Page 134 of Letters to Molly (Maysen Jar 2)

Christmases. Thanksgivings. The random barbeques we’d had since Mom and Dad had moved home from Alaska. Mom was right. Molly had been missing from our family.

But I’d get her back, and we’d fill that void. And it would never be empty again.

“Drive safe.” I hugged Mom then went down the hallway, toward the golden glow underneath Kali’s door. I eased my way inside, in case she’d fallen asleep. But there she was, her curls still damp from her shower, reading a book propped up on her knees. “Hi, sweetie.”

“Hi, Daddy.” She closed the book. “How did it go?”

I grinned and crossed the room, bending to kiss her forehead. “Good.”

“Did she say yes to the movie? Or are we going with Plan B?”

I wasn’t even a little bit ashamed to enlist my daughter in my plan to win back her mother. Kali was on deck as my backup for the movie date. If Molly had said no, Kali was going to ask Molly to have a sleepover at a friend’s house. We’d already brainstormed an excuse to get Max over to Mom’s. And that would free me up to take Molly on a surprise movie date.

“She said yes. You guys can stay at Aunt Poppy and Uncle Cole’s house.”

Kali fist-pumped. “Yes.”

“Okay, you’d better get some rest. School tomorrow.” I kissed her forehead again. “I’ll see you in the morning. I love you.”

“Love you too.” She snuggled in as I flipped off her lamp.

“Night.”

“Dad?” She called to me before I reached the doorway. “I know you can make Mom happy.”

I smiled. “Me too.”

“Morning,” Bridget muttered, her sunglasses still on as she walked into her office.

I sighed, draining the last swallow of my coffee. I’d been dreading this conversation all morning. Once I’d dropped the kids off at school, I’d come to Alcott expecting her to be here already.

Bridget was normally in before eight to help get the crews loaded up in the yard. But the clock on the wall read nine.

She was probably pissed at me, yet I didn’t fucking care. She’d crossed a line. She should have known better.

Molly was off-limits.

I stood and went to her office door. She was pulling a bottle of pain pills from her desk drawer. “I need to talk with you this morning.”

“Can it wait? I have a nasty headache, and I’m leaving in thirty to check on the Morrison project.”

“No, it can’t. I’ll give you a few. Come in when you’re ready.”

“Fine,” she bit out.

I returned to my office, mentally running through the things I wanted to say then pulled out my phone to send Molly a text.

* * *

Me: So? Have you been smiling all morning?

* * *

I hit send and immediately three dots appeared.

* * *

Molly: You’ll never know.