“Then why would you think she had a problem with you? She was polite.”
“Yes.”
Flora thought about the looks, and the questions. The subtle comments. Had he really not noticed? “She seemed a little tense.”
“Teenagers are almost always tense about something. Work. Friends. The planet. Life in general. They are a seething mass of hormones on a good day. And then she’s dealing with this, too. She misses her mother. That’s all you were seeing. Kids are always wary when they meet someone new, and this was never going to be easy. But I understand why you’d be wary. You felt unwelcome at your aunt’s, and you’re assuming you’re unwelcome now.”
The fact that he knew that much about her was scary but also refreshing and a little thrilling.
It seemed he wasn’t suggesting they break up.
So now what?
Should she go through with her plan and end it now? What if they carried on and broke up in a few months when she’d fallen even harder for him? For the first time in her life, she felt a true connection with someone and presumably that connection would only grow deeper.
On the other hand, there was still the children.
“Oh I forgot—” Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper. “This is for you.”
“Me?” She unfolded it and swallowed. “It’s the picture I drew for Molly.”
“She colored it. Spent ages on it, trying to make it as good as possible. It felt like progress actually. She hasn’t picked up a coloring pencil since her mom died. Anyway, she wanted you to have it.”
“She—me?”
“Yes. I don’t know how I could have forgotten. I’ve been carrying it around for days. She wanted you to have it and put it on your wall.”
Molly had thought about her. Molly had given her a picture. Molly wanted her to put it on her wall.
Her throat felt thick. Emotion filled her chest. She felt light-headed and realized she was breathing too fast.
“I love it.” It was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. Yes, the coloring was outside the lines, but who cared? Molly. “I’m definitely going to put it on my wall. I’m going to frame it.”
He smiled. “You don’t need to frame it, Flora.”
“I do. Knowing that she c
olored it for me means so much.” It was a little freaky to admit just how much but perhaps he guessed because he pulled her close.
“The other night was an ordeal for you, wasn’t it? You’re the one who probably wants to end it because this situation is so complicated and messy.”
“End it?” She was croaky. “What makes you think I want to end it?” She held the picture away from him so he didn’t crumple it more than he had already. She’d iron it before she framed it.
“Ours will never be a simple relationship. And maybe I should let you go, but I’m not that selfless.”
“Good.” Her insides flipped over as she thought what might have happened if she’d spoken up sooner. “I wouldn’t know what to do with a simple relationship. Give me an emotional mess any day.”
He made a sound that was half laugh, half groan. “I don’t want this to stop, Flora.” He cupped her face in his hands. “Being with you makes me smile, and I didn’t think I’d ever want to smile again. You make me happy. I like to think I make you happy, too.”
“You do.” It was the happiest she’d ever been in her life. Her thoughts floated to a place she’d never allowed them to go before. Surely, feeling this way, there was no problem that together they couldn’t overcome?
Molly had colored in the picture. Molly wanted her to hang it on her wall.
And now the only thought in her head was We’ll make this work. Somehow, we’ll make this work.
True, there was still Izzy to worry about but a teenager was bound to be more complex than a younger child and no one built a relationship in one meeting. It was going to take time, and Flora was willing to put in whatever time was necessary.
Jack didn’t seem to think there was a problem, and he knew his own child better than she did. Didn’t he?