Because when Jordan arrived back in town, something shifted into gear for Molly. The shop was going under, but just having Jordan around again made her feel that there was hope for Flour Child. For the future. For her.
And yet here they were, stuck in neutral.
And she had not a clue what to do about it.
Hence, she baked.
The twenty-four hour Walmart in Franklin didn’t let her down, and to prove a point to the cosmos, she almost bought the whole wall of peanut butter. Instead, she settled on three jumbo jars of the good stuff, paid the bored with life cashier, and climbed back into her car.
Victory. Peanut butter crisis averted.
She was singing along to Bob Dylan ten minutes later and doing fifty-five on the farm road when her car began to choke and sputter until it was jerking forward in random spurts. Oh God. Oh God. Flashing back to her high school driver’s ed class, she relied on instinct, held firmly to the steering wheel, and kept her foot from pumping the gas too vehemently. As her heart hammered away in her chest, she whispered the words, “please, please, please,” until the little-car-that-could gradually decelerated altogether, and slowed to a stop on the side of the very dark, very lonely road.
Damn it all again.
After thanking baby Jesus for her life, she got out and surveyed the scene. Except there was really nothing to see. She popped the hood but had very little idea what she was looking at. An attempt to start the car again just produced more sputtering.
Maybe that victory declaration had come a little too soon.
She called for roadside assistance, but due to the late hour, and her out of the way location, she was informed it could take up to two hours before they could have the one guy on duty out to her. Seriously? Just the one guy? The script reading phone operator advised that she not head out on foot and instead encouraged her to remain in her vehicle with the doors locked until help arrived.
She hung up and did the next best thing. She called Mikey.
“Why hello there, Molly,” he said upon answering. “What’s up in your world?”
“Hey, Mikey. I’m sorry to call so late, but I have kind of a situation here and was hoping you might be able to play big brother-in-law and help me out.”
“No problem. I’m great at big brother-in-law and I was still up. What happened?”
She explained the embarrassing sequence of events that now sounded more ridiculous than any words could justify as she paced rapidly back and forth in front of her car.
After a pause and chuckle, “Give me twenty minutes.”
“You have no idea how many kisses I plan to pepper your cheek with. Thank you so much!”
“See you soon. Hang in there and—”
“Lock the door,” she said with him in unison.
*
Jordan closed the door to Risa’s bedroom. “Okay, she’s out like a light. Just needed a little reassurance that there are, in fact, no sharks swimming on her floor when the lights go out. Common mistake.”
She settled back onto the couch and pulled her feet up to her chest, all set to finish the film she’d started with Mikey three hours before. It was rare that they got much one-on-one time, but with Teresa out of town on a girl’s trip, she was taking advantage of the opportunity to bond with her brother and his kids. It was only a minor inconvenience that their movie was interrupted every twenty minutes when one of the kids needed something. She kind of enjoyed being the one to step in and help out. Plus, they really seemed to like her so the old ego wasn’t exactly suffering.
Mikey stood and turned to her apologetically. “I hate to extend the longest movie in the history of film even further, but—”
Jordan stared at him pathetically. “Et tu, Brute?”
“Afraid so.”
She decided to cut him a break. He did seem to have a lot on his plate with Teresa out of town. “So what’s up?”
“Molly’s car broke down halfway between here and Franklin. I need to get out there and pick her up.”
Jordan shot a glance at the clock. “What the hell is she doing out this late by herself?”
He shrugged. “Got me. Something about a peanut butter crisis. Your guess is as good as mine. Can you stay with the kids until I get back?”
She stood and headed for her keys. “I’ll do you one better. I’ll go.”
“Bad idea. I don’t like the idea of you out this late either.”
“Please, Mikey. I live in downtown Chicago.”
“Point taken.”
*
She put the top down on the Beetle because it was that kind of night. The wind in her hair felt good as she sped along the twisting farm road. It took her twelve minutes to reach Molly’s car. When she arrived, she could just barely make her out in the driver’s seat.
She parked on the opposite side of the road and headed over. As she approached the car, Molly stared at her through the window questioningly. Finally, she exited the car wearing cutoff denim shorts and a hooded gray Rutgers sweatshirt. She looked incredibly confused and equally adorable.
“What’s going on? I thought Mikey was coming.”
“He wanted to, but he had an existing date with a couple of small people. Hence, you get me.”
“Yeah, hence,” she said neutrally, but Jordan could tell she was relieved someone had come to her rescue. The night was dark and the road was pretty desolate. She was glad she’d gotten there when she did.
“So will the engine turn over at all?”
“It tries and tries but never really gets there.”
“It could be the spark isn’t making it to the spark plugs.”
Molly looked hopeful. “Do you know how to fix that?”
“Not a clue. Let’s get out of here and let roadside tow it to Gibson’s.”
As Molly walked around the passenger’s side of her bug, Jordan surveyed her across the car. “So. Peanut butter.”
Molly shot her a glare as she slid into her seat. “Shut up.”
“If you insist. Top down okay?”
“Sounds nice, actually.”
Jordan smiled and pulled onto the road. As they drove, the cool air rushed past them, lifting their hair as the stars twinkled brightly above. The air smelled smoky, as it always seemed to on those country highways. They rode in silence for a while. Finally, Molly leaned her head against the seat and turned. She gazed at Jordan steadily, those soft brown eyes now gentle.
“Thank you for coming out so late. That’s what I should have led with when you got here. I seem to forget my manners with you lately, so let me try again. Thank you.”
“It’s okay. I didn’t mind coming. And you’re welcome.”
Molly glanced over her shoulder. “So this car, how long have you had it? Last I remembered, you were driving a green Beetle.”
“True. When I hit twenty-five, I decided it was time to get a little more serious about life and swapped in the bright green for dark blue.”
“Because blue is infinitely more refined?”
“Well, objectively.”
She laughed and Jordan felt it right in the center of her chest. It was nice to laugh with Molly again. It had been days since she had, and it was apparently her new favorite pastime. “So outside of the infamous peanut butter breakdown, how was your day?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Oh, you know, baking cookies and saving the world, that kind of thing.”
“Multitalented.”
“Aww, you noticed.”
“I notice a lot. I love you in the cutoffs, by the way.”
Molly’s cheeks colored and she glanced down at her shorts. “Thanks, but maybe let’s not flirt. It just causes problems.”
“I wasn’t flirting.” She tossed Molly a serious glance and watched her turn an even deeper shade of red.
“Oh, right. No. I didn’t mean—”
Jordan held up a hand as she watched the road. “Kidding. I was totally flirting.”
Molly exhaled slowly, her tone measured. “
I don’t know what to do with you sometimes. It’s like I don’t know whether I’m coming or going.”
“Right. And that’s bad?”
“I don’t know.”
They drove in silence for a few minutes, the radio playing quietly as they made their way into Applewood. Finally, Jordan turned it off.
“Truth or dare.”
It took Molly several moments to answer. “Truth.”
Jordan’s eyes never left the road. Her words were slow and even when she asked the question that she had to know the answer to. “Do you think about that night as much as I do?”
They turned onto Molly’s street. “You know what? I don’t want to play.”
“Why do you always do that?” Jordan asked, her voice mirroring the frustration she felt. “Why do you refuse to participate in what’s happening around you?”
“It’s so easy for you to say that, Jordan. But you don’t know what it’s like to be me. I lost the love of my life. My world was turned upside down. It’s hard enough to move on from Cassie, to find a way to wake up and start again, but if I feel like I’m betraying her at the same time, I don’t have a chance.” With that, Molly exited the car and headed up the walk.
Jordan got out and stood next to her car, calling after her. “I didn’t ask about Cassie. See, that’s the thing. I only asked about me .” She heard her voice break and she held out her hands helplessly. “Why don’t you see me, Molly?”
Molly turned around. “What are you talking about? Of course, I see you.”
Jordan shook her head. “You never have. You’ve always been there for me, Mol, but you’ve never really seen me. Do you know that I’ve compared every girl I’ve ever dated to you? It’s true. You were always the unattainable ideal.” She studied the sidewalk before raising her gaze to Molly. “I get that it’s not easy, the concept of you and me. I just wish you thought I was worth it.”
Molly stared at her, her eyes wide, full of emotion. But she didn’t say anything, and it was all the response that Jordan needed.
She reached for the door handle to her car. “Okay, then. Glad you’re home safe. I guess I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Ask me again.”
“What?” Jordan turned back.
Molly blinked. “The game. Ask me again.”
“Truth or dare.”
“Dare.”
Jordan took a breath. “Kiss me.”
This time Molly didn’t hesitate. She didn’t stop walking until her mouth was on Jordan’s and her arms firmly around her neck, pulling herself in, going up onto her tiptoes for better access.
When their lips met, Jordan closed her eyes. Molly’s lips were so soft and wonderful that she let herself be pushed up against the car. It was as if all of the cool air had been sucked from the night, leaving only heat. She kissed her back hard, possibly too hard, but it wasn’t like she could stop herself. Molly let out a murmur of contentment and angled her head for the best fit, deepening the kiss. Jordan’s hand slid into Molly’s free falling hair and gripped gently as Molly’s mouth, the intoxicating scent of her soap, and the skill with which she now owned Jordan assaulted every inch of her. This was the moment she had been daydreaming about for days, and it lived up to every expectation and then some. Then, just as quickly as it had started, the kiss was over. Molly now held Jordan’s face in her hands. Her breathing was heavy as she stared unabashedly into Jordan’s eyes.
“I see you,” she said quietly. “Believe me. I do.” Her thumb stroked Jordan’s cheek gently as she lowered herself back onto her heels again. Molly let her go and took a step backward. “Good night, Jordan.” She turned, not waiting for an answer.
Struck, amazed, and mesmerized by what had just taken place, Jordan stood there motionless, rooted firmly to the cement of the driveway. She watched Molly let herself into the house, and once the kitchen light glowed brightly through the window, she floated ever so slowly back to Earth. With her hand now touching her still swollen lips, she relived the kiss she would be up all night thinking about. Because it was the kind of kiss you didn’t forget. It was the kiss you compared all other kisses to for the rest of your adult life. The kind that left you wanting so much more, yet satisfied you immensely at the same damn time. If that was even a real possibility. But where Molly was concerned, she was beginning to understand that there was no limit to what she didn’t know.
It was with a slight smile on her lips that she climbed back into the car and headed for home in the wee hours of the morning.
Chapter Fourteen
There was something about the April Showers Festival that made the word feel infinitely more exciting. Perhaps it was the fact that the whole town came together in celebration. Or maybe it was the cover bands that played in rotation on the stage at the back of the fairgrounds, the ones that made Molly want to dance the whole time she was there. Or even more likely, it was the amazing food booths that she took pleasure in hopping between, sampling all the sinfully wonderful options. Whatever it was, she looked forward to it all year, even if it meant a ton of work for the bakeshop.
As was tradition, Flour Child had a small but dignified booth at the center of the concessions section. This year, they were selling caramel apple wassail, white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and, of course, MollyDollys. The truffles were making their grand debut that afternoon. And after only being open an hour, the booth was already picking up buzz.
“I’ll take a half dozen of the truffle thingies named after you,” said Mrs. Welch, Molly’s elderly neighbor from two doors down. “The ladies from my bridge club said I had to come try them out, and I always listen to them.”
“Coming right up.” Molly handed the chocolate to Mrs. Welch in their customary wax paper bag with the bakeshop’s name stenciled along the bottom. “Let me know what you think, and if you like them, tell your friends.”
But before she could move on to the next customer in line, Mrs. Welch bit right into one and grinned. “Amazing,” she breathed. “Don’t worry, Molly. I’ll tell everyone I know.” She looked down at the truffle in her hand, shook her head in wonder, and headed off with her remaining chocolates. Another satisfied customer.
“Sugar, you think we made enough of these things? We’re an hour in and already hitting our stash pretty hard.”
“No worries. There are more at the shop.” She grinned triumphantly, and though it was still early, that’s kind of how she felt. Triumphant. Bold. She was taking control of her life lately and if felt good.
Eden slung an arm around Molly’s shoulders. “My, my. It seems our fearless leader has thought of everything. When bonehead gets here, we can send him back for more inventory.”
“Eden, can we maybe not call Damon a bonehead? He’s a member of our staff and just as deserving of respect as the rest of us.”
“If you say so. And out of loyalty to you, I will try not to call the bonehead a bonehead.”
“Thanks for going out of your way.”
Eden placed a big smacking kiss on her cheek. “Anytime.”
As the hours rolled by, the bright blue sky dimmed and made way for the twinkling of stars. The crowds increased exponentially as did the line at the Flour Child booth. In good news, her shift was almost over and she could head out into the world to enjoy the festival. The carnival rides were now lit up with neon, and as she handed Mr. Walker his change, she stared at the towering Ferris wheel in the distance. Her nemesis.
The great big circle of terror.
Satan’s bicycle wheel.
The symbol of all her fears rolled into one.
Saying she was afraid of heights was an understatement. And after a widely witnessed freak-out on the ride when she was twelve years old, she steered clear of the thing. Even the sight of it sent a terrifying shiver through her. Every once in a while, she’d start to feel a little courageous and wonder if she could ever give it another go. You know, conquer that fear once and for all. But the answer was always no, she’d decide most matter-of-factly. Sh
e could not. Her fear of heights and rides and all things scary was just something she’d have to live with.
“Hey, proud business owner.”
Molly shot a look over her right shoulder and found Jordan leaning over the side of the booth. Her hair was swept partially back and she looked incredibly fresh faced and vibrant. This time a shiver moved through her for an entirely different reason.
They hadn’t seen each other since the kiss in the driveway. The kiss she’d initiated in one of the most daring moments of her entire life. The thing was, the kiss they’d shared that first time in her living room had been great. No, more than great. But the second kiss had completely devastated the first one. How? She wasn’t quite sure. It was a mystery—as was the fact that she forgot the rest of the world existed when Jordan’s lips were on hers. She didn’t know exactly where they stood, but a door was definitely standing open. It was just a matter of whether she chose to walk through it. And she had a feeling she’d know the answer by the time the night was over. “Hey, you. Enjoying yourself?”
Jordan grinned whimsically. “You have no idea. I’ve been here an hour and barely scraped the surface. Done soon? There’s festivating to partake in.”
“Festivating?” Molly arched an eyebrow.
“Festivating. Don’t look at me like that. It’s a word.”
“Give me five minutes.”
“Okay. Meet me at the bandstand?”
Molly considered this. “Only if you have a cold beer waiting for me. I’m working pretty hard here.” She offered up a pathetic facial expression for effect.
“I’ll see what I can rustle up.” And she was off, with Molly watching in appreciation as she walked away.
“You should take a picture. Lasts longer,” Eden whispered in her ear.
“What are you, seven? I haven’t heard anyone say that since elementary school.”
“What can I say? I like the classics.” Eden gestured in Jordan’s direction with her chin. “You hittin’ that yet?”
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