“You have a lot of friends that would help if you let us. Lily, Beth, and Evie—we all consider ourselves your friends.”

Willa brushed her tears away with a hand, giving a small laugh. “I always assumed I was pushing myself on you guys.”

“Willa, you couldn’t be pushy if you tried. Now, get busy while I take care of this mess.” Rachel sensed her being uncomfortable with the conversation, so she busied herself cleaning the kitchen around Willa, doing the dishes behind her, leaving her free to bake.

When she had the kitchen spotless, she worked throughout the house, picking up the toys and placing them in an empty laundry basket, making a mental note that would make Willa’s life easier. It came in useful that she had learned by living with Logan just how hard it was to entertain little ones.

She went upstairs, cleaning the bedrooms. The bathrooms were a mess of towels and a full laundry hamper. Rachel started a load while she cleaned the bathrooms, then dried that one when she’d finished and started another.

The children ignored her as she cleaned around them while Leanne flushed, looking away when she met Rachel’s recriminating gaze. Leanne and Sissy were both old enough to help out with the housework. Willa had literally been thrown into the deep end of the ocean without any help.

She folded the clothes and put them away, starting the last load before going back downstairs. It was beginning to get dark, so Rachel pulled out her phone, ordering three pizzas. Satisfied, she went into the kitchen to see Willa making roses to place on top of a cake while two other cakes were sitting on the counter as well as three pies.

“I can’t thank you enough, Rachel. I’ll call King and ask if someone can stop by and pick up his order.”

“I’ll drop it off on my way home. Which ones go?” Willa boxed up one of the cakes and all the pies. “His orders are getting larger each week. The money is really helping out with the extra expenses,” Willa said, closing the last box.

Rachel packed the boxes out to her car. She had closed the door when the pizza delivery truck pulled up. Rachel paid the driver then turned to take the pizzas inside before hesitating, turning back to the driver. Carl was a member of her church, working part-time at the pizza restaurant after being laid off from the coal mine.

“Do you have any more deliveries to make?”

“Nope, I’m headed back to the store.” The pizza joint was next door to King’s restaurant.

Going to her car, she pulled out her purse and took out another twenty. “Would you mind dropping these desserts off at King’s for me?”

“No problem. Mike won’t mind; it’s slow tonight.” He carried the desserts to his car.

“Willa has to make several deliveries a week.” Rachel took out a pen and paper and wrote down Willa’s number. “Why don’t you give her a call tomorrow? Maybe you two can work out something.”

Carl’s face brightened; Rachel guessed he was eager for additional income.

“I can’t promise, but I’ll mention it to her.”

“That would be great. Thanks, Rachel.”

“I hope it works out,” she said, picking up the pizzas and saying goodbye.

Willa’s eyes widened when she saw the food. “You shouldn’t have.”

“I thought I would invite myself to dinner,” she said, taking out the plates.

Rachel explained that she had asked Carl to deliver the desserts and had told him to call Willa about a possible job.

“That’s a great idea. I can’t offer him a lot of hours, but it would take a load off my shoulders. I have to bundle everyone into my car plus the desserts to make a delivery now. Hiring him for a few hours a week would make it much easier,” Willa said, enthused by the idea.

“I think he will be happy with whatever hours you offer.”

Between the two of them, they fed the kids, and Rachel stayed and played with them while Willa gave the three younger ones their baths. Leanne had gone upstairs to her room.

Willa came downstairs after putting the kids to bed.

“Sissy’s still not back?” Rachel questioned.

“No.” Willa sank down on the couch next to her, clearly exhausted. “She comes in usually around ten and goes to bed. I’m not managing her very well.”

Rachel didn’t think she was managing any of the children very well. They all were dominating a soft Willa into exhaustion.

“I’ll stop by Tuesday. If you need me before then, just call.” Willa opened her mouth, but Rachel forestalled her. “I’m going to help regardless of what you say, so just deal with it.”

“I wasn’t going to refuse; I was going to say thank you. School will start back next week, then I can get better organized and do my cooking while they are in school.” The local school was on a year-long calendar. Unfortunately, they had the last week off and the one following.

“Sounds like a plan.” Rachel hid her worry over the older two girls’ behaviors, saying goodnight. It was going to take a firm hand to get those children under control, and Willa, bless her heart, was too soft to provide that discipline.

Rachel drove back to Mag’s house, deep in thought. She should have expected Willa to do something regarding Lewis’s children. However, the responsibility of caring for the five of them was going to be more than she was able to handle. Rachel was afraid for her. Willa set an impossible goal of perfection for herself that would be difficult for anyone to live up to.

Rachel pulled into the driveway, seeing Cash walking angrily toward his motorcycle, although he came to an abrupt stop when he saw her pulling in. Rachel parked, wondering why he looked so furious. Worried something had happened to Mag, she got out of her car.

“Where in the fuck have you been all day?”

Stunned at his anger, it took her a couple of seconds to reply. “Is something wrong?”

“Yes. Next time, answer your damn phone. Where’s it at?”

Rachel reached back into her car, picking up her purse. Pulling it out, she took out her phone and saw several missed calls from Cash. “Has something happened? I stopped by Willa’s and spent the day there.”

Relief crossed his face before hardening once again. “Next time, tell me where you’re at so I won’t worry that you’ve taken another hair up your ass to take off again.”

Rachel put her hands on her hips. “It’s none of your business where I go!”

Cash angrily stalked toward her, and Rachel found herself pressed against the door of her car.

“Listen to me carefully, Rachel. I’m pissed off right now, so I’m not going to be nice about this. You and me are going to happen. So, when I tell you I want to know where your ass is, you need to make sure I know.”

“You’re joking, right? Have you been smoking Greer’s green?” Rachel sniffed him, not detecting the scent of weed.

“I’m not high, I’m furious. I had planned to spend the day with you.”

“You planned to spend the day with me without asking me first? Then you’re dumber than my brothers.” She tried to push him away from him, only to find him immovable.

“Is that so?”

Rachel ignored the glint of warning in his eyes. He’d actually thought she would be sitting around waiting for him after their disaster of a date?