Almost a Family

She followed him through the living room into the airy kitchen. Sara was already seated in a booster chair at the table, scribbling on paper with crayons. A black and white cat slept in a wicker bed next to the patio doors. While Molly put her purse on the counter, Jason took two chocolate chip cookies out of a blue jar shaped like a cat and poured milk into a sippy cup.

“Here you go, Sara.” He put them in front of her, kissed the top of her head and went back to the coffee maker.

“You’re very good with her,” Molly commented quietly, standing a few feet away and leaning against the gray marble countertop.

“I’ve lived next door for two years now,” he replied, measuring coffee into the filter. “I’m surprised Kim didn’t mention it.”

Molly’s baby sister hadn’t mentioned it because she knew that Molly refused to speak of Jason Elliot and their past relationship. Full stop.

“We don’t talk about stuff like that much.”

That, meaning them. His head came up and their gazes met again. They had to quit looking at each other that way, as if they wanted to forget but couldn’t help but remember.

“More milk, please.”

The sweet voice interrupted them, and Molly was thankful for the diversion. She’d stared at Jason far too long, and he at her. Dredging up the past would do no one any good. “I’ll get it,” she mumbled and went to the fridge.

Jason poured coffee. “Cream and sugar, right?” he asked, and she hated that he remembered.

“No, black,” she answered. She hated it black, but she was going to be here for the better part of a month, and she had to keep things very cool between her and Jason. Dredging up past hurts wouldn’t help a thing. The past was the past and it needed to stay that way—making it clear they’d both moved on.

“Didn’t you have to work or something today?”

He handed her a mug and a cookie from the jar. “I worked this morning, and did some rearranging of my schedule to be home this afternoon. We had fun, didn’t we, Sara?”

“Mmm-hmmm,?

? she answered, her mouth full of chocolate crumbs. She swallowed. “I fed the kitties. Then we made hot dogs and cookies. I only like ketchup.”

Molly could only assume the ketchup was meant for the hotdogs and not for the cookies. She swallowed. “Kitties and hotdogs and cookies, oh my. My work is cut out for me.”

Jason raised an eyebrow at her tight tone. “I took her into the clinic with me. I’ve taken quite a bit of time off since last week, though, and the other vet is getting tired of covering for me. I’m glad you’re here.” He looked out the window, away from her.

Like hell, Molly thought, but she pasted on a smile and sipped the bitter coffee, missing her cream and sugar.

“Kim’s doing okay? I only talked to her the once, after she came out of surgery and asked if I could come. I should go in this afternoon, but I’m afraid I need a bath and a nap before I go anywhere.” She hated to ask any advice about Sara, but without Kim’s input, Jason was the only one who had an idea of the little girl’s schedule. “Does Sara nap in the afternoon?”

“Sometimes, but only if you get her tired enough first. She’s had a busy day so far. You might get lucky.”

Getting lucky. Molly sniffed. It had been so long since Molly had “gotten lucky” that she hardly remembered it. Her life in Calgary didn’t facilitate many personal relationships. But with Jason mere steps away, she couldn’t help remembering being with him. Remember what it was like to touch—and be touched—by him. And she knew it was time she and Sara got a move on.

“We should go. Does she have a bag or anything?”

“I’ll get it.” He left the room, leaving her alone with her niece for the first time.

Molly approached the tot and put on her friendliest smile. “Hey, you. We’re gonna head back to your house, okay? Jason’s just getting your bag, and we can take the car I rented. Then you can show me your room and all your toys.”

“No, thanks. I like it here.” Sara’s tiny fingers grasped a red crayon and she began drawing circles, unconcerned.

Molly sighed. Why couldn’t this be easy? She was unsure how to proceed, having so little experience with children. Fact was, she’d spent very little time in the company of any children.

“Well, Jason does have a nice house, doesn’t he?” She smiled down at the girl with what she hoped looked like an encouraging invitation. “But won’t you like being in your own bed tonight? I bet you have a pink room, right? And a favorite stuffed animal to sleep with. I know I did when I was a little girl.”

Sara’s gaze darted up suspiciously. “What was his name?”

Molly’s face relaxed, glad Sara had taken the bait. “It was a she. A fluffy brown teddy bear named Honey. I still have her in my apartment back in Calgary.”

The crayon forgotten, Sara squirmed in her booster seat. “Really?”