Sara's Song by Fern Michaels Page A

boots?”
    â€œIn the garage with my fishing gear. Do you like to fish Sara?”
    â€œMy dad used to take Carly and me when we were little. I haven’t gone in years. We used to go in a canoe. My mother cheered us from the dock.”
    â€œWould you like to go fishing with me?”
    Sara didn’t hesitate. “Yes I would.”
    â€œDo you rollerblade?”
    â€œI never tried it. Carly loves it and says it’s wonderful exercise. I like to hike.”
    â€œYou’re kidding! I love to hike. Someday I want to do that survival thing. You know, climb the real mountains with ropes and pulleys and all that stuff. You ride the rapids, live in tents, eat off the land. I just never have the time. I also don’t like doing things alone. I’m the only unmarried guy in the band. When is your next vacation?”
    â€œThe entire month of December. My contract is up at the hospital, and it will take that long to negotiate a new one. I’m not sure I want to stay at Benton Memorial. I’ve been thinking about going into private practice.”
    â€œWhat’s stopping you?”
    Sara buckled the yellow slicker. “Money. I’m still paying off student loans, and I don’t know if I want to go further into debt. It’s very expensive to become a doctor, even worse if you have a specialty. Malpractice insurance is prohibitive. The water’s bubbling. Can I set the table?”
    â€œSure. We’re eating in my fancy dining room unless you want to eat out here in this mess.”
    â€œI don’t mind. I’m a kitchen person. Carly and I have this wonderful breakfast nook with a wraparound window. It overlooks a small garden. We have bird feeders and a few squirrels. I love to sit there on Sunday mornings with my coffee and the paper. Just tell me where the dishes are.”
    Dallas pointed to the cabinet to Sara’s left. He watched as she set the table, folding the napkins, placing them just so, arranging the silverware. “Root beer, right?” He nodded. “Glasses or do we swig from the bottle?”
    â€œI’m for whatever saves on dishwashing.”
    Sara’s voice was full of awe. “Me too. Carly and I use those plastic throwaway dishes. The shiny ones. Everything’s throwaway. Even though we have a dishwasher, you have to rinse off everything, load it up, put in the soap, clean up. That takes time.
    â€œLaundry takes time, housecleaning takes time. Mowing the lawn takes even more time. Then you have to go to the dry cleaners, the supermarket, the gas station, the auto body shop, the drugstore. Some days I can’t get everything done. You’re the lucky one, you have people do all that stuff for you.”
    â€œI never thought about it like that. Sometimes I’d like to do those things. Adam keeps me on a tight schedule and an even tighter leash. I really understand the time thing. Well, time is standing still right now for both of us. I love this mess. Just look at it. If I tried, I couldn’t have done this. And all because I wanted to impress you. Tell me I impressed you.”
    Sara’s face was solemn when she said, “You did. You are. I will always remember eating spaghetti with Dallas Lord wearing a yellow slicker. I hope you have lots of garlic butter.” Maybe her purchases at Sassy’s weren’t a mistake after all. She blinked when she remembered the price. Did men really pay attention to women’s underwear, or was that a myth?
    â€œI made my own garlic butter. Sit down, Doctor, and I will serve you the best spaghetti you ever ate.”
    â€œWhat’s that noise?”
    â€œWhat noise?”
    â€œThe noise coming from the freezer.”
    â€œIt’s probably the cell phone. I would have thought the wires were frozen by now.”
    â€œI see.”
    Dallas propped his elbows on the table. “No, you don’t, but that’s okay. I had a short-term . . . thing with