Page 74 of Left Behind

“All I know is Wiley introduced her as his little sister, and he’s taken her to raise. That’s about as settled as a single man can get.”

“Wow,” Laurel said. “So, Clyde Wallace fooled around on Shirley?”

“Obviously,” Annie said.

“Do you think Shirley knew?”

“Oh, I know Shirley knew he wasn’t faithful, but I don’t think any of them knew about this child. I don’t know how this came about, but she looks half-starved and neglected, so she’s right where she belongs, with people who want her.”

***

But back in Jubilee, Wiley and Ava were still making waves. When he pulled into the gas station to refuel before going back to their house, he left Ava sitting in the back seat with Pinky and rolled down the windows so she wouldn’t get too hot. He didn’t notice the driver of the truck on the other side of the pumps, until he heard someone call his name and turned to look, then frowned.

Keith Priddy. He used to work security with him at the Bullard music venue. He hadn’t liked him then, and he didn’t like him now.

“Hey, big shot! I haven’t seen you in a while. I see you’ve recovered from the bank robbery.”

Wiley nodded, but didn’t respond. He was keeping an eye on the pump and on Ava.

Keith moved between the pumps and then leaned against Wiley’s SUV. That’s when he saw Ava sitting in the back seat.

“Well, who do we have here?” he drawled. “This your kid, Pope? I always figured you’d have a woods colt or two out there.”

Wiley turned on him so fast Keith gasped, then choked on his own spit.

“Priddy, if you plan on waking up tomorrow, then shut your mouth.”

“Oh hell, come on, Wiley. Don’t be such an uptight asshole. I didn’t mean nothin’ by it,” Keith muttered.

Wiley was in his face, speaking in a low, quiet tone of voice, but Keith knew that if looks could kill, he would already be dead.

“She’s our sister,” Wiley said. “Mine, and Aaron, and Sean, and B.J. She’s living with us now, so if you want to talk about us, make sure it’s the truth.”

“Yeah, sure, I didn’t—”

“And apologize to Ava for the language you used in front of her.”

Keith swallowed past the knot in his throat and looked down at the little wide-eyed blond staring up at him.

“Say, kid, I’m real sorry I said some bad words. Okay?”

Ava looked at Wiley.

“She heard you,” Wiley said. “Now get on your side of the pumps and stay there.”

“Yeah, sure thing,” Keith said. “Sorry.”

Wiley glanced in the car at Ava again, but she had gone back to playing with Pinky as if none of that had just happened. Only he knew better. Ava had gone quiet. She was hiding from the grown-ups again, and he didn’t blame her.

As soon as he got back in the car, he turned on the air-conditioning and rolled the windows back up.

“Ava, honey. Are you okay?” he asked.

She nodded.

“I’m sorry that man was rude.”

She looked up. “What’s rude?”

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