Page 63 of Quintessentially

“Hi,” she says with a grin as she opens the door.

I hesitate as I long to kiss her cheek. As she takes a step back, I simply enter. “Hi.”

“For me?” she asks, looking down at the flowers.

“Um, no,” I stammer.

“They’re not?”

Mrs. Sheers turns our way and smiles. “Dax, we’re happy you could make it.”

I offer her the flowers. “These are for you, Mrs. Sheers.”

She waves at me. “Thank you. They’re lovely, and call me Bridget.”

That was the name I called her years ago, but until she says it, I’m not sure where I stand.

“Dax.”

As Bridget takes the flowers, I turn to the deep voice and step forward, offering my hand. “Mr. Sheers.”

“Name’s Randy, you know that.”

Nodding, I see Molly coming down the stairs in the front room, calling my name.

Soon, I have her lifted in my arms.

“You came. You really came.” Her smile is from ear to ear.

“I did.” My gaze catches Kandace’s, who is grinning our direction.

After I put Molly back on her feet, she asks, “Do you want to see my room?”

Again, I look to Kandace.

“Is it clean?” she asks.

“He’s my dad. It doesn’t have to be clean. You see it messy.”

We all smile.

“I’d love to see your room.”

With that, Molly reaches for my hand and leads me through the living room and up the staircase. It’s been a long time since I was in this house, but if memory serves me, Molly’s room used to be Kandace’s.

“Wow,” I say as I walk in. The walls are bright yellow with colorful pictures. I look at one painting that is a swirl of colors. “This is amazing art. Who painted it?”

Molly beams as she stands straight. “I did.”

“You did? You didn’t tell me that you’re an artist.”

Her little shoulders shrug as she grins.

Molly’s bed is filled with stuffed animals, so much so, I wonder how she can even sleep in it. Along the walls are bookcases with lots of books, and in one corner is a plastic kitchen and a workbench. “You have a kitchen.”

Molly’s lips come together before she says, “I like the workbench better. It’s like Granddad’s, only smaller.”

That makes me grin and I remember her saying she wasn’t going to cook when she got older.

---