Almost a Family

Molly sniffed, remembering asking him for that very thing. “There’s never been any middle ground with Jason. He asked me to marry him right after we graduated. He was going to Charlottetown for his vet degree and I had been accepted to U of T. He expected me to change my plans and follow him to Charlottetown to be the good little wife. He had our future all mapped out. I’d work while he finished vet school, and then he’d come back here and set up his practice while I did my law degree. I’d finish and practice for a year, he said, before I got pregnant.” She ran her hand through her hair. “He had us in a house with two point five kids and student loans up the wazoo before we’d even headed up the aisle. I suggested we wait. I wanted to go to Toronto and do my degree. We were still so young, only twenty-one. I said we had lots of time. I wanted to get my career established before we had kids, and I thought perhaps somewhere else might be better for both our careers.”

“And what did he say?”

Molly met her sister’s bold look evenly. “He said that four years apart was no way to start a marriage and his wife would stand by him, not head across the country.”

“And what did you say?”

“I said that there were things we both wanted, and maybe we could find a way to work it so we were both happy.”

Molly sighed, remembering. They’d been sitting on his bed, the June morning sun glowing through the blinds. He’d gone to his dresser drawer and had taken out a black velvet ring box. But hearing what he had planned for them had made Molly feel like she was being tucked into that box, closed in and doing exactly what Jason dictated. They had argued. He’d tucked the ring into his pocket and their voices had risen until they were nearly shouting. And things had fallen completely apart.

“He said me with him was the only way he’d be happy, and it had to be that way. I left.”

“That’s it?” Kim stared at her sister. “You never spoke again?”

“No. I went to Toronto and did my degree, as planned. He did exactly what he planned too, only he did it alone.”

Kim frowned as she absently stroked her daughter’s hair. “You guys need to clear the air,” she suggested. “Professionally you have what you wanted. But personally… I mean, you haven’t been one for serious relationships and neither has Jason. He dates occasionally, but before anything gets serious, it’s always over. You’re holding each other back.”

“Well, thanks, Dear Abby. I’d rather cut off my own tongue than talk about this with Jason again.” Molly’s tone was acidic and final.

Kim grinned. “I’m sure he feels the same. Jason’s one of the best men I’ve ever met, but both of you are as stubborn as mules. Somehow, you’ve both got to let go of your pride and get past it. You both deserve to be able to move on with your lives. The way things are, you’re both stuck.”

Molly leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs. “Is that your official diagnosis, Doctor?”

Kim smirked. “I love both of you. I want everyone to be happy.”

Molly examined her sister closely. Jason lived next door, did all sorts of odd jobs for Kim; she trusted him with her daughter. Molly wondered about Kim’s real reason for wanting Jason to move on. What if all of this was to exorcise any remnants of feeling so he could move on with a ready-made homemaker and family? Kim certainly fit the bill much better than Molly did. She had a house, a darling daughter, made home-cooked meals and was an all-around nurturer. Molly couldn’t help but remember how he’d said he’d been listed as her next of kin number. And she couldn’t escape the haunted look in his eyes when he’d described the accident. What exactly were their feelings?

“Are you in love with him, Kim?” She asked it point blank, then held her breath for the answer.

Kim blushed. “Me?”

“You’re awfully set on him moving on. Do you want it to be with you?”

Kim looked down, and Molly’s heart jumped with dread that she was right. She should have been happy, but the thought of Jason kissing her sister was too hard to imagine. She didn’t like the thought of Jason kissing anyone, actually. And that was just silly.

“No.” Kim looked back up, her features soft. “I love Jason. He’s made life much better by being my friend. He’s a father figure to my daughter and a confidante for me. But I’m not in love with him, Molly. I’ve always known his heart was somewhere else. Just as mine is.”

Molly sighed. “You’re still not over the lowlife, are you?”

Kim aimed a warning look that said, not in front of Sara. Molly clamped her mouth shut. Why her sister was still hung up on Sara’s father was beyond her. He’d up and transferred across the country without a qualm, had never contacted his daughter. In Molly’s opinion, he didn’t deserve the pedestal Kim put him on.

“Please,” Kim pleaded. “Talk to Jason.”

Molly nodded, saying nothing.

The nurse came in to check Kim’s vitals, saving Molly from admitting that she and Jason had already kissed. And fought.

When Molly returned home, Jason’s truck was parked in Kim’s driveway. They hadn’t eaten dinner yet and as soon as Sara saw the truck, she started squirming in her seat.

Molly shut off the car and rested her forehead on the steering wheel. Like it or not, for the next few weeks she was going to have to put up with Jason being around. And she was going to have to ignore the fact that he was still as sexy, maybe even more so, than he’d been all those years ago.

He opened the front door and stared out at her, making her heart pound foolishly. Her resolve was about to be put to the test.

Chapter Four

Molly took a deep breath as she pocketed the keys. Sara was practically bouncing out of her skin, seeing Jason filling the doorway. He was standing there like he owned the place, tall and uncompromising, and it made Molly immediately defensive. She should have known he’d have his own key, but it made her feel like she had w