Page 28 of October (New Orleans #10)

M olly drove home in a daze and didn’t know what to do.

She still had to work because she wasn’t actually sick.

Yes, her mind was racing, and her heart was thundering, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t make it to her meetings remotely, so she set her stuff up at her kitchen table and pushed a vase out of the way to make room for her computer.

Then, she looked up, realizing the vase was filled with two flowers from Finley, awaiting the remainder of that dozen she had been promised; one for each date they’d go on.

For just a second, she allowed herself to believe that it would still happen and wondered if, after the flowers all died or after she got the first dozen, Finley would keep getting her a flower for each date.

She shook her head at herself, picked up the vase, and moved it into the kitchen, where she couldn’t see it while she worked.

Having made herself some coffee before she sat down, she tried to push all thoughts of Finley and India out of her mind.

She almost wished she had a morning full of meetings to offer a proper distraction, but today, of all days, she only had one in the morning and two in the afternoon.

Molly did have a lot of work to do, though.

At the end of the year, there would be a performance review process.

Technically, part of it had already kicked off, with managers heading into meetings and training sessions to learn about the process if they were new this year or learn about the changes the company had made to it if they’d been here before.

She also had to review all of the recommended promotions.

Each manager had to fill out a form to tell HR in advance who they were planning on promoting and why.

Part of Molly’s job was to review the requests for the departments she partnered with and ask any questions or ask for more information from the managers in order to make the approval process go smoothly, so she opened the requests she already had and began reviewing and taking notes.

By lunchtime, she was starving and needed to stand up for a few minutes, so she went into the kitchen and opted to make herself a quick grilled cheese sandwich.

While spreading butter on bread, Molly thought about Wells and how the dog really had just done whatever she had wanted, regardless of what the other dogs had done around her, and that made her smile.

She decided that she needed to at least make the call, so she put the sandwich on the stove and grabbed her phone.

“Hi. Um… I was interested in adopting a dog,” she said once someone answered after a few rings.

“Oh, great. Have you been to our facilities before?”

“I went to a puppy party thing the other day, and the woman there gave me this number to call if I wanted to adopt a puppy from the event,” she said.

“Yeah, no problem. Did you get the name of the dog?”

“Wells,” she replied. “She’s a corgi.”

“Ah, that litter,” the woman said. “Let me check to see if she’s still available for adoption. Give me just a second.”

“Of course,” Molly replied as she checked on the sandwich, wanting it to get nice and crispy on one side before she flipped it and waited.

“Okay,” the woman from the puppy place said as she removed her from being on hold. “So, Wells is a popular little girl, and a family has already submitted their application to adopt her.”

“Oh,” Molly uttered. “I see.”

She’d waited too long.

“Having said that, it looks like they’ve also submitted an application for another puppy from the same litter.

I’m not sure if they’re interested in adopting two dogs or if they just couldn’t choose between them, so they applied for both.

The other one is available, and based on their application, I can’t see them being denied.

Would you mind if I take a little time to reach out to them to confirm and get back to you?

I’d still recommend you apply for Wells.

She’s had another person apply. They ended up going for another dog instead, but I’m not sure how much longer she’ll be here. ”

“I can still apply?” Molly asked.

“Of course. People apply all the time. We need to make sure our animals are going to good homes, though, so applications don’t guarantee anything. Besides, people withdraw all the time, too, so it’s always good to have your application next up on our pile.”

“Okay. I’ll do that,” she said, feeling slightly better.

“Great. It’s online. Do you have the link?”

“Yes, I do. Thank you.”

“And just as a tip, puppies are popular, so it’s likely we’ll get more applications for Wells. You could have a backup dog in mind just in case.”

“I have my heart set on Wells,” she said.

“Then, I’ll recommend something else. On the application, there’s a section asking why you want to adopt. Add in something special about why you want to make Wells part of your family. It’ll help you stand out.”

“That’s super helpful. Thank you!”

“Of course. Let me just get your info now, and I’ll give you a call back once I can get ahold of the other family.”

“Okay.”

Molly gave the woman her name and number, and when they hung up, she immediately went to her computer and got started on the application.

Getting to the ‘why’ section that she was told about, Molly leaned back in her chair, grilled cheese cooling off on the plate by her computer, and tried to think about why she wanted this particular puppy. Then, she began typing.

For most of my life, I’ve had mild anxiety issues.

I grew up with a father who struggled with them as well and often didn’t leave the house.

I’ve been able to cover up my struggles for the most part, but there are days when trying to appear fine when I’m not becomes just too much to handle for me.

When I met Wells at a puppy party, I felt an instant kinship with her.

Here was this little puppy in a room filled with other puppies, who were all playing and jumping around the room, and she was just on a dog bed, sleeping and not caring about any of it.

I think I fell in love with her then. She was just herself and didn’t seem to care about anything else around her.

Then, she came over to me and the person I was there with, and she let us pet her and fell back asleep right there, on top of the person I was with.

Wells stayed there for the entire time, and when we had to leave, I knew I needed to reach out to see about adopting her.

I feel like we were supposed to be a family and that I need her in my life.

I need that kind of self-assurance and calm, so Wells is the perfect companion for me.

I hope you’ll strongly consider my application, and I promise to provide her with a happy and loving home.

Molly went on to explain that her best friend had a dog that Wells would be able to play with and that she knew the most popular dog walker and pet sitter in the city, namedropping Gwen in case they knew of her.

She told them that she didn’t have to travel for work, was pretty much always home, and could alter her schedule as needed or enlist Gwen’s services to walk Wells during the day or if she had to work late.

Molly hoped that would give her a leg up on the stiff puppy competition, and after re-reading every word and deciding that she’d done the best she could, she hit send.

Molly made it to her meetings and, at five, she closed her computer and went to her sofa, where she stared down at her phone.

She still hadn’t texted Finley, but she knew she at least owed her that, so she pulled up her messages and sent her a short text telling her that she was fine and in for the night.

She wasn’t sure why she added that last part, but she had hit send before she could stop herself.

Finley Storm : I don’t want to ask this because I know you want some space, but can I come over? It’s okay to say no.

Molly knew then why she had said that she would be in for the night.

She was hoping for this kind of response from Finley.

She needed to hear that Finley still wanted to do this, even though Molly had asked for some time.

She knew it was wrong because she would tell her no, but she was still happy to see the message.

Molly Jewel : Not tonight, Fin. I’m just going to eat something for dinner, take a long bath, and go to bed early.

Finley Storm : Okay. Sleep well, Molls.

Molly hated that she was doing this to this woman.

She pulled up the therapy app she hadn’t used in over a year and decided to see if there were any exercises that she could do to help manage what she was feeling before she could find a local doctor to meet with.

It hadn’t ever been this bad, the feeling like the world was swirling around her too fast and she couldn’t keep up, and she knew she needed some help.

Molly hadn’t had pride in the way of seeking help before; she just also hadn’t ever felt like something very important was happening, and she was going to miss out on it if she didn’t get herself together and soon.

◆◆◆

The next day, she woke and tried to calm herself down by doing a breathing exercise recommended by the app.

She had to go to work today, and that meant seeing Finley and possibly running into India.

When she arrived at the parking garage, she pulled into a spot on a different floor, not being able to take the usual one she grabbed because it reminded her of Finley now.

She checked her surroundings for India, who might be on the phone again, but found only other coworkers heading into the office, so she joined them and tried to pretend like everything was normal.

When she got to her desk, Finley gave her a smile and a nod but didn’t say anything, apparently trying to respect her request for some time, which Molly both hated and appreciated at the same time.

She wanted Finley to talk to her, though, to grab coffee with her, to take her into the server room and give her the best kiss of her life.

She didn’t want to be this way: worrying about not being ready for a relationship with Finley now that she could finally have it; not being able to stand up to India and tell her that it was over, and to leave Finley alone.

She wanted so many things, but she didn’t think she was capable of having them.

So, instead of saying hello to the woman she was technically still dating, she went to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee on her own and ran smack into India, who was on her way out, holding a banana in her hand.

Thankfully, she hadn’t had her own cup of coffee that would’ve spilled all over both of them.

“Shit,” India said. “Sorry.” Then, she looked up. “Oh, Molly.”

“Hi,” Molly said. “And I’m sorry. I was looking down,” she added, taking in India’s wardrobe, which was perfect and wrinkle-free as usual.

“It’s fine. No damage done,” India said. “Actually, can I talk to you for a few minutes?”

“Oh. I was just getting a cup of coffee.” Molly pointed behind her.

“I just wanted to apologize, Molly,” India said softly. “Not cause problems.”

Molly swallowed and gave a short nod. India nodded, too, and they walked over to a small sofa that was against a wall and nestled in a corner of the kitchen, where they could speak and not be interrupted.

Molly waited for India to sit first before she followed, leaving as much space as she could between them.

“Finley said you overheard me on the phone with my sister yesterday, so I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were there. She called me right before I got inside, and I stayed out there to take the call.”

“That’s okay,” Molly said. “You can talk on the phone wherever you want.”

“Still, I wanted you to know that I get it now.”

“Get what?”

“You and Finley,” India said.

“What about me and her?”

“She really likes you. She defended your honor.” India chuckled.

“And when I tried to kiss her the other night, she bolted as quickly as she could. She was repulsed at the idea of kissing me again. I’m not going to lie, that one hurt.

” She shook her head slowly. “But she’s done with me. I get it now.”

“It’s only been a couple of dates,” Molly noted. “You two always get back together.”

“Not this time,” India replied. “It’s different this time.

She’s never liked anyone else before. She’s never gone on a date with someone else – that I know of, at least – and you work here.

It couldn’t have been easy for her to ask you out, knowing that you’d be here every day, and it would be awkward if you said no.

She even moved her desk right next to you.

” India chuckled. “And she could’ve sat anywhere.

It’s not like it was every other time we broke up, Molly. ”

Molly sat there frozen, unable to say anything.

“What?” India asked. “Something wrong?”

“I told her I needed time yesterday. It’s just a lot. I’ve… liked your girlfriend for a while now, if I’m being honest.”

“My ex-girlfriend,” India said. “She’s not my girlfriend anymore.

” She shrugged. “And I get needing time thing, but, Molly, I promise you that I’m done trying to get her back.

I went home last night and thought about what an ass I’ve been recently.

I kept thinking that this was just us ; that it was who we were as a couple.

I thought if we finally lived together and took those steps, everything would fall into place.

But that’s not how it works. It’s not how it should work, at least. Finley likes you now.

She doesn’t want me anymore, and I need to move on, so I’m going to start doing just that by trying to be the bigger person here; or, at least, a decent one, I suppose.

” India stood up then and added, “I don’t think you should give up on her, okay?

Obviously, it’s not my call, but I’ve never seen her like this, for what it’s worth. She’s ready if you are.”