Marrying Molly

by Linda Hope Lee

  “So you were there. I had a feeling you were.” She recalled the uncanny sense she’d had that Steve was nearby, and the sense of loss she’d experienced when she thought she saw him driving away.

  He stopped, placed his hands on his hips, and nodded. “Yes, and when I saw you with Dirk, I realized you’d be better off with him, or someone like him, and living here in Colorado, where you want to be. So I said good-bye and returned to New York.” He slowly shook his head. “So many times, I wanted to call you, but didn’t feel I had the right. I’d treated you badly, starting a relationship then running off to find Angie. But I never forgot you, Molly.”

  Steve’s words warmed Molly’s heart. “I never forgot you, either. I’ve thought about you so many times.”

  “That’s good to know.” He flashed a smile. “So, when I got the invitation to Melissa Ann’s christening, I debated, knowing you would probably be here and fearing my presence might make us both uncomfortable. But the desire to see you won out, and I decided to come.” He waved a hand. “Well, okay, I wanted to pay my respects to Mike and Rose and the new baby, too, but you’re the biggest reason I’m here. You and Karli.”

  “I’m glad you came, Steve.”

  “And I’m glad to see you’re doing well and are happy.” He approached her and, leaning down, looked into her eyes. “You are happy, aren’t you?”

  Struggling to choose the right words to explain her change of plans, she studied her hands in her lap. Finally, she found her voice. “No, not really. In fact, Karli and I are leaving.” She looked up in time to see his mouth drop open.

  “What? Why?”

  “I came back to find the same life Buck and I had here when he was alive, but that didn’t work.” The old ache nudged her. Giving up her original plan had left a lingering sadness. Still, she’d made her decision and she must move on. She straightened and leaned back against the bench.

  “Oh, Sara and Jackson have been wonderful. I couldn’t ask for better friends, better family. But I realized I need to make a life somewhere else.” She lifted one shoulder. “So, we’re leaving.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Back to Chicago.”

  His brows drew together. “You think you’ll be happy there?”

  “We’ll see. I plan to get an office job—that seems to be my talent—and find an apartment near my sister and her husband.” But even as she spoke, now that Steve had returned, she wondered if her new plan was what she really wanted.

  Steve turned away to gaze in the direction of the pond. “I wish we could start over, you and I. If only I hadn’t made such a mess of things.”

  Start over. Dare she hope that was possible? “What happened to us is not all your fault. Don’t you remember that when we first met, I didn’t want to get involved with you because of Buck’s memory? And you needed closure to your marriage with Angie. Neither of us was ready for a new relationship.”

  “That’s true. Then, when I found Angie, she made me realize I played a part in her leaving.” Steve rubbed his chin and stared at the ground. “I orchestrated our lives, deciding where we would live, what we would do. Her leaving was my fault.”

  “I felt guilty about my marriage, too.”

  He turned, eyes widened. “You did?”

  “Yes, because I objected so strongly to Buck’s rodeo riding.” Molly picked up a leaf Steve had missed when he brushed off the bench. She idly ran her fingers over the leaf’s veined ridges. “Sometimes, I made our lives miserable with my disapproval. My reaction was due to my fear, of course, fear that he’d hurt himself—which he did.” With a surge of the old anger, she tossed down the leaf.

  “But your disapproval was justified.”

  Molly briefly closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. “Not exactly. Yes, what happened to Buck was a tragedy, but Sara helped me to realize I need to let people be who they are. Like with you that day at Funland, when I didn’t want you to take the Rocket Space Ship ride.”

  “I see what you mean.” He smiled and placed a hand over his heart. “But knowing you were worried about me was also kinda nice.”

  She clasped her hands together in her lap. “Okay, but, still, I wish I’d been more supportive of Buck.”

  He nodded, his expression solemn again. “We both were trying to control our mates.”

  “At least in some ways.” She hesitated, uncertain how much more to share. But Steve’s honesty about his feelings gave her courage. “I know I try to control Karli, too. Again, out of fear. But she has to learn who she is and how to be herself. I’ve been able to let go, a little. Did you know she’s been riding the school bus into town to kindergarten?”

  “Yes, she told me when I talked to her earlier. I’m proud of you, Molly.”

  His praise brought warmth to her cheeks. “Thanks. I’m still learning, but maybe there’s hope for me yet.” She laughed.

  “Of course, there is. And for me, too?” He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head.

  “Most definitely.”

  He sank down beside her and grasped her hand. “With all this deep insight, I’m ready for a new relationship.” He stroked the back of her hand. “With you, Molly. What do you say? And, no, I’m not going to convince you to come to New York. I’ll come to Chicago, if that’s where you want to live. I’ll open a branch of my business there. If Jerry doesn’t agree, I’ll go out on my own.”

  His touch tingled all the way up her arm. But his sacrifice was too much. Molly wrinkled her forehead. “Oh, no, Steve.”

  He held up his free hand. “I won’t risk making the same mistake with you that I made with Angie. Where I live and work are not as important as being with the one I love. And the one I love is you, Molly. That I know for sure.”

  Molly’s heart filled with a joy she thought she’d never again experience. “I love you, too.” She’d never stopped loving him, not even when she was hurt and angry that he’d left her. “And I want to be where you are.”

  “We’ll work out the details later.” He put one arm around her and drew her close. “For now, why don’t I go with you to Chicago?”

  “That would be wonderful. I’d love for you to meet Paige and Harlan.” Could this really be happening? She laid a hand on his chest and tipped up her chin to gaze into his eyes. “But, we’re going on the train. Karli’s choice.”

  He leaned back and caressed her shoulder. “No problem. I’ll cancel my airline ticket and pick up one for the same train you’re taking. Being together for a couple days will give us time to talk and plan. I can stay in Chicago and help you get settled. Then we’ll go from there.”

  Although his steady voice gave her confidence, she had to ask, “Do you really think our being together will work?”

  “Our love will make it work.”

  Love. Yes, that was the key. And, deep in her heart, Molly knew their love for each other was strong and everlasting.

  Steve brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. “Come on, let’s find Karli and tell her the good news. But first—” He enfolded her in his arms, drew her close, and kissed her.

  Molly wound her arms around his neck and gave herself up to a kiss that went deeper and deeper, until her very soul blended with his. This was where she belonged. She’d never doubt that again.

  Steve was her future. Her forever.

  Epilogue

  Six months later.

  “Looks like we got a message from Molly.” Jackson gazed over Sara’s shoulder as she sat at their computer checking email.

  “Yes, let’s see what she says about our invitation.” Sara opened the message and read aloud:

  “Hi, Sara and Jackson,

  You two are wonderful, you know that? Steve and I would love to be married at the Rolling R. The ranch holds so many fond memories for both of us. Now that our hearts and minds have been healed of the past, we are ready to move on with our lives. Karli, of course, has been ready from the beginning!

  We’ll be leaving to honeymoon in Hawaii
after the ceremony, but we thought we’d come out a week early and look at some of the ranches there that are for sale. We love our new home on Long Island, but wouldn’t it be nice for us all to be neighbors for part of the year?

  Looking forward to planning the details with you and, above all, to seeing you again. Give our love to Mike, Rose, and Melissa Ann.

  Molly and Steve and Karli.

  Sara looked up at her husband. “I’m so glad their relationship finally worked out.”

  He gave her a fond smile and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Me, too. Their getting together took some time, though.”

  “But I never doubted that love would win out in the end. Love always does.”

  “Yes,” he agreed. “No matter what happens in this old world, we can always count on love.”

  SARA’S COCONUT OAT COOKIES

  1 egg

  ½ cup honey

  1 teaspoon oil

  ½ teaspoon vanilla

  ½ cup rolled oats

  ½ cup chopped nuts

  ½ cup shredded coconut

  ¼ teaspoon salt

  ¾ cup whole wheat flour

  Beat egg, add honey gradually, then oil and vanilla.

  Add oats, nuts, coconut, and salt.

  Gradually stir in flour.

  Drop by teaspoons onto greased cookie sheet. Flatten.

  Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

  Makes approximately 2 dozen cookies.

  A word about the author…

  Linda Hope Lee writes contemporary romance, mysteries, and romantic suspense. Also an artist, she works in watercolor, colored pencil, and pen and ink. Collecting children’s books and anything to do with wire-haired fox terriers occupies her spare time. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, a setting for many of her novels.

  Visit her website at: http://www.lindahopelee.com

  Email her at: linda@lindahopelee.com

  ~

  Other books in The Red Rock Series by this author are:

  Finding Sara

  Loving Rose

  Thank you for purchasing

  this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.