Almost a Family

“Nothing going on in my own life,” she said, tongue firmly in cheek. “Makes seeing other’s lives pretty clearly.”

Jason didn’t know how she did it. Work full time and raise a daughter, and do such a great job at it. He’d admired her so much at first that one night after fixing her washer, he’d briefly—ever so briefly—considered taking it further.

He’d kissed her goodnight.

On impulse he’d turned at the door and pressed his lips to Kim’s, hoping something would be there.

Instead, she’d pulled away, confused, shocked and they’d both started laughing. It simply wasn’t right. She wasn’t Molly, and he couldn’t pretend that she was. Sara’s father still held a special place in Kim’s heart. They both had known it in that moment. And knowing there would never be anything physical between them, knowing they had their wounded hearts in common, had cemented their friendship. It went deeper than any friendship he’d ever had, certainly far more honest. He became Uncle Jason, getting his “family” fix from her and Sara, and being there to help Kim with the challenges of being a single parent. Now Sara was as dear to him as any daughter could be.

“So what do I do now? Forget she’s here?”

Kim sat up as her lunch tray was delivered, placed on the swiveling table to her right. “You get through it. You let her go, find a way to make peace with it. Because I don’t think she’s going to stay this time, either. She’s going to stay until I get out of here, and then she’s going to go back to that job of hers. I don’t want you to get hurt all over again. Either of you.”

He knew by the sinking feeling in his heart that Kim’s warning was right. Molly wouldn’t stay, not unless he could show her what she’d missed. But did he really want her to? Or was he simply trying to resolve what had been left unfinished? Was he trying to prove to her that he’d been right all those years ago?

“I can handle it,” he assured her, even though he wasn’t sure himself. “Listen, I’ve gotta go. I’m taking Sara sledding this afternoon.” He stood abruptly and snagged his jacket from the chair, avoiding her gaze as he left out the fact that Molly was going along with them. He leaned down to place a quick kiss on her cheek. “You’re a lifesaver, Kim.”

Blandly she dipped her spoon in red Jell-O. “Yeah. And next time make it up to me with something edible, okay?”

He flashed her a smile as he hit for the door.

*

At one o’clock sharp, Jason lifted the tailgate and slid the toboggan into the back of his SUV. Perhaps he was being stupid, or crazy, but he had a day off, Sara had been without her mother for what must seem like forever to a child, and the snow was perfect for sledding. If Molly wanted to act like she had a stick up her butt that was fine. He wasn’t about to let her stop him from spending time with Sara.

He thought about the backhanded confession he’d made to Kim this morning. In some ways it might have been easier if he could have put Molly behind him and had fallen in love with her sister. He’d hoped, but even then Molly had been the specter he couldn’t exorcise. Instead, he’d found a best friend, the sister he’d never had.

When he knocked he heard music pumping loudly through the door. What the heck? Didn’t Molly have any respect for the child’s eardrums? He tapped his foot, ringing the bell again. When it too went unanswered, he knocked hard with his fist. The volume dropped and seconds later the door opened. Molly, still dressed in some sort of pajamas, had her hair gathered in a rat’s nest on her head and held a dust cloth in her hand.

“Jason!”

Was this Molly, the corporate professional? Her pajama bottoms were flannel and blue, with white puffy numbered sheep on them. The top was a plain white T-shirt with what looked like a blob of peanut butter smeared above her right breast. She was less than even casual, and more approachable than he’d seen her since she’d arrived. And more alluring.

“I came to take Sara sledding,” he got out, and she moved to the side to let him in.

“Aunt Molly, see me dance!”

The cry came from the living room and Molly’s answering smile was swift. She went to th

e doorway while Jason quickly removed his boots and followed. He looked over Molly’s shoulder, chuckling despite himself. Sara was dressed in a fluffy pink confection of a dress, play heels on her feet and a tiara atop her curls, spinning in circles with her teddy bear. Jason realized now that the music in the background wasn’t Molly’s. He thought he recognized the song from Cinderella, but wasn’t sure. Molly’s free hand was over her mouth, holding in her mirth at the princess-ballerina.

Jason stepped into the room, made an exaggerated bow and held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

“Ooooh! Uncle Jason’s the prince!” With a giggle, Sara held out her hand, the regal princess. He hefted her up and twirled her around the room. Maybe he looked silly, but he didn’t care. Sara loved dancing, and she was getting too big for Kim to pick up anymore. At the end of the song, he put her down, bowed again and then advised her it was almost midnight.

When he turned back to the doorway, Molly was watching him with curiously soft eyes. His cheeks warmed beneath her gaze. For a second, it almost seemed…but no. Molly hadn’t wanted children. She hadn’t wanted a domestic life. She still didn’t. This was just cleaning day and Sara was simply being too cute. The little girl could warm the coldest heart, he knew. Including Molly Shaeffer’s.

“Again, Uncle Jason! This time I’ll be Ariel and you can be Eric.”

He lifted her again, unable to resist her sparkling brown eyes, and swirled her exaggeratedly in sweeping circles.

“Aunt Molly, too! Dance with us, Aunt Molly!”

Startled eyes met his across the living room. His words were cool, but he offered, “Sure, come on in.”

She stepped into the awkward embrace, her left hand on Jason’s shoulder beside Sara and her right loosely clasped in his palm. Sara snuggled in, contentedly sandwiched between them as the music frilled around the room, but Jason was swamped by an overwhelming feeling of déjà vu. He’d danced with Molly hundreds of times, and even with Sara between them, it still felt the same. Intimate and sweet, their feet moving to the music around the room. It was with relief and a real sense of self-preservation that Jason stepped away as the song ended, avoiding meeting Molly’s eyes.

“Hey, muffin, I came to take you sledding, but I’m afraid the princess dress isn’t going to cut it.”