“The children—”
“I’d be glad to spend the night at your house so you won’t have to worry what time you get home,” Mrs. Stevens, her neighbor from across the street, offered.
Unable to think of another excuse, Willa agreed.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it? Don’t worry, Willa; I won’t make it too wild,” Evie promised.
Willa had attended a couple of parties with the women that Lily and Beth had invited her to, and all of them had been fun, despite her feeling like the outsider.
“I’ll look forward to it,” Willa said and meant it.
When the women moved on, leaving the rest of the congregation to file past, she breathed a sigh of relief.
“That didn’t hurt, did it?”
“No.” Willa didn’t admit that his presence had kept her nerves steady.
“Ready, kids?” Now that church was over, Willa wanted to escape back to her home.
“Where are you going?” Lucky stopped her when she would have reached for Chrissy and Caroline.
“I’m going home to relax. It’s my day off.”
“You have to attend the fellowship meeting with me. Then we have to take care of getting a ring for you.”#p#分页标题#e#
“I don’t need a ring,” Willa protested.
“No one is going to believe we’re engaged if you don’t have a ring,” Lucky stated resolutely.
Willa followed Lucky into the fellowship hall. She had attended many times before, fading into the background. Today, they were the center of attention since everyone wanted to gather gossip for the rumor mill.
Willa was relieved when the room finally cleared.
She and the kids were hustled into Lucky’s SUV. Thankfully, the reception welcoming Lucky back to church and then sitting through the sermon had made the younger children sleepy. As a result, they fell asleep in the backseat as Lucky drove out of town.
Willa turned in her seat. “Where are we going?”
“I thought we would drive to Jamestown to look. The jewelry store is open there on Sunday.”
“Oh.” At least the children wouldn’t be grumpy from being tired.
Charlie turned on the DVD player in the backseat, and both he and Leanne began watching a movie.
“I didn’t know you had another vehicle.”
“It’s two days old,” Lucky quipped.
Willa lowered her voice so the kids couldn’t hear her in the backseat. “You bought it after you told Flora we were engaged?”
“Yes.”
“Have you lost your mind?”
“Fortunately, Willa, money isn’t something I need to worry about. When our engagement is over, I’ll sell it or keep it for the club to use.”
Willa stared out the window at the passing scenery. How did he not have to worry about money on a pastor’s salary? Then again, she didn’t feel it was any of her business since their engagement was a pretense for the children’s benefit, not an opportunity to stick her nose into his private affairs.
“Were you able to finish the cakes you were working on last night?”
“Yes.” Willa yawned. “I was able to finish decorating them this morning before the girls woke. I don’t get much accomplished when they’re in the kitchen. They like playing with the frosting.”
“I do, too,” Lucky muttered.
“What did you say?”
“Nothing. I was saying your cakes are very good. You’ve worked hard on your business. Have you found a place to open a store yet?”
“No. You’re right; the building next to the diner is going to need too much work, but the other property I was looking at is too expensive. I’ll keep looking. The right one will come along,” she said. “I may not need more space, anyway. If the children’s relative is found, I won’t need the additional room”
Lucky gave her a brief glance before looking back to the road. “Willa, we may need to be realistic. He may not be found in time.”
Willa’s stomach sank as her greatest fear was realized.
“I’ve already thought of that. I really don’t want the girls to go to the Wests. I know they attend your church, but…” Willa shrugged, unable to say just what her objections were and not wanting to come off as silly.
“I agree. I don’t think the Wests would be the best placement for them, nor do I want Leanne to be forced into a group home,” Lucky said grimly.
“I don’t, either. I’ve asked a few couples in town whom I think would make excellent foster homes, but the idea of taking in five children is too much for them to handle.”
“It wasn’t for you.”