Always Dakota - Debbie Macomber [32]
“She has to be around here somewhere.”
“Find her,” Sarah snapped. “I’m not getting off this line until I talk with my daughter.”
“She’s my daughter, too. You know what your problem is?” Willie asked. “You’re uppity. I can’t understand how I got involved with an uppity woman.”
“I want to talk to Calla,” Sarah demanded, barely able to remain civil.
“Fine, you can talk to her. Only I’ve got to find her first.”
“Find her.”
“Yes, your majesty,” Willie taunted.
The phone made a clanking sound as if it’d been dropped. He was gone for several minutes and then returned. “She’s at work,” he said. “I forgot.”
“Where does she work?”
“BurgerHaven. Not a bad job, either. I asked her if she could get her old man on, but they said I had to have a drug test first.” This was followed by uproarious laughter, as if he found the suggestion amusing beyond words.
Sarah closed her eyes until the feeling of revulsion left. “Tell her I phoned.”
His laughter died as suddenly as it had begun. “I might,” he said.
“Never mind, I’ll tell her myself,” Sarah said, not wanting to feel beholden to Willie for anything, even the most basic of courtesies.
Everyone was watching her expectantly, especially Dennis’s parents. Sarah replaced the receiver. She looked at Dennis, then her brother and her in-laws. “Apparently…Calla’s working today.” The words barely made it past her lips before she broke into sobs. Mortified, she retreated into the bedroom, hoping a few minutes alone would help her regain her composure. Normally she was better able to control her emotions.
“Sarah?” Dennis came into the room and closed the door.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “It’s such a wonderful day and here I am crying…I’m so sorry.”
Her husband sat down on the edge of the bed beside her. “You don’t have anything to apologize for. Not one damn thing.”
“But I embarrassed you in front of your parents—”
“Don’t even think that.” He placed his arms around her, and Sarah turned into his embrace, breathing in the warm scent of him, loving him until she felt as if her heart would burst. “I don’t deserve you,” she whispered.
He wove his fingers into her hair and tilted her face toward him. “No, it’s the other way around….”
She shook her head. “I don’t know what I did for Calla to hate me so.”
“You married me. I’m the one she hates.”
Sarah wrapped her arms around him, and they clung to one another. Then, sobbing, she pulled away and wiped the tears from her cheeks. “I didn’t mean to tell you like this…but, Dennis, I think…I’m fairly sure I’m pregnant.”
He stared at her, his face uncomprehending. “You’re pregnant?”
She nodded, smiling through her tears.
“When did you find out?”
“Just yesterday…I talked to Hassie and she recommended one of those home pregnancy tests and…and the stick turned blue.”
Dennis let out a shout of joy so loud it echoed in the room. Racing to the bedroom door, he hurled it open and stuck out his head. “Mom, Dad, we’re pregnant!”
Racing back to her side, he took hold of both her hands. “Oh, Sarah, you don’t know how happy this makes me.”
She knew Dennis wanted children when she married him. Her doubts were multiple, especially since she didn’t seem to be a very successful mother; Calla’s attitude proved as much.
“You’re pregnant?” Irene asked when Dennis and Sarah reappeared. She held her hands to her mouth, tears trickling down her face.
Sarah nodded.
Irene hugged them both. “This is just wonderful news! Just wonderful.”
“It is,” Maddy agreed, embracing Sarah. “I’m so pleased Julianne will have a cousin close to her own age.”
“Congratulations, sis,” Jeb said, hugging her, then slapping Dennis on the back. The two men clasped hands.
“Another grandchild,” Joshua said, tucking his thumbs inside his suspenders. “Now, this is welcome news. Very welcome.” He took a turn and hugged Sarah, too. “I don’t suppose anyone would object if I helped myself to a second piece of pumpkin