Page 35 of Molly

“You ready for him to meet Emma?” Evie asks, looking down at my sleeping baby.

“You haven’t even fucked him yet, Mol,” Penny adds, a slight bite to her tone.

She’s not wrong. We haven’t had sex yet. I’ve been holding back.

I shrug my shoulders, choosing to ignore Penny’s comment. “I want him to meet her. She’s a part of me. It feels wrong to build a relationship with him and keep her separate from it.”

Evie nods, and Penny takes another sip of her wine.

“What do you think?” I ask them.

“Can't answer that for you, Mol. This is your choice,” Evie replies.

I nod and look at Penny. She sighs, drops her shoulders, and rolls her eyes playfully. “If you're ready, you're ready. I support you no matter what. You know that.”

???

RYAN

“I'm so fucking nervous, Ma. This is a massive step. I honestly thought Molly would just have one of the girls stay with Emma, but she’s bringing her… that's huge. I can't wait to meet her, but... Should I bring her a present? What do two-year-old girls like? Shit, I’m going to mess this all up.” I lean down rest my head dramatically against my parents’ lime green kitchen table.

Ma spins around from the sink, still clutching the plate she was scrubbing, sending soap-suds flying around the room. “First of all, language. Second of all, calm yourself down, boy. You're being ridiculous. You're not going to ruin anything. If Molly wants you to meet her, you've done something right. The only issue you’ll face today is Jess, and that’s only because you were stupid enough to suggest this weird little meeting.”

Ma’s quite a bit shorter than me. The top of her head barely reaches my chest. But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t flinch every-fucking-time she scolds me. She looks so sweet with her short brown bob, which she dyes, refusing to go grey, and slim build, but I’m telling you, Mumma don’t fuck around. Even at fifty-seven.

She hates Jess. They’ve met once, in Melbourne, when Ma came to visit. She hated her on sight, basically. Said she didn’t like her energy. That’s my mum for you. First impressions mean everything, and she’ll never let it go if you make a bad one. She’s right about Molly, though. Shewantsme to meet Emma.

“Yeah, I hear you. You're right, Ma,” I reply, deciding to ignore the comment about Jess and avoid a lecture. Jess is actually really nice. We get along great. I don’t know why she acts so differently around everyone else...

She nods, looking satisfied with my answer, and goes back to the dishes.

My dad, who has been sitting quietly beside me, lowers the paper he was reading and leans back in his chair. “So, when do we get to meet your girl, Ryan?”

Dad’s the same age as Ma, but doesn’t look a day over forty. I’m basically a carbon copy of him, minus the grey hair. Same height, eye colour, bone structure, everything. He’s covered in tats too.

“Oh, um..”

“Yes! Why haven’t you brought that girl around to meet us yet, Ryan James?” Ma scolds.

I cringe. I hate when she middle names me, especially in that tone. “Let me get through tomorrow, and then I’ll ask her, okay? I want you all to meet her. I just didn't want to push her too fast. She's got a tendency to bolt when she's feeling overwhelmed.”

She nods, her back still to me. “Alright, well, I’m making spaghetti for dinner. You’re staying, I assume?”

“Yeah, thanks Ma,” I reply, getting up from the table. “I’m just going to send Molly a message, see how her nights going.”

I hear my dad chuckle and pick his paper back up as I walk into the lounge room. This place hasn’t changed a bit since I was a kid. Ma’s crochet blankets are still thrown all over their worn down, red leather couch, the walls are still lined with awards and photos of me and my brothers, and the rug sitting in the middle of the room is still covered in stains from God knows what we’ve spilt on it over the years. Our house was always loud, messy, and so damn amazing.What a place to call home.

I walk over to a photo of Jordan, Lauren, and Jake. They look so happy. Theyareso happy...

My mind goes to Molly, and I unlock my phone before sending her a message.

ME: Can’t wait to see you tomorrow, baby.

MOLLY: <3

ME: How are the girls?

MOLLY: Good. Penny’s drunk, so that’s always entertaining.

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