Sarah was about to join them when she heard a car door slam. She set a bottle of sweet tea to the side. “I’m still up. I’ll take care of this one.”
“Sarah Dalton,” a child squealed when the door opened.
Sarah looked out over the counter to see Angela with her father, Brock, right behind her. For a split second, she thought she was dreaming again, but then the child ran around the end of the counter and threw her arms around Sarah’s legs.
“I chased the lizard and you found me,” Angela said, looking up at her. “And nowIfoundyou.”
Sarah reached down and gathered the child up in her arms. “Yes, you did. Would you like a doughnut and some milk?”
“Will you have one with me?” Angela asked.
“I guess I could do that,” Sarah answered and looked over the counter at Brock, who was standing there with a smile on his face.
“You are a hard woman to track down,” he said, “and I hope we aren’t intruding. Angela has been asking when I’m going to find youevery morning at breakfast, and when she says her prayers, she asks God to let her find you.”
“I’m glad you kept looking. What can I—” Sarah began, but Grace appeared by her side, seemingly out of nowhere.
“I’ll take care of this. You go on and sit down with your guests.” She turned to face Brock. “What can I get y’all this morning?”
“Chocolate and sprinkles,” Angela said.
“Half a dozen glazed. Coffee for me and milk for MissBossy Britches,” Brock answered with a smile.
“Some dreams come true,” Grace whispered for Sarah’s ears only.
“I’ll have a cream cheese–filled one,” Sarah said. She lowered her voice: “And from your lips to God’s ears.”
Grace filled the order, put it all on a tray, and took it to the table that Claud and his cronies had vacated. “I’m Sarah’s sister, Grace Dalton, and that redhead over there at the other end of the dining room is Macy, our cousin.”
“I’m Brock Stephens and this is my daughter, Angela.”
“Daddy, if she’s a sister, does that mean if I take Sarah home that she can be my sister?” Angela asked.
“Remember what I told you.” Brock’s face turned slightly pink. “We can come see Sarah, but we can’t take her home.”
Angela cocked her head at her father. “I prayed and God said I could take her home.”
“Did God say today?” Brock asked.
Angela’s lower lip protruded in what Grace figured was a well-practiced pout.
“No,” the child finally answered, “but maybe she can go to the park with us?”
“We can ask her if she can do that,” Brock replied.
“I would love to,” Sarah said. “We’ve got one here in Devine with swings, but I have to work until noon.”
“We’ve got this place covered,” Grace said. “If Angela is going to the park after she has her doughnuts, then there’s no reason why you can’t go with her. It’s a pleasure to have met y’all, but I hear a car door slamming, so I’d better get back to work.”
“Thank you,” Sarah mouthed.
Grace had barely made it back to the counter when Brother Jimmy came through the door. “Good mornin’,” he called out. “Is Macy... oh, I see her...” He made an abrupt turn to the left and headed toward her table.
“Can I get you anything?” Grace asked.
“A cup of coffee and maybe two glazed doughnuts,” Brother Jimmy answered. “I’ve been hearing all about how good your pastries are.”
Macy sat up a little straighter and tucked a strand of red hair back behind her ear. “Good mornin’ to you. Are you settling into the parsonage?”
