Page 45 of Quintessentially

Dad grins at me. “It’s good to see you smile.”

Running to the wiffle ball, I pick it up and ask, “May I play?”

Molly giggles as she runs to the bat.

The four of us play what could best be described asMolly winsuntil the sky darkens and the mosquitoes come out to feast. Once inside the house, I take my daughter upstairs for a bath before bed. By the time I’m lying in her bed beside her, I ask her the question I’ve wanted to ask since Dax told me that he spoke with Molly.

As I finish the story about a hungry caterpillar, Molly yawns. I turn her way, look into her golden eyes, and kiss her nose. “I love you.”

She reaches for my cheeks with her little hands and kisses my nose. “Love you more.”

When her hands lower, I ask, “Did you meet a man at the diner yesterday?”

She nods. “He was nice. His name is Dex.”

“Dax,” I say with a grin.

“Yeah, Dax.”

Her eyelids are heavy.

“Dax is an old friend of mine,” I say. “He wants to have ice cream with us tomorrow.”

“Okay. I like ice cream.” She rolls to her side. “Good night, Momma.” Her eyes flutter until they stay closed.

Life is so simple when you’re five.

Quietly, I get out of Molly’s bed, turn off the light, and close her door to a crack. It’s my turn to shower. When I’m finished, my wet hair combed out and my pajamas on, I go downstairs. The windows are open and there’s a nice autumn breeze. Dad is in the living room watching a Cardinals baseball game, and Mom is sitting at the kitchen table with a book.

Hearing my footsteps, Mom sticks a receipt in the book and puts it down. She smiles at me.

“Is your book good?” I ask.

“Yes, but this author mostly writes series, and her cliffhangers will be the death of me.”

I grin. “Then don’t read her.”

“Are you kidding? I love everything she writes.”

Shaking my head, I take a seat at the table and blurt out what I’ve been thinking. “I don’t want to get hurt again, and I don’t want Molly hurt.”

Mom reaches over and lays her hand over mine. “From the moment you were born, all your dad and I have ever wanted is for you to be healthy and happy. If I could have wrapped you in Bubble Wrap or kept you here in this house forever, I would have.”

I nod, knowing I feel the same way about Molly.

“I don’t want to see you hurt, Kandace. Your tears hurt more than my own. I also want you to be happy. Sometimes we have to take a risk to achieve happiness.”

“What if Molly learns the truth and he leaves?” I sigh. “I know he’ll leave. His life is in Chicago.”

“What did he say?”

I lift one foot to the seat of the chair and hug my knee. “He said he wants to know her, to be part of her life. He said he’s missed five years, and he doesn’t want to miss more.”

Mom gets up and places a pod of herbal tea in the coffee maker. When she turns to me, she grins. “Would you like tea, or is tonight another wine night?”

“No more wine—ever. Besides, I think you’re out.”

She winks. “I have a secret stash.”

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