---- Chapter 17: Separation Anxiety? As If! The first day of kindergarten arrived before they knew it. Clara and Sierra stood at the gates, watching Leo and Elsie walk hand in hand, happily toddling behind their teacher without even a glance back. Clara looked slightly dazed. "I literally took two hours off work for this." Sierra's eyes were misty. "I stayed up all night Googling how to handle separation anxiety!" "I even wore flats," Clara added with a sigh. "Figured I'd be wrestling with him for at least thirty minutes." Sierra clutched her chest dramatically. "They didn't even cry. Not a single tear!" These two little clingy shadows who used to stick to them like glue had suddenly let go-and the moms were the ones having a meltdown. Honestly? It felt like a breakup. Sierra grabbed Clara's arm. "C'mon. Let's go grab a drink." Clara blinked. "Alcohol? This early? I still have work!" ---- Sierra rolled her eyes and hooked her arm tighter. "Tea, woman. I meant tea!" Two heartbroken moms poured their souls out over warm mugs for the next two hours. Eventually, Clara dragged herself to work while Sierra headed back to Riverbend Villas to check in on the home renovations. Some of the custom furniture had just been delivered. Then her phone rang. It was Austin. She answered with zero enthusiasm. "What?" Austin's voice came through scratchy and tired. "Did Elsie make it to school? Was she okay? Did she cry?" "She's fine. Everything went perfectly," Sierra replied flatly. A beat of silence. Then Austin added in a hesitant tone, "That's good... I really miss you guys. Can I come see her tomorrow?" Sierra let out a scoff. "Not busy playing house with your first love?" Austin sounded exasperated. "How many times do I have to say it? There's nothing going on with Samantha. You just won't believe me..." "I've heard it all before," Sierra cut him off. The same tired excuses. "Whatever. Come if you want. I don't ---- care." She ended the call. A moment later, a text popped up: "Where are you staying?" Sierra was currently at a hotel right next to the villas. A bit pricey, yeah, but the service was great and everything came with a personal butler. Super convenient. She figured she wouldn't be there long anyway-just until the new place was ready. So she casually shot over her location: Room 1302. Then she headed up the elevator. The next morning, the doorbell rang. Still half-asleep, Sierra groggily checked her phone. It was only 6:30 a.m. Who the hell- She peeked through the peephole. Austin. Opening the door with an annoyed look, she stared him down. Austin held up breakfast like it was a peace offering. "Let's eat. Come on." He didn't wait for an invite-just slipped on a pair of the hotel's disposable slippers, walked in, and set the food down on the table. Then he turned to look at her with hopeful eyes. Sierra didn't even bother acknowledging him. She climbed right back into bed-she had at least thirty ---- more precious minutes of sleep. Austin's eyes lingered on her curves beneath the thin straps of her sleep dress. Her face still carried that soft morning glow, lips full and slightly pouty. She looked like a dream-and he wanted nothing more than to hold her. But he didn't dare. Instead, he clenched his fists and quietly pulled the covers over her more snugly. Then he walked around to the other side of the bed and planted a kiss on his daughter's cheek. "Wake up, sunshine! Time for school!" Elsie rubbed her eyes and blinked. The moment she saw her dad's face, she lit up. "Daddy?! Am I dreaming? I missed you so much!" Tears welled up in her big eyes and rolled down her cheeks like little pearls. Austin felt his own throat tighten. His eyes shimmered as he wrapped her in a tight hug. "Daddy missed you too, baby. So much." Sierra kept her eyes shut tight. She didn't dare open them-afraid that if she did, the tears would come spilling out. Under the covers, her fingers dug into her palms. She had once considered giving in, for Elsie's sake. Thought she could endure anything, just so her daughter could have a complete family. ---- But Samantha had kept sending her photos-cuddled in cars, lounging in hotel robes, ultrasound pics... How was she supposed to tolerate that? The night Elsie had a fever, Sierra had called Austin in a panic. Samantha had picked up. How could she forgive that? Honestly, the fact that she didn't tear the whole relationship to shreds right then and there was already showing incredible restraint. Back in Silverton, she'd thought she was finally healing. But seeing him again... the wound ripped right back open. And now she wasn't sure how much longer she could hold back the urge to scream. Austin and Elsie were now calmly brushing their teeth in the bathroom. Moments later, they were seated at the table, ready for breakfast. "Elsie," Austin said, "call your mom over to eat." "Mommy, come eat!" Elsie chirped. "We have school today!" Sierra yawned lazily, still pretending to sleep. "Go ahead without me, sweetheart. Daddy's taking you today. Mommy's gonna rest a little longer." About half an hour later, Austin and Elsie headed out. Peace and quiet returned. Sierra finally opened her eyes. Her pillow was soaked with tears. She hugged the ---- blanket tightly as her body trembled ever so slightly. Her heart felt like it had been torn in two. Austin booked a room at the same hotel and stayed for a whole week. Every day, he dropped off and picked up Elsie from kindergarten. After class, he took her to all the local amusement parks, trying to be the world's best dad. In between, he kept finding excuses to talk to Sierra-carrying furniture, cleaning, doing all the heavy lifting without a single complaint. She, meanwhile, didn't spare him a glance. But Austin didn't care. His wife and daughter were both nearby, and that alone made him feel like he could conquer the world. Sunday afternoon came too fast. Austin hugged Elsie tightly, planting kiss after kiss on her cheeks. He wiped her nose and tears with a tissue, gently soothing her. "No more crying, baby. Daddy's just going to work. I'll be back before you know it." Elsie sobbed, her breath hitching. "But how soon is soon? Can't you go to work in the day and come home at night, like before?" Austin looked like he might lose it too. "How about next month? I'll work really hard, and then I'll come stay with you longer, okay?" Sierra stepped in, taking Elsie into her arms and ---- patting her back gently. Austin took the opportunity to sneak in a quick hug-wrapping one arm around Sierra and whispering into her ear, "I'll be back next month." Sierra stiffened. By the time she snapped out of it, he was already gone. She helped Elsie change out of her tear-drenched clothes, her heart completely adrift. No matter how badly she wanted to shut Austin out of her life forever... She couldn't ignore how much Elsie needed her dad.