The Devine Doughnut Shop(90)

Frankie patted his stomach. “I bet I lost ten pounds. I might even have to buy new overalls.”

“Don’t pay no attention to them,” Claud said. “What they’re full of ain’t yesterday’s Easter ham. Bring us three cups of black coffee and a dozen doughnuts. Just mix ’em up this morning, and we’ll fight over who gets the maple ones. Lord, I’m glad y’all are back. I ain’t had a decent doughnut since you been gone.”

“We had a wonderful vacation, but we’re glad to be home,” Sarah said. “Thanks for missing us, and I’ll have that order right out.”

Claud’s comment about Easter brought a vision of Audrey and Raelene to Sarah’s mind. Audrey had worn a baby-blue dress with white polka dots, and Raelene had chosen one with yellow sunflowers for that special Sunday. Although neither of them would have admitted it, Grace could tell they had been nervous about going into the Sunday school room with Crystal and Kelsey. The girls hadn’t said anything to her about the fact that Crystal and Kelsey weren’t in attendance that morning, but Beezy had whispered that they wouldn’t be back to their church.

Sarah left the lid on the box open and set it on a tray, then poured three cups of coffee and carried it all to the table, where the guys were already deep in conversation about the new preacher in town.

“Did you hear that four families left our church and went to another one?” Claud asked as he took a doughnut from the box.

“No, is that why Crystal and Kelsey weren’t in Sunday school with our girls yesterday?” Sarah asked.

Ira reached for a doughnut with sprinkles. “Probably so. Those two have always been little hellions. My sweet wife, Martha Jane, used to put up with them in the church nursery. She could put a halo on the devil himself, but those girls were a different matter. Their mothers wouldn’t believe a thing when Martha Jane told her what they’d done.”

“Macy will probably have a better class without them. But I got to admit, I kinda feel sorry for whatever church they moved to,” Claud said and took a sip of his coffee.

Sarah sidestepped having to make a comment and pointed out the window. “Looks like we’re in for a busy day. You guys just holler when you get ready for a warm-up on your coffee.”

She hurried back behind the counter and quickly put on the second pot of coffee. When she turned around, people had not only filled all the tables but were lined up for take-out orders. She was just about to yell at Macy and Grace when they both came in from the kitchen with full trays in their hands.

“Looks like we’re going to sell out early today,” Macy said as she picked up an order pad and a pen and headed over to one of the tables.

“I’ve got one dozen saved back in the kitchen for the girls’ breakfast and for us to snack on when things slow down,” Grace said as she took her place behind the register.

Sarah filled a box with half a dozen glazed. “If they do slow down. It looks like we might run out by midmorning.”

At ten o’clock the items in the display case were sparse, but there were still a few of each variety left. The dining area and the parking lot had emptied out. Macy had just finished sweeping up crumbs and taken the broom and dustpan to the kitchen. Grace poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at a table.

“Mercy! What a morning!” Macy said. “I think everyone missed us.”

“Yep, I believe they did,” Grace agreed with a nod.

Sarah was about to join them when she heard a car door slam. She set a bottle of sweet tea to the side. “I’m still up. I’ll take care of this one.”

“Sarah Dalton,” a child squealed when the door opened.

Sarah looked out over the counter to see Angela with her father, Brock, right behind her. For a split second, she thought she was dreaming again, but then the child ran around the end of the counter and threw her arms around Sarah’s legs.

“I chased the lizard and you found me,” Angela said, looking up at her. “And now I found you.”

Sarah reached down and gathered the child up in her arms. “Yes, you did. Would you like a doughnut and some milk?”

“Will you have one with me?” Angela asked.

“I guess I could do that,” Sarah answered and looked over the counter at Brock, who was standing there with a smile on his face.

“You are a hard woman to track down,” he said, “and I hope we aren’t intruding. Angela has been asking when I’m going to find you every morning at breakfast, and when she says her prayers, she asks God to let her find you.”

“I’m glad you kept looking. What can I—” Sarah began, but Grace appeared by her side, seemingly out of nowhere.

“I’ll take care of this. You go on and sit down with your guests.” She turned to face Brock. “What can I get y’all this morning?”

“Chocolate and sprinkles,” Angela said.

“Half a dozen glazed. Coffee for me and milk for Miss Bossy Britches,” Brock answered with a smile.

“Some dreams come true,” Grace whispered for Sarah’s ears only.

“I’ll have a cream cheese–filled one,” Sarah said. She lowered her voice: “And from your lips to God’s ears.”



Grace filled the order, put it all on a tray, and took it to the table that Claud and his cronies had vacated. “I’m Sarah’s sister, Grace Dalton, and that redhead over there at the other end of the dining room is Macy, our cousin.”