Page 13 of Island Protector

She tried not to hold on too tightly. He was her child and all her decisions had been made with his welfare in mind. She couldn’t imagine a court taking him away from the stable, healthy home he knew. Especially not to put him withstrangers. Surely the worst case scenario would be an order for her to allow visits with Tommy’s parents.

And it was way too soon to get morose or worried about that outcome. She gave Sharon a big smile. “I’m told the two of you are ready to go.”

“We are.” Her aunt studied her a little too closely. “Looks like your day ended on a good note.”

“Mostly, yes. Thanks to you and our friends. Everything was good here? I didn’t even ask about school.”

“I got all smiles,” Bryce declared.

“He did,” Sharon confirmed. “We’ll let you freshen up, won’t we Bryce?”

“Yes.” He rolled his fire truck across the porch. “But hurry. Please. I’m hungry.” He pressed his hands to his tummy and rolled his head back. “I’m too young to starve.”

Molly made a big deal of running for the door and racing to the bedroom to change out of her work clothes. As she did, she looked around the room she shared with Bryce, wondering if child services would find the situation satisfactory or problematic.

Sharon’s generosity was boundless but the cottage was only two bedrooms and one bath, with her art studio taking up half of the three-season porch out back. It wouldn’t be long before Bryce needed more privacy than the two twin beds in here allowed. She couldn’t expect him to be content sharing this room with her until he went off to college.

That way lay insanity. For both of them.

She could just imagine how mortified he would be by middle school if his friends learned about this arrangement. He deserved a life as normal as she could provide. Soon he’d need a place to have friends over to hang out and be silly without worrying about messing up his mom’s half of the room.

And did she really want to stay alone the rest of her life?Just because she didn’t have someone in her life now, didn’t mean she wouldn’t meet someone.

She hoped that someone would be as kind as Miles.

And on that thought, she suddenly felt guilty for how her presence must be cramping her aunt’s social life.

Sharon regularly took time for personal vacations or art shows. Over the past five years Molly hadn’t noticed any particular relationship or potential significant other for Sharon here in Brookwell. Maybe because Molly and Bryce were underfoot.

They really should revisit this arrangement sooner rather than later so Molly could save up for a different place. Her own place.

She added it to the list of things they’d talk about after dinner, once Bryce was asleep.

“I’m ready,” she announced, locking the door behind her.

Bryce raced for the car and they loaded up. In the backseat, he bounced around in his booster seat, too excited to sit still.Thank goodness for a five-point harness, she thought, smiling at him through the reflection in the rearview mirror.

Turning out of the neighborhood street and on to one of the main roads, Molly’s heart was filled with hope and light. She had friends who were helping her through a tough situation. It didn’t have to be a crisis. She didn’t have to get sucked into a doom and gloom mindset.

Shewasa good mom and any changes she needed to make for Bryce she would handle.

Those changes did not include giving up custody to grandparents he didn’t know.

“I was thinking about my will,” she said quietly to Sharon once she was convinced Bryce was distracted with his fire truck.

“You aren’t second-guessing your decision about me being his guardian?”

“No. No, of course not. I only wanted to confirm that you’re still comfortable with that plan.”

“First of all, the worst isn’t going to happen, but I’m glad we’re prepared. Secondly, I was hoping to talk with you about a plan for a bigger house.”

Molly was too shocked to respond.

“Bryce won’t be this young forever and?—”

Whatever Sharon was saying was cut short by a roaring engine and the crunch of metal as a vehicle slammed into Molly’s door. She lost her breath—maybe she screamed—as the impact sent her compact sedan skidding down the road.

The steering wheel jerked out of her hands as the car spun, tossing Molly against the console. It was a blur, too much input for her mind to focus on any particular details until the car slid off the road, landing trunk first against an old oak tree.

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