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The second she got out of her car, Molly collided with her, wrapping her arms tight around her waist. “Allie! I didn’t know you were going to be here. My dad didn’t tell me.”
Allie laughed, her hands pulling Molly closer for a hug. “Well, I don’t think your father has a propensity to keep tabs on the volunteer schedule. That’s more my thing.”
Molly grabbed Allie’s hand and tugged her forward. “Do you want to talk to him? He’s down this way.” She tugged harder and harder, her smile wide. “I was talking to Sarah today.”
“Yeah? What were you talking about?”
Molly slowed. “I told her you might become my mom. And she said…”
The blood in Allie’s ears whooshed, roaring louder than any jet plane. Why had Molly said that? Had she heard something from her father? Or was this just wishful thinking? She couldn’t imagine that Luke would spill this kind of information to his daughter, and yet there was a part of her that really wanted it to come from him.
If the flutters that accosted her were any indication, Allie knew she was on a path to finally having what she’d always dreamed.
“…but I told her she was wrong. My dad loves you and you love my dad, right?”
Allie blinked and focused on Molly again. “Um, yes. Right.” As soon as she agreed with the girl she knew she’d probably made a minor issue into a problem.
“See? I knew it. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. You’re going to be my mom.”
“Well, Molly, it might be—”
“I knew it was going to happen when I wished for it at the wishing well. I was down there with Aunt Jackie and we stopped and made a wish.” Molly was excited to tell the story of her wish and this was big news to Allie. She was pretty sure Luke didn’t know about it, either.
“Sweetie, not every wish comes true.” Allie was trying to do damage control even if it might hurt Molly’s feelings.
“The ones from the wishing well do.”
As much as Allie wanted to agree with Molly and tell her she was right about everything, she couldn’t do it. She’d probably already agreed to too much. Sometimes relationships didn’t work out the way they wanted them to. And while she had a good feeling about Luke, she still couldn’t bring herself to lie to the girl she’d grown to love just as much. “Well, sweetie—”
“There he is.” Molly quickened her steps and hurried toward her father, her grip on Allie’s hand stronger than expected. “Dad!”
Stooped over something at the wreath table, Luke stretched and straightened. He turned around and his eyes immediately found Allie’s. A small smile hinted at his lips and he moved toward them. “There are my favorite girls.”
Molly released Allie’s hand only so she could give her father a hug. When she pulled back, Luke’s gaze locked with Allie’s.
She should tell him. He should know that his daughter was expecting the two of them to end up together—if for no other reason than for him not to be blindsided by his daughter when she admitted it to him.
Only, she couldn’t do it. Molly was present and spilling that information seemed like she was breaking some kind of cardinal rule. So instead of telling him, she smiled warmly and placed a soft kiss to his cheek. Then she motioned around them. “This place is hopping with energy!”
Luke gazed around them, pride pouring from his face. “Yeah, it really worked out well this year. I wasn’t sure the whole time, but I’m glad I stuck with it.”
She moved closer, slipping her arms around his waist. “I never doubted you for a moment.” Before she had a chance to kiss him again, he pulled back. “Sorry, I have to go check on something.”
Despite the motion being more impatient than she had expected, Allie was able to brush it off. Luke was busy. This little market for his trees was something he’d put a lot of effort into. She’d let him have his fun and then she’d get to spend some time with him just one on one.
Molly headed off somewhere, too. There were several kids standing in a circle a couple yards away and she joined their group.
After their little conversation, she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to step into the role of mother to her. The girl had definitely missed out on a lot in her life since she’d been raised by a single father. And she’d never want to replace what Shellie might have been to her.
The unease returned with a vengeance no matter how hard she tried to shove it aside. Stepping into the role of motherhood would never be easy when the child wasn’t her own to begin with. There was only one good thing that seemed to bring Allie some semblance of peace. Molly seemed excited with the prospect.
So why couldn’t Allie share the same outlook?
There was something holding her back. That was why.
And it had to do with Shellie.
The ghost of the woman Luke would never stop loving.
