Forbidden Falls (Virgin River #9)(89)

“Perfectly,” Noah said. Since George had been asleep when Noah got back from Ellie’s the night before, he explained all about Jo showing up at the sheriff’s department, Arnie following them, and all the rest of the drama from the night before. “So—the best of a bad situation, the kids are in Jo’s house and Ellie is able to see them all the time. And, better still, the Child Welfare worker isn’t likely to let them go back to Arnie’s house. The judge shouldn’t have any excuse to undo this small victory, but I’ll go ahead and cross my fingers on that. This is all good for Ellie, as long as Arnie doesn’t try anything bizarre, or scary. She’s going to lock her door and be careful.”

“But she’s all right?” George asked while he poured himself a cup of coffee.

“George, it’s a miracle that nutcase didn’t hurt her or the kids. He’s off balance. I don’t know what’s wrong with him, exactly. But he’s one mixed-up dude.”

“As long as Ellie and the kids are all right now,” George said.

“She seems to be okay—maybe more worried about the effect all those lies Arnie was spreading at Jack’s will have on my reputation. And I could care less about that as long as I can take care of her and the kids.” He smiled to himself. “Hercules Baldwin.”

“Huh?” George asked.

“Never mind. So, you’re up at the crack of dawn, ready to head out?”

“For now,” George said. “When’s the church going to be ready?”

Noah shrugged. “Soon. It had better be—we have a wedding coming up. Probably my debut and inauguration of the church. I’m sure I could wrangle you an invitation.”

“That would be great, Noah. Now, how about breakfast at Jack’s? I don’t feel like cooking for you today.”

“You’re on. I’ll buy.”

Ellie was up early, dressed and at Jo’s back kitchen door before the kids were even awake. Ellie tapped very softly on the door, not wishing to disturb the house. Jo was up, however, having coffee in the kitchen while reading the newspaper.

“I thought I’d see you bright and early,” Jo said. “How’d you sleep?”

“A little too lightly,” Ellie said. “But, there were no suspicious noises and I just couldn’t wait to see the kids this morning. Is it okay? That I’m here?”

“It’s more than okay. Get yourself coffee and I’ll go jostle them. They should get up for breakfast. I’m going to drive Danielle over to Valley Elementary School and enroll her; I’ll take Trevor along. I’m going to make sure they know never to release her to her stepfather. There’s a school bus, but until things are all calmed down, I’ll drive her and pick her up.”

“I’ll give you money for gas,” Ellie said.

Jo put a hand on Ellie’s arm and looked into her eyes. “That’s the least of our worries right now. Emergency foster care usually lasts forty-eight hours or less, but I suggest we leave things as they are until your hearing. With your consent, and if your lawyer doesn’t protest, I think your caseworker would go along with that. For right now, let’s just make sure they feel comfortable here, and that they can make this adjustment. I think the last couple of months have been real hard on them. I’m going to see if I can line up some counseling for them through CWS. And how about you? Is there anything you need to help you cope?”

Ellie actually got tears in her eyes. Since her grandmother, no one had ever worried about whether she was handling things all right. And she couldn’t remember anyone ever asking whether she could use some professional help. There hadn’t been any available, for that matter. Her load, always heavy, belonged to her alone. She hadn’t thought there was another option.

Ellie put her hand against Jo’s soft cheek and smiled just as a big fat tear rolled down her cheek. “I’m so sorry I lied to you. About the club. About…”

“Shh,” Jo said. “First of all, you had to protect yourself and your kids. Second, you didn’t do anything wrong, working at that club. Let it go. Immediately.”

“I’m so sorry…”

“Ellie, that doesn’t matter at all in how I feel about you. I care about you and the kids and it has nothing to do with your previous job. It has only to do with the kind of human being you are. Now—should I line up some counseling for you?”

Ellie sniffed back a tear. “I have everything I need, Jo.”

“Ellie, this is not a sacrifice for me,” Jo said softly, pressing her own hand against Ellie’s. “This makes me happy. I feel good with you and the kids around. I feel useful. Connected. Let’s lean on each other.”

“I don’t want to take advantage…”

“We’ve been over that,” Jo said. “It’s not like that. Now, do you want to wake your kids or shall I?”

Ellie pulled her hand back. “No, you do it. It’s your house, you’re their foster mother. I’m right here if they ever need me, but I’d like them to understand that you’re calling the shots here. I want them to trust you. Like I do.”

“You’re such a good girl,” Jo whispered. “If I’d actually had a daughter of my own, I doubt I could have brought one up so fine.”