He heaved a sigh. “But she does.”
“You don’t need to decide right now. Why don’t you take some time? Let it all settle for you before you talk to Sierra.”
He laced his fingers through hers as he flicked his gaze out the window. “Yeah, but…I will…put this off. I’ll find reasons not to tell her. I’ll…avoid it. I spent two years avoiding telling you how I felt, Julia. I’m really good at avoiding things.”
She chuckled as she laid a hand on his chest. “Okay, point taken, but there is no reason why you can’t give yourself some time to let your emotions settle.”
He sucked in a breath. “Will you help me? I can’t tell her alone.”
“Of course.” She squeezed his hand. “We’ll face this together. You, me, Sierra, even Kyle–we’re a family in every way that counts. We’ll take this one step at a time.”
“Thank you.” He kissed her, her lips a soothing balm for his grayed nerves. “There’s no way I can tell Sierra without you.”
“Tell Sierra what?” Sierra asked.
His heart plummeted as he glanced over Julia’s shoulder at the door. Sierra hovered inside of it, her eyes questioning. All of the steadiness he’d found moments ago fell away as his world threatened to crumble.
How would he tell his daughter what he barely managed to accept himself?
CHAPTER 20
JULIA
Julia’s heart stopped as Sierra’s voice entered the conversation. She twisted to face her stepdaughter, her heart breaking for the woman. Lydia had delivered one final blow to the family before her death.
“Sierra…” Grant’s voice, still raw with emotion sounded as shocked as he had been moments ago.
“Yeah? What did you need to tell me?”
“Uh…” He shot Julia a panicked glance.
She slid her arm around his waist.
“Come on, tell Sierra what? What can’t you tell me without Julia being here? That’s what you said. Tell me what?” Sierra demanded.
Julia tugged her lips back in a wince. “Sierra, now isn’t the best time–”
“No,” Grant said with a shake of his head. “No, now is…as good a time as any. Close the door.”
Sierra pushed it shut behind her and spun to face them. “Okay, it’s closed. Tell me what you wanted to tell me.”
“I think you should sit down,” Grant said, his voice soft, but shaky.
Sierra rolled her eyes. “Oh, here we go. Sit down, Sierra. Just a minute, Sierra. Let me drag this out as long as I can, Sierra. Just say it.”
“Baby, please, sit down,” Grant tried again.
Sierra squeezed her fingers into fists at her sides and stamped on the floor. “No. Just say it.”
Grant flicked his gaze to Julia, panic clouding his eyes.
“Sierra…” Julia began.
“Julia, I’m not a baby. Just say it.”
Grant’s features crumpled as he studied the floor.
“You can’t be serious,” Sierra said with a huff as she crossed her arms.
