“That’s a silly name.”
His mouth quirked up in a smile. “I told her that, but she still calls her that. Maybe you can help her give her another name.”
“I don’t want to.”
“That’s okay if you don’t want to. Issie is growing on me.”
She stared back at the man curiously. “How old is your little girl?”
“Leah is four. How old are you?”
“Four. So, she’s my age?”
“Yes. She likes playing with her doll, as well, but she gets sad sometimes.”
“Why?”
“Because she doesn’t have any other girls to play with. She has a lot of brothers, but I don’t have any other girls. I was hoping you could help me out with that.”
“How many boys do you have?”
“So far, seven.”
Evangeline gaped at him. “Are they dwarves?”
Freddy laughed as he sat down on the carpet. “Only Ezra, but he’s only one.”
“Aw … he’s a baby?”
“Yes. Leah tries to use him as her doll, but she gives him back when he cries.”
“You let her hold him?”
“Of course, she’s his sister. Leah is very careful with him.”
“She sounds nice,” she said begrudgingly.
“I think so, but I’m a little partial because she’s mine. May I?” Freddy pointed to the badge that was barely hanging onto Molly’s dress.
Waiting until she reluctantly nodded, he then reached out and straightened Molly’s badge. “There you go.”
“Thank you.” Evangeline swallowed the lump in her throat.
“You’re welcome.”
“Are you going to make me go live with you?” she asked, not taking her eyes off the doll.
Freddy wiped the tear away that was sliding down her cheek. “Only if you want to. I could use another girl to spoil. Your new brothers are excited to meet you. The oldest two are making cookies. I hope you like cookies.”
“What flavor are they?”
“Chocolate chip.”
“I like peanut butter.”
“I reckon we can smear a dab of peanut butter on yours.”
“Does Leah like to play outside?”
“As a matter of fact, she does. Do you?”
“Sometimes,” she admitted shakily. “I want to stay with Will.” Unable to hold back her tears anymore, she started crying.
Molly fell to the floor when Freddy picked her up and settled her on his lap.
“Don’t you want me to be your new papa?”
“I want Will to be my papa!” she howled into her hands.
“I reckon we can work that out.”
Evangeline stopped crying. Spreading her fingers wide, she lifted her lashes to see the smiling older man.
“How about Monday through Saturday, you can be my little girl, and Sunday, he can be your papa? Will that make you stop crying?”
She had to think it over. She would have seven brothers, a new sister, and two new papas.
The men stayed silent while she sat on Freddy’s lap.
“Can I hold the baby?”
“If you promise to be careful and not drop him.”
“I’ll be very careful.”
“Then I reckon you can. Of course, we only let family hold Ezra. Everyone is overprotective of him, so we can’t tell them that Will is also your papa. We’ll have to keep that a secret just between you, me, and Will.”
“I can do that. I’m good at keeping secrets.”
“That’s good to know. Of course, that means you’re going to have to be a Coleman to be real family. How does Ginny Coleman sound to you?”
“I can hold the baby?” she checked.
“As much as you want,” her new papa agreed.
“Then I like Ginny Coleman.”
“Then I guess we need to get your stuff and hit the road.”
Freddy sat her down on the floor before standing up and holding his hand out for her. Taking his hand, she got to her feet, then ran to the room that Will had given her to get the suitcase he had packed for her this morning.
Wheeling the Barbie suitcase through the bedroom door, she heard Freddy and Will talking.
“You better make damn sure those charges against me are dropped.”
“I told you I would. You just worry about your end of the bargain. If she’s not happy and taken good care of, I’ll make sure what’s left of you will spend the next twenty-five years in the federal penitentiary.”
“I swore I’d treat her as my own, and I meant it. I ain’t going to tolerate you breathing over my shoulder. When she walks out that door, she’s going to be a Coleman, and you’re not going to have any more say over Ginny than you do my other youngin’s.”
Will looked like he wanted to argue with Freddy, but instead he went into the kitchen and came back with a grocery bag.
“Use this for your toys,” he said, giving her the bag.
Evangeline took it but didn’t bag her toys; she wrapped her arms around Will’s legs and buried her face in his trousers. “What is today?”
“Thursday.”
Looking up, she saw the sadness in the eyes staring down at her. “How many days until Sunday?”
“Three.”
“That’s not too bad, is it?”
“No, it’s not too bad at all. Sunday will be here before we know it.” Will bent down to pick her up and held her tightly to his chest before giving her enough room to breathe. “Freddy will bring you to church, and I’ll see you there. Your new papa and I will take you out to breakfast after the service.”