Page 66 of Molly

“Beck.” He stops but doesn't turn his head. “We'll continue the conversation we were having earlier, later, yeah?”

“No doubt,” he replies before disappearing into his room.

???

Once we get to the playground, I let her run off, but not far. I’m too paranoid she’s going to fall, and I won’t be there to catch her, so I hover. She’s the most adorable little thing, I swear, especially right now running around in the Inked on Agnes t-shirt I made her. It’s two sizes too big, but it was as small as I could get it. She loves it and wears it everywhere.

“Which one’s yours?” an older woman asks, coming up and standing next to me, watching a little boy around Em’s age dig around in the sandpit.

I hesitate for a second, not sure how to answer the question. I look over at Emma. She’s watching me, trying to get my attention. Love flows through my body, making my chest ache.

“Little girl with the brown, wavy mop of hair, wearing the black t-shirt. She’s mine.”

36

MOLLY

I’m pouring my coffee into a mug in the staff room when I hear Ryan’s voice coming from the front.

“Hey little fairy, Molly out back?” He sounds a little out of breath.

“In here, honey,” I call.

He's cut his hours back at the shop, and he's been having Emma most afternoons. Penny and Evie were pissy, to begin with, missing out on their time with her, but once they saw how good he was with Em, they warmed up. They send us on date nights at least twice a week, so they get their alone time with her, anyway. Penny’s even warming up to him. Sort of.

I can hear him whispering to Emma, but can't make out what he's saying as he walks down the hall. He comes through the doorway with a very pale-looking Em in his arms. He looks worried, and I almost trip over my own feet, rushing towards her. She holds out her little arms for me to take her.

“What’s wrong, baby?” I whisper into her hair.

“Feel sick, Mumma,” she mumbles, her voice soft and lethargic.

I look up at Ryan, and his face is full of concern.

“She was fine one minute, running around the shop with me while I was putting up some new sketches and then all of a sudden, she puked everywhere. I cleaned her up the best I could, but she’s so hot, Mol, and she wouldn't stop crying. She was asking for you. I tried to call, but your phone went straight to voicemail...” He rubs the back of his neck, looking at the floor.

I kiss Emma’s forehead, confirming what Ryan said. She is a little warm. Her skin’s clammy and pale, but I don't think it’s serious, probably just a little bug.

I step towards him, lowering my voice, “Hey, Ry, kids get sick, baby. She’s okay. We’ll take her home, give her some Panadol, and put her to bed. Give her a couple of days, and she'll be good as new, okay?”

“I'm sorry, Mol,” he whispers sadly.

I move forward, Em still clinging to me like a koala, and he wraps his arms around me. We huddle together, Emma between us. A little family. “There is nothing to be sorry for, honey. This is part of being a parent. Kids get sick.”

He nods, looking miserable, and once we've told Penny and Evie that we’re leaving, we all pile into the car and head home.

???

We give Emma a bath, some medicine, and tuck her into bed. After, we curl up on the couch together to watch a movie. He still seems a little off, but he relaxes about halfway through.

“You want a drink, baby?” I ask, standing to get myself a bottle of water.

Just as he nods, his phone vibrates. He looks down at it, frowning. “It’s my security company. I won't be a sec, Mol.”

I nod and walk into the kitchen. As I’m bending down to open the fridge door, he walks in behind me. I can hear him speaking to someone on the phone but only catch the end of his conversation.

“Yeah, shit. Okay. Yep. Right. Have you called Beckett? Okay. Yeah, I’ll be there in ten minutes.” He hangs up and turns his gaze to me. “Someone broke into the shop. Security is there right now, but I've got to check it out, call the cops, make a report.” He scrunches his eyes shut and groans.

I set forward and run my hands up and down his arms. “Alright, let me call the girls. I'll get one of them to come and stay here with Emma, and we'll go down there, honey.”

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