have them in less time than it takes me to snap my fingers, but I don’t want them and never will. Wyatt knew what he was giving up when he married me, so you won’t be hearing from him again.”
Another long silence. When Lily looked at her phone, the call had ended, again. Red-hot, searing anger filled her heart and soul. She wished she had Victoria by the throat, squeezing until the woman turned blue. Wyatt should simply be shot for letting her control him. She threw a hand over her eyes, but the throbbing pain in her head wouldn’t stop. If she didn’t get ahold of herself, she’d stroke right out. Then Wyatt would get immediate custody of her children. She took several deep breaths and let them out slowly until she stopped seeing red spots, and then she shut her eyes and imagined that she was somewhere on top of a mountain. Snow covered the ground, and there was Mack coming toward her.
“You all right?” Mack sat down beside her. “Braden is back in bed, but your face is red as fire.”
“Victoria says that Wyatt will never call again. I feel bad for the kids,” she whispered.
“It will all work out.” Mack laid a hand on her shoulder.
“I hope so,” Lily said. “Thank you for everything tonight, Mack.”
“Hey, we’re a family.” He grinned.
“I guess we are.” She smiled back at him.
Chapter Seventeen
Lily woke on Saturday morning to find Holly snuggled up to her right side and Braden on her left. What she thought was her alarm clock making the noise on the nightstand turned out to be her phone. She reached over Holly and answered with a sleepy “Hello.”
“This is Sally, and I’ve got this big favor to ask. Can you possibly keep the shop until right after lunch? There’s a huge estate sale at the north edge of San Antonio, and I would love to go,” she said.
“Of course.” Lily yawned. “All right if I open at nine?”
“That’s great,” Sally answered. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, and thanks. You’re the best.”
“What?” Holly sat up and rubbed her eyes.
“I’ve got to go to work this morning. Want to go with me?” Lily asked.
“Yes!” Holly bounded out of bed. “I’ll get dressed and put on my makeup.”
Braden got out of the bed and disappeared out into the hallway. Lily followed him, expecting him to go to the bathroom, but instead he went to his room, got back into bed, and pulled the covers up to his chin. She caught a whiff of bacon and coffee all mixed together as she went downstairs. She found Mack sitting at the table with a mug of coffee and the last few bites of waffles in front of him.
“Good mornin’,” he said. “I thought y’all were going to sleep in this morning. Can I make you some waffles?”
“Just coffee.” She poured a cup. “Sally needs me at the shop. Holly wants to go with me.”
“I’m going to Kerrville this morning to look at a couple of goats,” Mack said. “Reckon Braden would want to go? I’m not leaving for a couple of hours.”
“I’m sure he would.” Lily sipped her coffee. “They were both in bed with me this morning when I woke up. Do you think they’ll get over last night’s trauma anytime soon?”
“Sure, they will,” he said. “They’ll be back in their routine on Monday, and pretty soon, it’ll just become a good story to tell.”
“I hope so.” She toyed with her mug. “I can’t begin to thank you enough for all you’ve done for us, Mack.”
“Right back atcha.” He grinned.
“Do I smell waffles?” Braden rubbed his eyes as he came into the room.
“You sure do,” Mack answered. “How many can you eat?”
“A bunch. I’ll make them.” Braden went to the counter, poured the right amount of batter into the waffle iron, and closed the lid. He nibbled on a piece of bacon while he waited for it to cook. “Holly says she’s going with you to work, Mama. I don’t have to go, do I?”
“You have a choice,” Lily told him. “You can go to the shop, or go with Mack to look at goats to buy.”
“Mack!” he said without hesitation. “I just didn’t want to be here all by myself. What if Daddy calls or comes? I don’t want to see him right now.”
“I talked to him and Victoria both last night. You don’t have anything to worry about, son. It will be a while before we