wait to see her and the boys on Saturday.
Chapter Nine
At the end of a very long second day at work, Sierra fell into the couch, and put her feet up on the coffee table. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. At last she could take a break, hang out with the kids, maybe watch a TV show after dinner.
“Long day?” Amusement filled her mother’s voice.
She opened her eyes and stared up at her mom. “It’s only been two days and I’m exhausted.” She never expected Mason’s phone call to lead to an hour-long phone interview with Marissa feeling out her strengths, weaknesses, and whether or not she was up for the demanding job. She hadn’t sugarcoated the workload or sheer number of clients she represented, but Sierra hadn’t been prepared for the unrelenting pace. Of course, she had a learning curve. Once she mastered her duties things would be easier. Until then, though, trying to do everything perfectly without making any major mistakes or making Mason look bad for recommending her was exhausting.
“You’ll settle in and learn the routine,” Dede said.
“I know, it’s just I don’t want to screw this up. It’s a great job. A dream job. And the pay . . . Wow!” She never expected to find anything that paid so well. Not to start. And now she wouldn’t have to rely on her mom to bail her out. She had some financial breathing room.
Sierra didn’t mind working her way up, but starting at this level, it came with an expectation that you were the best. She hoped she was up to it.
She already loved Marissa. She didn’t want to disappoint her, either.
“How were the boys this afternoon?” Her mother had agreed to pick them up after school for now. They both wanted to give the boys stability and familiarity.
“They were great. I love having them to myself for a couple hours. I get to spoil them.”
“If it’s too much . . .”
“Nonsense. They’re my grandkids. This is why I got old.” Her mother chuckled.
So did Sierra. “Thanks, Mom. It makes me feel better to know they’re with you.”
“Don’t forget Heather is expecting you tonight for dinner. You better get a move on.”
She forgot her mom had a thing at the country club and Heather wanted the kids to come over to play with Hallee so they could get to know each other better.
“I can’t wait to see her place.”
“It’s really cute. You’ll love it.”
“Don’t forget the boys and I are going over to Mason’s place tomorrow.”
Her mother’s eyes twinkled. “I heard he went down and spoke to Marissa personally about that job for you.”
Sierra hadn’t known that until Marissa mentioned it, saying how out of character it was for Mason to see her in person instead of making a phone call. “I appreciate that he went out of his way to help me. I really needed the job and the income.” When Marissa told her the base salary, plus the size of the bonus she could earn for bringing in new clients, Sierra thought it was a joke. But no. The money would allow her to pay off her debt and hopefully buy a small house for her and the boys. Not just yet, but sooner than she thought possible. Of course, her mom would help with the down payment if she needed it, but she hoped to settle the Napa property and avoid having to ask her mom for help.
Dede patted her leg. “I’m just saying he obviously likes you.”
“We’ve been friends for years.”
“Timing is everything.”
She played dumb. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re single. He’s single. One and one makes two.” Her mom was having too much fun with this. The sparkle in her eyes made Sierra smile.
A romantic at heart, her mother couldn’t help herself.
“You’re always looking for love.”
Mirth turned to a serious look in her mother’s eyes. “You deserve to be loved, Sierra. Don’t forget that while you’re raising your children and working to make a good life for them. You want them to have everything. Don’t leave yourself out.”
“I’ve got a lot on my plate right now.” She thought about Mason inviting them over for horseback riding and a football game. She deserved to have some fun, something good in her life when for so long it felt like she’d been treading water, just trying to stay afloat in her life instead of really living it.
“This is your chance to reinvent your life. Take it, Sierra. Figure out what you want, what really makes you happy. Leave the past behind.”
“I’m trying.” She really was, but David’s odd behavior and that damn loan still haunted her. Maybe once she figured out what he needed that money for, she’d let it go, no matter if it was good or bad. At least, she’d know the truth and be able to move on.
Chapter Ten
“Sierra is having dinner at Heather’s place tonight.” Amy waited for her husband to look up from his phone.
He didn’t. “Are you going over there to join them?”
“I wasn’t invited. Mom told me about it.”
“Didn’t you see Sierra earlier in the week for a playdate with the kids?” He didn’t glance at her even once.
She didn’t see what that had to do with anything. “Why are they getting together without me? Why not make it a big family thing?”
Rex sighed and finally made eye contact for the first time since he walked in the door an hour ago. “Heather’s place is small. I’m not sure we could all pack into her place.”
“We could have had a barbecue in the backyard.”
“Maybe that’s not what she had in mind. She hasn’t seen her sister in nearly a year. Maybe she wants some time with Sierra, just the two of them.”
Amy gritted her teeth and wondered if they were over there talking behind her back, sharing secrets like they did when they were kids.
Rex sighed. “If it bothers you so much, call Heather and invite yourself over to join them.”
“Yeah, right.”
He eyed her, grinning. “You know you want to. You hate being left out.”
“What does that mean?”
The smile disappeared. “You can’t stand it. If there’s something going on at school, in town, with your family, you need to be in the middle of it.”
Her shoulders and neck tensed. “That’s not true.”
Rex tapped his finger on the color-coded calendar hanging on the pantry cupboard next to him. “Really? There’s not a single day on the calendar that you don’t have something scheduled. You take on too much. You should scale back, have some time for yourself. Maybe then you wouldn’t fall into bed every night exhausted.”
Her defenses went up and she attacked without thinking. “It’s not like you ever want to do anything with me.”
He stuffed his phone in his pocket and pinned her in his gaze, glanced at the calendar, then back at her. “You’ve made it clear you don’t have time for me. When I ask you to do something, it’s always P.J. has baseball, or Emma has ballet, some class project, or . . . I don’t know, a bake sale that requires you to make a thousand cookies.”
“You’re the one who plays golf every Saturday and most Sundays.”