“It has nothing to do with what Willa wants.” Knox slammed down the phone. “If you want someone to blame, look in a mirror! Why are you so mad, anyways? You didn’t want to stay with Willa, so your ass just got what it wanted.”
“Knox, it’s all right. She’s upset.” Willa reluctantly released Caroline. She didn’t want to further upset the children by struggling with the inevitable. She would end up in one of the jail cells, and the children would still be gone.
Caroline and Chrissy began screaming and fighting against the people holding them, and Charlie ran forward, grabbing Willa around the waist. “Please don’t make me leave. I’ll be good.”
Tears fell from Willa’s eyes as she lowered herself to her knees, holding Charlie in her arms.
“The children aren’t going anywhere. They’re staying with Willa.” Lucky’s statement caught everyone’s attention.
“No, they are not.” Flora’s hands went to her hips. “They will be placed in their new foster home. Leanne and Sissy will go to a group home until I can find a placement for Leanne. Sissy, unfortunately, will not be placed due to her running away. She’ll stay there until she turns eighteen.”
“The children and Leanne will remain with my fiancée until we’re married. Then they will all move into my home after we’re married in two weeks. Sissy can stay with Knox and his wife until our marriage. Then she can move in with us, also.”
“You and Willa are engaged?” Flora asked, staring back and forth between them.
“Yes, we became engaged last night.”
Willa couldn’t believe the lies coming from Lucky, but she didn’t try to deny their fictitious relationship, because the children had stopped crying. She reached for the girls who were frantically trying to throw themselves out of the adults’ arms. Barely managing to hold both girls, she felt Lucky take Chrissy from her, placing a supportive arm around her shoulders.
Flora stood with indecision on her face. “Where do you plan to live after you’re married?”
“The church, of course. I’ll be taking over the role of pastor again next weekend.”
“Why haven’t I heard of this before?” Flora asked suspiciously.
“The deacons of the church gave me time to make up my mind. I was going to inform them after church tomorrow morning.”
Dalton reached out, shaking Lucky’s hand. “We’ll be glad to have you back.”
“I knew you would come back.” Lisa and her husband shared a glance that Willa didn’t understand. “The whole congregation has missed you.”
“As I have them,” Lucky replied, his arm tightening across Willa’s shoulders.
Flora frowned. “I don’t know…”
“I will be around the children constantly during Willa’s and my engagement. They will be perfectly safe in our hands. I can supply as many references as you need. The governor will be one of them.”
“I’ll bring the paperwork to Willa’s this afternoon. The state always wants what is best for the children.” Flora’s overbearing attitude went through an abrupt change. She was almost nice when she asked Knox. “You and your wife are willing to take in Sissy?”
Knox remained silent for a brief second, his lips tightening. “Diamond and I will be happy to take her until Willa and Lucky are married.”
Willa didn’t think he sounded very happy, but she was grateful he had agreed with the social worker.
“That’s settled, then. I’ll see you this afternoon, Willa.”
Willa could only nod as Flora and the Wests left the sheriff’s office.
“I better call Diamond and tell her we’re having company for a couple of weeks.” Knox went into his office, closing the door.
Lucky’s arm dropped from her shoulder. “You go ahead and take the kids home. I’ll be there in a few.” He handed Chrissy to Leanne.
Sissy stood as if she was shell-shocked. Willa started to go to her, but Lucky blocked her by opening the front door for her.
“Lucky”—Willa paused beside him—“I appreciate you keeping them from taking the children, but it’s going to be a mess to explain when we don’t—”
“Go home, Willa. We’ll talk when I get there.”
Willa nodded weakly, too tired to argue. “Okay.” Shifting Caroline’s weight, she left, relieved the children were docile and silent as she placed them in the car.
She was backing out of the parking space when her eyes were caught by Leanne’s.
“I’m sorry, Willa. Sissy made me promise not to tell anyone where she was going.”
“Promises are meant to be pledges of trust between two people. When those promises can hurt someone, it’s you who must decide if honoring it is worth the consequences.”
Leanne lowered her head. “I really didn’t think she would go through with it. She was trying to find that good-looking biker she’s seen around town.”
Willa didn’t have to ask. She remembered the girl being fascinated with the biker the night of her escapade with Jace and Cal.
“Thank God she didn’t find him.”
*
Viper picked the stapler up from the reception desk, throwing it at the wall.
“Dammit!” Viper snarled at Sissy.