The Devine Doughnut Shop(7)

“Two reasons,” Sarah answered. “You are a smart kid who deserves to graduate, but I don’t think it’s safe for you to sleep in the park. The second thing is that I hate to dust and do dishes. How does fifty dollars a week and room and board sound? You would only need to work about two hours a day for the money, and Sundays will be your free day. I can go with you right now to get your things and move you into your room. You can start by dusting and vacuuming tomorrow morning while we are here at the store. Sound good?”

“It does. You can depend on me,” Raelene said. “May I finish my doughnuts first?”

“Yes, of course,” Sarah said, and with an inward wince, she continued, “Why did your mama leave you behind?”

“Her boyfriend didn’t like me, and she loves him,” Raelene answered. “My grandmother was the one who raised me, not Mama. She died a few months ago, and I had to move in with Mama. We didn’t know each other so well anyway, so it wasn’t hard for her to leave me . . .” She paused. “Or for me to refuse to go with them, either. Mama said that I was eighteen and old enough to make my own way.”

“I see.” Sarah felt so sorry for the girl that she had trouble keeping tears from her eyes. “Well, you finish up here, and then I’ll take you to get your belongings.”

“Thank you, and I’d work for room and board. You wouldn’t have to pay me,” Raelene offered.

Sarah stood up and patted the girl on her shoulder. “That wouldn’t be fair. You’ll need lunch money and a little bit to buy personal items.”

“I don’t eat lunch,” Raelene said under her breath.

No wonder you are so thin, Sarah thought, but she said, “Why don’t you eat lunch?”

“The kids are kind of mean, especially the girls that Audrey is running with these days, so I just go to the library during that hour and do my homework.” She shrugged again.

Sarah gritted her teeth to keep from swearing. “Well, you can take your lunch for the rest of the year. There’s always sandwich makings in the fridge or leftovers from supper.”

Raelene finally smiled. “Thanks again.”

Sarah crossed the room and poured herself a cup of coffee. “I just hired a maid for the next three months. She’s going to work for room and board and fifty dollars a week.”

“Audrey is going to be mortified,” Grace whispered, and then went over to sit down across the table from Raelene. She reached out and laid a hand on Raelene’s. “I’m glad you are coming to live with us, and we’ll be very grateful for your help.”

“I hope it doesn’t cause problems with Audrey and your family,” Raelene said in a low voice.

“My mama used to say that everything works out the way it’s supposed to,” Grace said.

“I hope she was right,” Raelene said.

“You enjoy your breakfast, and this afternoon we’ll get you settled into your new room.” Grace patted her hand and then headed back to the kitchen, with Sarah right behind her.

“Is that as good as a convent or boot camp?” Sarah asked.

“Pretty dang near,” Grace answered.





Chapter Two


Claud, Ira, and Frankie were the first in the shop, as usual, on Saturday morning, despite the rain pouring down. They removed their yellow slickers and hung them on the line of hooks to the left of the door and set their cowboy hats on the empty table next to theirs. Grace filled three mugs with coffee and was rounding the end of the counter when several more customers arrived. Then a tall man with dark hair pushed his way into the shop. He set his umbrella by the door and then headed over toward Claud and the other guys’ table.

Grace got a little zing when she looked up and saw him. There was something about his smile when he saw the older men, and the pure joy in his expression at seeing friends. But that wasn’t anything compared to the immediate attraction—something she hadn’t felt in many years.

“This is crazy,” she muttered. “I don’t even know this man.”

“Travis Butler!” Claud exclaimed and pushed his chair back. He met the man halfway across the room for a handshake that turned into a hug. “Come on over here and sit with us. We ain’t seen you in a month of Sundays.”

“Been a minute, hasn’t it? I saw your trucks parked out here and figured this had to be the home of the famous doughnuts you used to bring to the ranch when I was a kid.” Travis’s deep drawl boomed all over the shop—which had gone quiet as soon as he walked inside.

“Bring another cup of coffee, Grace. We’ll share our doughnuts with Travis while we catch up,” Claud said.

Grace arranged a dozen doughnuts in a box and set it on a tray with a mug of coffee, a handful of tiny containers of cream, and a couple of packages of sugar. Then she added four forks, a fistful of paper napkins, and four saucers, and carried it to the table.

“I want to introduce you to a friend, Grace,” Claud said. “This is Travis Butler. His granddaddy and all of us served on several committees together for the Texas Cattlemen’s Association. Holt used to bring Travis with him to the conferences, so we’ve known him since he was knee-high to a grasshopper.”

“I don’t think I was ever that short.” Travis smiled up at Grace.