Page 72 of Where's Molly

My response isn’t any more informative than Layla’s was, except I actually know the answer.

I clear my throat and try again, “Her sister.”

All three of their spines snap straight, but while wariness and suspicion clouds over her parents’ vision, Layla narrows her eyes in contemplation, as if she’s trying to recognize me from memories almost a decade old.

“Excuse me?” Margot snaps, stepping forward, her tone sharp and irate. “What makes you thin—”

“I gave her to you,” I say, my voice cracking. Fuck, it hurts so much to say it aloud, even if it was the best thing that I could’ve done for her. It just fucking sucksIcouldn’t be that. Cage’s hand cups my bicep, gently squeezing to remind me he’s here. It’s enough to power on. “Ten years ago. I left her on your doorstep with a name tag and birthdate.”

She and Colin blink at me in astonishment, a range of emotions flashing through their stares. I doubt they told anyone that; it certainly wasn’t released to the public.

“You gave me away?” Layla asks, her voice soft and tinged with hurt. It's the first time I've heard it up close and directed at me. It's enough to move me to tears, though I manage to hold them back.

I chew on my lip, contemplating how to answer, only to settle on a shaky nod. I can’t trust my voice not to crack and for a tsunami of an explanation to burst free. I know I need to take it slow with her—ifshe decides she wants to know me—but I hate that she feels like I abandoned her because I didn’t want her.

“Why?” she asks.

“Maybe this isn’t the best place for this to happen,” Colin intervenes, glancing nervously between his wife and me. They’re both on edge. Uncomfortable. And for good reason.

Maybe I should’ve sent her a message on some social media app instead, but that felt so… impersonal. Dirty.

I don’t want Margot and Colin to feel like I’m sneaking behind their backs. Like some weird predator trying to gain Layla’s trust without their knowledge.

I want to do this the right way. Maybe this wasn’t thebestway, but at least her parents won’t be kept in the dark.

“You’re right,” I rush out. “I guess I didn’t really know the best way to go about this—”

“You should’ve come to us first,” Margot states firmly. She’s aggravated, and her protective instincts are fully engaged. It’s understandable, but keeping my voice even takes effort.

“Probably. But I didn’t want to become a secret to her or a reason for you two to have to keep one if you tried to decide for her. I’m not here to try and take her away or cause any trouble. I chose you two for a reason, and I have no plans to undo that decision.”

“Then what do you want?” Layla asks, cocking her head.

“To know you,” I say, meeting her baby blue eyes. “That’s all. If that’s not what you want, I’ll respect that. But I just wanted it to be you who decides.”

Colin scoffs. “We get a say, too. She’s only fifteen—”

“And she’s going to grow up eventually,” I remind him, my own tone sharpening. “She won’t be fifteen forever. Just ask yourself if you’d be preventing her for her own sake or yours.”

He looks slightly offended by that, but it doesn’t make it any less accurate.

Swallowing back the bile threatening to spew from my throat, I take a few steps forward and hand Margot a piece of paper with my number written on it.

“Go home and talk about it as a family, yeah? Then call me when you all decide. I’ll respect your decision regardless.”

Hesitantly, she takes the slip from me. I spare Layla one last glance before turning and taking off.

“Hey!” Layla’s voice stops me, and I turn enough to give her my eyes. “What’s your name?”

I swallow, and for a brief moment, I consider giving her the name that I gave myself when I took her away from our awful home. But I want her to know the real me. The version of myself I’ve been fighting to find again since I became a ghost all those years ago.

“Molly,” I rasp. “My name is Molly.”

Then, I pivot and hope to God that this isn’t the last time I’ll ever hear her voice.

Cage entwines my hand with his, squeezing tightly.

“So, the little ghost finally materializes. Welcome to the rest of your life, baby.”

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