Sabrina

Jodi’s eyes twinkled and her smug smile would have bothered me if I weren’t so happy. “I take it things are working out.” Her gaze fell to Lexi, then to the ring on my left hand.

“Things are just fine,” I said, not wanting to give her any more details than I already had.

“When’s the wedding?”

“We haven’t set a date yet,” I said.

“Why not?”

“Jodi, I don’t want to play twenty questions with you.”

“Then tell me everything so I don’t have to ask.” The look on my face must have warned her to stop. “Okay, okay. What do you need to know?”

“What’s the deal with this partnership?” I asked. “Is it still going to happen if I’m not working here every day?”

“We had a deal, Sabrina. Here’s the paperwork you have to sign.” Jodi patted a fat folder that rested next to her right arm. “Just sign and it’ll be official.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it,” she said. “I don’t know why you’re so surprised. Bill’s a partner and he rarely comes in.”

“Yeah, but Bill’s never been around. He put up his money, and you and Jack brought knowledge and experience. He was never meant to work here.”

Jodi waved her hand as though swatting a fly. “Regardless, he’s not here every day, and you don’t have to be either.”

“Thank you.”

“And it’s not like you’re going far away. I’m sure you’ll be able to make it here for a meeting or two.”

“Definitely.”

I couldn’t hide my joy or relief. I love Dan, and I want to spend my life with him, but I’ve worked hard for this partnership.

Jodi stood and held up the folder that I knew contained the partnership agreement.

“I’m sure you’ll want a lawyer to look this over.” She handed the folder to me and stepped around her desk. “Now what do you say we take this little girl out for lunch? She’s been so well behaved, she deserves a treat.”

“Can I call Daddy?”

“Sure.” I looked at the clock. “He should be home by now.”

I scrolled through my contacts and found Dan’s name, then handed Lexi the phone. She looked exhausted. We’d spent the day running errands or packing, and I couldn’t help but wonder if she was regretting her decision to come along.

I folded a pair of jeans and placed them in a packing box. Lexi’s face was puckered in concentration as she held the phone to her ear. “Hi, Daddy. Me and Sabrina are home for the night and I just wanted to call and say hi. Call us back when you can.”

She ended the call, handed the phone to me, and shrugged. “He didn’t answer.”

I tossed a pair of socks into the box and closed the lid. “Maybe he’s still at an event and can’t answer,” I said. “I’m sure he’ll call back soon.”

But my words were false. Dan never called and as moonlight turned into morning light, my phone still hadn’t rung. My stomach knotted and I had to force the niggling doubts that played at the back of my mind from surfacing. He probably got in late and didn’t want to wake us.

That’s exactly what I told Lexi when she asked if he’d called after she fell asleep. She seemed so worried I offered to take her home.

“I don’t want to go home. I just wanted to talk to Daddy.”

“Are you sure?”

She nodded. “I’m having a lot of fun.”

Though I doubted her statement, I didn’t ask again. “Why don’t you try him now?”

Lexi did as I suggested, but once again left a message. “You don’t think anything happened to him, do you?”

Her worried expression tugged at my heart. “I’m sure he’s fine, honey.” I put my arm around her shoulder and gave her a quick squeeze. “Come on, let’s hit the road.” In an attempt to cheer her, I added. “Maybe we can stop at the mall on the way home.”

I knew she was really worried when even that failed to lift her spirits.

Lexi and I were sitting in McDonald’s when my cell phone rang. One glance at the caller ID told me Dan was on the other end of the line. “Hi.”

“Hey, honey. How’s it going?”

“Great.”

“I’m sorry I missed your calls. I broke my phone at the signing last night. It fell out of my pocket and totally smashed. Then I ended up visiting the children’s hospital this morning and wasn’t able to get a replacement until now.”

“I thought maybe your events ran late.”

“They did, but I still would have answered for two of my favorite ladies,” he said.

“That’s good to know,” I said, trying to sound like I wasn’t swooning. He really is sweet sometimes.

“You two getting along okay?”

“What do you think?” I asked, a smile in my voice.

“Is she behaving?”

“Of course, and she’s really a big help. We got a lot of packing done last night. How was the signing?”

“It went well, but I think I need therapy on my writing hand now.”

“That many people?”

“A good amount showed up,” Dan said.

“Don’t let them run you too ragged. If your leg starts hurting, take a break.”

“So far, it’s okay. And I have a great physical therapist, you know.” I heard the smile in his voice.

I would have loved to continue bantering with Dan, but Lexi was bouncing around in her seat as she waited to speak with her father.

“I hate to cut you short,” I said to him, “but Lexi is dying to talk to you.”

“I’ll call you later,” he said. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

That said, I handed the phone to Lexi. While she nodded and laughed and told Dan everything we did during every second of our time together, the knot in my stomach disappeared. The reason it had formed there in the first place is something I’m going to have to work on.