Storming the Castle (Dale Series)

by Arianna Hart

  “I love working with Sam,” he told her. “He’s a real professional. When he called me in for the studio work and told me about the new tour schedule, I couldn’t say yes fast enough. It’s the best of both worlds, especially with Sonya expecting baby number two,” he said.

  “Congratulations. When are you due?” Faith asked the beautiful African American woman who was reed thin and showed no signs of pregnancy.

  “Not until June. We only just found out.”

  “That’s wonderful. Are you hoping for a girl this time?”

  “We’ll take whatever God gives us, but I have to say, after seeing your daughter in her dress and crown, I’m really hoping for a baby girl I can dress up.”

  “No. Absolutely no girls. My heart couldn’t take it,” Terence said.

  “That’s just because you’d worry she’d date someone like you,” Sonya elbowed him.

  “Exactly.”

  Faith had wanted to meet Sam’s manager, Dave, after she’d exchanged so many emails with him, but Sam said he had quit after he found out about the new tour schedule and Sam’s change in home base. Some people just couldn’t leave the rock and roll life style, she guessed. That was fine, as long as he wasn’t one of them.

  It took Faith almost five minutes to corral Piper and get her settled at their table. She’d only just sat down when the record company exec stepped up to the microphone. The ribs that held the strapless dress up were digging into her sides and the sky-high shoes were pinching her toes. More than anything she wanted her flip-flops and a T-shirt and her own bed.

  But this was Sam’s night and she would walk barefoot over hot coals for him. Plastering on a smile, she clapped politely when the man from the record company finished speaking. She hadn’t heard a single thing he said, but she didn’t think it mattered.

  Sam strolled up to the podium, and her blood pressure spiked. He literally took her breath away, and it wasn’t just because her dress was so tight. Happiness radiated off him as he looked at her and Piper. He blew them both a kiss as he waited for the applause to die down.

  “Thank you everyone for coming out tonight to celebrate the release of Storming the Castle. This album was a departure from what I’m sure you’re all used to from me, but I consider it one of the best records I’ve ever done. From the advanced reviews I’ve gotten, many of you agree.” He pretended to wipe sweat off his brow, making the crowd laugh.

  “The inspiration for this album is the lovely lady sitting up front. The lady I’m hoping will accept my proposal and make me the happiest man in the world by marrying me.”

  Faith’s heart stopped. He did not just do that.

  “Momma, come on. Go up there.” Piper dragged her from the chair to the podium where Sam waited with a ring box.

  “Will both of you marry me, be my family? You’re already my life.” He opened the box and there was a beautiful solitaire diamond in one slot and a much tinier, heart shaped pink diamond in the other.

  “Yes,” Faith whispered, fighting back tears. “You impossible man, yes.”

  “Yeah,” Piper shouted, and the microphone picked up her scream so it echoed through the room.

  “They said yes folks,” he said unnecessarily.

  The room erupted in laughter and flashbulbs, but Faith didn’t care, because Sam was slipping a ring on her finger and one on Piper’s. He’d claimed them both for all the world to see.

  Epilogue

  One year later

  “Momma, when’s Daddy getting home? I want to show him my loose tooth.” Piper bounced up and down on the front porch.

  “His flight landed on time, so he should be here soon.” Faith had her own surprise for her husband. “Don’t bug him too much, though, he’s going to be tired. It’s a long drive from Atlanta, and that’s after a flight from Japan. He’s going to need some down time before you can run him ragged.”

  “Do you think he got me the parasol I asked him about?”

  “Piper Elizabeth. He doesn’t need to get you something from every place he goes.”

  “I know, but it’s neat. How long is he going to be home for this time?”

  “If everything goes as planned, he should be home for months.”

  “So he’ll be here for the Father-Daughter Dance? And Christmas?”

  “Yup, and Easter and your birthday, too.”

  The sound of tires crunching on the driveway had Piper launching herself off the porch steps. Sam barely had time to get out of the SUV before Piper jumped on him.

  “Look at my tooth! It’s all wiggly, and Momma says the Tooth Fairy will give me a dollar when it comes out.” Piper clung to Sam, who scooped her up.

  “A whole dollar? What are you going to do with all that money?”

  “Grandpa P. says I should put it in my piggy bank to save for the future, but I think I’m going to take it to Miss Mary Ellen’s store and buy candy.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  Faith waited impatiently for Piper to let go of Sam so she could get her hugs in, too. She wanted to launch herself at him the way her daughter had but restrained herself. The last leg of the tour had lasted a month, and she’d missed him terribly.

  “If you look in my bags, you might find some candy I picked up for you in Japan,” he said, putting Piper down.

  “Awesome.”

  She dashed off, and Faith dragged Sam down for a welcome-home kiss. “You shouldn’t get her something from everywhere you go. She’s getting spoiled.”

  “I’m not going anywhere else for a long time. Thank God. I’ve missed you.” He kissed her again and crushed her to his chest.

  Faith winced and pulled him into the house. “I have something to show you, too.”

  “Is it better than a loose tooth?”

  “Not quite, but I think you’ll like it.” She held his hand and towed him to the kitchen. “It’s in the oven, go look.”

  “Did you make me your famous layered brownies?” he asked.

  “You’ll have to see for yourself.”

  “How mysterious.” He kissed her again and crossed to the oven. He opened it and pulled the tray out with a bemused look on his face. “You made me a hamburger bun?”

  “No, I put the bun in the oven. Just like you did.” Faith waited for him to catch on to the joke.

  “I put a bun in the oven? Wait, a bun in the oven. You’re pregnant! We’re pregnant? We’re going to have a baby?”

  He dropped the roll and scooped her up, lifting her feet clear off the floor.

  “Be careful, my boobs are killing me. But, yes, we’re having a baby in about seven months.”

  “When did you know? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “I had my suspicions, but I didn’t take the test until a couple of weeks ago. I wanted to know for sure before I said anything, just in case I was wrong. And I wanted to tell you in person. I know this is a little sooner than we planned.”

  “It’s perfect. You’re perfect. I can’t wait. I want to go to every appointment with you. And Piper is going to make such a good big sister. Does she know?”

  “No, I wanted to tell you first.”

  Sam kissed her again, gently this time. “Let’s tell her together. I love you so much.”

  “I’m glad you’re back.”

  “It’s so good to be home.”

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  Author’s Note

  Remember in soap operas how one day a baby was born and then, poof! The baby is now four years old? A few years later, that baby who should only be about two is now coming home from college? I did the same thing with baby Emily. If you haven’t read any of the other books set in Dale, then you have no idea what I’m talking about. If you’ve visited Dale before, I apologize for playing fast and loose with the time-space continuum.

  Acknowledgments

  Without the help of a grea
t many people, my books would never get written. Thank-yous are long overdue to the following people in no particular order: Heidi Shoham, editor extraordinaire, for the encouragement, especially when you don’t hear from me for months at a time. The Sizzling Scribes (www.sizzlingscribes.com), for the kick in the pants, yes, I needed it. Leigh Wyndfield, thanks for the laughs and the vows of silence, Joanne Rock, also for the laughs, the margaritas, the hot tub, and loving those bad-boy rockers just as much as I do. Paul, for everything, I love you more than words can say. My daughters, you are the smartest, prettiest, nicest, most talented daughters a mom could ever ask for. I love you, and no, you still aren’t allowed to read my books. Ever. And last, but certainly not least, thank you to all the readers who actually want to read MORE of what I’ve written, you have my heartfelt thanks on a daily basis.

  About the Author

  Arianna Hart lives in Connecticut with her husband, three teenage daughters, a hyperactive Siberian Husky, and two Bengal cats who can’t be bothered with her unless she is writing. She spends her time teaching high school English to disenfranchised youth and running her children to dance classes and social events. Her winter sport is reading by the fire and she looks forward to the day she can spend her summers writing by the beach.

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