Lucky's Choice(46)

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.#p#分页标题#e#

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.