The buzzer on the alarm clock sounded. This was the real world, not that paradise of warm sunshine and glorious flowers. Today, in
254 Fern Michaels
the real world, she knew she must call her father again to see if the shock had worn off. She was going to have to talk to Bess and prepare herself for another long discussion with her boss and her new mother-in-law. WTiat was Sallie Thornton going to say? ^^h had said his mother wouldn't be pleased, that she didn't beUeve in hasty marriages because she had married in haste. "Just be yourself, Fanny," was his addce. He'd gone on to say that his mother would either avoid her like the plague or smother her with love and money. "She thinks money can buy amthing." His voice had been so tormented she'd reached out for his hand to comfort him.
Fanny applied her hpstick, checked her stockings to be sure the seams were straight, spritzed some perfume on her neck and wrists. Mrs. Ash Thornton was ready for her first day back at work. Mrs. Ash Thornton could handle anything that came up. Mrs. Ash Thornton longed for the lunch hour so she could meet Bess with her news. Mrs. Ash Thornton was deliriously happy.
"Mrs. Thornton, how are you this fme January morning?" Devin Rollins greeted her. "I hate to ask this, but will you be sta^ang on or must I start to look for a new secretary?"
"Fd like to stay on, Mr. Rollins. Fm going to stay on at the board-inghouse, too, and save all my money. It's much cheaper than an apartment. Ash is going to handle all the military paperwork. Have you spoken with Mrs. Thornton?"
"Yes, last evening when she returned. Phihp met her at the airport and told her."
"Was she upset?"
"I don't think she was upset as much as she was hurt. Women are funny about weddings, especially the wedding of an oldest son. You might want to give some thought to a church wedding when Ash returns. Your family would probably like to see you walk down the aisle."
"It's a thought, but it wouldn't be the same. It doesn't bother me, and I know it doesn't bother Ash. I loved our wedding. We wore leis we made ourselves. I had a circlet for my hair and a bridal bouquet. Ash looked incredibly handsome in his uniform. I don't think I want to negate that wedding with a fancy one. We said the words, 1 have the ring. I told you many times, Mr. Rollins, I'm a simple person. I require very litde. I'll be a good homemaker. I'll be very good to Ash. Mrs. Thornton won't have to worry about us."
"It's a shame she never had a daughter, Fanny. By the same
token, you haven't had a mother. Perhaps the two of you will become close."
"I'd like that very much. I think Ash would like that too. I guess I better get to work. Oh, what's all this?"
"The blueprints for the Ragtown Park, and the cottage, and of course a stack of bills. Oh, and Mrs. Thornton is going to come by around noon. She would like to take you to lunch if you don't have other plans."
Fanny's heart leaped into her throat. "I'd like that." Bess would have to wait.
It was eleven-thirty when Sallie Thornton walked into Devin Rollins's office dressed in a wool suit the color of ripe blueberries. A tiny pillbox hat of the same color was perched on the back of her head. "You look good enough to eat," Devdn smiled. "God, Sallie, I missed you."
Sallie leaned into his embrace. "I was only gone a few days, Devin."
"It doesn't matter. You weren't around the comer where I could reach you if I had to. I panic when you're away. I always have this fear you might not return."
"Why do you think I came back so soon? Let's have dinner this evening . . . and . . ."
"You don't have to ask me twice. Is seven okay?"
"Seven is perfect. Where's Fanny? Did she say anything?"
"Just that she's deliriously happy. She loves your son very much."
"I don't doubt that at all. The problem is Ash. Does he really, truly love her? For some reason I don't think so. Mark it down to woman's intuition. Is she going to have lunch with me?"
"She said she would like to. I sent her to the courthouse to leave some papers for the judge. I think I hear her on the steps."
"Mrs. Thornton . . . Sallie, I . . ."
"You don't have to say anything, Fanny. I'm happy for you and Ash. I hope you have many wonderful years ahead of you."
Fanny thought she saw tears glistening in Sallie's eyes as she stepped into her embrace. "I'll do everything I can to make Ash happy, Sallie. I swear I will. I love him so much, I almost feel sick with the feeling. I promise you I'll be a good wife. I know how to keep house and cook and mend. I can sew and garden. I baby-sat a lot, so I know how to take care of children, even infants. I don't want you to ever be disappointed in me. I can try and be a daughter to you. I might make mistakes because I never had a mother."
256 Fern Michaels
"Then we'll learn together. I never had a daughter, so it will work out perfecdy. Promise me you'll bring me up short if I start acting like a busybody mother-in-law."
"I promise."
"Now that that's setded, you two beautiful ladies should be on your way so this attorney can get down to work."
"Fanny, I met a wonderful young woman yesterday who's around your age. She's my nephew Moss's wife. The Seth Coleman we spoke about at Thanksgiving really and truly is my brother. I think you two might turn out to be friends. There are no young people at the ranch for her to pal around with. She has a iitde girl, although I didn't get to see her. I'm going to have a party over Memorial Day, and invite the whole family. In the meantime, I'd like it if you'd call her and get acquainted. I suspect, living in that dark, somber house with a mother who rivals an ogre, and my gruff, harsh brother, she could use a friend. Her name is Billie and she's as pretty and wholesome as you are. I'll give you her phone number before we leave the restaurant."
"I'd like that. How was it to meet your long lost brother? Was it everything you wanted it to be?"
"In many ways it was. Seth is ... he looks like my father. He's very gruff. I suspect there's a gende side to him. At first he was suspicious of me. I might be wrong, but I don't think my brother has much use for women. That's the main reason I would like you to call Billie. Here we are, Fanny. I think we should order some champagne to celebrate."
"I never had anything to drink in the middle of the day. Please, if you don't mind, will you tell me all about Ash when he was young? I want to know everything. I want to tell you about how I met him and the letters we've been writing back and forth. I'm so glad it's not a secret anymore."
"We are going to have such a wonderful time, Fanny," Sallie said. She reached across the table and took her brand-new daughter-in-law's hand in hers.
Fanny smiled. It was all going to work out perfecdy.
The two Mrs. Thorntons spoke about many things, particularly about Ash and Simon. They drank toasts to happiness and longevity, to workable marriages, and to a houseful of children and pets. By the end of the two-hour luncheon, the two Mrs. Thorntons knew they would be friends forever. Fanny felt like she'd met her very own mother for the first time in her life. She beamed her happiness.
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Vegas Rich 257 At last, Sjillie Thornton had the daughter she'd always dreamed
of.
On September 21,1944, the same day the carrier force in ttie Pacific launched an air attack on Manila led by Ash Thornton, Fanny Thornton gave birth to twin boys.
"Two baby boys!" Sallie said, her eyes round in stunned surprise.
"Two as in one, two?" Philip demanded. "Good lord!"
"Oh, dear," Sallie said, "I have to go shopping. We only have one of everything. Philip, I'm going to need some help."
"Sallie, I would love to stay and help, but I have ten thousand chicks coming in today. I have to be there. They could die if they aren't handled properly."
"You're right, Philip, the chicks are important. Would you mind if I asked Devin to help me? This is family, Philip. I don't want to . . ."
"It's all right, Sallie. I'm sure Devin v/ill be more than glad to help. By the way, where is he? I thought he'd be here."
"Philip! This is family."
"Are you trying to tell me Devin isn't part of this family? So, it's a weird situation, so what? If you need my permission, which you don't, call Devin."
"All right. He feels very close to Fanny, almost like a second father. Which reminds me, I have to call Mr. Logan. I wonder what Fanny will name the boys. Listen to me, name the boys. They're babies."
"Give Mr. Logan my regards and tell him it feels wonderful to be a grandfather."
"Oh, my God, Philip, we really are grandparents. You don't think they'll call me Granny, do you?"
"I wouldn't be a bit surprised." Philip laughed as he kissed his wife on the cheek. "Give Fanny a big kiss for me. I'll try and get back later this evening."
Philip's stomach lurched when he walked through the door to see Devin sitting on the iron bench by the entrance. "Get in there!" he said gruffly.
"It's family, Philip, I don't want to intrude. I've been waiting to see ... I thought..."
"Twin boys! Have a cigar!"
"Two! Oh my God!"
258 Fern Michaels
"That's what I said. Take care of things, Devin."
"PhiHp . . ."
"Sallie's waiting for you."
Devin hesitantly extended his hand. He drew in his breath waiting to see what Philip would do. Philip didn't hesitate; he grasped his hand and pumped it. "Look at it this way, you only have two babies to worry about. I have ten thousand baby chicks waiting for me."
"Thank God you don't have to pick out names for them."
"Oh, but I do. They come in lots of five hundred. I give each lot a name."
"Are you spoofing me, Philip?"
"Not at all. See you around, Devin,"
Devin walked into the maternity waiting room and told Sallie about his conversation with Philip.
"He's like that," SaUie said. "Remember last Christmas? He really is worried about the baby chicks. He takes the chicken business very seriously. You have no idea of the money we make fi-om those chickens. Of course you do, you're my attorney. I'm babbling because I'm so excited. The nurse said we can see the babies in a few minutes. They're getting Fanny ready. I don't imagine she's going to feel like having visitors, but I want her to know I'm here. I called her father. He was so excited he could barely talk. I put the wheels in motion for word to get transferred to the Hornet. Ash is going to be . . . stunned. The nurse is motioning to us. The babies must be ready."
"They're identical!" SalHe said in amazement.
"They're twins," Devin said. "Are babies always this littie?" he asked, his face full of awe.
"More or less. Look at the hair! They're gorgeous!"
"They look like Fanny," Devin said.
'*Yes they do," Sallie said happily. "Just like Fanny." Thankyou, God,
"The nurse is motioning to you, Sallie."
Sallie tore her eyes away from her new grandsons. "We can see Fanny now."
Fanny, her hair soaking wet, was propped up in a nest of white pillows. Sallie tried to remember what she herself looked like when she gave birth. She flinched when she remembered how disgruntled, angry, and miserable she'd been, and how she'd done nothing but sleep for a week. Fanny was bright-eyed, smiling, and anxious to see her new sons.
"Did you see them, Sallie? Hello, Mr. Rollins. What did my father say? Did you get through to the Hornet? Are they beautiful, Sal-lie? Tell me the truth. There isn't anything wrong with them, is there? You were right, I can hardly remember the pain. I only have one of everything, goodness, this is going to take some getting used to."
"You look so pretty," Sallie said as she kissed Fanny on the cheek.
"They fixed me up a litde while ago. I feel like myself now, but I'm starving. They said they'd bring me a sandwich soon. I've been trying to pick out names. I just don't know. What if I pick something and Ash doesn't like it? I can't bear for them not to have names. The doctor put little bracelets on their ankles that say, Baby One and Baby Two. Baby One is three minutes older. Can you imagine? What do you think of Birch Coleman Thornton, and Sage Logan Thornton? Those are my two favorites. Now, I don't have to pick one or the other."
"I like them," Sallie said. Devin nodded in agreement. "I like the fact that you want to use my maiden name and your own. That's very kind of you, Fanny."
"Then it's Birch and Sage. They sound strong and rugged; perfect names for boys. Birch is the oldest. I'm so relieved. It didn't seem right to call them One and Two."
"Now that it's setded, you need to get some rest. I'll be back tomorrow."
"Sallie, I want to thank you for everything. I don't know what I would have done without you. I just wanted you to know that."
"I wouldn't have had it any other way. Sleep well, Fanny."
"I can't wait for Ash to get in touch. I'm so happy."
"She's asleep. I don't think I've ever seen anyone so happy and dred at the same time," Devin said. "You should be proud, Sallie."
"I am, Devin, I am. Come, let's go home. We've had a busy day, and now it's our time."
"Our tim
e. It sounds wonderful when you say it like that," Devin said, nuzzling the back of her neck.
"That's because it is wonderful. It was a glorious day, Devin. Going home together makes it perfect. Isn't she the prettiest thing you've ever seen, Devin?"
"Next to you, yes."
"I don't know if I could have handled twenty-one hours of labor," Sallie said, taking Devin's hand and leading him out of the room.
260 Fern Michaels
"She's going to be a wonderful mother. I hope... I hope Ash is half as good a father. I'm going to worry about that, Devin."
"Have you told Fanny about the house you bought for them?"
"No. I'm going to take her straight there from the hospital. I want it to be a surprise. I'll pack her personal things tomorrow or the next day. Do you think she'll like it, Devin?"
"Of course. As belated wedding presents go, I think a house is right up there at the top of the list. What do you think I should get the babies?"
"Fanny will like anything. You have to get two. Isn't it wonderful, Devin? Do you feel like a grandfather, you know, sort of? I know for a positive fact, Devin, that Philip will welcome you as an extra grandfather. I'm sure Mr. Logan won't mind, and I will absolutely love it."
Vegas rich Page 31