Not that she said a word.
Didn’t offer a ‘Happy birthday’ when Luke told her that it was, just scribbled in her colouring book, refusing any attempt by Molly or Luke to include her in the conversation.
‘Cute,’ Molly croaked when finally Amelia wandered off to join her brother. ‘They’re really cute.’
‘They’re not really used to people dropping in.’ Luke ran a hand through his hair and let out a long breath. ‘Since we’ve been here in Melbourne, well, it’s really only been family.’
‘As Angus said, they don’t like different,’ Molly said calmly, but she was wearing her nurse’s hat more than her own. ‘And I guess, with what they’ve been through….’
‘They’ve been through an awful lot.’ Something in his voice made her start, something in Luke’s voice was so urgent, so raw she nearly slopped her milkshake. ‘An awful lot.’ He shook his head, painted on a smile as the twins ambled back, and Molly drank up just as quickly as she could.
‘I’d better get going.’ Molly glanced at her watch. ‘Mum will be expecting me.’
‘Well, have a great night. Say bye to Molly, guys.’
‘See you.’ Molly gave a wide smile, though her jaw was aching, and when no response was forthcoming, when they didn’t even turn their heads, she put a hand up to stop him as Luke called to his children again to say goodbye.
‘It’s fine,’ she said, having to stop herself from mewing to be let out as Luke saw her to the door.
‘I’m sure it’ll get easier.’
‘Of course it will,’ Molly said, only she wasn’t so sure—wasn’t sure at all.
‘So you’ve met the twins?’ Anne Marie closed the door and didn’t even pretend to walk over to check the drugs.
‘A couple of times.’ Molly tried to keep her voice light.
‘I thought you’d both decided to leave them out of it.’
‘We did,’ Molly said, chewing on her bottom lip. ‘We are. Look, I’m not going to stay over or anything. I’m just a friend from work—helping out a bit—like yesterday he was stuck in Emergency with a sick baby, and his mum needed him home on time because she had to go to the doctor. Now, if the twins knew me a bit better, I could have gone over and taken them to kinder.’
‘That’s not leaving them out of it,’ Anne Marie pointed out.
‘It isn’t,’ Molly gulped, ‘but I trust myself to do the right thing by the twins, and Luke trusts me too. And whatever happens or doesn’t happen between us, we’ve agreed that we’ll stay friends, so I’m not going to suddenly disappear.’
‘Because they’ve had enough of that,’ Anne Marie said sternly, ‘with their mother and everything.’
‘This isn’t about introducing me into their lives,’ Molly said firmly. ‘This is about me helping Luke out because, sadly it isn’t a perfect world, and it sucks that he’s a single dad, working nights and trying to raise twins. And friends help with things like that.’
‘They do.’ Anne Marie nodded. ‘Molly, I trust you too, I know you’re going to do the right thing by the twins, and that’s what’s worrying me. On every level you’re involved now, and I’m worried that you’re the one who’s going to get hurt.’
‘Not again,’ Molly said firmly. ‘I’ve toughened right up. I know what I’m doing, Anne Marie.’
‘But do you? Molly, you’re…’ She stopped herself saying it, and there was this horrible gap—Anne Marie opening her mouth to speak, then changing her mind, then giving her friend a smile. ‘So? What are they like at home?’ Anne Marie asked, only Molly was sure that wasn’t what she had been about to say.
‘Awful!’ Molly actually giggled, just so relieved to be able to talk about it—so nice to be honest. ‘I know they’re as cute as buttons to look at, but they’re the rudest, cheekiest little things. And you should see the way Luke is with them, nothing like he is at work.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, he’s lovely to the kids here, but he is pretty stern with them.’
‘He does like good manners.’
‘Not from his own kids, though. Honestly, he needs to discipline them!’
‘Careful!’ Anne Marie grinned. ‘You’re starting to sound like a wicked stepmother.’
‘Perish the thought.’ Molly shuddered. ‘Honestly, Anne Marie, you don’t have to worry about me getting too involved. There’s no way I’d take that little lot on.’
‘I had visitors today,’ Bernadette said once Molly had given her IVs and checked the dressing on her leg and rearranged her pillows. ‘Some of my friends from school, and Carly and Marcus came, too.’
‘That was nice.’
‘It was.’ Bernadette grinned and spoke in an excited whisper. ‘And Carly was trying to chat to…’ She wagged a thumb at the closed curtain. ‘And he didn’t even answer her. Then he asked Carly to pass the TV guide to me, so we could choose what movie to watch tonight!’
‘Fab!’ Molly grinned.
‘How did you feel about Marcus?’ She mouthed the last word.
‘He was annoying.’ Bernadette blinked. ‘He kept going on about his stupid football, and he was all proud because he’d got in trouble with the principal—I mean, like it’s something to be pleased about!’
‘I hear you had some other good news today!’ Molly wasn’t surprised when Bernadette’s face fell a touch.
‘I go home in two days.’ Bernadette attempted a smile. ‘I can’t wait. Are you working tomorrow?’
‘I’m off,’ Molly said. ‘I’m off now for five nights.’
‘So I won’t see you again?’
‘You might—I do go shopping. Who knows?’ She tried to keep her voice light, but this was the hard bit—when someone you were genuinely fond of, when someone you’d come to really like, was ready to go home. Though she was pleased and thrilled for Bernadette, Molly would miss her too. ‘Maybe you could pop back for a little visit near Christmas, let us see what you look like in real clothes.’
‘Can I ring the ward and make sure you’re working?’
‘Of course you can.’ Molly smiled. ‘Are you a bit nervous?’
‘Why would I be nervous about going home?’
‘A lot of people are,’ Molly said. ‘It’s very normal to feel nervous and anxious about going home after such a long time in hospital—as well as excited!’
‘Really?’
‘Really!’ Molly nodded.
‘I’m worried about school,’ Bernadette admitted. ‘I know everyone’s been in to see me and I’ve tried to keep up with my work, but it’s just going to be weird.’
‘For a little while probably,’ Molly said, ‘but you’ll settle in soon and the teachers will understand if you’re a bit behind.’
‘It’s not just that…’
‘Hey, Bernadette!’ Nathan’s voice, on the verge of breaking, squeaked then became baritone from behind the curtain. ‘That movie you were talking about—it’s being shown in the holidays!’
‘Is it?’
‘I should be out by then!’ Behind the curtain Molly and Bernadette bit their knuckles, eyes wide in anticipation. ‘Maybe we should go…’
‘What do I say?’ Bernadette mouthed frantically.
‘Yes!’ Molly mouthed back, urgently nodding her head.
‘If you want to.’ Nathan attempted nonchalance.
‘Cool!’ Bernadette said, high-fiving Molly. ‘Sounds good!’
‘So what was that other problem you were going to tell me about?’ Molly grinned. ‘Or am I right in thinking that it’s just been sorted?’
‘What will I wear?’ Bernadette whispered.
‘We’ll think of something!’
‘Guess what?’ Looking as happy as Bernadette, Luke shouted to Molly as she walked past the doctor’s office. ‘I’m a free man!’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Close the door!’
There was something different about him, something she couldn’t pinpoint.
‘I’ve
slept for ten hours straight!’ Luke grinned, as if reading her thoughts, and so too did Molly. That was the difference—he wasn’t ragged with exhaustion. ‘I feel great.’
‘Fantastic!’
‘That’s not the good news.’ He pulled at her waist, pulled her right in as Molly tried to wriggle away.
‘Luke…not here.’
‘The door’s closed.’
‘I don’t care.’
‘OK, then.’ Reluctantly, he let her go. ‘Mum’s taken the twins to her sister’s. They’re away for two nights! Should I feel guilty that I’m so pleased?’
‘No.’ Molly laughed. ‘You should hear Anne Marie singing when hers go to her mum’s!’
It was as five years had been wiped away—the stupid little games they’d played, the silly things he did, made her do, that had made her laugh remembered again, her lips twitching as, so scarily easily, they reverted to the ways of old.
‘Say please,’ Luke said.
‘Please, what, Luke?’
‘Please, will you take me out somewhere really fabulous tomorrow night?’ Luke grinned.
‘You’re working tomorrow!’
‘Not any more—I arranged Tom to cover for me. I want to take you out.’
‘But you need to save your days off,’ Molly pointed out. ‘If your mum’s not well, surely you should work when you’ve got the chance. You might need Tom to cover for you next week.’
‘Don’t even try to make me feel guilty. I haven’t had a night out in…’ He dragged a hand through his hair ‘…I don’t know in how long. And I haven’t been to a restaurant that doesn’t have a kids’ menu in ages…and I’m sick of sponging off you. I’m taking you out and you’re staying at my place. So say please.’
‘Please, what?’ Molly attempted a sigh, but it was hard with lips that were grinning.
‘Please, Luke, will you buy me loads of lovely cocktails and then have your wicked way with me?’
‘OK,’ she relented. ‘Please, will you take me out— somewhere fabulous—buy me lots of cocktails and then have your wicked way with me?’
‘Seeing as you asked so nicely!’ Luke grinned. ‘And make sure you wear something nice!’
Regretting her rather glib response to Bernadette’s question, Molly debated it with Anne Marie long into the night.
‘Buy something!’ Anne Marie urged as Molly went to answer a bell. ‘Something sexy and slinky that will knock his socks off!’
And she would have bought something had she not again slept through her alarm!
Hair dripping, leg bleeding from a hasty shave, she eyed the contents of her wardrobe! So far, Luke had seen her in jeans, or nurse’s uniform, or jeans… Molly sighed. She literally hadn’t got a thing to wear. Richard had spent the last couple of years of their marriage taking her temperature to see if she was ovulating rather than taking her out—and she hadn’t exactly been kicking up her heels since the break-up. What the hell was she going to wear? Jumping when her doorbell rang, shot with nerves, Molly let out a moan of horror. Surely he couldn’t be that early.
‘Oh, it’s you!’ Which sounded not much of a greeting, but never had she been so pleased to see her friend.
‘Bearing champagne and a little black number!’ Anne Marie handed a bag to Molly. ‘And hair product. I knew you’d oversleep!’
‘It’s gorgeous…’ Molly pulled the tiniest dress out of the tiniest bag, black, velvety and just superb, but she shook her head when she put it on. ‘It’s too much!’
‘It’s not too much! I bought that dress in the hope I’d slim into it. God, if I looked like that in it, I’d be wearing it to the shops! You look fantastic!’
She did—well, sort of. Molly could see that. All boobs and bum, but sort of sophisticated too, and, as Anne Marie had predicted, it would knock Luke’s socks off.
‘I’ll think about it,’ Molly said.
‘You could always wear your jeans!’ Anne Marie pointed out.
Sipping champagne, Molly closed her eyes and tried to relax as Anne Marie set to work on her make-up.
‘Not too much!’ Molly warned.
‘Why not?’ Anne Marie asked. ‘Oh, that’s right, you don’t want him to think you’ve gone to any effort!”
‘Not too much of an effort!’ Molly agreed.
‘Because you’re not having a relationship or anything…’ Anne Marie nattered on as she lengthened Molly’s eyelashes with mascara. ‘I mean, you can hardly keep your hands off each other, he’s moving heaven and earth to take you out tonight, you’re both grinning like idiots whenever you see each other and you’re ferrying his kids…’
Ouch.
Unwittingly, perhaps, Anne Marie had hit on a surprisingly raw nerve.
The occasional favour she’d been up for seemed to be morphing into something else. A kinder run here, a quick half-hour there—their worlds were sort of merging, only Molly wasn’t at all sure it was for all the right reasons.
‘You think he’s using me?’ Brave with her eyes closed, she asked her friend the question.
‘No,’ Anne Marie answered—only she took just a second too long. ‘I like Luke—he’s gorgeous and it’s clear that he adores you.’
‘But.’
‘Have you heard about your course?’ Molly’s eyes flicked open, because she was sure that wasn’t what Anne Marie had been going to say.
‘It will be a couple of weeks yet. Tell me, Anne Marie, do you think he’s using me?’
‘Don’t be daft.’ Anne Marie smiled, picking up her tongs and setting to work on her friend’s hair. ‘You just go out and have a good night—heaven knows, you deserve it.’
She did! Even Molly knew that, and there was no reason not to have a good time.
No work, no alarm clocks, no Angus and Amelia to take up their time—just the two of them.
‘Done!’
‘Oh, my goodness!’ Molly stared back at her reflection. Her wild curls for once were tamed and glossy, she had lashings of mascara on smoky grey eyes and her mouth, pale and glossy, broke into a nervous giggle. ‘I look…’ She tried to find the word—not tarty, not overdone, just fab!
‘God help Luke!’ Anne Marie giggled.
Anne Marie had barely driven off when Luke’s car appeared, and, feeling as nervous as she had on their first date, more nervous than she had on their first date, Molly opened the door.
‘Hi, there…’ He gave her a tight smile. ‘You look nice.’
‘Thanks!’ Molly smiled, more than a touch deflated by his response. ‘So do you.’
He did. He didn’t usually wear a suit, but he was wearing one now, and wearing it well—those long limbs longer somehow, those green eyes greener against the slate of his tie. And he smelt…Molly could feel her insides wobble a bit as she caught a whiff of his cologne.
‘We’d better go.’ He looked down at his watch. “The table’s booked for eight.’
‘Sure.’ Molly thought her face would crack from smiling, hating how awkward it all was. ‘I’ve just got to feed the cat!’
How, Luke asked himself, could she make feeding the cat sexy? But there she was, boobs spilling out over her dress as she bent down, the cat mewing round her feet, feet that were wrapped in high, strappy heels…
‘Hurry up, Molly.’
‘I am!’
He didn’t want to take her out, Molly decided. He hadn’t even kissed her when he’d come in. All the old doubts were back, tears pricking her eyes as she bent over to get her bag and check she had her phone and lipstick. What the hell were they going to talk about? A whole night, no kids, no buzzers, no sex to distract them…
‘Come on, Molly,’ Luke urged, practically marching her to the door.
‘You don’t want to go, do you?’ Molly halted at the final hurdle.
‘What are you talking about?’
‘You haven’t even kissed me!’
‘What?’
‘You’re worried what we’ll talk about!’
‘Believe me!’ Luke
shook his head. ‘That’s not the problem!’
‘Then what is?’
‘Molly…’ He closed his eyes in frustration. ‘I want you to have a good night. I’m well aware what an utter louse I am at taking you out. I spoke to Anne Marie…’
‘Uh-oh!’
‘She said I shouldn’t lay a finger on you, should take you somewhere nice…which I’m about to. Only she didn’t know I’d turn up to find you…’
‘She got me ready…’ Molly giggled. ‘I told you, she’s a witch!’
‘A good witch, though.’ Luke grinned.
‘She’s probably sipping champagne and cackling with laughter at this very minute,’ Molly said, picturing it for a moment then promptly forgetting about Anne Marie. ‘So you do want to ravish me?’
‘God, yes…’ Luke groaned, kissing her throat so as not to spoil her make-up. ‘And you do want to be ravished?’
‘God, yes,’ Molly whimpered, fiddling with his zip as his hands pushed up her dress, ‘but the table’s booked for eight.’
‘I’ll be quick,’ Luke gasped, encountering the briefest, sexiest of knickers. ‘Don’t worry about that!’
He’d returned in stages—in the weeks since he’d been back, it was as if she’d glimpsed parts of the Luke of old. Sexy Luke. Angry Luke. Funny Luke. Her Luke. But only in parts. But tonight he was back.
All of him.
All of the man she had once so dearly loved.
And all of the them they had once been.
He took her to a very nice Asian restaurant, which was Molly’s favourite, got her tipsy on Singapore slings as they worked their way through the menu—sharing dishes, eating aromatic sweet curries and cooling their tongues on hunks of watermelon, devouring slabs of beef rib with coriander and ginger then gorging on the sweetest rice pudding, and not once, not even for a second, was it uncomfortable.
Speaking about everything and nothing.
Not the kids or the past, just where they were now and the future, not a single sticky moment as they somehow got back to how they had been.
Massaged each other’s egos and made each other feel better, as they had both promised they would.
And it felt so nice to sit with the only guy in the world who didn’t care if she had something on her teeth.
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