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“I… he was so different. I honestly thought he would come around at some point.”

“The important thing is Faith. She’s safe now, but Molly, you have to be prepared for Alan to come looking for her.”

“Yeah, Faith told me he’d already turned up in Seattle. He doesn’t know this place, though. I hadn’t gotten around to writing to him and giving him this address.”

“Can I ask—”

“Why do I keep writing to him?”

Carmen nodded. It made little sense to her. Not when she’d done her level best to keep people at bay, even the nice ones. Why would Molly invite that kind of person willingly into her life?

“After our parents died, he was all I had. I think I clung to the guy he was before my life turned to shit. By holding onto that version of him, I kept my parents close. I know they wouldn’t want me to give up on him, but now? Now I’ve heard the things he’s done to Faith and to Maureen, and I think I finally have to let that version of my brother go.”

The overwhelming desire to pull Molly into a hug almost became too much. Just like Faith, Carmen wanted to keep her safe. “I won’t offer unsolicited advice about any of that. It’s up to you to decide. Just know you have someone to talk to if you want. Faith means a lot to me and Mateo. We’re happy to be there for you, too.”

Molly’s gaze finally dropped from the sky and Carmen felt those gunmetal eyes bore into her. “You’re a good woman, Carmen Ruiz.”

Oh mama! Molly saying Carmen’s full name, all quiet and whispery, was not helping Carmen’s resolve to stop being a pervy perv of Faith’s aunt.

“Thanks, but I like to think most people would have done what we did.”

“I would like to think that too, but we both know the world isn’t like that.”

“Can I ask how you coped?”

“Not sure I did,” Molly laughed. “I was a mess for a while. There were some hairy moments. A young girl on her own, with no money or place to stay.”

Carmen shook her head. That same anger she felt when Faith explained her situation when they first met began boiling to the surface again. “Asshole,” she hissed, conjuring a mental image of Faith’s father.

“Thankfully, I met a group of kids on the street who helped me out. I got into a shelter. After that I moved from city to city when I could. I found under the table cash jobsto fund my way. I knew I wanted to work in the shelters. They gave me my life back by keeping me safe.”

“Yeah, um… Ruth said you were passionate about your work.” Why was she bringing up Molly’s ex?

“Oh, of course, I didn’t think about the fact you would’ve met Ruth. Do you think I’m a monster?”

“For what? Following your heart?”

“Ruth wanted to be the one that had my heart,” Molly sighed. “I loved her, but she…”

“Wasn’t the one,” Carmen answered.

“I’ve always said I would know the right woman for me because I’d feel safe and at home. I didn’t have that with Ruth, even though she did everything possible to make me feel that way. I don’t know, something was missing.”

“I get it. Really, I do.” They fell silent again. Carmen hadn’t meant for the conversation to wade into such deep waters. “I’m sorry,” Carmen said after a few more silent minutes. “You don’t know me and here I am getting all up in your business.”

Molly chuckled. “It’s fine. It’s been a while since I’ve had someone to talk to apart from Bessie. And I know we’ve only just met, but we have Faith in common. I think we’re going to become friends.”

Carmen’s tummy clenched at the thought of growing closer to Molly. Her heart also ached at the thought of losing Faith. They were a unit now. She needed to talk to Mateo. “I think I’m going to head in,” she whispered, not wanting to disturb the peacefulness of the night.

“Good night, Carmen,” Molly replied with a sweet smile.

“Good night, Molly Parsons. I’m glad we finally found you.”

Chapter 14

Molly

To quote Dinah Washington: What a difference a day makes! Yesterday Molly spent the day by herself pondering life and all the things that had happened and what could have been. Now she was processing the fact she had a niece. A gay niece that suffered at the hands of her brother. The brother Molly hoped and prayed would change his ways. But nope, that wasn’t going to happen and Molly needed to rearrange her way of thinking.