“I’m not sorry you did,” he said, smiling. “You’ll see, Ellie. It’s going to work out for us. And you can have the pastor’s assistant’s job for as long as you want.”

She was quiet for a moment, then she said, “Why, Noah, you might be the most generous man I know….”

Early on Friday morning, Ellie dressed very carefully in the nice pantsuit and conservative pumps Vanessa had loaned her. She straightened her hair so it wouldn’t be wild and wore light makeup. Her nails were shortened and done in a clear polish. And her stomach was upside down.

She walked down to the church and used her key to go in the front entrance rather than the side door she usually used. She walked up the steps to the wide foyer and pushed open the double doors to the sanctuary. Then she walked slowly down the aisle.

The October sun was barely rising above the tall trees at 7:00 a.m., but the inside of the sanctuary was resplendent in shining hardwood, glittering altar accoutrements, including the gold candelabra and cross she had polished herself. She and Noah had worked until past eleven a couple of nights, making sure all was ready for the wedding rehearsal that would take place late Friday afternoon. She had spent hours the day before making sure every last speck of workman’s dust was wiped from the floor and pews. Tomorrow morning Shelby and her family would attach floral arrangements to the end of each pew for the afternoon ceremony. Ellie had promised to help. Shelby and Luke had decided on 5:00 p.m. to exchange their vows.

Ellie was so proud she could burst. She’d helped make all this happen. She’d worked hard. She gave thanks every morning that she’d had the chance. “Little melodramatic of you, messing with my motherhood to force me into the position,” she said to the holy stained-glass image before her. “I know—I can’t be sure that was your idea. But I can let that go if you just settle down on the big life lessons. Really, I’m so damn tired. Gimme a break, couldja?”

“Ready?” a voice said. Noah stood in the hall door that led to his office. He was wearing a very sharp dark suit, blinding-white shirt and royal-blue tie. It brought out the sheen in his black hair, which had finally been trimmed, and his magnificent blue eyes glittered.

“Whoa,” she said, stunned. “I didn’t even know you had good clothes! That’s amazing—you look so handsome,” she said. “If this minister business doesn’t work out for you, you could be a model.”

“You worried I’m going to fall on my face?” he asked. “I’ve actually done this before, you know. I know how to get people married. Only once, but I’ve even been complimented on my performance. And you look pretty—”

The sound of a door opening and feet on the stairs cut him off, quieted them. Then Brie was standing beside Noah. “Morning,” she said. “Everyone ready?”

Ellie’s stomach took another flip. “Ready,” she said.

It was a long ride to the Eureka courthouse. Noah made small talk while he drove Ellie’s car. He told the story of Lucy and the pups yet again. He explained to Brie who George was and that he’d be in town by early afternoon; George wasn’t about to miss the very first service Noah performed in the new church. Noah wouldn’t leak the secret vows Shelby and Luke had agreed on but said, from what he’d heard, the rehearsal dinner party that would take place at Walt Booth’s house would be one gala night. And the wedding reception would take place in Walt’s pasture under tenting and complete with linen, crystal, space heaters and a dance floor. It would put the Taj Mahal to shame. “I doubt any president has done it better,” Noah said cheerfully.

Ellie wished he’d just shut up. She was a wreck. A sick worried wreck.

When they pulled into Eureka, Brie said, “Ellie, we’ve already talked about this, but one more time—the judge has had all the paperwork pertaining to your case for over a week—the motion, the temporary restraining order, arrest report, paperwork from Child Welfare Services, the letter from Reverend Kincaid verifying your employment—everything. He may have all he needs for a decision. Or, he might have a few questions for you. Answer honestly and politely. And, Ellie, no matter what happens, hold your emotions in check. By all means, your temper. If we hit a bad patch and things don’t go well—a very very remote possibility—please let me handle it. For your own good.”

“I will,” she said quietly.

Brie repeated all this several times in very soft tones while they waited right outside the courtroom doors until the bailiff called Ellie’s name. And while they waited, familiar faces began to appear. Her friends and neighbors—Jack and Mel, Preacher and Paige, Vanni and Paul, Walt and Muriel. Even Hope McCrea. Of course, Jo Fitch arrived before they were called. All Ellie could do was smile tremulously and nod. Yes, she told someone in a uniform, they were all approved to be present in her closed hearing. Closed because it involved juveniles.

When the double doors opened to admit them to the courtroom, her eyes focused on the dais where that blasted judge would sit. She was so oblivious to her surroundings, she didn’t even hear all her friends behind her. She followed Brie to the front, Noah walking behind them. The judge came in and the bailiff ordered them to all rise. The case was announced. The judge said good-morning. Ellie shook inside.

“Miss Baldwin, what kind of arrangements have you made for housing for yourself and the children?”

She cleared her throat. “I’m not making any immediate changes, Your Honor. Mr. and Mrs. Fitch have invited us to stay on their property until I can save a little money and look for something. The kids are very happy there and we each have our own bedroom. I have breakfast and dinner with them every day. I put them to bed at night.”

“Hmm,” he said, flipping through the documents. “Very generous. Are Mr. and Mrs. Fitch here?”

“I’m here, Your Honor,” Jo Ellen said from behind Ellie. “Mr. Fitch is with Miss Baldwin’s four-year-old, Trevor. Trevor doesn’t attend school yet.”

That’s when Ellie turned and really took notice of the encouraging faces in the courtroom. Shelby and Luke were there, even though Luke’s entire family was in town for the wedding. Mike Valenzuela had arrived.

“This works for you, Mrs. Fitch? Because part of the recommendation of the court is adequate housing.”

“Ellie is like a daughter to me, her children like grandchildren. Nothing could make me happier.”

“Once the order of custody is changed, the minor children won’t be in foster care,” he pointed out. “There will be no stipend for—”

“I’ll be paying additional rent, Your Honor,” Ellie said. “I wouldn’t take advantage. Jo’s been so…I mean, Mrs. Fitch has been so wonderful to us.”

“Well then, I’d say we’re done here. Do a good job with these children, Miss Baldwin. I don’t want to see you again.”

It burned on her tongue to say she probably wouldn’t see him again as long as she was working in a church, but thankfully he banged his gavel, closing the case. And rather than words coming to her tongue, tears came to her eyes and she lost it. She put her face in her hands and just cried. She felt arms around her; Brie hugging her. She heard a loud murmur go up from behind her—subdued cheers from her new friends. She felt strong arms grab her by the shoulders, turn her, embrace her. “You did it, honey,” Noah whispered. “You did it. It’s over.” And she put her face against that beautiful dark suit and wept.

Ellie knew she had been wound too tight for the hearing, but she had no idea how much energy had bled out of her with the decision. She was weak as a kitten as she accepted congratulatory embraces from her friends. Out on the courthouse steps, there was a mood of victory, which she tearfully and meekly accepted.

“Come out to the house, meet the Riordan clan and my little brother,” Vanni invited. “Before all the wedding stuff officially starts.”

“First we’re going to pick up Danielle from school,” Jo said, pulling Ellie against her. “We’ll meet Nick and Trevor for lunch and tell the kids that the whole thing is fixed, they have their mother back. Noah? Will you join us?”

“Of course,” he said. “Then I’m back to town to meet George.”

Ellie just nodded numbly. But she snagged Brie’s sleeve and asked, “He can’t change his mind, can he?”

Brie smiled. “We’re done with this, Ellie. And I’ll watch the proceedings involving Arnie to make sure he’s out of your hair. I’ll let you know how that goes when something happens there, but don’t even worry about it. I’d say that’s over, as well.”

As Ellie walked with Noah to her car, he took her hand in his. “I’m so proud of you, Ellie. You never gave up. Meet Hercules Baldwin.” Then he grinned.

Because Danielle and Trevor were so comfortably ensconced in Jo and Nick’s house, Ellie was pretty sure the impact of the ruling was lost on them. They had already moved on, emotionally. Once children feel safe, they can relax. All they wanted to be sure about was that they didn’t have to pack a bag and that they didn’t have to live with Arnie again. Beyond that, Danielle wanted to get back to school in time for her spelling contest—she was sure she was ahead of the class. And she wondered how soon she could start riding the bus to school. Nick had promised Trevor a PlayStation tournament if he ate his vegetables and had a little afternoon nap. With things so settled, Jo urged Ellie to go on to Vanessa’s house.

It was that visit that gave Ellie her second wind. She’d been to Vanni’s so many times to help out, finding her friend collapsing under the weight of two babies and a lot of emotional baggage, but all that had changed. Her house was full of people “staying clear of the general’s house while caterers set up for tonight’s party.” Vanni grabbed her by the hand, led her around, introducing her to people, including Luke’s visiting family.

She was embraced by Maureen Riordan, Luke’s red-haired, green-eyed mother who held a contented Hannah on her hip. The general almost broke Ellie in half with his bear hug, then introduced her to his son, Tom, home from West Point for the wedding. Muriel kissed her cheek and pressed a glass of wine in her hand. Then there were the Riordan men, of whom Luke was the eldest. Next in line, Colin, just back from an assignment in Iraq in the Blackhawk. Then came Aiden, a very handsome navy doctor who bent elegantly over her hand. Before that introduction could even be complete, she was embraced by good-looking, playful Sean, who said, “Thank God above—I was afraid there’d be no beautiful women to dance with at the wedding!” And finally the baby of the family, Patrick, on leave from a naval aircraft carrier stationed in the Gulf where he flew fighters. She learned they ranged in age from thirty-one to thirty-nine, all single, Luke soon to be off the market.

When she could catch her breath, she whispered to Vanni, “Oh my God, would you look at these men? You should have warned me!”

Vanni laughed. “Nice eye candy for the unattached female,” she said. “Know any?”

Ellie just smiled. But she had a fantastic time, honored to be a part of the wedding party and their afternoon of reunion and celebration. Those present were all included in the party following the rehearsal, but Shelby and Luke had decided on only one attendant each. Shelby’s matron of honor would be Vanessa, and Sean would stand up with Luke. Shelby’s uncle Walt would give her away and from what Ellie heard around the house that afternoon, the rest of the Riordan boys planned to drink just enough to keep from getting some famous ear twist from their feisty red-haired mother.

Late in the afternoon, Vanessa snagged her arm and said, “Come with me just one second.” She pulled Ellie to her bedroom and closed the door. “My timing might not be the best, but before this crowd descended on us, I had to do some cleaning and clearing. I went through the clothes that aren’t horribly out-of-date and put some aside for you. Keep what you want and give the overflow to Goodwill. There could be a pair of jeans or sweater in there you can use.”