Just Deserts - Brenda Jackson [47]
Danielle tried hiding her grin when she glanced at Tristan. He looked like he wanted to ring her neck. “I need to borrow him for a minute,” she said, taking hold of his arm.
“Sure, just bring him back,” Karin said, batting her false eyelashes again and smiling. Danielle wasn’t sure which of the two the woman enjoyed doing the most—flashing her smile or batting her eyelashes.
“I was wondering if you were ever going to come and rescue me,” Tristan said, putting his arm around her shoulders.
“And not let you spend time with Hot Mess Karin? Are you kidding?” she asked.
“Hot Mess Karin?” Tristan burst into a laugh.
“I’m glad I’m able to amuse you. But on a serious note, sweetheart, you do something about her or I will. This is a company picnic where most of the employees bring their families, not a hot-pants contest.”
Tristan glanced back over his shoulder at Karin. “Her shorts are kind of out there, aren’t they.”
“Out there, barely there. Yes, you could say that. And if you haven’t noticed, a few of the wives are frowning since their husbands can’t seem to keep their eyes off Karin. I’ve got a feeling a lot of them are going to be sleeping in guest rooms tonight.”
Tristan sighed deeply. “I’ll talk to her first thing on Monday. Oh, and by the way,” he said, steering Danielle in the direction of the bleachers, “I’ve made all the arrangements. You and I are flying to Dallas on Wednesday.”
“That soon?”
“Yes. Are you okay with it?” he asked.
“Yes. I’m okay with it.”
Danielle had tried not thinking about Catherine Hodges and what situation she might find in Dallas. She had spoken to Alex and Renée, and both had given their support and suggested she handle the situation as she saw fit. The good thing was that the woman hadn’t married Marc, at least.
Tristan took her hand in his. “You still want closure, don’t you?”
She looked over at him. “Yes, I still want closure.”
Closure.
That was the main thing on Danielle’s mind when she and Tristan arrived in Dallas the following week. After checking into the hotel, they decided to wait until the following morning to show up at the school. They had called and Catherine Hodges’s secretary made an appointment for them to meet with her.
“Do you think meeting her at the school is the wisest thing?” she asked Tristan that night after they were in bed.
“Not really,” he said, pulling her into his arms. “But Chris didn’t have her home address and phone number. When we arrive at the school tomorrow, let’s play it by ear, since she doesn’t know the reason we’re meeting with her.”
“All right.”
That night after they had made love and Tristan had fallen asleep, Danielle cuddled beside him in his arms and smiled. She hadn’t mentioned anything to Tristan, but her period was a couple of days late. She didn’t want to get her hopes up, but the possibility she was pregnant filled her with more joy than she could ever imagine. If her period still hadn’t shown up by the time they got to Atlanta, where they were to meet up with Alex and Hunter and Renée and Chris, then she would purchase one of those pregnancy test kits.
She drifted off to sleep hoping and praying that she was carrying Tristan’s child.
“Ms. Hodges will see you now,” the older woman said, smiling at them. “Please come with me.”
Tristan took Danielle’s hand in his as they followed the woman, who’d introduced herself as Sylvia Pinckney, Ms. Hodges’s secretary. Upon entering the grounds of Land of Lakes School for the Deaf and Blind, they were impressed with what they saw. Students, some who couldn’t hear and others who couldn’t see, were participating in supervised sports of all types; other students were sitting in the classrooms using computers.
“How long has this school been in existence?” Tristan asked the secretary.
“For about three years now. It’s a smaller institution than most around the country, but it serves its purpose. Ms. Hodges is doing an excellent job of running the place.”
Danielle