Page 61 of Someone to Hold
“Sadie and Piper are volunteering at the Humane Society booth,” Luke says as we pull into one of the vendor parking spaces. “Can I go help with the animals?”
“Sure,” Molly says. “Laurel can go with you.”
“I want to hang out with my friends,” Laurel says quickly.
Molly looks like she’s holding back a frown. “Sure. Luke, maybe you should see if any of your friends are here before you?—”
“I want to help with the animals,” he insists.
“Before either of you run off,” I tell the kids. “How about you help your mom and me unload the flowers and set up the booth?”
They two kids stare at me like I just asked them to donate a kidney.
“Mom doesn’t want our help,” Laurel says matter-of-factly.
I glance at Molly.
“That’s not true, sweetie,” she says quickly.
“Last year you told us not to hang around your booth,” Luke adds.
“I…” She shakes her head. “I didn’t want you to feel obligated.”
“What does oblivated mean?” Luke asks.
Molly ruffles his hair. “It means feeling like you have to help me because I’m your mom.”
“Theydohave to help you because you’re their mom,” I chime in.
“Wewantto help you,” Laurel says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “Because you’re our mom.”
“Not cuz we’re oblijaded,” Luke adds.
Molly blinks like it’s a thought she’s never quite let herself believe. And I get it. Because when you feel like a burden in your soul, it’s hard to turn that off even with the people closest to you. “Of course I’d love your help, especially now.” She rests a hand on Laurel’s shoulder, clearly overwhelmed but smiling. “But not just because of my ankle. I always want you involved.”
Both kids nod. “We’ll be careful,” Luke says, already bouncing on his toes. “We won’t mess anything up.”
“I have total faith in both of you.” Molly’s expression softens as if she realizes she may have kept her kids at arm’s length for all the wrong reasons.
“Okay then, it’s settled,” I say when she gives me a teary-eyed smile that does funny things to my insides as we step out of the truck. “Do you guys know where your mom’s booth is?”
“Same place as last summer?” Laurel asks.
Molly nods. “End of the second row.”
“Luke, think you can carry this bucket of tulips? It’s heavy.”
“I’m strong,” he says. “Real strong.”
“I know you are.” I pass it to him, then hand Laurel a box of dried flower bundles. “Drop those off and come back for the next load. We’ll get everything set up, and then you can roam the market.”
“Or help me sell flowers,” Molly adds, earning wide grins from her son and daughter.
“I bet I can sell more than you,” Laurel tells Luke as they walk away.
“Well, I bet I can wrap flowers faster than you can,” he shoots back.
Molly watches them go, shaking her head. “Have you ever thought you were doing something right only to find out you’ve been making big, fat mistakes all along?”
