Sisters and Secrets

by Jennifer Ryan

  “Your sisters have always been important to you. You guys have always been really close. I’m sorry this is tearing you apart.”

  “Heather did it all on her own. She crossed a line and I’m not sure I will ever be able to forgive her for it.”

  “Maybe not now, but for the kids’ sake, I know you’ll try.” Mason had a lot of faith in her.

  She grabbed her purse and pulled out her keys. She turned back to him and gave him a half frown. “You’re right, but right now, I don’t have it in me to even look at her.” She went up on tiptoe and kissed him softly. “Thank you for understanding and being so supportive.”

  “Always.” He kissed her again, brushing his thumb across her cheek in a soft sweep as he stared into her eyes. “Bring the boys back here. Let’s just spend some time together before we’re back to work and life tomorrow.”

  “Sounds amazing. But you’re cooking dinner.”

  He smiled. “Deal.”

  They shared another quick kiss, then she turned, opened the front door, barely spared Heather a look before she said, “No,” and walked right past her and to her car.

  Heather called after her, “I just want to talk.”

  Sierra climbed into her SUV, turned it on, and pulled out of the driveway without another thought for her bitch of a sister.

  Instead she thought about what she and Mason talked about this morning. She focused on their future, not her messy past.

  It may be too fast or too soon to move in with Mason, but she didn’t care. She wanted to start the life Mason painted for her this morning with his plans to make her and the boys part of his life permanently.

  In her mind, despite what happened with David, she believed that life with Mason would be a happily-ever-after kind of love.

  She deserved that.

  And she wouldn’t let anything get in her way.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Heather stared at the back end of Sierra’s car driving away. “She hates me.”

  “Yep.” Mason didn’t sugarcoat it at all. “Right now anyway. Can you blame her?”

  “No.” She sighed and faced Mason. “That’s why I came. To apologize. To see if we can work this out.”

  “Nice try, showing up unexpectedly and forcing her to deal with you.” The sarcasm came across loud and clear. “Don’t you think she deserves some time to process all this?” Mason shook his head. “Yesterday she spent the morning memorializing David with Danny and Oliver, then she finds out he was having an affair with her sister and her niece is actually her boys’ half sister. You expect her to accept all that in less than a day?”

  “Can we talk about this inside?”

  “I’m not inviting you in without Sierra here. I won’t give her any reason to question me, especially when it comes to you.”

  “I’m not going to do anything. I just thought that maybe you and I—”

  “Stop right there. There is no you and I. Sierra and I are together. We are going to be a family. Right now, that doesn’t include you.”

  Heather’s heart sank. “She’s never going to talk to me, let alone forgive me, is she?”

  “Do you blame her if she doesn’t after what you did?”

  “I’m sorry. I really never meant to hurt her.”

  “I’m sure she didn’t even cross your mind.” The harsh statement was unfortunately mostly true. “If she did, you didn’t care enough to stop what you were doing.”

  I couldn’t stop loving David.

  Heather sighed. “I wasn’t the only one who hurt her. David did, too, but I’m the only one everyone is mad at.”

  “That’s not true. She’s devastated by what David did to her and their children. He ruined their relationship and marriage. He had everything, but he turned his back on Sierra and what they’d built together.”

  “He wasn’t happy. He wanted to be with me.”

  “Neither of those things excuses what he did or erases the hurt he’s caused. For either of you. Sierra is devastated.”

  “How do you think I feel? He’s gone. I loved him, too. I miss him, too. But I’m not allowed to show that because we weren’t supposed to be together.”

  Mason eyed her. “Do you really mean you weren’t supposed to be discovered?”

  Yes. And no.

  “He wanted to be with me.” She kept telling herself that, but couldn’t convince herself anymore that it was wholly true.

  “He was never really yours. He got caught up in something exciting and thrilling in the moment but it ultimately left him feeling bad about himself and worried that he’d lose everything over something that didn’t really mean anything to him.” She wanted to deny that. “I’ve seen it a lot. A husband cheats thinking it’s just sex. It doesn’t mean anything. He’s got no real feelings for the woman. He still loves his wife. As long as she doesn’t find out about it, it’s no big deal. But women have intuition. They know their husband better than anyone. Maybe they don’t want to see it, but they know. Sierra knew. And David sensed she knew. I bet he even let on to you that she was suspicious of him.”

  She spoke David’s worst fear. “He thought she’d take the boys from him.”

  Mason dismissed that with a shake of his head. “The courts would allow him visitation and Sierra would never keep those boys from their father because she knows they needed him in their life. I bet what David feared was losing a brilliant, loving, kind, generous woman like Sierra.”

  “He had me.”

  “And you gave him a reason to always be in your life.”

  It took her a second to understand his meaning. “Hallee wasn’t planned.”

  “Maybe not, but she sure did ensure you kept David coming back to you. He was coming back to you the night he died.”

  True. But . . . “That’s not fair.”

  “No, it’s not. Neither is what you did to Sierra.”

  “I want to make it right.” She did, because she’d lost David and she didn’t want to lose her sister, too.

  “‘Right’? What does that even mean? You can’t change what you did or that you have a child by her husband.”

  She fell in love with the wrong, right man. She had a baby with him when he couldn’t—or wouldn’t, she sadly confessed to herself—be with her.

  She never expected to be a single mom.

  She never thought she’d lose David.

  “I love Sierra, even if I’ve done a poor job of showing it. I want her to be happy. And if that is with you, then I wish you both the best.” Heather sucked in a breath. “I’m embarrassed and sorry about my behavior yesterday. I’m sorry I put you in the middle of me and Sierra. I have a lot of making up to do. It won’t be easy, but I want my sister back. I want our kids to grow up together.”

  “She’s still sorting out her feelings. I don’t know if or when she’ll be able to consider talking to you or getting the kids together.”

  Heather appreciated that he’d given up that much, but hated the way he phrased it because it implied Sierra had no intention of keeping Heather in her life. It made her sad and the guilt piled on.

  “For what it’s worth, I think you’ll be great for her and the boys.” She shrugged. “That’s all I was looking for, for me and Hallee.”

  “Look for it with someone who isn’t already with someone else.”

  “Good advice.” She meant it despite the mirth and sarcasm.

  “I hope you take it.” Mason sighed. “Look, I don’t know if this can be fixed between you and Sierra. Right now, she doesn’t want to hear anything you have to say. To her, it all sounds like excuses and empty apologies. She doesn’t want to hurt the kids. She won’t take it out on Hallee. And she doesn’t want her boys to think less of David, or even you. She’s not ready to have that talk with them. Until she is, I’m not sure she’ll be ready to hear anything you have to say about it.”

  “Understandable. I always knew I’d have to explain to Hallee about who her father was and how we fell in love. We both look bad, but I wan
t her to know that despite what David and I did, she was born out of real love. Sierra probably doesn’t want to hear that, but it’s true. I hope she can find it in her heart to understand I couldn’t turn my back on that love and as much as I regret hurting her, I am incredibly grateful to have Hallee.”

  She didn’t know how else to explain it, except that for all the bad she caused, she got something so great out of it.

  “Thank you for listening to me and being so good to Sierra and her kids. I appreciate it. If she stays, maybe one day soon we’ll be able to . . . well, maybe not settle this, but put it behind us. I really would like Hallee to know her brothers.”

  “In time, I think Sierra will want that, too. But getting there may take some time.”

  “I understand.” She gave him a halfhearted smile. She hadn’t accomplished what she’d come here to do, but maybe this was better. Mason would tell Sierra the details of their conversation. Maybe coming from him, she’d hear what Heather wanted her to know. Maybe she’d think about it. Sierra wasn’t mean or vindictive. She’d come around eventually.

  I hope.

  “Please tell Sierra I’m not giving up, but I will give her some space.”

  “I’ll tell her.”

  Heather nodded her good-bye and walked down the porch steps to her car. She’d pick up Hallee from the sitter and spend the rest of the day with her. She needed Hallee’s sweet smile and unconditional love to see her through this dark time.

  She’d been alone a long time, but she’d never felt this lonely. Her whole family would rally around Sierra. Her mom had already let her have it. Amy probably wouldn’t waste any time saying her piece.

  Heather had made herself the outcast in the family. She deserved their scorn.

  She hoped to earn their forgiveness.

  She loved her family and needed their support. Especially now.

  Which meant she needed to show them she took responsibility for her actions.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Sierra stood in Amy’s kitchen wondering if her sister had been swapped with an alien.

  Rex stood at the sink filling the dishwasher. Amy didn’t make a single comment, issue a demand he do it differently, or take over the task because no one could do anything like her. Rex appeared completely at ease. In fact, the atmosphere in the house felt different. The kids calmly sat at the island. Danny and Oliver worked on a chore chart. Amy stood between P.J.’s and Emma’s chairs looking at a brand-new activities calendar they were filling in.

  “P.J., you’re green.” Amy handed him a green marker. “Emma, you’re dark pink.”

  Emma took her pen. “I only have two things each week.”

  Amy pointed to the calendar. “Fill in your activities. We’ll use purple for the things you and your brother do together.”

  “Dad is blue, right?” P.J. rolled the marker across the counter to his dad, who stood drying his hands with a towel.

  Rex stopped the pen from rolling off the counter with a flat hand and caught Amy’s eye. “All set?” He glanced toward the open dishwasher.

  Amy checked it out and nodded. “Thank you. Would you mind running it?”

  “Sure.” Rex turned and took a detergent cube from a tub under the sink, dropped it in the dispenser, slid the lid closed, pushed the dishwasher door up, hit the start button, and turned back to help with the calendar.

  The kids finished their part. P.J. had soccer Tuesday and Thursday with a game on Saturday. Emma had dance class on Monday and Wednesday. They both had art class together on Thursday before P.J.’s soccer practice and swim class on Saturday morning before P.J.’s soccer game.

  “No more music classes?” The calendar looked far less cluttered with events than the original one still up on the wall.

  Amy put a hand on both of her kids’ shoulders. “They chose the activities they like the most. We’re cutting back so we have more time at home.” Amy took the teal-colored pen and wrote Family Time on every Sunday of the calendar, then looked up at Rex. They shared a smile and Rex gave Amy a nod of approval.

  Sierra’s heart soared that Amy and Rex not only had talked out their problems but were working to make each other happy by making changes in their relationship.

  Amy used the same color to write Date Night on every Thursday. This time when she and Rex shared a knowing look, her sister’s cheeks pinked.

  Aw. Sweet.

  They needed more time together.

  She and Mason should talk about their schedules and how they were going to work out date night and taking care of the boys. It would be nice to have help getting them to their activities or simply having Mason there with her to cheer them on at soccer or whatever they chose to do in the future.

  Danny had already asked about baseball. She needed to get on that and sign him up. Mason used to play in high school. He could coach Danny at home.

  And that thought solidified her decision to speak to the boys about moving in with Mason soon. He’d be such a great father and role model for Danny and Oliver.

  Rex stepped around the counter and touched Amy’s shoulder, that closeness they used to share back on full display. “Hey, babe, why don’t you let me finish this with the kids. When we’re done, I promised them a kickball game in the front yard. You and Sierra can sit out back and catch up.”

  Code for Go ahead and talk about Heather and the affair.

  Amy gave Rex a quick kiss, ruffled her kids’ hair, and went to the fridge. She pulled out an open bottle of white wine and selected two glasses from the cupboard. “Come on, sis, let’s talk.”

  Sierra went to the boys and gave them each a kiss on the head.

  Oliver held up his chore chart. “Aunt Amy says I should get fifty cents for each chore, but I should ask for seventy-five and negotiate. I don’t know what that means, but I want an allow ants.”

  Sierra sent her sister a disgruntled frown and glare.

  Amy stuck her tongue out at her. “Hold out for the seventy-five cents, kiddo. Mommy can afford it with her awesome job. I bet if you ask Mason for chores at the ranch, he’d pay you a dollar.”

  Sierra scoffed. “Amy! Really?”

  Amy winked at Danny and Oliver and headed out the back door.

  Sierra stared at both the boys. “We’ll discuss allowances later. Be good. Have fun with Uncle Rex.”

  Rex finished tearing down the old calendar and replaced it with the new one, a satisfied smile on his face when he studied it. “That’s more like it.”

  She bet he appreciated that he had a spot on the calendar now and so did Date Night and Family Time.

  “Who’s up for kickball?”

  All the kids scrambled off their stools and headed for the front door.

  Rex caught her arm. “Hey, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I had no idea about David and Heather. It sucks. I hope you’re okay.”

  She put her hand over his. “Thank you. I will be.”

  Rex gave her a half smile and headed out after the kids.

  Sierra walked out to the back to find her sister, knowing what she’d just said to Rex would be true one day.

  She would be okay. She just needed time to let the feelings come, to reevaluate her life and what happened, and put it into perspective.

  One day it wouldn’t hurt this much.

  There’d come a time when the anger didn’t rush in and consume her.

  One day it would be a memory that didn’t sting so sharply.

  Her happiness would overshadow the pain and betrayal.

  “So I spoke to Mom this morning after she went to see Heather. We hate Heather, right?” Amy held up a glass of wine from her Adirondack chair in the garden.

  Sierra took the glass, fell into the other chair, stared at the beautiful flowers, focusing on the pretty pink roses, and sighed. “I don’t want to hate David or Heather, but they make it damn hard not to.”

  Amy clinked her glass to Sierra’s. “Bastard. Bitch. What the fuck were they thinking?”

  Sier
ra appreciated her sister’s outrage. “I don’t know.” She took a sip of the sweet and smooth peach wine, loving the flavor and crispness. She needed more sweet in her life.

  “It hurts.” Her chest grew heavy with thoughts of what her sister and husband had done, scenarios of how they carried out their trysts, and how she’d been oblivious to it all. “I think it would be easier if it was some stranger, a random woman I didn’t know. But Heather . . .”

  “It keeps circling my mind. How could she? Why? How did it even happen?”

  “That’s the thing. I have some of the details, but it doesn’t really matter how, when, why. They did it without thinking about what would happen when they were discovered.”

  Amy turned her gaze from the flowers, focused on her, and put her hand on Sierra’s arm. “They had a child together.”

  “Hallee.” Just saying her name hurt Sierra’s heart something fierce. That poor girl. Caught in the middle of all this. The living reminder of how her parents hurt and betrayed Sierra. An innocent child. “I don’t know what to do about her. She’s Danny and Oliver’s half sister. How do I explain that to them?”

  “They’re too young to understand what really happened. Maybe it’s better to tell them now in a simple way. She’s their sister. They have the same father. Leave it at that. When they’re older and they understand more, they’ll ask questions and you can tell them more of the real story.”

  Sierra thought that might be the best way to handle it.

  “But if you tell them, they’ll want to see Hallee, which means . . .” Amy let the rest go unsaid.

  She’d have to see Heather. She’d look at Hallee and bring back all the hurt.

  She didn’t want to keep reliving this nightmare. But she also didn’t want to punish the kids or keep them apart.

  “David and Heather have put me in an impossible position. If I don’t let the boys see their sister, I’m the bad guy. If I do, I have to deal with Heather and the affair coming up over and over again for me.”