Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
S ierra
As I was throwing my things in my suitcase, I Facetimed Becca.
“Hello.” She grinned. “Are you going on a trip or something?” Her brows furrowed when she saw my suitcase on the bed.
“Yeah. A trip to Jack’s house. You’re never going to believe what I’m about to tell you.”
“What happened?”
“He has a four-year-old daughter named Elianna. Her mother, Claire, dumped the kid at Jack’s and took off.”
“What do you mean she ‘took off’? For how long?”
“I think permanently. She left him some letter about needing to find herself.”
“And you’re staying at his house?”
“He’s making me, or I’m fired. He said he needs help with her until he can hire a nanny.”
“But you don’t know shit about kids, Sierra.”
“I know that, and neither does he.” I rolled my eyes. “So, I’m staying at his house for a few days.”
“He actually threatened to fire you?”
“Yep. So, I don’t have a choice.”
“I foresee some more great sex coming your way.” A smirk crossed her lips.
“Not happening. I’m done with that asshole.”
“We’ll see.” She grinned. “Anyway, I have to go. My next client just walked in.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to you later.”
After zipping my suitcase, I sat on the bed and stared at the wall as memories of my past flooded my mind. Placing my hands over my face, I took in a deep breath and tried to focus on something else. Standing up, I took my suitcase, rolled it behind me, and out the door.
When I returned to Jack’s house, he took my suitcase to the fourth floor.
“You can sleep in this room.” He set my suitcase down.
“Why not the other bedroom?” My brow arched.
“What’s wrong with this one?”
“The other one is bigger.”
“Fine.” He picked up my suitcase and took it to the other room.
“Is she still sleeping?” I asked.
“Yeah.”
“Mommy!” We heard Ellie scream.
We ran down to her room, where she was sitting up, crying her eyes out. Suddenly, my heart started racing, and I couldn’t breathe. I gripped my chest and slid down the wall until my butt touched the ground.
“Sierra, what’s wrong?” Jack ran over and gripped my arm.
“I can’t breathe,” I struggled to say the words.
“You’re having a panic attack.” He gripped my shoulders. “Look at me. Slow, deep breaths. Name five objects in this room.”
I stared at him blankly momentarily as my heart raced out of my chest.
“Five objects, Sierra. Name them now.”
“Bed, dresser, nightstand, area rug, chair.” My breathing began to return to normal.
“Good. That’s good. Better?” he asked softly, our eyes locked on each other.
I nodded as he helped me up, and Ellie sat on the bed, staring at us.
“What was that all about?” Jack asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, Jack.”
He glanced at his watch. “It’s almost dinner time. Are you hungry, Ellie?”
“I want my mom,” she whined.
My heart broke for her, not only because her mother left her with her father, who was a stranger to her, but because that poor little girl would be fucked up for life.
“Let’s take her out to eat,” I said.
“You mean to a restaurant?” Jack asked.
“Yes.” My brows furrowed at him.
“What if she misbehaves?”
“Then we’ll deal with it. Do you want to go to a restaurant for dinner?” I asked Ellie.
She nodded as she gripped her baby doll.
“I’ll call Per Se and see if I can reserve a table for us,” Jack said.
“I don’t think Per Se is the kind of restaurant to take her to.”
“Then where do you suggest?” he asked.
“Ruby’s Diner is a couple of blocks over. We can go there.”
“You can’t be serious,” Jack said.
“They’ll have a kids menu. Let’s get your boots on.” I smiled as I picked Ellie up from the bed and took her downstairs.
We entered Ruby’s Diner and were seated in a booth. The server walked over with her notepad and took our drink order while we looked at the menu.
“What does she like to eat?” I stared at Jack.
“How do I know?”
“Right. Ellie, what do you want to eat?” I asked her.
“Chicken and fries. And ketchup.”
After placing our food order, I opened the two packs of crayons provided by the diner and told Ellie to color me a pretty picture.
“I sent a group text to everyone canceling the poker game tomorrow night,” Jack said.
“Poker game? You were having people over to play poker?”
“Yes. My friends and I get together once a month and play.”
“I would never have taken you for a poker player.” A smirk crossed my lips.
“No?” He chuckled.
“No. Not at all.” I laughed, shaking my head.
Jack looked at Ellie, who was sitting quietly and coloring.
“She looks like you.” I smiled.
“Yeah. I know.”
The server walked over and set our food down.
“Thank you,” Jack said. “Ellie, what do you say?”
“Thank you.” She looked up at the server.
“You’re welcome. You three are such a beautiful family.” She smiled. “And your child is so well-behaved.”
“Oh, she’s not—” I began to say.
“Thank you,” Jack said, cutting me off. As soon as the server walked away, Jack looked at me. “There’s no need to tell strangers our business. Let them believe what they will.”
“Ketchup. Ketchup.” Ellie bounced up and down.
Reaching over and grabbing the bottle, I squirted some on her plate. After we ate, we took Ellie back home.
“Can I take a bath?” she asked.
Jack looked at me.
“You sure can. Come on.” I smiled, holding out my hand to her.
I took her upstairs and started the bath water, pouring some peach-scented bubble bath under the stream I’d brought from my apartment. As I was bathing her, Jack walked in, leaning against the doorframe with his hands tucked tightly into his pockets.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
“Look at all the bubbles.” Ellie laughed.
“I see them. It smells good in here,” Jack said.
“Come on, Ellie. It's time to get out.” I helped her out of the tub and wrapped her in a large white towel, holding her against me tightly.