Chapter Twenty
After finding out about Sierra, I confronted my mother. She admitted she knew Grant had a woman on the side. She said that once during an argument, he even mentioned a kid, but that it was a very emotional time with her and my dad, Kyle, the divorce, and Grant rejecting me—which she’s still grateful for to this day. She had no idea if he was being truthful about having another child, or just spiteful. And that over time, she just forgot. She said it was unfair of her and apologized, asking me to forgive her.
I did. Because she’s been the most amazing mom. And well, she was trying to protect me.
But now, I can only smile. I have a big sister.
Sierra and I sit and drink our third cup of coffee. She’s fabulous. She grew up in Chicago but left home right after high school graduation to live in a van in Colorado with a friend. There, she learned to ski, and worked her way from hostess to lift operator to ski instructor in three years. Now, she follows the snow, traveling to the southern hemisphere during our summer to be an instructor in places like New Zealand and Chile. As it’s late April and the season just ended in Colorado, she’s taking a little time off before heading south.
I catch Blake watching us from his table in the corner. After joining us for the first few minutes, and presumably deciding Sierra wasn’t a threat, he excused himself to let us get to know one another and has been working away on his laptop.
That was two hours ago.
Sierra’s eyes brim with tears. “I still can’t believe it.”
I’m delighted her lips are not difficult to read. Maybe because we have the same mouth and when I was learning speechreading, I’d practice for hours a day watching myself in the mirror.
It goes beyond just the mouth. Her hair is the exact same shade as mine, albeit a bit wavier. We’re the same height. And her face, though more suntanned than mine, is stunningly familiar.
She looks down at her phone and frowns. “Can you excuse me for a minute?”
I nod, and she gets up from the table and walks outside, phone to her ear.
Blake takes the opportunity to text me.
Blake: I did a double take when meeting her. I knew at first glance that you were sisters. In fact, the resemblance is so close, in the right light, you might be able to pass for twins.
I’m not sure how I feel about that since it means we both got a lot of traits from Grant.
I look at Sierra, pacing outside the coffee shop as she chats on the phone. She looks stressed. I hope she isn’t getting bad news.
Me: I’m sorry we’re taking so long. It’s just that she’s amazing and I want to know everything about her.
Blake: Don’t be sorry. I’m fine. I’m getting some work done. And my mother says she and Maisy are having a great time at her house. Apparently, Maisy likes to play hide and seek. And believe me, with over 12,000 square feet, there are lots of places to hide.
Sierra sits down again. She’s not as happy as she was moments ago.
Me: Is everything okay?
Sierra:Sorry about that. I had to take the call. It was from my mother. She has no idea I’m here. I honestly don’t know if she knows about you. She’s never said anything to me about you or even about my dad being married before. And I didn’t want to get her into trouble.
That last sentence sends chills down my spine.
Me: Why would she get into trouble?
Her shoulders slouch and she picks at her napkin, unaware of how her body language speaks volumes.
We haven’t talked about the reason we’re sisters: Grant. We’ve talked for hours, yet neither one of us has mentioned him. I thought it was because she presumed I hated him for disowning me. Now, though, I’m wondering if there isn’t a different reason.
Me: Sierra, does Grant treat your mom the same way he treated my mom?
She reads the text, looks up, and our eyes meet. She doesn’t need to say or text the answer. It’s written all over her. I reach out, put my hand on hers, and give her an encouraging nod.
Sierra: I didn’t want to ruin our meeting by talking about him. It’s been so nice getting to know you.
Me: You won’t ruin anything. It’s okay if you want to talk. I’ll understand. If you don’t mind me asking, are your parents still together? I find that quite unbelievable if he’s doing to her what he did to my mom.
Her head lowers in shame, as if whatever is happening to her mother is her fault.
Sierra: They’ve been married a long time. My mom was very young when they got together. She has no marketable skills. She’s been a housewife and mom for twenty-six years. Even after I was gone, he didn’t want her getting a job. I promised her when I left I’d make a lot of money and someday the two of us would share a house. Whenever I bring it up, she says I’m being ridiculous. Still, I’m scrimping and saving where I can, but it’s never enough.
Me: Does she want to leave him?
Sierra: She’s never said as much. But I think it’s only to protect me. Our dad was never much of a father to me. Always gone. Never attentive. I think my mom preferred it that way. If he wasn’t around me, he’d never have the opportunity to do anything to me.
My heart sinks thinking of two sisters who lived very different childhoods.
Me: She does have marketable skills, you know. 26 years of cooking, cleaning house, mending clothes, doing laundry, and raising a child could get her a job as a housekeeper or a nanny.
Sierra: She won’t come out and say it, but I think she’s afraid of leaving him.
Me: She should be, based on the stories I’ve heard from my mother.
Sierra: I’m going to help her. One day, when I’ve saved enough, I’m going to get her out. Even though she didn’t ask, and even though she doesn’t believe it will happen, it will. I have to.
Me: I’m sorry. I wish I could help.
She wipes a tear. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I went and spoiled this.”
Me: You spoiled nothing. In fact, we should do this again. How long will you be staying in New York?
Sierra: A week maybe. I have a few friends in the city I intend to visit, but I mainly came because of you. I can’t tell you how happy I was to get your text. I booked a plane ticket that very night.
I instantly feel guilty that I have a fat bank account and a huge inheritance and she’s struggling to save money to get her mom out of a terrible situation. Yet she spent money on a plane ticket and most likely an overpriced hotel to see me.
Me: I have an extra bedroom. Come stay with me.
Sierra: I can’t put you out.
Me: You wouldn’t be. I work a lot, so you could take the train to town and see your friends. We could spend all weekend together. We’ll invite Beth and have a girls’ night. It’ll be fun.
Her face lights up. “Could you teach me sign language?”
I smile and nod.
Sierra: My hotel is just around the corner. I can be packed and back here in thirty minutes.
Me: What are you waiting for? Go?
She jumps out of her chair so quickly it almost falls over. As soon as she’s out the door, Blake joins me.
“Where did she run off to?” he asks.
“To get her stuff,” I sign. “She’s going to stay with me this week.”
His eyebrows go skyward. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
I pin him with a scolding stare. “She’s my sister.”
He holds his hands out in surrender. “Right. I know. I just want you safe.”
“You protecting me?” I sign with a crooked grin.
“I guess I am.”
Me: It’s just for the week. She’ll be flying off to New Zealand soon.
I spend the next half hour telling Blake everything I’ve learned about Sierra. Including what she told me about Grant and her mom, Tara.
“You have to be careful,” he says. “What if he finds out?”
Me: What if he does? The man wants nothing to do with me. This isn’t about him. It’s about Sierra and me.
Sierra appears with a suitcase and a smile. She’s as excited about staying with me as I am about hosting her. We load into Blake’s car and drive back to Calloway Creek.
Sierra and I text the entire way.