by Josie Kerr
“Come on—it’ll be fun.” Bridget bumped Molly’s shoulder. “Come on.”
Molly laughed. “Sure.” What did she have to lose?
*****
Molly wheezed with laughter at Ashley Richards’s horrified expression, and when Charlotte Mashburn let loose with her distinctive bray, Molly almost aspirated a carrot because she was laughing so hard.
“What do you mean you don’t like deviled eggs?” Ashley scoffed. “That’s like not liking . . . I don’t know, something that everyone likes. It’s un-American. Who doesn’t like deviled eggs?”
Nanda snorted. “I don’t know what the big deal is, Ashley. You act like it’s a personal affront.”
“It is,” the statuesque blonde retorted. “What’s not to like about deviled eggs? Everyone likes deviled eggs. Molly, do you like deviled eggs?”
Molly swallowed the crudité that currently filled her mouth. “Of course. I love me some deviled eggs, but I can see how someone might not like them, if they didn’t care for boiled eggs.”
“But who doesn’t like boiled eggs? Add relish and mayonnaise and mustard, a little bit of horseradish—”
“Oh Lord, here she goes,” Em said, helping herself to another serving of the appetizer in question. “Molly, we’re not completely insane. Ashley is a bit of a deviled-egg evangelist.” She bit into the egg and hummed in pleasure.
“They are really, really good.” Molly plucked an egg off the plate and popped it into her mouth.
Nanda shuddered. “That is just vile.”
“Don’t yuck on someone else’s yum,” Molly playfully scolded.
“Are you who Maude picked that up from?” Em clapped in glee. “I love that. It’s so perfect.”
“I’m always telling that to my lot.” With a look that brooked no argument as to who got the remaining egg, Ashley made quick work of clearing the deviled-egg plate.
“Your lot?” Molly moved her attention back to the crudité plate. “I sense a story.”
All the women dissolved into laughter, except for Ashley, who merely rolled her eyes.
“I have five children,” Ashley explained.
“Molly, ask her how old they—” Em said with a snort.
Ashley rolled her eyes again. “They’re eight months apart. Rose and Ava are four, and Mary, Clara, and Niamh are three.”
Molly’s jaw dropped, and all the women, including Ashley this time, began to howl with laughter.
“What can I say? Rory’s a sexy motherfucker, and this mother likes to be fucked.” Ashley winked and took a big drink from her wineglass.
Molly tried to keep all the couples straight. “So Sheila, who picks up Lucy and Maude, is your mother-in-law?”
Ashley snorted. “Close enough.”
Em leaned into Molly and said in a loud stage-whisper, “Ashley hasn’t let Rory make an honest woman out of her. Yet.”
“December twenty-third,” Ashley stage-whispered back, and all the women’s heads swiveled to look at her. “You heard me. It’s official. We have an officiant and a hall reserved and everything.” She looked very pleased with herself.
“Oh my God, you’re getting married!” Em flew at Ashley, and all the women began babbling excitedly. Molly grinned at their excitement but stepped back just a bit until Bailey, who had been quiet for most of the evening, stepped over to her and squeezed her wrist.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Everyone must be very excited.” Molly hoped her smile didn’t look as forced as it felt.
Bailey began to say something, but then a masculine voice rang out through the entryway.
“Knock, knock! Fighter taxi service!” Nanda’s husband, Dig, stepped through the door of the sitting room. “Whoa!” He looked at the mass of hugging, babbling women. “Is everything okay?”
“Ashley and Rory set a date, for real!”
“Well, yeah.” Dig shrugged. “We knew that. December twenty-third, right?”
Nanda slugged her husband’s bicep. “You knew, and you didn’t tell me? Oh, you are in so much trouble . . .”
Molly laughed as the group tumbled out the door, leaving her alone with Bailey.
“I’ll be going, too. It’s late,” Molly said, gathering up her tote bag. “Thanks so much for including me.”
“Thank you for coming. I hope we didn’t scare you too much.”
Molly laughed. “No, it was a lot of fun.” Molly gave Bailey an impulsive hug. “Thank you.”
She turned to leave, but Bailey said, “Wait.” Molly turned back to Bailey, who suddenly seemed nervous. “I don’t know what’s going on with you and Buddy, and I know it’s really none of my business, but . . . please give him a chance. He’s a good guy who’s had a really, really crappy time.”
Molly nodded. “I know he’s a good man. I can tell by the way he treats Lucy, treats you, and even his ex.”
“I’d better go. Thank you again, Bailey. I had a great time.”
Molly let herself out of the house, and Colin was just entering the house with Maude in one arm and a baby carrier in the other. He jerked his chin up in greeting, and Molly waved good-bye. As she drove home, she thought about the quiet man with the sandy hair and gray eyes and wondered if, given the opportunity, she might just risk getting involved with another parent again.
Chapter Twenty
Molly ran her hands back and forth over the material of her skirt so that the paillettes changed from purple to aquamarine and back. The color-changing material made her unreasonably happy. She wasn’t much for dressing up and normally just wore either a white or black sweat suit, a pair of cat ears, and a tail, but when she learned that the kindergarten costume theme was “The Ocean,” well, she couldn’t help but release her inner mermaid. It helped that since she’d been training with Bridget at DS Fight Club, she’d grown more self-confident, even if her body hadn’t changed that much at all.
At the thought of DS Fight Club, she caught herself unconsciously looking around the crowded cafeteria, scanning the crowd for a certain curly-haired blonde and her handsome dad. She hadn’t seen Buddy much at all since that Saturday some weeks before, as her session times generally were in the evenings and he’d gone home to be with Lucy. The few times that she had seen him, he hadn’t approached her, but simply acknowledged her from across the gym with a simple wave or chin lift. He’d not mentioned the kiss at all, thank goodness.
She sighed. That kiss. That kiss had fueled more than one steamy fantasy and had gotten her through quite a few lonely nights. But she was being stupid. She’d sworn that she would never get involved with another parent, but damn if she wouldn’t seriously consider tangling with Buddy Thomas.
She saw Lucy and Maude first, holding hands and skipping, dressed in coordinating butterfly costumes, their parents trailing behind them. Colin was the most noticeable one, merely because of his size, but she only had eyes for the blond man walking next to him.
With a striking redhead. When Buddy touched the small of the woman’s back, Molly sank back in her chair, deflated. She was why he hadn’t mentioned the kiss or pursued any further interactions. Molly swallowed hard, suppressing the feeling of disappointment that roiled in her gut. She mentally kicked herself. Silly girl.
“Miss Mayhew!” Melissa’s sharp voice interrupted Molly’s musing. “We have a winner.”
“Hmm? Oh, here’s your prize, darling. You’ll have so much fun with these.” She handed a large basket stuffed to the brim with art supplies to a small bumblebee, who toddled away, grinning.
Maude and Lucy ran up to the raffle table, tickets clutched in their fists. Molly watched them with amusement as they consulted on which tubs to put their tickets in. Maude put all her tickets in one tub, but Lucy divided hers between several. She grinned at Molly as she held on to the last ticket.
“I like your costumes.” Molly grinned back. “I approve of the sparkle.”
“I like your costume, too,” Lucy said, leaning over the table to get a better look
at Molly’s skirt. “Oh, it’s like my bag!”
“Yes, that’s where I got the idea.”
“Lucy, darling, what are you up to?”
Molly took her attention away from the girls and came face-to-face with Buddy’s companion. Up close, she was even more striking, with light blue eyes and dark auburn hair, though Molly didn’t think it was her natural color.
“I’m entering the raffles,” Lucy answered, her smile fading.
Molly watched the girl carefully. The woman put her hand on Lucy’s shoulder, and Lucy subtly shrugged it off.
A hand jutted into her view. Molly looked at it and followed the hand up to meet the woman’s eyes. She looked back at the hand and realized the woman was extending it for a handshake. Molly grasped it.
“I’m Molly Mayhew, Lucy and Maude’s teacher,” she said by way of introduction.
“I’m Natalie Rabineaux. Pleased to meet you.” Natalie didn’t hide her assessment of Molly, so Molly examined her just as boldly. “So, what are you?” Natalie asked with a small wrinkle of her nose. Molly narrowed her eyes and mentally reminded herself that she did not know this woman, thus she couldn’t actually dislike her.
“She’s a mermaid!” Lucy piped up. “Miss Mayhew, show her how your scales change color.”
“Yes, I am a mermaid, and these are my scales.” Molly ran her hands over the top of her skirt, highlighting the change in the color. “The theme for kindergarten is the ocean, so . . . mermaid. Something fun, right?”
“Hmm . . . right.” Natalie continued staring at Molly—long enough for Molly to go from awkward to irritated. “Well, I need to find my man, make sure he’s not gorging himself on junk.” She leaned close to Molly and whispered conspiratorially, “He has a tendency to do that, you know.”
“Hmm,” was Molly’s noncommittal response.
The stare down ended when Buddy approached the table with three caramel apples.
“Oh no, I seem to have a surplus of caramel apples,” he said, winking at Molly as he handed Lucy and Maude each a candy-coated treat. Maude grinned and thanked her uncle, while Lucy clapped her hands and took the offered apple, immediately biting into it.
“Do you think she should have that?” Natalie was looking at Lucy with a look of such disgust on her face that Molly did a double take at Lucy, peering at her to see what the other woman could possibly find so repulsive.
“ ’S fine, Nat. She doesn’t have a lot of sugar normally,” Buddy said around a mouthful of apple. “ ’S really sticky.”
Natalie rolled her eyes, and Buddy and Lucy grinned at each other.
“Hey, Mol—er, Miss Mayhew.” Buddy grinned and took another bite of his apple. Molly couldn’t help but notice Natalie’s narrowed eyes as she looked between Buddy and Molly.
Molly set her jaw. You know what? Fuck this.
“Hello, Mr. Thomas.” She inwardly winced when she saw Buddy’s reaction to the formal address, but she shoved her emotion down. She didn’t need any man drama, and the fact that Buddy seemed to be attached to this woman who seemed to have a problem with her? No, best nip those feelings in the bud.
The three adults stood and looked at each other in awkward silence until the announcement was made that both Maude and Lucy had won a raffle basket. Molly, thankful about having something to do that didn’t involve dealing with adults, handed over the prizes.
“Oh, the dance contest is starting!” Lucy and Maude thrust their baskets at Buddy and took off to the opposite side of the cafeteria, leaving Buddy awkwardly juggling a half-eaten candy apple and two glittery baskets.
“Let’s join them, Buddy. It looks like fun.”
Molly marveled at Natalie’s transformation and was glad that she found at least something to be enthused about when it came to Lucy. But the raffle was over, as Lucy and Maude had won the last of the baskets, and Molly didn’t think she could stomach staying and watching Buddy and Natalie dance with Lucy. So Molly excused herself from the festivities and began to make her way to her car.
She was halfway through the parking lot when she heard the scrabble of feet treading on the gravel. She flipped her keys between her index and middle finger and turned, only to have Boone crash into her.
“Molly, darlin’, I’ve been wanting to talk to you all night.” Boone ran his hands over her shoulders to rest on her upper arms. He held them lightly, but Molly knew the power in his hands.
“But, Boone, I don’t want to talk to you. Have a good night.” She wriggled out of his grasp and took two steps away before he caught her hand—only this time, the grasp wasn’t gentle, and it forced her keys out of her grip.
“Well, it seems that thug doesn’t want to talk to you since he’s got that young thing to keep him company.” Boone continued to hold her hand but loosened his grip ever so slightly.
“I don’t know what you me—”
“Oh, come off it, Molly. I know you, and that Thomas guy is catnip. Single dad, a little rough around the edges.” Boone scoffed and retightened his grip. “The guy was involved with some shady characters, Molly, really shady.”
It was Molly’s turn to scoff. “Please. Colin Carmichael is as upstanding as they come, and DS Fight Club has raised a lot of money for the Boys and Girls Clubs and rec centers. You’re just jealous.”
Molly shrieked when Boone pulled her to him and got in her face. “Jealous? Of a homeless street fighter? Please.” Then, miraculously, Boone gave her some space. “You know what? Never-fucking-mind. If you want to slum, I’ll let you slum.” He shoved her and stalked away, not noticing or caring that he’d caused her to fall.
Molly lay on the rough gravel for a few moments, catching her breath. Boone had a temper, and he’d grabbed at her before, but nothing like this. Now she was doubly glad about the self-defense classes and personal training. At least she had a clue about what to do; she just needed to act more quickly. While she hoped there wouldn’t be a next time, she knew there would be, and then? She’d be ready.
Chapter Twenty-one
Buddy quietly closed the door to Lucy’s bedroom. He knew she wasn’t asleep, but at least she had calmed down and the tears had stopped. Buddy fully expected to find Lucy quietly looking at a book when he went in later, but for now, he needed to deal with her mother.
“Well, she’s settled in, at least for now.” Buddy couldn’t even look at Natalie yet, not after the shit show that was dinner, so he said this as he went into the kitchen and got a beer out of the refrigerator. “Would you like a glass of water, Natalie? It’s filtered and cold.”
“Sure.”
After that initial terrible lunch meeting, where Lucy had clung to him and had actually been a little bratty because she felt like she was being forced to form a relationship with Natalie, who was practically a stranger to her, things had settled down and they’d gotten into a sort-of routine—at least, as long as Natalie didn’t have auditions or anything.
Buddy went back into the living room. His temper still roiled, but he needed to find out what exactly Natalie was thinking when she dropped her little bomb. Determined not to lose his shit, at least until she explained herself, he set a glass of water on the coffee table and took a seat in a club chair perpendicular to her.
“So, Nat, you want to tell me what the ever-loving fuck is going on with you?” So much for keeping your cool, Buddy.
She didn’t even have the good sense to look ashamed. If anything, she looked ready to fight.
“You know you’re being unreasonable, Thom,” she hissed. “You just want to see me fail.”
“I sure as shit am not, and why the fuck would I not want you to be successful? Hell, if this show ends up being as big of a hit as you’re saying it will be, I won’t feel bad about cutting you off. Actually, you might just be liable to pay me some child support.” He cackled at her shocked expression, confirming that she hadn’t even considered the financial ramifications of a successful pilot. “But seriously, what the hell are you thinking?”
; “I’m being considered for the ‘sassy single mom’ position, Thom—”
“My name is Buddy. Call me Bud if you absolutely have to, but my name is not Thom and never was.”
“You didn’t mind it before,” she said, her tone petulant.
“I always hated it, but first we were fucking, and then I thought I was going to spend my life with you. When those factors went out the window, so did my tolerance for being called Thom.” He wasn’t bothered about his technical lie. After all, he’d spent the first two years of their relationship swallowing his irritation; he’d be damned if he was going to do it when he wasn’t getting any benefits at all. “But go on. ‘Sassy single mom’ requires a child. Exactly whose kid were you going to use?”
Natalie bugged her eyes at him, and Buddy began to slowly shake his head in disbelief.
“Oh, hell no. Not just hell no, hell fucking no. There is absolutely no way that Lucy is going to serve as an accessory to your so-called acting career. She’s not a handbag or a poofy dog that you can pull out when the time is right.”
“She wouldn’t even be on the show that much. We just highlight our morning routine and when we trade weekends and stuff like that.” She beamed that white smile at him, and Buddy suddenly realized where a lot of his maintenance money went. And it made him sick to his stomach. But then something else made him even sicker.
“You thought she would move in with you, didn’t you?”
“Well, yes. The apartments that we’re living in during filming are really nice and secure, if you’re worried about that. She’d have her own room, plus a playroom and a bathroom; it’s not like we’d be living in a one-bedroom flat.”
“We spent a lot of years in a one-bedroom flat, thank you very much, and while it wasn’t ideal, I made it work. But that’s not the issue. You realize she’d have to change schools, right? Unless you want to drive from Buckhead to here when you have to drop her off.”
Natalie dismissed his concerns with a wave of her hand. “She’s only in kindergarten, and besides, she just started at a new school. It’s not like she’s made serious friends. I saw her tonight. She didn’t talk to anyone except her cousin and that teacher.”