Betrayal - Fern Michaels [6]
Without saying another word, Don walked up to the counter, returning minutes later with Sara’s large vanilla shake. She hurriedly crammed her straw in the shake, then started slurping like a cow.
Debbie placed a hand on Sara’s belly. “Not so fast, honey. You’ll get a stomachache.”
“Okay, Mommy. I was just so thirsty. Can I have dessert if I eat everything on my plate?” Sara glanced at Emily, then back at her mother. “Please?”
Briefly Emily wondered what the odds were against her sister not eating everything on her plate. Into the billions, no doubt.
“Let’s not go overboard,” Debbie said to Sara.
Emily couldn’t believe her mother. One minute she was as wicked as the Witch of the West, and the next, she’d make Glinda the Good Witch seem like a bitch. She would talk hateful to her or her dad, and in the next breath she was as sweet as the dessert Sara was assured of.
As though on pins and needles, Sara anxiously asked, “Does that mean yes?”
“Of course, but we’ll have to hurry. Your father wants to drive straight through to Asheville. We won’t have time to stop for dinner.”
Don kicked Debbie in the shin under the table. “And Mommy wants to get there as soon as possible, too. She can’t wait to rid herself of you two.” This was said with a smile, but Don was serious. He knew his wife, he’d had her number for a long time. He knew he was playing her games, but sometimes he couldn’t help himself.
“C’mon, you said it yourself, let’s not argue. Get Sara an apple pie and let’s go,” Emily said as she eased out of the tiny booth and headed to the car. The bickering over Sara and her eating habits was unbearable. The kid would be lucky if she didn’t have heart disease and high blood pressure before she was old enough to drive.
Don gathered the empty boxes and plates and tossed them in the large garbage can by the exit door.
“Emily’s right. Get your dessert to go.” He looked at Debbie and Sara. “And both of you go to the restroom before we get back on the road. I don’t want to stop at every other exit because one of you has to pee all the time.” After years of road trips Don had learned Debbie’s tricks. For spite she’d tell him she had an upset stomach just so they would make numerous stops. She only did this to make them late, because she knew he was extremely punctual. Again, he questioned why he’d remained married to her for seventeen years.
Hesitantly, Sara got up from her seat, stopping briefly to snatch a french fry she’d missed. “I’ll take a hot fudge sundae with double fudge and extra whipped cream.”
“Sweetie, Krystal doesn’t have sundaes. Either an apple pie or a chocolate chip cookie. Which do you want?”
Sara took forever to decide.
Don persisted. “C’mon, Sara. We need to get back on the road before midnight.”
She placed a fat index finger against an equally fat cheek. “Would it be okay if I had one of each since it’ll be a while before I get to eat again?”
Debbie turned to Don. “Sure, honey. Don, get the dessert while we use the restroom.”
“Let’s make it quick,” Don said to their retreating backs.
Desserts in hand, Don made his way to the Explorer. Emily leaned over the front seat to open the driver’s door for him.
“Is she still eating?” Emily asked.
“No, now it’s the bathroom, but I bet you can’t guess who this dessert is for.” He held up the box containing the apple pie and chocolate chip cookie. “One for the road.”
Emily smiled at her dad. “You mean two.”
“Yeah, I guess I do. Let’s just try and keep the peace with your mom and sister. Once we arrive in Asheville, your mother will be nice to everyone. You know how she likes to make a good impression on Alex and Kate.”
Emily nodded. She knew, but she also knew her mother didn’t impress them at all. Not that they’d ever said anything to her. It was just something she could sense. She felt ashamed of her mother sometimes and hated herself for feeling that way. Maybe she’d understand her mother when she was older. She hoped so.
Fifteen minutes passed, and her mother and Sara had yet to emerge from the restroom.