Page 124 of Left Behind

“Heads up!” he said.

They all stopped what they were doing and looked up.

“Good news! Carl Henley and his son have both been indicted on multiple charges, and the evidence against them is insurmountable. Junior is testifying against his father for a lighter sentence. Lonny Pryor has agreed to plead out. Doesn’t want a trial. And the associates we pulled in who were connected to Henley are facing charges ranging from the distribution of drugs, to fencing stolen property, to prostitution, and more.”

The collective let out a whoop, then began to clap.

Gardner leaned back in his chair, smiling. They’d done it! They’d finally taken down a major player who’d blithely thumbed his nose in their faces for years. So much for being untouchable.

***

On the day that Johnny Knight ditched his last walking cast and cane, he and Carey went to the courthouse to get a marriage license. After all they’d endured, all they wanted was to belong to each other. They didn’t belong to any church. They didn’t have family left to invite. They chose to get married by a justice of the peace, with Tom Wheaton as their witness.

Probate was nearing closure.

Neither of them wanted to live in the house where Billy was murdered, so they’d decided to sell the property when Carey was able to claim full ownership and then buy their own house somewhere else in the city. Something small and cozy. Something they could call their own.

She still had nightmares of running through the woods in the rainstorm, and Johnny’s dreams were all about falling, but they had each other to wake up to, and thanks to a brother who’d loved her to the end, they had enough.

***

Linette’s parents arrived at the end of the first week of August. Ava was already amped up about her new school, and now she was faced with meeting more new adults when she just wanted someone to play with.

But they had not come unannounced. Wiley and Linette knew they were coming and had them over to the house for supper on the evening of their arrival.

Ava was playing in her room when the doorbell rang, but she knew it meant company was here, and she left the room running. Bubba was her rock, and she was in uncertain waters again.

All of a sudden, Ava had wrapped herself around Wiley’s leg, and Linette was looking nervous. He burst out laughing. “You two are something else. Linnie. It’s your parents, for God’s sake. Let them in.”

Linette sighed and headed for the door, while Wiley peeled Ava off his leg and picked her up. “Is that better?” he whispered.

Ava nodded.

“Mom! Dad! Come in! Come in!” Linette said.

Chuck and Angela Elgin entered smiling, greeting their daughter with hugs and kisses, then eyed the big man and the tiny girl at the end of the hall. Before Linette could introduce them, Wiley approached.

“Welcome! I’m Wiley, and this is my little sister, Ava. It’s great to finally put faces to the names. You raised a most exceptional woman, and she talks about you often.”

Angela was smitten.

Chuck was overwhelmed by Wiley Pope’s size. He wasn’t just tall. He was built like a linebacker with a pretty face.

“We’re happy to be here,” Angela said, and immediately dug a small package from her purse. “Ava, I’m Linnie’s mother, so when she and Wiley get married, that will make you my granddaughter. I’ve been waiting a long time for my first grandchild, and now here you are! I brought you a little gift.”

Ava took the little package, then looked at Wiley. “I can have two grammies?”

“Yes, you can. Might want to call this one Grandma, or Nana, so we’ll know which one you’re talking about.”

“Nana would be perfect!” Angela said. “And this is Linnie’s daddy. You can call him Papa if you like.”

Ava gasped. Her eyes welled. “Bubba…I will have a Papa, too?”

Wiley sighed. “Wanting to call me Daddy was her deepest wish, and we couldn’t make that happen. But having a man in her life who she can call Papa is going to ice this cake. Welcome to the family, Chuck.”

Chuck Elgin had been hesitant about the man, but Ava sealed the deal.

“I’d love to be called Papa,” he said.

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