“The phone call I got was from my niece. She’s staying with my parents for the night.”
I feel a mix of emotions slam through me. Relief that Sierra isn’t taken. Ashamed that I misjudged the situation and her so badly without even asking her to explain, and the surety that I’ve fucked up any chance of anything happening between us. “I’m so sorry, Sierra,” I say, putting my hand over hers for a moment where it still rests on my arm. “I should have spoken to you about it, instead of acting like a douchebag. I was just… I was hurt.”
The hard expression in her eyes starts to fade when I tell her I was hurt.
I know if I have any chance of fixing this, I have to act now. “Can I buy you a drink to say sorry? Just one before you go?” I say.
She debates it for a second while I silently will her to put me out of my misery.
“Okay.” She smiles.
Relief floods me and I take her to the bar. I get her a glass of white wine and get a brandy and coke for myself. Then I lead Sierra to one of the quieter tables lining the room.
Everyone is still dancing and having fun and no one is paying the slightest bit of attention to us.
“I’m sorry,” I say again, as we sit down.
“It’s all right,” she says.
It’s not though. Not really. I’ve just shown her that I’m a jealous idiot. Wonderful. God, I should have just asked her to dance and trodden on her damned foot. It wouldn’t have been anywhere near as embarrassing as this is.
“You know, I never even considered you might think that was anyone other than my niece I was talking to,” she explains. “I should have really though, because this is all still so new. My sister passed away five months ago, she had a brain tumor, and her daughter, my niece, has come to live with me now.”
Once more, she shames me. I have known this woman for two years, she’s been right by my side through thick and thin at work, and up until now, I didn’t even know she had a sister, let alone that she’d lost one. I’ve fucked up enough tonight by not just being honest. “I’m so sorry,” I say softly. “I honestly didn’t even know you had a sister. Let alone that she was sick.”
“You didn’t?” she asks, surprised. “I always assumed your other assistant had told you about my sister passing away and that you just felt awkward mentioning it.”
I shake my head. “No. I mean I’m hardly warm and fuzzy but I would have at the very least offered you my condolences and some time off.”
“I took some time off for the funeral. Remember, I asked for three days off earlier in the year? You said yes without asking any questions and that’s why I figured you knew.”
I shake my head again. “I remember you asking for the time off. I didn’t know why, but I knew it must be important because you’ve never asked for time off in all of the time you’ve worked for me. How are you managing to look after your niece and not need time off now? We can work something out you know.”
“I’m the nearest thing that girl has to a mom now Chance, but I’m still a career woman. I don’t feel the need to take time off work because I have a child with me. She’s got school and then she goes to my parents’ house for a few hours. If anything, having her come to live with me has made me more determined to be successful; I want to make a good future for her, and that means putting the hours in.”
I nod my head, feeling selfish that part of me is relieved Sierra isn’t going to go part time or anything. She is the best assistant I have and I don’t know what I’d do without her. “Tell me about her,” I prompt. “Your niece I mean.”
“Her name is Hayley. She’s seven going on seventy.” Sierra grins. “She tests my patience almost every day and she’s full of a thousand and one questions, most of which I don’t have the answers to. But she’s funny, bubbly and full of confidence, and I wouldn’t change her for the world.”
“She sounds like quite a character.” I laugh.
“Oh, she is.” She beams at me. “She gets her stubborn streak from her mom, but the temper on her? Holy shit, she has a short fuse, and if she thinks something is unjust, she isn’t shy about making it known. She definitely gets that from her father.”
“I don’t know about that,” I say, returning her smile. “Maybe she gets that from her aunt.”
“Oh, no way, I’m not taking the blame for that one.” She laughs.
“So what happened to Hayley’s father? Was he married to your sister at some point?” I ask, curious as to why Hayley is living with Sierra and not him.
“Oh, God no.” Sierra shakes her head while wincing at the idea. “Hayley was my sister’s world and she wouldn’t ever wish she didn’t have her, and that’s the only reason she didn’t wish she had never met Hayley’s father. To say, he was a mistake would be an understatement up there with saying the sun won’t burn you.”
“I take it he doesn’t see much of Hayley then?” I ask.
“He’s seen her the grand total of twice. Once the day after she was born and the other time on her second birthday. He has no interest in being a father and I have no interest in Hayley growing up thinking there’s something wrong with her because her dad is an irresponsible jerk who can’t make time for his daughter. After my sister died, there was talk of contacting him, seeing if he would man up and be a father
