Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94609 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
I wasn’t as pissed off.
I wasn’t as angry.
I was still sad but loved.
That made it easier.
She moved over to me and took my hand in hers. Her touches. Molly and her touches.
“I think when people love each other so much, it’s normal to worry. But if it were serious, we would’ve reached out, Theo. I promise,” Molly said. Her voice was always so gentle and caring. Though, even if I wasn’t okay, I wouldn’t want to reach out. I didn’t want to worry people. Molly was the opposite. She wanted everyone to be in the loop of things going on.
“Where did you run into Stacy and Ralph?” Molly asked our grandson.
“They stopped by my place for Willow,” Theo said.
Both Molly’s and my eyes widened.
“What happened? Is she all right?” I questioned, alert. “Why didn’t you lead with that?”
Theo smirked and shrugged. “I must take after my grandfather, and I didn’t want to worry people.”
“Touché, you little shit,” I replied.
“Is Willow all right?” Molly questioned.
“She’s fine. She had an accidental crossing with Matt Turner and his baked goods.”
“Ohh. She got too high.” Molly nodded, knowing Matt’s baked goods very well herself. We grew up with Matt’s grandfather, Frank. Those brownies must’ve been a family recipe because when we were young, we used to be high as kites in the middle of the woods, dancing under the moon near some dirt roads.
“Speaking of… I should get back to check on her. I just needed to make sure you were okay, PaPa. Now I have to go check on that grown adult who’s really an annoying child that needs to be looked after,” Theo said, grimacing.
Well, I’ll be.
He liked her.
He didn’t say the words. He actually said the exact opposite of the words, but I saw it in his eyes. He was worried about her.
Theodore was tough on the outside—a defense mechanism. But beneath the surface? He was a gentle giant who cared more than he’d ever reveal. He was a little too much like me, that was clear.
“Tell her we said hi,” Molly said, moving over to kiss Theo’s cheek. “And take her some sweets from my cabinet to help her sober up.”
“She’s fine. I already gave her all the cookies you gave me,” Theo stated with the deepest look of annoyance before he turned to walk away. “Good night, you two. See you tomorrow. Call me if an ambulance stops by,” he remarked sarcastically before going through the front door and shutting it behind him.
Molly turned to me with a knowing grin on her face. She looked like a child on Christmas morning, standing under the sparkling, colorful tree lights. “Did you hear that? He gave her all his cookies.”
“That’s a big deal. He hasn’t shared one of your baked goods with anyone since he was five years old.”
“He likes her,” she said with a smirk of pleasure. “It’s not shocking, though. Willow is easily likable.”
“Just like you, my sweets,” I mentioned, feeling any annoyance or worry I had fading away. “Just like you.”
She walked over to me and bent down to kiss my forehead.
And just like that, with one forehead kiss, I was in my twenties again, falling in love.
Life was hard and getting old was harder. There was no getting around that fact.
But it was easier with her.
CHAPTER 8
Harry
Fifty-Nine Years Ago
One year.
I’d been in love with the wild woman who changed my life for one full year.
And what a year it had been.
Molly made a picnic on the lakefront to celebrate our first dating anniversary together. Summer was right around the corner, and we were still two goofy kids in love, looking toward an endless future.
After we ate the ham and cheese sandwiches she made, we talked about our dreams. About our future. About our love.
Then, we counted the stars.
We’d only reached twenty-two before her lips fell against mine, and we’d lost count again.
I wrapped her in my arms as we swayed back and forth with one another.
“Oh wow,” she murmured, resting her head against my chest.
“What is it?”
“I just realized…” She pulled back slightly and tilted her head up toward me. Those same stars in the sky lived within her eyes, and I swore they shone brighter in her irises. “I get to love you forever, don’t I?”
“Yes,” I said, resting my lips against her forehead. “And I get to love you right back.”
She snuggled against me, and we swayed some more. “Promise me we’ll keep dancing on fishing docks?”
“Forever,” I swore. “Always,” I promised. “Even after we leave this world after death finds us, I’ll still somehow find you at the nearest dock.”
We kept dancing, and I thanked God for bringing Molly into my world. It was void of color before she swirled into my realm. Now, I lived in a field with her and her wildflowers. I hoped I’d never see the color gray again.