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“Honestly?”

“No, lie to me please,” Molly grinned.

“It needs work.”

“Yeah, I guessed as much. To be honest, I’m not very techy and Bessie, well, she’s still using a rotary phone so…”

“I can help, if you’d like?” Carmen spent a few minutes in bed this morning browsing the ranch website. It was there as a landing page for the work Bessie and Molly did with the kids they housed, but also for the local shelters and charities they worked with. The website was missing some key ingredients, and the design was outdated. Carmen might not actively save young lives like Molly and Bessie did, but she could certainly put her skills to good use and help them out.

“I can’t ask you to do that,” Molly balked.

“Good thing you didn’t ask then, isn’t it?” Carmen quipped. “I really would be happy to help. I have my laptop with me, and it wouldn’t take long for me to come up with a few design ideas.”

“Are you being serious right now?”

Carmen couldn’t quite place the mix of emotions zipping across Molly’s face. She did not expect to be tackled by the woman and given a hug that rid her lungs of air. “Molly,” she wheezed, unable to breathe.

“Oh shit, sorry, I’m… I’m just so thankful. Places like this need all the help they can get. I’ll see what we have set aside moneywise. I can’t say it will be a lot.”

Carmen furrowed her eyebrows. “You’re not paying me a cent. That’s not why I want to help, Molly. Actually, I feel a little insulted.”

“Whoa, please don’t be upset.”

“Then don’t offer me money again.” Carmen’s tone was firm. Molly offering her money felt gross. Was she being irrational? Probably, but Carmen needed Molly to understand that she just wanted to contribute, because she cared.

“Noted, and I swear I will never offer you a single dime, ever again. Scout’s honor.”

“You’re not a scout.”

“I could be.”

“Really?”

“No, alright I couldn’t. But the promise is still the same.”

Carmen let herself relax again. “Alright, good. So, do you want to go over the website now?”

“Yes, let me grab Bessie and we can get to work.”

Carmen watched Molly scuttle off toward the ranch. Dressed in a fresh set of jean shorts and tank top, the woman screamed sexy. You’re letting Enid get in your head. You don’t know Molly, for god’s sake. That’s all it was. This crush Carmen was feeling was all make believe, brought on by Enid and Bessie’s meddling.

Shaking away her intrusive thoughts, Carmen headed inside to fetch her laptop. The kitchen was buzzing with laughter. Faith, Courtney, Lisa and Micah were sitting at the kitchen table playing cards. Faith flashed her a bright smile as she passed through the room. It hurt to think about, but Carmen knew Faith would be happy here with Molly.

Having kids her own age to hang around with had to beat nights in with Carmen and Mateo. Although, she knew Faith would miss them, as they would her. A blanket of acceptance settled on her shoulders. This was where Faith belonged and as long as she was happy, Carmen would be, too.

???

The work session didn’t happen. Carmen was setting up her laptop when Molly rushed in. “I’m sorry Carmen, I need to leave. The shelter just called, they’re down two workers and they need help, otherwise they won’t be able to open tonight and that isn’t acceptable.”

“Hey, that’s fine. Do you need another body?”

“Really?”

Carmen laughed. “Yes, really. I mean what I say, Molly.”

“Great, grab… whatever it is you need and let’s haul ass.” Molly flashed a smile and gave two thumbs up.

“Where are you two going?” Faith called from the kitchen.