Chapter 25 Molly
MOLLY
Over the next week, we fall into a rhythm that feels as natural as breathing.
I’m still frustrated by my lack of mobility, but I’m much more comfortable with the walking boot.
Chase seems in no hurry to pull back on the amount he’s helping with the flowers, the driving, and overall being an integral part of our lives.
I feel like I should remind him that the better my business does, the more likely he is to lose his chance to buy the farm. Linda texted me a few photos from her trip to share with the kids, but she hasn’t asked how things are going with the nanny she sent to my doorstep.
And I haven’t given any updates.
It’s going to be difficult for her to accept that we’re not moving to Albuquerque, so I don’t want to put a damper on her time away. Plus, there’s no need to mention anything until I know I have the money to buy the property.
My friends think I should lean into the idea that Teddy would want his kids to be raised in his family’s home, but my mother-in-law isn’t a sentimental woman. I might be working on losing my fear of living life on my terms, but it’s not a dragon I can slay on the first try.
If I’ve learned anything from watching my friends succeed at their bucket list challenges, the important part is doing the work, making the changes, and accepting that fear might come along for the ride.
The kids are excited to help with a wedding in the barn. They also seem happier and more relaxed recently, and I’m quickly realizing how much living with Linda affected them. Maybe even more than it did me. She made it clear to us that we needed her because we couldn’t survive on our own.
But now? We’re doing more than surviving—we’re thriving.
Laurel is less snappish, and Luke is becoming more confident. He even asked to join one of the local T-ball teams so he could hang out with some of his new friends from school.
I won’t lie. The first time I watched Chase take my son out to the backyard to practice tossing the ball, I had to blink back tears.
In that simple moment, I understood with startling clarity how much Teddy’s constant criticism fed our son’s anxiety.
While Luke’s worries haven’t vanished completely, there’s been something transformational in the way Chase accepts him exactly as he is.
It’s the same gift he’s given me with his genuine interest in my work and respect for what I’m creating here.
The morning of the wedding, the book club arrives like a small army to help transform my utilitarian barn into something that might pass for romantic.
They’ve volunteered their decorating expertise to help me create magic from what is, let’s face it, still a building where livestock lives.
Not that the bride minds. She’s too thrilled with the steep discount in exchange for letting me feature her photos on my website.
The one silver lining to my messed-up ankle is that it slowed me down enough that I’ve been able to devote time to making the flower farm’s online presence look more professional. It’s good that my mother-in-law only uses Facebook, and I’ve blocked her from seeing anything I post.
Luke begs Chase, who has also been helping all day, to let him show my book club friends how much he’s progressed riding Gumdrop.
And because they’re the best kind of friends, they ooh and aah as they watch him ride around the outdoor ring.
My heart pinches once again at the pride and excitement on my son’s face.
Chase coaxes out the best in Luke with his genuine encouragement and belief in what the boy can accomplish.
“You look good on that horse,” I hear Eric Anderson tell him when Luke climbs out of the saddle. Eric, Taylor’s fiancé, moved to Skylark with his teenage nephew a few months ago and retired from nearly a decade playing professional hockey in Germany after he and Taylor fell in love.
“I’m playing T-ball now, too,” Luke reports. “I scored at our first game last weekend.”
“That’s fantastic, bud,” Eric says. He squeezes Luke’s thin arm and nods approvingly. “Oh yeah—I feel the muscles. Maybe you want to try hockey?”
“I can’t skate,” Luke says with a frown.
“I can teach you to skate,” Eric replies.
“Or you could give football a try.” Ian moves to stand next to Eric. “I work with the local youth league. Your sister might like it too. Flag football is getting real popular with girls.”
“Girls can play hockey, too,” Eric says.
Chase meets my gaze over Gumdrop’s head and flashes a grin. “You got yourself some pretty awesome coaches ready to work with you,” he tells Luke.
Luke glances between the trio of men.
“I’m about to choke out on the testosterone,” Piper says as she comes to stand next to me.
“Is that a bad thing?” I ask.
She grins. “Not at all.”
“Thank you very much,” Luke says when Eric and Ian continue to stare at him. “Those are nice offers.”
“Nice,” Piper repeats, amusement lacing her tone.
“I’m going to be a cowboy. A bull rider like Chase.”
“Good for you, kid,” Eric says, patting my son on the shoulder.
“Just know the offer stands,” Ian adds, and the two of them saunter off toward the nearby stack of folding chairs that need arranging.
Piper gently elbows me. “Someone’s made quite an impression.”
I know exactly what she means, and she’s not wrong.
“It’s complicated,” I murmur. But even as I say the words, I wonder if maybe it doesn’t have to be.
“Not if you don’t want it to be,” she tells me before turning away.
“Do you think I can do it?” Luke asks Chase when the other men are out of earshot. “Ride bulls, I mean. I might not be as good as you, but—”
“You can do anything you want.” Chase crouches down so he’s eye level with Luke. “But I don’t know how your mom would feel about bull riding. Mine didn’t love watching me climb on the back of an animal that wanted to send me flying through the air.”
“You can get hurt playing hockey or football,” Luke argues. “And you could teach me to be safe.”
“It would be my honor,” Chase says solemnly. “There’s a lot of runway between first grade and being in the rodeo, buddy. If your mom says it’s okay, we can sign you up for mutton busting when the rodeo comes to town this summer. That’s how I got my start.”
“Nana showed me pictures of Dad mutton busting,” Luke says excitedly.
“Your dad and I did everything together back then,” Chase answers.
“Maybe I’ll make a best friend at the rodeo,” Luke offers.
“Sometimes it takes a minute to find your person,” Chase tells him.
My heart flutters as his gaze shifts to me before returning to my son.
“But I can tell you’re going to be a great best friend.”
“Hey, Lukey,” I call as I walk forward. “Find your sister. It’s time for the two of you to get cleaned up. I’ll be back to the house in a bit for my turn. We all need to be in tip-top shape.”
“I hate cleaning up,” Luke says with an exaggerated eye roll.
“Do it anyway,” I answer with my own eye roll.
“Don’t forget to wash behind your ears,” Chase adds.
Luke gives him a funny look. “Why would behind my ears be dirty?”
“To be honest, I don’t know.” Chase chuckles, and the low rumble sets sparks cascading across my skin. “That’s something my grandpa used to tell me. All I know is he was a wise man.”
“I’ll wash all my parts,” Luke promises, like that explanation makes perfect sense, before he takes off for the house.
“Mutton busting,” I repeat, turning back to Chase.
“Obviously, only if you agree.” Chase frowns. “Sorry if I didn’t make that part clear.”
“I’m glad he wants to try something new.” I make a face. “Although I wouldn’t be sad if his rodeo career ended there.”
“He’s a smart kid,” Chase assures me. “He’ll figure out he’s meant for more than cowboying.”
I only wish the man in front of me would realize the same thing applies to him. “You’re really helping him.”
His steel-gray eyes darken to a shade that reminds me of the sky when a storm is gathering over the mountains. I know Chase well enough at this point to know he isn’t one for accepting compliments, but he’s going to have to deal with it.
“He hasn’t had much of a…” I want to say father figure, but that feels both disloyal to Teddy and too much pressure to put on Chase. “A male role model in his life. At least not one who appreciates him for who he is.”
“The kid just had two professional athletes ready to throw hands over who gets to teach him their sport,” Chase reminds me with a shake of his head.
“Ian and Eric and Iris’s fiancé, Jake, are all nice, but it isn’t the same as how you are with him.”
“It’s not hard to be nice to you and your kids.”
At the reminder of how little I expect from everyone in my life, I once again feel foolish. It isn’t hard to be nice, but it’s also easy to let people walk all over you when you feel you don’t deserve anything more.
“We’re almost finished, and I need to get cleaned up before the guests arrive.”
He grabs my hand for a moment before releasing it. Almost reluctantly, like he wants to keep holding on. Lord help me, I want him to.
“I like being nice to you and Luke and Laurel,” he says, moving his hand to Gumdrop’s soft neck. “And not because I’m paying off a debt. You understand this is…”
It’s what, I want to ask when he trails off. I want to ask if it’s the same for him as it is for me. This connection is something more than temporary or convenient. It feels real. It feels special.
But before he finds the words, Sadie calls for me from across the barn.
“Molly, can you make sure we’ve got the tables at the entrance set up the way you want them?”
“You bet,” I answer over my shoulder, then turn back to Chase. “Thanks again.” I hope he knows how much more I want to say.
“I’ll be here if you need anything,” he answers quietly.
Because it’s my default programming, I shake my head. “You don’t have to—”
He holds up a hand. “I’ll be here, Molly.”
Emotion clogs my throat. “Thank you,” I whisper.