Forbidden Falls by Robyn Carr Page B

fishing trade, attending the seminary or teaching at a conservative university. The students and staff were pretty buttoned down, more right wing than left. They certainly hadn’t looked Amish—there were plenty of tight and ragged jeans, short skirts, but they didn’t push the limits much. He’d been in a monastery, of sorts, where the culture was cautious. He had probably stood out the most, refusing to wear the standard V-neck sweater or herringbone jacket to teach in. As a professor he looked like he looked right now—very casual. He had acquired a suit for his wedding, and he wore it again for Merry’s funeral. He didn’t like the idea of suiting up for future church services.
    But here, in the bookstore and mall, there were hip young women, mothers and otherwise. He saw bare midriffs, pierced belly buttons, tattoos poking out of low-slung jeans and a rose on the top of the rise of a breast. He hadn’t seen much body art at his teaching job, but it was popular around the docks and he had even acquired his own tattoos while working as a fisherman. Ellie’s clothing might be a little racy for a church lady, but by contemporary standards, she fit right in. Well, except that it was hard to find anyone as beautiful, or as sexy.
    And why wouldn’t a woman with those assets—height, figure, thick hair, ivory skin—want to look pretty? Sexy? Her means might be slim, but in her own way she was making the most of what she had.
    He smiled and admitted to himself that he found Ellie a lot of fun. Edgy and authentic and full of delightful mischief. Seeing her with her kids gladdened Noah’s heart.
    When they were finally back in the car, each child hanging on to two books, he said, “Well, anyone hungry?”
    “I’m stuffed,” Ellie said. “Kids? Hungry?” They shook their heads. “We’ll just head home, Noah,” she said. “Thanks for asking. That’s very nice.”
    It was only 5:00 p.m. They’d had their McDonald’s at two—they’d get hungry. Ellie hadn’t been planning on an overnight visit. “I bet you could use a run by the grocery store before going home, to stock up for your sleepover,” he said.
    “Do you mind? I’m sure you have to get back to Lucy and I can just head out after I take you back to town.”
    “Don’t be silly, Lucy is fine. She probably has that second bathroom painted by now. We’ll stop at the store on our way home. You’ll need something for tonight, after the hamburgers wear off. And breakfast. As for tomorrow—don’t take them back to Redway without me. I want him to know there’s some scrutiny. That you have backup. Let me take you there.”
    “But, Noah, it’s Sunday. You probably have things to do. Don’t you have religious things to do?”
    Yeah, he thought. I have to stand in that empty church and remember what community really means. What shoring up your friends and neighbors is all about. What the real blessings are—they’re small of stature, they’re young, they’re innocent and they have to be protected. “I’m free all day, but I won’t interfere with your family time. I’ll be ready to take you in time for your deadline.”
    “Mama?” Danielle asked from the backseat. She pronounced it “Mumma.” “Can we stay with you now?”
    “Just for tonight, angel. Arnie thinks he can do a better job, and so does the judge, and we have to give him some time.”
    “But, Mama, he doesn’t do his manners,” she said. “He doesn’t like us very much.”
    “Sweetheart, all we can do is go along for now. The judge said ninety days, and we’re getting through it, then it will work out. Try not to let your feelings be hurt when he doesn’t mind his manners. Just do your best. And please, baby, please know that I will never ever be disappointed in you. I’m proud of you every second. We’ll all do our very best and soon it will be over.” She smiled at her daughter over her shoulder. “My gramma used to call it ‘Go along to get along.’ That’s