Page 55 of Quintessentially

“She was?”

I nod as Joyce brings me my coffee.

“She was really nice,” Molly says. “Mommy cried when Grandmom went to heaven.”

“I think,” Joyce says, “your grandmom is smiling right now.” She gives me a wink.

As we both eat our pancakes, Molly tells me about her teacher, Mrs. Pollard, and gives me the first names of most of her classmates. Finally, Joyce comes out with a lunch sack.

“It’s time to get you to your mom,” she says. “You have school.”

Molly nods. Before she gets down, she turns to me. “Mommy said she likes you.”

I smile. “I heard her.”

“Do you like her?”

My heart beats in double time. “I do, very much.”

“Why didn’t you come here sooner? If you like someone, you want to be with them.”

“That’s a great question, Molly. I should have been here. I hope you and your mommy will let me make that up to you.”

“Okay,” she says matter-of-factly. “I’m glad you’re mommy’s and my friend.”

I look at Joyce. “I can take her back to Kandace, if that’s okay.”

“Molly, is it okay with you if Dax takes you to your mom?”

Molly grins and nods. “Yep.”

When I stand, I pull a twenty from my wallet and lay it on the counter. “Thanks for a great breakfast.”

“I think it was the company,” Joyce says with a grin.

Before we’re out of the restaurant, Molly reaches for my hand as she did at the Tastee Freeze. Immediately, I can tell it’s sticky with syrup and simultaneously, I don’t care. As the bell above the door jingles, Justin Sheers walks in.

“Uncle Justin,” Molly says, letting go of my hand and running up to him.

He crouches down and lifting her, gives her a hug.

As he sets her down, he looks at me. “Richards.”

“His name isn’t Richards. It’s Dax,” Molly corrects. She reaches again for my hand and adds, “And he’s my dad.”

I swear on all things holy, my heart melts right there in the middle of the diner.

Sheers smiles at Molly. “And I’m your uncle. Don’t you need to get to school?”

“Yep.” Molly tugs my hand, and we make our way down Main Street to Quintessential Treasures. “Joyce usually uses the back door. This front one is locked until the store opens.”

I knock on the door again.

“Do you like this store?” I ask as we wait.

“Yes.” She looks up at me. “Mommy is going to make a house upstairs for me and her. I’ll have a playroom and a bedroom.”

The door opens and Kandace grins at both of us. “I smell syrup.”

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