Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
J ack
I called Eric and told him to pull the car around. What did Sierra mean by saying that Claire was there but left without Ellie? Grabbing my briefcase, I flew out of my office and out of the building. Climbing into the Escalade, I told Eric to take me home.
Flying up the steps of my home, I opened the door.
“Sierra!” I shouted, setting my briefcase down.
“She’s in here.” Sierra pointed to the dining room.
Walking into the room, I saw my daughter sitting at the table, coloring.
“Ellie?” I walked over to her.
“Hi, Daddy.”
I kissed the top of her head and looked at Sierra as she stood there with her head cocked.
“I found this in her backpack.” She handed me an envelope.
“Ellie, be a good girl and keep coloring. I’ll be right back. Follow me,” I said to Sierra.
Taking the envelope to the kitchen, I noticed the wine bottle was out and an empty glass of wine on the island.
“You were drinking?” I glared at Sierra.
“You bet I was. Do you think you’re the only one shocked by this situation? Really, Jack? You have a daughter and didn’t tell me? What the fuck?”
“Nobody knows about her except Daniel.” I opened the envelope and took out the folded piece of paper.
Jack,
I tried to call you for a week, but you couldn’t be bothered to answer, so you left me no choice but to do it this way. I can’t do it anymore. I love our daughter so much, but I feel like I can’t breathe half the time. I’ve been raising her on my own for four years, and it’s too much sometimes. I’m not mother material, and I know in my heart you’re not father material. You’ve already proved that. It’s not fair to our daughter to have two parents who are incredibly selfish people. But you are her father, whether you want to be or not. Now, it’s your turn to care for our daughter. I want more out of life than being a single mother. I know you’ll take care of Elianna, or at least the nanny you hire will. I’m not sure if she’s better off with you or not, but it’s a chance I’m willing to take for my own sanity. Tell our daughter I love her and will never stop thinking of her.
Claire
“Goddamnit!” I shouted, throwing the letter on the island.
Sierra picked up the letter and read it. “I don’t think she has plans on coming back,” she said.
“No shit.” I stared at her, gripping the edge of the island. “What the hell am I supposed to do?”
“How do I know? I still can’t believe you have a kid.”
“Fuck!” I lowered my head. “I need a drink.” I left the kitchen and walked over to the bar in the living room.
“I told you this situation warranted alcohol,” Sierra said, following behind me. “Claire said she went to your office first, and when they told her you were across town at a meeting, she came here.”
“That child barely knows me,” I said, tipping the glass to my lips.
“She knows you enough to call you dad. When was the last time you saw her?”
“I don’t know. Six months ago. She and her mother lived in Pennsylvania, and I had a meeting there to discuss some property.”
“Oh. How very kind of you to visit your kid only because you were there for a meeting.”
“Don’t start with me, Sierra.” I pointed at her. “It’s a complicated situation. I ensured Claire had plenty of money to care for Ellie by making monthly deposits into her account.”
“Because money replaces a child.”
“I said don’t start with me!” I shouted.
“Okay. Well, since you’re home. I’m leaving.”
“Hold on a second. You aren’t going anywhere. I need you here.”
“For what?” Her brows furrowed.
“To help me with her.”
“Ha. I don’t know the first thing about kids, Jack.”
“I don’t either! Just until I can hire a nanny.”
“Yeah, no. I’ll see you tomorrow at the office. Good luck.” She began to walk away.
“Then you’re fired. You are employed as my assistant and are to do what I tell you. If you can’t do that, you’re fired. And I know damn well you need this job.”
“I was hired to do office work, not care for a kid—your kid. She’s your responsibility, Jack.”
“Then I guess you’re out of a job, Miss Knight. As for the remaining money you owe me, I will have my lawyer file a garnishment of wages against you, and when you find another job, the payments will come out of your check. So, you better find another job that pays you more than I am.”
She stood and stared at me. I could see the anger in her eyes.
“Fine.” She folded her arms.
“Okay. Good.” I finished my bourbon and poured another.
“Daddy, I’m done coloring,” Elianna walked into the room. “I want my mommy.”
“Your mommy’s gone and left you with me.”
“I want her!” She cried.
“Do something.” I looked at Sierra.
“What do you want me to do? She’s your kid, Jack.”
Sighing, I set down my drink, scooped Ellie up, and took her to the couch.
“You’re going to stay here for a while, just until your mom comes back.”
“No. I want my mommy!”
I held onto her tightly as she tried to push me away.
“Hey, Ellie. Let’s go take your suitcase up to your room,” Sierra said. “Which bedroom is hers?” Sierra looked at me.
“She doesn’t have a room here. I guess she can stay in one of the guest rooms on the fourth floor.”
“She’s four. And if I recall correctly, the third floor, where your bedroom is, has an extra room and bathroom. You shouldn’t put her on a floor by herself, Jack.”
“Fine.”
Sierra grabbed Ellie’s suitcase, and we went up to the third floor.
“This is your new bedroom,” I told Ellie, setting her down.
“It’s plain for a little girl,” Sierra spoke.
“Did I know Claire would drop her off and then take off?” I cocked my head at her.
“I want to take a nap.” Ellie climbed onto the bed and lay down.
Walking over to the chair, I grabbed the blanket and covered her with it.
“We’ll be downstairs when you wake up.” I ran my hand down her hair.
Sierra and I left the room and went downstairs.
“You’ll need to go home and pack a bag.”
“For what?”
“You’re staying here for a few days. I’ll need your help with her at night and in the morning. Eric will drive you.”
“Seriously, Jack? You’re that incompetent that you can’t deal with your own kid by yourself?”
“I suppose I am in the father department. Go on. Eric is outside. Hurry and get back before she wakes up.”
Sierra shook her head and walked out the front door. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I called Daniel.
“Where are you, Jack?” he answered.
“Home. Claire was here. She left Ellie with me and took off.”
“What? Are you serious?”
“Yeah. She showed up when Sierra was here after running errands for me. Claire left some bullshit letter about how she can’t do it anymore and feels like she can’t breathe half the time. That selfish bitch.”
“Hold on a second. Are you saying that Claire took off for good?”
“It sounds like it.” I sighed.
“What are you going to do? You don’t know the first thing about raising a kid.”
“I sent Sierra home to pack a bag. She’ll be staying at the house for a few days and helping me out until I can hire a nanny.”
“Does Sierra know anything about kids?” he asked.
“She said she doesn’t. But she’s a woman. Don’t they all have that maternal instinct? Well, except for Claire.”
“Man, Jack. I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe Claire left Ellie right at the holidays.”
“Shit. That’s right. Now, my holiday hell just got worse. Fuck!” I rubbed the back of my neck. “I have to go. I’ll be working from home the rest of the day.”
“Good luck, my friend. If you need anything, call me.”
“Thanks, Daniel. I’ll talk to you later.”
I ended the call and set my phone down. Running my hand down my face, I closed my eyes and prayed when I opened them, this was all a nightmare. Shit. My poker game was tomorrow night. I sent a group text to my friends telling them something came up and I had to cancel. Then, I called Eric.
“Hello, Jack.”
“Did you drop Sierra off at her apartment yet?”
“Yes. She’s up there now packing a bag. We should be back to your house in about a half hour or so.”
“Okay. Thank you, Eric.”
I wasn’t sure if having Sierra stay here was a good idea, but I didn’t have a choice. I needed help, and she was the closest thing to it. I’d just have to ensure I behaved when she was here.