Luring Levi (Tarnished Saints Series Book 2) (26 page)

“That’s not our choice,” she told them, her heart breaking to know how Levi had
just hurt her kids. Why had he gotten so close to them if he knew he was just going to let them walk out of his life? And why hadn’t he even said a word to her about her leaving? She’d gotten no reaction from him whatsoever and when she tried to bring it up last night at the fair he just kept avoiding the subject.

Her heart was breaking and she already missed him and only wished things could b
e different. Had she known the day she’d arrived she’d be falling in love with the father of her children only to have him shut them out of his life once again, she would have turned around and gotten right back on that train instead of ever getting in the car with him to begin with.

“I just have to stop off at the diner for a minute on the way to the train,” said Angel, pulling into the lot.

“Oh, Angel,” she said looking at her watch, “I don’t think we have time.”

“It’ll only take a moment,” she said, “besides the train doesn’t leave for another forty-five minutes. I thought maybe we could grab a quick bite to eat while we’re here.”

“I’m hungry,” said Vance. “I want to eat.”

Candace looked over at the lot and noticed it was packed. Almost every spot was taken by a car.

“They look pretty busy,” she said, also noticing Levi’s car parked there. “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”

“There’s Gabby and the boys,” said Val excitedly, opening the door and rushing over to them standing in the entrance to the diner.

“I’m hungry,” said Vance, running after her.

“Kids, come back here,” she called out the window. “We don’t have time for this.”

Angel got out, and holding the door open she looked over to Candace. “I know you saw Levi’s car there. Are you going to come in and say goodbye to him?”

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I can’t. It’ll tear me up inside like it’s already doing. Just please get the kids and let’s get out of here quickly.”

“I don’t think they’ll listen to me,” she said with a smile. “Why don’t you come in and get them yourself?”

“I know you want me to talk to Levi, but I’m not going to. He doesn’t want to see me or the kids, so just forget the whole idea.”

“Really?” asked Angel. “Then how come it was his idea I bring you and the kids by the diner on the way to the train station?”

“It was?” she asked meekly.

“Yes, it was. And if I were you, I’d get my butt in there quickly.”

She looked up and saw Levi with the twins in his arms staring out the door of the diner right at her.

“What’s he up to?” Candace asked in suspicion. “Angel is there is something you’re not telling me?”

“Well, I suppose if you don’t come inside and find out then you’ll never know, will you?” She slammed the car door closed and headed away without looking back.

Candace sat there, not knowing what to do. It almost sounded as if Levi wanted to see her after all. But if that was the case, why didn’t he just tell her last night at the fair? She had no choice at this point. Her kids were inside and she was never going to make the train in time if she didn’t get out and get them.

She opened the door to the SUV and stepped out. Her eyes interlocked with the eyes of the father of her children
. Once again she felt that butterfly in her stomach telling her that she was not going to be able to board that train for home after all.

* * *

Levi stood in the doorway with his kids in his arms, watching Candace stepping out of the car.

“Daddy, are you coming on the train with us?” asked Val.

“I don’t think so,” he said.

“Then can we stay here and live in the cabin with you and Mom?” asked Vance.

“I don’t know about that either,” he said, putting them down. “Now go on and play with the kids while I talk to your mother.” They ran off. Then the door to the diner opened and Snappy walked in.

“Snappy?” Levi was puzzled as to why the man was there, since he
had never come to the diner in all the years that Levi knew him. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m coming to have lunch with your brothers,” he said
pointing across the restaurant.

Levi had be
en in the kitchen cooking since they were so busy. This was the first he noticed Thomas and Zeb sitting across the room. Zeb looked up and waved, and Levi got a glimpse of Mrs. Durnsby and that judge from the
Sliced
show sitting with them as well.

“What’s
going on around here?” he asked. “Why are all these people here?”

“Guess they’re all just hungry,” said Snappy slinking away.

“Here she comes,” called out Margery.

Suspicious,
Levi walked to the counter and leaned over to talk to her. “Why are you saying that to the whole restaurant?” he asked.

“I just thought everyone would like to say goodbye to Candace. After all, we all became quite fond of her and the kids since they’ve been here.”

Then little Eli tugged on his pants and Levi picked him up in his arms. “What’s up, Buddy?” he said.

“Are you getting married to Vance and Valentine’s mom?” he asked.

Levi suddenly realized what was going on. There were no secrets in a town like Sweet Water and he would bet anything that every damned person in the diner knew he was about to ask Candace to marry him.

“Go on and play with the kids,” he said putting him down. Then he met Candace at the door and ushered her outside rather than to let her enter.

“I need to get the kids or we’re going to miss the train,” she said, looking at him oddly.

“You’re not going to be getting on that train, Candy, and I’m sorry I’ve been such a spineless jerk.”

“What are you saying?” she asked, as Levi escorted her to a bench outside the diner and sat her down. It was backed up to a glass picture window and he could see everyone inside gathering around and looking out at them. He was only glad she had her back to them and couldn’t see them. And he only hoped to God she was going to accept his proposal and not turn him down right in front of everyone.

“Hell
with pride,” he said, and kneeled down on one knee in front of her and took her hands in his.

“Levi? What are you doing?”

“Candy, I am so sorry for being such a failure in life but I swear to you I’m going to change my life around.”

“You’re not a failure,” she told him.

“Shhh,” he said reaching up and laying his finger on her lips. “Just let me finish.”

Then he reached into his pocket and held up the ring and watched as her eyes opened wide. “I love you, Candy and I am only sorry I waited so long to tell you. I love our kids and want to be he best father to them and the best husband to you I can possibly be. I want to make up for the seven years of their lives I’ve missed out on and also the seven years of loving you that I’ve deprived you of too. I don’t have a
paying job nor any money, but I swear to you I’ll do all I can to get back on my feet and be able to take care of you and provide for the kids as well.”

He watched as she covered her mouth with her hand and started crying.

“Candy, will you marry me and be my wife?” he asked.

T
here was never a longer and more silent five seconds. He felt his palms sweating and his heart about beating from his chest. All the kids had their noses pressed up to the window and he heard the front door open and out of the corner of his eye he saw a good half-dozen people poking their heads outside.

If she said no to him now, his whole world would come crashing down around him. He’d probably pass out right there on the fron
t sidewalk and if so, they may as well just bury him alive in the earth cuz there would be no way he’d want to go on living without being with Candy and his kids.

“Yes!” She cried out, her body s
haking as she jumped up and leaped into Levi’s arms. They both fell to the hard ground and she ended up on top of him, kissing him like there was no tomorrow.

He heard everyone cheering and clapping from behind him
, and the kids were all pounding happily on the window. She looked up and first noticed everyone watching and jumped off and straightened her shirt.

“I had no idea we had an audience,” she said, getting to her feet. Levi jumped up after her.

“Well, then let’s give them a show, shall we?” he said, slipping the ring on her finger and leaning over and giving her a kiss that he knew was raising a few eyebrows from inside the diner. Then he scooped her up in his arms, letting out a whoop of joy. The kids - theirs as well as Thomas’s, ran out of the door towards them. He put Candace down quickly.

“You’d better run for your life if you know what’s good for you,” he told her.

“What does that mean?” she asked.

“I know that look the boys have in their eyes and I also know it’s going to be painful.”

“Levi, what are you talking about?”

“Pig pile!” One of the boys shouted, and they all rushed after him across the parking lot.

“I’d better get to the grass before someone gets hurt.” Levi reached over and kissed her quickly then took off in a run for the park next door to the diner with a boatload of kids chasing after him.

Candace watched in joy and admiration as all of the kids, including the girls, ran after Levi and pig piled atop him, bringing him to the grassy ground just next to the restaurant. She laughed, knowing this was the man she loved. She held up the ring and looked at it, and Angel came to join her.

“Now you see why I wanted to bring you here?”

“You knew and didn’t say anything?” she asked. “Shame on you.”

“He made me promise not to tell you, but he didn’t make me promise not to tel
l the rest of the town. Of course, Snappy had his part in spreading the gossip as well.”

“
Who’s Snappy?”

“The pawn shop owner where Levi got your ring. He wanted so badly to have a ring to give you when he asked you to marry him. He tried to borrow money from his brothers, but they wouldn’t give it to him.”

“They wouldn’t? Why not?” she asked in shock.

“Zeb and Thomas told him they didn’t have any money because they wanted Levi to ask Judas and hopefully make amends. It didn’t work tho. Instead of aski
ng Judas, Levi went to the pawnshop.”

“What did he
pawn?” she asked. “He didn’t have anything.”

“Snappy said he pawned the key to the town. He didn’t want to take it but Levi said he didn’t want charity. Let me tell you, it’s that stupid Taylor pride that causes every one of them problems.”

Candace looked at her ring and smiled. “I would have married him with or without a ring, it didn’t matter. The best part was that he said he loved me.”

She watched all the kids jumping atop Levi and laughed when as soon as he got out from under the pile they jumped atop him and brought him to the ground again.

“He certainly is good with kids,” Angel said.

“That’s because he’s a kid himself,” she answered with a smile. “And that’s my Levi. You can
knock him to the ground and pig pile him as many times as you want but he’ll just keep getting to his feet and starting over.”

“You’re right,” said Angel, nodding her head. “And from what I’ve heard from the rest of the town, they admire him for that as well.”

“Now if only we can get him to make amends with Judas,” said Candace. “Because that’s one time he’s been knocked to the ground and not been able to get back to his feet again.”

Chapter 22

Levi stood atop the steps of The Twelve Apostles’ Church, just having been wed to Candy, feeling like the luckiest man in the world. He hadn’t been to church in a long time, but remembered when his father had started this church and named it The Twelve Apostles after his twelve sons.

It was once a Protestant church, but Webster Thomas Taylor had made it non-denominational, as he wanted people from any religion to feel at home within its walls.
His father had felt so comfortable at the church that he never wanted to leave it. And Levi realized he never did, as his body as well as the body of their mother lay buried in the church’s graveyard out back.

“Throw the bouquet, Mom,” came Valentine’s voice as she stood at the bottom of the steps with her arms outstretched, waiting to
catch it. Val and Vance had been ring bearers and though it had only been two days since he’d asked her to marry him, Candace had bought the matching ring at the pawn shop for Levi and she said she didn’t need a new one, as she was happy with the one he’d already gotten her.

“Ok, catch!” Candace tossed the bouquet directly to Val and she
caught it and held it up proudly for everyone to see. Thomas had been Levi’s best man and Angel was the maid of honor. Everyone in town was at the wedding, as being mayor, Levi decided that everyone needed to be included in their special day.