Page 2

Chapter Two

Molly had read the letter repeatedly over the past several days. Oddly enough, the repetition didn’t change the contents. Then she shoved it away, deep in the bottom of her purse, until she could come up with a plan.

As if. What did she know about lawyers, family court, or custody disputes? She hadn’t felt so inept or ill-prepared since she’d found herself pregnant at nineteen.

While she tried to work, her mind raced in circles, struggling to find the link from her old life in Tampa to her new life here in Brookwell. What prompted this sudden contact?

Not her parents. They had kicked her out, withdrawing all semblance of support and civility the minute they learned about the pregnancy. And hearing she’d landed here, with her father’s sister Sharon, had created a rift between the siblings. Sharon insisted her brother had been an ass all his life and that it was a blessing not to hear his blowhard opinions any longer.

Sharon had offered more than immediate support and their relationship had morphed into a lovely blend of mother, daughter, and best friend .

Molly looked at her life and saw a clear dividing line: before and after motherhood.

Her judgmental parents, along with her old friends and connections, were past-Molly issues.

Her little boy, her career, and her life here defined the Molly she had become. Despite the rocky moments, deep uncertainty, and big challenges, she loved growing as a mom, friend, and woman, year by year.

Now her five short years of motherhood were being challenged. Labeled unsatisfactory by two people who’d barely known her name when she’d been running wild with their son.

It didn’t make any sense, no matter which way she turned it over in her mind.

Once Bryce had been tucked into bed last night, Aunt Sharon had sat her down and put an end to her procrastination. Pressing a cup of tea into Molly’s hands, Sharon insisted on helping with money, time, or whatever else Molly needed to ensure Bryce stayed right where he belonged.

Of course, her aunt meant every word and Molly knew she’d have to lean on her again as this played out. As much as she appreciated her aunt, she struggled with taking more. Sharon had opened her home, changed her schedule, gone to birthing classes, helped her through the delivery, spent hours holding Bryce through bouts of colic, and provided the financial safety net Molly needed.

On her own, Molly would’ve managed, but every day would’ve been as much struggle as joy. Here, with her aunt, a good job, and warm, tight knit community, she and her son had thrived.

She wouldn’t give that up without a fight. She couldn’t ignore this. Couldn’t pretend it would go away. Bryce’s paternal grandparents were wealthy and knew plenty of influential people. Molly needed help, beyond Sharon’s offers to hire an attorney and watch Bryce during any meetings with lawyers, assessments, or court appearances.

Court . What a cringe-worthy word. This sudden custody dispute was outrageous.

Bryce’s father, Tommy Grainger, had disappeared the day before she’d worked up the courage to buy the pregnancy test. She’d spent all her free time with him and had convinced herself their romance was the real deal. But when she needed him most, he was just… gone.

And when the pregnancy showed a positive, she tried to talk with him, to get some idea of how he’d feel about starting a family right away. Her calls had gone to voicemail, texts went unanswered. After a week of desperation and worry, she’d gone to his parents’ home. His weeping mother stood at the door, shouting at her that Tommy was dead, that it was Molly’s fault.

Bewildered, in disbelief, she’d bolted. Ran from the posh, gated neighborhood back to Tommy’s apartment across town. Scared, convinced his mother was wrong, she waited for him to come home.

He didn’t.

Sometimes, thinking of where she and Bryce might be without Sharon, an icy dread coated the back of her neck. The paperwork in the bottom of her purse stirred up that same reaction. So she didn’t want to ask Sharon to do more. And she sure as hell didn’t want to drag her aunt into a custody battle.

Those days of being pregnant and uncertain were dark. She’d felt like the true definition of young and stupid, falling for Tommy’s lies. Not just about his big plans or his future with her. The way he lied so smoothly about his feelings still blew her mind .

Looking back, she had no idea how he’d fooled her so easily.

Because she wasn’t stupid. And if anyone had made that clear since that fateful day, it was Aunt Sharon. She had given Molly a safe place to land when she needed it most. Molly would never forget it, and would never take her for granted.

Sharon said the hospitality was simple. From the heart. Over and over, she reminded Molly that she didn’t need or expect any kind of payback. The sincere kindness was appreciated beyond measure. Because Molly would never be able to repay Sharon for everything.

Molly set her florist knife down to rub her temples. How had Tommy’s parents even found her? Or found out about Bryce? And why drag her to court, subject her to scrutiny from family services? The relationship between Tommy and his parents had been strained at best. They didn’t approve of his choices. Would’ve approved even less if they’d known all the details.

Tommy had been filling her head with tales of entrepreneurship, when in reality, he’d been conning her, his employer, his friends, and his parents. He’d brought in investors and spent the money on entertainment, to use the term loosely.

She hadn’t even realized he’d crossed the line into criminal behavior until the police had shown up at his apartment. That interview, all the questions she couldn’t answer, had shattered her illusions. She’d left and hadn’t looked back.

It felt like a lifetime ago, and in many ways, it was. She was a completely different person, on a much brighter path, since moving to Brookwell.

How had the Graingers found her?

“Molly? Hey, are you okay?”

Molly gave a start and then summoned a smile for her boss, Nina Billings. No, it was officially Nina Reynolds now that she’d married Boone. “Oh, I’m fine.” She deliberately picked up her knife once more, cutting the band on a pack of greenery. There was work to be done. “Didn’t sleep well last night,” she fibbed.

As the two primary floral designers, Molly and Nina worked together most mornings at the Island Bloomers flower shop. Nina had opened the shop on her own, and the business had become an anchor point on Central Avenue.

Landing this job with her lack of useful skills had been like winning the lottery for Molly. The hours were perfect, the pay generous, and Nina was an excellent teacher. Molly could be creative and secure, gaining valuable professional experience while she built a life for herself and Bryce. Without Sharon, every day would’ve been a challenge. But thanks to her aunt’s hospitality, she’d found herself.

She’d grown with each opportunity Nina gave her. These days she was more of a manager and event coordinator—with a salary boost that reflected her bigger contributions to the business.

“Did I miss something important?” Molly asked. Her boss was staring at her, one dark eyebrow arched in doubt.

“Not really,” Nina replied. “I just asked about Bryce’s sailing lessons.”

Finally, a question with an easy answer. “His curiosity is a whole lot bigger than his size,” she said with a short laugh. “Much to his dismay. Somehow Miles keeps him interested and engaged, though he is way too young to go out on his own.” She appreciated how the owner of the sailing school backed her up on that. “He desperately wants to go out on the boat Miles is refurbishing, so he’s determined.”

“How exciting! I’m sure he’ll have a blast.” Nina paused, studying Molly closely. “Unless you’re not comfortable with it?”

She was absolutely comfortable with Miles taking Bryce sailing. One day soon, actually. Miles assured her she could join them and she was giving herself time with the idea. Going out together might feel too much like a family outing. Might even be interpreted as such on the island gossip grapevine.

Except they weren’t a family.

She never dwelled on being single or being a single mom. She thought life was wonderful as-is. Dating and romance could be fun—someday. Right now, friendship was enough.

With worries over child services interviews, imminent judgement, and family court bubbling up in her mind, the happiness of Bryce sailing with Miles suddenly burst apart like a popped balloon.

She couldn’t let him take Bryce out now. Definitely not without her. And she was scared of the ocean. Specifically, all the things lurking beneath the surface.

She tried to convince herself it was simply a healthy respect for nature, but deep in her heart she knew the truth: she was perpetually afraid of all those things she couldn’t see clearly.

Sort of like the legal documents in her purse.

“I don’t have a problem with Miles,” she managed. “He’s great with Bryce.” She wholeheartedly approved of him as a male role model. Miles was friendly and thoughtful and exceptionally safety conscious around Bryce. She valued all of those traits even more than how easy he was to look at.

In the privacy of her own mind, preferably late at night, she indulged all the sexy feelings he stirred up. The man was ruggedly handsome with his wind-tossed brown hair and warm brown eyes. He often went days between shaving and the scruff on his jaw tempted her way more than it should.

More importantly, he was endlessly capable. Those strong hands and broad shoulders seemed to conquer every challenge. He was always fixing something or optimizing something else. Though he was new to Brookwell, he was already a reliable cog within the community .

“He’s great,” she repeated, trying to drag her mind back to work, where it belonged.

There were several good role models for Bryce around town, starting with Nina’s husband Boone, her brother Nash, and any number of men she encountered daily.

The people were the best part about life on this small barrier island. Was everyone perfect? Hell no. But perfection would have been boring. Would’ve made her feel like an outsider.

Her parents believed perfection was the only standard. Anything less than a perfect A was a failing grade. By middle school, if she pursued a new interest or went out for a sport and didn’t make varsity, she had to quit and take lessons or private coaching until the next season.

To call her childhood a pressure cooker was an understatement. And it wasn’t at all how she raised Bryce. Maybe time did heal all wounds. Years removed from the turmoil of her unexpected pregnancy, she was grateful they’d kicked her out. Grateful her son wouldn’t struggle to meet the impossible standards her parents required.

Time in therapy helped, but she recognized plenty of work remained. As her therapist often said, the path was easier with good support.

There were times when she worried Bryce was being shortchanged without a relationship with his grandparents. But bad grandparents were worse than none at all. And with everything the community offered, she didn’t think he was missing anything.

“But you do have a problem?” Nina queried.

Once more, Molly jerked her attention back to the work and her boss. “Yes. Probably. Yes, I do,” she said, relieved that the words tumbled right out of her. “But it has nothing to do with Miles, I swear. ”

Nina walked away from the arrangement she was working on. “Spill.”

“No, thanks.” She shook her head. “First I need to find out if it’s a real problem. Then, yes, we’ll talk.”

“You do realize how cryptic you sound?”

Molly chuckled, resigned. “Hopefully, I’m just worried about nothing.”

“What will help you make that determination? You know I’ll help if I can.”

That was the best thing about Nina. About her whole family. When they offered to help, they meant it. No empty platitudes would suffice for the Billings clan. They were the kind of people who jumped in and got things done. Much like her aunt.

It was past time for Molly to start doing the same. The paperwork wasn’t going away simply because she ignored it. She couldn’t sit back and wait for this problem to resolve itself. She needed to find a way forward. She needed to act. And she needed help to figure out the real risks.

“You wouldn’t happen to be a family lawyer on the side, would you?”

Nina reared back. “What’s wrong?”

Molly glanced at her purse. “I got a letter from Bryce’s paternal grandparents a few days ago.” Just saying it aloud dropped a weight across her shoulders. “Actually, I got served notice that they’re pursuing custody of Bryce.”

Nina’s mouth dropped into a horrified expression, while temper burned white-hot inside Molly. She was suddenly enraged with the audacity that they would pull this stunt now. “Can you imagine? They’ve never met him and they just want custody!” She was shouting and couldn’t stop. “They don’t know him. Or me. They shouldn’t even know about him. I haven’t seen them since—” She choked on a sob lodged behind her heart. “Since—” But she just couldn’t get the words out.

Nina wrapped her in a hug. “Breathe. In and out,” she crooned. “It’s going to work out.”

Molly breathed deeply, and eventually eased away, swiping at the angry tears on her face. “I’m sorry. That was awful.”

“And better out than in,” Nina said. “Can you think again?”

Molly nodded.

“Good. You need to go see Jess. Right now,” Nina directed. “Take off your apron and get yourself over there. I’ll handle the shop. Unless you’re too shaky to drive.”

Molly held out her hands, pleased when they held steady. “I’m good.” She untied her apron, looping it on the peg near her work station. “Since when is Jess an attorney?”

“Well, she’s not. But she was a cop and with her new job she has plenty of resources and access to attorneys. Go talk to her.”

“Okay.” She reached for her cell phone. “I’ll call and set an appointment.”

She liked Nash’s wife. And not just because she hadn’t turned into a bridezilla ahead of their wedding. Jess was friendly and practical and Nina was probably right that in her new role as a Guardian Agency coordinator, she could advise Molly about who to contact. Based on what little she’d heard about the security firm, it was managed by two lawyers. Jess probably knew exactly who Molly should call to resolve this.

“I should’ve thought of her myself.”

“You would’ve gotten there,” Nina soothed. “Now, get going.”

“What if?—”

Nina cut her off, holding up her phone. The screen showed a text exchange. “Just confirmed. She’s in the office. I’ll see you later.”

“But—”

“No more protesting,” Nina stated. “Go on and get over there. The sooner you get some information, the better for everyone. Especially Bryce.”

“You’re the best boss ever,” Molly said. She grabbed her purse. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

With luck, Jess could help her find an attorney today. One who would make all of this go away without any more angst or drama.