To Be a Dad (Harlequin Superromance) (25 page)

She slipped her hand into her husband’s big, rough hand. “I’m fine. Look at your brother. Who would have guessed he’d be so good with children?” Would Cal be as loving? Sometimes, he seemed so remote.

She watched Adam and Sylvie exchange the vows they’d written and slip rings on each others’ fingers. Brendon’s nose started running, and Dusty let go of his hand to dig out a hankie from his pocket and pass it to the little boy. Sarah finally raised her head from Dusty’s shoulder to watch Adam and Sylvie kiss.

Teressa looked as if she was going to faint.

“Let’s see if Sarah and Brendon will walk out with us. Teressa looks like she needs an arm. Dusty should help her.”

Cal’s mouth twitched. “When did you become the local matchmaker?” he asked as they stood and clapped, watching Adam and Sylvie walk down the aisle.

Anita leaned forward and took Brendon’s hand. “Hey there, big boy. Want to walk me out of the church like the grown-ups do?”

Brendon stuck his thumb in his mouth and nodded as he slipped his hand into hers. She waited until Cal had pried Sarah away from Dusty. She had no idea what Cal whispered in Sarah’s ear, but she giggled and finally let go of Dusty and went into Cal’s arms. Cal nodded his head toward Teressa, who was stuck in place at the altar. Dusty was by her side in a flash.

Anita smiled to herself as she watched Dusty naturally curl his hand around Teressa’s waist and rest it on her swollen belly. Teressa sagged back into him as if a load had suddenly lifted off her shoulders. They followed Teressa and Dusty out of the church and into the bright clear December day.

Anita addressed the little girl now looking comfortable in Cal’s arms. “Sarah, I need your help finding another pair of shoes for your mother. Do you mind going home with me to find something more comfortable for her to wear?” Walking behind Teressa, Anita had noticed that Teressa’s shoes were causing her trouble.

“I’ll get Dusty’s truck keys and give him ours,” Cal said. “He has the kids’ car seats in his truck. We might as well drive that. Sarah, you stay with Anita.”

Anita laughed. Cal wasn’t giving Sarah the chance to attach herself to Dusty just yet.

She noticed Dusty refused to let go of Teressa as he dug in his pocket for his keys and accepted their set from Cal. He smiled across the parking lot at Anita, but she could see it was an effort. Poor man. Knowing that Teressa was afraid to commit to him, Anita was on his side.

Up until a few months ago, Dusty hadn’t been the most reliable person around. But people changed. She should know, because she’d changed in a big way since letting Cal into her life. And she was about to change even more. How exciting was that?

After the children were settled in the vehicle, Anita caught Cal’s arm and pulled him to the back of the truck and kissed him.

He slid his hands around her waist and pulled her into him. “I’m bringing you to more weddings.” He laughed.

“It’s not the wedding.” She looked around at the crowded parking lot. This was not the place she’d imagined telling him about her good news. But she couldn’t keep it to herself any longer.

“The doctor says we can try for a baby.”

Cal stilled, his eyes turned darker and serious. “Really?”

“Really. I saw Dr. McAllister yesterday. He says I’m fine, and we can expect a normal pregnancy when and if I get pregnant. I was going to tell you last night, but then...you know, my father upset me, and I...” She grabbed his hands. “Be excited for us, Cal. I want this baby so much.”

“You were going to tell your father before you told me?”

She stepped back. “The only person’s approval I need is yours, Cal. I remembered him saying my mother kept a diary, and I wanted to ask him if I could borrow it to read.”

Cal would probably always struggle with his dislike of her father, but she often let herself daydream of the day her husband and her father overlooked their differences for the sake of their family.

Cal cupped the back of her head with his hand. She closed her eyes when he kissed her forehead. “He won’t give it to you, honey. You know how he is.”

“Tell me you’re happy about trying for a baby.”

He smiled his beautiful crooked smile that had stolen her heart the first time she’d met him. “Of course I am. I’m going to worry about you every step of the way, though, when you do get pregnant. Get used to it.”

She laughed. “Like I’m not already. You’ll have to get used to me telling you to back off.”

“I like it when you’re bossy.”

She leaned into him. “Good thing. I’m going to practice on you, because I doubt I’ll ever be able to discipline our child. I hope he looks like you.”

Cal laughed. “He? Getting ahead of yourself, aren’t you?”

“He. She. Doesn’t matter to me.”

Cal took her hand in his. “And the doctor really said everything was good? That you’re all right?”

“Yes.”

“You have to promise to tell me if you’re not, Anita.”

She squeezed his hand as she stared into his eyes. “I promise.”

The promise felt as serious as a wedding vow. She’d made a terrible mistake, hiding her miscarriage from Cal. But thank goodness he’d understood, because he knew she’d come from a household full of secrets. She hadn’t even known how her mother had died until she started her period. The boarding school where she was living must have called her father, because he appeared a few days later, informed her that her mother died in childbirth and she, too, could be at risk, so it was necessary to always take precautions not to get pregnant. Then he left, and she had no one to help her put that information into perspective. Her sex life when she got older, what there was of it, was a disaster. The two men she’d slept with had told her she was frigid, and the man she’d become engaged to, her father’s protégé, hadn’t cared. He was marrying her to get closer to her father, or her father’s money to be precise. But Cal...Cal had shown her what making love was like with someone you loved. She couldn’t wait to have his baby.

“You’re not going to cry all the time like Teressa does, are you?”

“I don’t know. Teressa has a lot to cry about at the moment. I don’t.”

“No, she doesn’t. All she has to do is see what’s right in front of her nose. The kids know how solid Dusty is. Teressa needs to smarten up.”

“Speaking of the kids, they’ve been unusually quiet.”

Cal craned his neck to look in the side mirror. He laughed and waved. “I suspect they’ve been watching us in the mirrors.”

“We should get going. They’ll sit still for only so long.”

Cal caught her hand before she could turn back to the truck. “So, ah, does that mean it’s okay to start trying right away?” His eyes glowed.

She laughed. “I like your enthusiasm.”

“How long do we have to stay at the reception?”

“Cal.” She pulled her hand free and headed for the front of the truck. “Until the end. We’re family.”

Cal climbed into the front seat and closed the door. “Whatever you say, Mrs. Carson. But I think I feel a headache coming on.”

“Brendon’s gotta pee,” Sarah announced.

“You’ll have to hang on, bud. We’re stuck in traffic at the moment.”

“He knows how to pee outside. Dusty taught him how. He taught me, too, but it doesn’t work for girls.”

Cal burst out laughing as Anita tried to smother a giggle. She didn’t think Teressa would approve of them encouraging Sarah to tell their family secrets. “I’m sorry I missed that one.” Cal smiled at Brendon in the rearview mirror. “If you get desperate, Brendon, say the word and you and me will run for the bushes, okay?

“Man,” Cal continued, half under his breath. “The things my brother gets up to. He never fails to amaze me.”

Anita settled back into the truck seat with a happy sigh. She and Cal were going to try to have a baby, finally, and Cal was okay with that. After losing the other baby at two months, he hadn’t wanted to try again. But they were on their way to their happily-ever-after now. So were Adam and Sylvie. If only Teressa and Dusty could see their way clearly and realize they were made for each other. It wasn’t too much to hope that maybe someday soon they would.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

S
HE
WAS
EXHAUSTED
, and her feet were swollen from wearing the stupid heels. Teressa didn’t have an ounce of energy left over to deal with Dusty, or the kids or her parents right now.
Not one ounce
. She sank into a winged-back chair situated in an alcove created by a turret.

The Waterside Inn was at least two hundred years old and full of nooks and crannies where one could curl up and read a book or have a glass of wine and watch the snow come down. Not that it was snowing out today. It was almost cold enough to, but bright sunlight spilled through the windows behind her, warming her near-bare back.

Adam and Sylvie had decided against a sit-down dinner for their reception. There were lots of comfortable chairs and group settings where people could visit with each other as the waiters circulated amongst the crowd with platters of finger food. Thank goodness Adam and Pops had decided to hire a catering company from town to supply the food. Otherwise, she’d have felt obligated to step in and offer to cook. The MacAfees ran a beautiful inn, but weren’t renowned for their food.

Not that anyone would have let her cook. She was going to scream if one more person told her to go lie down. “Here you go.” Dusty brought the cup of tea she’d requested, and a plate full of tiny sandwiches and pastries. “I’m going to grab a coffee. Be back in a minute.”

Teressa tried to smile at him, but her facial muscles had seized up. Between her fatigue and the ache she got in her chest every time she looked at him, she wasn’t in a happy place. At all.

She thought she’d die of mortification when Sarah made a scene at the wedding. But when Dusty had stopped the ceremony to pick up Sarah, she felt as if someone had knocked her feet out from under her. One minute she was standing on solid ground, and the next, her whole world turned inside out. She was in love with Dusty Carson. She could hardly breathe, thinking of the depth of feeling she felt for him. It was as if a floodgate had opened, and she was awash with love for him. At the moment, she couldn’t imagine why she’d thought she didn’t love him.

If they hadn’t been heading to Adam and Sylvie’s wedding reception, she would have begged Dusty to take her straight home and make love to her. She’d seen him dressed in a suit before, but when she walked into that church today and saw him, so handsome, so solid, standing at the altar smiling at her with his heart in his eyes, she realized she’d made a terrible mistake. Instead of concentrating on what was so right about Dusty, she’d been looking at what was wrong. As if she, herself, was perfect. She snorted. God help her if she was too late to repair the damage done.

She leaned back in the chair and passed a trembling hand over her hair, hoping she didn’t look as disheveled as she felt. Not that it mattered. Dusty was interested in every other person in the large room, except her.

“Brought you a change of shoes.” Anita sat in the chair beside her and pulled a pair of Teressa’s flats out of the bag she held.

“You’re my savior. Thank you so much.”

“You’d do the same for me.”

“Except I can’t imagine you having anything as remotely unsightly as swollen ankles.”

Curious, Teressa watched as the corners of Anita’s lips curled up. She looked as though she had a secret, and Teressa knew better than to pry. Anita would tell her when she was ready to share.

“I love the wedding cake. It’s a masterpiece.”

“I had fun making it. Have you and Sylvie discussed a Christmas event for the café?” she asked Anita, more to keep her by her side for a few minutes than out of interest. Sylvie’s “events” always made more work for Teressa. Anita was their PR person.

“Not yet, but it would be fun to stir things up after Christmas. Do you have any ideas?”

“Ideas for what?” Tyler pulled a footstool in front of Teressa and sat.

Teressa sighed. It would never occur to Tyler, or anyone else here, that a conversation might be private.

“An after-Christmas event at the café,” Anita explained.

“That’d be great. It’s always so boring after the holidays,” Tyler said. “What are we doing?”

Teressa and Anita glanced at each other. Anita looked as amused and irritated as Teressa felt about Tyler’s assumption that there was a “we.”

“No idea,” Teressa said. “Any suggestions?”

“We could have a mystery weekend,” Tyler offered. “You know, like we pretend someone’s been killed, and then everyone has to solve who the murderer is.”

“Those always sound like so much fun,” Anita agreed.

“What sounds like fun?” Cal appeared behind Anita and put his hand on her shoulder. Teressa noticed Anita’s expression soften as she reached up and covered his hand with hers. Not so long ago, Anita would have turned stiff as a board if Cal showed any public display of affection.

“Putting on a mystery weekend after Christmas,” Tyler announced.

“Like someone pretends to get killed?” Cal tipped his head to one side. “Might be fun.”

Usually Cal censored anything that demanded Anita’s time. “Maybe we should go on a mystery weekend to see how it works,” he suggested.

Anita beamed up at him. “Great idea. How about it, Teressa? Do you think you and Dusty would be interested in something like that?”

“I would,” Tyler interjected.

“No one asked you,” Cal said bluntly.

“It was my idea.”

“So?”

Teressa held back her laugh when she saw the hint of a smile on Cal’s face. They were like a big, sprawling family, teasing each other and, occasionally, hurting each other, as only family could do. Another blinding revelation struck her. She loved living here and couldn’t imagine her life without seeing the folks from Collina every day.

“Tyler could babysit Sarah and Brendon,” Cal teased.

“Oh, come on,” Tyler objected.

Cal laughed. “I’m kidding. Actually, if you guys are serious about putting on a mystery weekend, I think you should attend one of those weekends with us, Tyler. I suspect you’re smarter than you look, and it’s time we started training you to do...something. This village has lost enough young people. We’ve got to start giving people a reason to stay.”

“I agree,” Pops said as he joined their group. “From what Sylvie tells me, Teressa is thinking of teaching Tyler how to cook.”

Tyler swung around on the stool. “You are? Would I make more money?”

Teressa smothered a smile. “We’d have to discuss it. Come in early tomorrow, and we’ll start with cooking breakfast.”

Tyler frowned fiercely at her. “You’re not supposed to work.”

“I’ll sit down the whole time. I promise.” That might actually work, and she wouldn’t feel so grouchy all the time and left out. Confined at home, she’d missed the work and the gossip and seeing friendly faces every day. Pops had been partially right when he said she was a central figure in the village. But what he hadn’t mentioned was how important the people of Collina were to her.

“Wow! This is great. Thanks, guys. As soon as I get home, I’m going to go online and look up mystery weekends.” For once, instead of dragging his feet across the room, Tyler flew. It had never occurred to Teressa that Tyler might be bored, not lazy. Seemed as if she was making faulty assumptions left, right and center about the people she knew.

“Make way. Gotta feed the pregnant lady.”

Dusty took the chair Anita vacated as everyone drifted off. They were probably afraid she and Dusty were going to start fighting and didn’t want to get caught in the middle of an argument.

Dusty loosened his tie and sat with his legs spread apart, his large hands resting on his thighs. Teressa caught her breath. He looked so gorgeously masculine. He was not in the least bit conscious of what a beautiful picture he made, sitting next to her with the sun spilling over his wide shoulders.

He glanced at the plate he’d brought her and placed it on the small table between them. “You should eat something. You probably didn’t get a chance to eat much earlier.”

She looked down at her hands. It was sweet that he was concerned about her, but she’d rather he thought she looked sexy. Her boobs were practically falling out of her dress, but he’d barely looked at her all day. She glanced at him from under her lashes. Now that she thought about it, he’d hardly spoken to her at all.

“Thanks for taking care of Sarah and Brendon during the wedding. I’m sorry they acted up.”

“You don’t have to thank me for doing anything concerning the kids, Teressa.” His voice sounded rough. Angry.

She closed her eyes. She’d left it too late. He hated her. “Dusty—”

“Not here,” he interrupted her. “I get it. They’re not my kids. I know I’m not good enough for you. Let’s take a break and try to play nice for Sylvie and Adam’s sake.”

She slid forward in the chair and placed her hand on his knee. “I apologize for being so difficult. Can you ever forgive me?”

“For what? Saying the truth? Might as well face it, I’m not husband material.”

“So, I guess if I asked you to marry me, you’d say no?”

Dusty froze, his coffee cup hallway to his mouth. He looked as if he was repeating the words in his head to make sure he’d heard her right. After a second he put the cup down as carefully as if it were a bomb.

Finally, he looked at her. She saw a flash of surprise, before caution chased it away. But she also saw his gaze heat up and soften.

His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down in his throat. “Are you serious or is this some kind of wedding hangover thing? I think I’ve heard about that happening.”

She laughed and slipped her fingers over the back of his hand. “No, Dusty. This isn’t any kind of hangover anything. I’ve finally realized how much I love you, and I’m really, really sorry it’s taken me this long to admit the truth to myself.”

He puffed out his cheeks and expelled a lungful of air. “Can we go home now? I don’t think you have a clue how beautiful you look today.”

She laughed louder. “I thought you weren’t looking at me because you hated me.”

His gaze dropped to her breasts, and her body immediately responded. “That’s not the reason. I wasn’t sure I could keep my hands off you, and now I’m sure I can’t.” He stood. “Come on. You’ve got a bad headache and have to go home right now. Before you change your mind.”

“What about Sarah and Brendon?” She couldn’t stop giggling.

“Hell.” He dropped back into the chair. “I forgot. Okay...” He looked around the room. “Cal and Anita can take them.”

“Do you see them over there? Cal hasn’t taken his hands off Anita since they walked into the inn. If I didn’t know better, I’d say they’re about to make a break for it themselves.”

“That dirty dog. They are, too.”

She pressed forward until her knees were rubbing against his. “You know, I hear anticipation...heightens the experience.” She smiled and wiggled her eyebrows up and down. She couldn’t believe she’d almost lost out on the chance to share her life with him. Dusty was so much fun.

“Mommy.” Sarah burst into their private circle and leaned against Dusty’s knee as she stood between his open legs. “I’m hungry.”

Teressa smoothed down her daughter’s wild curls. “You sound more tired than hungry. Here, have some of these sandwiches.”

“Name a date,” Dusty interrupted.

“What?”

“Just in case it is a hangover thing, name a date right now.”

“I’m not going to change my mind.”

“I don’t care. I need a date.”

“Okay.” She sat back. “A month after the twins are born.”

Dusty’s sudden smile chased away the grimness in his face. “Good. Now, as for you, Princess—”

Sarah started pouting. “Are you mad at me?”

“No. But it’s not cool making your grandparents uncomfortable. You have to apologize to them.”

“You’re not the boss of me.” She thrust out her bottom lip.

“Yeah, I am.” She giggled when he tickled her. “I’m the boss of every princess around. Princesses are special people, and they don’t hurt the people who love them.”

“Will you come with me?” she begged Dusty.

Teressa watched his weathered face soften again. “Of course I will. Let’s get it over with.”

Her heart pounding in her throat, Teressa watched her beautiful, delicate daughter’s hand disappear inside Dusty’s big one as they made their way across the room to where her mother sat by herself. God. She’d come so close to being that lonely woman. But she had Dusty to save her. And Sarah and Brendon. And now, two new babies. She folded her hands on her belly. She had a family to take care of, and who would also take care of her. She was the luckiest woman in the world.

Nine months later

T
ERESSA
WALKED
OUT
of the church beside her husband, who looked particularly handsome, wearing his good black suit and a baby over his shoulder. Her lips curled into a smile. Who could have guessed wild Dusty Carson would be such a wonderful, natural father. He’d mastered diapers the first day the twins were born, and always seemed willing to get up for the midnight feedings. The only time he wimped out was when one of the children cried. Tears demolished her big, tough guy.

She looked down at the baby in her arms, into the warm blue eyes of her son. Had she really once thought having two more children was beyond her? Every time she looked at both Luke and Daisy, she saw her husband in their sparkling blue eyes and blond hair. She squeezed her son’s toes. She suspected both of them were going to lead them a merry chase. Thank goodness their father seemed to have an almost supernatural connection to them. He knew they were going to cry almost before they did. He could sense when they were asleep and when they woke up. Hopefully, that would someday translate into anticipating whatever kind of devilry they got into.

Sarah skipped up beside her as they walked down the stairs. Teressa couldn’t believe how much her daughter had grown in the past year. Dusty’s insistence that Sarah get her hair cut short had been nothing short of brilliant. Instead of unruly orange curls spiraling out from her head, a neat cap of soft curls framed her sweet, freckled face.

She’d already slugged her first boyfriend in the nose. Teressa had been mortified when Tommy’s parents called to tell them about the mishap. Dusty, of course, had defended Sarah’s actions, saying he’d have done the same thing, and then he’d made Sarah and Tommy sit down and talk about what happened. Apparently, Tommy had given Sarah his sister’s bicycle for a present, but took it back when his parents asked where it was. She’d be keeping her eye on Tommy in the future.