Page 33 of 5 Golden Flings

The warm memories, her parents’ laughter, the sound of her dad singing along badly to Perry Como, it all should’ve cheered her up, but it didn’t.

Her sisters would be here in a few days. Before they arrived Molly was going to have to put on her happy face and pretend that all was well in big sister’s world, even though nothing was right.Nothing.

Why had she run away? Seeing Ben dance with his ex, listening to Rosie — who apologized and then hinted that Molly was nothing more than a substitute for Ben’s ex-wife — had been foolish. Not her first foolish move ever, not even the first this week, but still…why?

She removed the Ms. Tinsel ornament from its box and let it hang from one finger. Half an ornament. Half a heart. Was that all she was, all she’d ever be? Half a heart?

“No,” she whispered as she searched for the right spot on the Christmas tree for her half-heart. The ornament had to hang properly without displacing any of the old ones. “There has to be more.” She found an empty space and carefully hung the ornament.

The pretty blue-green swirled. A trick of the twinkle lights, she supposed. Molly reached out and ran one finger across the smooth surface. Hadn’t Ms. Tinsel said something about a wish? Shoot, had she wasted her wish on a clean gas station restroom? Maybe. Maybe not.

“I wish to be brave,” she whispered. “I wish to be fearless, at least when it comes to love. If I ever get another chance, if I feelthat way again, I won’t run. I won’t hide. I wish…” she stopped, wondering where she’d go next.

The doorbell rang. Molly turned her back on the tree, yelled out, “I’ll get it,” and said a little prayer that it wasn’t carolers. She was in no mood. It was probably just another package delivery. Her mother had discovered the joys of online shopping, and embraced it. Her dad had embraced ordering from his favorite restaurants and having the food delivered. It was almost too easy.

She opened the door, prepared for anything. Carolers. Dinner. A tired delivery person with a stack of brown boxes.

Ben.

Okay, so she wasn’t prepared for anything.

She closed the door in his face.

“Come on, Molly,” he said through the closed door. “Let me in.”

She started to shout a heartyno, but hadn’t she just wished to be brave? A fearless woman wouldn’t close the door on the man who’d worked his way into her heart in a matter of days. No matter how scary that was.

Molly took a deep breath and opened the door.

“You left without a word,” he said.

“The wedding was over.”

“I texted you a hundred times.”

“I’m aware.”

“Did you block my number?”

“I should have. What does it matter? You eventually gave up.”

He looked wonderful, handsome, tempting, as he said, “I didn’t give up. I just quit texting.”

Her heart reacted to that statement. He hadn’t given up.

“Can I come in? It’s cold out here.”

She stepped back, making room for him to come inside. “I’d think a man who lives in Boston would be able to stand a little Alabama chill.”

“I’m only there during the season, not in the dead of winter, which isn’t important to this conversation. Why did you leave without talking to me?”

Brave. Fearless. No more hiding. “I don’t want to be a substitute for the wife who left you. I don’t want you to look at me and see her, and don’t tell me that’s not what happened. I saw her. Except for the boobs and the extra makeup, we could be sisters.”

He smiled. “Is that what you think?”

“What else am I supposed to think?”

“You have it so wrong, you have no idea.”

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