Jason had stayed in the foyer, watching the sisters silently, but now he came forward. He knew very well from Kim that Molly hadn’t visited for several years and also knew how hurt Kim had been by that. Seeing Molly acknowledge that gave him hope. Hope for her. Hope for them. He was beginning to see that Molly wasn’t as cold as she’d appeared when she first arrived.
“I’ll give you a hand, Mol,” he offered. “Sara, why don’t you and your mom go into the living room? You can show her the pictures you drew of Bubbles yesterday.”
In the kitchen, he took out mugs while Molly arranged cookies and brownies on a frilly plate. She took them from a plastic container on top of the counter and not a bakery box. The woman who’d arrived a few short weeks ago would not have baked homemade goodies. His lips curved into an easy smile. She’d changed more than she realized.
“You’re a good sister, Molly.”
She stood back, analyzing the plate, moving a few brownies around. “No, I’m not. But I’d like to change that. Kim deserves better. We only have each other and I took that for granted.”
Jason took her hand, tugging until she faced him. “I’m glad you realize that. She’s very special.”
A look flashed over Molly’s face, and for that brief second he thought he saw distrust. But just as quickly it was gone and he was left wondering if he’d been imagining things.
Especially when she replied, “I know. And Sara should know her aunt. I’ve been selfish. I had intended to go back to Calgary as soon as Kim was released, but now I find I want a few more days…to make sure she can handle things, you know?”
“You did what you thought you had to do.”
Her head snapped up, her gaze clashing abruptly with his. He met the look calmly. Perhaps this was what she needed to see things clearly, to finally get her priorities straight. Perhaps then….
What was it he really wanted? Molly looked away, putting away the container of cookies while a wrinkle formed between his eyebrows. Did he want her back, or did he simply want to let her go, tie up the loose ends between them and move on?
“Molly, I…”
“We’ll talk later, okay? Let’s just enjoy the afternoon. Kim’s safe and she’s home, and Sara is happy and secure again. That’s what’s really important. There’s time enough for us to talk later.”
She put the plate on a tray and he knew without a doubt what he wanted. He wanted what he’d lost six years ago.
Only now he had to figure out how he was going to make it happen.
Her hands shook as she poured a cup of milk for Sara, put everything on a tray and carried it into the living room. Sara had turned on the music channel and Kim exclaimed over the baking. Molly laughingly admitted she’d used a mix, but as they sat around the coffee table laughing and chatting, she knew she’d been missing out on something all this time.
Jason came in and took a seat, settling Sara on his lap and handing her the sippy cup of milk. Molly sat quietly, staring at the scene before her, imprinting it on her heart. To an outsider, seeing Sara on his knee, Kim’s smile as she picked a brownie from the plate, they looked like the perfect family.
Family. People who cared about her and about each other. Ones with childhood memories and stories. That deep connection. It was no wonder Jason had gravitated to Kim. He’d always wanted a family, ever since his brother had died when he was very young. Kim was the type of homebody he needed. Yet the thought of them… Molly had to acknowledge that she wasn’t willing to give him up, which was odd because he wasn’t hers for the giving.
She’d forgotten how familial closeness felt. Since she’d left Jason and Kim, she’d never felt it again. They’d been her family after her parents divorced, but after him there’d been no one. Now the feeling of it rushed back, full and bittersweet with the knowledge she’d given up this place once before and that she would leave it again soon. It surprised her to realize she didn’t want to. What if she were to consider the unthinkable? Was there still a place for her here? In Kim’s life? In Jason’s?
“Mol. Where did you go?” Kim’s voice intruded and Molly forced her face to relax, conjuring a pleasant smile.
“Not far. Sorry. I’m just glad you’re home.”
She ignored Jason’s gaze, the one that seemed to know exactly what she was thinking, and instead rose to refill the cookie plate.
*
How could she have forgotten?
Sara’s birthday was Wednesday. Tomorrow, Molly realized. Where had the time gone? She pinched the bridge of her nose. Kim would have had a party all arranged long before now, complete with presents and cake and probably a half dozen children running around. Kim was home, yes, but still on pain killers, still exhausted. And as nice as it was for Sara to have her mommy back, things were far from normal in that household.
Sara was turning four. Molly had missed enough birthdays that she was determined to make up for it. Kim and Sara were the only family she had left and so far she hadn’t even made an effort. That was going to change. Starting today.
When Kim had mentioned it this morning, asking Molly if she could run o
ut and pick up at least a few presents, Molly had known that wouldn’t be enough. Besides, Kim had been off work for nearly three weeks. She was a single parent. Molly didn’t have to read too closely between the lines to know that money was tight for her baby sister. To make up for past neglect, Molly was determined to make this birthday one to remember.
“I’ll look after it, I promise,” Molly assured her. “You get up some strength for a little party, okay?”
Except Molly had no idea how to organize a child’s party.