Sara's Song (14 page)
Authors: Fern Michaels
“Because those fat farms cost a fortune. Are you saying I'm
fat?
”
fat?
”
“Are you going to marry me? Maybe you aren't fat yet. A little chubby. Well, what's your answer?”
“Dallas, I need a little time to think. It has nothing to do with the tapes and our talk here this morning. I've been so unlucky in my relationships, I don't want to jump into anything. The fact that neither one of us is certain if we're in love bothers me.”
“Get over it.”
“Just like that, get over it.”
“Don't think about it. As long as you
like
me and I
like
you, we'll do fine.”
like
me and I
like
you, we'll do fine.”
“You've just given me the biggest headache of my life, Dallas Lord.”
Dallas hooted with laughter. “That's because you know you need to lose ten pounds. We'll get married after you lose it. That gives you two weeks. Guess what else, Sara Killian. I'm going to have a surprise for you very soon. I want you to think of it in terms of a wedding gift.”
And so Dr. Sara Killian agreed to marry Dallas Lord for all the wrong reasons. She further agreed to a private no-frills ceremony at Dallas's Mandeville Canyon estate. There would be one guest on the list: Nellie Pulaski. Big A1 Cherensky, the Canyon River Band's drummer and the father of nine, was to be the best man and Carly, Sara's sister, the maid of honor.
“Let's go up to my house and cook our dinner,” Dallas said when she agreed. “I'm anxious to see how my new office came out. I'm really sorry about your job, Sara.” His face brightened, “Now you don't have to worry about it. We can start to make all kinds of plans in my new office. Do you want to follow me in your own car or ride with me? How would you like a chauffeur and a Rolls-Royce?”
“I don't think so, Dallas. I like to drive. I like doing things for myself. I don't think I could ever get used to having a housekeeper fussing around my house.”
“You get used to it. It gives you time to do the important things. You always have clean clothes, the floor is clean, there's food in the cabinets and refrigerator. I had some bad ones in the beginning. They used to steal my stuff until Adam cracked the whip. Now anyone who works for me has to be bonded and fingerprinted. Security is the big problem. Adam said the payroll is outrageous. Sandi is bringing a friend up on Monday to audition for Billy's spot.”
Sara nodded. Dallas spoke so fast, his thoughts changing at the speed of light. “Let me get dressed, and we'll go to your house. I'll follow you. We can get the turkey ready to go in the oven. Dinner should be ready around five. Is that okay with you?”
“Sure. Whatever you want, Sara. Do you mind if I use your phone while you're getting ready?”
“Go ahead.”
Dallas waited until he heard Sara close her bedroom door on the second floor. Did hospital administrators work on Thanksgiving? He dialed and asked for Harry Heinrick. He waited a moment, then announced himself, his body shaking with anger. His voice a venomous hiss, he said, “You gave me your word that Sara wouldn't find out until I was ready for you to announce it. Sara already knows. The whole hospital knows. Sara was upset. She's still upset. What the hell kind of deal are you trying to pull on me? I don't want to hear excuses. I have a good mind to back out. I'm going to think about all of this until Monday. I'll call you and give you my decision. I don't like doing business with people who go back on their word.”
Dallas hung up the phone. Would Adam have done it any differently? Hell, yes, he would have. He would have told Heinrick to fuck off, the deal was dead in the water. Adam wouldn't have said he would think about it till Monday.
Shit
,
I can't do anything right.
He had three days to think about it and to decide if he wanted to act like Adam or act like Dallas Lord.
Shit
,
I can't do anything right.
He had three days to think about it and to decide if he wanted to act like Adam or act like Dallas Lord.
“I'm ready, Dallas.”
“Me too.”
“Are you happy, Sara?”
Sara stared at Dallas's anxious face. He had such beautiful dark eyes and the most winsome smile she'd ever seen in her life. In his crisp khakis, pristine white shirt, whose cuffs were rolled to the middle of his arms, and his loafers, he looked nothing like the famous rock star that he was. “I think I am, Dallas. If happy isn't the right word, then contented will do. How about you?”
“I'm happy. I haven't been this happy in a long time. I haven't thought about Billy since I got to your house. I guess that means I'm making progress.”
“I'd say so. I'll follow you.”
Dallas was like a child when he hopped from the Jeep. He could barely contain himself until Sara climbed from her car. He reached for her hand. Together they ran to the house. “I can't wait to see the office.”
The six decorators were sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee. “I hope you don't mind, Mr. Lord.” Andrew Morrison, the owner of the decorating firm, motioned to the coffee cups on the table. “We finished about an hour ago. We didn't want to leave until you got back. If there's anything you don't like, we can change it now. We have everything in the van.”
“Help yourself.” Dallas's voice was excited and expansive.
Dallas motioned for Sara to follow him.
Nothing in the world could have prepared Sara for Dallas's newly decorated office. Shiny foil lightning bolts in every shade of the rainbow zigzagged across the room on a background of fuzzy electric blue wallpaper. The ceiling was painted a powder-puff blue with chunky white clouds that gradually darkened to represent a night sky with stars, moons, rainbows, and shooting stars.
Sara looked down at the floor, her jaw dropping. White tile with polka dots the same colors as the lightning bolts, raced across the office to blend into one giant red circle. A huge white desk with a glass top and a red, white, and blue chair sat inside the circle. The natural wood cabinets were now stark white, with smears of color going in every direction. Gold and platinum records, awards, certificates, and citations were aligned on one very large wall. The glistening gold frames seemed to be hanging from a braided red wire that ran horizontally and vertically across the wall.
“God! Is this great or what?” Dallas clapped his hands as he raced around the room to view it from all angles. “I told them I wanted my eyeballs to stand at attention. Man, they are at attention! This is really a wake-up room! What do you think, Sara?”
Sara blinked. “It's certainly different.” She longed for sunglasses.
“I told them I wanted something different. They gave it to me. God, this is so great. Do you think it's a room that will give me inspiration? How could it not,” he said answering himself. “Stay here, Sara. I have to pay the guys. We'll start dinner in a few minutes.”
Sara sat down on the weird-looking chair in the shape of the American flag. She closed her eyes and immediately felt better. She didn't open her eyes again until Dallas touched her shoulder. “I have the feeling you don't like this room.”
“It's a bit . . . much for my taste, Dallas. I'm a pretty conservative person. The only thing that's important is that you like it. I don't know if they'll ever photograph it for
Architectural
Digest.
”
Architectural
Digest.
”
“Are you kidding! Those people call me at least once a month. They're dying to get my house in their magazine.”
It was Sara's turn to be amazed. She nodded. “I guess we should start dinner, huh?”
“Well, sure. While the turkey is cooking we can go down to the studio. I want to show you something first, though.”
Five minutes later, Dallas opened his bedroom door with a flourish. “See this mess. Adam said I had to take it over. All this stuff was in the office. It was an Adam office. I wanted a Dallas office. Now, do you understand?”
“Dallas, what is this stuff?”
“I guess it's my life. My holdings. My records. All kinds of stuff. It might as well be in another language. I'm going to call Adam tomorrow and tell him he has to take it all back. Even if I could take care of this, it wouldn't leave me any time for my music. Every member of the band has stuff like this except Sandi. She hasn't been with the band long enough. I had to lend her money yesterday. Adam never would have given her a loan. He's too stingy, and I'm too generous. And we're brothers. Figure that one out. He told me not to trust anybody or they'd rob me blind.”
“He told you the truth, Dallas. You have to be careful with the people you hire. You need to do background checks and don't
ever
let them handle your money. I had a lawyer once who tried to double bill me. You also have to pay careful attention to your credit-card charges, too. People make mistakes all the time. Today you just can't be careless. This all looks like a monster job. Did your brother take care of things by himself or does he have office help?”
ever
let them handle your money. I had a lawyer once who tried to double bill me. You also have to pay careful attention to your credit-card charges, too. People make mistakes all the time. Today you just can't be careless. This all looks like a monster job. Did your brother take care of things by himself or does he have office help?”
“I don't know. Adam is the kind of person who can do anything. He sees everything through to the end. I get frustrated and quit if it doesn't go right. Adam never gives up. He's like me, he doesn't have a private life. The music, the business, the money, it takes over and
consumes
you. Sometimes I wish I was a janitor. There are days when I want to run away and never come back.”
consumes
you. Sometimes I wish I was a janitor. There are days when I want to run away and never come back.”
Sara laughed. “Sometimes I wish I was a schoolteacher. Let's open a bottle of wine and make a toast while I get the turkey ready. You can call your brother and wish him a happy Thanksgiving.”
“I like you, Sara. I really do.”
“I like you too, Dallas. I really do.”
“Once we're married I'm going to hire security guards for you.”
“Oh, no, Dallas. Don't do that. My patients won't like it.”
“They'll chew you up and spit you out. They rip your clothes off. They follow you and stare at you while you're eating. They try to break into your house and your cars. Some women actually send me their underwear: I don't know if you can handle it. It won't go away, and it only gets worse.”
“We can talk about that later. Let's get that wine and start the turkey.”
“What shall we drink to, Sara?”
Sara's stomach lurched. “How about to a long and happy life?”
“I like that. To
our
long and happy life.”
our
long and happy life.”
The knot in Sara's stomach doubled in size. Maybe this was all a dream. On the other hand, maybe she was insane. As she sipped at her wine she argued with herself.
No one else is knocking on my door. Every relationship I've had has been a bust. Plus, I have strange feelings that I have to come to terms with. This man is going to make my life
comfortable and luxurious. He won't make demands on me. I can have my own hospital. I can help people who otherwise wouldn't receive help. I can help save more lives. I won't have to answer to money-hungry bottom-line medical corporations manned by greedy doctors. I'm going to be forty years old soon. Men aren't interested in forty-year-old women. Men want young, dumb, and stupid women who they believe will make
them feel young again. There's nothing wrong with what I'm going to do. I committed. I'm doing it. I can handle being Mrs. Dallas Lord. Sara Lord. Dr. Sara Lord. No, it should be Dr. Sara Killian. I'm not giving up my name for anyone. I was born with it and I'll die with it.
comfortable and luxurious. He won't make demands on me. I can have my own hospital. I can help people who otherwise wouldn't receive help. I can help save more lives. I won't have to answer to money-hungry bottom-line medical corporations manned by greedy doctors. I'm going to be forty years old soon. Men aren't interested in forty-year-old women. Men want young, dumb, and stupid women who they believe will make
them feel young again. There's nothing wrong with what I'm going to do. I committed. I'm doing it. I can handle being Mrs. Dallas Lord. Sara Lord. Dr. Sara Lord. No, it should be Dr. Sara Killian. I'm not giving up my name for anyone. I was born with it and I'll die with it.
After Sara slid the turkey into the oven on the bottom rack, the two pumpkin pies on the top, Dallas said, “Did I ever show you my gymnasium?”
“No. I didn't know you had one.”
“Come on, Dr. Killian, and feast your eyes on this room. It even has a sauna.” Sara trotted after Dallas like a puppy.
“Wow! My sister works out regularly. She'd love this room.”
“It's got everything. Sixty-inch television screen, stairmaster, treadmill, NordicTrack, rowing machine, state-of-the-art muscle-building equipment, stationary bike, and all that stuff over there that I haven't figured out yet. The sauna is behind the door, and there's a complete bathroom with Jacuzzi.”
“I'm getting tired just looking at all this. Do you use it much?”
Dallas flushed. “I've never used it. I just wanted to have it. You know, in case I ever wanted to use it. Adam has a gym, too. He exercises religiously. He eats healthy food, too. He hardly ever eats red meat. He'll only have one drink at a time. Once in a while he smokes. He quit a long time ago, but sometimes he takes a cigarette. Especially when I get on his nerves. He's a really good cook. When the band first started up he used to cook for us so we could save money by not eating out. It was a job because there were so many of us. Even when times were lean we always had enough good food.”
“Sometimes, Dallas, you make your brother sound like the devil and an angel at the same time. Did you ever sit down with him and tell him what you
really
feel? Brother to brother. Carly and I do it all the time. It helps to clear the air. I thought you were going to call him. ”Do you want to do it now?”
really
feel? Brother to brother. Carly and I do it all the time. It helps to clear the air. I thought you were going to call him. ”Do you want to do it now?”
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