To Be a Dad (Harlequin Superromance) (24 page)

Except Dusty
. The words whispered through her mind. She shook them off.

“How did Adam feel about inviting Oliver to the wedding?”

Sylvie turned from the mirror to look at Teressa. “Not great. But he needs to see for himself there’s nothing between Oliver and me other than he’s my agent. Actions speak louder than words. And speaking of actions, how did you get my brother to finally grow up?”

Teressa opened her mouth to quip
which brother?
but realized Sylvie was serious. “You think Dusty’s changed?”

“How can you even ask that? He gave up drinking beer, which he loves. And he never once complained about doing it.” Sylvie narrowed her eyes. “What
names are you considering now?”

“I finally talked him out of Duke. So now it’s Luke. I’ve always liked that name.”

“And for a girl?”

“Emma, but...”

“What?”

“I’ve always loved the name Daisy. It’s such a fun-loving name.”

“So tell him.”

Teressa shrugged. “He’s earned the right to name our babies.”

“I have to tip my hat to you. I never thought he’d grow up. Who would have guessed he’d be so good with children? And your house. Wow. It’s really looking good. He’s been working hard, hasn’t he? Usually when he’s done fishing for the year, he slacks off.”

Teressa felt clammy, as if she might throw up.

Sylvie hugged her. “It’s going to be okay, Teressa. You two will find your way.”

“You’re going to make me cry again, and today is supposed to be about you, not me. But thank you for being such a good friend.” She blinked rapidly to clear away her tears. “You know I love you, right?”

Sylvie beamed a radiant smile at her. “Of course you do. We’re family.”

Teressa struggled to swallow her tears as they smiled at each other. Sylvie was her oldest friend in the world.

As they turned toward Pops, who had just opened the door, she realized that wasn’t true. Dusty had made friends with her the first day of school. Her family had just moved to Collina, and she hadn’t met anyone yet. Dusty was a big kid, in grade three, and for some reason decided she needed protection from the older kids. She’d forgotten about that. In one way or another, she supposed he’d been looking out for her ever since, although Dusty had never made a big deal about it.

“There’s my beautiful girls,” Pops boomed. “Don’t the two of you make a picture. I hope you’re ready to go. Last time I saw Adam he looked like he was going to faint. Hard to tell if it was because his tie was strangling him or if Oliver had arrived.” Pops laughed.

He looked pleased when both women laughed. “You’re looking very handsome, yourself.” Teressa patted his arm.

“Thank you.” Pops glanced briefly in her direction, but really only had eyes for his daughter. No wonder. She’d never seen Sylvie look so happy.

“I’m going to make one last trip to the ladies’ room.” She climbed the stairs to the second floor as much to use the bathroom as to give Sylvie and Pops a few minutes of privacy before they left.

Once inside the spacious bathroom Adam had designed, she sank onto the toilet and rested her head against the wall beside her. She was already exhausted, and she still had the wedding and reception to get through. She wasn’t sure she’d survive the whole ceremony, especially with the damned persistent backache she’d had the past day or so. She should have followed the doctor’s instructions and gone for more walks. But when was she supposed to fit those in?

She eased off one high heel, massaged her foot, then slipped the shoe on again and stood. Okay, she took a deep breath. She could do this. She refused to even consider letting Sylvie and Adam down. At best, maybe she could slip away from the reception early.

“I’ve got Sylvie tucked safely into the car. Now your turn.” Pops waited for her at the bottom of the stairs.

“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.” She gratefully took his arm. The stone walkway to the car was uneven, and she had almost zero experience wearing high heels.

“We’re right on time. How are you feeling, Teressa? I haven’t been able to get in a visit with you lately.”

Pops used to swing by the café in the quiet time between breakfast and lunch, and they’d sit down and talk for half an hour with a coffee. They’d discuss what was happening with the café, with Sarah and Brendon, with herself. She realized now she missed his visits and wondered why he’d stopped coming. Of course, he no longer owned the small restaurant. And rumor had it he was spending time with the nurse at the seniors’ center. But Teressa worried he’d stopped because of her tumultuous relationship with his son.

“I’m pregnant.” She smiled at him as she stated the obvious.

“I don’t know anyone who does pregnancy more beautifully than you do.”

“You’re going to make me cry.”

“At the risk of spilling more tears, I saw the wedding cake. It’s amazing. I can’t believe it’s the first one you’ve ever made.”

“Thanks, Pops. I loved making Sylvie and Adam the cake. I’m so happy for both of them.”

They stopped at the door to the car, and he hugged her carefully. “I want you to know no matter what happens, I’ll always see you as my other daughter. I know it must be hard for you, but I’m so happy you’re having Dusty’s babies. I can’t wait for grandchildren.”

“Oh, Pops.” She didn’t bother to hide her tears this time.

“There now.” He handed her a clean hankie. “Didn’t mean to make you cry.”

When Teressa slipped into the backseat beside Sylvie, Sylvie took her hand and held it all the way to the church. Teressa had no idea if Sylvie was giving or asking for support, but it felt as if the exchange was equal. How dare she wish for more when she already had such wonderful friends?

* * *

D
USTY
FIDGETED
AS
he stood beside Adam at the front of the small church. Why had Adam agreed to torture himself this way? Waiting for his bride to show up was hard enough on a guy, but when Oliver walked in and took a seat halfway down the church, Adam looked as if he was going to hurl. He and Sylvie should have eloped and had a party afterward. Standing up in front of everyone, wearing suits and ties, waiting, like, forever, sucked.

But in a way he understood why Adam had agreed to a traditional wedding. His soon-to-be brother-in-law would do anything for Sylvie. Just as Dusty would for Teressa. The difference was Teressa didn’t want anything to do with him. He rolled his shoulders, the suit jacket tight across his back.

Adam had already told him Beanie would finally be finished with the plumbing at the old family home in another day or so, and if Dusty wanted, he could move back home. It was Sylvie’s house now, but Adam and Sylvie were happy living next door in Adam’s house for the time being. Of course they’d still be renovating the old house, but he’d been living in the middle of renovations at his own house, so same old, same old.

Except he’d be alone. Sylvie had asked if he minded that they extend the same offer to Teressa, and it had damned near killed him to agree. To his relief Teressa declined, saying Sarah and Brendon had settled nicely into Dusty’s home and she didn’t want to move them again so soon.

Adam shifted beside him. Dusty could tell he felt as fidgety as he did. He started humming “Me and Bobby McGee” until Adam elbowed him. “Cut it out,” Adam murmured.

“Looks like everyone’s here, but the bride,” Dusty said out of the corner of his mouth.

Adam pulled on the knot in his tie as if it was choking him. “She’ll be here.”

Dusty noticed Adam had raised his voice at the end of the sentence, as if it was a question. “No doubt in my mind. You guys are solid gold.”

Adam smiled. “Thanks, man. It’s killing me standing up here.”

“Looks like you’re saved. Here she comes.” And then he felt as strangled as Adam had a minute ago.

When Teressa followed Sylvie into the church, Dusty staggered back a step, his breath leaving him in one big whoosh. Teressa looked so beautiful, her blue dress clinging to her like a second skin. He spared a quick look for his sister. Yeah, she looked good, but Teressa looked so...ripe. And...and...pregnant. Like a goddess.

She glanced at him briefly when she stopped behind Sylvie, and then moved to stand to the left of Sylvie. He’d assumed she’d be standing next to him.

He’d managed to miss the one rehearsal they’d held because Sarah had been sick that night, and they had to choose which one of them could attend because, like everything else that happened around here, almost everyone in the village had gone to the rehearsal, whether they’d been invited or not, and they couldn’t find a babysitter.

He swore he could smell the sweet, spicy scent that was uniquely Teressa’s from where he stood on the other side of Adam. Dusty raised his hands to shove them in his pockets, then dropped them by his sides as he endeavored to pay attention to what the officiant was saying. He wanted to stand beside Teressa and hold her hand in his. Well, he wanted to touch a lot more than that, but considering he was standing at the front of a church with pretty much everyone he knew sitting in front of him, he’d settle for holding her hand.

But he didn’t have the right to even do that. He’d tried the best he could to make them work, but they were stuck, and he didn’t think they could get unstuck. He no longer had any idea how to make Teressa love him. But he’d always known that was a losing proposition.

He tried to give the wedding his full attention, feeling like a shell of a man inside, but whimpers from the pew right in front of him made him wince. Uh-oh. He’d avoided looking at Sarah and Brendon for this very reason. He hadn’t seen much of either of them the past few days, and if they missed him half as much as he missed them, of course they were going to make a fuss. Too bad it had to happen in the middle of Sylvie and Adam’s wedding.

He should have thought ahead and asked to hang out with them for an hour or so last night. But he hadn’t gotten to the point where he could accept that he was only going to be a part-time dad, although that was the way things were shaping up. The thought of the three of them living in his house without him tied his gut into knots. He loved that they were safe and had their own space, but he wanted to live there with them, too.

Sarah quickly progressed from sniffles to outright crying, and Teressa’s mother was making almost as much fuss as Sarah, trying to keep her quiet. Now he knew where the little girl inherited her drama-queen genes from.

He glanced at Teressa for guidance, but she was staring down at her feet, biting her bottom lip, probably attempting to hold back either a smile or tears. Aw, hell. Tears it was. He saw one lone tear trickle down her cheek.

He shifted his gaze to Sylvie and held up his finger. The second she winked, he stepped down from his post as best man, snatched Sarah off the pew and returned to stand beside Adam with the little girl in his arms. A collective sigh went up from the church as Sarah patted his cheek, kissed him, then laid her head on his shoulder. What they didn’t hear was her whisper, “I love you.”

They also didn’t hear his heart breaking. He clenched his teeth to hold in the emotion that clogged his throat. No way could he look at Teressa right now, or he’d break down completely. When had he turned into such a wimp?

When he’d fallen in love with his little family. And yes, damn it, they belonged to him.

The officiant had smoothly continued on with the ceremony when the commotion started again. Brendon, this time. He didn’t wait for Dusty to save him, but made a break for it all by himself as he dashed up the two steps to Dusty and clung to his leg.

Dusty blushed, and then laughed when the congregation started laughing. He took the small boy’s hand in his and squeezed gently as he winked down at him. It had taken a lot of guts to break free from old Grandma and join them at the altar.

The tension ran out of Dusty as Brendon gripped his hand with both of his small ones. He nodded at the officiant, who had stopped this time, shrugged at Sylvie and Adam and avoided Teressa’s eyes. She was probably glaring daggers at him at the moment, anyway. They’d sort it out later. Right now what mattered was Sylvie and Adam’s wedding.

And that the kids loved him, even if their mother didn’t.

* * *

O
H
,
DEAR
HEAVENS
! Anita clenched her hands together in her lap. Dusty was the kind of person who grew on you, so she sympathized with Sarah and Brendon. She knew Dusty had taken a big step back from the children the past few days, but she had a pretty good idea why, and she had to agree with him. Teressa was being pigheaded about her and Dusty’s relationship.

When Anita first met Dusty, she wasn’t sure they’d ever be friends. But she knew he’d argued with Cal about shielding her too much from...well, life. If she ever needed someone to champion her cause, Dusty was the man to go to.

Sarah’s hissy fit didn’t surprise her, but Brendon having the nerve to run to Dusty did. Anita blinked back a tear, not the only tear in the church right now, she’d bet.

Cal slid his arm along the back of the pew behind her and leaned in close. “Are you okay?” he murmured.

She shivered as his breath tickled her ear, and she leaned against him. She could barely wait for them to be alone to tell him her decision. A few weeks ago Cal had come home and talked to her, really talked to her, about having a baby. She agreed to try another doctor, because she was confident the doctor would tell them the same thing; that it was okay for her to try to get pregnant. Yesterday, the ob-gyn had given her the go-ahead.

She’d planned to tell Cal last night when she’d gotten home from town, had even bought a bottle of champagne to celebrate, but she’d made the mistake of dropping by her father’s office before leaving the city. According to his secretary he’d been too busy to see her. She couldn’t imagine how he’d react when he found out he may someday be a grandfather. Not that she’d planned to tell him last night. She’d only wanted to see if he was okay. But she’d been so upset by her father’s refusal to make time for her that she decided to wait until she felt stronger emotionally to tell Cal her news.
Please let him be as excited as she was
.