Almost a Family

Molly’s cheeks flushed brighter. “Thanks a lot.”

Kim stood up and took her mug to the sink, but Molly could tell but the restless way she moved that she was more than a little annoyed.

“You guys love each other. You always have.” Kim put the mug on the counter and spun, pinning her sister with an accusing stare. “Yet you’re both so stubborn!”

“You don’t understand.”

“Then explain it to me. Explain how you can turn your back on a man who loves you so much, one that you love! One who wants to marry you and give you children and a home?”

Molly kept her voice level. “That’s your dream, Kim, and I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you. Maybe now…with me out of the way…” she started to stammer and her cheeks flushed deeply. How in the world could she find a graceful way to say this? “You are the kind of woman Jason wants. What he needs. It’s better if I go now.”

“What in the world are you talking about?” Kim folded her arms and stared at Molly.

“I know about you and Jason.”

“What about us?”

“About…about the kiss. But it’s more than that. I’ve seen how you are together. He cares for you so much, and I’m sorry I’ve stood in the way of that. Maybe now—”

“You really are crazy.” Kim left her spot and took the chair next to Molly. “You seriously think there’s anything between Jason and me?”

“He told me about kissing you. I saw his face when he told me about your accident. And then the day you came home…when he said the place had never been the same without you. It all adds up, don’t you see?”

Kim smiled gently. “I can see it adds up for you.”

“Jason’s always wanted a home here, and his business, and a family of his own. He wants all the things that you want. But he’s never felt free to move on, and that’s my fault for letting things end so badly.”

“You’re right, of course.”

Molly’s eyes widened as Kim smiled fondly.

“We do want the same things. But not with each other. Didn’t Jason tell you about the kiss?”

“He told me you’d kissed. That’s all.”

“He helped me one night, and when he left he surprised the hell out of me.” Kim chuckled lightly. “The kiss was a flop. I wasn’t you. And I knew it. The convenience of it wasn’t enough. I love Jason as a brother and best friend. I was still half in love with Sara’s father and he was still in love with you.”

Kim blushed but pursued. “We agreed not to tell you. We didn’t want to cause problems over something that doesn’t even matter anymore.”

And if nothing had really happened…. She could even understand why they hadn’t told her. Sure, she’d gone ballistic on Jason, but there was too much between them. Small things took on giant proportions where they were concerned.

“So you’re not in love with him?”

“Of course not. We just…get each other.”

Molly’s brow furrowed. “But that’s what I mean. You’re just much better suited.”

“Love doesn’t have to have a reason, Mol.” Kim reached out and took Molly’s hand. “Are you seriously going to sit there and tell me you don’t love Jason Elliot?”

Ah, the moment of truth. She was leaving, what did it matter now if she confessed all to her sister?

“Of course not. I still love him. I always have. But the reasons why I left six years ago haven’t changed. At all.”

Kim’s shoulders slumped. “Neither one of you has ever been able to compromise.”

Molly stood, pushing her chair in to the table. She was so tired of no one getting this!

“That’s where you’re wrong. I’d compromise in a second. I would have then, too. But Jason doesn’t leave any room for compromise. Would you want us to get married, have a kid or two and end up resenting each other? What kind of life would that be? You have a daughter. Would you want that for her?”