“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.”
“Believe me, it’s been hard. I’ve almost thrown in the towel several times.”
“Why haven’t you?”
“Because I know how hard it is to live in a home you’re unhappy in, and I can’t do that to a child when I can make a difference. I’ll do what I have to in order to make them happy.”
“Enough to marry me?”
Shocked, Willa stared speechlessly.
“Because it may come down to it despite Knox’s efforts, and the investigators searching for their next of kin may not find them in time.”
“Maybe we can say we decided to have a longer engagement…”
“Child Services only agreed to let you keep the children because our marriage is soon. If we try to delay it, they could possibly place the children until we are.”
“What am I going to do?” She began trying to think of other ways to circumvent the children being taken; however, she was coming up blank.
“We could get married then get an annulment after we find them a suitable home.”
Lucky’s suggestion was the last one she had expected.
“Why would you do that?”
“You’re not the only one who wants to help. Several people in the community would have helped the last few months if you had let them, but you don’t have a choice now. Either you accept my help or lose the kids.”
Willa stared down at her hands. “I’m used to relying on myself, but I was wrong. If I had taken help, I might not be in this position now. It doesn’t come easy to me, accepting help.”
Lucky’s hand left the steering wheel. “How about you lean on me for a while? If I can handle a church full of parishioners, I think I can deal what comes your way.”
His confidence irritated Willa, so she decided to see how well the cocky biker would cope with the pressure she was under. Asking God if all men were jerks or just the ones she came in contact with was another question to add to her ever-expanding list.
“Jerk.”
“What did you say?”
“I said, fine.”
*
“How about that one?” Willa pointed at a ring with a small diamond that was in the clearance section of the jewelry case.
Lucky stared at the ring. “It’s not very big.”
“I don’t want a big stone. It will make it harder to sell.”
She and Lucky each held one of the young girls, while Leanne and Charlie were staring in fascination into the glass cases.
“I like that one.” Chrissy took her thumb out of her mouth long enough to point at a large, garish ruby ring.
“That’s not an engagement ring, but I like the red, too.” Willa hugged the little girl closer.
She felt Lucky’s gaze on her as she walked up and down the aisles, looking into the various cases. The middle-aged saleswoman focused her attention on Lucky. If Willa was really engaged to Lucky, she would be jealous as heck at the attention he was getting from her. Instead, Willa skirted the section they were at, going to the end. It was obviously full of the more expensive items in the store. Willa was about to turn away when her eyes were caught by a ring that had her unintentionally gasping.
It was rose gold with a pink diamond in the center, surrounded by smaller diamonds. It wasn’t like the other engagement rings. It was more frivolous and feminine looking and completely unlike anything she owned, but she fell in love with it immediately.
“You like that one?” Lucky asked.
Willa jumped. “I was just shocked at the price.”