woman was so stubborn. Ian almost got up and walked back out the door. He had a life and really didn’t need this right now. But the truth was, he knew that she needed him, whether she wanted to admit it or not. “I want to help you, Surry. But I’m scheduled to get on a plane first thing Monday morning. So, if you want the help, you’ll have to travel with me so I can figure out how we’ll fix this mess you’ve stepped in.”
She leaned back in her chair and stared at him.
It felt as if those hazel eyes were seeing into his soul. Ian squirmed in his seat a bit. “What’s with all the staring? Do I have food in my teeth or something?”
“I can’t date you.”
Ian looked around the room and then back at Surry. “Who asked you out?”
“You did—” she pointed at him “—you big goof. And now you’re asking me to go out of town with you. I just don’t want you getting the wrong impression.”
“You don’t have to worry about that anymore. I like my women a lot less obstinate than you are. I’m over you.” He lifted his hand like a man standing before a judge and pledging to tell the truth, and then he winked.
“I’m serious, Ian. Men are always acting as if they understand my reasons for not wanting a relationship, but everything changes after a few dates.”
He put his elbows on the table and leaned in. “So, men just can’t resist you, huh?”
“That’s not what I said.” She lifted a finger and then continued. “Men don’t like the word no, and they will chase after any woman who’s not chasing after them.”
Ian chuckled. “Is that right?”
“You know I’m right.”
Ian stood and pulled the keys out of his pocket. “Well, the offer stands. We can even get separate rooms.” He started walking away and then turned back and added, “Let me know by tomorrow and I’ll book you on the flight with me.”
* * *
After church, Surry, Danetta and Ryla went to a café for brunch. Surry ordered the fresh fruit platter with low-fat yogurt and a small coffee cake.
Danetta smiled at the server as she said, “I’ll take the full breakfast.”
Ryla licked her lips and set her menu down. “That sounds fab. I’ll have what Danetta’s having.”
Surry gave her friends a curious look. The three of them always got the fruit platter with yogurt for breakfast, unless one of them had a taste for a waffle with strawberries. But on no occasion had any of them decided to inhale eggs, bacon, hash browns, pancakes and fruit. Danetta used to eat a whole pan of brownies and a gallon of ice cream whenever Marshall started dating a new woman. But those days were over. She and Marshall were now married. Surry handed her menu to the server and asked her friends, “What gives? Why are you two ordering enough food to feed a family of five?”
“I just seem to be extra hungry these days,” Danetta said with a devious grin.
Ryla lightly punched Danetta’s arm. “Stop playing. Let’s tell her.”
With an eyebrow lifted, Surry asked, “Are my two best friends...or shall I say, my two only friends, keeping secrets from me?”
“No, girl. We just found out yesterday.”
Surry gave them a look that said “spill it.”
“Well, Ryla went to the doctor yesterday,” Danetta began.
“And when I told Danetta what the doctor said, she said she just had this weird feeling that something was up with her also. So she purchased a test, and wouldn’t you know, she passed it.”
“What are you two talking about?” Surry demanded.
“We’re pregnant,” the two said in unison.
She should have known this day would come, but honestly, Surry was shocked.
“Well, say something, girl,” Ryla demanded.
The waitress brought their drinks to the table and set a glass of orange juice in front of Surry and Danetta and then handed Ryla a glass of apple juice. Surry lifted her orange juice and toasted her friends. “Congratulations to both of you. Noel and Marshall must be over the moon.”
“They’re excited, all right. Marshall already went out and bought cigars.” Danetta laughed.
“And having the kids at the same time is going to be wonderful, because they will be able to do play dates together,” Surry said.
“We just need one more baby for the play date to be complete,” Danetta said with a pointed stare at Surry.
Shaking her hands vigorously, Surry said, “Don’t look at me. I don’t have time for a man or a baby. But I’ll tell you what Aunty Surry can do. I’ll design them some baby clothes.”
“Oh, Surry, that’s awesome! I’m picturing a whole new line of sleek and stylish Designs from the Motherland for babies.”
Surry held up a hand. “Hold on there, Ryla. I was just talking about a few outfits for Danetta’s and your babies. I have way too much on my plate to work on a kids’ line. If this new contract goes through, I will be working night and day finalizing everything.”
“Why are you even allowing if in your mouth? That is such a negative and faithless word. You need to take back your power on that one,” Danetta said.
“Everybody can’t walk on water, Danetta. Some of us normal human beings sink when we try that stuff.” In the past year, Danetta had been such a powerhouse of faith that she didn’t doubt God on anything. Surry was having a little more trouble. Her business was all she had, and if she lost it, she had nothing. She’d be just another loser added to the long line of losers in the McDaniel family.
“Did you call Ian like I suggested?” Ryla asked as she accepted her platter of eggs, bacon and hash browns from the waitress. The waitress then set a smaller plate of pancakes and a bowl of grits in front of Ryla.
Surry picked up her fork as her platter of fruit and low-fat yogurt was set in front of her. “Yes, I contacted Ian. I even went to his office and spoke with him face-to-face.”
Danetta received her food.
“What did he say?” Ryla pressed. “Can he help you?”
She hesitated and then said, “He would like to help me, but he has to be out of town for the next week or so, and then he’s going to be bogged down with the work he’ll have to do for his new client.”
Talking between bites, Ryla said, “But he told you he’d make time for you, right?”
“Yeah, if I decide to go out of town with him. But I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Surry bit into her pineapples and watermelon, loving the refreshing taste of the fruit. She looked over and watched as her friends gorged on carbs and fat. It was almost too much for her to watch. She pointed at their plates. “If you keep eating
