Lucky frowned. “We don’t want anything too fancy. We were thinking of going to the courthouse then having a reception at the church.”

 The women stared at him as if he had grown two heads. He expected Willa to have the same expression; instead, she was nodding her head in agreement.

 “Neither of us want a big church wedding,” Willa said, breaking the uncomfortable silence.

 “Are you sure? You cried your eyes out during Lily’s wedding.” Beth’s reminder had the women rallying around her, trying to convince her to have a more formal wedding.

 Finally, Willa raised her hand so the group would listen.

 “I cried because Lily’s wedding was absolutely beautiful, not because I wanted one like it for myself. I would actually prefer a spring wedding, but Lucky and I want to spend the holidays together with the children.” It was the most Willa had spoken at one time and she had inserted a firmness in her voice so it would be more believable.

 “I can understand her feelings. King and I didn’t have a big wedding, either.” Evie pushed herself to the front of the line. “We’re holding the whole line up. Since we’re having a wedding, we need to at least give her a bachelorette party.”

 Willa shot that idea down. “My business is so busy right now. I wouldn’t be much fun.”

 Evie went on as if Willa hadn’t spoken. “We can do it next Saturday at King’s restaurant. That way, all you have to do is show up. I’ll handle the food and the booze.”

 “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.”

 “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.”

 “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.”