“How are we going to get out of this? We’re both going to go to jail for fraud.”
“We’re not going to jail,” Lucky reassured her.
“People go to jail for committing fraud.”
Lucky shook his head. “What fraud? Couples get engaged all the time.”
“But we’re not really engaged. When we don’t get married, they’ll know we’re lying. I need to hire a private detective to find the children’s uncle. Maybe I can find him in time, and no one will find out the truth. We can tell everyone you changed your mind.”
“Calm down. I already have several people searching for their relative.” He cocked his head to the side. “Why not tell them you broke up with me?”
Willa rolled her eyes. “No one will believe that.”
“I’m getting tired of you putting yourself down. Don’t do it again.”
Willa felt the chill of his displeasure and unconsciously shivered. Desperate, she changed the subject.
“Thank you for helping me keep the children and finding a place for Sissy. I know she regrets her actions.”
“No, she doesn’t. I didn’t do this for the children and for damn sure not Sissy. I did it for you.”
“Why?” She was confused. Why would Lucky help her?
“You’ve worked hard to keep that family together. They owe you a debt, not the other way around. Lewis attacked you. No one blames you for killing him.”
“I blame myself. I should have hit him with the gun, tried to knock him out.” She had bought the gun to protect herself. Lewis had been more and more demanding, frightening her into the rash purchase, a decision she would regret to her dying day.
“What if you hadn’t? What if he took it away and killed you?”
“I wish I had never bought that gun.”
“Why? It served its purpose. It protected you and Rachel. What if you didn’t have it that day?”
Rachel would be dead, and she would be, too. There had been a mad glaze in Lewis’s eyes that day. Willa saw it every night in her nightmares.
“You can’t bring the bullet back, Willa. Unfortunately, there aren’t any do-overs where a life is concerned.”
“No, there aren’t,” Willa agreed.
“Since you’re dressed, I suggest we wake the children and go out to dinner. We need to let people see us around town together. Go wake the girls. I’ll get Charlie.”
“But I have orders I need to get done for tomorrow.”
“I’ll help you when we get back.”
“You’ll help?”
“I can keep the kids occupied and put them to bed. It will get them used to me.”
“Why do they need to get used to you? We’ll have to pretend to break up before the two weeks are up.” Willa tried to think about how hard it was going to be to get out of the lies they had told.
“We’ll worry about that when the time comes. Right now, our priority is to make Child Services believe us.”
Willa nodded. The threat of the Wests taking the girls was the only incentive she needed to keep the pretense of being engaged.
She woke the still-sleeping girls.
“We’re really going out to dinner with Lucky?” Leanne asked, rising up in her bed when Willa told her where they were going.
“Yes,” she answered, dressing Chrissy and Caroline in warm clothes.
“Why does he want to take us out to dinner?” Leanne asked, jumping out of her bed.
“He wants to get to know all of you better.”
“Sissy got us into a lot of trouble, didn’t she?”
“Yes, and Lucky wants to help.” Willa studied the girl seriously. “Leanne, if you want to stay with the girls and Charlie, we have to show that I can care for you and your cousins. Can you please help me with that?”
Leanne lowered her head, unable to meet her gaze. “I’m really sorry, Willa. I didn’t think they would take us away. I shouldn’t have let Sissy talk me into not telling you she was sneaking out.”
“She could have really gotten into a bad situation and been hurt.”
“I realize that. I was stupid.”
“Not stupid, you were just trying to make your big sister happy.” Willa handed her the hairbrush after she brushed out the two little girls’ hair.
“Ready?” Willa asked the apprehensive girl when she was done with the brush.
Without her sister, a different girl was emerging, although she didn’t like to think unkindly that Sissy wasn’t a good influence on Leanne.
Downstairs, Lucky was waiting with Charlie, who couldn’t hide his excitement about going out with the large man standing patiently by the doorway.
Willa grabbed her purse, holding the girls each by their hands. Lucky reached down, taking Chrissy’s.
“Leanne, take Caroline.” Leanne took Caroline’s hand as she went through the door.
“I had her,” Willa protested.
“Leanne is able to place her in the car.” Lucky closed the door behind them.
Willa was walking toward her car when Lucky stopped her.
“We’ll take my car.”
Willa stopped in her tracks, used to him on a motorcycle. She looked at the curb, seeing a large, black Yukon sitting there.
“Caroline and Sissy need car seats.”
“Knox put them in the back seat,” Lucky stated, opening the back door.
Willa stood aside, watching him first buckle Chrissy then Caroline into their seats. Leanne climbed in then Charlie.
“Wow, we each have our own seat.”
“You had your own seat in my van, too,” Willa reminded them as she got into the SUV after Lucky opened the side door for her. They had been cramped, but they had fit.
Charlie remained silent, fidgeting in his seat.
“Where would you like to eat?” Lucky asked, getting in behind the wheel.
“Anywhere is fine.”
“The diner,” both Leanne and Charlie spoke from the backseats.
Lucky raised his brow at her, waiting for her response.
“The diner is fine.” Willa smiled, wanting to make the children happy and get the night before them over with.
It wasn’t far to the diner. When they parked, Willa was the last to exit the car. Lucky opened her door, holding Chrissy comfortably in his arms.
“You coming?” His questioning gaze didn’t ease her nervousness.
“Do I have to?”
Lucky gave her a devastating smile. “I think that’s the first time you ever said a joke in front of me.”
Willa slid out of the SUV, closing the door. “I wasn’t joking,” she mumbled.
“Did you say something?”
“I said, they’re busy tonight.”
“They usually are on a Saturday night.”
They stopped inside the door, searching for a free table, but it took a few minutes for one to become free. Willa felt the curious gazes directed toward them as they waited, so she was relieved when the waitress escorted them to a large table at the back.
The younger girls were settled at the table before Willa took a seat. Lucky sat down next to her with Leanne and Charlie sitting across from them. She tried to relax as if it was a normal thing to sit at the table with Lucky.
“Do you know what you want, or do you need me to come back?” The waitress paused.
“We can order and save you a trip.”
Willa caught the grateful smile from Ginny. She was unaware the former foster child of the Wests had begun working here.
Willa ordered meals for Chrissy and Caroline and let Charlie and Leanne order for themselves. Lucky ordered a steak and fries.
“How about you, Willa?” Ginny gazed at her expectantly.
“I’ll just take a coffee.”
“Bring her the same as I’m having.” Lucky closed the menu, handing them to Ginny who took off in a rush before Willa could change the order.
“I’m not hung
ry. I had a big lunch,” Willa snapped.
“This is dinner. If you can’t eat it all, I can finish it. I’m starved. It’s been a long day.”
Willa felt terrible. If not for his help, she would have been sitting home alone tonight, crying her eyes out over the children who were sitting happily at the table next to her. Not to mention, he did look exhausted.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound like a witch.”
“It’s cool. I imagine you had a terrible night. Attitude in a woman never bothers me. I can hold my own ground.”
Willa nodded. She didn’t doubt that for a second.
It didn’t take long for their meals to arrive. The younger girls played with their food more than they ate, but the atmosphere at the table wasn’t as uncomfortable as Willa had thought it would be.
The other restaurant-goers eventually stopped staring at them, and she was able to relax and finish most of her meal. Lucky ate his own then sat back, enjoying his coffee.
“That won’t keep you awake tonight?”
“Six cups of coffee couldn’t manage that tonight.”
“You didn’t sleep well?”
Lucky’s face became closed-off as he motioned for Ginny to bring their check. Willa didn’t miss the strain on the woman’s features when she laid the check on the table.
“I didn’t realize you were working here,” Willa probed delicately.
Ginny paused in her frantic pace to wait on her customers. “I was fired from my last job.”
“I was wondering where you were the last time I stopped in at the insurance office.”
Ginny didn’t explain why she was fired, and Willa didn’t probe further, only nodded sympathetically. It was hard to have your income depend on another.
“I have to work two jobs to make up for losing that one. I’m also working at the theatre.”
“I imagine working two jobs can’t be easy.”
“I’d rather work four jobs than put up with old man Dawkins.”
Willa didn’t blame her. Carter Dawkins was as unlikable as his son.
“I didn’t mean to upset you. If there’s anything I can do, let me know. If I open the bakery I’m planning, maybe I can offer you a job. But it’s going to be a while,” Willa added hastily.
The woman’s face brightened. “Let me know. I don’t mind this one, but the theatre is third shift.”
“I’d be glad to hire you.”
“Thanks, Willa. I heard you’re engaged. Congratulations,” she said.
“Thanks.” Treepoint’s grapevine had already been hard at work. “I’ll see you tomorrow in church.”
Ginny moved away to wait on another table.
“You always try to help everyone, yet you hate to take it yourself.” Lucky leaned down, picking up Chrissy.
“She needs help. She looked exhausted,” Willa stated simply.
“Who’s going to help you?” Lucky’s expression tightened.
“I can handle it. I have a secret weapon.”
“You do?”
“Yes, it brings the girls to a stop for at least a good hour a day.”
His mouth twitched. “What’s that?”
“Peppa Pig. I’ve recorded every episode,” Willa said fervently.
He burst out laughing as he stopped long enough to pay the check.
Feeling the center of attention again, Willa fled outside to wait, practically running into the man and woman about to enter the diner.
“Watch where you’re going!”
Willa came to a sudden stop at Jenna’s harsh command.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.” She tugged Caroline closer to her to give Jenna and Curt Dawkins enough room to pass.
Curt held the door open for Jenna as she walked past her, deliberately knocking Willa back a step.
Willa gasped as Caroline fell down.
Jenna didn’t pause, throwing a gloating look over her shoulder, and a flash of fury struck Willa.
“Leanne, take Caroline and Charlie to the car.”
Before the girl could say anything, Willa went through the door after Jenna and Curt.
Lucky was turning away from the cash register, giving her a questioning look as Willa moved in front of Jenna, blocking her.
“If you don’t like me, that’s fine, but don’t you dare touch one of those children again.”
Jenna cast a wary glance toward Lucky. “It was an accident.”
“Usually, when you have an accident, you apologize.”
No apology was forthcoming from her, and Willa could tell she wasn’t about to get one.
“If you have a problem with me, take it out on me, but don’t ever think I’ll stand by and watch you hurt someone I care about to get back at me.”
“I don’t have a problem with you, Willa. You’re not that important to me,” Jenna said cuttingly.
“The feeling’s mutual.” Willa brushed rudely past her, for once happy that her weight came in handy. She knocked Jenna against an empty table, and Jenna would have fallen if Curt hadn’t grabbed her arm. Willa waited for Jenna’s reaction, stubbornly refusing to leave before Jenna could.
The woman regained her footing, giving her a hateful glance.
“Let’s go eat, Curt.” With that, the pair moved away.
“You want to go after her and beat the shit out of her, don’t you?”
Willa took a shuddering breath at Lucky’s amused question.
“Don’t cuss in front of Chrissy,” she reprimanded.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She gave him a frustrated glance before going out the door. It was his fault the woman hated her guts. Jenna had been a cordial, if not friendly, neighbor before the day his motorcycle had been spray-painted. Willa believed Jenna blamed one of the children for the damage. For all she knew, Jenna might think she had done it.
“What did she do to make you so mad?”
“She knocked Caroline down,” Willa answered, her concern for the little girl alleviated when she saw her standing next to Leanne.
“Why would she want to hurt Caroline?”
“She didn’t. She wanted to hurt me.” Willa picked up Caroline, brushing her hair away from her damp cheeks. “You okay, sweetie?”
Caroline nodded, placing her thumb into her mouth. “I want my blankie.”
“As soon as we get home,” she promised.
Lucky buckled the girls in while Willa climbed into the front seat. When Lucky settled into his seat, he paused before starting the SUV.
“I’ll talk to Jenna and make sure she doesn’t bother you anymore. You don’t have to put up with her much longer. She’s decided to move away.”
“Don’t bother. It will just make the situation worse. She already thinks I’m the neighbor from Hell. That’s probably why she decided to move.”
“I doubt that’s the reason, but if she tries to touch you again, she’ll find out exactly what Hell is.” Lucky’s vehemence brought a fleeting moment of concern for Jenna until she realized she was being ridiculous.
Lucky may have been hanging around The Last Riders lately, but the pastor constantly preached about violence during his sermons. She seriously doubted he could harm a fly. She tried to ignore the voice at the back of her mind that reminded her he had also preached against promiscuity.
Chapter 12
Lucky walked to the front of the crowded church. With every pew filled, he felt conscience-stricken at the welcome the parishioners were giving him.
He stopped behind the pulpit and turned to face the expectant crowd, each waiting to hear his sermon. His hands gripped the sides of the wooden pulpit, sliding against the smooth wood that had been rubbed every Sunday by him during his tenure as their pastor. Then his eyes roved over the ones seated in the audience: Winter, Beth, Evie, Lily who was holding her child in her arms. Lucky swallowed hard at her bright smile. He felt his weakest whenever he looked into her violet eyes.
; He would never be the man she thought he was, and he felt like a failure each and every time. Not only because of her, but everyone there who wanted him to provide them with the guidance and ministering they needed. How could he help them find their way when he was more lost than them?
His eyes came to rest on Willa who had Caroline and Chrissy on each side of her in the front row where he had asked her to sit. Charlie and Leanne completed the picture of a family, one he would never allow himself to have.
Lucky bowed his head and heard the parishioners mimicking his action. He repeated the same prayer he opened each of his services with then raised his head.
“I had planned a sermon for today, thanking you for allowing me back into the church. I planned to explain my actions of the past months and ask forgiveness from the Lord and you.” His knuckles whitened from the grip he had on the pulpit.
“I love being a pastor. I always have. It’s something that I feel driven to do, but at the same time, I’m at war with myself. I want to stay your pastor, but for me to do this, I do not want to be judged by how you believe I should live as a servant of the Lord. Our belief in God is what has brought us here today. If you want to judge me, then do so on my work as your pastor in the past and in the future. If you’re not happy with that, I am useless to this church as the leader it needs.”
Lucky opened his Bible and began reciting it as he gazed at Willa. She gave him the same timid smile she always gave him then glanced away, as though afraid he would read too much.
He had spent the night before at her house, playing with the children then getting them ready for bed while she had baked. The smell had filled the house as the children had laughed. It had brought back memories of his own childhood, and he hadn’t been able to bring himself to regret stepping forward so he could keep them safe.
The Wests sat in the middle of the church, piousness practically oozing out of them, while inside, the ugliness of their souls made him want to have them expelled from the church. He had made a promise never to divulge their secrets, and he wouldn’t, but he had every faith that God’s justice would be waiting for them, just as it was for him.
He had pretended to be unaffected by Willa, leaving her with a brief goodbye. However, all the while, he had wanted to take her with him to the clubhouse and barricade them in his bedroom until he had found out everything he wanted to know about her.