Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
A FEW DAYS LATER
S ierra
I hadn’t stopped thinking about my mother since she was at our home. Our conversation plagued me, and I had a lot of time to think about things.
Ellie was home from school because Christmas vacation had started. Jack told me to stay home with her, and he’d manage without me at the office. His office party was tomorrow, and I needed to find a dress to wear, which Jack willingly gave me his credit card and told me to buy whatever I wanted.
After shopping at Saks and finding the perfect holiday dress, we climbed into the Escalade.
“Home, Sierra?” Eric asked.
“No, Eric. Take me to Sweet Sensations Bakery. I’m sure you already have the address.”
“I do.” He smiled.
Opening the door to the shop, the smell of freshly baked goods filled the air—but not just any ordinary smell. The scent of Christmas. Ellie ran over to the cases where the cupcakes were and placed both her hands on the glass, pressing her nose against the case.
“Please, don’t touch the glass, Ellie.” I pulled her away.
“I want a cupcake.”
“I’ll buy you one before we leave. Excuse me,” I said to one of the associates behind the counter. “Is Jeanine in?”
“She’s in the back. I’ll go get her.”
“Thank you.”
“Sierra?” My mother walked out from the back, wiping her hands.
“Hi.”
“This is a nice surprise. And who is this beautiful little girl?”
“I’m Ellie.” She extended her hand.
“Hi, Ellie. I’m Jeanine.” My mother lightly shook her hand.
“This is Jack’s daughter.”
“She’s lovely. What are you doing here?”
“Can we talk in private?”
“Of course. Maddy, can you take Ellie in the back and show her around the kitchen?”
“Sure. Come on, Ellie.”
“We can talk in my office,” my mother said as I followed her.
“I had some time to think, and I kind of understand why you did what you did,” I nervously spoke.
“You do?”
“You were in a bad situation and had no one else. You were afraid for my life. I can’t fault you for that. And honestly, I’m not sure if I wouldn’t have done the same thing if someone threatened my child. I just wished you would have looked harder.”
“I tried, Sierra. I really did,” her voice was pleading.
“Jack and I started a new chapter of our lives this holiday season, and one thing is missing.”
“What’s that?”
“The fact that I don’t know how to bake Christmas cookies or anything at all. I want Ellie to have the memory of us baking cookies during the holidays. It’s a tradition I want to start. Her mother abandoned her before Thanksgiving. She brought her to Jack’s and took off to travel with some guy from Seattle.”
“Oh.” My mother looked down.
“She’s a shit mother for that alone. I was hoping that maybe you could come over and teach Ellie and me how to bake Christmas cookies.”
She cupped her face in her hands as tears emerged in her eyes.
“Yes. Yes. I would love to.”
“I thought maybe it could be the start of, you know, maybe getting to know each other better. I’m not going to lie, Mom. It will take a lot of time to develop a relationship.”
“I know, but it’s a start. I can come over Saturday afternoon, and we can start.”
“Saturday afternoon will be great.” I smiled.
We returned to the front, and Ellie picked out the cupcake she wanted.
“How much?” I reached into my purse.
“Nothing. It’s on me.” My mother smiled.
“Thanks.”
“Thank you,” Ellie said.
“You’re welcome, sweet girl.”
We climbed in the back of the Escalade, and Eric looked at me.
“Well?”
“She’s coming over Saturday to teach Ellie and me how to bake Christmas cookies.”
“Excellent, Sierra.” He grinned.
“Do me a favor, Eric. Don’t tell Jack you drove us here today. I’ll tell him when I’m ready.”
“No worries, Sierra. My lips are sealed.”
Jack arrived home with Chinese food for dinner. I really needed to learn how to cook.
“How was your day?” He kissed my lips.
“It was good. I found a dress for the party.”
“Excellent. How much did it cost me?” A smirk crossed his sexy lips.
“Only three hundred dollars.” I smiled.
“Wow. I got off cheap.” He winked.
“Daddy! Daddy!” Ellie ran into the kitchen. “Guess where the elf was today?”
“Where was he?” He picked her up.
“Hanging from the Christmas tree! I think he was trying to decorate it more.”
“That silly elf.” He tickled her. “Let’s eat. I’m starving.”
As we were eating, Ellie decided to open her mouth about the cupcake she got from the bakery.
“Daddy, I got a cupcake today.”
“You did? From where?”
“A bakery that Sierra took me to. It was so good, and the lady was so nice. I got to see their kitchen where they bake all the stuff.”
“Is that so?” He cocked his head, staring at me.
“We’ll talk about it later, Jack.”
“You bet we will.”
After we ate and cleaned up, we put Ellie to bed, went downstairs, where the fireplace was on, and sat on the couch, staring at the beautifully lit tree.
“Are you going to tell me about your visit with your mother?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you were going there?”
“It was a last-minute decision.”
“And? How did it go?”
“It went fine. She’s coming over Saturday to teach Ellie and me how to bake Christmas cookies.”
Really?” His brow arched.
“Yes.”
“I’m proud of you, sweetheart. Listen. I got to thinking. We haven’t shopped for Ellie yet for Christmas. You said you had a plan, but you failed to tell me your plan. What are we getting her?”
“You’ll see tomorrow. We’re going to the store during our lunch hour. You don’t have any meetings scheduled. Or at least, you better not and forgot to tell me.”
“I don’t.” I chuckled. “Which store are we going to?”
“You’ll see.” I smiled.
“Why are you being so secretive?”
“I’m not, Jack.”
“Then tell me which store.”
“No. You’ll see tomorrow.”
“We don’t need to buy her too much since you already bought her all those toys that have filled the playroom.”
“I know.” I silently smiled.
“ W here to, Jack?” Eric asked as we climbed into the back of the Escalade.
“I have no clue. Ask Sierra. She’s in charge.”
“The American Girl Place, Eric.”
“Ha.” He laughed.
“What’s that?” Jack asked.
“You’ll see.”
“For fuck’s sake, Sierra. Why are you being so weird about it?”
“I’m not, Jack. It’s just a store.”
We walked into the store, and I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw Jack’s eyes widen.
“What is this?”
“It’s a doll store. I got the idea when you made me go shopping on Black Friday, and I saw a little girl holding one of the dolls. Of course, I had no idea what it was, so when I asked the mom, she told me it was an American Girl. She acted like I was crazy because I didn’t know. Anyway, I looked it up online and fell in love. Over here.” I grabbed his hand. “Since she’s four, we’re buying her a Bitty Baby.”
“A what?” His brow furrowed.
“A Bitty Baby. This, right here.” I pointed. We’ll get the blonde one with the blue eyes. Oh my gosh, this one comes with a play set.” I grabbed the box and looked at it.
“A hundred dollars for a doll? Are they crazy?” Jack spewed.
“Be quiet. I didn’t say they were cheap. Now, we need some things to go with her new baby.”
“Like what?”
I led him over to the accessories. We’ll need the crib, the carriage, the changing table, and the travel seat. Oh my God, look how cute the high chair is, Jack. We need that, too. And we need these bottles and these diapers. Oh! That potty chair is adorable.”
“I’m putting my foot down on the potty chair. No child needs a potty chair for her doll. That is ridiculous.”
“Fine, Mr. Scrooge. Then we’ll buy this food set, and—oh, look at that cute shopping cart! She can pretend to take her baby grocery shopping.”
“I have an idea. Why don’t you have her bring her doll to the grocery store when you go and let her put her baby in the cart?”
“Why don’t you stop being Mr. Grinch and just go along with making this the best Christmas ever for your daughter?” I cocked my head.
Another man walked by and placed his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “I feel you, man. I totally feel you. My wife is just as crazy.” He walked away.
Hearing him refer to me as Jack’s wife made me smile.
“And we’ll take this outfit, and this one, and oh my God, this one.”
“Don’t you think we should save some of this stuff for her birthday?”
I started laughing.
“Why are you laughing?” he asked.
“Come with me.” I grabbed his hand and led him over to the American Girl dolls. “See these dolls? She’s getting one of these for her birthday that looks like her, along with all these accessories. In fact, we’re giving her a birthday party here with all her little school friends, and you’re coming. I already have it all planned.”
“Lord, help me.” He shook his head.
When the sales associate told Jack the total, he looked at me, and I shrugged.
“Remember, she said she wanted Santa to bring her mother home for Christmas,” I said.
He sighed, handing the sales associate his credit card.
“See, now she’s all done, and we no longer have to worry about it. Good plan, right?”
“Sure. Eric, help me load all of this into the back of the Escalade.”
“Good God, Jack.”
“Don’t. Just don’t.” He shook his head. “Sierra, where are we keeping all of this so Ellie doesn’t see it?”
“In one of the spare rooms with locks on the doors. Eric can drop it off and lock it up after he drops us off at the office.”
“You heard her, Eric.” Jack smiled.