Page 64 of Quintessentially

When I turn, I see Kandace leaning against the doorjamb.

“Do your stuffed animals have names?” I ask as I take a step back toward Kandace and whisper, “Can I see your room?”

Pink fills her cheeks as her lips curl upward.

“Maybe I should send you a text about it?” When she doesn’t answer, I add, “If you have your phone handy, I’ll be happy to help you out.”

I look down at Molly; she’s standing at our legs, holding two big stuffed animals.

“Oh,” I say, “I know that one. He’s Baby Yoda.”

She nods. “And this is Bluey. He’s a dog.”

“A blue dog.”

I make a mental note to do some research on children’s current popular culture.

As Molly walks her stuffed friends back to her bed, I reach for Kandace’s hand. “I’m in awe. You’ve done so much for so long.”

“Dreams change,” she says softly, lifting her chin toward Molly. “She’s my dream. I’m happy about the store, but her being happy and loved is the most important goal.”

Unable to stop myself, I lean closer until our lips touch. It’s not the passion of the kiss above the store, but that doesn’t make it less meaningful. “I wanted to do that at the door.”

“You two just kissed,” Molly says with her nose scrunched. “Eww.”

Kandace and I smile.

“Chopped liver is eww,” I say. “Your mom’s kisses aren’t.”

“I don’teverwant chopped liver,” Molly declares. “Come on, dinner’s ready and Grandma made lasagna.” She pronounces lasagna with an extra syllable, but I get the idea. As Molly runs ahead and down the stairs, Kandace and I linger at the doorway.

“Please don’t hurt her,” Kandace says, stress showing in her expression.

It’s as if there’s a knife in my chest. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“I get that. But now that she knows…”

My hand goes to Kandace’s cheek as I stare into her blue gaze. “Now thatIknow, things are different.”

“You don’t owe me anything. I get you didn’t want to come back for me. She really likes you. Please don’t let her down.”

Her words catch me off guard. “I never said I didn’t want to come back here for you.”

“But you didn’t. Actions speak louder than words.”

I want to argue, to tell Kandace that this isn’t all about Molly, but before I can, another door opens, and Justin enters the hallway. Despite Kandace’s claim that Molly calmed the rough waters, I stand tall. We’re close to the same height, but after working two days baling hay, I know where the strength in his punch comes from.

Justin’s gaze goes to where Kandace’s hand is in mine and back to us. “Time to eat.”

Once he’s past, I let out my breath.

Kandace grins. “Molly has your back.”

In only a few minutes, we’re all seated around the dining room table. With Randy at one end and Justin at the other, Bridget and Molly are seated across from Kandace and me. I try to remember the last time I sat at a dinner with my parents that wasn’t in a restaurant.

“Dive in,” Bridget announces.

To say the lasagna is good would be an understatement. “This is delicious.”

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