He cleared his throat. “It’s just as Dad said. Life happened, and they lost contact. That’s all I know.”
“So, she left him when the going got tough. Is that what you’re saying?” His mother pulled another tissue from the box and dabbed her eyes. “Disappeared when he needed her most. Who does that? Hurts another human being in that way?”
“Mum. Stop. We don’t know that.” His need to defend Molly surprised Jake. After all, his mother was only voicing what he’d already been thinking.
“Well,” she continued, “one thing I do know is that boy would never hurt a fly. And how did it make him feel? Even if they were only friends, she stayed away when he needed her, and now she’s home from her travels with her hand out and wallet gaping.”
Jake sighed, desperate for the meal to be over so he could leave. “It was Jesse’s wish, Mum.”
“Do you think he was in love with her?”
That was a question he’d asked himself many times. “Maybe. He didn’t say.” Jake suspected it might have been the case. His twin never stayed with anyone for long, but that didn’t mean he was incapable of falling in love. Just the way Jesse spoke of Molly that day seemed out of character; however, speculation wouldn’t help this cause.
“But you boys talked all the time.”
“Not so much the summer he met Molly.”
“Anyway,” his father said, “let’s put this aside for now and enjoy our dessert, shall we? She’s probably a very nice girl.”
“See, this is what I mean,” his mum said. “You always take the easy way out. Good old Henry, never one for conflict. You just want to sweep everything under the carpet and pretend it’s not there.”
“Rubbish,” his father replied. “Jesse’s instructions were clear, and as such, I plan to carry them out as he intended, not second-guess his wishes.”
In the frosty silence that followed, his mother cut the cake, passed a slice to Jake, and then a much smaller piece to her ex-husband. “I want to meet her. Find out what on earth she’s up to.”
“Is that wise?” His dad’s spoon hovered over the bowl of cream before he scooped up a large dollop and dropped it onto his plate.
“Well, I assumed you wouldn’t approve, but as Jesse’s mother, I have every right. Jesse told me everything, so why did he never mention this Molly girl? It makes no sense.”
Unable to eat another mouthful, Jake pushed his plate aside while considering his mother’s argument. While he understood why she wanted to meet Molly, he wasn’t convinced it would be beneficial for her to do so. Like his father, he hated confrontation, and Jesse had been much the same, telling their mother only what he wanted her to know. The rest he kept to himself until the day he died. “Let me talk to her, then I’ll set something up.” He paused. “And, Mum, can we please keep Alexia out of our personal affairs?”
“Do you even have to ask?”
What could he possibly say to that?
9
As it turned out, Jake didn’t have to wait a few days to pick up the phone and call Molly Parker because the very next day, the woman herself paid him another visit.
After noticing her presence from the kitchen, he observed her through the one-way glass. She appeared distracted as she spoke to one of the counter staff. Jake wondered if this was out of remorse for how she’d treated Jesse but then reminded himself that he didn’t know the details of her relationship with his brother and to speculate was a reckless game.
When the staff member called his name, Jake removed his apron and tossed it into the laundry basket. It was now a quarter to four, so they were about to close for the day, and while he’d intended to stay behind and catch up on paperwork, that bone-tired feeling of late never seemed to dissipate.
Molly stood motionless as he entered the store. Dressed in black pleated pants paired with a cinnamon-colored top and carrying a large messenger bag, she looked like she’d just come from a business meeting.Stunning.
She smiled softly as he walked toward her, and even though he’d vowed to keep an open mind when they finally met officially, given his brother’s message in the card, Jake struggled to return the gesture.
“Hello, I’m Molly.” She offered her hand, and he reluctantly took it, her handshake soft, like her smile, but confident. “Jake, isn’t it? I was wondering if we could have a word.”
“Sure.” It occurred to him that she’d asked the same question at the bar, and look how that turned out. “Through here.”
Molly followed Jake out into the courtyard. He certainly wasn’t looking forward to this conversation. After all, the least she could have done when Jesse died was send a card. But there’d been no card, no phone call. No acknowledgment of any kind. And to find out she was now in Clifton Falls hadn’t helped his impression of her.
“Can I offer you a drink? Coffee, tea?”
“I’m fine, thanks.”
Jake led her to a table at the back. He pulled out her chair, and, once again, she thanked him before sitting. As silence fell between them, Jake noticed Molly clenching and unclenching her fists.
