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Molly was speaking to someone. “I’m glad Allie came today.”
“Me too,” Pippa said quietly. “Allie is pretty special.”
Through the crack in the door, he could see Pippa covering Molly with a blanket where she was lying on the floor.
“Do you think she’s going to marry my dad?”
There was a pause and the air seemed to grow heavy. “I don’t know, sweetie.”
“I hope they do.” Molly’s wistful voice tore at his heart.
Pippa didn’t seem to know what to say to that and he couldn’t blame her because he had no idea what he would have said either.
“Can I tell you a secret?”
“Sure,” Pippa whispered.
“I wish Allie was my mom.”
More silence. Luke tore away from the open door and headed back down the hall. He leaned against the wall and shut his eyes tight. His head pounded along with his heart. His chest ached, weighing him down to the point he didn’t think he could stand on his own two legs.
He’d been prepared for this, at least that was what he’d told himself. He knew this was the next step, but hearing those words come from his daughter did something to him. Shellie had missed all of Molly’s life. And his daughter would never truly know who her mother was. He could tell her story after story, but that’s all they were.
Bedtime stories.
He couldn’t help but worry that he was bringing Allie into his life too soon. What if she took the place of those stories and erased Molly’s mother completely? She was still young. Her memories were being rewritten every single day.
Maybe he was moving too fast.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
Was there sucha thing as something being too perfect?
That was a silly thought.
Of course there was. Didn’t people say all the time that if something was too good to be true, it usually was?
Well, Allie refused to become the cautionary tale. Everything was going exactly the way she thought it should. Thanksgiving was amazing. It wasn’t awkward or tense. The Duncan family seemed to be welcoming her in with open arms. Luke’s mother was the only one who couldn’t make it, but she’d always loved Allie since she’d become friends with Pippa.
The weeks were bleeding into each other as Christmas quickly approached. The shop windows were decked out with Christmas themes. The annual window decorations competition was in full swing and some of the businesses were going all out this year. The music that played in the town square was as cheery as the twinkling lights that had been strung up on the trees that lined the streets. Everywhere she looked, all she could see was Christmas. The only thing they needed now was a dusting layer of snow.
She stopped in front of a small shop window. A white porcelain horse with red ribbons caught her eye. It stood on its hind legs with red ribbons dangling from the bit in its mouth. It was stunning and simple all at once.
Allie touched the glass with her fingertips. Molly would love that. Every one of her papers was about how much she loved a certain white horse at her uncle’s ranch. On a whim, Allie entered the store and purchased the horse.
Christmas was in two weeks and she hadn’t figured out what she was going to get Molly. This figurine would be perfect. She’d gotten a little closer to Molly mainly because she was seeing her so much more with how much time she was spending with Luke at their place.
Were there still moments where she was unsure how everything would work out? Yes. But she’d finally gotten to the point where she knew what she wanted and that was Luke.
Luke and Molly.
Her insecurities were but a passing moment in the grand scheme of things. Every extra second she had, she spent with him. While he was busy with tree sales, she made sure to keep tabs on the students and their hot chocolate stand.
Her volunteer shift was actually supposed to start soon and she wasn’t going to risk being late.
Allie picked up her pace as she headed toward her car.
The drive to the little market was quick. She passed a lot of folks as she turned onto the road that led to where the Christmas trees were being sold, impressed that it was still just as busy as ever.
