out, but the ache of it never seemed to cease, it just kept throbbing. Even when the tears dried and the hiccups disappeared and the sun fell into the ocean, the grief, the pain, they were still there, claws sunk deep in her heart and mind, unrelenting, just like the waves battering the shore and the wind blowing against her, chilling her to the bone.
Sierra stood on stiff legs, hands numb with cold, and gave one last solemn look at the beautiful ocean and headed back to her car.
The boys were probably wondering what happened to her and why she wasn’t home to get them ready for bed. She knew her mom would take care of them, but they expected their own mother to care for them.
She couldn’t dwell on her problems forever, but she’d needed these last several hours alone to think and grieve and be angry and upset without having to explain herself to anyone.
Now, she’d be the adult and mom and gather herself up and forge ahead because what the hell else was she supposed to do.
Life sucked. People disappointed and hurt others all the time. And tomorrow was another day to deal with it all and figure out what she did from here.
The boys deserved the best of her. One day they’d appreciate all she’d sacrificed and given for their happiness.
Being the adult and the mom sucked, because it meant she had to do all the hard stuff so her kids were happy.
After everything she’d been through with David and Heather, she wished there was one person wholly and unequivocally on her side.
Someone who knew all that happened and said, You deserved better. They suck. Fuck them, and stood beside her through all that still needed to be done to get her life back on track.
Chapter Thirty
Mason sat on the porch steps waiting for the woman he loved to come home, knowing he had one shot at explaining himself. If he blew it, his whole life’s happiness would disappear.
He’d spent far too many years wishing for her.
He’d fix this and make her happy the rest of her life because he didn’t want to live without her.
He’d show her every day how much he loved her. She’d never have cause to question how he felt about her and that he was completely, irrevocably devoted to her.
Now if he could only figure out how to make her believe him.
All his texts thus far had gone unanswered. He didn’t take it as a bad sign. She hadn’t answered any of Dede’s calls or texts, either.
The front door opened behind him. He turned and stared up at Dede. “Have you heard from her?”
She gave him a sad frown. “No. Not yet. I thought she’d be home for dinner or at least in time to put the boys to bed.”
He completely deflated and hung his head. “She’ll be here soon.” The assurance didn’t ease his mind or heart. It probably did nothing for Dede, either.
“I told you, you didn’t have to wait out here.”
“I didn’t want to intrude.”
“Well, they heard your truck pull in earlier and they refuse to go to bed without a bedtime story from you.”
He glanced at Dede over his shoulder. “I’m not sure Sierra would appreciate that given how she walked away today without giving me a chance to explain.”
“The boys don’t know that. They’re anxious and worried that their mom isn’t here. They didn’t buy that she had to go to work, especially after they saw how upset she was earlier. I think you might have a better chance of convincing them she’s okay than I did.”
He sucked in a breath and let it out, but it did nothing to loosen the band of regret and worry wrapped around his chest, making it hard to breathe.
He couldn’t deny the boys or let this opportunity to see them go.
He stood and faced Dede, letting loose one of the apologies he thought he owed. “I’m sorry about how this went down. I wanted to talk to her today about what I knew about David, but after the balloon ceremony this morning and her getting called away to work, I let it go, hoping we’d have time alone after the boys’ ride to talk.”
“Sierra told me a little of what happened with Heather. I’m beside myself. I don’t know what to do. Heather won’t take my calls, either. I’ll give her time to get herself together.”
“Then what?” The bitter question put Dede on the spot, but Mason didn’t care.