Forbidden Falls (Virgin River #9)(79)

A few minutes passed before she raised her eyes and got to her feet. When she turned and saw him, she jumped and grabbed her heart.

“Sorry,” he said. “That was such a beautiful image, I couldn’t look away. I didn’t know you prayed.”

She took a breath to steady herself. “You never asked.”

“I never did,” he admitted. “Were you brought up in the church?”

“Now and then.” She shrugged.

“Any special denomination?”

“All,” she said. “My gramma used to think that passage when Jesus said, ‘In my Father’s house are many rooms,’ didn’t mean there was a big hotel in heaven. It meant there were lots of different ways to worship. We dropped into different churches for the occasional sermon.”

“Interesting. And you weren’t confused?”

“We were never at one long enough for confusion to settle in,” she said.

“So, this wasn’t a special occasion?” he asked.

“Noah, I’ve spent so much time on my knees, they should be callused. That’s figurative—I usually pray in the shower. My gramma taught me that—if you pray naked, you don’t try so hard to hide things from God. She said, the Old Testament aside, God is our friend. He had a real short fuse in the Old Testament. Oh, and she also taught me that more important religion happens over the back fence with a good friend than anywhere else, so poo on your seven years of seminary training.”

He laughed. “I’d have to agree with that. What else? I live for her sayings.”

“I’m afraid Gramma didn’t have one for the morning after you spent all night having wild monkey sex with a minister—” she grinned “—that I know of.”

He lifted her chin and looked into her beautiful brown eyes. “Why do you look so rested? I’m exhausted and I look like I worked on a term paper all night.”

“I feel fine. Finer than I’ve felt in a hundred years. I’m going to see Brie when I think she’s got her office open. Then I’m off to Vanni’s to help her out.”

“Were you praying for forgiveness? For trapping me in a secret affair?”

She smiled at him. “I was saying thank-you, for everything. For my gramma and her good years, for my kids, for this little town that’s working out. And for you, but don’t let it go to your head. Gramma didn’t have two nickels to rub together, but she was always grateful. And happy.”

“Ellie, I wasn’t sure you even believed, much less practiced.”

She shook her head. “Noah, everyone prays in a foxhole. I’ve been in one foxhole or another for the past nine years. I don’t even count growing up poor—I just count since Jason died. Gramma always said to trust that things would be as they should be. I just can’t figure out why they shouldn’t be easier.”

He gave her a little kiss. “Did you ever hear the story about the man in the flood?”

After a little private churchgoing, and a little chaste kissing, Ellie’s next stop was Brie’s office. Brie was incensed by what she heard on Ellie’s answering machine tape.

I know you did this, you bitch, and you’re not going to get away with it.

What are you talking about, Arnie?

Child Welfare Services paid a visit, while I was at work! Asking a lot of questions, talking to the kids without me present. Got the staff all worked up and curious. I know you—you told those little bastards what to say! But it’s not going to work!

I don’t know anything about this. Maybe it was something the court wanted…

You’re going to pay for this, and pay big. I hate you, you skanky bitch, and I’m going to fix you good. You think losing the kids because you’re just a low-life slut was hard? Wait! I’m just getting warmed up!

Brie had to take a couple of deep breaths before she could even respond. And then she said, “I’m going to file a motion at once. We have to revisit the custody issue now, in light of his refusal to let you visit or talk to your children, and his threats, one of which is recorded. Be warned, this will require a court appearance. If the judge doesn’t dismiss my motion, he’ll schedule a hearing where all parties can be present. The scumball will have a chance to defend himself and level his own accusations. So, tell me now, Ellie—is there anything he’s going to bring against you that we should be prepared for?”

Ellie felt the heat rise to her cheeks. She had told Brie the entire story, including her work as a stripper, all in confidence. “I don’t think so.”

Brie took a breath. “Just lay it on me. Have you been dancing for extra money? Writing bad checks? Missing deadlines to return the kids? Using drugs or getting drunk? Anything you can think of?”

Ellie swallowed. Her voice was very small when she said, “No, nothing.”

“Somehow I think there’s something. Listen, we have confidentiality, just don’t let me be surprised. It’s critical that I be prepared for the absolute worst possibility.”

She gulped. “The pastor. We have kind of a…thing. I asked him to please not let it show in public. I don’t want people thinking I tricked him. And I know some people would think that—but I didn’t make the first move. Honest.”

“A thing?”