His eyes went over her shoulder to Shade’s closed expression.
“You’re welcome.” Bending down, he brushed his lips against her cheek. “Now, go on home. I promise Rachel won’t know you talked to me.”
“Okay,” Lily said happily.
“I’ll be there in a minute. Don’t go to sleep; we need to have a little chat before you do.” Shade’s deep voice wiped the smile from her face.
“I’m tired. I have to get up early for church,” Lily said evasively.
“You can go to the evening service,” Shade countered amicably.
Lily flounced angrily out of the room.
“Ten to one she’s calling Beth as soon as she gets home.” Cash grinned.
Shade grinned back, taking his phone out of his pocket, quickly texting a message to Razer before putting the phone back in his pocket.
“Lily’s going to be furious at you for telling on Beth,” Cash warned.
“I’m counting on it,” Shade said with an anticipatory grin.
Chapter 26
Rachel knocked firmly on Willa’s door, determined this time not to be rebuffed. She had worried during church about her reclusive behavior. She had stopped answering her phone, and Evie had called Rachel that morning to tell her Willa had missed her last delivery of desserts. Evie was just as worried as her; therefore, Rachel had promised to check on Willa as soon as church was over.
Maybe she was overreacting and Willa was simply ill. Several members had been absent from church that morning—Lily, Winter, Beth, and Diamond rarely missed, yet none of them had showed. Maybe a virus was going around and Willa was sick.
Rachel froze in shock at the little boy answering the door.
“What do you want?” The belligerent boy, who judging from his size was around eight, had Rachel’s mouth dropping open in shock.
“Is Willa here?”
Had the woman moved and not told anyone?
Her eyes moved over the child’s shoulder, seeing another, smaller girl behind him, staring at her with baleful eyes.
“Charlie, what did I tell you about opening the door?” Willa came rushing toward the door, wiping her hands on a dish towel.
“I’m sorry, Rachel. I was cleaning up some broken glass.”
“Uh, okay.” Rachel took a step into the house, colliding with the small body of a little girl who reached out with grubby hands to grab hers.
“Move back, Chrissy.” Willa gently pried the small hands away from her.
Rachel closed the door, staring at the three children. Her eyes lifted to Willa, recognizing the children staring up at her.
“Willa…”
“Charlie, take Chrissy and Caroline to their room and put a movie on for them.”
“Why?” Stubbornly, the boy stared back at her.
“Because I asked you to,” Willa pleaded. “It won’t take long, and then I’ll fix lunch. All right?”
“Grilled cheese?”
“Yes,” Willa agreed.
The three children went up the stairs, leaving Willa trying to smooth back her hair.
She lifted her hand at Rachel. “I already know what you’re going to say,” she said before Rachel could open her mouth. “They were all going to be separated. I couldn’t let that happen when I was the one responsible for their father getting killed.”
“You had no choice, Willa. He had gone off the deep end. He would have killed me if you hadn’t shot him.”
A movement behind Willa had Rachel regretting her loud words when she saw the teenager listening to every word. Willa turned to stare at the teen girl.
“Sissy…”
“I finished cleaning up the milk and glass. Can I go to my friend’s house now?”
“I don’t know. How long were you planning on staying?”
“I’ll call and let you know.” The girl passed Rachel, going out the door without waiting for Willa’s reply.
“Want a glass of tea?” Willa offered.
“Yes, thanks.” Rachel went into the kitchen, stepping over the toys lying on the floor. Willa’s usually immaculate home was a mess with toys everywhere and dirty dishes on the table.
“I’m sorry about the mess. I didn’t realize taking care of children could keep you so busy. Leanne, could you check on the kids upstairs for me?”
“Okay.” A pretty girl around fifteen got up from the table, closing her book. Georgia’s daughter gave Rachel a smile as she passed. The sweet girl didn’t take after her mother, who everyone in town would agree hadn’t had a sweet bone in her body. Her older sister seemed to have inherited that particular gene in spades, though.
As soon as the girl disappeared from the room, Willa faced her with a resigned expression. “Okay, you can let me have it now.”
Rachel looked at her friend, who had been tormented by Georgia and then abused by Lewis. “You are the kindest person I know. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Deep in her heart, she didn’t blame Willa. It was a terrible responsibility, taking someone’s life.
Willa gave a relieved laugh. “Don’t tempt me. I’m behind on my orders and the house is wrecked.”