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“You rock, Aunt Mol,” Faith sobbed.

“C’mere,” Molly laughed, hauling Faith into another behemoth hug. “Everything’s going to be okay, Faith, I promise.”

This time, Faith had no trouble accepting such a promise. Things would be okay. Faith could feel it.

Chapter 19

Carmen

Alan turning up dredged up some old feelings. The last time Carmen felt that rush of anger towards another human being was when Mateo returned to their group home, battered and bruised. Back then Carmen couldn’t help, she couldn’t protect her brother, but that wasn’t the case now, which is why she’d been ready to launch an attack if Alan dared get too close to Faith.

Thankfully, there’d been no reason for her to get involved physically. Molly and Faith handled Alan, and now it was over. Which she should be happy about, but now, Carmen had to face the fact that Faith would more than likely stay in California with Molly and she would go home to Seattle. Back to her life, in her house. Wow, how sad was that?

Since Faith and Molly had gone for a walk, Carmen found herself milling about the ranch. Sitting still wasn’t possible. Her body felt as restless as her mind. Irritated with her own mood, Carmen took the stairs two at a time to the room she’d been sharing with Mateo. Unpacking her shorts and sport tank top, Carmen stretched, readying herself for a run.

The sun beat down mercilessly as her feet pounded the dirt track. Pushing herself, Carmen ran harder. The thought of simply going back to the life she’d had before Faith turned up sat heavy in her chest. Mateo tried for months to get her out of the house, but she’d always fought him.

The fun Carmen felt since Faith turned up and made their little family feel whole was unexpected, but welcome. Mateo seemed lighter, too. So, even if Faith stayed behind, Carmen knew she had to keep pulling herself toward something better. A flash of Molly’s eyes zipped across her mind, causing her to physically shake her head as she ran.

Trying to break out of her past life was one thing, thinking about a woman, quite another. One step at a time. Inevitably, she would go back to therapy. The events of the past few weeks churned up too much for Carmen to push down. Mateo wouldn’t allow her to, anyway. There was also her career to consider.

Owning two businesses provided her and Mateo with a secure future, but now, after witnessing the good that Molly and Bessie were doing, made her crave more. There was a deep sense of unfulfillment in her life. Rita would be a good person to speak to. Carmen could definitely help, she could give back. Rita deserved that. In fact, Carmen felt some shame that she’d not helped Rita more. That’s going to change!

As she rounded the corner, the ranch came into view. Sweat was literally dripping off her forehead into her eyes. Running in one hundred degree weather wasn’t the most sensible choice, but her body was satisfied and her head felt clearer.

Slowing down to a jog, Carmen saw Molly in the distance to the left of the house. It’s not like she meant to stare, but, holy shit, watching Molly in those tight ass shorts and tight tank was just too distracting.

Walking with her head firmly turned towards Molly, Carmen didn’t see Enid standing in front of her until they both nearly hit the floor. “Holy shit, Enid, I’m so sorry!”

“Christ on a bike, you nearly had me on my back, and I can tell you it’s been a long time since that happened, but, honey, you should know I don’t see you in that way,” Enid cackled.

“Hilarious. Seriously, are you okay? You’re no spring chicken anymore,” Carmen grinned.

“Cheeky shit. Yes, dear, I’m fine. Although maybe I should ask you that. What had you so distracted?”

Carmen’s eyes betrayed her by wandering back to Molly, who was none the wiser, still working hard. Her hair piled high in a ponytail. Her long neck on display. Beads of sweat running slowly down to her back.

“Hey, are you still with me, Carmen?” Enid said, snapping her fingers in front of Carmen’s face.

“What? Yeah, I’m here, what’s up?”

“Oh boy, I see. It’s not a something, it’s a someone. I called it, Bessie owes me fifty bucks.”

“You can wipe that shit-eating grin off your face,” Carmen huffed.

“I don’t think so. You’ve got the hots for Molly,” Enid cackled again.

“Will you keep your voice down and no, I do not! I was in my head thinking, and I just didn’t see you. I didn’t even notice Molly.”

“Ha, you’re ridiculous. Whatever, honey, I see you.”

Not wanting to listen to any more of Enid’s ludicrous ranting, Carmen politely excused herself to the house. She needed to shower and check her emails.

Once Carmen got into work mode, she wasted a good four hours. She hadn’t meant to, but actually it provided her with the space she needed. No way did she want to run into Enid or Bessie, not after she’d made a complete tit of herself ogling Molly and being caught doing it.

Her stomach growling eventually forced her to close the laptop down and sneak to the kitchen. It seemed everyone was out or in their rooms. Carmen could deal with that. Halfway through eating a ham and cheese sandwich, Molly joined her. Freshly showered, her hair deliciously damp. Carmen had to drink some water to get the rest of her sandwich down her esophagus. How the hell did Molly get hotter?

“Hey.”