Page 103 of Someone to Hold

“Congratulations,” I say as I move forward, then stop when she stiffens.

I feel like I did that day at the assisted living facility when my mother reacted so aggressively after mistaking me for my dad. Molly’s not screaming at me not to touch her, but the message is coming through loud and clear.

“Come on, Mommy.” Luke tugs her forward. “Let’s have cupcakes.”

“That sounds great.” But her voice is hollow.

“Hey, guys...” I make a show of glancing at my watch. “I forgot I told Ray I’d help him with something at his ranch this afternoon. Can I take my cupcake to go?”

“Does he have more kittens yet?” Luke asks.

“Not right now, but I’ll be sure to ask when the next litter of fosters is coming.”

The kids have moved away from Molly and into the kitchen to start loading their plates. I peeled some oranges and took out a couple of packages of string cheese, too, because protein balances the sugar. At least I think it does.

“What’s going on?”

“Thank you for your help, Chase.” Her gaze doesn’t quite meet mine. Something is very wrong, but how can I knock downthe wall between us when I don’t know why it’s there? “You’ve more than paid off that debt you think you owe.”

“What is?—?”

“I don’t need your help anymore.”

“Mommy, do you want one or two cupcakes?”

“Just one.”

She turns and opens the door, staring at a place just over my shoulder.

“Molly, talk to me.”

“What should we discuss?” She makes a little humming sound in the back of her throat and taps a finger against her chin. “How about me running into George from the insurance company. And him telling me you went under contract on the farm last week.”

My stomach drops like a rock off a sheer mountain face, plummeting with no way to stop and nothing to catch my fall.

“I can explain?—”

“What’s under contract mean, Mommy?” Laurel licks a bit of icing off her finger as she glances between us. “Is Chase going to keep working here after you buy the farm from Nana?”

Molly crosses her arms tight across her chest as if she’s trying to hold herself together. “Now that I’m better, we’ll have to figure out our plans going forward.”

“We want to stay here,” the girl insists.

“Forever,” Luke adds.

“I know,” Molly whispers, her voice breaking.

“Let me explain,” I say again. I’m trying to stay calm, but the words come out rougher than I intend.

“We’ll talk later.” Her tone manages to be light and menacing at the same time. “Right now, you’ve got to get to Ray’s, and I’ve got a cupcake celebration to enjoy.”

“I want to keep taking riding lessons,” Luke says, “because I’m going to be a cowboy.”

Molly smiles at her son, but she’s blinking rapidly. Like she’sblinking away tears I caused. “We’ll work that out, too, sweetie,” she says. “Goodbye, Chase.”

The unspoken message—don’t let the door hit you in the ass—lands hard.

“You have to let me?—”