Page 71 of Sweet Home
“Not yet,” another child whispered loudly.
Delphine’s eyes flashed to Dulcie’s.
Please don’t let this frighten her,Dulcie prayed. She knew now why West had gone on ahead. But he didn’t know that neither she nor Delphine had ever had a party in their honor before, let alone a surprise party.
A huge smile spread across Delphine’s sweet face and Dulcie almost fainted with relief.
She’s excited. She’s happy…
Delphine took the last few steps a little faster, as if she couldn’t wait to meet the people who were going to be like family to her.
“Surprise,”more than a dozen voices called out.
Delphine’s eyes danced with delight as she took in all the happy faces in the crowded kitchen.
“Those two are West’s parents, Maggie and Daniel,” she told her softly, looking to the oldest Lawrence couple. “I’ll introduce everyone else slowly, okay?”
“Welcome home,” Maggie said, hurrying up to embrace Delphine. “I hope you’re hungry, sweetheart. We’ve been cooking up a storm here.”
“Yes,” Delphine said. “Thank you for having me, Mrs. Lawrence.”
“It’s just Maggie,” she saidwith a smile.
“Are those really your cows out there?” Delphine asked.
“Oh, yes,” Maggie said. “They’re all ours.”
“Wow,” Delphine said, looking like she wanted to make conversation about them, but coming up short. Dulcie would have felt the same. They honestly didn’t know much about the big animals.
“If you want, you can help me with them tomorrow,” Maggie offered. “I’ll give you a tour of the whole farm and the creamery, and we can sample the ice cream.”
“Yes, please,” Delphine said, looking like she might actually start jumping up and down.
Dulcie smiled at the knowledge that her baby sister could finally stop growing up so fast, and hopefully have lots more years being a kid out here.
Daniel came up to say hello and tell her how much they had all been looking forward to meeting her, and everyone filed over to the table, giving Delphine enough space that she wouldn’t feel too crowded in.
Dulcie was happy to see that someone had thoughtfully put Tag’s daughter, Olivia, beside Delphine. She already knew that her baby sister would absolutely hero-worship the older teen girl.
And they’ll both live on the farm, at least for now. She’ll have a friend whose house she can walk to.
Soon, bowls of fragrant chili and a platter of delicious corn bread were being passed around the big table.
We’re here. We’re both here. We did it.
The weight of all Dulcie’s fears suddenly landed hard on her shoulders, as if it had only been waiting for her toget out of the woods before it dawned on her how frightened she had been.
Suddenly, her chest was so heavy it was hard to take a breath.
“Excuse me just for a minute,” she murmured to Delphine, slipping out from her place at the table. “I’ll be right back. Don’t let anyone wait for me.”
She made it to the hall before she broke into a jog, stopping only to pull on her boots before bursting out the Lawrence’s front door onto the snowy porch.
Sucking in big breaths of the frosty air, she ran to the porch railing and grabbed on with both hands as her heart raced and tears prickled her eyes.
It’s okay now,she tried to tell herself.It’s really okay.
The sound of the door closing behind her let her know that she wasn’t alone. She turned to see West gazing at her.
