Page 58 of Left Behind

Wiley watched her eyes widen as she chewed and swallowed.

“I like both of them, but the last one best!” she said.

“Want some more of my meat loaf?” he asked.

He gave her one more bite, and then they both settled in to eat, while every now and then stopping for him to wipe a drip of honey from her chin or remind her the napkin was handy for wiping her fingers.

By the time they were finished, Wiley had fallen the rest of the way in love. He knew there were bound to be rough days ahead, but considering they had known each other less than a day, this child was a gift to all of them. They still needed to go to the supermarket, and he had a feeling she was going to crash long before dark, so he hurried through cleaning her hands and face and paying the bill.

Only after they were leaving, did he glance across the room at the table where Linette was sitting, and caught her watching them. She blew him a kiss. He gave her a thumbs-up, and then they were gone.

One of Linette’s friends saw the byplay between them and grinned.

“Who’s the hunk?”

“Wiley Pope. He’s my hunk and a police officer here in Jubilee.”

“Is he the one who sent the flowers?” she asked.

Linette nodded.

Her other friend frowned. “But it appears he’s married, or was.”

“She’s not his daughter. She’s his little sister. End of story.”

***

After Wiley’s phone call from the police station, Shirley knew their lives were about to change. She was in a walking cast now and finally mobile again, so she headed for Sean’s office. The door was open. She knocked.

“Got a minute?” she asked.

Sean immediately stopped and turned around. “Sure, Mom. What’s up?”

“This,” she said, and showed Sean the photo and then told him about Wiley’s call.

“Holy shit! Are you serious?” Sean said. “Who the hell is Corina Dalton?”

Shirley sighed. “One of Clyde’s women.”

“You knew?” Sean asked.

Shirley rolled her eyes. “Son, a woman always knows if her husband is cheating on her, and vice versa. But I had no idea there was a child. I don’t know details, and I never expected Wiley would react as he has, but I’m proud of him. I told him I would back any choice he made. Look at her. She’s so tiny and looks half-starved. God only knows what her life has been like, but I can tell you now, her days of want are over.”

“You know Amalie is going to immediately empathize. One unwanted child to another kind of thing,” Sean added.

Shirley nodded. “I don’t know how Wiley thinks he’s going to manage, but I’m not butting in with any advice unless he asks for it. He’ll find his own way through this decision, and they’ll both be the better for it.”

***

Aaron was still reeling from Corina Dalton’s initial accusation. Those few seconds before Wiley spoke up had been every man’s nightmare, to be unjustly accused of any kind of abuse or mistreatment of a woman or a child. Thank God for Wiley!

He was shocked by his brother’s instant decision to become their sister’s guardian, but immeasurably proud of him, too. When he called home, he unloaded the whole story on Dani before heading out on patrol.

Dani was stunned.

“And you had no idea?” she said.

“No. If it hadn’t been for Wiley, this could have gotten nasty. Honestly, I’ve never seen a more coldhearted woman. God only knows what that child has been through.”

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