Page 41 of Molly

“Wyan, Wyan!” Emma calls, running up and throwing herself around my legs. I lean down, pick her up and breathe her in when she wraps her little arms around my neck. Fuck, this kid melts my heart. I could get used to this.

I walk further into the house, Em in my arms, and take a deep breath in. Mmm, feels like home. I love this place. It’s decorated just like Coffee Leaf; mismatched furniture, more plants than one person could possibly need, and there’s always a vanilla-scented candle burning on the kitchen counter. Molly definitely hit the jackpot when she bought it. The backyard’s massive, the pitched roof and exposed beams make the place feel large yet homey, and it has four bedrooms, which in this area is unheard of.

“Wyan, I drew you a picture today,” Emma whispers into my ear.

“You did? Where is it?”

“It’s on the fridge,” Molly says, nodding towards the kitchen.

I walk over, throwing my keys on the raw timber dining table as I pass it and try to find the new addition. The fridge is a huge, double door, stainless steel model, and every inch is covered in Emma’s artwork. I spot the one she did for me, thanks to Molly writing my name on it. It’s a bunch of squiggles, but she did it for me, and that makes my heart want to burst.

“I love it, Em. Thank you, baby girl.”

“Welcome,” she replies, wiggling, wanting me to put her on the floor. She runs off as soon as her feet touch the ground, and I chuckle.

“She’s excited you’re sleeping over,” Molly says from behind me.

I turn and grin, wrapping her up in my arms, resting my chin on the top of her head. “Me too, baby.”

Her arms come around my waist and squeeze.

“Mumma, Wyan, we has to watch a movie!” Emma calls from the lounge room.

I step back and look down at my girl. “Sounds like we’ve been summoned.”

She laughs. “Seems that way.”

“I’ll get the pizza.” I wink.

The three of us curl up on the worn, brown leather couch, wrapped in a fuzzy pink throw blanket. We eat pizza, watch Finding Nemo, and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my Friday night.

20

MOLLY

“Say goodnight to Ryan, Em. Time for bed,” I call out from the kitchen, wiping my hands on the tea towel. After a minute of whispering from the lounge room, Ryan walks in, Emma in his arms.

“Wyan put me to bed tonight, Mumma,” Emma announces, a small grin on her face.

I hesitate, unsure if it’s too soon for her to be getting used to him doing things like that, but after seeing the hopeful look on Ryan’s face, I give in. I lean forward and place a kiss on my daughter's chubby cheek before they both trot off to her bedroom.

I walk into the lounge room and sit on the couch, feeling out of place. It’s rare that even Evie or Penny put Em to bed. It’s normally our thing. She’s taken to Ryan so quickly... as soon as he walked through the door tonight, she gravitated towards him as if it was a natural response.

I start over-thinking, worrying that I’m letting this all move too fast. It’s only been three and a half months...

I hear Em giggle, and Ryan’s voice lightly carries down the hall.

Deciding to sneak a peek, I tip-toe towards her bedroom, trying not to make the wood floors creak under my feet. When I get to her door, I look through the gap, staying back far enough that they can’t see me.

My heart melts into a fucking puddle right there on the floor. Ryan is sitting next to Emma’s bed, his back against the side table, absorbed in the book he’s reading. My girl’s propped up on her pillow, covers tucked under her chin, watching him like he makes her world spin. She giggles while he makes funny voices to go along with the story, and after a few minutes, her eyes start to droop, and he gets to the last page. He closes the book and looks up at her. What takes my breath away is the fact that he stays there, on the floor, watching her sleep for a full minute before raising his hand and pushing the hair back from her face. He gets up and tucks the blanket around her a little tighter before turning for the door and creeping his way towards me, head down, watching his feet.

I turn and make it back to the kitchen before I hear his footsteps coming down the hallway. I pretend to be looking through the fridge when I feel his hand on my stomach, pulling me into his chest. He places his head on my shoulder and kisses my neck softly. “You’ve done so good with her, Mumma. She’s incredible.”

I turn my head slightly and smile at him. “She is, isn’t she?”

He places a soft, sweet kiss on my lips before whispering, “Thank you for letting me do that tonight. I know it was a big deal.”

I nod, my throat clogging with emotion. This man.

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